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Qld harnesses quantum tech for a sustainable future

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12 Jul, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Queensland’s Miles government has announced a $50 million quantum technology program for the state, which among other objectives has the aim of speeding decarbonisation.

The $50m in funding covers five competitive grant programs directed at: aiding decarbonisation; enhancing quantum technology applications; attracting investment and collaboration; developing a skilled workforce; and promoting quantum-based innovations in sportstech in preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

These five programs form part of the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy, a $83.7m investment over five years laid out in the state government’s 2024–25 Budget. They include a $10 million Quantum Decarbonisation Mission to accelerate the development and application of quantum technologies with the potential to make significant contributions to decarbonisation.

“By establishing Queensland as the ‘Quantum State’, we lay the foundation for an economy that is resilient and innovative, poised to harness the full potential of quantum and advanced technologies for a sustainable and prosperous future,” said Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson.

Quantum science is the study of particles and energy at the sub-atomic scale. The applications of quantum technologies are wide-ranging and include computing, precision measurement, communications and health. Many fields stand to benefit from this technology, including environmental sustainability.

The Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy also encompasses compound semiconductors, superconductors, photonics and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). These technologies underpin the design and manufacture of quantum devices, but can also be useful for non-quantum products such as semiconductor-based components used in renewable energy applications.

“This budget allocation and the launch of these five grant programs affirms our commitment to advancing quantum technology and positioning Queensland as a provider of deep technology solutions for global opportunities and challenges,” said Minister for Innovation and Science Leanne Linard.

“These new grant programs further cement Queensland’s reputation as a global leader in quantum, attract and retain skills in quantum science and use quantum technologies to help solve challenges such as improved renewable energy technologies and combating climate change.

“I am particularly excited by the potential of this technology to accelerate Queensland’s decarbonisation efforts and make leaps in sports technology,” Linard said.

For more details on each of the five grant programs, visit: https://science.desi.qld.gov.au/industry/funding.

Image credit: iStock.com/sakkmesterke

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ABB receives EPD status for gearless mill drive ring motor

ABB receives EPD status for gearless mill drive ring motor

ABB has gained Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) status for its Gearless Mill Drive (GMD) ring motor — technology used to drive large grinding mills in the mining industry.

An EPD is a standardised document that provides detailed information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. Based on a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, the EPD highlights ABB’s commitment to transparency, environmental responsibility and supporting customers in making informed decisions on sustainability in their supply chains.

ABB analysed the environmental impact of a ring motor across its entire life cycle from supply chain and production to usage and end-of-life disposal. The study was conducted for a ring motor of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill with an installed power of 24 MW and was based on a reference service life of 25 years.

“Sustainability is at the core of our purpose at ABB, influencing how we operate and innovate for customers,” said Andrea Quinta, Sustainability Specialist at ABB. “By earning the Environmental Product Declaration for our ring motor, we emphasise our environmental stewardship and industry leadership for this technology. We adhered to the highest standards throughout this process, as we do in the ABB Ring Motor factory every day. This recognition highlights to the mining industry what they are bringing into their own operations when they work with ABB.”

The comprehensive LCA was conducted at ABB’s factory in Bilbao, Spain, and was externally verified and published in accordance with international standards ISO 14025 and ISO 14040/14044. It will remain valid for five years.

The ring motor, a key component of the GMD, is a drive system without any gears where the transmission of the torque between the motor and the mill is done through the magnetic field in the air gap between the motor stator and the motor rotor. It optimises grinding applications in the minerals and mining industries by enabling variable-speed operation, leading to energy and cost savings.

The full EPD for the ABB GMD Ring Motor can be viewed on EPD International.

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