Is renewable energy still green? Shaping Australia’s renewable energy enterprise in an age of ecological modernisation

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy (RE) illustrates well the logic of ecological modernisation (EM). This logic has successfully transformed RE from a fringe idea owned by largely environmental actors to a mainstream one embraced by a broader constituency. This mainstream embrace inevitably (re)shapes the renewables enterprise. Not all renewables actors today are driven by environmental goals. Instead, key actors, particularly in corporate or community domains, nurture competing norms and aspirations. How the renewables project is envisaged and the goals it is directed to serve can thus differ considerably. Understanding these differences is important since transformations in the energy domain will not only impact climate protection but shape social futures in significant ways. The analysis proceeds in two interrelated steps: first, empirically – conducting an exploration of some of the main projects and actors in the contemporary Australian RE space; and second, theoretically – considering these empirical developments through an EM lens.     

Model reactor for photocatalytic degradation of persistent chemicals in ponds and waste water

A laboratory scale flow-through model reactor for the degradation of persistent chemicals using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as photocatalyst immobilized on glass beads is presented. In the test system with a volume of 18 L contaminated water is pumped to the upper part of the floating reactor and flows over the coated beads which are exposed to UV-radiation. The degradation of two dyes of different persistance was investigated. Primary degradation of methylene blue did not fit a first order kinetic due to coincident adsorption onto the photocatalyst and direct photolysis, resulting in a half-life of 6 h. A filtrate of a green algae suspension accelerated the colour removal. In contrast, reactive red 2 was degraded only by photocatalysis; neither adsorption nor direct photolysis led to a colour removal. The course of primary degradation followed a first order kinetic with a half-life of 18 h and a rate constant of 0.04 h⁻¹. Analysis of the degradation products indicated mineralization by detection of NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻, accompanied by a decrease of pH and an increase of conductivity. A successful adaptation of the model reactor (scale 1:10) to dimensions required for surface waters and waste water treatment plants would be a costefficient and environmentally sustainable application of photocatalysis for the treatment of industrially polluted water and could be of relevance for third world contries, particularly those favoured by high solar radiation.     

生物质型煤成型技术开发实验研究

通过原有成型方式的工业成型观察和模压成型实验，提出并验证了完全利用生物质纤维的交联作用实现成型的新机制。其于中高压下物料的不可再压缩性和单向挤压也会导致更高的成型压力的新认识，设计和研制成按新机制成型的型轮。经此改进的工业成型试验达到了比模压成型更好的效果：不用预实送料，且成型性能；成型压力降至120MPa以下，成型许可水分成倍提高，适合的生物质配比范围15％－60％；仅利用送料螺旋的预实功能，即可实现纯生物质型块的成型。     

Phytotoxicity and groundwater impacts of leaching from thermal treatment residues in roadways

The use of coal fly ash (CFA), municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MSWIBA) and flue gas desulfurization residue (FGDR) in road construction has become very common owing to its economical advantages. However, these residues may contain toxic constituents that pose an environmental risk if they leach out and flow through the soil, surface water and groundwater. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the ecotoxicity and groundwater impact of these residues before decisions can be made regarding their utilization for road construction. In this study, the physico-chemical characteristics, leaching and phytotoxicity of these residues were investigated. Specifically, multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the contributions of the leaching constituents of the CFA, MSWIBA and FGDR leachates to the germination index of wheat seeds. B, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe and Pb were found to be more toxic to the wheat seeds than the other heavy metals. Furthermore, the leached concentrations of the constituents from the CFA, MSWIBA and FGDR were below the regulatory threshold limits of the Chinese identification standard for hazardous wastes. Analyses conducted using a numerical groundwater model (WiscLEACH) indicated that the predicted field concentrations of metals from the CFA, MSWIBA and FGDR increased with time up to about 30 years at the point of compliance, then decreased with time and distance. Overall, this study demonstrated that the risks resulting from MSWIBA, CFA and FGDR leaching could be assessed before its utilization for road construction, providing crucial information for the adoption of these alternative materials.     

基于GRACE数据的中国水储量变化特征分析

论文以中国2003—2015年GRACE水储量数据、GLDAS-Noah地表蒸散发数据、地面实测降水数据为数据源,基于Theil-Sen Median 趋势分析和Mann-Kendall检验法,分析了中国水储量、降水量以及蒸散发量的变化趋势及相关关系,并利用经验正交函数（EOF）分析了中国水储量变化时空分布特征,结果表明：1） 2006年以后中国整体水储量年际变化剧烈,且降水和蒸散发可以识别水储量异常时段内的特征信息;2） 2003—2015年全国各地水储量、降雨量和蒸散发量变化空间分布差异明显;3） 全国共有18.6%的地区气候因素对水储量变化的方差解释量超过50%,主要位于中国东北、东南沿海、四川盆地、青海高原以及新疆西北部地区;4） EOF分解的GRACE水储量各主成分信息可以表征研究时段内中国地区整体和局部的水储量时空变化特征。     

不同基质浓度对ANAMMOX菌短期储存的影响

在15℃±1℃条件下,将厌氧氨氧化菌混培物分别置于基质浓度为0、60、120 mg·L~(-1)添加比例为1∶1的NH+4-N和NO-2-N环境中短期(15 d)储存,探究不同基质浓度对厌氧氨氧化污泥短期保存及恢复的影响.经过短期储存后进行恢复实验,结果表明,1、2、3号反应器(分别对应0、60、120 mg·L~(-1)基质浓度中储存的厌氧氨氧化菌混培物)中的厌氧氨氧化活性分别下降41. 8%、17. 4%、33. 4.%,1、3号分别由于过度内源呼吸和高基质浓度抑制,导致活性下降较大,2号反应器由于基质浓度相对合适,避免了过度内源呼吸和高基质浓度抑制,使得菌种活性在该基质浓度下保留较好;储存期间,3个反应器内均发生内源呼吸消耗自身有机物的情况,导致EPS含量下降50. 9%、41. 7%、23. 7%和粒径下降31. 6%、16. 7%、8. 2%,表明在基质匮乏期菌体通过内源呼吸的方式维持自身的活性,较高的基质浓度可以在一定程度上延缓内源呼吸过程;在恢复期间,3个反应器分别经过15、10、7 d实现脱氮性能和厌氧氨氧化活性的恢复,表明同菌种增殖富集相比,原系统通过菌种活性增强的方式脱氮性能恢复更快.     

采用大涡PIV研究Taylor-Couette流及其对混凝过程的影响

采用大涡PIV方法对Taylor-Couette流场的湍动能及湍动能耗散率进行了估算,并利用数值模拟对其进行验证,结合絮凝实验,综合对比速度矢量、湍动能分布、湍动能耗散率分布及对应流场中混凝过程的絮体图像,探究了湍动能与湍动能耗散率对絮凝效能的影响.结果表明,大涡PIV法与数值模拟在雷诺数较高的情况下有较好的一致性,且雷诺数越大一致性越好.在Taylor-Couette涡流场中,随着雷诺数的增大,湍动能与湍动能耗散率数值不断增大,且在流场中的分布由规律有序到紊乱最终趋于各向均匀一致.而混凝过程中湍动能与湍动能耗散率的数值大小及其在流场中的空间分布情况,均对产生絮体的大小和浊度去除率有较大影响.     

超声波预处理对牛粪与玉米秸秆混合厌氧发酵特性的影响

为了探索超声波预处理提高厌氧发酵产气量的机理、优化超声波预处理工艺及分析超声波预处理的能量效益,利用因子分析法和通径分析研究不同发酵阶段各环境因子对发酵过程的影响,以及发酵初始环境与甲烷产量之间的关系.同时,用响应面优化法优化超声波预处理工艺,并且分析了超声波预处理的能量效益.结果表明,在40 k Hz和0.20 k W下,适宜的超声波预处理能显著提高厌氧发酵总产气量(p0.05),牛粪预处理17.68 min后与玉米秸秆预处理19.94 min混合发酵,甲烷产量最高为177.20 L·kg-1(以TS计),显著高于CK(未经预处理组,p0.05),其能量效益也最高,为1835.14 k J·kg-1(以TS计).超声波预处理通过改变发酵初始环境之间的相互关系和发酵过程环境的主要影响因素来使发酵系统更加稳定从而提高产气量.超声波预处理是一种能量输入的预处理方式,产气量高于CK处理组,但其能量效益不一定大于零.因此,在优化超声波预处理条件时必须对其能量效益进行分析.研究结果能为超声波预处理条件的优化方式提供理论依据.     

相变储能光伏太阳能热泵干燥系统的研究

建立了相变储能光伏太阳能热泵干燥系统实验平台,介绍了系统的运行方式以及太阳能光伏集热蒸发器与直流压缩机的匹配计算,最后对实验数据进行了分析。结果表明,太阳能辐照量为800 W/m~2、光伏集热蒸发器面积为12 m~2的条件下,系统制热功率为10 k W,太阳能光伏集热蒸发器发电量为6.2 k W·h,大于直流压缩机的耗电量,满足供电要求;实验所得系统COP为3.25。相变储能可以解决太阳辐照波动导致的系统运行不稳定问题,具有显著的节能性和环保性。     

能源物质和接种物的投量对生物沥浸改善城市污泥脱水性能的影响

选用硫粉(S0)和黄铁矿粉(Fe S2)作为复合能源物质,以生物沥浸处理城市污泥脱水。通过正交试验分析了不同能源物质和接种物配比下的污泥脱水、沉降性能。结果表明:能源物质和接种物的合理配比为S0投量2 g/L、Fe S2投量6 g/L、接种物投量20%,在该投量下进行生物沥浸试验,污泥比阻由初始的3.35×1012m/kg降至3.90×1011m/kg,降幅达88.36%,污泥沉降率由68%升至78%;沥浸过程中污泥比阻、沉降率与p H值、ORP、Fe2+、Fe3+、总Fe和SO2-4质量浓度的变化同步,表明污泥脱水和沉降性能的改善是酸化、氧化和絮凝的协同作用所致;同时,细菌总数、总大肠菌群和粪大肠菌群的灭活率均在99%以上,表明生物沥浸还可高效杀灭病原微生物。