Georgios Charalampides

Rare Earth Elements: Industrial Applications and Economic Dependency of Europe☆

Abstract Rare Earth Oxides are used in mature markets (such as catalysts, glassmaking and metallurgy), which account for 59% of the total worldwide consumption of rare earth elements, and in newer, high-growth markets (such as battery alloys, ceramics, and permanent magnets), which account for 41% of the total worldwide consumption of rare earth elements. China currently controls completely the mining activity, the enrichment technologies and metallurgy, and end-metal products of rare earths, resulting for both Europe and the U.S.A. in full industrial dependency. Due to high demand and limited availability of rare earth elements (REEs), Europe is unable to meet its industrial needs today for the manufacturing sector. Therefore the EU has included them in the group of 14 critical minerals. The balance of demand and supply in the world market of Rare Earth Metals was always rather unstable. The most significant increase of prices took place during the years 2009-2011, followed by a sudden and substantial fall in prices due mainly to the actual, persistent heavy economic crisis of the industrialized countries. The EU, in order to limit the dependency of REE imports, would have to employ alternative measures to secure REE supply security by adopting an admixture of trade policies, industrial adjustment and innovation and budget allocations in the member states.

Sustainability Components Affecting Decisions for Green Building Projects

Construction process is the broad mechanism for the realization of human settlements and the creation of infrastructure that supports development. This includes the extraction and beneficiation of raw materials, the manufacturing of construction materials and components, the construction project cycle from feasibility to deconstruction, and the management and operation of the built environment In Greece, the complex problems shared by cities are evidence of the impacts of urban sprawl. This research aims to investigate the sustainability components affecting decisions for green building projects. The research method is based on a questionnaire survey of thirty two participants who asked to assess nine sustainability components namely: Life cycle assessment, energy efficiency and renewable energy, water efficiency, environmentally preferable building materials and specifications, waste reduction, toxics reduction, indoor air quality, smart growth and sustainable development and environmentally innovative projects, which affect the decisions for green building projects. The respondent results indicate how participants prioritized the sustainability components ensuring a better quality of life inside buildings based on the principals of “green” buildings economy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy is considered of high priority followed by the reduction of toxic materials, indoor pollution and water saving.

Assessment of the economic benefits from sustainable construction in Greece

The growing awareness of involving the criterion of sustainability in building design imposes questions of economic assessment of the proposed solutions. The aim of this research is to assess the economic benefits of sustainable construction in Greece. A questionnaire posed to 19 experts (consultant engineers, construction managers and contractors) based on the Delphi technique was carried out in order to gather experience on the economic benefits of sustainable construction. In particular, it is more economical at the operation phase of life cycle assessment and sufficiently important to be adopted at the design phase. Among the economic benefits of sustainable construction, reduce energy usage (REU) ranks first, followed by protection of the natural and social environment (NSE) and providing a healthy comfortable living environment (HLE). The results of the study show that the majority of experts believe that sustainable construction is overall more economical than standard practice.

Socio-economic aspects of CCS technologies

Abstract Economic viability and public support are key factors of concern, along with technological advancement and ecological impact, for the implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, an increasingly urgent priority, to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to global climate change, and building a low-carbon economy towards sustainable development. In the present study, recent socio-economic aspects of CCS technologies are discussed. Although real cost estimation for CCS is generally considered a difficult task, an estimated relatively high cost and energy requirements of these technologies, along with an uncertainty over public acceptance of CCS, appear major barriers to the deployment of a substantial commercial market, constraining the economic viability and policy making for the application of CCS. The full life-cycle cost of CCS must be considered in an overall social/environmental/economic/political context. Social research conducted using various tools can provide an insight into several factors influencing and shaping public awareness and perceptions of CCS, in order to promote communication of expert knowledge and participation, and to enhance the required social acceptance for the advancement of these technologies.

Suitability of Quartz Sands for Different Industrial Applications

Abstract Quartz is found in the nature in varying purity and is traded in varying quality for different industrial applications. It can be used either for high added value applications such as silicon-metal wafers, optical glass or PV panels or for more ordinary applications such as foundry sand for metal castings or as a filler for adhesives and grouts. Extended exploration work in area of central Macedonia, resulted in the identification of medium purity quartz river deposits. Preliminary laboratory tests verified the suitability of these quartz sands to be used as filler materials for making adhesives and grouts.

Market Developments and Industrial Innovative Applications of High Purity Quartz Refines

Starting from ancient glassworks and applications of sand and quartz samples to silica in commodities we enter into the industrial utilization of ultra-pure quartz. Raw materials for the production of high–, ultra- and hyper–qualities of quartz and their utilization by Greek companies and internationally are presented. Explained are innovative methods for removing fluid inclusions from quartz crystals and efficient separation from feldspars to derive ultrapure quartz for large scale industrial processing. Exploitable resources from quartz-mine waste were further discussed in connection to green innovation developments to production of photovoltaic panels. The products of ultra-pure quartz used in contemporary high-tech applications such as electronic industry, optical fibers, silicon cells for photovoltaic systems and cooperation of Greek and European companies for the final step of assessment and suitability testing of laboratory samples was acknowledged.

CCS Ready innovative technologies in coal-fired power plants as an effective tool for a Greek low carbon energy policy

This paper provides a preliminary assessment on how CCS-Ready technology can contribute to reduce CO2 emissions from new fossil fuels coal fired power plants and to describe what is its current status in the region of Western Macedonia in Northwestern Greece. The development of the new Unit V of Ptolemais plant is discussed in order to decide if the investment costs of retrofitting at some later point in time depend on the initial design phase of the coal fired power plant and can be reduced by a CCS-Ready installation. Another critical item is whether it is preferable to install CCS Ready technology right away or to wait when the full privatization of the Greek Public Power Corporation will proceed. This study analyses the Greek prospects to store significant quantities of CO2 emissions from the local coal fired power plants in the Prinos depleted offshore oil-field deep saline aquifers

Sustainability Perspectives in Greece as Reflected by Mineral Deposits Exploitation

Abstract The mining activity and further exploitation of mineral wealth remain the main development priorities of Greece. The exploitation of rich deposits of mineral raw materials is a timeless essential reference for the mining and metallurgical activities in Greece. The Greek minerals are early target of productive investment and interest, with strong commercial presence in the global market offering employment opportunities for large numbers of workers. Today employs about 23,000 workers and there are still more than 100,000 employment positions. The specification of strategic options for the future of mining in Greece should be of high priority, as well as the definition of a «roadmap» for the optimal use and sustainable exploitation of specific mineral raw materials.

The Contribution of Industrial Minerals to Sustainable Recovery of Greek Economy

Industrial Minerals and Rocks are the raw materials of economic value that are not classified as metallic minerals, fossil fuels or precious stones. The production and export potential of domestic perlite reveal Greece as a leader both at European and at global level as well as other industrial minerals such as bentonite and magnesite, which also could contribute by a distinctive manner to the economic development of the country. The quality, however, and the processing expertise are important factors in producing special products to meet the needs and market requirements for specific end uses, specifically rare earth elements (REE) as critical strategic minerals in high-tech products. Occurrences and industrial mineral deposits, primarily in North Greece, are examined in relation to their uses, such as feldspars, pozzolan, pumice, kaolin, zeolites, quartz, gypsum, white carbonates.