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Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Nickel Products

Author

Listed:
  • Wenjing Wei

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
    Kobolde &Partners AB, Ringvägen 100, 118 60 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Peter B. Samuelsson

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Anders Tilliander

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Rutger Gyllenram

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
    Kobolde &Partners AB, Ringvägen 100, 118 60 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Pär G. Jönsson

    (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

The primary energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from nickel smelting products have been assessed through case studies using a process model based on mass and energy balance. The required primary energy for producing nickel metal, nickel oxide, ferronickel, and nickel pig iron is 174 GJ/t alloy (174 GJ/t contained Ni), 369 GJ/t alloy (485 GJ/t contained Ni), 110 GJ/t alloy (309 GJ/t contained Ni), and 60 GJ/t alloy (598 GJ/t contained Ni), respectively. Furthermore, the associated GHG emissions are 14 tCO 2 -eq/t alloy (14 tCO 2 -eq/t contained Ni), 30 t CO 2 -eq/t alloy (40 t CO 2 -eq/t contained Ni), 6 t CO 2 -eq/t alloy (18 t CO 2 -eq/t contained Ni), and 7 t CO 2 -eq/t alloy (69 t CO 2 -eq/t contained Ni). A possible carbon emission reduction can be observed by comparing ore type, ore grade, and electricity source, as well as allocation strategy. The suggested process model overcomes the limitation of a conventional life cycle assessment study which considers the process as a ‘black box’ and allows for an identification of further possibilities to implement sustainable nickel production.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjing Wei & Peter B. Samuelsson & Anders Tilliander & Rutger Gyllenram & Pär G. Jönsson, 2020. "Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Nickel Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:21:p:5664-:d:436826
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bo P. Weidema & Jannick H. Schmidt, 2010. "Avoiding Allocation in Life Cycle Assessment Revisited," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 14(2), pages 192-195, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Datu Buyung Agusdinata & Wenjuan Liu & Sinta Sulistyo & Philippe LeBillon & Je'anne Wegner, 2023. "Evaluating sustainability impacts of critical mineral extractions: Integration of life cycle sustainability assessment and SDGs frameworks," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 746-759, June.
    2. Yulia Mozzhegorova & Galina Ilinykh & Vladimir Korotaev, 2024. "Life Cycle Assessment of a Gas Turbine Installation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-24, January.
    3. Ma, Yu & Wang, Minxi & Li, Xin, 2022. "Analysis of the characteristics and stability of the global complex nickel ore trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Vuong, Quan-Hoang & Nguyen, Minh-Hoang & La, Viet-Phuong, 2023. "Một số vấn đề môi trường cần lưu ý khi khai thác và tinh chế Nickel," OSF Preprints qwh3a, Center for Open Science.
    5. Wojciech Kaczan & Jan Kudełko & Herbert Wirth, 2021. "Szklary nickel deposit — a review and introduction to attempts in hydrometallurgical processing," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 34(2), pages 315-322, July.

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