EU Policies
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The European Union regulates the operation of various industrial activities in order to implement its policy and protect the environment. One of the main instruments available is the so called Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, 2010/75/EU) and one of its aims is the adoption of the best available techniques (BAT) for pollution control as described in reference documents or BREFs, particular to each industrial sector. The Magnesia or magnesium oxide (MgO) production industrial sector (where Grecian Magnesite belongs to) is regulated by the IED and the relevant BREF is the so called Cement-Lime-Magnesia or CLM BREF.
The current project will demonstrate that the relevant SOx emission limit values of the CLM BREF are achievable by using MgO as desulfurization reagent and will allow the inclusion of the proposed FGD technique as a documented reference in the next revision of the CLM BREF and its replication in the magnesia sector.
Follow the links for more details:
The Industrial Emission Directive:
ec.europa.eu/environment/industry/stationary/ied/legislation.htm
BREF and BAT Conclusions for the Cement, Lime and Magnesium Oxide Manufacturing Industries:
eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/BREF/CLM_Published_def.pdf
eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/BREF/CLM_BATC_Published.pdf
Furthermore, the proposed dry desulfurization technology allows for the sustainable development of the European industry by facilitating the use of a wider fuel range and creating synergies with the European energy and raw materials policies. The results of the valorisation of the generated residue/by-product will be compared against agricultural raw material specifications and EU and National legislation and will contribute to the Raw Materials Policy. Moreover, GM will conduct a study to quantify the environmental benefits (raw material savings and related CO2 emissions) of producing these valorisable by-products.
Finally, the project is relevant with important European Union policy initiatives (explained here in more detail), such as:
- The Clean Air Policy Package includes legislative proposals that are presently being considered by the European Parliament and Council. The main elements of this air quality policy package, i.e. the air pollutants it focusses on, their respective sources and origins, the scope for taking action and the benefits this would render for health, economy and environment.
LIFEPOSITIVEMgOFGD contributed information related to the proposed FGD technology to the European Commission Joint Research Center’s Catalogue of Air Quality Measures. The database is intended for officials responsible for air quality assessment, planning and management on the national, regional and local level. The relevant entry can be found under the title “Dry flue gas desulfurisation technology using magnesium oxide - Yerakini, Greece” in the following link: https://fairmode.jrc.ec.
- Circular Economy Action Plan adopted by the Commission on 2 December 2015, has created an important momentum to support the transition towards a more circular economy in the EU. This package included legislative proposals on waste, with long term targets to reduce landfilling and increase recycling and reuse. In order to close the loop of product lifecycles, it also included an Action Plan to support the the circular economy in each step of the value chain – from production to consumption, repair and manufacturing, waste management and secondary raw materials that are fed back into the economy.
- EIT Raw Materials. is the largest and strongest consortium in the raw materials sector worldwide. Its vision is a European Union where raw materials are a major strength. Its mission is to boost competitiveness, growth and attractiveness of the European raw materials sector via radical innovation and guided entrepreneurship
- New Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). PRIMA Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) covers the following priorities:
(1) Integrated and sustainable management of water for arid and semi-arid Mediterranean areas (Water Management),
(2) Sustainable farming systems under Mediterranean environmental constraints (Farming systems),
(3) Sustainable Mediterranean agro-food value chain for regional and local development (Agro-food Value Chain)