Empa: potential recycling in fossil energy infrastructure (cross-border guide)

Context

In short - The recycling of fossil carrier infrastructure could cover the entire steel requirement and about a third of that of copper needed for the energy transition. - Recycling facilities worldwide would have sufficient capacity for this purpose. ## Key Facts - What : Fossil Carrier Infrastructure Recycling - When: By 2050 - Where: Worldwide - Who: Empa - Amount: $4 trillion to $11 trillion The Federal Materials Testing and Research Laboratory (Empa) has released a statement indicating that fossil carrier infrastructure recycling could cover the entire steel and about one-third of the copper needs needed for the energy transition. Recycling facilities worldwide would have sufficient capacity for this purpose. Recycling infrastructure for fossil carriers could make the construction of solar and wind plants cheaper and more environmentally friendly. The Empa research group wanted to find out what raw material potential is hidden in these decommissioned plants and how it can be exploited for the green transition. According to the researchers, recycling metals is both ecologically and economically beneficial. In fact, it is significantly more environmentally friendly than primary extraction. While the production of steel generates slag and carbon dioxide and ## Concrete examples - In the Canton of Ticino, for example, there are several infrastructures for fossil carriers that could be subject to recycling. - Among these, we can mention the railway lines that connect Ticino with the rest of Switzerland, such as the Gotthard line. - These lines could undergo a recycling process to recover materials such as steel and copper. ## Comparisons between practical scenarios - Recycling fossil carrier infrastructure could be an important solution to reduce Switzerland's dependence on internationally mined materials. - In addition, recycling could also be useful to reduce the amount of toxic waste generated from the production of steel and copper. - Recycling could also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated from steel and copper production.

Operational details

Recycling fossil carrier infrastructure could have a significant impact on the energy transition. According to the study published in the journal Nature Communications, current fossil energy infrastructures are becoming increasingly obsolete. The Empa research group wanted to find out what raw material potential is hidden in these decommissioned plants and how it can be exploited for the green transition.

The study focuses on the analysis of the fossil energy infrastructures present in Switzerland, with particular attention to the cantons of Zurich, Bern and Vaud, where there are many decommissioned plants. According to Empa estimates, around 30% of the fossil energy infrastructure in Switzerland could be recycled and used for the production of renewable energy.

Recycling fossil energy infrastructure could have a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to estimates by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), renewable energy production could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 70% by 2050.

The Empa research group identified three main areas of recycling of fossil energy infrastructure:

1. Metallic materials recycling : Metallic materials in fossil energy infrastructure could be recycled and used for

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Key points

Switzerland is one of the leading countries in the energy sector, with a high percentage of renewable energy production and a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, the current Swiss energy system is still largely based on fossil energy, which represents a limited and depleting resource. In this context, the Empa (Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt) presented a report exploring the possibility of recycling fossil energy infrastructure into renewable energy facilities.

"Infrastructure recycling is a winning strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency." - Dr. Daniel Götz, head of Empa's energy department

The Empa report highlights that fossil energy infrastructure, such as power plants and transport networks, could be transformed into renewable energy facilities, such as solar power plants and charging stations for electric vehicles. This recycling process could be achieved by replacing existing components with more modern and efficient technologies.

To learn more, check out the Energy Transition and Cost Comparison Calculator.

Concrete examples

• The Aesch power plant (canton Lucerne) could be transformed into a solar power plant, with an area of about 10 ha and a production of 5

Source: laregione.ch