Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Nickel Products

Wenjing Wei, Peter B. Samuelsson, Anders Tilliander, Rutger Gyllenram and Pär G. Jönsson
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Wenjing Wei: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 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
Pär G. Jönsson: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-22

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.

Keywords: nickel; LCA; energy consumption; greenhouse gas emission; material balance; energy balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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