Industrial Boiler Parts, Services, and Upgrades for Power Plants – Babcock & Wilcox

Report on Pulverizer/Mill Technology and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Advancements in Industrial Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9)

B&W demonstrates a commitment to industry, innovation, and infrastructure through the continual development of technologies, upgrades, and replacement parts for its pulverizer and mill systems. This focus on technological advancement directly supports the creation of resilient and sustainable industrial infrastructure.

• System Upgrades: Continuous improvements are engineered for B&W Roll Wheel, E/EL pulverizers, and CE-type mills.
• Engineered Components: All parts are manufactured to original specifications, ensuring proper fit, reliability, and optimal performance, which is fundamental to robust industrial operations.

Contributions to Affordable, Clean Energy and Climate Action (SDG 7 & SDG 13)

By enhancing the performance and reliability of grinding equipment, B&W’s initiatives contribute to greater efficiency in energy production. More efficient pulverization leads to improved combustion, reducing the amount of fuel required per unit of energy generated. This directly supports targets related to energy efficiency and climate action.

1. Improved Performance: Upgrades and precision parts lead to finer, more consistent coal grinding, which improves combustion efficiency.
2. Reduced Emissions: Enhanced efficiency can lower the carbon intensity of energy production by reducing fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Fostering Responsible Consumption and Economic Growth (SDG 12 & SDG 8)

The company’s programs are designed to reduce operational and maintenance costs, promoting sustainable economic practices for its clients. Furthermore, inventory management and support services align with principles of responsible consumption and production by optimizing resource use.

• Cost Reduction: A primary goal is to lower operating and maintenance expenditures, contributing to the economic sustainability of energy producers.
• Resource Management: The Assured Stock Program® inventory management system promotes responsible production patterns by ensuring parts are available when needed, minimizing downtime and preventing wasteful overstocking.
• Technical Support: Providing expert technical support ensures equipment is operated at peak efficiency, maximizing the value derived from resources and supporting decent work through skill enhancement.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in thearticle?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The article discusses technology to improve the performance of pulverizers used for grinding coal, a primary fuel source for many power plants. By improving the efficiency of this equipment, the technology contributes to optimizing energy production, which is a key aspect of SDG 7.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The text explicitly mentions the continual development of “new technologies, upgrades, [and] replacement parts” for industrial mills. This focus on technological advancement and upgrading industrial equipment directly aligns with the goal of fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Improving the performance and reliability of coal pulverizers leads to more efficient grinding and combustion of coal. This means less of the natural resource (coal) is wasted to produce the same amount of energy, supporting the goal of achieving more sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• While not explicitly stated, enhancing the efficiency of coal-fired power plants through better pulverizer technology directly results in lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit of energy produced. This is a crucial measure for mitigating climate change by reducing the carbon intensity of existing energy infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

• The article’s focus on developing technologies to “improve reliability and performance” and “reduce operating and maintenance costs” of pulverizers directly contributes to increasing the overall energy efficiency of the power plants where this equipment is used.

Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.

• The offering of “upgrades” and “new technologies” for existing pulverizers and mills is a direct example of retrofitting industries. These improvements aim to enhance performance, which increases resource-use efficiency in the industrial sector.

Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

• By improving the grinding process for “all types and blends of coals,” the technology ensures that the coal is used more effectively. This leads to a more efficient use of this natural resource, directly aligning with the objective of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Implied Indicator for Energy Efficiency (Target 7.3)

• Energy intensity of power generation: The article’s goal to “improve… performance” implies a reduction in the amount of coal required to produce a unit of energy. Progress could be measured by tracking the decrease in fuel consumption per megawatt-hour (MWh) in plants that adopt these upgrades.

Implied Indicator for Sustainable Industry (Target 9.4)

• Rate of technology adoption: The availability of “upgrades” and “new technologies” suggests that a relevant metric would be the rate at which industrial facilities (power plants) adopt these more efficient pulverizer systems, indicating progress in retrofitting the industry.

Implied Indicator for Resource Efficiency (Target 12.2)

• Reduction in operational costs: The article mentions a goal to “reduce operating and maintenance costs.” Lower operating costs are often a direct result of higher efficiency and less resource (fuel) consumption, making this a practical, implied indicator of more efficient resource use.

Implied Indicator for Climate Action (Target 13.2)

• CO2 emissions per unit of value added: The primary climate benefit of increased efficiency in a coal plant is reduced emissions. Therefore, a key implied indicator is the reduction in CO2 emissions per MWh of electricity generated by facilities using the improved technology.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: babcock.com