ENERGY firm Steag State Power Inc. (SPI) and De La Salle University (DLSU) are collaborating on Research and Development (R&D) aimed at scaling-up the use of power generation by-products and offer alternatives to the growing challenges in the country’s construction industry.
The R&D partnership will explore, among others, appropriate applications of coal combustion by-products to further optimize the environmental, economic and social benefits apart from its current use in the cement industry.
“It is our desire to look further into the other product applications apart from existing current use in the cement industry in order to bring further more social, environmental and economic benefits to our local communities” says SPI President and CEO Dr. Bodo Goerlich.
At present, the coal-combustion by product of SPI’s 210 MW (net) coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental is mostly used up as raw material in the cement industry. Aside from that, SPI’s host municipality is also using them as replacement material in producing bricks and hollow-blocks through the LGU-initiated Villanueva Fire Bricks Making Project.
“I believe that the reuse of this by-product has significantly reduced energy costs associated with mining virgin materials from the earth and thereby cut back on greenhouse gas emissions” Dr. Goerlich explained.
“Using this by product to replace conventional materials not only conserves natural resources, but also improves the strength, durability and quality of construction materials” Dr. Goerlich added.
For his part, DLSU President Br. Raymundo B. Suplido cited the R&D partnership as a significant milestone in the university’s thrust of helping find opportunities to develop innovative solutions for technological and industrial challenges in support of the country’s development goals. (advt)
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