Energy Efficiency Archives - International Finance

FLSmidth beneficiation technology thrives as global iron ore grades continue to decline

IFM Correspondent — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:02:31 +0000

FLS has been awarded multiple repeat contracts to supply key technologies for Banded Haematite Quartzite (BHQ) beneficiation, a process that upgrades low-grade iron ore into a premium-grade concentrate.

The scope includes delivering a high-pressure grinding roll (the largest of its kind), nine of the world’s largest stirred media mills with hydrocyclones, nextSTEP flotation technology, concentrate thickeners and the world’s largest filtered tailings system. Additionally, FLS will provide its advanced process control systems, along with supervision, start-up, and commissioning services.

“This award underscores the strength of our customer relationships and our ability to deliver high-capacity beneficiation solutions at scale. By combining energy-efficient grinding, advanced flotation technologies, filtered tailings technologies and digital process control, we support a reliable ramp-up while improving productivity and reducing environmental impact. This project fully aligns with our MissionZero ambition to enable more sustainable mining operations,” said Qasim Abrahams, president of the Products Business Line at FLSmidth.

Sustainability And Efficiency

Industry analysts note that beneficiation technologies are increasingly critical as global iron ore grades continue to decline and mining companies face mounting pressure to improve resource efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

According to FLSmidth’s MissionZero initiative, mining companies are accelerating investments in solutions focused on reducing water waste, lowering emissions, and improving energy efficiency across mineral processing operations.

The company estimates that next-generation beneficiation flowsheets can reduce overall energy consumption by up to 30% and water consumption by as much as 80% compared to traditional processing systems.

The growing adoption of filtered tailings systems is also reshaping the mining sector’s sustainability priorities. According to FLS tailings technologies data, dry-stack and filtered tailings technologies can significantly reduce water loss, lower environmental risks, and cut the physical footprint of tailings facilities by nearly 50% compared to conventional systems.

The order value, booked in the second quarter of 2026, totals approximately DKK 300 million, with project commissioning expected in 2027-28.

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Apple co-founder’s blockchain platform built on energy efficiency

Pritam Bordoloi — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 09:47:13 +0000

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has launched a blockchain-based energy efficiency crowdfunding platform, known as Efforce. The platform is developed on the crowdfunding model which was quite popular in the early day of blockchain development, media reports said.

Efforce has established operations in Italy and Malta to raise capital for energy efficiency projects. It is one of the most energy efficient projects which allows investment returns to accrue through energy performance contracts.

Efforce in its white paper stated “The linking between the financing partners and those in need of investments to improve the energy efficiency of their structures is made possible by Energy Service Companies (E.S.Co). Through Energy Performance Contracts (EPC), these structured companies are able to generate returns on initial investments: energy efficiency translates into savings in bills for the beneficiaries. The Efforce platform solves the three main problems of the energy efficiency market: the difficulty of putting contributors and savers in contact, the size of the investments required and the type of financial return.”

To stimulate funding, the platform will use a web marketplace to verify and list proposals for projects. It is reported that the platform will also create a performance contract to track results. Although it is rumoured that the venture is a year old, Efforce has received a lot of attention for it vision and the role it plays in crowdfunding space.

According to the International Energy Agency, the energy efficiency market has reached a value of $241 billion, with a growth rate of 10 percent annually.

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EnergyPro to raise $2.5 mn to foray into India’s energy market

International Finance Business Desk — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:33:34 +0000

UK-based asset management, EnergyPro Asset Management is foraying into India’s energy efficiency market, a media report said. The company is set to raise $2.5 million in equity funding.

India is a prime market for energy efficiency programmes. Recently, Energy Efficiency Services invited bids for the selection of strategic partners in the UAE. Energy Efficiency Services is an energy service company of the Government of India. It is also the world’s largest public Energy Service Company (ESCO).

The Assam Hydrocarbon and Energy Company Limited (AHECL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Energy Efficiency Services, media reports said.

According to Assam Additional Chief Secretary & Managing Director of AHECL VS Bhaskar, it is vital to implement energy projects across the State of Assam. These energy projects will play a critical role in reducing carbon footprint and fighting against global warming.

In fact, AHECL has sought approval for 10 percent participating interest in Oil India Limited (OIL), media reports said. The state government said, “While the APL delegation requested the Union Minister for sanction of a subsidy from the Central government in line with the feedstock subsidy, which has been sanctioned to BCPL recently as per decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. On the other hand, the delegation of Assam Hydrocarbon and Energy Company Limited (AHECL) requested the Union Minister for approval of 10 percent participating interest in OIL as a measure to make the PSU more viable.”

In line with the Paris agreement, India has committed to reduce 33.5 percent carbon emissions intensity by 2030.

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Earth Day calls human-induced disasters irreversible

International Finance Desk — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 07:11:45 +0000

On Earth Day, tech giant Google made it special with Dr Jane Goodall’s Google Doodle in a video: “Do our part for this beautiful planet.”

Environmental activists have been trying to prevent activities that will mutate the planet in more ways than one. Some of the jarring examples include regular plastic use, global warming, climate change and release of waste from farm and poultry operations, which have led to species extinction, estuary pollution and quick melting of Greenland’s ice.

The last few years have witnessed disasters that remind us it’s time to stop going back to our old habits.

Here are a few tips you can follow for a better environment:

Organise a carpool with co-workers or use a rideshare app (Even the most health-conscious decision to ride a bike can make a difference.)
Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs that will not consume excess electricity
Focus on digital facilities to run payments, read e-Books, extract bank statements and receive travel tickets
Unplug devices at night to maximise energy efficiency and lower output
Ensure to have plants at home in order to regulate temperature and keep the air clean

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Five Steps to Scale-Up Energy Efficiency

International Finance Desk — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:50:15 +0000

BY JAS SINGH.

9th January 2014

Most experts agree that energy efficiency is a critical building block for sustainable development. This is because improvements in energy efficiency strengthen a country’s energy security, increase competitiveness, ease shortages in energy supply, and lower environmental impacts including local and greenhouse gas emissions.

Why doesn’t it happen then?

A big reason is the hassle factor. Some businesses have limitations on financing ability. Management attention is focused on the company’s priority—production. There is often little space left over for energy efficiency. For others, consumers don’t perceive that potential gains will offset the higher costs of energy efficient equipment. There is also a fairness aspect: some people seeing energy efficiency as a public good, and don’t see why they should assume the burden of investment for benefits that many will enjoy—even if they did not contribute.

Governments try to respond with regulations, incentives and subsidies, information and other mechanisms to change people’s and companies’ decision-making and behavior, but results generally lag behind the rhetoric. So how can energy efficiency actually be scaled-up? Here are five suggested steps:

First, focus initially on government action. Countries in which governments took an active, leadership role in promoting energy efficiency—including seeking to achieve high efficiency levels within their own facilities—have generally performed better. Examples of such countries include the U.S., Germany, Denmark, Japan and more recently China. This can include a range of measures—from appointing energy managers and adopting energy management systems, to adjusting budgeting, public finance and procurement rules to favor energy efficient products/systems, to preparing case studies and best practice guides to acknowledge and reward good performers.

Common ownership and similar building types (e.g., schools, hospitals) offer excellent opportunities to bundle projects or equipment purchases together, allowing significant economies of scale. This allows governments to have a catalytic effect on local markets, attracting new service providers and equipment suppliers, increasing competition and driving down prices.

Second, create budgetary space for energy efficiency. Given the massive benefits that robust energy efficiency programs can deliver—the U.S. has saved some US$11.7 billion under its Federal Energy Management Program, Germany saves €40+ million each year from its public energy service company (ESCO) programs—governments must be urged to allocate substantial public funds to make them happen. A large share of these funds can be provided on a revolving basis through energy efficiency funds and banking programs, guarantee schemes, and ESCO financing. Public funds, if designed correctly, can “crowd in” rather than “crowd out” commercial financing. Public budget support is also needed to create and maintain institutional structures—covering market analyses, data collection and analysis, program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, awareness campaigns, and training. Modest funds will also be required to support incentive schemes, particularly for low-income and other residential programs.

Third, stop doing pilot projects. Pilot projects, as opposed to demonstration projects, are supposed to test implementation mechanisms on a small scale before expansion. Unfortunately, most pilots are done without any plans or means for scaling-up successful schemes and the experience is lost soon after the pilot ends.

Fourth, build markets for energy efficiency. Grants can, in some cases, remove the competitive market discipline that makes companies successful. Energy efficiency programs are generally based on market-mature technologies and well-tested program models, so grant-funded pilots should not be necessary. Governments, donors and partners should establish national programs for key sectors (e.g. industry, buildings, transport), with accompanying regulatory mechanisms, incentives, information and technical support to achieve the energy efficiency goals. These programs should have national targets and mechanisms to monitor progress. They should allow for midcourse corrections, with accountability, if desired outcomes are not reached.

Fifth, focus regulatory mechanisms on the nonperformers. Developing countries often lack the capacity to enforce all the regulations, which can create huge liabilities for them. For energy efficiency, efforts can be made to achieve regulatory compliance through programming, incentives and financing. This leaves a smaller, more manageable slice of the market for regulatory enforcement. Enforcement mechanisms can take many forms—from product bans to minimum standards and codes, to fines and revoking of business licenses. China’s government closed some 2,000 energy-intensive factories (e.g., steel, cement) in 2010 that were unable to make the necessary energy efficiency improvements. It need not be that uncompromising, but the threat of regulatory action can help motivate those lagging businesses to take action.

None of these actions is easy. But we know that energy efficiency is a powerful resource to be exploited and should be willing to make a collective commitment to making it happen. So, let’s stop debating what should be done and get on with doing it—at scale.

Source: The World Bank Group

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