DOCSLIB.ORG

Stability Analysis of a Longwall Mining in Narva Oil Shale Mine

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Stability Analysis of a Longwall Mining in Narva Oil Shale Mine STABILITY ANALYSIS OF A LONGWALL MINING IN NARVA OIL SHALE MINE Ott Oisalu Taavi Lõhmuste Civil Engineering, master's level (120 credits) 2017 Luleå University of Technology Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering LULEÅ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Civil engineering X7003B Taavi Lõhmuste, Ott Oisalu STABILITY ANALYSIS OF A LONGWALL MINING IN NARVA OIL SHALE MINE Master’s degree project Supervisor: Dr. David Saiang External supervisor: Dr. Oleg Nikitin Luleå 2017 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................... 7 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Project organisation .............................................................................................. 9 1.3 Tasks of the project ............................................................................................. 10 2. Methodology ............................................................................................................. 11 2.1 Baltic Basin oil shale resources .......................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Characterization of oil shale in Baltic basin ................................................ 11 2.1.2 Kukersite distribution in Estonia and geological strata ............................... 13 2.1.3 Characterization of Estonia deposit ............................................................. 14 2.1.4. Narva mining field backround information and location description ......... 16 2.1.5. Narva oil shale quarry geology ................................................................... 18 2.3 Geotechnical model ............................................................................................ 21 2.3.1 Description of soils and rocks ...................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Description of discontinuities ...................................................................... 23 2.3.3 General geomechanical properties of rock .................................................. 24 2.3.4 Geomechanical properties of rock – Hoek & Brown parameters ................ 27 2.3.5 Model parameters – rock mass properties ................................................... 29 2.3.6 General model description ........................................................................... 31 2.3.7 Hydrogeological description ........................................................................ 34 2.3.8 Model description for the highwall – RS2 ................................................... 36 2.3.9 Model description for the highwall – FLAC ............................................... 38 2.4 Technology of (punch) longwall mining ............................................................ 40 2.5 Chain pillar design .............................................................................................. 44 2.5.1 Empirical method ......................................................................................... 45 4. Results ................................................................................................................ 48 4.1 Numerical modelling results for the highwall slope stability ............................. 48 4.2 Results from ALPS (Chain pillar stability) ........................................................ 59 5. Discussions and recommendations ..................................................................... 67 5.1 Higwall slope stability analysis .......................................................................... 67 5.2 Chain pillar stability analysis .............................................................................. 69 References ..................................................................................................................... 71 Appendices ................................................................................................................... 74 Appendix 1. Geological crossection of Northern-Kiviõli oil shale quarry [36] ....... 74 Appendix 2. Production layer thickness along Estonia deposit [11] ........................ 75 Appendix 3. Borehole data (see Figure 3) [18] ........................................................ 76 Appendix 4. Production layer physical parameters [37] .......................................... 77 Appendix 5. Safety factor for a 3-entry system ........................................................ 78 Appendix 6. Safety factor for a 2-entry system ........................................................ 79 Appendix 7. Safety factor related to length of the pillar (undersized width) ........... 80 3 4 ABSTRACT STABILITY ANALYSIS OF A LONGWALL MINING IN NARVA OIL SHALE MINE Taavi Lõhmuste, Ott Oisalu Civil Engineering Luleå University of Technology Year 2017 Oil shale industry in Estonia is looking at other mining technologies as alternative to strip mining and room and pillar mining methods. One such alternative to the room and pillar method is the punch-longwall mining method. Enefit Kaevandused AS, one of the major oil shale companies in Estonia, plans to employ this technology in exploiting some of its resources in the near future. This thesis examines the different stability problems related to the planned punch-longwall mining project in Narva oil shale mine. Determining optimal chain pillar dimensions and stability of the punch-longwall highwall slope are the main objectives of this project. Rock mechanical analyses have been done and recommendations are made based on the rock mechanical aspect of the mining process. Taavi Lõhmuste is responsible for the chain pillar stability analysis and Ott Oisalu for the punch-longwall highwall slope stability analysis. It is essential to understand the geology of a certain area in order to make accurate stability assessments. Because of the previously stated requirements, the geology of Estonian oil shale deposit is examined in the first part of the thesis in order to determine the geological and rock mechanical conditions to set the foundation for further analyses. In conclusion, for the part of the highwall slope, a properly designed barrier pillar plays a key role in the stability of the slope. After reviewing and analyzing the results of both highwall slope numerical models, it can be stated that the minimum length for the barrier pillar that still will yield in stable highwall slope is 65 meters. For the part of the chain pillars, in conclusion, it can be determined that optimal chain pillar dimensions that should be suitable, from the stability standpoint, are 6x6 meters for 3-entry system and 7x7 meters for 2-entry system (length x width). Keywords: longwall mining, oil shale, stability analysis, chain pillars, barrier pillar, slope stability 5 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would first like to thank our thesis advisor Dr David Saiang of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering at Luleå University of Technology. We would also like to acknowledge Dr Oleg Nikitin at Enefit Kaevandused AS as the second reader of this thesis, and we are grateful for his very valuable comments on this thesis. Finally, authors of this thesis would like to acknowledge Enefit Kaevandused AS for their part in making this project come to fruition. 7 1. INTRODUCTION Oil shale is the most important energy resource of Estonia and related industries are biggest job providers in the country. There are three big energy companies involved in the oil shale mining and processing industry: Eesti Energia AS, Viru Keemia Grupp AS and Kiviõli Keemiatööstus OÜ. These companies employ about 9500 people and the whole sector contribute about 4% of the national cross domestic product [1] [2]. This Master’s degree project is done in cooperation with the Enefit Kaevandused AS. 1.1 Background The bedding depth of the commercial oil shale bed is increasing southwards in the Estonia deposit. In Estonian practice, the economically reasonable depth of oil shale bed for opencast mining is up to 30 m. For greater depths than this, underground mining methods are employed. The mining front in Narva quarry is approaching this limit, i.e., the thickness of overburden is reaching 30 m. Also, in the SW part of the quarry the oil shale reserves are covered with peat reserves, and there underground mining might be the only way to extract the oil shale resource without destroying the upper peat layers. Enefit Kaevandused AS is planning to test underground mining (longwall mining) method as a potential technology for oil shale extraction for greater depths. Longwall mining technology has become significant in connection with the Enefit Kaevandused AS plan to deploy the technology (longwall mining) in the southern part of the Narva quarry mining field. In the first decade of the 21st century, Viru Keemia Grupp at the time considered to introduce longwall mining in the yet to be developed Ojamaa mine, but most likely due to the outbreak of the global economic crisis in 2008, it was decided to go with a safer version, with the already well-known room-and-pillar mining technology [3]. Longwall mining could be considered for implementation at the prospective Uus-Kiviõli
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Strip Mining Handbook
    1 FOREWORD 2 by 3 U.S. Rep. Morris K. Udall, Chairman 4 House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee 5 January, 1990 6 Congressman Morris (“Mo”) Udall, tireless champion of the federal strip mining laws, passed away on December 12, 1998. This foreword, which first appeared in the 1980 edition of this book, is included in its entirety as a tribute to Mo and to his extraordinary efforts to protect the public and the environment from the ravages of strip mining. 7 8 9 In the 1960's and early 1970's coal strip mining quickly overwhelmed underground mining as the 10 dominant mining method. But the new mining methods brought ravaged hillsides and polluted streams 11 to the once-beautiful landscape. State governments proved ill-equipped to prevent the severe 12 environmental degradation that this new mining method left in its wake. From our rivers, forests and 13 Appalachian Mountains in the East, to our prime farmlands of the Midwest, to our prairies and deserts of the 14 great West, stories abound during this time of reckless coal operators devastating landscapes, polluting 15 the water, destroying family homes, churches and cemeteries, and threatening fragile ecosystems. Perhaps 16 the most tragic case of abuse came on February 26th, 1972, at Buffalo Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, 17 when a crudely constructed coal waste dam collapsed causing a flood that killed 125 people, left scores of 18 others homeless, and caused millions of dollars in property damage. Something had to be done. 19 I was proud to stand in the White House Rose Garden on August 3rd, 1977, to witness the President sign 20 into law a bill that I sponsored — the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA).
    [Show full text]
  • Pagina 1 Di 9 15/02/2016
    Pagina 1 di 9 African swine fever, Print Estonia Close Information received on 24/01/2016 from Dr Olev Kalda, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary and Food Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Tallinn, Estonia Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 81 Date of start of the event 02/09/2014 Date of confirmation of the event 08/09/2014 Report date 24/01/2016 Date submitted to OIE 24/01/2016 Reason for notification First occurrence of a listed disease Manifestation of disease Clinical disease Causal agent African swine fever virus Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (advanced), Necropsy This event pertains to the whole country Immediate notification (08/09/2014) Follow-up report No. 1 (10/09/2014) Follow-up report No. 2 (15/09/2014) Follow-up report No. 3 (18/09/2014) Follow-up report No. 4 (22/09/2014) Follow-up report No. 5 (26/09/2014) Follow-up report No. 6 (03/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 7 (06/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 8 (10/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 9 (15/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 10 (16/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 11 (27/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 12 (28/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 13 (29/10/2014) Follow-up report No. 14 (03/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 15 (05/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 16 (14/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 17 (17/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 18 (20/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 19 (24/11/2014) Follow-up report No.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Longwall Mining Subsidence on Ground Water
    EFFECTS OF LONGW ALL MINING SUBSIDENCE ON GROUND WATER LEVELS WITHIN A WATERSHED HYDRAULICALLY ISOLATED FROM MINE DRAINAGE' Bogdan Staszewski2 Abstract: Surface and ground water resources are effectively preserved from depletion by underground mine drainage if impervious deposits of sufficient thickness and extent that underlie the aquifer avoid fracturing and undergo only plastic deformation resulted from the strata flexure. This does not mean, however, that these waters are not subjected to the effects of mining disturbance. Differential vertical settlement of the mine overburden and the ground surface can significantly affect flow pattern and water retention within a watershed area. This is evident, for example, in the areas of multi seam coal mining where the longwall method is used. The effects of this type of mining on water level were tested in a selected watershed where shallow water bearing deposits were entirely isolated from underground mine pumpage. Results of more than 7 years of field investigations were compared with data collected from other coal mining areas of various hydrogeological conditions. The study revealed a variety of water table responses on the postmining subsidence. Basically, changes of water table height in a given site above the point located at the top of aquifer base depend mainly on alteration of that point position against the local drainage base in the hierarchic structure of flow system. The relationship between the magnitude of ground subsidence and water level decline varies within the area of the subsidence trough, within the watershed, and among various watersheds of different hydrogeologic conditions. Except for the situation of hydrostatic flow conditions, lowering of water table elevation in response to the settlement of aquifer base was observed.
    [Show full text]
  • Coal Mine Methane Recovery: a Primer
    Coal Mine Methane Recovery: A Primer U.S. Environmental Protection Agency July 2019 EPA-430-R-09-013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was originally prepared under Task Orders No. 13 and 18 of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Contract EP-W-05-067 by Advanced Resources, Arlington, USA and updated under Contract EP-BPA-18-0010. This report is a technical document meant for information dissemination and is a compilation and update of five reports previously written for the USEPA. DISCLAIMER This report was prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). USEPA does not: (a) make any warranty or representation, expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in this report, or that the use of any apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report may not infringe upon privately owned rights; (b) assume any liability with respect to the use of, or damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report; or (c) imply endorsement of any technology supplier, product, or process mentioned in this report. ABSTRACT This Coal Mine Methane (CMM) Recovery Primer is an update of the 2009 CMM Primer, which reviewed the major methods of CMM recovery from gassy mines. [USEPA 1999b, 2000, 2001a,b,c] The intended audiences for this Primer are potential investors in CMM projects and project developers seeking an overview of the basic technical details of CMM drainage methods and projects. The report reviews the main pre-mining and post-mining CMM drainage methods with associated costs, water disposal options and in-mine and surface gas collection systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Underground Mining Methods and Equipment - S
    CIVIL ENGINEERING – Vol. II - Underground Mining Methods and Equipment - S. Okubo and J. Yamatomi UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS AND EQUIPMENT S. Okubo and J. Yamatomi University of Tokyo, Japan Keywords: Mining method, underground mining, room-and-pillar mining, sublevel stoping, cut-and-fill, longwall mining, sublevel caving, block caving, backfill, support, ventilation, mining machinery, excavation, cutting, drilling, loading, hauling Contents 1. Underground Mining Methods 1.1. Classification of Underground Mining Methods 1.2. Underground Operations in General 1.3. Room-and-pillar Mining 1.4. Sublevel Stoping 1.5. Cut-and-fill Stoping 1.6. Longwall Mining 1.7. Sublevel Caving 1.8. Block Caving 2. Underground Mining Machinery Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketches Summary The first section gives an overview of underground mining methods and practices as used commonly in underground mines, including classification of underground mining methods and brief explanations of the techniques of room-and-pillar mining, sublevel stoping, cut-and-fill, longwall mining, sublevel caving, and block caving. The second section describes underground mining equipment, with particular focus on excavation machinery such as boomheaders, coal cutters, continuous miners and shearers. 1. UndergroundUNESCO Mining Methods – EOLSS 1.1. Classification of Underground Mining Methods Mineral productionSAMPLE in which all extracting operations CHAPTERS are conducted beneath the ground surface is termed underground mining. Underground mining methods are usually employed when the depth of the deposit and/or the waste to ore ratio (stripping ratio) are too great to commence a surface operation. Once the economic feasibility has been verified, the most appropriate mining methods must be selected according to the natural/geological conditions and spatial/geometric characteristics of mineral deposits.
    [Show full text]
  • UNDERGROUND MINING C WHEREVERTHERE’S MINING, WE’RE THERE
    UNDERGROUND MINING c WHEREVERTHERE’S MINING, WE’RE THERE. As miners go deeper underground to provide the materials on which the world depends, they need safe, reliable equipment designed to handle demanding conditions. From the first cut to the last inch of the seam, we’re committed to meeting the needs of customers in every underground application and environment. Our broad product line includes drills, loaders and trucks for hard rock applications; customized systems for longwall mining; and precision-engineered products for room and pillar operations. Like our customers, we consider the health and safety of miners a top priority. All of our products and systems are integrated with safety features to keep people safe when they’re in, on or around them. We also share the mining industry’s commitment to sustainability — following environmentally sound policies and practices in the way we design, engineer and manufacture our products, and leveraging technology and innovation to develop equipment that has less impact on the environment. 1 2 2 WHEREVER THERE ARE LONGWALL APPLICATIONS Caterpillar is a leading global supplier of complete longwall systems. All over the world, our equipment and systems are meeting the demands of underground mining under the most stringent conditions. We deliver our customers’ system of choice, from low to high seam heights, for the longest longwalls and highest production demands. Adapted to the mining challenges faced by our customers today, Cat® systems for longwall mining include hydraulic roof supports, high-horsepower shearers, automated plow systems and face conveyors — controlled and supported by intelligent automation. Diesel- and battery-driven roof support carrier systems complete the product range.
    [Show full text]
  • Impacts of Longwall Coal Mining on the Environment in New South Wales
    IMPACTS OF LONGWALL COAL MINING ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES Total Environment Centre PO Box A176 www.tec.org.au Sydney South 1235 Ph: 02 9261 3437 January 2007 Fax: 02 9261 3990 Email: [email protected] CONTENTS 01 OVERVIEW 3 02 BACKGROUND 5 2.1 Definition 5 2.2 The Longwall Mining Industry in New South Wales 6 2.3 Longwall Mines & Production in New South Wales 2.4 Policy Framework for Longwall Mining 6 2.5 Longwall Mining as a Key Threatening Process 7 03 DAMAGE OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF LONGWALL MINING 9 3.1 Damage to the Environment 9 3.2 Southern Coalfield Impacts 11 3.3 Western Coalfield Impacts 13 3.4 Hunter Coalfield Impacts 15 3.5 Newcastle Coalfield Impacts 15 04 LONGWALL MINING IN WATER CATCHMENTS 17 05 OTHER EMERGING THREATS 19 5.1 Longwall Mining near National Parks 19 5.2 Longwall Mining under the Liverpool Plains 19 5.3 Longwall Top Coal Caving 20 06 REMEDIATION & MONITORING 21 6.1 Avoidance 21 6.2 Amelioration 22 6.3 Rehabilitation 22 6.4 Monitoring 23 07 KEY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 24 7.1 The Approvals Process 24 7.2 Buffer Zones 26 7.3 Southern Coalfields Inquiry 27 08 APPENDIX – EDO ADVICE 27 EDO Drafting Instructions for Legislation on Longwall Mining 09 REFERENCES 35 We are grateful for the support of John Holt in the production of this report and for the graphic design by Steven Granger. Cover Image: The now dry riverbed of Waratah Rivulet, cracked, uplifted and drained by longwall mining in 2006.
    [Show full text]
  • Numerical Simulation of Shearer Operation in a Longwall District
    energies Article Numerical Simulation of Shearer Operation in a Longwall District Wacław Dziurzy ´nski* , Andrzej Krach, Jerzy Krawczyk and Teresa Pałka Strata Mechanics Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 27 Reymonta Street, 30-059 Krakow, Poland; [email protected] (A.K.); [email protected] (J.K.); [email protected] (T.P.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-608-370-360 Received: 31 August 2020; Accepted: 22 October 2020; Published: 23 October 2020 Abstract: This paper presents a relatively simple method to analyze potential methane hazard and preventive methods based on a computer simulation of the airflow and methane emission on the longwall face and in the goaf. The presented approach considers the operation of a longwall shearer and conveyers and their possible impacts on both direct emissions of methane and migration from adjacent goafs. In this work, an attempt was made to control the advance speed of the virtual mining system based on sample mining data in the longwall 841A area and the abandoned longwall 841B at the Bielszowice Hard Coal Mine. The objective of this study was to verify the suitability of the adopted control algorithm. The results obtained from computer simulations of the mining operation with the developed control algorithm are presented in graphics of methane concentration, shearer advance speed and the speed control system parameters. Keywords: mine ventilation; methane hazard in longwall; control of shearer operation; monitoring system 1. Introduction Despite the trend of shifting to renewable energy sources, hard coal remains the primary energy source in many countries where its exploitation is often accompanied by the release of considerable amounts of methane.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Coal Mining Weir International, Inc
    INTRODUCTION TO COAL MINING WEIR INTERNATIONAL, INC. HISTORY OF COAL IN THE UNITED STATES . Coal was one of man’s earliest sources of heat and light . Coal was first discovered in the United States along the Illinois River in the 1670s . First commercial mining occurred near Richmond, Virginia in 1750 . Between 1850 to 1950, coal was the most important energy fuel in the country . Today, coal accounts for more than half of the electric power generation . Coal is also critical for supplying coke for the nation’s steel industry ORIGIN OF COAL . Most of the coal was formed about 300 million years ago . Remains of vegetation sank to the bottom of swamps, forming a soggy, dense material called peat . Deposits of sand, clay and other mineral matter buried the peat . Increasing pressure from deeper burial and heat gradually transformed the peat into coal . The formation of one foot of coal requires an estimated three to seven feet of compacted plant matter TYPES OF COAL . Coal is classified in four general categories or “ranks”: Anthracite Increasing rank Bituminous Increasing carbon content Sub-bituminous Lignite Increasing heating value . The ranking of coal is based primarily on its carbon content and calorific value . The amount of energy in coal is measured in British Thermal Unit (Btu) per pound . Approximately 90% of the coal in the US is in the bituminous or sub-bituminous category MINING METHODS Surface Mining Underground Mining . Surface mining is: . Underground mining is typically employed where surface mining is not economical Generally the least expensive and most productive mining method to extract coal .
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of Longwall Face Support Hydraulic Supply Systems
    Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2007 Evaluation of longwall face support hydraulic supply systems Ted M. Klemetti II West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Klemetti, Ted M. II, "Evaluation of longwall face support hydraulic supply systems" (2007). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4312. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4312 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Evaluation of Longwall Face Support Hydraulic Supply Systems Ted M. Klemetti II Thesis Submitted to the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mining Engineering Syd S. Peng, Ph.D., Chair Keith A. Heasley, Ph.D. Yi Luo, Ph.D. Thomas Barczak, Ph.D. Department of Mining Engineering Morgantown, WV 2007 Keywords: Longwall Mining, Shields, Supports, Hydraulic Supply System, Setting Pressure Copyright 2007 Ted M.
    [Show full text]
  • Critical Analysis of Longwall Ventilation Systems and Removal of Methane
    Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2016 Critical Analysis of Longwall Ventilation Systems and Removal of Methane Robert B. Krog Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Krog, Robert B., "Critical Analysis of Longwall Ventilation Systems and Removal of Methane" (2016). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 6016. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/6016 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Critical Analysis of Longwall Ventilation Systems and Removal of Methane Robert B. Krog Dissertation submitted to the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mining Engineering Keith A. Heasley, Ph.D., Chair Jürgen F. Brune, Ph.D. (Colorado School of Mines) Yi Luo, Ph.D. C. Aaron Noble, Ph.D. Brijes Mishra, Ph.D. Department of Mining Engineering Morgantown, West Virginia 2016 Keywords: Ventilation; Longwall Mining; Atmospheric; Methane; Sample Frequency; Bleeder systems Copyright 2016 Robert B.
    [Show full text]
  • Highlights of the Covenant Capacity Training Project
    Highlights of the Covenant capaCITY training project Capacity building of local governments to advance Local Climate and Energy Action – from planning to action to monitoring Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union COVENANT CAPACITY Capacity building of local governments to advance Local Climate and Energy Action – from planning to action to monitoring 3 Capacity building of local governments to advance local climate and energy action – from planning to action to monitoring, is the primary goal of one of the most important European projects that has ever been co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. Covenant capaCITY takes up the urgent challenge to develop and enhance sustainable energy communities across Europe. This helps to create regional added value chains through enhancing energy efficiency and the use of local renewable energy sources. There is an unprecedented interest as well as pressure at local government level to achieve energy security for the economy and at the same time an affordable supply of electricity and heating for citizens. The build up of a smart, decentralised and efficient energy system that is powered by local renewables is the key solution for both challenges. Moreover the low-carbon urban and rural redevelopment contributes to the bigger picture and the core of ICLEI’s work, namely the sustainable use of natural resources including our climate, and ensuring that political, economic and social systems guarantee a high quality of life for everyone. Awareness, knowledge, and capacity gaps are the first obstacles for local governments to engage in climate and energy action. Therefore a specific approach was developed to move beyond the usual ad hoc, single theme concepts.
    [Show full text]