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IEA: Estonia is pioneering technologies for more efficient and cleaner use of oil shale

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An article in the latest issue of IEA Energy: The Journal of the International Energy Agency reports that Estonia, which has the most developed oil shale industry in the world, is collaborating in pursuing wider use of oil shale in a cleaner, more sustainable manner. In 2012, Estonia mined 15.86 Different that shale oil—i.e.,

Estonia 236
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EPRI-led team awarded $2.8M from ARPA-E to research uranium recovery for next-gen reactors; deep borehole disposal

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Deep Isolation’s nuclear waste repository leverages directional drilling to isolate spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in deep boreholes located underground in suitable rock formations. Borehole repositories can provide substantial isolation for many types of high-level waste in a wide range of locations.

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VTT-led project to develop enzymes found in India’s wildfire-prone areas for biorefineries; IndZyme

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Micro-organisms found in the wildfire-prone rainforests of India are an potential resources for biochemical production, as they are accustomed to the challenging conditions following a forest fire. The next step will be studying the efficiency of these new enzymes in breaking down agricultural waste, such as straw, into fermentable sugars.

Finland 150
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European Research Project Searching for More Efficient and Cost-Effective Enzymes for Cellulosic Biofuel Production

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However, the starting materials, wheat straw, bran and spruce, are found in abundance throughout Europe as waste materials, so it is hoped that the DISCO project will lead to full scale-plants producing biofuels across the continent. Biogold Ou (Estonia). Participants include: GR Wright and Sons Ltd (UK). Sekab E-Technology (Sweden).

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EEA says industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009; some 37% attributed to CO2

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The industrial facilities covered by the analysis include large power plants, refineries, manufacturing combustion and industrial processes, waste and certain agricultural activities. Emissions from power plants contributed the largest share of the damage costs, estimated at €66–112 billion (US$87–148 billion).

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