Challenges of Coal Mining Regions and Municipalities in the Face of Energy Transition

Abstract

The energy transition currently taking place in the mining regions of the European Union poses many challenges that need to be addressed with a view to 2030 and 2050, of which the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the key one. Initial results of the research project entitled “Models of a transition to a climate-neutral, circular economy for mining regions under transformation process”, which is developed in parallel with the transition of mining town Brzeszcze, are presented. The challenges, in the context of energy transition, for both the EU and local governments were identified on the basis of EU policies and the experience of the project team from the cooperation with the commune of Brzeszcze. A “research by design” method was used to develop model solutions. In the context of local challenges, there was a discussion of the Green Deal objectives and “greenery” as a tool for transformation and achieving well-being. It was concluded that a comparison of the tangible (mining and social infrastructure) and intangible (privileges) well-being provided by a “carbon-based” economy with the new “well-being” weights in favour of the new. This is reflected in the concerns of mine workers and the citizens as well. Therefore, proposing appropriate revitalization of a post-mining site will be one of the challenges. With regard to the revitalization, a discussion was held on the role of mining heritage which can trigger either a “growth machine” or a “decline machine” depending on the decisions taken, compatible or not with a circular economy.

Conveyor Intermediate TT Drive with Power Transmission at the Return Belt

“…The course of the efficiency defined by the relationship (23) as a function of the intermediate peripheral force is shown (Figure 12).…”

“…This type of drive allows the use of a main belt with a strength lower by 25-30% [13,14] or extending the route of a single conveyor, which can eliminate transfer points [15]. Elimination of the material transfer points reduces dust and abrasive wear of the belt [16,17], resistance to motion [10,18,19], electricity consumption [20], related costs [21,22] and carbon dioxide emissions [23]. In the operation of belt intermediate drives, it is necessary to control the motors both in steady and transient motion, i.e., variable material flow and start-up [24][25][26][27].…”

Spatiotemporal characteristics, types, and paths of industrial transformation in typical resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin

“…黄河流域能源矿产资源丰富， 煤炭、 天然气储 量分别约占全国基础储量的 75%和 61% [1] ， 在中国 [4][5][6][7] ， 包括政策措施在城市转型中的作用、 旧企业退 出与新企业进入对城市转型的影响等， 并对城市产 业变化所产生的经济和社会效应等进行了探讨 [8][9][10] 。 在大量实证研究基础上， 国外学者总结提出了解释 资源型城市形成原因的生命周期 [11,12] 、 资源诅咒 [13,14] 、 挤出效应 [15] 等理论， 为资源型城市转型研究奠定了 理论基础。20 世纪 90 年代末， 中国部分以能矿资源 开采为主的城市出现了资源枯竭以及由此引发的 经济社会衰退问题。国内学者基于西方学者提出 的资源型城市发展理论， 对中国矿业城市的发展问 题 [16] 、 可持续发展机理 [17] 进行了研究。进入 21 世纪 后， 随着阜新被确立为全国第一个资源枯竭城市经 济转型试点市， 国内学者对于资源型城市转型发展 内容的关注不断增多。研究主要集中在资源型城 市的类型划分 [18,19] 、 发展策略 [20] 、 转型模式 [21] 等方面， 研究方法主要为定性研究。2013 年国务院出台的 《规划》 明确了 262 个资源型城市。此后， 国内学者 对于资源型城市的研究逐渐转向定量研究， 包括产 业结构演化 [22] 、 转型水平测度与评价 [23][24][25] 、 影响因素 识别与作用机制分析 [26] 等。在通过对资源型城市转 型发展的定性、 定量研究后发现， 资源型城市发展 普遍具有路径依赖特征， 要实现可持续发展的关键 在于产业转型 [27] ， 而影响产业转型的因素集中在交 通区位、 资源禀赋、 制度政策、 技术水平、 体制机制 等方面 [28]…”

The involvement of stakeholders in the decarbonization process in the coal region of Northern Hungary

“…Coal has historically played an important role in the European economy, which is still present today, with the coal sector present in 12 EU countries and 41 regions, with annual coal production of over 500 million tonnes (more than half of EU gross consumption). It is estimated that 237,000 people are employed in coal mining, of which 185,000 are direct workers (Cała,Szewczyk-Swiątek & Ostręga, 2021). In this context, the carbon regions occupy a significant area of the continent.…”