Evaluation of a site for a thermal residual waste treatment facility, Austria

For assessing the Stegenwald site, Fichtner compiled initial data for technical tie-in of a thermal treatment facility with a capacity of 143,000 to 189,000 t/a of unrecyclable wastes and sewage sludge from the Federal State of Salzburg, and assessed site characteristics under aspects of regional development, the environment and technology.

Ecological evaluation of steel and its products, Netherlands

Under a contract to the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER), steel as a manufacturing input material and its products were subjected to an ecological appraisal, within the framework of strategies discussed on EU level, possibilities for action and the instruments of the Integrated Product Policy (IPP). Fichtner reviewed the effectiveness and limits of the methods of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for ecological product evaluation. The aim of the project was, taking steel as an example, to indicate the prospects for and limitations of ecological product development, and to determine future needs for investigation and action.

Integrated environmental information system for national and international reporting, Lithuania

To support efficient environmental management, Fichtner was commissioned by the Lithuanian Government to develop and introduce an environmental information system (EIS) to comply with EU requirements and to inform the general public. This system integrates data from ten sources for air quality control, forestry, groundwater protection and protection of species diversity, to generate standardized reports. The portal integrated into the system supports the Ministry of the Environment in fulfilling its reporting obligations to the EU, other organizations as well as for internal and external communication. The EIS is the central portal for all environmentally relevant data in Lithuania, and serves as the national information node in the European environmental information and supervision network.

HSE management for the Kårstø CCS project, Norway

The 420 MW combined cycle power plant on the Norwegian Kårstø gas terminal site is to be backfitted with a CO2 capture and compression plant. For this scheme, besides acting as Owner’s Engineer for CO2 amine scrubbing and compression, Fichtner is responsible for the entire HSE management of this project. For this purpose, a check is made of the documents to be prepared by the contractor for compliance with health, safety and environmental protection regulations, and pollutant emissions to atmosphere of the CO2 capture and compression plant are monitored. As well as detailed analysis of the atmospheric emissions and pollution levels, noise propagation at the site is closely investigated against the baseline level.

Environmental impact study for a steelworks in the Ukraine

In Dnepropetrovsk, a town with over one million inhabitants in Central Ukraine, Fichtner was retained for preparing an environmental impact study for a new steelworks. On an extensive property in the industrial zone, that had already long served as the third biggest facility in the nation for steel processing, an electrically powered rolling mill with its own substation is to be erected. The client’s declared aim is to replace the obsolescent plant, still operating with rotary kilns, with a state-of-the-art plant with greatly reduced pollutant emissions.

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Marine environmental monitoring system, Libya

Fichtner prepared a study for setting up a marine environmental monitoring system for the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL). This constituted a review of twelve power plants and seawater desalination plants with regard to their current process technology, waste water quality and other potential pollution sources, as well as findings from field investigations into present seawater contamination, including sampling, analysis and evaluation. For this project, training courses were held over six weeks in Stuttgart and Crete, to inform the participants of the requirements of environmental monitoring systems, the overall ecological situation of the Mediterranean, and wastewater toxicity, as well as to instruct them in the procedures of chemical environmental analysis.

Environmental Training for Airport Personnel, Egypt

As part of the Airport Development Project of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airport and Navigation (EHCAAN) in Cairo, Fichtner was awarded a contract for extensive training in environmental protection of the staff at the international airports in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh. Our experts instruct the responsible airport staff through a series of training courses, seminars and study trips, covering topics like Egyptian environmental legislation, international guidelines and standards, environmental regulations for airports, waste management and recycling, noise measurement, air quality monitoring systems, and quality assurance.

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Environmental impact assessment for two new hydropower plants, Sudan

For securing Sudan’s electricity supply, two new hydropower plants are to be constructed in the north of the country. Shereik 420 MW Hydropower Plant is located 290 km to the south of the new Merowe Dam on the River Nile. Kajbar Hydropower Plant, with a rating of 6 x 60 MW, is to be constructed likewise on the Nile 120 km downstream of the City of Dongola. The impoundments for these two power plants extend over areas of 420 km² and 110 km² respectively. Fichtner was awarded a contract to prepare environmental impact studies for the greatly differing natural habitats of these two locations, to draw up the associated resettlement plans, and to develop measures for avoidance of and minimization of adverse environmental impacts.

Environmental and Social Impact Assesment and Resettlement Action Plan for the transmision line from Ethiopia to Kenya

To make available Ethiopia’s hydropower resources to neighboring electricity purchasers, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) and the Kenyan Ministry of Energy (MoE) are planning a trans-boundary transmission line. Under contract to KfW-Bankengruppe, for this 1500 km link Fichtner prepared an environmental impact assessment and a resettlement plan. Fichtner assessed the project’s impacts on the population, natural habitats and the environment, and recommended abatement, mitigation and monitoring measures. For these, particular importance is attached to devising small-scale options for mitigating adverse impacts.

Environmental due diligence for seawater desalination plants, Saudi Arabia

Within the framework of privatization of the seawater desalination sector in Saudi Arabia, as Technical Advisor, Fichtner investigated and evaluated all facilities and plants of the state-owned supply enterprise, Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). Apart from a technical appraisal, the project included an investigation of the environmental risks. Playing a particular part in this is compliance with environmental regulations for pollutant emissions, noise, waste water and waste disposal.

National Capacity Building in Environmental Management for Industrial Pollution Control, Qatar

With the objective of better control of industrial environmental pollution in Qatar, Fichtner advised the upper tier environmental agency in the areas of legislation, equipment and personnel training. This general project concerned, firstly, planning of the national policy and organization of official agencies, but secondly also implementation of measures and programs in practice to better incorporate environmental factors into Qatar’s economic and industrial development. Although the contract was let by Qatar’s National Ministry of the Environment, for this project the interlinked roles and responsibilities of other major participants were also investigated. These included the Ministry of Energy and Industry, the National Planning Department, municipal administrations and industrial towns, and individual industrial facilities.

Integrated environmental impact assessment, PSEEZ, Iran

To enhance sustainability in the Iranian oil and gas industry, Iran’s state Pars Oil and Gas Company commissioned Fichtner with an integrated environmental impact assessment covering all construction stages of the entire Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ). This is an industrial area occupying some 14,000 ha at Assaluyeh on the Persian Gulf. With this holistic study, it is intended that, in particular, interactions and superimpositions of all existing and future expansion stages are considered.

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Cutting pollution from Lanzhou and Longkou coal-fired power plants, People’s Republic of China

Under a contract to the German Association for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Fichtner investigated possibilities for reducing environmental pollution caused by ash from coal-fired plants, taking as examples Longkou and Lanzhou power plants. The findings were disseminated during workshops on determining environmental impacts and their abatement, in which representatives of power plant operators and environmental authorities participated.

Decommissioning of Stade Nuclear Power Plant – environmental impact assessment, Germany

For decommissioning this nuclear power plant, with construction and operation of storage facilities for radioactive wastes, Fichtner rendered expert services as stipulated by the German Atomic Energy Act (§ 7 Para. 3, AtG). This included an investigation into environmental compatibility in accordance with the procedural directive under atomic energy legislation (AtVfV of 27 July 2001).

Investigation of potential sites for combined cycle and coal-fired power plants, Germany

Under contract to an international energy supply utility, Fichtner found candidate sites for combined cycle and coal-fired power plants in northern Germany. For this purpose, our experts first identified plots that met the defined positive criteria, like size, distance from HV grid and traffic connections. These were investigated in detail under the criteria of human settlement, landscape and infrastructure, and then evaluated. The siting potentials so determined of each plot were compared, and the favored ones recommended.

Check of permit conditions under pollution control legislation for Meuselwitz CHP Plant, Germany

For drawing up an expert appraisal as mandated under pollution control legislation (§13, 9. BimSchV), Fichtner investigated the impacts on the combined heat and power plant’s firing systems and flue gas cleanup equipment resulting from the extended waste types register for which an application was submitted.

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Quality and environmental management for Mainz-Wiesbaden Waste-to-Energy Plant, Germany

For accreditation of Entsorgungsgesellschaft Mainz as a waste disposal organization as required by the German Technical Instructions on Municipal Solid Waste, Fichtner developed the complete staff-line and procedures structure for operation of the new energy-recovery refuse incineration plant. The process chain was modeled in an operating manual and support provided for introduction of a computerized operation management system. Also considered were optimization of operational sequences; quality, environmental and safety management; and compliance with statutory stipulations and conditions imposed by regulatory agencies. This project was executed taking a process-oriented approach for an integrated management system as specified in ISO 9001 and 14001 for quality and environmental management respectively.

Quality and environmental management for RWE-DEA production sites, Germany

For the company division for oil prospecting and extraction in Germany, an integrated management system was set up, based on relevant standards, regulations and codes: Oil & Gas Producers HSEMS Guideline (OGP), OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series), DIN ISO 14001 (environmental management), EU Eco-Audit Directive (environmental management) and DIN ISO 9001 (quality management). This fulfilled at the same time the requirements of German pollution control legislation (12. BimSchV) for a safety management system for storage facilities and pumping operation.

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Implementation of EU Eco-Audit Directive, Germany

Under contract to the Munich municipal utility, Stadtwerke München, Fichtner adapted the previous integrated management system for quality and environmental protection – that fulfilled ISO 9002:1994, ISO 14001 and the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme – to meet the new requirements of ISO 9001:2000 for plant planning, completely reworking it in the process. At the utility’s central and south combined heat and power plants as well as in the departments for planning, maintenance and laboratory together with hydropower plants, validation was performed in compliance with the EU Eco-Audit Directive.

Update of environmental protection manual for a Daimler-Benz AG operating site, Germany

For the main site of passenger car production of Daimler-Benz AG in Sindelfingen, Fichtner updated the environmental protection manual to bring it into line with the requirements of the EU Eco-Audit Directive and ISO 14001. This revision also included optimization of the manual for direct implementation and applicability.

Quality and environmental management for Leverkusen Waste Management Company (AWL), Germany

For AWL, Fichtner developed an integrated management system for the environment, safety and quality for validation in accordance with the EU Eco-Audit Directive. Certification was done to ISO 14000 and 9000 ff., covering also the company’s accreditation as an authorized waste disposal organization. During the project, the operating manual for Leverkusen Refuse Incineration Plant was drawn up to fulfill the German Technical Instructions on Municipal Solid Waste.

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Wastewater register for Wacker-Chemie, Burghausen, Germany

The main aims in preparing the wastewater register were compliance with German statutory wastewater requirements (Appendix 22, AbwV), compilation of wastewater declarations as well as centralized wastewater monitoring for the plants at the Burghausen operating site of Wacker-Chemie GmbH. Technically, the wastewater register was implemented as a database-supported, dialog-oriented multi-user software system on a Java basis. Logistically, the register is broken down into dialogs for system administration (user and access rights concept, master data administration), dialogs for updating the wastewater data of each of the plants and facilities, and dialogs for generating reports (like the wastewater declaration). Tie-in of a geographical information system permits simplified depiction of the sewer network and superimposition of key wastewater data.