IMOA has launched the first three in a series of case studies which examine how molybdenum contribute to sustainable development.
The first two studies examine the role of molybdenum in sustainable buildings. The Federal Building in San Francisco, USA, was designed incorporating a sophisticated computer-controlled sunscreen made from molybdenum-containing Type 316 stainless steel. Combined with natural ventilation, this greatly reduces the need for air conditioning, cutting the building’s energy consumption by two-thirds. The molybdenum in the stainless steel significantly increases its resistance to and helps to guarantee a design life of 100 years.
The second study showcases the use of high-strength steel (HSS) in the roof of the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. HSS enables stronger and lighter structures than conventional steel, meaning that less steel was needed, saving resources, cost and energy in production and transportation. Molybdenum is a significant raw material in the highest grades of HSS and contributed to a 17% reduction in the quantity of steel used, a 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of the stadium and a 14.5% saving in the roof cost due to the reduced tonnage and costs of fabrication.
The third study looks at thin film photovoltaic panels to generate electricity from the sun. Energy from non-fossil sources has grown steadily and is predicted to more than double by 2020. Solar is an increasingly important source of renewable energy and molybdenum provides several advantages as a component of the back electrode in CdTe cells, and as the sole material of the back electrode in CIGS technology.