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Case studies

Molybdenum's contribution to sustainable development

Alloy steels

Architecture, Building & Construction
Friends Arena, Stockholm
12/06/2013
Molybdenum is an important alloying element in high-strength steel (HSS), which enables lighter and stronger structures than conventional steel. This study looks at the use of HSS in the Friends Arena, Stockholm, which reduced the quantity of steel used for construction by 17% and also cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17% over the lifetime of the stadium.

Superalloys

Supercritical and Ultra-supercritical Power Plants
Molybdenum in Power Generation
Supercritical and Ultra-supercritical Power Plants
05/03/2014
Coal-fired power plants emit more CO2 per kWh than any other form of generation. This study looks at how molybdenum-containing steels and superalloys are used in modern coal-fired plants to increase high temperature strength and resistance to chlorine-containing flue gases.  These properties enable supercritical and new ultra-supercritical power plants to be run at higher temperatures, increasing thermal efficiency and delivering significant reductions in CO2 emissions.

Stainless steels

Molybdenum in the Water Industry
Desalination Plants
10/06/2014
Water is essential to life but global supplies are under pressure from population growth and may be unable to sustain total demand by 2025. Desalination plants provide reliable, sustainable supplies of fresh water but need to be constructed from materials that can withstand such hostile environments. This case study explores the sustainability benefits of using molybdenum-containing stainless steel in the construction of seawater desalination plants, greatly increasing resistance to corrosion and enabling cost-effective, reliable operation.
Architecture, Building & Construction
Federal Building, San Francisco
12/07/2013
Sunscreens greatly reduce the need for air conditioning in buildings. The Federal Building in San Francisco was built with computer-controlled stainless steel sunscreens which, together with natural ventilation, reduce the energy needed to cool the building by two-thirds. The molybdenum-containing stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant and is specified for a design life of 100 years.

Mo metal

Molybdenum in Power Generation
Thin-film photovoltaic solar panels
12/07/2013
Solar power is an increasingly prevalent source of carbon-free, renewable energy generation. New thin-film photovoltaic panels offer significant advantages over traditional arrays in manufacturing, cost and design flexibility. 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.

Chemicals

Molybdenum in Agriculture
Plant Micronutrients
10/06/2014
Molybdenum is essential to plant growth. Deficiencies can be caused by acidic soils which prevent uptake but where there is not enough molybdenum present in the soil, applying fertilizer, seed or foliar treatments can increase productivity significantly. This case study explores the sustainability benefits of correcting molybdenum deficiency, optimizing output from existing agricultural production and helping to meet the needs of a growing population while minimizing the amount of additional land turned over to food production.