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Mr Benjamin McLellan

Honorary Senior Fellow

Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining
Sustainable Minerals Institute
b.mclellan@uq.edu.au

Overview

Ben is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow working with the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining on research relating to critical or strategic minerals, primarily in association with the UQ Rare Earths Consortium. He is currently employed as an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Energy Science of Kyoto University (Japan), where he teaches energy science subjects relating to sustainable development, materials, hydrogen and carbon footprinting. Ben completed his BE (Chemical) / BA (Spanish) and his PhD (Chemical Engineering) at UQ.

Research Interests

  • Energy critical minerals
    Examining the technologies that utilise and provide functional materials for energy systems. Limitations, resources and processing.
  • Paticipatory design
    Utilising stakeholder interaction in the design of sustainable future energy systems and industrial operations.
  • Deep ocean resources
    Technologies and sustainability implications of non-conventional resources of critical minerals and methane hydrates from the deep ocean.
  • Climate change and energy
    The potential impacts of climate change (environmental and legislative) are the focus of much research around emerging technologies. My interest is in the assessment of these technologies, and future scenarios involving their application and the potential impacts or benefits.
  • Sustainable design
    The design of industrial operations is commonly guided by cost and technical performance, with less consideration of broader sustainability implications. A current project is developing a project-wide methodology for incorporating sustainable development principles in design.
  • Sustainability metrics
    The selection and measurement of appropriate indicators of sustainability - in particular in process industries - is of key interest to me. In particular, the streamlining of current reporting methods and the development of location-specific metrics is an emerging field of research.
  • Hydrogen economy
    Assessment of hydrogen economy scenarios and enabling technology from a sustainability perspective over the full life cycle.
  • Minerals-energy nexus
    Examining the bi-directional interrelationship of minerals and energy. Peak minerals and supply-side constraints on energy scenarios; energy usage with changing shape of the minerals industry; lifecycle impacts.

Research Impacts

Ben's work crosses a wide range of topics and fields, but generally covers: assessment and design for sustainability; minerals industry; energy technologies and systems; participatory design processes; and greenhouse gas mitigation solutions. The key impacts of this research have been in the design of more sustainable minerals processing operations (see www.susop.com.au) and ongoing work is anticipated to assist communities in Japan to develop preferable, sustainable energy-based futures.

Qualifications

  • B Arts, The University of Queensland
  • B Engineering (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • PhD, The University of Queensland

Publications

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Grants

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Publications

Featured Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Carbon footprint of the operation and products of a restaurant: a study and alternative perspectives

    McLellan, Benjamin, Tanaka, Yoshiki, Dinh, Thi Thu Huyen, Dinh, Huong Long, Jusakulvijit, Piradee, Freemantle, Faizi Ashley Taro and Hakimov, Aibek (2016). Carbon footprint of the operation and products of a restaurant: a study and alternative perspectives. In Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu (Ed.), The Carbon footprint handbook (pp. 369-388) Boca Raton, FL United States: CRC Press.

  • Rare metals, unconventional resources, and sustainability

    McLellan, Ben, Corder, Glen, Ali, Saleem and Golev, Artem (2016). Rare metals, unconventional resources, and sustainability. In Gregory R. Wessel (Ed.), GSA special papers (pp. 57-65) Boulder, CO, United States: Geological Society of America. doi:10.1130/2016.2520(07)

  • Challenges and merits of choosing alternative functional units

    Benjamin C McLellan (2015). Challenges and merits of choosing alternative functional units. In Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu (Ed.), The Carbon Footprint Handbook (pp. 45-60) Boca Raton, FL United States: CRC Press.

  • Sustainability in plant design

    Bangerter, Philip J., Corder, Glen D., Giurco, Damien, McLellan, Ben C. and Murphy, Andrew (2015). Sustainability in plant design. In Metallurgical plant design (pp. 151-179) Montreal, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

  • Designing-in sustainability in industrial projects and processes

    McLellan, Ben C. and Corder, Glen D. (2012). Designing-in sustainability in industrial projects and processes. In Mitsutaka Matsumo, Yasushi Umed, Keijiro Masui and Shinichi Fukushige (Ed.), Design for innovative value towards a sustainable society: Proceedings of EcoDesign 2011: 7th International Symposium on Environmentally Conscious Design and Inverse Manufacturing (pp. 209-214) Kyoto, Japan: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-3010-6_41

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Decentralised energy futures: The changing emissions reduction landscape

    McLellan, Benjamin, Florin, Nick, Giurco, Damien, Kishita, Yusuke, Itaoka, Kenshi and Tezuka, Tetsuo (2015). Decentralised energy futures: The changing emissions reduction landscape. In: 22nd CIRP Conference on Life Cycle Engineering. 22nd CIRP Conference on Life Cycle Engineering, LCE 2015, Sydney, NSW Australia, (138-143). 7- 9 April 2015. doi:10.1016/j.procir.2015.02.052

  • Mineral-water-energy nexus: implications of localized production and consumption for industrial ecology

    McLellan, Benjamin C., Giurco, Damien P., Corder, Glen D., Golev, Artem, Kishita, Yusuke, Florin, Nick and Sharpe, Samantha (2015). Mineral-water-energy nexus: implications of localized production and consumption for industrial ecology. In: The Tipping Point: Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity. 21st International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference: The Tipping Point: Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity, Geelong, VIC, Australia, (). 10-12 July 2015.

  • Sustainability Assessment of Deep Ocean Resources

    McLellan, Benjamin C. (2014). Sustainability Assessment of Deep Ocean Resources. In: EcoBalance 2014, Tsukuba Japan, (30A2-3-30A2-3). 27-30 October 2014.

  • Sustainability of the rare earths industry

    McLellan, B. C., Corder, G. D., Golev, A. and Ali, S. H. (2014). Sustainability of the rare earths industry. In: N. Agya Utama, Ben Mclellan, Suharman Hamzah, Agus Trihartono, Apip, Hatma Suryatmojo, Slamet Widodo, M. Ery Wijaya, S. Khoirul Himmi, Miguel Esteban, Hooman Farzaneh, Niken Prilandita, Novri Susan, Haryono Huboyo and Makruf Nurudin, The 4th International Conference on Sustainable Future for Human Security SUSTAIN 2013. 4th International Conference on Sustainable Future for Human Security (SustaiN 2013), Kyoto, Japan, (280-287). 18-21 October 2013. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2014.03.035

  • Delivering solutions for resource conservation and recycling into project management systems through SUSOP (R)

    Corder, G. D., McLellan, B. C. and Green, S. R. (2012). Delivering solutions for resource conservation and recycling into project management systems through SUSOP (R). In: Sustainability through Resource Conservation and Recycling. 2nd International Symposium on Sustainability through Resource Conservation and Recycling '11 (SRCR '11), Cornwall, United Kingdom, (47-57). 10-12 May 2011. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2011.11.007

  • Mineral and energy futures: implications for technology and policy in producing and consuming countries

    Giurco, Damien, Franks, Daniel, McLellan, Benjamin and Prior, Timothy (2012). Mineral and energy futures: implications for technology and policy in producing and consuming countries. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on EcoBalance (EcoBalance 2012). 10th International Conference on EcoBalance (EcoBalance 2012), Yokohama, Japan, (). 20-23 November 2012.

  • Engineering in sustainability: Learnings from the application of SUSOP®

    Corder, G. D., McLellan, B. C., Bangerter, P. J., van Beers, D. and Green, S. R. (2010). Engineering in sustainability: Learnings from the application of SUSOP®. In: Chemeca 2010: Engineering at the Edge. Chemeca 2010, Adelaide, Australia, (1086-1096). 26-29 September 2010.

  • Incorporating sustainable development principles into minerals processing design and operation: SUSOP (R)

    Corder, G. D., McLellan, B. C. and Green, S. (2010). Incorporating sustainable development principles into minerals processing design and operation: SUSOP (R). In: Special issue: Sustainability, Resource Conservation & Recycling. Sustainability through Resource Conservation and Recycling 09, Cape Town, South Africa, (175-181). 4-5 April 2009. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2009.12.003

  • SUSOP®: Embedding Sustainable Development Principles into the Design and Operation of Resource Extraction and Processing Operations

    Green, S. R., Corder, G. D., McLellan, B. C., van Beers, D. and Bangerter, P. J. (2010). SUSOP®: Embedding Sustainable Development Principles into the Design and Operation of Resource Extraction and Processing Operations. In: Sustainable Mining 2010 conference : 17-19 August 2010, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Sustainable Mining Conference, Kalgoorlie, WA, (). 17-19 August 2010.

  • Embedding sustainable development into the design and operation of industrial processing plants

    McLellan, B. C., Corder, G. D. and Green, S (2009). Embedding sustainable development into the design and operation of industrial processing plants. In: Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering Conference November 2009: Program and Conference Papers. Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering Conference November 2009, Melbourne, Australia, (1-12). 22-24 November 2009.

  • Evolution of a sustainable development program for the minerals processing industry.

    McLellan, Benjamin, Corder, Glen and Green S (2008). Evolution of a sustainable development program for the minerals processing industry.. In: Chemeca-Australian Conference on Chemical Engineering proceedings, 2008. Chemeca-Australian Conference on Chemical Engineering, Newcastle, Aust., (2037-2046). Sept 28 - Oct 1, 2008.

  • Measuring the sustainability benefits of new technologies for the minerals industry.

    Corder, G. D., McLellan, B. and S Green (2008). Measuring the sustainability benefits of new technologies for the minerals industry.. In: C.Q. Jia, C.A. Pickles, S. Brienne and S.R. Rao, Conference of Metallurgists 2008- proceedings. Conference of Metallurgists 2008, Winnipeg, Canada, (377-388). Aug 24-27, 2008.

  • Assessing the benefits of sustainable processing research in the minerals industry

    McLellan, B. C., Corder, G. D. and Green, S. (2007). Assessing the benefits of sustainable processing research in the minerals industry. In: R. Scott, Proceedings of the 35th Australasian Chemical Engineering Conference 2007. Chemeca 2007: Academia and Industry Strengthening the Profession, Melbourne, Vic, Australia, (619-626). 23-26 September 2007.

  • Sustainability assessment of hydrogen energy pathways

    McLellan, B. C., Dicks, A. L. and Diniz da Costa, J. C. (2004). Sustainability assessment of hydrogen energy pathways. In: International Conference on Sustainability Engineering and Science. International Conference on Sustainability Engineering and Science, New Zealand, (1-13). 6-9 July 2004.

  • Hydrogen economy options for Australia

    McLellan, B. C., Diniz da Costa, J. C., Dicks, A. L., Rudolph, V., Pagan, R. J., Sheng, C. and Wall, T.F. (2003). Hydrogen economy options for Australia. In: Richard Brown and QUT and Colleen Hanahan, The Application of Membrane Filtration Technology for a Wheat Starch Processing Industry: Proceedings of The National Environment Conference 2003. The National Environment Conference 2003, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, (110-150). 18-20 June 2003.

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