E-peas and Epishine Collaborate with Energy Harvesting Expertise
Siemens launches Gridscale X, paving the way for autonomous grid management
Jumbo Offshore awarded scope expansion contract for the Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm
Opticon and Epishine Showcase Groundbreaking Solar-Powered Electronic Shelf Labels at NRF 2024
Epishine and Nichicon Present Disruptive Self-Charging Battery Concept at CES
Future Minerals Forum Advances Global Discussion on Clean Energy Transition
Epishine and PowerFilm Solar Join Forces to Meet US Market Needs
Epishine Unveils the World's Most Resource Efficient Solar Cell Factory
PRYSMIAN TO SHOWCASE AT THE ACP OFFSHORE WINDPOWER CONFERENCE 2023
Prysmian secures a further milestone with EGL1 HVDC cable connection to assure capability for the planned project delivery
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Epishine and Raynergy Tek Forge a Stronger Partnership to Drive Innovation in Sustainable Indoor Solar Cells
Market-leading indoor solar cell manufacturer Epishine and advanced organic semiconductor supplier Raynergy Tek announce the signing of a supplier agreement. This strategic partnership represents a milestone in their shared commitment to advancing the field of indoor solar cell technology through collaborative efforts and combined expertise in their respective fields. With the rapid growth of IoT devices, the European Commission predicts that a staggering 78 million batteries will be discarded daily by 2025. The urgent need for a sustainable solution to address this issue has never been more critical. Epishine has established itself as a market leader in indoor solar cells, providing high and reliable performance in low light conditions. Epishine is firmly dedicated to maintaining exceptional quality and manufacturing excellence through their patented production process. Given that an application powered by indoor solar cells must be adapted to the lowest measured output of the module, Epishine emphasizes the importance of consistent performance over occasional high peaks in performance. Jonas Bergqvist, CTO at Epishine, emphasizes, “Our commitment to quality is a key factor in establishing reliable partnerships with industry leaders like Raynergy Tek. We are extremely optimistic about this partnership and the potential benefits for both parties.” This partnership marks an important step towards ensuring reliable material supply as Epishine scales up its production to meet the demand for billions of units. Additionally, an in-depth material quality inspection system has been established, which includes characterization of materials under typical indoor conditions. Manufacturing excellence and access to the most innovative materials on the market are both imperative for the further development of Epishine’s market leading indoor solar cells. Benny Lin, Vice President at Raynergy Tek, highlighted that, “The integration of OPV technology in IoT devices is highly anticipated to commercialize and we are confident that Epishine will be the leader in this space. As our commitment to excellence, we are thrilled to share that we’ve recently achieved ISO 9001:2015 certificate to deliver quality management and quality assurance to partners like Epishine.”
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Prysmian to develop a new submarine power cable link for the Hornsea 3 offshore windfarm in the UK
Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, has been awarded a new contract by Ørsted Wind Power A/S to supply inter-array submarine cables for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm, located 160 km off the Yorkshire coast, UK. Once constructed, it will be able to supply well over 3 million homes with green, renewable electricity. Under the contract - subject to Ørsted taking a Final Investment Decision on Hornsea 3 – Prysmian Group will be responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, termination and testing of the inter–array submarine cable system that will connect the wind turbines and the offshore converter station. The project involves approximately 280 km of 66 kV inter-array cables with XLPE insulation, which will cover approximately 50% of the overall wind farm’s requirements. All the submarine cable cores will be produced at the Group’s centres of excellence located in Montereau and Gron, France, while the armouring and assembling processes will be performed at the plant in Nordenham, Germany. The cables are due to be delivered in 2026. “This award reflects Ørsted’s trust in Prysmian’s capabilities to meet the increasing need of submarine cable systems to support the energy transition to smarter and greener power grids. We are very pleased and proud for having been chosen again to undertake such a challenging project supporting Ørsted to meet the UK Government’s ambition to deliver 50 GW of offshore wind power by 2030 as part of the British Energy Security Strategy. Thanks to our technological and state-of-the-art products and solutions, we will ensure a safe and reliable energy supply to the communities of the area,” stated Juliano De Mello, Sales Team Manager Offshore Wind, Prysmian Group. Previously, in 2018, Ørsted had awarded Prysmian Group a contract to design, manufacture, supply and test 66 kV inter–array submarine cable system for the Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm, connecting 110 of the 165 wind turbines and the offshore substation platform. Luke Bridgman, Senior Project Director for Hornsea 3, commented: “After working successfully with Prysmian on the Hornsea 2 project, we are delighted to work together again on Hornsea 3. The project represents another leap forward in terms of the size and scale of offshore wind farms, and collaborations with world-class manufacturers such as Prysmian are crucial to executing the project successfully. Prysmian shares our commitment to providing further sources of low-cost clean energy and we look forward to another great co-operation.”
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City Energy and Senoko Energy embark on collaborative effort to support Singapore’s Green agenda
City Energy, Singapore's sole provider and retailer of piped town gas for 160 years, and Senoko Energy, one of Singapore's largest and most established energy companies, have joined forces in a momentous partnership to drive sustainable and eco-friendly energy initiatives. The two companies have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly study the technical and commercial feasibility of import and supply of hydrogen between City Energy and Senoko Energy's facilities in Singapore. City Energy and Senoko Energy will also explore other hydrogen-related opportunities, including green hydrogen, to meet the future demand for hydrogen power in Singapore. Mr. Perry Ong, Chief Executive Officer of City Energy (王光枢, 城市能源总裁), said: "We are excited to partner with Senoko Energy to study ways to develop an efficient and reliable hydrogen supply chain into Senoko. This MoU represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide clean and sustainable energy to households and businesses for generations to come and supports Singapore's National Hydrogen Strategy announced in October 2022 as a key decarbonisation pathway undergirding Singapore's international climate commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050." Mr. Eric Maka, President & CEO of Senoko Energy (首席执行官, 圣诺哥能源), said: "At Senoko Energy, promoting clean energy and energy efficiency is an ongoing endeavor. We are always looking at how we can play our part in supporting the transition to low carbon alternatives along with the production of cleaner and greener energy, all in tandem with Singapore's Green Plan. "We look forward to working with City Energy as the onboarding of hydrogen related technologies is very important for Singapore, which has a limited local supply of clean energy. Through our collective efforts and through the harnessing of both companies' strengths and expertise, we hope to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen power and to help create a more sustainable future for all." Mr. Ralph Foong, Deputy Chief Executive (Energy Planning and Development), of the Energy Market Authority (冯永隆, 副局长, 能源规划与发展司, 能源市场管理局), said: "Collaboration between stakeholders to explore new solutions that can reduce carbon emissions in our power system is crucial in Singapore's journey to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security. We are encouraged to see City Energy and Senoko Energy making this proactive effort to jointly explore opportunities with hydrogen. We look forward to the success of this initiative and to see how hydrogen can be optimised to accelerate Singapore's energy transition." This MoU follows City Energy's latest MoU on hydrogen feasibility studies with Gentari, the renewable energy arm of PETRONAS Malaysia; where both companies announced on 18 April 2023 to jointly conduct feasibility studies of a hydrogen supply chain from Malaysia to Singapore. This strategic initiative underscores City Energy's dedication to fostering sustainable energy solutions and furthering the realization of a greener and more sustainable future. In 2020, Senoko Energy significantly stepped up its sustainability efforts with the launch of SolarShare, a pilot project that introduced environmentally friendly peer-to-peer (P2P) trading of renewable energy. SolarShare was driven by two key factors – Senoko Energy's commitment to meet Singapore's eco-friendly renewable energy demand and to empower Singaporeans with greater choices in their electricity consumption. In 2021, Senoko Energy was awarded the National Environment Agency's Energy Efficiency National Partnership Award for its gas turbine upgrade in two of its combined cycle plants. Through the successful upgrade of its gas turbines using advanced technologies, Senoko Energy improved the thermal efficiency of its combined cycle plants, resulting in about 15,000 tonnes of reduction in carbon emissions annually. This is equivalent to taking more than 4,500 cars off the road a year.
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Prysmian Launches ECOSLIM
Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, announces its global launch of the sustainable telecommunication system Ecoslim™, using Sirocco HD and Sirocco Extreme (XT) optical cables which are available with up to 864 optical fibres. Sirocco HD cables are made with 50% less plastics and up to 25% smaller in diameter, in line with the Group’s committment to increase the amount of recycled material in their products. The Group is showcasing the solution at the ANGA COM Conference 2023 taking place in Cologne from May 23 to 25 (Koelnmesse Congress Center, Hall 8, booth D60). Limited space for installation and its upscaling volumes and need for higher performance with less impact on environment are a few of today’s FTTx construction challenges. Therefore, Prysmian Group is focusing on development of solutions which are more efficient yet with lower environmental impact. Ecoslim™ uses the new generation of Easenet microducts which are up to 90% made of reclaimed HDPE, resulting in up to 50% less usage of virgin plastics compared to the conventional duct solutions. In specific cases that have already been deployed in the Netherlands, 14/10mm ducts have been replaced with smaller diameter 10/7mm ducts for the installation of Sirocco HD and Sirocco Extreme cables with up to 192 optical fibres, enabling longer lengths of both cable and ducts to be stored on a drum, resulting in up to 60% drum quantity reduction, therefore also reducing number of truckloads and warehouse space by 60%. All these improvements, comparing with traditional diameter micro ducts of 14/10 mm with a larger fibre cable used, make Ecoslim™ an undisputable champion in reduction of the CO2 emissions. Moreover, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is also available for an independent comparison with conventional networks, proving up to 50% CO2 reduction along the value chain and making Ecoslim™ one of the first optical network components with EPDs. “Network owners move towards shifting the task for greener networks to suppliers and installers, and Prysmian Group is ready to answer this challenge with Ecoslim™”, states Philippe Vanhille, Executive Vice President Telecom Division at Prysmian Group, “The solution shows stronger performance and efficiency, and with record fibre density of Sirocco HD or Sirocco Extreme cables allows network owners and providers to transmit even more data through the available duct infrastructure.” Ecoslim™ also shows efficiency improvement in trench and cable installation. Reduced diameters of the Ecoslim™ system allow micro trenching and avoid wide trenches usually required for high volume of ducts, which is beneficial especially in overcrowded areas, resulting in less civil works and reduction of spoil by 50%. Since 2020 when the first pilot with the Dutch operator KPN proved to be successful, together with Open Dutch Fiber (ODF) more than 300.000 houses have been connected. Growing interest in the Scandinavian countries is evident, too, showing the world’s ever-increasing demand for sustainable information provided by innovative solutions.
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RENOVA to Participate in The Future Energy Show Philippines 2023
RENOVA, Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and CEO Yosuke Kiminami; hereinafter "RENOVA") is pleased to announce that on Monday, May 15, 2023, and Tuesday, May 16, 2023; RENOVA will be participating in The Future Energy Show Philippines 2023, the largest renewable energy-related event in the Philippines. RENOVA is primarily active in the Asia-Pacific region, which include Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea. RENOVA is engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of renewable energy business, namely solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, hydro and others. As of April 2023, RENOVA is involved in the development and operation of renewable power plants, with a total of 29 locations and a power generation capacity of roughly 1.5 GW. RENOVA's head office in Tokyo, Japan, and local hubs located in the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam plan to continue working hand in hand to expand businesses in each country within the region with the aim of adapting to local renewable energy characteristics and overall market growth. Our participation in The Future Energy Show Philippines 2023 will be RENOVA's first large-scale exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region. We plan to use this occasion to actively connect with local industry players with the goal of forming long-term working partnerships and a local supply chain. Armed with our technological and financing capabilities that we have cultivated in Japan, RENOVA is committed to accelerate business development throughout the region with the goal of contributing to regionwide sustainability and decarbonization.
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Epishine’s Unique Production Process Brings Further Advancements to the Solar Energy Industry
Swedish Epishine has made advancements for printed outdoor organic photovoltaics within the Solar Era funded project NFA4R2ROPV thanks to their breakthrough manufacturing process of roll-to-roll printed solar cells. Energy forecasts predominantly predict that solar energy will be the main energy source in the world in the foreseeable future, but the evolution of solar energy will be shaped by developments in solar energy technologies. Resource efficient, sustainable and scalable processes for photovoltaics are of the utmost importance to align the market's demand with the production possibilities while maintaining high efficiency and sustainability as the focus. “This project is an important step for Epishine. Through our established manufacturing process for the indoor market, we are increasing the pace of change within BIPV and utility-scale products, alongside our indoor advancements. This aligns with the sustainability focus that is at Epishine’s core, as well as our vision of becoming the global leader in roll-to-roll printed solar cells.” - Mattias Josephson VP Business Development at Epishine Researchers at Epishine are paving the way for future hybrid and outdoor applications with these modules. A key aspect in the rapid development time for this project is the patented manufacturing process that Epishine has developed for their indoor products. They are thrilled with the efficiency of their latest solar cell stack. Despite still having some distance to go before reaching the efficiency of silicon, the 8-9% efficiency achieved in the project is a big step forward for printed organic photovoltaics manufactured in an industrial roll-to-roll process. This achievement shows promise for the future, particularly as printable active materials are advancing rapidly. Epishine’s roll-to-roll process is an energy efficient and easily scalable way to manufacture solar cells, and also has a minimal environmental footprint. This process enables the product to have a short energy payback time and uses a minimum amount of materials, making it highly cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This project proves that this established process for indoor applications is adaptable to a variety of hybrid and outdoor products. “Our latest advancements in this break new ground, not only as a future outdoor or hybrid product for us, but the bigger picture here is a potential new paradigm for the OPV community. The short development time to reach these results marks only the beginning of the advancements we will be able to make in the coming years.” -Thomas Österberg, RnD Director at Epishine Epishine will continue focusing on indoor solar cells for low-power electronics, but participating in different development projects like this aligns with their broader goal to contribute to industry advancements and a more sustainable future.
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Meyer Burger enters Australian market and exhibits at Smart Energy Expo in Sydney
Meyer Burger Technology AG is now offering its premium solar panels in Australia, a significant and growing market. The company will present its product portfolio "Made in Germany, designed in Switzerland" at the country's largest solar trade show, the Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition from May 3 to 5 in Sydney. BayWa r.e. will be Meyer Burger's first distributor in Australia. "BayWa is well known in the Australian market as a supplier of German-made solar panels, and we believe Meyer Burger will fill an important gap in the Australian market," said Durmus Yildiz, managing director of BayWa r.e. Solar Systems in Australia. "For us it is particularly important that Meyer Burger is adhering to sustainable manufacturing and sourcing practices, aiming to continuously reduce the carbon footprint of its high-performance modules." The products available in Australia are Meyer Burger White, Meyer Burger Black and Meyer Burger Glass, all of which contain highly efficient heterojunction solar cells produced in the company's own production facilities in Germany's "Solar Valley". Compared to conventional technologies, the solar panels feature higher energy yields over their expected lifetime of more than 30 years. "The Australian solar market, with its high demand for sustainable products manufactured to high social and ethical standards, offers an excellent opportunity for Meyer Burger," says Brendan Kay, Head of Sales of Meyer Burger in Australia. "With our solar panels, the customer can harvest more solar energy from the rooftop – even at very high temperatures. This advantage is even larger with the glass-glass product, which, when installed appropriately, converts sun into electricity even on the back side with a bifacial efficiency of over 90 percent." Meyer Burger's Australian sales team will give a presentation at the trade show on May 4 at 9:30 a.m., detailing the product portfolio and patent-protected heterojunction/SmartWire technology and providing insights into the company. Interested parties can register for the presentation at the following link: https://www.meyerburger.com/en/smart-energy-council-conference-and-exhibition
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Apical’s Entry to Sustainable Aviation Fuels Takes Flight with Cepsa to Build the Largest 2G Biofuels Plant in Southern Europe
Apical, through its renewable energy subsidiary Bio-Oils located in Huelva, Spain, has established a joint venture with Cepsa to produce second generation (2G) biofuels by constructing the largest plant in southern Europe. The alliance marks Apical's entry to the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) market and a key milestone in RGE's strategy to produce a range of fuels to decarbonise aviation, maritime and land transportation. Apical, a leading vegetable oil processor, is a member of the Singapore-headquartered RGE group of companies. The new joint venture was announced at La Rábida Energy Park with the participation of Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the Regional Government of Andalusia; Maarten Wetselaar, Cepsa CEO (fourth from the left); Oscar Garcia, Bio-Oils CEO (second from the right); Dato' Yeo How, President, Apical (fourth from the right); Pratheepan Karunagaran, Executive Director, Apical (third from the left); and Lamberto Gaggiotti, Head, Green Energy, Apical (first from the left). The new plant, which is scheduled to begin operation in H1 2026, can produce up to 500,000 tons of SAF and/or renewable diesel annually, enabling the reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent, as compared to traditional fuels. SAF is often viewed as a tool to a zero-emissions future. However, the key global challenge to the production of SAF is access to feedstock (renewable waste and residue raw materials). As a large global integrated processor of vegetable oils, Apical is able to efficiently and sustainably extract waste and residue from its supply chain and its processes in a transparent and traceable manner. Through the joint venture, the plant will secure the majority of its feedstock supply from Apical's agricultural waste and residue through a global, long-term agreement. Cepsa will contribute its technical expertise and experience in the development of large industrial projects and fuel production; and knowledge of the European market and the decarbonisation goals of its customers in the transport sector. The facility will be located at Cepsa's La Rábida Energy Park in the Spanish province of Huelva. Dato' Yeo How, President of Apical, said: "Apical's ample supply of high quality second generation feedstock is key to ensuring that the new joint venture delivers on our shared vision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across air, sea and land transport. The wider use of SAF and renewable diesel provides significant benefits on a global scale, both in terms of mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting sustainable economic growth. Apical, through Bio-Oils, will ensure the supply of raw materials and contribute our own expertise in biofuels production." The new facility will feature the latest technology for the production of second generation biofuels. Designed as a digital native plant, the new operation incorporates state-of-the-art technology including the latest industry advances in artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT) and data analysis to maximise process efficiency, and ensure the highest standards of safety and environmental protection. By leveraging innovation, Apical is accelerating its sustainable operations in line with Apical2030's Pillar 3 (Green Innovation) of its strategic sustainability roadmap. Pratheepan Karunagaran, Executive Director, Apical, said: "Aviation emissions account for 2-3 percent of global energy-related CO2 emissions and are expected to grow by 300-700 percent by 2050[1]. To reduce the direct carbon emissions of flying, SAF can be an immediate solution. A next-generation low-carbon fuel produced from 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, it works seamlessly with existing aircraft engines and fuelling infrastructure. As the availability of waste and residue grows in tandem with the expansion of Apical's global footprint and capacities, we are able to create value-added partnerships for our waste stream in various parts of the world, especially in Asia." With regard to the development of the SAF industry in Asia, Pratheepan commented: "SAF in Asia has much potential for growth and development. The good news is: as more countries begin to recognise the importance of sustainable practices and environmental responsibility, there is likely a greater focus on promoting the adoption of SAF throughout the aviation industry," he added. Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, highlighted in his speech: "Cepsa has been investing in Huelva and Andalusia for almost 60 years and has been an active part and main player in the progress experienced in our land. Cepsa has made an outstanding contribution to our progress and to the creation of employment, with almost 8,000 direct and indirect jobs. Big bets like Cepsa's confirm that we are on the right track." Maarten Wetselaar noted: "This alliance is a decisive step in our strategy to lead biofuels in Spain and Portugal and positions Andalusia as a European benchmark in sustainable energy production and circular economy. Second-generation biofuels are an immediate solution to support our customers' energy as they can be used in conventional engines, while enabling local development and increased energy autonomy in Europe." Oscar Garcia said: "Cepsa has been Bio-Oils' largest customer for many years. We share many operational advantages, such as the proximity and interconnection of our facilities and the use of the Reina Sofía berth for the charge and discharge of our products. This new joint venture is a natural evolution of our relationship" ### [1] Source: International Civil Aviation Organisation
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Delta Honored with the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award for the Sixth Consecutive Year
Delta, a global leading provider of power and thermal management solutions, today announced it was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the prominent 2023 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence award for the sixth consecutive year. The prestigious distinction values Delta’s outstanding leadership in energy efficiency over the years, demonstrated by the indoor air quality (IAQ) energy savings achieved in North America by our wide portfolio of Delta Breez bathroom ventilation fans, which in 2022 alone, saved over 30.8 million kWh of electricity for U.S. consumers. By leveraging its own DC brushless motor technology, which is 70 percent more energy efficient than traditional AC motors, over 90 percent of Delta Breez fan models are certified by the ENERGY STAR program.
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Gunung Raja Paksi (GRP) Inaugurates Solar Panel Installation As a Continuation of ESG Program
PT Gunung Raja Paksi Tbk (GRP), a member of the Gunung Steel Group and one of the largest private steelmakers in Indonesia continues to develop its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) program. Following the ESG strategy, the company is expanding on the core pillar of Energy Transition and Low Carbon Solution, with the inauguration of its PV-Module Solar Panels as one of its new renewable energy sources. The inauguration of the solar panel, is intended to support the company's operational activities in West Cikarang. Present at the event were Tony Taniwan, Member of the Executive Committee at GRP and Abednedju Giovano Warani Sangkaeng (Argo), President Director at GRP. Also present were UP3 PLN Cikarang Manager Zamzami, as well as the Total Energies team, who is responsible for the design and selection of a trusted EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) partner for construction implementation. "The solar panel's installation is part of GRP's commitment to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and is a part of the ESG program which we launched in 2022," said Abednedju Giovano Warani Sangkaeng, President Director at GRP. According to Argo, there are a number of benefits that GRP can achieve by installing the solar panels. These include the potential reduction of annual carbon dioxide emissions as part of the ESG program and cost savings due to the relatively lower power requirements of the solar panels. "This is a sustainable and long-term benefit. Because in the future, this effort will increase the competitiveness of our products and we would be able to achieve green energy," he continued. The solar panels installed in phase 1 in the Forming Service Center (FSC) area have total system capacity of 900 kWp (kilowatt peak) and are capable of producing 1,239,068 kWh of electricity per year. This is equivalent to a reduction of 991.25 tons of CO2 emissions per Megawatt hour per year towards cleaner and more sustainable energy utilization. Going forward, GRP will install more solar panels with a total target capacity of 33,000 kwp (kilowatt peak) on the roof of the GRP factory, and it is planned to be completed in 2025. With regards to operation and maintenance, the rooftop solar power plant is equipped with several sensors to monitor temperature, wind speed and ambient temperature. In addition, the system will employ remote monitoring that can provide performance analysis and carbon footprint data. All power that will be generated are going to be channelled and used to support production activities. The utilization of solar panels is planned to be one of the company's renewable energy sources in the future. By implementing solar panels supported by advanced and modern technology, GRP contributes to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and help fight the threat of climate change, which is in line with the implementation of the Green Energy culture within the company.
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WiTTRA Launches Market-Ready Solution for Sustainable Energy Management
As energy costs continue to rise, energy management has become crucial for businesses looking to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs. WiTTRA, an IoT technology provider, believes that the Internet of Things (IoT) can provide the solution for sustainable energy management. WiTTRA's market-ready solution is a split core current clamp connected to the WiTTRA Current Meter that can measure up to 400 Amps AC current on the primary centre conductor. The clamp can be easily fitted around existing electrical wiring, reducing installation time, and the Current Meter can operate without an external power source, making it perfect for field deployment. WiTTRA's IoT solution offers real-time monitoring and control of energy usage, enabling businesses to identify patterns and anomalies in energy usage to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs. In commercial buildings, the power clamps can be used to monitor the energy consumption of different systems and devices, while in industrial settings, they can monitor the energy consumption of industrial machines and processes, enabling the identification of inefficiencies and the optimization of energy usage. The WiTTRA solution is small, rugged, and easy to set up, making it ideal for use in various environments. It is certified for EU/NA/UK and can operate without a permanent power source, making it easy to deploy and use. WiTTRA's solution provides a wide range of benefits, including optimizing factory operations to save energy, monitoring machinery usage, and predictive maintenance.
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Worldwide Launch of the Epishine OneCell, Brings Design and Market-Leading Performance Together
Today, the majority of sensors and low-power electronics rely on disposable batteries, resulting in a higher environmental impact and increased maintenance costs due to frequent battery replacements. Devices using light power provide an excellent solution to these issues, but often design choices such as buttons or other form factor issues can limit the available surface area for the solar cell. For a viable solution, the device must be integrated with a solar cell that is both high in performance, and flexible in design. The Epishine OneCell , with its high performance and innovative design, is a combination that the market has not seen before. It is produced in Sweden, using a unique roll-to-roll manufacturing technique that enables efficient mass-production of the modules. OneCell is composed of organic and non-toxic materials, making it the most sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for powering small wireless electronics on the market. “The adaptability and design of our OneCell introduces a range of new possibilities for applications in the industry. Our mission has been to help our partners create self-powered applications through light power, and the OneCell is our next big step.” - Hassan Abdalla, Product Manager at Epishine A unique feature of the OneCell is its ability to maintain its high performance even with cut-outs in the surface, enabling new types of light-powered applications with customized layouts. The OneCell can be adapted to various surface finishes, such as soft touch plastics, leather, and brushed materials and can thereby be seamlessly integrated into devices made with these materials. OneCell is available in sizes ranging from 20cm2 to 300cm2, making it adaptable for a wide range of applications. “This is the next level in our important progress of sustainable powering solutions, eliminating the need to compromise on design to maintain high performance. “- Anna Björklou, CEO at Epishine The product is available today as engineering samples and in pre-series production later this year.
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ELEO Introduces its New Generation of Battery Systems at CONEXPO
Yanmar Group company, ELEO Technologies B.V, a battery technology manufacturer located in Helmond, the Netherlands, will display its next generation of battery systems at CONEXPO in Las Vegas in March 2023 on Yanmar America’s booth in the at South Hall 2nd Level — S84014. The new system offers increased energy density and ultimate integration flexibility following from the unique modular concept. - All-in-one systems integrator of e-powertrains for off-road OEM equipment Yanmar will establish itself as the all-in-one systems integrator for smart electrified power solutions tailored to the application-specific needs of individual OEMs. In its capacity as a systems integrator, Yanmar will implement system engineering, design and manufacturing of e-powertrains, while also providing control development, system evaluation, procurement, manufacturing and quality assurance. As Yanmar transitions to an advanced supplier of electrified solutions, the company remains true to its core values of durability, reliability, quality and robustness, together with the commitment to be a reliable and trusted partner for customers - values the company has lived by for more than 110 years. An important milestone for realizing the urgent environmental challenges that we must overcome is Yanmar’s acquisition of battery-technology company ELEO, a fast-growing developer and manufacturer of high-performance modular battery systems. This acquisition will further Yanmar’s electrified powertrain capabilities with versatile, customized solutions for off-road applications. - Ultimate flexibility The new battery system is the second product generation from the Dutch manufacturer after the first generation started production in early 2020. With the new product, ELEO offers industrial OEMs ultimate flexibility from the scalable design to meet the wide variety of requirements present in the off-highway industry. ELEO’s unique concept features modular battery modules that come in different sizes created from the same tooling, components and production process. This allows for an extensive selection of customized packs without the need for extensive engineering. By combining a set of modules, the ideal voltage, capacity and dimensions can be reached for any application, ranging from 50-800 V and 10-1000 kWh in a wide range of shapes. All customized battery systems are provided as full turnkey solutions and are automatically certified according to R10, UN38.3, IEC62619, SIL-2 and designed to comply with R100-3 and a host of others. - Advanced technology To deliver customers optimal battery performance, ELEO has developed and integrated advanced technology into its new battery system. State-of-the-art cylindrical cells in combination with optimal packing flexibility enable an industry-leading energy density and maximum autonomy. Additionally, ELEO’s unique flexible approach is enabled by its in-house designed Battery Management System (BMS). Each pack has a central pack management unit that collects and controls data from all individual modules, establishing active safety and comprehensive communication to the application. ELEO’s BMS accommodates various communication protocols and features highly accurate estimations for state-of-charge (SOC), state-of-health (SOH), and state-of-power (SOP) while better balancing cells in the battery pack. This affirms that the pack is operating at its full potential while enabling optimal user experience. To ensure maximum performance under all circumstances, ELEO uses a single-surface cooling method that accommodates both passive and active cooling, minimizing temperature differences between all batteries while ensuring maximum performance in both cold and hot environments. Safety has been top priority in the design process. Thermal runaway propagation prevention technology is integrated in each battery system, which means that in the unlikely event a cell goes into thermal runaway, ELEO's proprietary propagation prevention technology assures no thermal runaway propagation will occur and all surrounding cells are protected—limiting damage to a single replaceable module and thoroughly mitigating any safety risks. - Availability ELEO has already started the production of its new battery system and is ramping up production in its newly built battery production plant at the Automotive Campus in Helmond, the Netherlands. The batteries have been on display during bauma in Munich in October last year and will be introduced to the North American market from March 14-18 at CONEXPO. For both events ELEO joined Yanmar’s booth to highlight the company’s efforts towards the decarbonized powertrain as part of its Yanmar Green Challenge 2050. At its new facility, annual battery production capacity has increased tenfold to 500MWh – equivalent of approximately 10,000 battery packs.
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Trive Capital, with Sidekick Operators, forms OWL Services
Trive Capital, a Dallas, TX-based private equity firm, along with strategic operating partner, SideKick Operators, announces the formation of OWL Services (“OWL” or the “Company”), the leading sales, installation, program management, and service provider to petroleum and clean energy companies across North America. The Company is the result of the recent acquisition of seven industry leading businesses—including, WildcoPES, CBE, Crompco, e-Structure Solutions, Great Dane Petroleum, JBI Electrical Systems and Oscar W. Larson Company (“Oscar Larson”). Oscar Larson’s accomplished management team, skilled staff and technicians, and state-of-the-art technology platform, combined with the expert service offering of these six other leading companies, are the foundation of the OWL Services platform. OWL Services will be headquartered in the Metro Detroit area, and has 21 offices and more than 1,300 field service professionals located across the U.S. OWL provides integrated solutions for all facets of the petroleum convenience and electric vehicle markets, including security, point-of-sale, environmental compliance, and petroleum convenience and EV charging station design, construction, and maintenance. Greg Ergenbright, former President of U.S. Operations for Schindler Elevator Group, joins the newly formed company as its Chief Executive Officer. A 30-year equipment, construction, and maintenance veteran, Ergenbright is a strategic and collaborative leader with a demonstrated record of success building business and driving high-performance cultures focused on operational excellence. “It’s an exciting and transformative time—not only for OWL, but also for our industry,” says Ergenbright. “By combining the capabilities and strengths of these seven businesses, we have created a turnkey solutions company that will shape and define the future of how we fuel and power our vehicles. I’m thrilled to be a part of this transformation.” Beyond its existing offering, OWL will continue to invest in its already industry-leading eMobility services. The Company is a premier partner for fast-charging original equipment manufacturers and customers looking for a solutions provider that can comprehensively build, operate, and manage the electrical charging infrastructure needed to support the rising number of electric vehicles in the U.S. “OWL is fully equipped to take on the unique demands of electrification safely, efficiently, and sustainably, just as our partner companies have done for decades with petroleum equipment,” says Ergenbright. Blake Bonner, Partner at Trive Capital, added, “We are thrilled to announce the formation of OWL Services and onboarding of Greg Ergenbright after completing seven transactions in less than two years from the original acquisition of Oscar W. Larson. We have built a differentiated facility maintenance platform to address the unprecedented challenges faced by OWL customers in managing electrification while also maintaining existing infrastructure. OWL is another example of Trive’s ability to serve as the preferred partner for owner-operators who want to quickly execute a shared strategic plan.” “It has been an honor working side-by-side with the tremendous leadership of these companies,” says SideKick CEO Justin Steen. “For over 70 years, OWL’s leadership team has fostered a culture of service excellence, fueling the future of these combined organizations. They understand the importance of relentless service to its customers 24/7/365, which positions OWL as the nation’s partner of choice for maintaining existing infrastructure and future innovations.”
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Powering Ubiquitous Electronics with Perovskite Photovoltaics
Internet of Things (IoT) devices promise to enable a world of smart, connected objects, with their number expected to rapidly accelerate to billions by 2030. However, small electronic devices typically rely on batteries that require frequent re-charging or replacement every few years, leading to high material and labor costs as well as unwanted waste. Powering IoT devices in a cheap, sustainable fashion is thus crucial to achieve the promised vision of a connected world. Small, low-cost thin film solar cells, optimized to work with diffuse indoor light, offer a solution to this dilemma. - Perovskite PV for Indoor Energy Harvesting A connected world comes with the burden of batteries and unsightly extensive wiring. As more technologies are adopted into homes and businesses, the chaotic clutter of wires and the dwindling count of nearby power sockets become an increasing nuisance. The use of batteries is an environmentally unfriendly solution and replacing them on a mass scale every 3-4 years is expensive and labor intensive. The integration of a thin film solar module within smoke alarms, motion sensors, smaller electronic displays, and other gadgets means that there is no need for batteries or external wiring and so the device can be placed anywhere that has sufficient light exposure. Solar-powered devices are of interest to both homeowners and to retailers and would eliminate the need for batteries in many indoor IoT devices. Perovskite solar cells are an exciting new thin film technology that have demonstrated remarkably high efficiencies. Perovskite PV can provide similarly high-power density as silicon PV at a lower cost, a fraction of the weight, and with a simpler manufacturing process. Perovskite solar cells are able to maintain relatively high efficiencies even under low intensity or diffuse light, which makes them well-suited to both indoor and outdoor energy harvesting. This is a key advantage over the conventional silicon technology that suffers poor efficiencies under indoor light. Since the perovskite material applies like an ink, the solar cells are very lightweight, flexible, and unobtrusive. They can easily be integrated into small electronic devices and used to power them directly. IDTechEx has recently released a report, “Perovskite Photovoltaics 2023-2033”, identifying the key challenges, competition, and innovation opportunities behind perovskite PV. - Cost Trumps Efficiency and Durability For a lot of household and consumer electronics, high power is not a strict requirement. For example, powering headphones, sensors, and lights does not require state-of-the-art solar technology. Solar cells with an efficiency of 10-15 % could be sufficient to operate most small and portable electronics. Durability is another typically important criterion that can be relaxed since many electronics are intended for short-term use, with consumers frequently updating their devices for newer models. The need for 25-year lifespans, as is typical for rooftop solar panels, is no longer the standard to measure by. The key metric for the successful deployment of solar cells in consumer and retail electronics is cost. Given the increasingly high volume of consumer and retail electronics, energy solutions need to be economical. Additionally, solar technology will be competing with well-established and relatively inexpensive batteries. Solar could move into a competitive position with batteries if it were to demonstrate lower costs and greater practicality. - Perovskite PV Joins a Burgeoning Market Perovskite is not the only PV technology being targeted at everyday electronics. In fact, there already exist wireless headphones powered by dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that are available to purchase in shops. The household brand Adidas has recently announced it is partnering with DSSC-manufacturer, Exeger, to make their own solar-powered headphones. In addition, organic solar cells are being used on a small scale to power motion sensors and people counters. The advantage of perovskite PV over these already commercial technologies is that it is expected to be simpler to manufacture at scale. This is because, unlike DSSCs and organic PV, perovskite solar cells do not depend heavily on complex molecular synthesis. Perovskite PV also delivers higher efficiencies, which may make them the more suitable option as the functionality of IoT electronics becomes increasingly multifaceted. To discover how the various thin film PV technologies, including cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide, gallium arsenide, and more, may revolutionize the transition to green energy, please see the brand new IDTechEx report, “Beyond Silicon: Thin Film Photovoltaics 2023-2033”. For more information on this report please visit www.IDTechEx.com/BeyondSilicon. All IDTechEx reports contain detailed analysis of established and emerging technologies, their potential adoption barriers and suitability for different applications, and an assessment of technological and commercial readiness. Reports also include multiple company profiles based on interviews with early-stage and established companies, along with 10-year market forecasts. A full list of IDTechEx reports can be found at www.IDTechEx.com
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The EU grants 25 MSEK to Epishine’s Sunrise project
The connected society requires a huge number of sensors, sensors that historically relied on batteries, which continue to contribute to the 200,000 tons of batteries sold in the EU alone each year. Less than half of these batteries are recycled, resulting in that batteries are also a major source of waste. The market's reliance on batteries has historically limited the deployment of sensors everywhere, particularly indoors; a problem that the IoT sensor industry urgently needs to address. By bringing a resource- and energy-efficient indoor solar cell to market, Epishine will be able to assist the European Commission in accelerating the progress of preventing and reducing battery waste in the IoT sector. Solar cells replace batteries, reducing both environmental impact and costs, as the cost of changing batteries exceeds the cost of the solar cells several times over. ”Since properties consume a significant portion of our total energy consumption, it feels extremely important to be able to contribute to the necessary energy optimization with the help of sensors. Together with our customers, we can offer solutions that use self-sufficient electronics to reduce energy consumption and thus costs in properties. Energy optimization will be critical to ensure that the energy available can meet our future needs.” Anna Björklou, CEO Epishine The LIFE Sunrise project's main goal is to scale up Epishine's innovative production technology in order to increase the availability of organic indoor solar cells. Epishine's vision is to be a sustainability leader in the production and sale of organic solar cells, thereby accelerating the global shift to sustainable energy solutions. The LIFE co-financing fund requires projects to contribute to the implementation of European environmental and climate legislation, as well as the goals specified in the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. “LIFE Sunrise will be an important step in our journey to provide an environmentally friendly power supply to the market. It is also a springboard for our scalable process to find more and more applications, fulfilling our long-term vision of planetary impact.” Anders Elfwing, Passion Manager Epishine A successful LIFE SUNRISE project will enable Epishine's vision of creating planetary impact by making organic light power available everywhere. Epishine's long-term vision is to accelerate the progress towards net zero emissions in line with the EU's net zero emissions target of 2050, Sunrise is one of the steps the company is taking in the direction of achieving that. Ulf Castenfors, CEO GIA Sweden AB has assisted in the application process and sees a significant environmental benefit in the progress of projects such as the Sunrise project “That the Sunrise project received funding from the EU is completely in line with LIFE's purpose. The future potential in this project is a big reason to why we want to contribute to facilitate the process of financing” Ulf Castenfors, CEO GIA Sweden The official name for this project is 101074260 — LIFE21-CCM-SE-LIFE SUNRISE
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Solutions to California’s Power Problems
Mr. Burns of Simpson’s fame — the personification of utility greed and political power — is happily rubbing his hands together as California roasts in the dark. And this situation will get much worse in the coming years. First, there is insufficient power during heat waves. Even with large solar and wind farms, gas peaker plants, one remaining nuclear plant, and long distance transmission lines importing power — the state is dangerously close to rolling blackouts. As I write this, the predicted power demand is 51,000 megawatts and the theoretical supply of power is 56,000 megawatts. Too close for comfort if temperatures are higher, if power plants go off line, if wildfires get worse, if people do not respond to flex alerts, and if there are also power shortages in nearby states. Second, electric rates are skyrocketing. Rates increased 3% from 2000 to 2015, 6% from 2015 to 2020, and 14% in 2021 and 2022 (so far) — all before the impact of inflation over the past year. These skyrocketing rates are simply unaffordable to many homeowners and businesses. The driving factors behind these rate increases are out of control investments by California’s investor owned utilities (IOUs). For example, PG&E’s plan to bury 10,000 miles of transmission lines will cost ratepayers in the neighborhood of $100 billion dollars over the next 10 years. That $100 billion is more than enough to install solar and storage on every building in northern California with a sunny rooftop. Third, electrification will require even more power. The state plans to stop selling gas cars by 2035, requiring a rapid transition to electric vehicles as gas stations are replaced with EV chargers. All new buildings will be heated with electricity, and gas heating equipment in existing buildings will be steadily converted to heat pumps. These factors are likely to increase power demands by another 50% per capita. Practical solutions to solve these power problems are limited. We can’t go back to the fossil fuel age. New nuclear plants will take 20+ years to construct, and are more expensive than renewables with batteries. Importing power via long distance transmission lines is expensive, dangerous and unreliable. Continued droughts mean we cannot depend on hydroelectric power. The fastest, cheapest and cleanest solution is to accelerate solar and storage installation on homes and businesses. Buildings can be converted to zero net energy in fewer than six months. Funding as part of the Inflation Reduction Act coupled with widely available clean energy loans make solar and storage cash flow positive for almost every building owner. But monopoly utilities, the biggest lobbyists in the state, spend millions to discourage customer solar and storage installations. Please tune in to this week’s Energy Show for specific details on what each of us can do to reduce the impacts of these power shortages. We’ll also discuss the actions that must be taken to reign in the destructive economic influence of investor-owned utilities as they crowd out faster and cheaper private sector investments in distributed generation power supplies.