ASCA and Epishine sign their first licensing agreement for printed OPV
Toray Head Office to Effectively Employ 100% Renewable Electricity
Is China Becoming a Green Colussus? New Solar and Wind Park to Produce 240% More Energy Than All Renewables in Germany combined
Impact of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on biofuels production shown in study
IDTechEx Analyzes if Oil Can be Climate Compatible
ELSYS is launching ERS Eco, a battery-free sensor line powered by Epishine’s indoor solar cells
Hitachi Energy selected as technology partner for the world’s longest AC power-from-shore project in Norway
EU project brings together the next “Energy Game Changers”
EU project brings together the next “Energy Game Changers”
Eurocell is in advanced discussions with major property developers and energy companies to supply batteries to store energy
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Eurocell Building a European Gigafactory to supply World-Leading ‘PRODUCTION READY’ Batteries in just 12 Months
Eurocell, the Anglo-Korean next-generation battery company, is set to build its first European Gigafactory, producing proven ‘production ready’ technologies in just 12 months, far faster than other Gigafactories. This is possible as Eurocell has a proven battery product which is ready for scaled-up manufacturing. With an initial £600 million investment planned over two phases, it intends to supply European energy storage, automotive, and e-mobility applications. Full capacity will be reached as early as 2025. The company will mass-produce and export its market-leading technologies from one of three key markets, the UK, the Netherlands or Spain. It is already actively looking at sites and the final choice is heavily dependent on gaining the right level of central government support and investment. The host country selected will benefit from the creation of hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, transferring vital skills from Korean battery experts and boosting the economy in a strategic sector crucial to achieving Europe’s net zero ambitions. Eurocell’s batteries, developed in Korea, also have a considerable technical advantage, lasting over ten times longer than conventional lithium-ion cells, making them far more sustainable, with no ‘end of life’ issues and perfect for ESS applications given its 100% safe and high performance. Their wide range of operating temperatures also makes them ideally suited to areas with extreme weather and without an existing grid network. Recardo Bruins, CEO Eurocell EMEA “Eurocell in the UK is a new company, led by a highly experienced UK team and backed by our South Korean partner with decades of experience in electro-chemistry, making batteries at mass-scale and building the Gigafactories to produce them. Now we are planning to rapidly expand in Europe, supplying the energy storage and automotive industries with our market-leading technologies that last longer, perform better and are 100% safe. These products can be on the market in months, not years. “To fulfil our mission, we are actively seeking a European manufacturing base and are in advanced discussions with sites in the UK, Netherlands and Spain. With the right level of central engagement and support we are keen to take advantage of the rapidly growing European market as quickly as possible.” Eurocell intends to construct its new Gigafactory in two phases. The first phase will begin producing advanced battery cells at scale by early 2023 for existing customers. In parallel a bespoke facility will be constructed on the same site, capable of producing in excess of 40 million cells per year by 2025.
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Leaptran Named Semifinalist in American-Made Solar Prize; Advances to Next Round with $30,000 in Prize Money
Leaptran, a renewable energy and storage technology startup, is one step closer to commercialization within the global energy ecosystem after being recognized as a semifinalist in the American Made - Solar Prize Round 5 Software Track’s Ready! Contest. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected Leaptran, the only team from Texas, among 20 semifinalists to advance to the next contest in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 5 Software Track, a competition designed to spark U.S. solar energy innovation. Competitors submitted a game-changing solar energy idea, showed they had assembled a strong team and put together an achievable plan. The semifinalists in the Software Track’s Ready! Contest each earned a $30,000 cash prize and advanced to the Set! Contest, in which they will develop a minimum viable product (MVP). Leaptran’s technology uses proprietary algorithms and artificial intelligence to better forecast solar production in various time horizons. Leaptran recently graduated from EPIcenter’s incubator program and has advanced into its accelerator program. “We spent our time with EPIcenter refining our company’s products and services. Under the coaching and strategic guidance of the EPIcenter Energy Incubator and Accelerator (EEIA) team, we were able to focus on one product and service offering,” Jeff Xu, President and CEO, of Leaptran, said. “Now we can focus on scaling that offering and adding more over time.” The EEIA incites the energy evolution by providing curriculum, coaching, mentorship, connections (access to funding and fabrication laboratories) and services to startups in all phases of development. The EEIA offers four distinct programs (Pre-Incubation, Incubation, Acceleration and Associate Membership) to meet each startup where it is in the commercialization journey. “The EEIA is unique because we offer tailored services to best fit individual startups’ needs. We dedicate a lot of time to determining each company’s goals and to helping them map a plan to achieve them,” Andi Littlejohn, Chief of the EPIcenter Energy Incubator and Accelerator, said. “One way we do this is by curating a distinguished mentor team that mimics a board of directors. The mentors’ experience and expertise keep these entrepreneurs’ products and services on the right track to becoming commercially viable.” Leaptran expects to spend time moving forward in the EEIA’s highly customized Accelerator program to focus on scaling the technology, business development efforts and executing its commercialization plan. “We are very proud of Leaptran’s achievement in the Solar Prize Round 5 Software Track Ready! Contest. This award is a testament to the company’s dedication to energy innovation and we look forward to undergirding its momentum,” Littlejohn said. EPIcenter continues to fulfill its mission of propelling energy innovation and thought for our global future with a think tank, incubator and accelerator, strategic partnerships, advisory engagements and critical conversations around energy. To learn more about EPIcenter, please visit www.epicenterus.org
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Smart Cities Pivot to Hydrogen and Other Priorities, Reports IDTechEx
Smart cities face new, exceptional challenges with new exceptional technologies. Those starting from scratch have seen a shakeout for reasons varying from push-back against people control to failing to raise the money. In contrast, work has begun on the NEOM smart city in Saudi Arabia and the more modest Toyota Woven City at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan that is, in some ways, more advanced. The IDTechEx report, “Smart City Materials, Systems, Markets 2022-2042” has the analysis and forecasts. New directions are the order of the day. Toyota now promotes its priority as a hydrogen economy, escaping from the natural gas and other fossil fuels dragging us to oblivion. Japan is backward in cleaning up its grid so we can expect solar everywhere in Woven City as in all others. That means a lot of distributed energy storage that can assist national grids but look closely and things are pivoting. Lithium-ion batteries for short-term stationary storage may well be replaced with greener, more affordable, longer-lived sodium-ion batteries without the scarce metals. Even the world’s largest battery maker CATL has announced one. Source: IDTechEx - “Smart City Materials, Systems, Markets 2022-2042” Overall, the simplistic objective of a “hydrogen economy” is giving way to using the right technology for the right application. NEOM in Saudi Arabia is to be “the first cognitive city, where world-class technology is fueled with data and intelligence to interact seamlessly with its population” but that includes massive industry creation – jobs. So-called OXAGON forms the next phase of NEOM’s master plan “representing a radical new model for future manufacturing centers, based on NEOM’s strategies of redefining the way humanity lives and works in the future”. OXAGON will establish the world’s first fully-integrated port and supply chain ecosystem. The port, logistics, and rail delivery facility will be unified, providing world-class productivity levels with net-zero carbon emissions, setting global benchmarks in the adoption of technology and environmental sustainability. These industries are sustainable energy; autonomous mobility; water innovation; sustainable food production; health and well-being; technology and digital manufacturing (including telecommunications, space technology, and robotics), and modern methods of construction; all powered by 100% renewable energy, they promise. NEOM will doubtless use hydrogen for cooking and industry. Nonetheless, the gorgeous Lucid battery electric car with its record range is a Saudi investment and it is likely to be made in NEOM. Indeed, NEOM is already partnered with Volocopter the delivery and passenger drone company using batteries. Saudi Arabia is rapidly moving to solar desalination near cities for virtually all its water. Hydrogen is a strong part of the industrial chemicals industry worldwide, including the associated ammonia business. The impending large market for energy storage electricity-to-electricity will have a new dimension of seasonal storage for solar weak in winter and for wind outages of months. Here hydrogen is a strong candidate and gravity storage lifting huge weights is a contender. Wisely, the Saudis have strongly invested in both. Meanwhile, NEOM plans the world’s largest green hydrogen project involving Air Products and ACWA Power, the world's largest and most advanced modular building construction factory with Gulf Modular International and the largest hyperscale data center in the region, with FAS Energy. Existing cities can rightfully call themselves smart when they head towards zero emissions and happier users with more affordable new technologies. Dubai placed the world’s largest order for battery robot shuttles – a totally new form of transport. Other existing cities are taking leadership positions from making food with almost no water to tapping the waves and tide to make electricity as sea levels rise. London will see all new buildings with electric car chargers fitted and other cities plan all new buildings being solar. But hydrogen or electric economy? That is proving to be as daft as betting when everything will be painted yellow. To find out more about the research by IDTechEx on Smart Cities and Hydrogen, please visit “Smart City Materials, Systems, Markets 2022-2042” and “Green Hydrogen Production: Electrolyzer Markets 2021-2031”.
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UPDATE: Energy Landscape Symposium Postponed to March 24
As the push for innovation in the energy industry becomes more mainstream, the need to understand how to innovate is more important now than ever. The Women’s Energy Network South Texas Chapter and EPIcenter, hosts of the Energy Landscape Symposium, have postponed the event, originally planned for February 3, and rescheduled it for March 24 due to the current surge in community covid cases. The event will discuss the changing environment of the industry, how to enter a traditional market with alternative sources and where the future of innovation may lay. The half-day hybrid conference will provide perspective on emerging technologies and business models, showcase the projects and people working in energy innovation and will allow for questions and answers as well as networking. The event will start at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and ends at 5:00 p.m. with a social hour. “EPIcenter is pleased to partner with the Women’s Energy Network to generate interest and excitement around energy innovation,” Kimberly M. Britton, CEO of EPIcenter, said. “Our intent is that attendees will come away with a basic understanding of energy evolution and how they can respond to it in their everyday roles.” “As the energy industry continues to evolve and grow, the South Texas Chapter aims to share with its membership, and the greater South Texas community, examples of how our region is helping shape that evolution. Our member companies are key contributors and our partnership with EPIcenter allows us to highlight energy innovators that may not yet be a part of our Network,” Kelsey Johnson, President of the Women’s Energy Network South Texas Chapter said. Registration for the Energy Landscape Symposium remains open and closes on Monday, March 21, 2022. Members of the Women’s Energy Network and the EPIcenter Power Network receive discounted ticket prices. Organizations involved include but are not limited to: EPIcenter, Valero, OCI Solar Power, CPS Energy and the Federal Reserve Bank-Dallas. The symposium will be held at the Embassy Suites Landmark in San Antonio on Thursday, March 24, 2022. To learn more and register please visit https://www.womensenergynetwork.org/southtexas/
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The six water technology trends for 2022, according to Idrica
January 19, 2022. AMI infrastructure, digital twins, intelligent asset management, Geographical Information Systems, 5G and Artificial Intelligence are the water technology trends for 2022, according to Idrica. These global trends are set to bring innovative use cases to revolutionize the water industry. In a world where data is the most valuable asset, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is fundamental given the amount of information it can produce. This infrastructure can improve all business processes and help utilities and consumers make better decisions, because of the large numbers of sensors deployed on them compared to other IoT systems in the industry. Moreover, digital twins, defined as a virtual copy of the water supply system that simulates how it behaves, help to make better decisions thanks to the holistic view they provide of the system and their ability to simulate real and fictitious scenarios. Thus, utilities can anticipate the response of the network to any circumstance affecting operations, whether it has occurred before or not, helping them to assess different scenarios. In recent years, leading water utilities have been building intelligent asset management into their processes. As a result of the deployment of sensors on their infrastructure and the implementation of other technologies such as micro-metering, GIS and SCADAs, utilities have an ever-increasing volume of information available. In this context, intelligent management integrates and organizes all this data in order to make better decisions. For this reason, the water industry is adding this tool with the ultimate goal of maximizing efficiency, bringing significant economic and environmental benefits by reducing costs and energy consumption. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have become an essential tool for water utilities, helping them to extract value from their data to improve their business processes. These systems enable companies to integrate and represent an ever-increasing flow of information. In practice, any data with geospatial content can be represented in a GIS. This enables utilities to bring together the value of the location and its information in a single tool, where it can be centrally managed, providing essential information to guide actions and solve problems. For example, to monitor changes that water utilities make to their infrastructure. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps to provide more sustainable management of water resources. Within AI, Machine Learning (ML) has huge potential in the industry. One of its main advantages is that it automates processes that are costly to manage manually. This improves the accuracy of the results, which are calculated at high computational speed thanks to the infrastructure that underpins them. Thus, utilities can make better decisions because they have real-time information about what is happening in the infrastructures. Other branches of AI, which are also being applied to water, are voice and vision recognition systems, expert systems, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and robots. Finally, 5G is not just another new generation of communication; instead it opens up radically new business opportunities that were not previously possible. Water utilities globally are transforming their processes as a means to achieve greater water and energy efficiency. This journey includes securely leveraging the value of data obtained from sensors in order to make better decisions. Thanks to its low latency and its ability to connect millions of devices, 5G is set to become a key ally for utilities. Moreover, against a background of increased transparency, this technology will help to liberate and democratize data, making it more accessible. The range of available technologies will benefit all water utilities, regardless of their degree of digital transformation. The six technologies that Idrica defines, explains and reflects on in the recently published report “Water Technology Trends 2022: redefining the utilities of the future” are some of the must-have tools for ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. The digital transformation of processes is no longer an option; it is simply the road to follow in order to offer a quality service as demanded by 21st century citizens. Climate change and water scarcity, which already affects 40% of the population, are challenges that need to be addressed urgently. In 2022, and over the next few years, utilities will continue to optimize their management thanks to these technology trends, among other developments. The future depends on digital transformation. However, this should not be conceived as an end in itself, but as a way of extracting value from data and converting information into business intelligence. This is the only way we will be able to tackle the challenges of the coming decades, Idrica concludes.
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Energy Landscape Symposium Discusses Impact of Energy Innovation
As the push for innovation in the energy industry becomes more mainstream, the need to understand how to innovate is more important now than ever. The Women’s Energy Network South Texas Chapter and EPIcenter, a non-profit energy innovation hub, are hosting the Energy Landscape Symposium on February 3 to discuss the changing environment of the industry, how to enter a traditional market with alternative sources and where the future of innovation may lay. The half-day hybrid conference will provide perspective on emerging technologies and business models, showcase the projects and people working in energy innovation and will allow for questions and answers as well as networking. The event will start at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and ends at 5:00 p.m. with a social hour. “EPIcenter is pleased to partner with the Women’s Energy Network to generate interest and excitement around energy innovation,” Kimberly M. Britton, CEO of EPIcenter, said. “Our intent is that attendees will come away with a basic understanding of energy evolution and how they can respond to it in their everyday roles.” “As the energy industry continues to evolve and grow, the South Texas Chapter aims to share with its membership, and the greater South Texas community, examples of how our region is helping shape that evolution. Our member companies are key contributors and our partnership with EPIcenter allows us to highlight energy innovators that may not yet be a part of our Network,” Kelsey Johnson, President of the Women’s Energy Network South Texas Chapter said. Registration for the Energy Landscape Symposium is now open and closes on Monday, January 31, 2022. Members of the Women’s Energy Network and the EPIcenter Power Network receive discounted ticket prices. Organizations involved include but are not limited to: EPIcenter, Valero, OCI Solar Power, CPS Energy and the Federal Reserve Bank-Dallas. The symposium will be held at the Embassy Suites Landmark in San Antonio on Thursday, February 3, 2022. To learn more and register please visit https://www.womensenergynetwork.org/southtexas/
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Smart Energy Education Offers Energy Technology & Policy eCourse
EPIcenter is proud to partner with Smart Energy Education, funded by global Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) leader Itron Inc. and CPS Energy, to offer access to the Introduction to Energy Technology & Policy (ETP) eCourse - a new opportunity for professional level education. This course will be taught virtually by author, energy expert and professor Dr. Michael E. Webber and his team of senior researchers from The University of Texas at Austin. Smart Energy Education (SEE) is partnering with Dr. Webber of the UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering and Disco Learning Media, a subsidiary of Upstryve Inc, (OTCPK: PBYA), to underwrite scholarships for San Antonio area residents who enroll in the ETP eCourse. Postsecondary students, rising managers or mid-level executives who want to deepen and broaden their knowledge in the energy industry, oil & gas specialists, or professionals in other sectors such as finance, consulting, and human resources who want to break into the energy sector should consider taking the course. “The worldwide energy sector is going through dramatic shifts in energy demand, end-uses and sources,” said Dr. Webber. “Population and economic growth are driving up total demand. Industrialization, urbanization, electrification, and motorization are changing how we use energy while a push for domestic, low-carbon, and renewable fuels is changing our sources of energy.” Dr. Webber and his team will guide participants through cutting edge energy concepts while also giving a broad overview of energy’s critical role in society, emphasizing the economic, environmental, and security trade-offs for various fuels and technology. The EPIcenter Energy Think Tank (EETT) is designed to expose wider audiences to energy issues and has the infrastructure and leadership team to support this SEE initiative. The EETT is administering the scholarship application process. “Our Think Tank encourages community members to engage with the energy industry regardless of industry affiliation,” Kimberly M. Britton, CEO of EPIcenter, said. “This partnership is a natural fit for EPIcenter to bring together people from many industries to learn more about energy innovation, evolution and implementation.” SEE is part of a larger energy-literacy program initiative to build a strong future talent pipeline. The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate how improving energy and water literacy can foster community engagement and inspire collaborations among communities to solve the world’s greatest challenges of the future. The synchronous online course is being offered via Zoom January 4-26, 2022, though sessions will be taped in case registrants need to participate on a flexible schedule. To learn more details about the course and about the scholarship opportunity, please visit bit.ly/EnergyeCourse. Students who complete the course and pass the ETP: Technology and Policy interactive e-course exam will earn a certificate in “Energy, Environment, and Sustainability.” Upon completion, students are also awarded 1.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). EPIcenter continues to fulfill its mission of propelling energy innovation and thought for our global future with a think tank, incubator and accelerator, strategic partnerships, advisory engagements and critical conversations around energy. To learn more about EPIcenter, please visit www.epicenterus.org
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NGK, TOREX, Ossia Start Collaboration to Spread Use of Wireless Power Transmission/Transfer Systems
NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (hereinafter, “NGK”), TOREX SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. (hereinafter, "TOREX") and Ossia Inc. (hereinafter "Ossia") have started working together to spread the use of wireless power transmission/transfer (WPT) systems. The companies have developed a WPT power receiver development kit using a combination of NGK’s lithium-ion rechargeable batteries EnerCera®, TOREX’s low-current-consumption power supply ICs and Ossia’s WPT technologies. Adoption of sensor networks using many IoT devices has been increasing in recent years. Conventionally, powering IoT devices involved power cables and primary batteries (disposable batteries), so cumbersome wiring and replacing batteries had been an issue. Using radio frequency (RF) to transfer power over about 10 meters, WPT is attracting attention as a power supply technology that promotes the realization and widespread use of maintenance-free IoT devices as it enables power supply to places where wiring presents difficulties and eliminates the need to replace batteries. In particular, Ossia’s Cota® WPT using the 5.8 GHz band is expected to be used in a wide range of applications, including power supplies for sensors installed in places such as enterprise environments, retail, factories and warehouses. At the higher frequency of 5.8GHz, it enables smaller receivers and more precise control of power supply. NGK, TOPEX and Ossia are working together to spread the use of 5.8 GHz band WPT. The WPT power receiver development kit comprises the Ossia Antenna that extracts radio frequency as power, EnerCera batteries that store the power and a power supply IC that stably supplies the stored power at an optimal voltage to an MCU* or sensor. Connecting this kit to any MCU or sensor enables developing a device with WPT as a power source. * Microcontroller unit (MCU): A semiconductor chip used for such purposes as controlling electronic device operations. - Iwao Ohwada, Vice President, General Manager, Advanced Device Components Div., Electronics Business Group, NGK INSULATORS, LTD. : With features such as low resistance, high capacity, and long life, EnerCera batteries are an ideal energy storage device for WPT because it can efficiently charge the power transmitted via WPT and store it for long periods of time and provide high enough output to power MCUs and sensors. Combined with the power supply IC and Ossia’s WPT technology, we will promote the development and popularization of maintenance-free IoT devices powered by WPT using the 5.8 GHz band. - Tomoharu Yamamoto, General Manager, Product Planning & Overseas Sales Management HQs, TOREX SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. : TOREX’s power supply ICs realize low consumption, high efficiency, and low noise, enabling EnerCera to be charged with zero waste by the power transferred via WPT. The micro DCDC series, integrating a coil and control IC, facilitates stable supply of power stored in EnerCera at an optimal voltage to MCUs or sensors, helping to make devices even more compact. - Jennifer Grenz, Chief Revenue Officer, Ossia Inc. : Ossia’s Cota Real Wireless Power is uniquely suited for multiple battery applications. Charging batteries with wireless power changes the way companies can design products without needing to have easy access for frequent battery replacement. It is also an environmental benefit to reduce disposable battery waste. One Cota transmitter can power multiple batteries simultaneously, even while in motion, allowing for product innovation. [EnerCera batteries] EnerCera is an ultra-small/ultra-thin lithium-ion rechargeable battery using NGK's original crystal-oriented ceramic plate as electrodes. EnerCera’s unique battery structure (semi-solid-state battery) where small amounts of electrolytic solution are infused into multi-layered ceramic battery materials, enabling it to achieve features required to power IoT devices but which had been difficult to incorporate in existing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, such as being ultra-small/ultra-thin, high capacity, high output, high-heat-resistance and long life. EnerCera batteries’ innovation and practicality have been highly commended, and it has received many awards as an energy storage device promoting the full-scale popularization of IoT modules. EnerCera Battery Series EnerCera Coin (above four products) and EnerCera Pouch (five products below) ■ EnerCera Product Site：https://www.ngk-insulators.com/en/product/enercera.html ■ EnerCera Special Site：https://enercera.ngk-insulators.com/en/ ["micro DC/DC" XCL Series] "micro DC/DC" The XCL series is ultra-small DC/DC converters that integrate a coil and a control IC using Torex's unique technology. Our unbending dedication as a power IC manufacturer has maximized DC/DC converter performance, and we have realized a product that simultaneously achieves space-saving, high efficiency, low noise, high heat dissipation, and low cost. ■ "micro DC/DC" XCL Series Product Site：https://www.torexsemi.com/technical-support/application-note/xcl-intro/
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Smart Energy Education Offers Energy Technology & Policy eCourse
EPIcenter is proud to partner with Smart Energy Education, funded by global Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) leader Itron Inc. and CPS Energy, to offer access to the Introduction to Energy Technology & Policy (ETP) eCourse - a new opportunity for professional level education. This course will be taught virtually by author, energy expert and professor Dr. Michael E. Webber and his team of senior researchers from The University of Texas at Austin. Smart Energy Education (SEE) is partnering with Dr. Webber of the UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering and Disco Learning Media, a subsidiary of Upstryve Inc, (OTCPK: PBYA), to underwrite scholarships for San Antonio area residents who enroll in the ETP eCourse. Postsecondary students, rising managers or mid-level executives who want to deepen and broaden their knowledge in the energy industry, oil & gas specialists, or professionals in other sectors such as finance, consulting, and human resources who want to break into the energy sector should consider taking the course. “The worldwide energy sector is going through dramatic shifts in energy demand, end-uses and sources,” said Dr. Webber. “Population and economic growth are driving up total demand. Industrialization, urbanization, electrification, and motorization are changing how we use energy while a push for domestic, low-carbon, and renewable fuels is changing our sources of energy.” Dr. Webber and his team will guide participants through cutting edge energy concepts while also giving a broad overview of energy’s critical role in society, emphasizing the economic, environmental, and security trade-offs for various fuels and technology. The EPIcenter Energy Think Tank (EETT) is designed to expose wider audiences to energy issues and has the infrastructure and leadership team to support this SEE initiative. The EETT is administering the scholarship application process. “Our Think Tank encourages community members to engage with the energy industry regardless of industry affiliation,” Kimberly M. Britton, CEO of EPIcenter, said. “This partnership is a natural fit for EPIcenter to bring together people from many industries to learn more about energy innovation, evolution and implementation.” SEE is part of a larger energy-literacy program initiative to build a strong future talent pipeline. The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate how improving energy and water literacy can foster community engagement and inspire collaborations among communities to solve the world’s greatest challenges of the future. The synchronous online course is being offered via Zoom January 4-26, 2022, though sessions will be taped in case registrants need to participate on a flexible schedule. To learn more details about the course and about the scholarship opportunity, please visit bit.ly/EnergyeCourse. Students who complete the course and pass the ETP: Technology and Policy interactive e-course exam will earn a certificate in “Energy, Environment, and Sustainability.” Upon completion, students are also awarded 1.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). EPIcenter continues to fulfill its mission of propelling energy innovation and thought for our global future with a think tank, incubator and accelerator, strategic partnerships, advisory engagements and critical conversations around energy. To learn more about EPIcenter, please visit www.epicenterus.org
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Nofar Energy expands the collaboration with Tesla
Nofar Energy expands further its collaboration with Tesla: the company reported today it had entered a second framework agreement with Tesla on purchasing battery stored power systems with a total capacity of 200 megawatts for $54 million. Under the agreement, Nofar will pay 5% of the consideration on the contract signing date and the balance according to predefined milestones. The storage systems will be supplied from January 2023 through March 2024. This second agreement entered by Nofar and Tesla brings the total capacity of the storage systems to be built as part of the collaboration to 300 MW/h. Most of the storage systems covered by the first agreement entered in February 2021 for 100 MW/h are under or nearing construction. Given the fast implementation pace of the first agreement and the considerable demand, Nofar Energy decided to expand the collaboration with an additional contract for a larger capacity. Nofar estimates its EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) revenues from the second agreement will total ~ NIS 250 million. The annual revenues from power sales (arbitrage and grid services) are expected to total NIS 20-50 million. Moreover, the construction of the storage systems will enable building additional solar systems at high rates in areas characterized by overloaded grids, which could not be achieved in the absence of the storage systems. Nofar Energy plans to develop and manage the storage systems for existing and new partnerships the company and its partners own, including kibbutzim, real estate, commercial, and industrial companies. Several weeks ago, Nofar completed the construction and connection of Tesla’s first storage facility in Israel, in Kibbutz Shoval. Next week, the facility will be inaugurated at a ceremony attended by Tesla executives and representatives of Israel’s energy ministry and Electric Authority. Offering a capacity of 2.718 MW/h, the new facility allows overcoming the constraints placed by the local power grid through connecting additional photo-voltaic systems with significant capacity at a high rate of NIS 0.45 per each Kw/h produced. Moreover, the storage system offers additional economic value due to the planned raising of electricity prices. An independent management system developed by Nofar Energy ensures the facility runs according to the needs and chosen strategy. The project was co-built by Nofar Energy’s partnership with Kibbutz Shoval. Nofar concurrently advances the construction and connection of dozens of other power storage systems on lands owned by Kibbutzim and real estate companies already over the coming year as part of the existing or new partnership. In addition, the signing of the second framework agreement with Tesla allows Nofar to proceed with its action plan while promoting additional procurement agreements with other manufacturers. Nofar CEO Nadav Tenne commented, “I welcome the expanded collaboration with Tesla and thank its representatives for the professional and effective interface. Having projected the upcoming shortage of the power grid in extended areas over a year ago, we prepared accordingly with professional capabilities and control systems, pilots, and strategic collaboration agreements with equipment makers and suppliers. As a result, we can leverage the partnerships we put in place to build and connect tens of storage facilities with significant capacity over the next 12 months. These facilities will generate revenues from power sales, enabling the construction and connection of tens of additional solar systems at high rates independently of the grid’s resources. We plan to initiate similar storage facilities through the growth platforms we own in Europe and the USA. We are proud to be the leaders of Israel’s power storage revolution.”
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Recharging connectivity for the developing world
Product design firms join forces to develop a ground-breaking new solar powered mobile phone charger to help unconnected countries get on the digital highway It is estimated that around 700m people with access to a mobile phone do not have power, including 300m in India alone. Two product design companies, A2E and Wideblue, along with tech start-up BuffaloGrid, have come up with a solution for this problem by designing a mobile phone charging hub which has internet connection and can charge multiple phones at one time with power supplied by solar panels. This new hub will help unconnected people across the world to access digital services to support their internet adoption process. The mobile phone has become vital in many countries worldwide for accessing information, doing business, education, paying bills, entertainment and providing health care advice. They are known as ‘mobile phone-first users'. They don't have laptops, tablets or PCs….everything is done through their mobile device. However, the problem is phones need power and in many countries the power infrastructure is poor, unreliable or non-existent. Tech start-up BuffaloGrid has come up with a solution in the form of this new solar powered mobile phone charging hub. The prototype device is being used in mobile operator shops in rural parts of India where the electricity supply is unreliable and intermittent and in refugee camps across the world. This means users can charge their phones for free when the electricity supply is down. The company has also teamed up with Techfugees to provide free educational, health and other digital content via the hub in East Africa and the Middle East. BuffaloGrid is planning to commercially supply hundreds of new hubs in the next 12 months and is in talks with the United Nations regarding projects in Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Haiti and Rwanda. When it came to designing the prototype hub BuffaloGrid turned to Scotland-based A2E and Wideblue, two companies in the Pivot International group, to help with the technical details. Wideblue worked on the mechanical design and A2E on the electronics and software. When the device goes into volume production Pivot will handle manufacturing through its production facilities in Asia. David Ross, managing director of A2E said: "This has been a very interesting and worthwhile project to work on as it has used the technical capabilities of the whole group. We take power supply for granted in the developed world but there are many areas of the world where it is unreliable and unpredictable. BuffaloGrid has come up with a highly innovative solution which will allow many more people in developing countries to connect with the internet and all the benefits this can bring to their communities. Designing the hub to carry out all the functions required has presented some technical challenges which we have successfully overcome." Daniel Becerra, CEO, BuffaloGrid said: "Working with Pivot, A2E and Wideblue has been the perfect solution for our needs. When producing hardware having the link between developers and manufacturer within the same group makes things extremely efficient and safe. In the past, we had struggled in the transition from development to production but with Pivot's team the development and manufacturing path has been flawless. I would recommend any tech start-up developing hardware to follow this path." For more information about BuffaloGrid please visit: www.buffalogrid.com For more information about A2E please visit: www.a2etech.com For more information about Wideblue please visit: www.wide-blue.com
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Call for Entries: EPIcenter Summit to Feature Emerging Energy Tech in the Real World
EPIcenter, a nonprofit that speeds innovation to make the production and consumption of energy smarter, cleaner, more resilient, and more efficient, is poised to host its annual Summit and is seeking applications for 10-minute storytelling presentations. The 2021 Summit, “Emerging Energy Tech in the Real World,” will feature actual energy innovation projects that started with assumptions but encountered hard realities, the lessons learned through both successes and challenges, and how perspectives or strategies evolved as a result. EPIcenter is seeking applications from companies with hardware, software, business models, data platforms and other technologies to tell their stories. EPIcenter’s Summit is a program of the organization’s Energy Think Tank. All think tank programs expose wider audiences to the innovation, evolution and implementation taking place in the energy industry. The Summit is designed for business leaders and savvy citizens looking for a way to leverage the future. For the first time, EPIcenter’s Summit will be presented over two sessions, October 18 and November 9, to allow for more engaging content and participation. “Exploring new technologies is one thing, but actually putting them to work and learning from the process is another. We will look at all types of entrepreneurial advances in energy technologies, products, services and business models that will make our world a better place, EPIcenter CEO Kimberly Britton said. “We want to present stories from real-world examples of what happens when advances are put into practice. We want to know if the expected benefits are ever realized and what can be learned from the pivots made along the way. We will also look at the pivots made by investors that have recently entered the clean tech arena. Seeing returns is not as quick or straight-forward as some other industries.” The Summit sessions will feature speakers and entrepreneurs from across the country with diverse perspectives from their field of expertise. The call for entries will end on September 27 at 5 pm CT. Submissions are reviewed on an ongoing basis so early submission is encouraged. To submit an entry or to learn more, please visit bit.ly/SummitStories
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Call for Entries: EPIcenter Summit to Feature Emerging Energy Tech in the Real World
EPIcenter, a nonprofit that speeds innovation to make the production and consumption of energy smarter, cleaner, more resilient, and more efficient, is poised to host its annual Summit and is seeking applications for 10-minute storytelling presentations. The 2021 Summit, “Emerging Energy Tech in the Real World,” will feature actual energy innovation projects that started with assumptions but encountered hard realities, the lessons learned through both successes and challenges, and how perspectives or strategies evolved as a result. EPIcenter is seeking applications from companies with hardware, software, business models, data platforms and other technologies to tell their stories. EPIcenter’s Summit is a program of the organization’s Energy Think Tank. All think tank programs expose wider audiences to the innovation, evolution and implementation taking place in the energy industry. The Summit is designed for business leaders and savvy citizens looking for a way to leverage the future. For the first time, EPIcenter’s Summit will be presented over two sessions, October 18 and November 9, to allow for more engaging content and participation. “Exploring new technologies is one thing, but actually putting them to work and learning from the process is another. We will look at all types of entrepreneurial advances in energy technologies, products, services and business models that will make our world a better place, EPIcenter CEO Kimberly Britton said. “We want to present stories from real-world examples of what happens when advances are put into practice. We want to know if the expected benefits are ever realized and what can be learned from the pivots made along the way. We will also look at the pivots made by investors that have recently entered the clean tech arena. Seeing returns is not as quick or straight-forward as some other industries.” The Summit sessions will feature speakers and entrepreneurs from across the country with diverse perspectives from their field of expertise. The call for entries will end on September 27 at 5 pm CT. Submissions are reviewed on an ongoing basis so early submission is encouraged. To submit an entry or to learn more, please visit bit.ly/SummitStories
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Thermoelectrics Enters the Fast Track, Reports IDTechEx
Thermoelectrics cools, heats, makes electricity and senses. Many proponents have stumbled with the wrong choice in the wrong applications. For example, trying to make electricity from car exhausts just as they become obsolete is a fool’s errand. Gentherm failed with thermoelectric generators then pivoted to create a business of hundreds of millions of dollars yearly in thermal management, notably thermoelectric car-seat systems. Many big names are now chasing them in this, notably for the COVID-defying battery electric vehicle market. First to analyze this big picture is the new IDTechEx report, “Thermoelectric Cooling, Heating, Harvesting: 90 Companies’ Achievements and Strategies Appraised with Roadmap 2022-2042”. It includes other successes arriving with vehicles on land, water, and air such as temperature-controlled head-up displays, laser headlights, autonomy components, and military jet aircon. However, the rapid adoption in medical and many other sectors is also well covered. Researched by multilingual, PhD-level analysts across the world, this unique report reveals how a more thoughtful approach to thermoelectric energy harvesting is seeing success in self-powered sensors and much besides. There is even a separate drill-down report on thermoelectric-generation research, sub-markets, and options. Raghu Das, CEO of analysts IDTechEx advises, “Nowadays, the research pipeline is far less concerned with toxic, rare elements and optimizing parameters that are not key to commercial success. Industrialists are more open-minded about new applications. For example, there is a real possibility of thermoelectric generators becoming viable in geothermal energy and other high-power applications. We, therefore, take a careful look at 90 companies involved, from patents to research papers, product offerings, and financials. In some cases, big changes are likely in about ten years so we give a 20-year forecast and roadmap of company intentions. It is quite an eye-opener.” In the overview, “Thermoelectric Cooling, Heating, Harvesting: 90 Companies’ Achievements and Strategies Appraised with Roadmap 2022-2042” the reader gains a full understanding of why thermoelectric cooling, heating, harvesting, and sensing is partly a success now, partly later. Leading patentors and countries are sequenced in pie charts by sector. Assess evolving optimal materials, parameters, designs, applications, technology, and strategy with a 90-company comparison, market-leader success factors and mistakes, company intentions, and a unit and value market forecast for 2022-2042. The 300+ pages cover activities emerging in the complete value chain but primarily modules and sub-systems, secondarily materials manufacturers and end-users. Questions answered include: 90 companies involved in thermoelectrics: profiles, SWOT reports, products, strategies, uniques? Those that have the largest activity in which form of thermoelectrics and why? Which companies to watch, what sectors do they target and why? Roadmap of company thermoelectric initiatives 2022-2042? Global thermoelectric market units and $billion 2022-2042? What worthwhile markets and dead ends are emerging? Interpret patent and company research landscape? What is technically required for the future? Regional distribution of effort and why? This 327-page report full of illustrations, charts, photographs and analysis includes: Executive summary and conclusions In 30 densely packed pages, this overview presents the regional split of companies, patents by leading companies and overall by type with trends and commentary. There is a market forecast and company and technology roadmap, both for 2022-2042. See the explanation of the basic types and their market dynamics. View the explanation and significance of medical, flexible, and other types emerging. Understand the compounds involved and the significance of certain companies moving to eliminate toxic and rare materials. See the impact of COVID-19 on automotive applications graphed by IDTechEx, because of their importance to thermoelectrics and their vulnerability. 83 Companies in thermoelectric cooling and temperature management by country and where they are in the value chain 64 Companies in thermoelectric energy harvesting and sensors by country and where they are in the value chain 90 thermoelectric materials, modules, subsystems and end-equipment companies with research thrust and products illustrated and appraised including company SWOT assessments This is the longest part of the report with detailed information on each company including location, products, strategy, partnerships, initiatives, product ranges, and important research as appropriate with successes, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats identified. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/ThermoCo or for the full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/research
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WoodMac: Slower H2 demand across most commodities in China
Demand across most commodities in China is expected to slow down in the second half of 2021, according to Wood Mackenzie’s new monthly China Economic Focus report. China registered another strong quarter in Q2 2021 with year-on-year GDP growth of 7.9%. Adjusting for the base effect, the two-year CAGR in Q2 was 5.5%, accelerating from 5% in Q1 on a two-year CAGR basis. However, the central bank cutting the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 0.5 percentage points indicates the government’s concern on the economy in the short term. Wood Mackenzie senior economist Yanting Zhou said: “China’s economy is expected to slow down in H2 2021. Slower export growth, rising commodity prices, lacklustre infrastructure investment and expiring subsidies will all drag down the country’s GDP growth. As a result, we should see a deceleration of commodities demand in China. “We expect slowing industrial production growth accompanied by decelerating cargo transportation in the second half of 2021. This will lead to slower demand growth for power, as well as fuels such as coal, natural gas and diesel. However, this will be partially offset by increasing power demand for cooling due to the exceptionally hot weather in southern China this summer.” The industrial sector accounts for 65%, 73%, 53% and 29% of China’s end-use demand for electricity, coal, gas and oil, respectively. Meanwhile, slowing industrial production growth, and lacklustre investment in manufacturing and infrastructure are also expected to have a negative impact on demand for metals. The slowdown in transportation infrastructure has been significant this year with the two-year CAGR of railway investment in H1 slowing to 1.5% compared to 14% year-on-year growth in H1 2019. As a result, steel demand is likely to take a greater hit compared to other metals. Zhou said: “Copper demand, however, should remain robust in the second half of the year due to subsidies for offshore wind projects remaining in 2021.” Zhou clarified that slower Chinese demand does not necessarily mean lower prices. “Coal and steel prices in China are determined by the local market. Despite slower demand expected in H2 2021, supply constraints are likely to support high prices,” Zhou said. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology aims to keep full-year steel production flat with 2020, which indicates a significant production cut in the second half after nearly 12% growth in crude steel production in H1. Other commodities, including crude oil and most base metals, follow global pricing and slower demand in China will be offset by recovery in the rest of the world. Taking crude oil as an example, global demand will grow by 6.2% year-on-year in H2 and turn the market balance into deficit. This will help to support prices in the second half.
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Battery-less Solutions Flood In, Explores IDTechEx
The rapid increase in adoption of batteryless solutions is tracked in the IDTechEx report, “Battery Elimination in Electronics: Market Impact IoT, 6G, Healthcare, Wearables 2021-2041”. In India, Pune-based Jeevtronics has just announced a hand-cranked, battery-less defibrillator, which can be used in the absence of electricity. That matters, because according to a report by Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology Review (AER), 17 million people yearly die of sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest. The company notes that sudden cardiac arrest is such a dangerous condition that it can kill the patient in 10 minutes. At that time, an external defibrillator is used to provide electric shocks to restore heartbeat and at that time, the hospitals will need rock-solid electricity to ensure emergency care. Complementary to this is a newly-announced implanted defibrillator and heart pacemaker. Researchers at Northwestern and George Washington universities have developed the first-ever transient pacemaker — a wireless, battery-free, fully implantable pacing device that disappears after it is no longer needed. The thin, flexible, lightweight device could be used in patients who need temporary pacing after cardiac surgery or while waiting for a permanent pacemaker. All components of the pacemaker are biocompatible and naturally absorb into the body's biofluids over the course of five to seven weeks, without needing surgical extraction. The device wirelessly harvests energy from an external, remote antenna using near-field communication protocols — the same technology used in smartphones for electronic payments and in RFID tags. This eliminates the need for bulky batteries and rigid hardware, including wires. "Hardware placed in or near the heart creates risks for infection and other complications," said Northwestern's John A. Rogers, who led the device's development. "Our wireless, transient pacemakers overcome key disadvantages of traditional temporary devices by eliminating the need for percutaneous leads for surgical extraction procedures — thereby offering the potential for reduced costs and improved outcomes in patient care. This unusual type of device could represent the future of temporary pacing technology." Raghu Das CEO of IDTechEx notes that, “Smartwatches are now serious medical devices but sleep information cannot be tracked during charging at night because the smartwatch has been removed for charging. Indeed, the main reason users discontinue the long-term use of wearable devices is because they must frequently charge the battery. Now the University of Massachusetts uses skin conduction and MHz radiation to charge the watch without you removing it, meaning it can monitor you 24/7. This is legal and safe and can involve energy storage without batteries. Little wonder that battery-eliminator Everactive in the US has just raised an oversubscribed $35 Million Series C Financing. It is to accelerate the growth of battery-less pervasive remote monitoring for Industry 4.0. Its nodes have ultra-low-power radio so can be powered by body heat and other harvesters.” Hill Air Force Base in Utah is involved in a demonstration project to use small, very low-wattage sensors by Everactive to monitor the health of steam delivery and mechanical systems, electric motors, pumps, fans, and other rotating devices. These always-on wireless sensors deliver continuous cloud-based analytics at a scale not possible with battery-powered devices. Everactive targets high-volume industrial assets that are currently unmonitored or under-monitored precisely because they exist in such a high volume. Indeed, they point out that most plants are unwilling to place battery-powered sensors on thousands of motors, pumps, compressors, or steam traps; the logistical cost of adding thousands of items to a maintenance list is not only prohibitive but also defeats the cost-saving purpose of those very sensors. The new investors joined existing investors including New Enterprise Associates, which counts former General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt as a Venture Partner and key advisor to its portfolio of industrial companies. “The industrial sector has eagerly awaited the data explosion promised by IoT solutions, but has been continually let down,” said Immelt. “By eliminating the need for batteries, Everactive can offer extremely scalable and cost-effective solutions for generating the data streams required to reap the full benefits of IoT. With self-sustaining sensors, retrofitting thousands of pieces of legacy equipment across a plant or refinery becomes a reality.” - Different routes Wireless tire pressure monitoring systems are progressing by use of surface acoustic waves, electromagnetic H fields, and other means. Nuclear Diamond Battery (NDB) has created a microchip with a radioactive heart that claims to last 28,000 years without ever needing a charge. i4 Product Design now has a feasibility study, funded by a grant from Scottish Enterprise, to explore how energy harvesting can power electronics and the Internet of Things. Android now has documentation on how it handles products that have no internal batteries. 6G Communications that is expected in 2030 will revolve around devices with the lowest power so energy harvesting suffices and even devices without power, the device being driven by the 6G signal beam rather like battery-less RFID by backscatter. Call it Wireless Information and Energy Technology (WIET) and learn the full detail of this specific in IDTechEx report, “6G Communications Market, Devices, Materials 2021-2041”. To learn more about battery elimination in electronics please visit www.IDTechEx.com/BattElim, or for the full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com
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WoodMac: New global wind power life cycle emissions to reach 55 Mt CO2 from 2020-2050
According to Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk business (Nasdaq:VRSK), global wind power life cycle emissions will reach 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2) from 2020 to 2050, a result of wind power capacity expanding five-fold to 3.7 terawatts from 2020 to 2050. This is roughly equivalent to four times the US’s total power capacity in 2020. Wind power does not generate emissions, but its life cycle - from raw material extraction through manufacturing and construction to end of life disposal - does. Up to 86% of wind power life cycle emissions are attributed to the extraction of raw materials and the manufacturing of wind turbines. This includes using metals such as steel, aluminium, and copper. The remaining 14% of emissions are contributed by transportation, installation, operations and maintenance (O&M), and decommissioning and disposal. Wood Mackenzie principal analyst Robert Liew said: “To put into perspective, the total life cycle emissions of wind power make up only a tiny fraction of the 12 billion tonnes of CO2 released from all fossil fuel-based power generation in 2020. “Wind power is the cleanest renewable power on life cycle emissions basis, and when compared to other technologies, it ranks second only to nuclear power. However, the latter’s capex costs can be two to three times more.” The sources of electricity used in the manufacturing process can also make a difference in emissions reduction. Wind turbines manufactured in developed countries could potentially release up to 53% less emissions due to lower carbon intensity of grid power. Wood Mackenzie estimates up to 60% of CO2 emissions could be reduced in the transport and O&M segments by the end of the decade. This is driven by larger turbine size resulting in fewer units and fewer trips needed to transport components to sites, improved fuel mileage of onshore transportation, greater use of electric vehicles, and turbine technology improvements reducing the frequency of site visits and better durability. Liew said: “We expect the industry to be cautious in adopting new methods of wind turbine manufacturing and installations particularly the impact on levelised cost of electricity (LCOE). The recent surge in commodity prices in 2021 where steel prices have risen by 25% could lead to an increase in LCOE by between 3% and 5%, and turbine suppliers cannot absorb such high price increases.” However, as more wind turbines reach the end of their life cycles, operators will need to plan for decommissioning and disposals. Wood Mackenzie expects total global decommissioning capacity to rise six-fold to 11 gigawatts by the end of this decade. Turbine blades will pose a challenge as composite materials are not easily recyclable and are currently being disposed by dumping. Fortunately, new policies are being considered to ban the use of landfill for blade disposal, and leading wind turbine companies are investing in new technology to recycle such composite materials. Liew said: “Major global turbine suppliers are aiming to be carbon neutral in operations in the short term, with plans to decarbonise life cycle emissions in the long run. “However, the elephant in the room is the indirect emissions derived from raw material extraction and manufacturing of steel and concrete. While it is still early days, the wind industry will be closely watching decarbonisation shaping in steel, mining and power sectors.” Emissions from core materials such as steel and concrete will eventually become more efficient over time and help contribute to lower emissions as decarbonisation expands across all sectors. In the meantime, wind project developers aim to improve turbine efficiency and plant utilisation to maximise the supply of zero-carbon electricity to the grid.
