(LAR) LUDDITES OPPOSE RENEWABLE PROJECT

Please follow the link at the bottom of this article by Calum Corral and comment in the Largs and Millport Weekly News.

THE iconic 'Red Road' between Largs and the Meigle could be 'ruined forever' campaigners against a wind farm development have claimed.

Burcote Wind have appealed North Ayrshire Council's decision to block a string of wind turbines 1km south east of Skelmorlie and are now taking the matter to Scottish Ministers in a bid to overturn it.

If approved, the famous route would be widened to allow heavy plant and infrastructure to be delivered to the site by a convoy of heavy good vehicles.

Campaigners claim that would destroy it for future generations.

The local authority's planning chairman Tom Marshall this week slammed the firm for delivering a 'complete snub' to local opinion.

He said: "Despite the planning committee, under my Chairmanship, unanimously refusing permission for a 150m tall wind farm, the applicants have decided to appeal the decision.

"The planning committee decided on 10 different points that the proposal was contrary to the local development plan and in so doing reflected the views of more than 200 objectors.

"It is a complete snub to those people and the local democratic process.

"They do not accept the view of the council that Routenburn Road is unsuitable for transporting the very large wind farm components. It would give rise to the unacceptable loss of trees and hedges.

"Parts of the road are to be be doubled in width to almost six metres, which is almost 20 feet.

"This work will devastate a well-used country road and will destroy habitats forever - Largs and Millport Weekly News link - Calum Corral - link - more like this - link

(MAR) COW PATTING FISH GUTTING WOOD PULPING POWER

Biogas being bunkered by Island Crusader is produced from cow manure and waste from fish and wood processing. [Image: Lundin]

Island Offshore reports that its LNG battery-hybrid PSV Island Crusader has become the first offshore vessel on the Norwegian shelf running on biogas, resulting in immediate and significant net reductions in CO2 emissions.

Island says that the pilot project, run by Lundin Energy Norway, also proves that biogas can be used on LNG engines without any modifications at all. The engine manufacturer Bergen Engines had previously run tests on land and concluded that switch to biofuel can be used without making any modifications to the vessel.

“There is a significant potential in the oil and gas industry, but also in all other areas where LNG vessels are in use,” says Johan Mohr, head of procurement and logistics in Lundin. “With this project we can help open up a new market segment for biogas producers.”

The biogas used on Island Crusader is produced from cow manure and waste from fish and wood processing. It consists mainly of methane, however upon combustion, CO2 and water are formed. Since the raw material comes from biological material, the combustion is calculated as CO2-neutral as it enters the natural CO2 cycle. There is no net increase in the CO2 level in the atmosphere. .

“We are proud to be a partner and supplier to a forward-looking player such as Lundin,” said Island Offshore managing director Tommy Walaunet. “They show that they will take the lead and use the solutions that are available to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. We believe in a step-by-step approach to zero emissions, and this requires close and good cooperation between the actors in the value chain and with the authorities. We are confident that this will also make our vessels more attractive in the market.”

Currently the supply of biogas is insufficient for all LNG vessels to replace their fuel, however plans exist to build several production facilities in Norway. This will enable the industry to utilize resourses which currently are going to waste. In addition, new workplaces might be created. MarineLog - link - Nick Blenkey - link - more like this - link

(SCO) AMAZON'S FIRST SCOTTISH WIND FARM POWERS UP

The Amazon wind farm facility, located on the Kintyre Peninsula, is one of the largest unsubsidised onshore wind farms in operation in the UK.

Amazon’s first Scottish wind farm project has come online, helping to supply the internet giant’s power-hungry warehouses and data centres.

The facility, located on the Kintyre Peninsula, is one of the largest unsubsidised onshore wind farms in operation in the UK.

Amazon is purchasing 100 per cent of the output from the 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm, which is expected to deliver enough energy to power the equivalent of 46,000 UK homes.

The online retailer is the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in Europe with announced investments to supply in excess of 2.7 gigawatts (GW) of new electricity production capacity.

The energy generated from these projects will power Amazon and AWS data centres, corporate offices and fulfilment centres across the UK.

John Boumphrey, UK country manager for Amazon, said: “Amazon is on a path to powering our operations with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of schedule. We are excited that our first Scottish wind farm is now contributing to that goal, and we have three more large-scale renewable projects in development across the UK.”

John Boumphrey, UK country manager for Amazon, said: “Amazon is on a path to powering our operations with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of schedule. We are excited that our first Scottish wind farm is now contributing to that goal, and we have three more large-scale renewable projects in development across the UK.” The Scotsman - link - Scott Reid - link - more like this - link - more like this (Amazon) - link

(GNN) THE MOVAMBA PROJECT MICROGRIDS

Energicity

Remember when cell phones needed 2-4 hours to fully charge? If you thought that was a pain in the rear, try waiting 60 years.

Fortunately, with the advances of solar electricity, communities in Sierra Leone who have been beyond the reach of the state’s power supply for decades finally have power to call their own.

Financed as part of the UK’s Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP) in the wake of the Ebola outbreak, the 32 solar microgrids totalling 1.7 megawatts by the name of the Movamba Project will provide power to communities totalling 80,000 people—including 23 health centres.

One such grid has already gone online—in the commune of Foredugu, which has been without regular power for 60 years.

“Light is right and every Sierra Leonean should have access to electricity,” said Hon. Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Minister of Energy for the country back in February at the commissioning of the microgrid, who added that the provision of electricity at Foredugu and other sites is strategic—as light is bringing economic development and improves the livelihood of people living in rural areas.

Regarding the Minister’s claim, the Movamba Project is already seeing remarkable advances in rural progress. Currently, 21 of the solar microgrids financed by the RREP have either been started or finished, totalling 630 kilowatt hours for 30,000 people.

“These people include Kadiatu Maseray, who with affordable and reliable electricity has increased the profits of her cold drinks business by 300% and the Conakry Dee Junior School, which has seen a 25% increase in attendance and a 235% increase in students passing since being connected to its local mini-grid,” said Nicole Poindexter, CEO and Founder of Energicity Corporation, the West Africa-based renewables firm in charge of the project. Good News Network - link - GNN - link - more like this - link

(PVM) EODEV LAUNCHES H2 GENERATOR

The hydrogen system has a size of 1,150x2,200x3350mm and weighs in at 3.5 tons - Image: EODev

French start-up EODev has launched a new hydrogen power generator that is claimed to be suitable for isolated sites, emergency applications, protected areas, sensitive environments, events and construction sites.

Dubbed GEH2, the hydrogen system has a size of 1,150×2,200x3350mm and weighs in at 3.5 tons. It features IP43 ingress protection and is able to operate at temperatures between -5 and 45 degrees Celsius. Its output voltage is between 230 and 400 V.

The generator has a power of 110 kVA and its lifetime is guaranteed for two years or 15,000 hours. Its autonomy at 50% of prime running power is around eight hours. It can be started instantaneously and also features a double adduction system that allows continuous operation.

The system is equipped with fuel cells provided by Japanese automotive giant Toyota, which became EODev's largest shareholder in April. The heat dissipated by the fuel cell can also be used for cogeneration, the manufacturer said. pv magazine - link - Emiliano Bellini - link - more like this (France) - link - more like this - link

(CNB) THE BLUE EDEN PROJECT

The Welsh city of Swansea, pictured in May 2017. leighcol | iStock | Getty Images

Plans for a £1.7 billion ($2.35 billion) project in the U.K. incorporating technologies including underwater turbines, floating solar power and battery storage have been announced, with those behind the development hoping it will generate thousands of jobs.

The Blue Eden project, as it’s known, would be located on the waterfront of Swansea, a coastal city in southwest Wales. In an announcement Monday, Swansea Council said the project had been made possible through private sector funding.

It is being led by a tech firm called DST Innovations and other business partners. DST Innovations is headquartered in Wales. Support is also coming from Swansea Council and Associated British Ports.

Delivery of Blue Eden would take place in three phases across a period of 12 years. A key element would be “a newly designed tidal lagoon” with “underwater turbines generating 320 megawatts of renewable energy.”

Other plans for the project include: A plant focused on producing batteries for renewable energy storage; a floating solar array spanning 72,000 square meters; around 150 “floating” homes; and a battery facility that would store the energy produced by the project, using it to power operations.

It’s envisaged that Blue Eden would also be home to an oceanic and climate change research center. CNBC - link - Anmar Frangoul - link - more like this - link

(DRI) BEHOLD - THE E-SCUDO

The Fiat Scudo name is being revived for a new medium-sized van that's set to join the Italian brand's line-up in late 2021 or early 2022. 

It'll be available with both diesel and pure-electric power; the latter will be called the 'e-Scudo' and will be a sister model the the Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro-e, as well as the Toyota Proace Electric.

Panel-van, crew-van and platform-cab variations of the e-Scudo will be offered, and it'll be built at the same French factory that produced the previous Fiat Scudo van between 1996 and 2012. 

Exact UK pricing and specification information for the e-Scudo is set to be confirmed before the end of 2021, with orders opening around the same time or shortly afterwards. A passenger version seating up to nine, called the e-Ulysse, will also be available.

No precise technical details or range figures have been confirmed for the e-Scudo yet, but it's certain to share the technology used by the Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Toyota models mentioned above. That means a 134bhp electric motor and most likely a choice of 50 and 75kWh battery packs for driving ranges of 143 and 211 miles respectively, along with 100kW rapid-charging capability for swift battery top-ups on the go - driving electric - link - Stephen Errity - link - more like this - link

(REC) MICROGRID TOWNS AND STANDALONE RENEWABLES

(AAP Image/David Mariuz)

Western Australia is calling for proposals to help develop the state’s first “disconnected microgrids” – isolated, self-supported networks powering small towns that operate independently from the rest of the grid, and comprise at least 90% renewables.

The idea is to take whole towns off the grid – saving money from having to upgrade ageing poles and wires that are vulnerable to winds, storms and bushfires.

It is part of Western Power’s long mooted “modular grid” and is effectively the end of the old hub and spoke model built around large centralised generation that dominated Australia’s power system for decades.

It has already been estimated that tens of thousands of remote and regional customers – individuals and communities – could be served with cheaper, cleaner and more reliable power by having renewables-based micro-grids, rather than relying on power sent from centralised generators hundreds of kilometres away.

The shift is likely to take place first in Western Australia, but many networks in the eastern states are also looking at the opportunities, particularly after rules were changed this year that made such decisions much easier.

“Western Power’s ageing distribution network … is approaching end of life in many areas, with replacement cost presenting a significant challenge particularly in remote locations,” says Western Power in its statement on the issue.

“For small rural towns near the edge of the grid, the sustainability issue in replacing the network can be compounded by poor reliability, with customers experiencing frequent power interruptions due to stretches of bare overhead conductor sometimes hundreds of kilometres long.”

The fall in costs for both solar and battery storage, and the vast improvement in controls that can operate micro-grid reliably and safely, means that cutting off the wires now makes great sense - RENEW ECONOMY - link - Sophie Vorrath - link - more like this - link - more like this (Australia) - link

(DIP) CHINA FAILING TO REPLACE AUSTRALIAN COAL

Since the beginning of the pandemic, China has faced several unexpected challenges. The trade spat with Australia, the continued South China Sea shipping congestion, and a shortage of coal supply are testing the country’s economic capabilities and problem-solving skills. 

China has stepped up its efforts to engage Russia, Mongolia, and other third parties to fill their coal shortage.

Exactly a year ago, in October 2020, Chinese state-owned companies were ordered to stop the import of Australian coal, widely viewed as retaliation for Australia’s more critical stance on China. The restrictions on Australian coal naturally pose a new opportunity for other parties in the region, particularly in East Asia and Northeast Asia, to fill China’s coal shortfall.

But apparently it wasn’t enough. In June 2021, Chinese factories began to report power outages and electricity shortages. The Lantou Group’s September 28 report showed the provinces with the most severe power consumption problems to include Xinjiang, Qinghai, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangxi, and Guangdong, where China’s major manufacturing companies are located.

In September alone, major supplier companies were struggling under power constraints. Pegatron, a company that produces parts for and assembles iPhones for Apple, reported “limiting electricity supply” in their Kunshan City factory. Moreover, the Global Times reported that “A textile factory based in East China’s Jiangsu Province received a notice from local authorities about power cuts on September 21. It will not have power until October 7 or even later.” The following week, on September 27, the national broadcaster CCTV reported that Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, will experience an acute power shortage.

China’s central and local governments alike are now actively looking for solutions to the domestic energy shortage before the winter, particularly in its northeastern provinces, which will face freezing temperatures in the coming months - The Diplomat - link - Bolor Lkhaajav - link - more like this - link

(MAR) HYSEAS III DESIGNS COMPLETE

Image: AqualisBraemar LOC Group

The Scottish-led Hyseas III project, which aims to build Europe’s first sea-going hydrogen fuel cell powered ferry, reports significant progress. The AqualisBraemar LOC Group has completed designs which show what the vessel, which will store energy from renewable sources, is likely to look like.

As a double-ended sea-going passenger and car ferry, it will have a capacity for 120 passengers and 16 cars or two trucks. It has been designed to operate on the route between Kirkwall and Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands, where hydrogen fuel is generated through wind power. It will also be capable of operating at other ports where hydrogen could become available in the future.

Meantime, progress is being made on string testing to demonstrate the complete fuel cell/battery/multidrive/propulsion. The full size string test mirrors the load requirements of the new ferry on the Shapinsay to Kirkwall route, and will confirm power and fuel capacity requirements. The results will provide valuable information, which will be fed back to the team to be incorporated into the design.

The components of the string test have been assembled on site at PSW Power’s facility at Ågotnes in Norway and consortium partner Kongsberg Maritime has started carrying out a comprehensive range of commissioning, safety and verification tests, assisted by fuel cell supplier Ballard Power Systems. 

As the fuel cells themselves are being run, the string test site is getting regular deliveries of compressed hydrogen at 200 bar from Linde Gas. This testing includes the various components that make up the safety system, including hydrogen gas detectors, alarms and emergency shutdown systems.

“As with any project, the tests have highlighted issues that need to be addressed, and various troubleshooting activities are also underway,” says the latest update from the project. “Once all these are completed satisfactorily, a full suite of system validation tests will be carried out, simulating how the system would be used in an actual ship.

However even at this stage of testing, the team has accumulated extensive experience of integrating fuel cells and batteries into a marine propulsion system, and the work will help lay the foundation for safe, reliable and optimized use of hydrogen fuel cells on ships.” - MarineLog - link - Nick Blenkey - link - more like this - link

(PVM) IRENA SEES E-AMMONIA AS THE FUTURE IN SHIPPING

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has predicted green hydrogen-powered ‘e-ammonia‘ will supply the “backbone of the decarbonization of the shipping sector.”

Renewable-energy powered green hydrogen will be used to form the e-ammonia ‘powerfuel‘ which will contribute 60% of shipping's mid-century decarbonization effort, under IRENA's pathway to a world that will see global heating this century capped at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Such a fuel transition will require 866-1,299 GW of global solar generation capacity by 2050, according to IRENA, from a projected global clean energy generation capacity of 2,799 GW.

A Pathway to Decarbonise the Shipping Sector by 2050, a report recently published by the UAE-based international body, notes the crucial role that could be played by Morocco in achieving zero-carbon shipping, given the nation's vast renewable energy potential and strategic location, with access to the Atlantic and Mediterranean sea lanes - pv magazine - link - Max Hall - link - more like this - link

(GUA) CHINA SETS 2060 FOSSIL FUEL TARGET

Steam billows from cooling towers at a coal-fired power plant in Nanjing, in China’s east. China plans to cut fossil fuel use to below 20% by 2060. Photograph: AP

China is targeting a clean energy goal of reducing fossil fuel use to below 20% by 2060, according to an official plan published by state media.

The cabinet document, released on Sunday, follows a pledge by President Xi Jinping to wean the world’s biggest polluter off coal, with a target of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality 30 years later.

But the country has been criticised for pushing ahead with opening dozens of new coal-fired power plants. Authorities have also been wanting to ramp up production, with coal prices surging and supplies running low, both factors behind recent power outages.
The guidelines come as countries gear up for a new round of climate talks in Glasgow starting on 31 October, from which Xi will be conspicuously absent.

China faces a struggle to wean itself off coal, which fuels nearly 60% of its energy-hungry economy.

But on Sunday guidelines published by China’s official Xinhua news agency laid out a host of targets in its path towards carbon neutrality.

Among them was the proportion of non-fossil fuel consumption reaching about 25% of total energy use by 2030 – when the nation targets peak emissions - The Guardian - link - Agence France-Presse (AFP) - link - more like this - link

(IEV) INEOS GRENADIER TESTING H2 CELL

Ineos Automotive, the car manufacturing division of British petrochemical giant Ineos Group, plans to begin testing a hydrogen fuel cell prototype of its Land Rover Defender-inspired Grenadier off-roader.

While the first Grenadier 4x4s will reach customers in the third quarter of 2022 powered by BMW gasoline and diesel engines, Ineos says it is also looking further ahead to zero emissions powertrain technology for the future.

The company has announced that a hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator vehicle is under development and will begin testing by the end of 2022 as part of its drive to take “a leading role in the hydrogen revolution.”

It looks like this is a serious project, especially since the company’s partner in developing the Grenadier demonstrator model is AVL, one of the world’s leading automotive powertrain engineering specialists. On top of that, the fuel cell is likely supplied by Hyundai, as Ineos signed an agreement with Korean carmaker in November 2020 for the evaluation of the latter's proprietary fuel cell system used in the Nexo crossover. INSIDEEVs - link - Dan Mihalascu - link - more like this- link

(OFF) DONG FANG OFFSHORE DEPLOYS W2W VESSEL

Dong Fang Offshore, a subsidiary of Hung Hua Construction and the largest owner and operator of dedicated wind farm support vessels in Asia Pacific, has put the first Taiwan-flagged walk-to-work (W2W) vessel into operation, after converting a construction support vessel (CSV) to better serve the offshore wind industry.

Orient Constructor, which emerged after Dong Fang bought Swire’s Pacific Constructor and upgraded it with a W2W system and crew transfer vessel (CTV) landings, is currently chartered by a wind turbine manufacturer to support commissioning and maintenance activities in Changhua county, according to the vessel owner.

Prior to conversion, Orient Constructor completed an underwater survey project and a geotechnical investigation campaign on two projects in Taiwan.

The vessel was then equipped with a Safeway Seagull W2W system, representing the first Service Operations Vessel (SOV) conversion completed domestically, according to Dong Fang, which added that the equipment and configuration had been selected in close cooperation with offshore wind developers and contractors to meet global quality standard in safety and reliability to the domestic offshore wind industry.

The access system is sized for high workability on larger turbines and foundations even during challenging sea conditions, the vessel owner said.

The vessel itself, built in Norway and delivered in 2014, can accommodate 102 wind farm technicians and crew. It has a diesel-electric DP2 propulsion configuration, a 250 MT active heave compensated main crane, and an aft deck of 1,300 square metres.

According to earlier information, with the addition of Orient Constructor, Dong Fang Offshore now has a ten-strong fleet dedicated to offshore wind, along with twelve third-party vessels - offshoreWIND.biz - link - Adrijana Buljan - link - more like this - link

(GUA) CROWN ESTATE'S NORTH SEA GREED

The crown estate agreed to lease an area off the Yorkshire coast to Hornsea offshore windfarm, but also to a BP underwater carbon-capture project. Photograph: Arild Lilleboe/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A clash between two multibillion pound “net zero carbon” schemes is brewing in the North Sea after the Queen’s property manager granted development rights for one patch of seabed to two different projects at the same time.

The crown estate will earn millions of pounds after agreeing to lease an area off the Yorkshire coast to the latest phase of the giant Hornsea offshore windfarm, as well as to a scheme led by BP which plans to begin storing carbon dioxide under the seabed. This has prompted concern that the giant wind turbines could interfere with seabed sensors for the carbon storage project.

The carbon capture scheme was granted “fast-track status” by the government as part of the long-awaited net zero strategy it set out earlier this week, meaning developers will need to begin trapping, piping and storing carbon beneath the North Sea from a cluster of nearby factories by the mid-2020s.

The crown estate granted the East Coast Cluster project an agreement in 2013 to lease the plot while it develops plans to capture emissions from factories in the Teesside and Humber industrial clusters and store the carbon securely beneath the seabed.

It had already auctioned off the right to develop an offshore windfarm on an area that sits above the carbon capture site in 2010. The windfarm rights were later bought from the consortium by Danish developer Orsted in 2015 to host part of its Hornsea windfarm which will include 180 turbines on a plot which is 190 square miles.

The green developers are in early talks to find a way to “coexist” in close quarters but have no firm plans to manage the clash, and face a tighter deadline to find a solution due to the East Coast Cluster’s fast-track status.

“Put simply, the crown estate has been a bit greedy and leased one area to two projects at the same time,” said an industry source involved in one of the schemes - The Guardian - link - Jillian Ambrose - link - more like this - link

(NAT) BEHOLD - THE JETSON ONE

The Jetson One flies along at highway speeds, with LiDAR-enabled obstacle avoidanceJetson Aero

If anyone can think of a more perfect name for a personal eVTOL, we're listening! Sweden's Jetson Aero has already sold out the 2022 production run of this cute little single-seat kit build, which is capable of zooming along at 63 mph (102 km/h).

The Jetson One is a simple design purely dedicated to muckin' about and having fun. Its single seat is suspended in an aluminum/carbon fiber spaceframe. It's a straight-up drone-style multicopter, with eight props mounted coaxially on four arms, putting out a total peak of 88 kW (118 horsepower). Jetson says it'll fly safely if one motor dies, but frankly I'd be more interested in landing safely at that point.

The pilot flies it with a throttle lever on the left, a joystick on the right, and a pair of pedals, presumably controlling yaw. There's some very basic system information displayed on a little dash that frankly looks like a smartphone in a cradle.

The triple-redundant flight computers will simply hover in place or perform an emergency landing if you let go of the sticks, and the system endeavors to keep pilots out of trouble using LiDAR-enabled terrain tracking and obstacle avoidance. The last line of defense is a rapidly deployable ballistic parachute, but boy oh boy, we wouldn't want to find ourselves needing that - New Atlas - link - the brilliant Loz Blain- link - more like this - link

(IAN) OXFORD 159

Merton Street - link - Turner's Merton Street - link - More like this - link

(BYL) FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCERS ARE CONSUMING THEMSELVES

Forget ‘peak oil’. Nafeez Ahmed reveals how the oil and gas industries are cannibalising themselves as the costs of fossil fuel extraction mount

A team of French government energy scientists are warning that the collapse of the global oil system is coming so rapidly it could derail the transition to a renewable energy system if it doesn’t happen fast enough. 

In just 13 years, global oil production could enter into a terminal and exponential decline, accompanied by the overall collapse of the global oil and gas industries over the next three decades.

But this is not because the earth is running out of oil and gas. Rather, it’s because they are increasingly eating themselves to stay alive. 

The oil and gas industries are consuming exponentially more and more energy just to keep extracting oil and gas. That’s why they’ve entered a downwards spiral of increasing costs of production, diminishing profits, rising debt and irreversible economic decline.

The implication is that global energy shortages and price spikes will be a taste of things to come if we stay dependent on fossil fuels. Yet a growing narrative has instead wrongly pinpointed the ‘clean energy transition’ as the culprit.

The Economist, for instance, describes the global gas price spikes as “the first big energy shock of the green era”, blaming inadequate investment in renewables and “some transition fossil fuels” (like gas). This could lead to “a popular revolt against climate policies.”

This implies that the fundamental driver of global energy volatility is the transition away from fossil fuels: but this flawed narrative has it exactly backwards - Byline Times - link - Nafeez Ahmed - link - more like this (France) - link - more like this - link

(ELT) BMW 3 SERIES NK1

The first electric car of the “New Class” announced by BMW for the middle of the decade is to be an all-electric version of the next 3 Series generation, according to a British media report. The abbreviation “NK1” is given as the internal working title.

This is according to a report by Autocar. The 3 Series is to be powered by BMW’s sixth-generation powertrain with new electric motors, and 800-volt battery technology is to enable charging power of 350 kW, as the British magazine writes without naming any specific sources. 

The sixth-generation e-drives, however, will be current-excited synchronous motors, as was the case with the just-introduced fifth generation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the BMX iX and i4 drive launch, BMW board member for development Frank Weber had described the “Neue Klasse” (New Class) announced by BMW CEO Oliver Zipse as BMW’s new universal construction kit. “The Neue Klasse represents the beginning of a new phase of operations for BMW. It’s scaled to allow us to build electric cars from a 2 Series-sized saloon up to an X7-sized SUV,” Weber explained.

The Autocar report is based on a conversation with Weber, even if concrete figures such as the 350 kW charging capacity are not attributed to the development executive. In principle, the ‘Neue Klasse’ is intended to enable front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive EV models, accommodating modular battery packs of varying capacity. 

Weber did not give any details on the batteries, but made it clear that the “NK1″ would still get batteries with liquid electrolyte – Weber does not see solid-state batteries in series production before the end of the decade - electrive.com - link - Chris Randall - link - more like this - link

(UPS) ITALIAN GIANT ENI CATCHING RAYS IN FRANCE

Italian energy giant Eni has launched, what it claims to be, one of the largest solar farms in France.

Eni confirmed this week its wholly-owned subsidiary Dhamma Energy had inaugurated the 85.7-megawatt Athies-Samoussy solar farm.

It said all five plants that make up the solar farm are now operational, with a capacity to produce 93 gigawatt hours per annum, the equivalent of the domestic consumption of 40,000 households.

Eni claims the Athies-Samoussy complex is the largest solar farm in the Hauts-de-France region and one of the 10 largest in France.

The project covers 100 hectares of the former Laon-Athies NATO Air Base, which was abandoned in 1967 and has now been converted into a sustainability-focused site.

The project created both direct and indirect local jobs, with Eni claiming 250 people were working on site at the peak of construction earlier this year.

Eni also noted in Tuesday’s announcement that the project received €2.6 million ($3 million) in local crowd funding and public investment in 2020 - Upstream - link - Josh Lewis - link - more like this - link

(ABC) ELECTRIC CLASSICS

EV conversion can breathe new life into beloved older models of cars.(Supplied: Ken Macken)

At the beginning of winter, Ken Macken took the highway out to Chinchilla in Queensland's Western Downs to buy a 40-year-old ute — a dodgy-looking Datsun upholstered with strips of carpet and sheet metal.

By the time spring arrived, Mr Macken had converted the retro clunker into a snazzy little electric vehicle (EV), able to surge to 100 kilometres per hour in under six seconds (something the petrol version would have never achieved).

He dubbed the two-door electric runabout the "Dasla". 

"There's a lot of people out there who love their classic cars, but don't want the issues of internal combustion engines," he says.

"Old cars look beautiful and new cars all look the same."

From suburban garages to professional workshops, Australians are popping car bonnets and stripping out petrol and diesel motors, fuel tanks and gear boxes, mufflers and exhausts.

In place of these greasy, soot-stained parts, they're installing banks of lithium-ion batteries and small, but powerful, electric motors.

Though not cheap, EV conversion, or "electro modding", is booming in popularity.

Often, it's a way of breathing new life into beloved older models — a way of having a classic car without the fumes and breakdowns.

Some hope this change is just the start: they look forward to a time when conversions can be done cheaply and at mass scale. They believe that at least some of the petrol cars being sold today may see out their time on the road as converted electric ones - ABC.net Australia - link - James Purtill - link - more like this - link

(THD) BRITISH GIANT DOESN'T INVEST IN BRITAIN - RUDE!

SCOTLAND and the UK has been left out of an initial wave of hydrogen plants announced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns the huge petrochemical site at Grangemouth, after he revealed plans for factories in Germany, Belgium and Norway.

The billionaire’s company Ineos is to invest more than €2bn into electrolysis projects to make zero-carbon green hydrogen across Europe in a move that could have a major effect on the motoring industry.

The company is is hoping to ‘transform’ zero carbon hydrogen production with what will be Europe’s largest ever investment i electrolysis projects.

The first plants will be built in Norway, Germany and Belgium in the next 10 years.

It comes after Ineos brokered a landmark deal with Hyundai last year.

Ineos said that it also intends to invest in France and the UK, where the hydrogen business will be headquartered, but did not give details.

The chemicals giant and the South-Korean car maker signed a memorandum of understanding that will "explore new opportunities", including hydrogen fuel cell technology being applied to the new Land Rover Defender-rivalling 4×4 - The Herald - link - Martin Williams - link - more like this - link

(REU) AMERICAN GIANT INVESTS IN BRITAIN

LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Ford (F.N) said on Monday it would invest up to 230 million pounds ($316 million) to build electric car components at its Halewood factory in northern England.

The plant will produce around 250,000 power units a year from mid-2024, the first European in-house location to make electric vehicle parts for Ford, which has pledged that its car line-up for the continent will be all-electric by 2030.

The government is contributing to the investment through its Automotive Transformation Fund as brands intensify their electrification plans ahead of combustion engine bans, and countries vie with each other to secure jobs.

The British government has tended to provide around 10% of the total investment value for automotive firms.

"This is an important step, marking Ford’s first in-house investment in all-electric vehicle component manufacturing in Europe," said Ford's Europe President Stuart Rowley.

The carmaker also has a transmission facility in Cologne, Germany. Halewood, which employs around 500 people, was chosen due to "its excellent record on quality, competitiveness and the strong skills base and commitment of the employees", Ford said - Reuters - link - Costas Pitas - link - more like this - link

(ENV) FRENCH GIANT INVESTS IN BRITAIN

Scrabster Harbour

French energy giant TotalEnergies (LON: TTE) has confirmed Aberdeen as the base for its UK offshore wind operations.

Patrick Pouyanné, the company’s chairman and chief executive, formally opened the supermajor’s UK Offshore Wind Hub in the Granite City today.

The facility will enable the transition of staff from oil and gas to offshore wind as the energy transition gathers pace.

It will thus leverage the offshore expertise that TotalEnergies, formerly Total, has built over the last 50 years working in the North Sea.

Mr Pouyanne said: “Investing in energy projects in Scotland and the North Sea has been at the heart of TotalEnergies’ history.

“I am proud of the success of our partnership with Scotland and of our joint achievements, in particular the development of the offshore industry.

“With the energy transition gathering speed, we see Scotland as a great place to broaden our relationship by investing in offshore wind.

“As a global multi energy company long engaged in UK energy supply, our decision to base our UK Offshore Wind Hub here in Aberdeen is a mark of our confidence in the future of renewables in the UK and our continued commitment to Scotland and the North Sea.” - Energy Voice - link - Hamish Penman - link - more like this (France) - link - more like this - link

(UPS) AI SOLAR

Australia’s Woodside Petroleum is partnering with Pasadena-based technology player Heliogen to build a commercial-scale demonstration facility in California using the latter’s “breakthrough” solar technology.

Woodside confirmed Monday it had granted Heliogen a limited notice to proceed to begin the procurement of key equipment for the 5-megawatt demonstration facility that will use Heliogen’s artificial intelligence enabled concentrated solar technology.

Woodside describes Heliogen’s technology as a modular, turnkey, AI-enabled concentrated solar energy system that aims to deliver clean energy with nearly 24/7 availability.

The demonstration facility will utilise advanced computer vision software that precisely aligns an array of mirrors to reflect sunlight to a single target on the top of a solar tower, thereby enabling low-cost storage in the form of high-temperature thermal energy.

Heliogen claims its baseline system will provide industrial-grade heat capable of replacing fossil fuels in industrial processes including the production of cement, steel, and petrochemicals, while it can enable power generation through the addition of a supercritical CO2 turbine, and green hydrogen fuel production in combination with an electrolyser.

Heliogen chief executive, and founder, Bill Gross said the company’s technology had the potential to transform heavy industry by “turning sunlight into a zero-carbon source of heat, power and hydrogen that is nearly always available”.


“Although costs of large-scale solar are falling, conventional solar technologies are not yet cost-competitive with fossil fuels in most energy markets due to their intermittent availability,” he added.

“Heliogen’s technology aims to close this gap through the use of AI, software and thermal storage. As the energy sector is ripe for applications of green hydrogen fuels and decarbonisation strategies, Woodside is an ideal collaborator for our breakthrough solar technology, which will support the operational characteristics of heavy industry.” - Upstream - link - Josh Lewis - link - more like this - link

(RCH) SCOTTISH WIND - SIMPLY THE BEST

Scotland’s 50-year North Sea petro-adventure is entering a new chapter. What comes next in a saga that has seen the former fishing port of Aberdeen grow into a global oil & gas industry hub, a technology-pioneering international sector supply chain spawned over the decades at sea, and many billions of barrels of crude pumped into Britain’s pipelines and beyond, will, as ever, be a voyage of discovery.

But what is increasingly certain is the transformative role that floating wind will have in the emerging North Sea 2.0 narrative, and globally as the world looks to the technology as a key new weapon in its decarbonisation arsenal in the years following COP26.

Home now to two world-title-holding floating arrays – the 30MW Hywind Scotland, the first-ever multi-turbine industrial development when it came online in 2017, and the 50MW Kincardine, just commissioned after lengthy delays and the biggest operating sector project on the planet – Scotland stands on the cusp of awarding vast swaths of acreage in its 11GW ScotWind round, 75% of which is in waters too deep for bottom-fixed foundations.

The immediate win for Scotland lies in this lead-off auction, as it presents the first opportunity for developers – an offshore wind who’s-who have put their names in to the tam o’ shanter with bids as large as 7GW – to roll out floating units in utility-scale project numbers. The huge volumes of clean power that will soon be flowing from far-offshore straight into the mainland grid – at ever-lower levellised cost of energy as the technology is streamlined and the onshore network digitised – is seen as central to achieving Holyrood’s ambition of reaching net-zero by 2045 - RECHARGE - link - Darius Snieckus - link - more like this - link

(OFF) HEEREMA PREPARES FOR XXL TURBINES

Heerema Marine Contractors has completed the first offshore test of a novel method of assembling and installing XXL wind turbines onboard a floating, dynamically positioned (DP) vessel.

The method was tested in the Dutch North Sea onboard the giant semi-submersible crane vessel Sleipnir.

Heerema performed the demonstration project, known as Floating Offshore installation of XXL Wind Turbines (FOX), in collaboration with DOT and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) to collect operational data and test installation methods and durations.

This demonstration project was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and Eneco. The partners worked together with a wide range of subcontractors who have supported this test, including Heerema Engineering Solutions, F&B Group, Harco Heavy Lifting, Ampelmann, Sif, and CAPE Holland.

The Method

The offshore wind industry is projected to produce 228 GW by 2030, enough to power over 68 million homes. To meet these targets, offshore wind turbines are progressively increasing in size and are being planned for installation in remote locations and deeper water depths. Due to these market developments, Heerema strategically developed the novel Rotor Nacelle Assembly (RNA) method for the next generation of wind turbines - offshoreWIND.biz - link - Adnan Durakovic - link - more like this - link

(AWI) BEHOLD THE MERCEDES BENZ EQS 580 4MATIC

If the only thing that matters is 0-60 times, it’s going to be hard for anyone to challenge the Tesla Model S Plaid. 

But raw acceleration does not a luxury car make. And so, with the launch of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic, the California upstart’s flagship sedan is facing its first truly direct competitor.

It may not be quite as fast off the line, but it offers all the classic luxury features the Teutonic brand is known for, plus some cutting-edge technologies, as well as a still-quick electric powertrain.

For Mercedes, the launch of the EQS offers a critical opportunity to seek some revenge. Long the benchmark in the premium luxury segment, the brand has watched a steady procession of traditional S-Class buyers defect to Tesla. The EQS provides a chance to win them back — while serving as the halo for its own planned shift to battery power.

With its distinctive, if controversial new design language, Mercedes launches with two versions of its new battery sedan. There’s the “base” EQ 450+ with its single, rear-mounted motor. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic, as the name suggests, uses twin motors to not only boost performance but also add all-wheel-drive.

Mercedes later will introduce a truly high-performance AMG version, as well as an even more luxurious EQS Maybach — both teased during the recent Munich Motor Show. And to confuse matters even further, an EQS SUV is also set to reach the market next year - Autowise - link - Paul Eisenstein - link - more like this - link

(GUA) EDIBLE PACKAGING THAT ISN'T PACKAGING

“We’re showing that you can actually reimagine a food system that’s not built on the foundation of single-use plastic”, said CEO James Rogers. Photograph: Observer/Jesse Chehak

When people think about plastic waste, they often think of the packaging that swaddles supermarket fruits and vegetables – shiny layers that are stripped away and thrown in the bin as soon as the produce is unloaded at home.

It’s a wasteful cycle that California-based company Apeel says it can help end. The firm has developed an edible, tasteless and invisible plant-based spray for fruits and vegetables that works as a barrier to keep oxygen out and moisture in, increasing shelf life without the need for single-use plastic.

It’s currently being sprayed on to cucumbers and avocados at retailers including Walmart. “We’re showing that you can actually reimagine a food system that’s not built on the foundation of single-use plastic”, said the CEO, James Rogers.

Apeel, which is valued at $2bn, is part of a wave of startups and scientific projects racing to develop materials that could help replace traditional single-use plastics. Their production methods and applications vary widely, but their stated aim is the same: to end the scourge of plastic waste.

Since the 1950s, the world has produced an estimated 8.3bn tonnes of plastic, nearly two-thirds of which has ended up in landfill or leaching into soil, rivers and oceans; choking wildlife. Plastics are a driver of the climate crisis – the vast majority are made from fossil fuels and if global production continues on current trends, plastics may account for about 20% of oil consumption by mid-century.

The problem is that fossil-based plastics are not easy to replace. Plastic is a wonder material: cheap to produce, lightweight and incredibly durable. The latter is a great quality in use but not when it ends up in landfill or the environment – plastic can take centuries to degrade. Finding a material that is strong but can also essentially self-destruct when needed is incredibly tough. But plenty of scientists and companies are trying.

Bioplastics have emerged as a popular alternative, even if they currently make up less than 1% of the market. Made from bio sources such as sugarcane, algae, even banana waste and shellfish, many pitch themselves as eliminating the need for fossil fuels and also breaking down easily after use - The Guardian - link - Laura Paddison - link - more like this - link - more like this (California) - link

(WMW) FRENCH VEG GOING NAKED FROM 2022

From next year on around 30 types of fruit and vegetables, such as cucumber, potatoes, aubergines, apples and oranges may only be sold without plastic packaging in France. The responsible ministries announced a corresponding regulation.

With the ban, the French government wants to reduce plastic waste. The ministries explained that an estimated 37% of vegetables and fruit in France are currently sold in plastic packaging.

The rules are expected to save more than one billion plastic packages per year. Until six months after the ban comes into force, remaining stocks of fruit and vegetables with plastic packaging may still be sold over the counter.

The ban is to be gradually extended to more and more products. From 2026, no more fruit and vegetables will be sold in plastic - Waste Management World - link - WMW - link - more like this (France) - link - more like this - link

(ABC) ECOLDPLAY

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin says he expects some blowback for the decision.(AP: Invision/Scott Roth)

Coldplay has announced its new, eco-friendly world tour will be partly powered by the kinetic energy of fans as they dance, along with electricity-generating bicycles.

However, frontman Chris Martin admitted to the BBC that they risked criticism from fans and environmentalists, given the band still enjoyed the use of private jets.

"The people [who] give us backlash for that kind of thing, for flying, they're right. So we don't have any argument against that," Martin said.

But he said that the band still wanted "to tour and we want to meet people and connect with people, so [the band tries to] do it in the cleanest way possible".

The tour was announced a day ahead of the release of the band's new album, Music of the Spheres, on Friday.

Kicking off in March, the tour will take in Central and North America, Europe, and end in Rio de Janeiro in September, with more dates on the way. No Australian dates have been set yet.

The announcement came with a list of "sustainability initiatives", including a plan to cut their overall emissions in half compared with their last tour in 2016-17.

During this latest tour, kinetic flooring will generate electricity as fans move.

"You know when the frontman says, 'We need you to jump up and down'? When I say that, I literally really need you to jump up and down. Because, if you don't, then the lights go out," Martin told the BBC.

It's not clear how much of the band's show will be powered by punter-generated electricity, but Coldplay's website also says the show will rely on renewables and batteries, avoiding fossil fuels as much as possible - ABC.net Australia- link - Scott Roth - link - more like this - link

(NAT) WELCOME TO THE VOLODRONE

The VoloDrone features a rail attachment system in between its landing gear for fixing payloads to its undercarriage - Volocopter

Better known for its work developing audacious 18-rotor flying taxis to solve congestion in city centers, Volocopter is adapting its expertise in electric aviation for the purposes of moving heavy cargo. 

Its giant VoloDrone has now completed its very first public flight, demonstrating how it can safely transport large loads with the help of cargo bikes and play a key role in an all-electric multi-mode delivery system.

Since introducing the VoloDrone in 2019, Volocopter has carried out regular test flights in closed airfields around Germany. Like the Volocopter itself, the giant drone uses 18 rotors, a battery and electric motors to hoist itself into the air, using a rail attachment system in between its landing gear to carry payloads of up to 200 kg (440 lb) over a 40-km (24-mile) range.

On Tuesday, the VoloDrone carried out its first simulated delivery in the public arena, with the exercise undertaken together with logistics firm DB Schenker. This took place as part of ITS World Congress 2021 in Hamburg, and began with the team securing a load to the VoloDrone's undercarriage.

The aircraft then took off, reaching an altitude of 22 m (72 ft) and carrying the load over a three-minute flight to a nearby carpark, where it came down to land safely. From there, electric cargo bikes were used to transfer the load to its destination beneath a nearby decking - New Atlas - link - Nick Lavers - link - more like this - link

(CNB) ESS BATTERIES GO LIVE

ESS is trying to solve a critical problem with renewable energy: How to store energy from wind and solar installations when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining.

The company’s proposed solution is long-duration energy-storage batteries made of iron, salt and water, which are much cheaper and more readily available than the elements used in batteries today, such as lithium and cobalt.

ESS’ early momentum attracted $57 million in investments from powerful backers including Bill Gates and Softbank, CEO Eric Dresselhuys told CNBC.

Now it goes public via SPAC to begin trading Monday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GWH. It hopes to raise $308 million through the deal.

“There have been very few solutions for this long duration up until now, and it’s largely driven from the fact that we didn’t rely on energy storage as a major solution for hardening the system,” said Dresselhuys, who became the CEO of ESS this year after decades of energy and technology executive experience.

The company launched in 2011 in the Portland, Oregon, garage of co-founders Craig Evans and Julia Song, who are a married couple as well as business partners. It moved to the Portland State Business Accelerator before expanding to its current 200,000-square-foot headquarters - CNBC - link - Catherine Clifford - link - more like this - link