CGBN


PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Europe’s largest solar park feeds first power into Spanish electric grid

The giant 500MW Nunez de Balboa project in Extremadura, Spain—the largest PV plant built in Europe to date—recently fed its first megawatt-hour of power into the grid. It was developed by Spanish utility Iberdrola in partnership with contractor Ecoenergias del Guadiana, who installed 1.43 million solar panels, 115 inverters, and two substations.

California gets another 100MW battery project

Clean Power Alliance, a local power purchasing authority for 1 million customer accounts in the greater Los Angeles region, signed a deal with independent power producer sPower for another 100-megawatt battery to support the grid near Los Angeles. This deal marks the first battery deal for Clean Power Alliance.

$21.4 million US-Israel center to develop water-energy technologies

A U.S.-Israel team received $21.4 million over five years from DOE’s Office of International Affairs and Israel’s Ministry of Energy to develop new technologies to help solve global water challenges. Northwestern University and BGN Technologies will lead the multi-institutional effort, known as the Collaborative Water-Energy Research Center.

Verallia maintains production at all glass manufacturing sites

Food glass packager Verallia has continued production at all its European sites during the Covid-19 pandemic. The French-headquartered container glass manufacturer said it had adapted its production volumes and served its customers to the fullest extent possible.


ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Consortium developing an efficient and cost-effective wind energy technology

The EU-funded PivotBuoy project, an international consortium, has completed the design of a single-point mooring system platform for floating wind turbines. The project has now entered the manufacturing phase prior to assembly and installation, which is planned for autumn 2020.

Sibelco, Mineris Environnement announce joint venture for flat glass recycling in France

Material solution company Sibelco and Mineris Environnement have created a joint venture called Recyverre for the collection and recycling of flat glass in France. Recyverre, in turn, has completed the acquisition of GIREV, a French recycler of flat glass. The combined entity will employ around 70 people.

Power Metal Resources plans to acquire controlling interest in Ditau rare earths project

Power Metal Resources PLC unveiled the conditional acquisition of a 51% interest in the Ditau project in Botswana for £150,000 from Kavango Resources PLC. The company said due diligence for the acquisition will begin following the removal of coronavirus-related international travel and work restrictions.

South Korean glassmaker signs oxy-fuel combustion deal with Air Products

Air Products signed a new contract for its integrated oxy-fuel combustion solution with Techpack Solutions, the largest packaging materials manufacturer in South Korea. It is Air Products’ third project to support Techpack Solutions to convert its furnace from air-fuel to oxy-fuel for enhanced sustainability and competitiveness.       

Ultrafast industrial-grade stereolithography 3D printer grows its US reseller network

Nexa3D, the maker of ultrafast stereolithography production 3D printers, expanded its U.S. distribution into Michigan, announcing a partnership with DELRAY Systems, a leading value-added additive manufacturing solutions provider.


OTHER STORIES

APS April virtual meeting free to attend

The American Physical Society is holding its April meeting for free online. You can register here and attend the talks and posters and network with other attendees.

NASEM forum on postsecondary response to COVID-19 (VIRTUAL)

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hosting a series of conversations between academic, industry, government, and civic leaders to understand the varied facets of what has happened so far, what is currently happening, and what is expected to happen due to COVID-19.

Energy Fuels to enter rare earth elements sector

Energy Fuels Inc., the leading producer of uranium in the U.S., announced its entry into the rare earth elements sector. The company says uranium mining and production remains its primary business, but it can leverage its existing licenses, infrastructure, and capabilities at White Mesa to also produce rare earth elements.

DOE to provide $18M for research on rare earth elements or effective substitutes

The U.S. Department of Energy will provide up to $18 million for basic research aimed at helping to ensure the continued availability of rare earth elements—or effective substitutes—critical to the functioning of the modern U.S. economy.

3DR Holdings announces the launch of 3DPrint.com PRO

3DR Holdings announced the launch of 3DPrint.com PRO, a subscription delivering twicemonthly analytical research reports, written by SmarTech Analysis vice president Scott Dunham. The reports are meant to help individuals who need more depth of critical market analysis to help guide their strategy and planning initiatives of AM activities.

Revimac selected as IS machine supplier to Siam Glass’s Myanmar project

Italy’s Revimac was selected by Siam Glass to supply IS machines and feeders to a new glass plant in Myanmar. The container glass plant is a joint venture between the Thai producer Osotspa, parent company of Siam Glass, and Myanmar’s Golden Eagle. It is scheduled to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2021 to serve mainly the local market.

Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems delivers a custom batch tempering furnace

Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems recently delivered a custom built batch tempering furnace to a commercial heat treating company located in the heart of the aerospace industry on the West Coast of the United States.


MARKET TRENDS

Renewable energy developments threaten biodiverse areas

University of Queensland researchers mapped the location of solar, wind, and hydropower facilities in wilderness, protected areas, and key biodiversity areas. They found in addition to more than 2,200 renewable energy facilities already operating inside important biodiversity areas, another 900 are currently being built.

More than 100,000 clean-energy workers lost their jobs in March

A report by Environmental Entrepreneurs, a clean energy advocacy group, found more than 106,000 clean energy workers filed for unemployment benefits in March, wiping out all job gains in renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean vehicles, and other clean energy sectors in 2019. Two-thirds of the people who lost their jobs so far work in energy efficiency.

Tracking and trafficking: monitoring the movement of nuclear material

The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency notes there were six incidents related to the trafficking or malicious use of nuclear materials in 2019. A Power Technology article considers how this figure relates to data from previous years and what the IAEA’s role is in ensuring safety in the nuclear sector.

Flat glass: Extreme short-term market effects expected due to COVID-19 crisis

A Freedonia Group report expects the COVID-19 pandemic to have a significant negative impact on global flat glass sales in 2020, mainly due to a reduction in building construction activity, which was responsible for 82% of total demand in volume terms in 2018. However, a significant change in the long-term outlook is not expected.

Zero emission electric vehicle charging: Off-grid 2020–2040

A new IDTechEx report examines how the electric vehicle business is finding it profitable to respond to criticism that clean vehicles should not be charged with fossil fuel electricity. The report enables materials, component, vehicle, and infrastructure suppliers and putative suppliers to understand the large emerging opportunity for off-grid zero-emission charging.


NEW PRODUCTS

Super-duty refractory mortar protects internal linings of furnaces and boilers

The Plibrico Company introduced Ultra Demon Mortar, an enhanced wet, air-setting refractory mortar that exhibits the necessary thermodynamic stability for protection of industrial boilers, furnaces, and incinerators that operate at temperatures up to 3,000°F.

CeraVision, CeraDoc for remote tracking and monitoring ceramic 3D printing process

Lithoz reveals its new CeraVision, a computer vision tool for an industry 4.0 ready additive manufacturing process. Along with the database-driven CeraDoc software module, CeraVision drives to reach new levels of 3D printing performance.

High-density calcium silicate from Goodfellow

Goodfellow is pleased to announce the availability of high-density calcium silicate, an exceptional high-temperature insulation material that is an alternative to the discontinued Duratec 750.

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