Ceramic and glass business news of the week for April 4, 2022

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Greenland Minerals seeks clarity on Kvanefjeld license

Australia-based Greenland Minerals Limited has requested arbitration proceedings in its dispute with the governments of Greenland and Denmark concerning the impact of new legislation banning uranium mining on its exploration license for the Kvanefjeld rare earths project in southern Greenland.

Canada Rare Earth Corp. plans US$315 million rare earth project in Brazil

Canada Rare Earth Corporation unveiled plans to invest up to 1.5 billion reais (US$315 million) in a rare earth project in northern Brazil’s Rondônia state. At first, around 65 million reais will be invested to implement an industrial unit, with the goal that in up to 10 years this amount will reach 1.5 billion reais to implement a large company in the state.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

CRUL, IRENA advance renewable energy research with new partnership

The Lazio Region Universities Coordination Committee and the International Renewable Energy Agency signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a new partnership aimed at developing joint research on how to boost renewable energy as a key element in energy transition.

Heliogen, Woodside Energy announce commercial-sale demo project and collab agreement

Heliogen, Inc., a leading provider of AI-enabled concentrated solar energy, and Woodside Energy Inc. announced a project agreement for the commercial-scale demonstration deployment of Heliogen’s AI-enabled concentrated solar energy technology proposed to be built in Mojave, California.

RHI Magnesita and Horn & Co. Group announce joint green venture

RHI Magnesita, a leader in refractory products, systems, and services, and Horn & Co. Group will combine their recycling activities in Europe to increase the production, use, and offering of secondary raw material for the European refractory industry.

FIC and SSRC enter glass refractory agreement

F.I.C. entered into an agreement with SSRC to supply the refractories for a small all-electric furnace to melt a very special glass composition. SSRC is based in Bessemer, Alabama, and provides special solutions to the entire glass market.

Starfleet Innotech partners with 3D printing concrete startup Luyten

Starfleet Innotech, Inc. entered into a new strategic partnership with Australia-based 3D concrete printing startup Luyten. The exclusive agreement will see Luyten’s construction technologies used across SFIO’s real estate projects in the Philippines.

Stratasys enters new partnership and opens e-store in France

3D Printing company Stratasys announced that it has strengthened its network of partners in France. In conjunction with this expansion, the company also launched a dedicated e-store to provide faster and easier ordering of materials and consumables for customers.

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express, SINTEF plan emission-free ship

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express partnered with leading research organization SINTEF to create zero emission ships for the Norwegian coast, with the first ready to sail by 2030. The project includes all aspects of a new ship build program, from design, propulsion, energy, and fuel to hotel operations and digital solutions.

OTHER STORIES

NSPN launches science policy writing competition

The National Science Policy Network launched its fourth annual science policy writing competition. Submissions must be policy briefs no longer than two pages and should include “an attention-getting title and subtitle, a concise summary of the chosen science and technology policy issue and potential solutions, graphics and/or figures, and, if desired, a recommendation for action.” Submissions are due May 2.

NSF hiring Materials Research Division director

The National Science Foundation is hiring a director for its Materials Research Division, responsible for overseeing a more than $300 million portfolio of investments in materials research and education. The director manages the evaluation of grant proposals and allocation of budget resources. Applications are due June 3.

FY23 request steers science budgets toward Biden Administration priorities

Just two weeks after President Biden signed Congress’ appropriation for fiscal year 2022 into law, his administration has begun to roll out its fiscal year 2023 budget request to Congress. An FYI article takes a look at the requests regarding specific science programs.

Spanish container glass in ‘critical’ situation

Rising energy costs, the Ukraine war, and a transporters strike have left the Spanish container glass industry in a “critical” situation. The country’s container glass association said more than 8,000 food companies that use glass containers will face serious difficulties exporting their products and getting them to distribution, hospitality, and catering sectors.

China unveils 5-year plan on energy technology innovation

China has unveiled a five-year plan, from 2021 to 2025, on developing energy technologies to propel green growth and digital transformation of the energy sector. The country will focus on developing new technologies to render a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable supply of renewables such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy.

MARKET TREND

What a national push for critical minerals could mean for Oregon

The company exploring an Oregon lithium deposit is encouraged by efforts to bolster the U.S. critical minerals supply chain, but a mining pitch is still years away.

Europe needs a new energy option that isn’t Russia—it should turn to North Africa

An Atlantic Council article looks at the potential for Europe to get more of its energy needs fulfilled through North Africa. Currently, North Africa accounts for 13% of Europe’s natural gas and 10% of its oil imports, but it also has massive solar energy potential.

India’s race for semiconductor independence

On Dec. 15, 2021, the Indian government announced a $10 billion program to help fund the domestic production of semiconductors over the next five to six years. Three companies have submitted proposals to take advantage of the government’s funding, but only mining and metals group Vedanta has announced the details of its plan publicly.

Flexible ceramics global market insights: analysis and forecast to 2027

A new report by Prof Research describes the global market size of flexible ceramics from 2017 to 2021 and its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2017 to 2021, and also forecasts its market size to the end of 2027 and its CAGR from 2022 to 2027.

NEW PRODUCTS

Bisol launches bifacial solar modules with 30% transparency rate for agrivoltaics, carports

Slovenia-based solar panel manufacturer Bisol launched a new series of transparent solar modules for applications in agrivoltaic projects or solar carports. The module is being offered with wattages of 260 and 300W, respectively. Front efficiencies range from 13.5% to 14.0% and the temperature coefficient is -0.35% per degree Celsius.

China launches the world’s largest electric cruise ship

Said to be the largest electric cruise ship in the world, the “Yangtze River Three Gorges 1” has started its maiden voyage in Yichang in Hubei province. The ship is 100 meters long, 16.3 meters wide, and has room for 1,300 passengers.