Ceramic and glass business news of the week for September 5, 2022

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

European Energy announces its plans to build Latvia’s largest solar park to date

Renewable energy developer European Energy announced plans to build a 110 MW solar park in the Tārgale, Ventspils region of Latvia. This project will be European Energy’s first in Latvia and the largest solar park in Latvia. The Tārgale solar park is expected to be connected to the electricity grid in 2024.

Cemex to use hydrogen technology at cement plant in Dominican Republic

Cemex says it is planning to start using hydrogen technology at its integrated San Pedro De Macoris cement plant in the Dominican Republic. It ran a trial at its Alicante cement plant in Spain using hydrogen in 2019 and rolled the process out to all of its European cement plants in 2021.

Micron to invest $15 billion in new Idaho semiconductor fabrication plant

Micron Technology announced plans to invest $15 billion through the end of the decade to construct a new semiconductor fabrication plant for leading-edge memory manufacturing in Boise, Idaho.

Taylor County glass factory to become home of battery maker SPARKZ

The energy startup SPARKZ plans to locate an electric battery factory in northern West Virginia. The plant, which eventually will employ 350 workers, originally was a glass factory that ceased operations in 2009.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

RWE acquires Poland-based solar project developer Alpha Solar

German energy company RWE acquired Polish photovoltaic development company Alpha Solar, which has a 3 GW utility-scale solar project pipeline. RWE says the deal will add to its existing 10 GW solar development pipeline and strengthen its renewables business in Poland.

Safelite Group acquires Pro Tech Auto Glass

Safelite Group, vehicle glass services and recalibration company and owner of Safelite AutoGlass, announced it acquired Pro Tech Auto Glass, servicing western Pennsylvania, southern New York, and eastern Ohio.

Terex acquires Canadian mixer firm

Terex Materials Processing, a provider of aggregate, environmental, concrete, lifting, and handling machinery, acquired Canadian company ProAll, a producer of mobile volumetric concrete mixers. ProAll’s main production is based in Olds, Alberta, and it operates a service and installation site in Keller, Texas.

Japanese fab manufacturer Renesas to acquire India’s fabless Steradian

Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Renesas is acquiring India’s fabless Steradian Semiconductors. Steradian is into 4D imaging radar solutions, and the acquisition will help Renesas expand its reach in the radar market and boost automotive and industrial sensing solution offerings.

EVG expands collab with ITRI on heterogeneous integration process development

Austria-based EV Group, a supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for semiconductor, micro-electro-mechanical systems, and nanotechnology applications, expanded its collaboration with Taiwan-based Industrial Technology Research Institute on developing advanced heterogeneous integration processes.

OTHER STORIES

China Refractory Minerals Forum 2022 taking place September 14

IMFORMED is holding the online China Refractory Minerals Forum 2022 on Sept. 14, 2022. This forum provides an invaluable networking and knowledge acquisition opportunity on the latest issues, trends, developments, and outlook for China’s refractory minerals and their market demand domestically and worldwide.

BIA announces 2022 Brick in Architecture Awards call for entries

The Brick Industry Association opened entries for the 2022 Brick in Architecture Awards, featuring a new category for thin brick projects. Entries are due by November 1. The winners will be judged by peers in December and announced next January.

Baker Hughes launches new fast electric tiebacks technology

Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, launched its new fast all-electric tiebacks solution at Offshore Northern Seas 2022 in Norway. The new fast-tiebacks technology will be ready for commission in late 2023. The tiebacks have a 3,000-meter maximum depth and a faster delivery schedule than traditional solutions.

China’s heat wave is creating havoc for electric vehicle drivers

As a globally unprecedented 70-day heat wave continues in southern China, electric vehicle owners are one group particularly feeling the heat. With public charging posts temporarily closed or restricted and many owners without a private charging post, EV owners find themselves facing serious difficulties in powering their daily commutes.

MARKET TRENDS

California wants to end sales of new gas cars by 2035—here are 4 key roadblocks

California state regulators approved a policy that will ban the sale of new gas cars by 2035 in what is the country’s largest auto market. An NPR article outlines several challenges in ending sales of gas-powered cars by 2035.

NIST report outlines strategic opportunities for US semiconductor manufacturing

A report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology outlines seven strategic “grand challenges” in measurement, standardization, and modeling and simulation that, if met, will strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry.

How the Baltic Sea Countries can shield Europe from Russia’s energy weapon

For centuries, the Baltic Sea has been the scene of international conflicts and rivalry. Today, however, eight of the region’s countries are members of the European Union and are determined to increase their energy cooperation in order to neutralize the Kremlin’s main source of geopolitical leverage over Europe.

NEW PRODUCTS

Fujitsu to make quantum computers available for research in 2023

Fujitsu teamed up with scientific research institute Riken to become the first Japanese company to provide quantum computers for research projects starting next year. The first quantum computer Fujitsu intends to offer has 64 qubits, and the intended market is companies researching medicine, materials, and financial forecasting.

Solarspace launches 555 W half-cut solar module with gallium-doped cells

Chinese solar module manufacturer Solarspace unveiled a new panel based on half-cut cell technology and gallium-doped cells. Dubbed SS8-72HS 530-555M, the new product is available in six different versions with a power output ranging from 535 W to 555 W and a power conversion efficiency between 20.5–21.5%.

Book: Quantum physics of semiconductor materials and devices

Aside from the quantum physics of semiconductors, the book “Quantum physics of semiconductor materials and devices” includes information on the history of semiconductor development, societal needs, and the future potential of semiconductors, and the wide range of modern applications for semiconductors.