Ceramic and glass business news of the week for July 5, 2021

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

National Carbon Capture Center tests carbon-reduction tech for concrete production

CarbonBuilt and the Alabama-based National Carbon Capture Center announced the completion of a multiweek test on a pioneering technology that can permanently store carbon dioxide in concrete blocks.

EPCG plans to build Montenegro’s first floating solar power plant

State power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore plans to build the first floating solar power plant in Montenegro and one of the first in the region, at its Slano reservoir near the city of  Nikšić. The Slano reservoir spans about 9 square kilometers and is not seen as a potential tourist spot.

Solar Philippines moves forward with 500 MW solar park

Manila-based PV module manufacturer and project developer Solar Philippines is set to start construction on a 500 MW solar park on former ranchland in Peñaranda, in the province of Nueva Ecija. When completed, the unsubsidized plant will be the country’s largest solar facility.

AGC holds opening ceremony for Yokohama technical center

AGC held an opening ceremony for its Yokohama Technical Center in Japan. AGC completed the integration of its R&D bases into one site, which were previously split between the Research Center (Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama) and the former Keihin Plant (Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama), and will start a new R&D structure.

Schott inaugurates new glass tubing plant in China

Speciality glass manufacturer Schott inaugurated its new borosilicate glass tubing factory in Jinyun, China, built in just 15 months. The production went into operation at the end of 2020, manufacturing the base material to produce vials/syringes for COVID-19 vaccines.

Ciner Glass unveils UK glass manufacturing plant plans

Ciner Glass unveiled plans for a container glass manufacturing and recycling facility in the United Kingdom. The group has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed glass packaging site at the Rassau Industrial Estate in Ebbw Vale, Wales.

Encirc to install sustainable glass process control system

UK glass container manufacturer and filler Encirc is set to reduce its carbon output by installing an intelligent end-to-end process control system. The company said the new system would cut its carbon output by more than 15.6 thousand tonnes a year at its facility in Elton, U.K.

ETH Zurich to 3D print Swiss cultural site using robots

Architects and engineers from ETH Zurich are planning to build a 23-meter high tower made up of 3D printed columns which will become a cultural site in the small village of Mulegns in Switzerland.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

DuPont completes acquisition of Laird Performance Materials

DuPont announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Laird Performance Materials, which specializes in high-performance electromagnetic shielding and thermal management solutions.

Baker Hughes invests in biomethanation technology company Electrochaea

Baker Hughes announced an investment in Electrochaea, a growth stage company developing novel proprietary biomethanation technology. Through its investment, Baker Hughes will enhance its broader carbon capture and utilization portfolio.

Australia, US, and Canada launch interactive map for critical minerals

Australia, the United States, and Canada launched an interactive map of deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals that are expected to be in hot demand as the world moves to cleaner forms of energy. The website contains data on more than 7,000 mineral samples from over 60 countries. View the website here.

America Makes announces Ohio Secondary Education AM Training Network

America Makes announced the launch of the Ohio Secondary Education Additive Manufacturing Training Network. Created in collaboration with and support from the Ohio Development Services Agency, this network will provide formal education and training of AM technologies to high school students and their educators. 

Nova Innovation and SABELLA team up on tidal energy

Nova Innovation and SABELLA announced a memorandum of understanding to accelerate development of tidal energy sites for both companies by driving down costs, catalyzing opportunities for funding, and delivering economies of scale.

EPRI and electric industry launch initiative to help ensure sufficient electricity supply

The Electric Power Research Institute announced a new initiative to help ensure the ongoing ability to meet electricity demand by better anticipating and assessing risks to power supply resources due to extreme weather and other hazards.

SONGWON’s distribution partnership with MegaChem expanded

Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd. announced that it has expanded its distribution partnership with MegaChem. Since September 2019, MegaChem has been the exclusive distributor of SONGWON’s antioxidants for fuels and lubricants in the ASEAN region. SONGWON has extended MegaChem’s coverage to include Australia and New Zealand.

OTHER STORIES

German renewables use knocked by lower wind output

Renewable energy accounted for a smaller slice of German usage in the first half of the year as wind output fell, falling to 42.6% of the total, down 8.1 percentage points. On the other hand, Germany’s power consumption overall in the six months rose by 5.5% to 285.5 billion kilowatt hours.

China’s fusion research is heating up

The EAST reactor in Hefei, China, recently broke records as it edges toward the sustained stellar temperatures needed to generate fusion energy. This progress is key to China’s strategic push to sustainable energy self-sufficiency.

Lithoz CEO wins ‘Big Five Award’ 2021 in additive manufacturing

Johannes Homa and his company, Lithoz GmbH, were recently awarded the “Big Five Award of Additive Manufacturing 2021.” The Institute for Toolless Fabrication (IwF GmbH) awards this prize each year in association with the FH Aachen in Germany to celebrate long-term and defining contributions to the additive manufacturing industry.

3D Systems expands technology leadership team

3D Systems announced it is expanding its executive leadership team focused on innovation with the addition of a chief technology officer for additive manufacturing. Industry veteran David Leigh joins the company in this capacity.

US maker of electric motors free from rare earths raises $225 million

Turntide Technologies, a U.S. startup that makes energy-efficient electric motors without rare earth metals, has raised $225 million, underlining growing investor appetite for climate technology startups.

MARKET TRENDS

Why are solar PPA prices creeping upward? It’s complicated, experts say

A Utility Dive article talks with experts about the factors causing the price of solar power purchase agreements to increase, including an increase in demand from corporations seeking to meet sustainability goals, solar developers facing materials shortages, limits on land and transmission resources, and delays in permitting and interconnection processes.

Climate change, energy security, nuclear energy: Competition in Czech Republic

An Atlantic Council article looks at recent action by the Czech government in the nuclear sector through the broader geopolitical context, including new Russian military action toward Ukraine, increasing cybersecurity threats, U.S. sanctions on Russia, and ongoing debate in the European Union over the future of nuclear power, among other factors.

Eyes on Greenland: How global superpowers can court Greenland in rare earths tug of war

A Mining Technology article investigates a Polar Research and Policy Initiative report that argues for a rare earths minerals partnership in Greenland.