PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES
Port of Açu reserves land for 1 Mt/year green ammonia plant
Global green hydrogen company Yamna signed a land reservation agreement with the Brazilian Port of Açu to develop a 1 Mt/year green ammonia project in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The project, which should reach a final investment decision by 2027, will have a production capacity of 1 Mt/year once it starts producing in 2030.
Gold Plus Glass enters solar glass manufacturing
Gold Plus Glass Industry, India’s second-largest float glass manufacturer, announced the commissioning of its new manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Karnataka. The new facility allowed Gold Plus Glass Industry to diversify its portfolio by entering the solar glass segment.
AGC invests in a new glass production line in Belgium
AGC Glass Europe announced a major investment in a new insulating vacuum glass production line at its Lodelinsart site in Belgium. The new production line is scheduled to start operations in the second trimester of 2026 and will enable AGC to significantly increase its production capacities of FINEO ultrathin insulating vacuum glass in Europe.
Federal funds locked in for Corning expansion
Corning Inc. will receive $32 million in federal CHIPS funding to expand glass manufacturing in New York state’s North Country, which will help the company deepen its ties to the semiconductor industry.
Vulcan Refractories continues expansion into Europe
U.K.-based Vulcan Refractories opened an office in Spain as the company continues to strengthen its presence in Europe. The new office comes after the firm opened a German sales office in Dusseldorf in February 2024.
China makes major progress in mineral exploration
Driven by a new round of strategic initiatives, China achieved a series of breakthroughs in mineral discovery. For example, the country discovered the world’s first ultra-deepwater, ultrashallow large gas field. Furthermore, China’s uranium mineral resources significantly increased, with the discovery of 10 large uranium deposits.
ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS
EQT acquires Scale Microgrids to enhance its distributed energy resources portfolio
EQT Transition Infrastructure acquired Scale Microgrids, a developer and operator of microgrids and distributed energy resources, from Warburg Pincus and other existing shareholders. This acquisition marks EQT’s first North American investment under its Transition Infrastructure strategy, which aims to scale businesses that facilitate the clean energy transition.
Eaton wins contract to help power semiconductor research at NY CREATES’ new facility
Intelligent power management company Eaton won a contract to help support the construction of the New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science’s (NY CREATES) new NanoFab Reflection semiconductor research and development facility at its Albany NanoTech Complex.
Kyocera enhances Finnish company’s IMSE tech with €5M investment
TactoTek, a developer of in-mold structural electronics (IMSE) technology, received a €5 million investment from Kyocera, marking a strategic partnership between the companies. Kyocera plans to incorporate its HAPTIVITY piezoceramic actuators into IMSE-based human-machine interfaces, creating thinner and lighter tactile feedback solutions.
Tethon 3D and CONCR3DE target US ceramic AM growth
Nebraska-based ceramic 3D printing specialist Tethon 3D partnered with CONCR3DE to promote 3D printed ceramics in the United States. The companies will combine Tethon 3D’s expertise in material development and CONCR3DE’s binder jetting technology.
Svante Technologies and Tenaska sign carbon capture MoU
Carbon capture and removal technology specialist Svante Technologies Inc and CO2 transportation and sequestration service provider Tenaska signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on delivering cost-effective, integrated solutions for industrial carbon capture and storage.
Pure Lithium and Saint-Gobain Ceramics enter joint development agreement
Pure Lithium Corporation, a Boston-based lithium-metal battery technology company, entered a joint development agreement with Saint-Gobain Ceramics to accelerate the production of Pure Lithium’s patent-pending lithium selective, water-blocking membranes for lithium metal anode production from brine.
OTHER STORIES
Ardagh Glass packaging confirms European capacity reductions
Ardagh Glass Packaging–Europe confirmed it is reviewing capacity reductions across some of its glass manufacturing facilities. The container glass manufacturer said it was in response to market conditions, with lower demand resulting in excess production capacity.
DOE selects five projects to advance carbon capture, removal, and conversion
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced $101 million in federal funding for five projects to support the development of carbon dioxide capture, removal, and conversion test centers for cement manufacturing facilities and power plants.
Türkiye aims for top three spot in Europe in renewables in 2025
Türkiye presently ranks among the top five countries in Europe and 11th in the world in renewable energy installed capacity. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar says that this year, the country is aiming to be among the top three countries in Europe and the top nine countries in the world.
TMC shares surge as support for deep sea mining grows ahead of Trump presidency
Shares of The Metals Company surged 22% last Wednesday amid growing anticipation of support for deep sea mining under the incoming Trump administration.
MARKET TRENDS
Biden’s legacy: Strengthening the US EV and battery industries
The conclusion of President Joe Biden’s term saw declining approval ratings, yet his impact on the U.S. electric vehicle and battery industries was transformative. Key legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act created significant economic advantages for these sectors, positioning them for long-term success.
Panel manufacturers offer hail-resistant models for small yet significant US region
To cut the cost and weight of bifacial solar modules, manufacturers started reducing each piece of glass to 2-mm thickness. But these panels with thinner glass sustained more damage during hailstorms. So, solar panel manufacturers are offering 3.2-mm-thick glass again for projects in the Midwestern U.S.
NEW PRODUCTS
Calderys unveils expanded fast dry refractory solutions for industrial furnaces
Furnace dry-out is a critical challenge in the field of cement-bonded refractory castables. Following the completed installation of refractory lining, furnaces are unusable for up to several days to allow for dry-out. Calderys is targeting this directly by expanding its product offering in the CALDE fast dry range.
Author
Lisa McDonald
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