Ceramic and glass business news of the week for October 19, 2020

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Enel breaks ground on 204MW Chilean PV plant

Enel Green Power Chile started construction on the 204MW Domeyko solar farm in the Antofagasta region of the South American country. The project is due to be completed by July next year, and will involve a total investment of $164 million.

DOE awards Southern Co new 5-year deal to run carbon capture center

The U.S. Department of Energy and DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory awarded the utility company Southern Company funding for the contract to manage and operate the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Alabama, for at least another five years.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

IEA and EPO team up to promote sustainable energy tech innovations

The International Energy Agency and the European Patent Office signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation and will publish a series of joint studies over the next three years to inform policymakers and the public about technology trends in areas critical for the energy transition and climate change mitigation.

GE Additive welcomes Sandvik into Binder Jet Beta Partner Program

GE Additive announced that Sandvik Additive Manufacturing has become a strategic partner in its Binder Jet beta partner program. Sandvik has one of the widest alloy programs for additive manufacturing on the market, marketed under the Osprey brand.

Dominion, Appalachian Power team up to expand energy storage

Virginia electric utility giants Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Inc. announced a public-private partnership with InvestSWVA that aims to expand renewable energy storage technology and attract industry prospects in Southwest Virginia.

OTHER STORIES

BIA opens entries for 2020 Brick in Architecture Awards

The Brick Industry Association opened entries for 2020 Brick in Architecture Awards—including a new overall Craftsmanship Award honoring exceptionally artful installation. Entries are due by November 30, with 50% less required items for faster submissions.

Request for Information: National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Planning

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office is accepting input on priority research areas, agency support mechanisms, and communication methods to inform the 2021 National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan. Comments are due November 9.

Europe’s largest sustainable energy innovation event goes virtual

EIT InnoEnergy, the world’s largest sustainable energy engine, launched its first virtual edition of The Business Booster event, offering international participants more access to its sustainable portfolio of technologies than ever before. TBB.Connect will take place online Nov. 4–5, 2020.

Sao Paulo launches public call for floating solar projects of up to 30 MWp

The Sao Paulo state government, through its fully-owned water and energy company EMAE, launched a public call to select partners to develop floating solar projects with capacity ranging from 1 MWp to 30 MWp.

MARKET TRENDS

Report: Global low temperature co-fired ceramics market, 2019–2025

A new Research and Markets report looks at the global low temperature co-fired ceramics market in coming years. The market is undergoing growing adoption in the present market, especially in consumer electronics and other segments, and glass-ceramic composites hold the largest market share.

NEW PRODUCTS

Book: Heavy Clay Business Breakthroughs

ACerS member Garth Tayler published a book, “Heavy Clay Business Breakthroughs,” that reviews organizational characteristics and provides feedback and guidance to business leaders and managers in the heavy clay and ceramic industry.

Hybrid furnace for high tonnage glass manufacturing

Global glass-melting specialist Sorg launched the world’s first hybrid furnace for high tonnage operations in glass manufacturing: the CLEAN Melter. The CLEAN Melter will allow larger furnace operations to reduce their carbon emissions and energy consumption by combining electric and combustion technologies to achieve an 80% electric share.