Ceramic and glass business news of the week for November 30, 2020

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Penn trustees approve design for new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology

The Pennsylvania State University’s Board of Trustees approved the design for the new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology at 3200 Walnut Street. The $173 million facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, consolidating energy research programs by providing 110,000 square feet of laboratory space.

Juwi begins work on 204 MW solar park in Greece

Renewable energy developer Juwi started the construction of a solar park on behalf of the Greek energy company Hellenic Petroleum Group. The 204 MW plant is the EPC company’s largest single project to date, and the facility will cover an area of ​​450 ha and rely on bifacial panels provided by an unnamed manufacturer.

Invenergy constructing 1.3 GW solar project in Texas

U.S.-based multinational power generation company Invenergy announced that it is constructing a 1,310 MW solar project in Texas. Upon completion, the project, named the Samson Solar Energy Center, will be one of the largest solar generated facilities in the country.

BellaSeno establishes GMP high-throughput additive manufacturing facility

BellaSeno, an ISO 13485-certified medtech company developing absorbable scaffolds using additive manufacturing technologies, announced the establishment of a leading-edge additive manufacturing facility for medical implants supported by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in Leipzig, Germany.

AGC opens Yokohama research center

AGC Inc., a manufacturer of glass, chemicals, and high-tech materials, completed a new R&D building at the AGC Yokohama Technical Center at a total cost of approximately 20 billion yen. In the research building, a collaborative creation space called “AO (AO/AGC OPEN SQUARE)” was established to accelerate internal and external collaboration.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

EnPro announces completion of sale of STEMCO Air Springs Business

EnPro Industries, Inc., a technology company using materials science to push the boundaries of the semiconductor, life sciences, and other technology-enabled sectors, announced it closed the previously announced sale of its STEMCO Air Springs business unit to an affiliate of private equity firm Turnspire Capital Partners for a purchase price of $39.5 million.

Piramal Glass on brink of $1 billion sale

Financial group Blackstone Group Inc. agreed to acquire the glass unit of Indian conglomerate Piramal Enterprises Ltd. for about $1 billion. Reports suggest the acquisition will be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Three NSW universities combine to lead research into energy solutions

A new partnership between the University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle, and the University of Wollongong will combine each institution’s research strengths and facilities to become the largest Australian research group focused on energy issues.

Israel and India to open agriculture research institute

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev joined with Indian offshore drilling and wind energy firm Aban Offshore to allow Indian students to earn BGU degrees in dryland agriculture, water quality, and related topics.

Sonnedix and Amundi partner to invest in European solar assets

A collaboration between independent power producer Sonnedix and French asset manager Amundi Energies Vertes will ramp up photovoltaic investment in Europe through an initial €50 million investment in the European photovoltaic market as well as a commitment to spend a similar amount in projects developed/acquired by Sonnedix through a dedicated platform.

American Rare Earth enters into joint venture to develop, commercialize critical element tech

American Resources Corporation announced that its subsidiary American Rare Earth LLC entered into a joint venture to develop and commercialize critical element and graphene technologies. The joint venture was formed with Gerardine Botte, a Texas Tech University professor and the Whitacre Department Chair in Chemical Engineering.

New alliance releases its priorities for climate

A coalition known as the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance that represents farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments, and environmental advocates unveiled a set of more than 40 recommendations for federal climate policy.

CBAK Energy and Kandi Group sign supply framework agreement

CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., a leading lithium-ion battery manufacturer and electric energy solution provider, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Dalian CBAK Energy Technology Co., LTD, signed a supply framework agreement with Zhejiang Kandi Vehicles Co., Ltd. to promote the development of a pure electric vehicle.

BWXT, DOE collaborate on additive manufacturing for reactor components

BWX Technologies and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory teamed up to develop 3D printing technology for the production of metallic compounds needed to build a nuclear reactor system.

Schubert & Salzer Feinguß invest in Lithoz 3D printing technology

German investment casting company Schubert & Salzer Feinguß GmbH invested in a Lithoz CeraFab 8500 3D printing system for the development of 3D-printed investment casting shells. The partnership with Lithoz GmbH and Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena consolidates Schubert & Salzer’s position as one of the innovation leaders in the investment casting industry.

OTHER STORIES

BIA extends deadline for 2020 Brick in Architecture Awards

The Brick Industry Association extended its deadline for the 2020 Brick in Architecture Awards. Entries are now due by December 7, with 50% fewer required items for faster submissions. Winners will be announced in January.

Webinar: Trends in refractories in glassmaking

The next Glass International webinar on future trends in refractories used in glass manufacturing is taking place Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. Eastern. Four speakers will provide an overview of the trends.

Utilities launch groundbreaking ‘green’ hydrogen-gas project

Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric said they would launch one of the first demonstrations of blending renewable hydrogen into natural gas pipelines in the U.S. The pilot program involves introducing carbon-free hydrogen into natural gas pipelines. Hydrogen would make up 1% to 20% of the gas being transported on a given line.

New York is launching a $10 million program to support climate tech startups

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is introducing a $10 million convertible note program aimed at supporting climate technology startups while building back the state’s economy. Earlier this year, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s launched a similar program that offered $1.9 million to eight early-stage clean tech companies.

€4 billion funding boost for sustainability research in Germany

The German government has announced a massive €4 billion (US$4.8 billion) budget to support research projects addressing global warming and sustainability under its FONA strategy over the coming five years.

Clemson Consulting Group announces addition of Connie Houghtaling to the team

Clemson Consulting Group welcomed Connie Houghtaling to the team as business and customer development specialist. She brings 25 years of experience to the position.

MARKET TRENDS

Artificial intelligence to be taught in South Korean high schools next year

Artificial intelligence is set to become a high school subject in South Korea in the second semester of the next school year. The Yonhap News Agency reported the decision by the country’s Ministry of Education on November 20.

Nuclear power pushed to back burner in UK’s green energy plan

An article by The Japan Times reports that Britain’s ambition to renew its aging fleet of nuclear power plants is losing momentum after the government offered few new details on how it will support additional projects.

Chinese PV industry brief: More glass, module production capacity and a 400 MW solar park

China’s second-largest glass manufacturer Kibing Group and Chinese solar module manufacturer CECEP announced plans to increase their photovoltaic glass and solar module capacities, respectively. China Energy Investment Corp is planning a 400 MW solar park in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Korea is putting innovation and technology at the center of its clean energy transition

An International Energy Agency policy review found the successful implementation of the Korean government’s Green New Deal will provide an opportunity to accelerate Korea’s clean energy transition and place the country at the forefront of some energy industries of the future.

India prime minister sees $20B annual investment in green energy

India prime minister Narendra Modi said he expects the energy-hungry country’s burgeoning renewable energy sector to require an annual investment of $20 billion a year. India’s green energy capacity, which encompasses solar, wind, bio-power, and small and large hydropower, is currently at 136 GW. That is expected to increase to 220 GW by 2022, Modi said.

NEW PRODUCTS

Tyrolit tools for ceramic fabrication

A Tyrolit press release overviews the wide range of diamond tools that Tyrolit offers for use in ceramic fabrication and the benefits of the tools.