Ian Melin-Jones

Ian Melin-Jones

A pioneering scientific expedition which will send a manned oceanographic platform drifting around Antarctica has brought AkzoNobel on board as exclusive paints and coatings partner.

The brainchild of French explorer and environmentalist Jean-Louis Etienne, the Polar Pod will enable international scientists and researchers to study the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which has a major influence on the Earth’s climate and contains an immense reserve of marine biodiversity.

Standing 100 meters high, the Polar Pod won’t be motorized, so it will be zero emission, silently driven by the circumpolar current – like an ocean-going satellite – as it gradually makes its way around the Antarctic continent. AkzoNobel will sponsor the 1,000-ton platform for the next five years, from project construction through to the completion of its three-year mission, which is expected to start in December 2023.

“This is a really exciting partnership and a fantastic example of how we’re prepared to go to the ends of the Earth to help our customers and discover pioneering ways to become even more sustainable,” says AkzoNobel CEO, Thierry Vanlancker. “It represents an intriguing blend of visionary thinking and environmental ambition which fits perfectly with our own People. Planet. Paint. approach to sustainable business. We’re extremely proud to be involved.” 

The Polar Pod will be supported by a dedicated offshore supply vessel, which will be permanently assigned to the mission. It will leave the nearest port to join the platform on its drift course as it crosses the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and slowly negotiates the most powerful current on the planet.

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The platform (which is taller than the Statue of Liberty) will be towed horizontally to its first study area and tilted vertically by filling seawater ballast tanks – when most of the structure will be submerged. Built of special steel to handle violent storms, it will allow the acquisition of data and long-term observations that will be transmitted to researchers, oceanographers, climatologists and biologists at 43 scientific institutions in 12 countries.

Operating in an area that sailors refer to as the Furious Fifties (between 50° S and 55° S), studies will include: air/ocean exchange measurements, in particular related to CO2; wave dynamics; plankton collection and evaluation of the impact of acidification; acoustic inventory of marine fauna; validation at sea of satellite measurements and aerial observation of marine life.

“As an industry leader in sustainability and a global market leader in marine and yacht coatings, lowering our environmental impact on the planet and contributing towards ocean preservation are key aspects of our strategy,” adds Jean Michel Gauthier, Director of the company’s Marine and Protective Coatings business.

“Sponsoring the Polar Pod expedition is a great way for us to help advance scientific knowledge of the pivotal role the Southern Ocean plays on the Earth’s climate and marine biodiversity. We’re looking forward to supporting the team and raising awareness of the program as the mission begins to gather momentum.”

The collaboration has a strong link to AkzoNobel’s 2030 “Planet” ambitions, which include reducing carbon emissions by 50% and moving towards zero waste as a company. The research findings and knowledge gained during the expedition – including the impact of the harsh marine environment on the company’s products – could therefore prove invaluable.

AkzoNobel already has a presence in and around Antarctica, having supplied products for the British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI research base, Sir Edmund Hillary's historic hut and explorer Robert Swan’s e-Base at Bellingshausen.

For more information about the Polar Pod, visit: www.oceanpolaire.org/en/polar-pod/

About AkzoNobel

We’ve been pioneering a world of possibilities to bring surfaces to life for well over 200 years. As experts in making coatings, there’s a good chance you’re only ever a few meters away from one of our products. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and have set our sights on becoming the global industry leader. It’s what you’d expect from the most sustainable paints company, which has been inventing the future for more than two centuries.

Smaller RTUs can gather data from sites that are too small for economic data collection by existing equipment.

As the energy industry diversifies — often by connecting smaller power generation assets to the main grid — a problem has arisen. Traditional remote telemetry units (RTUs), used to monitor points where large generation plants connect with the grid, are often oversized for these smaller assets. Here, Matthew Hawkridge, chief technology officer at Ovarro, looks at why smaller, more economical RTUs will be essential for a diversified energy market.

Diversification of the energy sector is a double-edged sword. On the one side, there is a huge benefit in the reduction in reliance on fossil and nuclear fuels as well as the creation of market opportunities for new investors and new consumers. On the negative side, many of the alternative energy sources — like Solar power plants and wind turbines — do not have the same level of control as traditional plants.

This requires precise monitoring and control at every interconnect to the grid, increasing the demands for data by the grid’s operational systems.

RTUs (Remote Telemetry Units) have long been used in the energy sector for managing power distribution. But, the economic impost of installing a large, traditional, power grid RTU, for system management, at every one of these small interconnects is a challenge for the industry. Smaller RTUs can meet this challenge.

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What impact have renewable power generation plants had on existing systems?

Wind, solar, hydro, biomass and wave solutions for power generation have all added significant sources to traditional networks in recent years. Renewable energy now produces a growing proportion of most developed countries’ total energy output — recently exceeding 20 per cent for the first time in the UK.

Compared to large coal, gas and nuclear plants — where a single point of entry to the system carries the bulk of supply — operators now need to manage a much wider portfolio of assets, with much smaller demands at each location. This has resulted in a need for smaller RTUs.

Why is there growing demand for smaller, smarter RTUs?

A typical power station is around 1 Gigawatt (1GW). The RTUs to monitor the connections between these facilities and the power grid are not suitable for the vast range of smaller, renewable options — such as solar, biomass and wind — where supply power is measured in kilowatts. At these smaller-sized power connections to the network, the asset monitoring and control RTUs used for a full-scale power distribution would be overkill.

Operators require smaller, but still capable, RTU solutions that have been proven in power monitoring and control in parallel markets. We’ve seen growing demand for our RTUs which can be cost-effectively deployed, but still provide operators with the data they need.

TBox RTUs, for example, have been used for decades to monitor power consumption at critical assets. RTUs allow telecommunications operators to monitor the incoming supply from the main grid and any local backup generation or backup storage at their facilities. In the event of a grid failure, RTUs help them decide what actions need to be taken to ensure continued operations of the critical telecommunications network.

Using an  RTU in the renewable sector

Our TBox RTUs are being used on wind turbine towers in Greece, monitoring production, rather than consumption, at each tower. These kinds of RTUs, even with a small footprint, have enough capacity to manage the limited number of I/O points that are required at each power generation tower — which Ovarro has found with a number of its customers.

The TBox has also been used on 30MW solar power plants in France and on grid connected Solar Arrays in Australia, producing as little as 250kW. These interconnects are much smaller than the gigawatt connections of a large power plant, but still require localised monitoring and often, control. The small TBox RTU is well suited to these applications.

Is monitoring smaller power plants less complex?

Not necessarily. In fact, while power management may be less complex, smaller power plants can have a more complex set of communication demands than traditional plants. Small sites are often independently owned and managed and must share data with numerous stakeholders. The ability of an RTU to collect data from numerous sources and distribute information to numerous stakeholders is a key advantage when compared to other process controllers.

What is the RTU responsible for on-site?

At small sites, the RTU is both the site controller and the site communications gateway. The RTU collects data directly, and can also provide a secure VPN, to other devices that may be operating on site, such as, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) managing solar panel tilt and azimuth control, weather stations and digitally networked power relays. The collected data is then made available to the grid operators who can issue commands back to the RTU to regulate the station. In parallel, the RTU relays key information to the asset owner or investor and to maintenance crews.

In Australia, data is also sent in parallel to cloud based data servers for local communities and schools, for educational purposes. With its ability to report alarms and historical data via email, SMS, FTP and MQTT, a TBox is the ideal choice for small power plants that need to manage both physical assets and wider communications demands.

Can RTUs be used with “non-grid” power networks?

Yes, large facilities such as hospitals, universities, airports and railway lines often have their own internal power network that needs management. They have the same control and communications requirements as the main grid, at marginally less complexity.

Electrified railway networks, too, source their main supply from the grid and then distribute the power along the railway network. The demands on RTUs used in the Railway Network have many similarities to a Power Network RTU - they are exposed to remote environments, occasional voltage spikes and must be able to store, manage and report large volumes of data and above all else, control the local switchgear.

Are smaller RTUs resilient to the network environment?

Yes, an important feature with any RTU is resilience to the site environment. Ovarro RTUs can operate in these rugged conditions at temperatures between -40 and +85 degrees Celsius and have up to 5,000 volts of isolation on I/O cards to protect the CPU from spurious electrical events.

In addition to being resilient to the environment, RTU systems should have layers of redundancy so it can continue to operate even if a major event damages one piece of the system. The Kingfisher RTU for example, can be configured with fully redundant Power Supplies, CPUs, and multiple communication paths. It means they can continue to manage intensive SCADA and telemetry applications, even in the event of a partial system failure.

What if the power generator fails?

RTUs have always operated in areas where power is either unreliable or unavailable. Each Ovarro RTU draws only a few Watts and can easily run off a solar power system or even a small and insignificant feed from the site generator. The RTUs also incorporate a battery management system and can run off a small rechargeable battery for extended periods. This removes the need for a UPS for the RTU. In addition, Kingfisher RTUs support multiple power supplies so that parallel connections to AC and DC supply systems can be used to diversify supply and minimise the risk of total failure.

How will RTUs evolve in the future?

For many years there has been an ongoing trend in increasing the volume of data collected from the field. This centralised data collection and analysis are vital for long term trend identification and planning, however, a localised response is still required for low latency control. If you need a field hardened PC, or “edge computer” for monitoring electrical current, temperature, emissions, power and asset health, then you need an RTU.

RTUs are specifically designed to perform local control and in parallel, gather and relay information to SCADA or the cloud where it can be analysed and trended, providing operators with the information they need for efficiency management and asset management in addition to real-time control.

About Ovarro

Ovarro is the new name for Servelec Technologies and Primayer. Ovarro's technology is used throughout the world to monitor, control and manage critical and national infrastructure.

Our connected technology is always there, always on. Secure, proven, trusted; integrating seamlessly with our clients’ assets. Collecting and communicating data from some of the most remote locations and harshest environments on the planet. Enabling businesses to work smarter and more effectively.

Ovarro works with customers across water, oil & gas, broadcast and transportation to help monitor, control and manage their assets.

Contact Ovarro:

Rotherside Road, Eckington, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S21 4HL
Phone: +44 (0) 1246 437580

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.ovarro.com

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from the Danish energy company Fjernvarme Fyn Produktion A/S to deliver a new biomass boiler plant complete with auxiliary equipment for their “Bio Blok 2” project. The plant will be located on Fjernvarme Fyn’s existing combined heat and power plant site in Odense, on the island of Funen in Denmark, some 170 km west of the capital Copenhagen. This new plant will supply district heat to the Odense area and is also prepared for electricity production at a later stage. Start-up of the boiler is scheduled for 2023.

3D model of the ANDRITZ EcoFluid bubbling fluidized bed boiler “Photo: ANDRITZ”.3D model of the ANDRITZ EcoFluid bubbling fluidized bed boiler “Photo: ANDRITZ”.The “Bio Blok 2” project is an important part of Fjernvarme Fyn’s goal of abandoning the use of coal at their combined heat and power plants by 2022 and contributing to the national objective of a 70 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Fjernvarme Fyn delivers about 97 percent of the district heat requirement in Odense, providing heat for more than 100,000 households and large greenhouses.

The ANDRITZ scope of supply includes a biomass-fired boiler with flue gas cleaning and a flue gas condenser with absorption heat pump technology. Based on the ANDRITZ EcoFluid bubbling fluidized bed design, the boiler combines high efficiency with excellent environmental performance. The flue gas condenser with heat pump technology after the boiler significantly increases the district heat output and, therefore, improves the plant efficiency.

This new plant will be fuelled by wood chips as the main fuel and wood, olive and/or sunflower shell pellets as secondary fuel. The plant is capable of supplying close to 180 MW of heat to the district heating network and reaching record efficiency of almost 120 percent.  

This order from Fjernvarme Fyn once again demonstrates ANDRITZ’s strong global position in the supply of state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly biomass boilers.

ANDRITZ GROUP

International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems and services for the pulp and paper industry, the hydropower sector, the metals processing and forming industry, pumps, solid/liquid separation in the municipal and industrial sectors, as well as animal feed and biomass pelleting. Plants for power generation, flue gas cleaning, recycling, and the production of nonwovens and panelboard complete the global product and service offering. Innovative products and services in the industrial digitalization sector are offered under the brand name Metris and help customers to make their plants more user-friendly, efficient and profitable. The publicly listed group has around 27,200 employees and more than 280 locations in over 40 countries.

Metso Outotec is adding two new products to its NordtrackTM mobile crushing and screening range. The Nordtrack S2.5 mobile screen is a small size, versatile scalping screen designed for small job sites and a variety of applications. With a compact and light-weight structure, a highly efficient two-deck screen, and a wide selection of different screening media, it is the perfect solution for construction contractors with frequent changes in site locations or simply as a rental unit.

The second new addition to the range is the Nordtrack I908 mobile impact crusher. Its design is optimized for the smaller-sized material reduction job sites, and it accepts different kinds of feed material – from asphalt recycling to concrete crushing, as well as traditional rock crushing. The same base model with an integrated screen on the chassis, the Nordtrack I908S, was introduced earlier, and it has been one of the best-selling Nordtrack units especially in Europe. 

Metso Outotec Nordtrack S25 jobsiteMetso Outotec Nordtrack S25 jobsite

“I am very pleased to say that the Nordtrack range has been extremely well received by our customers,” says Vesa Tuloisela, who heads the Nordtrack product offering at Metso Outotec. “It has proven to be a flexible solution meeting different requirements. Nordtrack sales have been developing very well despite the pandemic; in fact, we have exceeded sales targets in some areas. However, we are always listening carefully to customer feedback. These two new products represent a concrete outcome of those discussions.” Vesa adds: “We want to grow our recycling customer base, offer attractive solutions for the rental business and for construction contractors globally.”

The products are launching in the Nordtrack Liveroom, which is Metso Outotec’s new 360° digital event experience platform. Liveroom features 3D demonstrations of the Nordtrack range as well as a wealth of information on the aftermarket offering. We invite you to join the live launch event in the Nordtrack Liveroom on Wednesday, March 17th 16:00 EET, at live.mogroup.com.

Both new products are already available globally through Metso Outotec and distributors. Read more about Nordtrack at www.mogroup.com/nordtrack

Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change. 

Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets. We ranked 8th on the 2021 Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. 

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2020 were about EUR 3.9 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com

Leading Aberdeen company North Star Renewables has been awarded contracts worth an estimated £270 million to deliver three state-of-the-art service operation vessels (SOVs) to be used on what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea.

North Star’s contract award follows a highly-competitive tender process. The Scottish firm beat off strong international competition to secure the deal to design and deliver the three-vessel service operation fleet for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which is currently being built in the North Sea by joint venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni.

North Star will  deliver the SOVs to Dogger Bank Wind Farm operator Equinor from Summer 2023 and will be chartered to Dogger Bank by North Star for a ten-year period, with an option for three one-year extensions.

North Star will create 130 new full-time UK-based jobs in crewing and shore-based roles for the lifetime of the contract. Recruitment for the roles will start 12 months ahead of vessel delivery to Dogger Bank’s planned operations base in Port of Tyne. The new positions will be based across Scotland and the North East of England and will grow North Star’s existing 1,400 strong workforce, 950 of which are in the UK and 350 of which are in Scotland.

North Star Renewables’ SOVs will bring market leading technology to the offshore wind market and to the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm being built in the North Sea by joint venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni. Photo credit: Image courtesy of North Star Renewables.North Star Renewables’ SOVs will bring market leading technology to the offshore wind market and to the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm being built in the North Sea by joint venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni. Photo credit: Image courtesy of North Star Renewables.

Welcoming the news of the contract award, Scottish Government Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This is excellent news for the Aberdeen based North Star Renewables who are relatively new to the offshore wind sector but have a wealth of experience operating in the North Sea’s oil and gas sector.

“This contract is a welcome example of our domestic supply chain benefitting from the operation and maintenance of an offshore wind project off our coastline, bringing jobs and employment opportunities to communities in Scotland.”

The contract award is a renewables-first for North Star and represents a transformational step forward for the Scottish company in its energy transition ambitions to become a major player in the global offshore wind sector.

North Star chief executive, Matthew Gordon, said: “We are pleased and proud to establish a new relationship with Equinor and are looking forward to working collaboratively with them and their partners, SSE Renewables and Eni. We have been working with our existing energy clients in the North Sea for over 40 years, with an outstanding reputation for delivering and operating offshore emergency support vessels safely. We are now committed to building on the momentum of this contract award to further our diversification and firmly establish ourselves at the forefront of vessel design and delivery in the global renewables market.”

Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni, Scotland-headquartered SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion. As wind farm operator Equinor will begin taking delivery of the three SOVs from North Star at its Port of Tyne operations base from 2023, ahead of commissioning of the first phase of the giant offshore wind farm.

The contract award by Dogger Bank Wind Farm to North Star delivers once again on a commitment by partners Equinor, SSE Renewables and Eni to support the development of a UK supply chain, creating substantial local jobs and maximising UK supply chain opportunities.

Halfdan Brustad, Vice President for Dogger Bank at Equinor welcomed the news and said: “We are pleased that a UK supplier wins these contracts in a tough international competition. The awards will create a good basis for North Star to expand their services to support the UK’s growing offshore wind sector. Dogger Bank is at the forefront of innovation, and we want to attract the best talents to come work on this ground-breaking project.

“The high-end SOVs will ensure our teams have a comfortable stay offshore, which is important before a day’s work on the turbines. We have incorporated leading technology to ensure we can operate the wind farm safely, sustainably and efficiently.”

Steve Wilson, SSE Renewables Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Project Director said: “The jobs that these contracts bring to Scotland, the North East and the UK are a welcome boost and all part of the role Dogger Bank is playing in the UK’s green recovery.

“It’s an important milestone for the project and when delivered, these state-of-the-art hybrid vessels will have a critical future role in ensuring the safe and efficient maintenance of the development when it reaches the operational phase.”

Wind farm engineers and technicians will spend two weeks on board each of the high-tech vessels while working on the offshore wind farm. The SOVs will incorporate logistics platforms to allow wind farm personnel work on the wind farm during the day, ensuring optimum wind turbine availability, and will feature safe, hotel-grade comfort in the living quarters for operational personnel at all other times.

North Star’s designs, which have been two-years in the making with its key strategic technology partners, are at the leading-edge of operability and sustainability to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Innovations include low fuel consumption, digital decision support technology, advanced propulsion systems, hybrid power management, a waste heat recovery system, and a new daughter-craft design.

In support of the contract, North Star will establish a new permanent presence at Port of Tyne, delivering a local economic and supply chain boost to the coastal region. This new base for North Star will build upon its existing UK operational bases in Aberdeen and Lowestoft.

The 3.6GW Dogger Bank will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world when complete in 2026 and is being built in three equal phases of 1.2 GW; Dogger Bank A, B and C.

North Star will deliver one SOV to be used for scheduled maintenance at Dogger Bank A and B. The vessel is due to be delivered in January 2024 and will also serve Dogger Bank C when this phase of the wind farm is operational.

A further two SOVs will be delivered by North Star to be used for corrective maintenance, at Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B. Delivery of these vessels is scheduled for July 2023 and July 2024 respectively. A further contract for an SOV to be used for corrective maintenance at Dogger Bank C will be awarded at a later stage.

About North Star

North Star Renewables is part of North Star Group, which also comprises North Star Shipping and Boston Putford. The Aberdeen-headquartered business is the largest offshore emergency support vessel operator in the North Sea, employs 1,400 personnel, and has been supporting the oil and gas sector for the past four decades. It’s offshore support vessel fleet boasts 44 vessels and provides continuous infrastructure support services across more than 50 North Sea installations. By combining safety, service and quality, the company delivers exceptional levels of support to its clients in one of world's most challenging and demanding industries.

Macclesfield-headquartered Tidy Planet has expanded its operations into Italy, appointing environmental solutions firm Ecologia Soluzione Ambiente (ESA), as the exclusive Italian partner of its food waste composting technology.

The move aims to promote greater resource efficiency – through using food waste recycling solutions – across the Italian and Egyptian markets.

Tidy Planet’s quoted composting expert, Huw Crampton.Tidy Planet’s quoted composting expert, Huw Crampton.ESA – the 17 million-turnover company – has over 50 years’ experience within the environmental sector and several specialist divisions, including wastewater treatment, landfill remediation, waste collection systems and plants which demilitarise arms and explosives.

An increasing appetite in Italy for composting and decentralised food waste infrastructure is the main driver behind the partnership – which will see ESA receive a range of Tidy Planet’s Rocket Composters in 2021.

Commenting on the food waste landscape in Italy, Tidy Planet’s composting expert, Huw Crampton, said: “Italy, like many other European Union (EU) Member States, is under pressure from its government and policymakers to minimise its carbon emissions, and demonstrate the country is working towards the United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals.

“Environmental awareness is growing in Italy, and composting is becoming an increasingly favoured solution. This is also coupled with a new update in Italian law, which allows small-scale, municipal composting to be implemented more easily – making it a higher, and more favourable, priority on the waste management agenda, especially for the public sector.”

Numerous pilot projects will be taking place in Italy, this year.

Elaborating on the current landscape in Italy, ESA’s president, Enrico Benedetti, said: “There’s an upward composting trend in our country at the moment – with a handful of municipalities having already released tenders to supply in-vessel composters to remote communities.

“At the heart of this partnership is the desire to equip our nation’s villages with improved waste equipment and a more sustainable infrastructure for the future.

“If we’re able to process our food wastes at source, this will not only reduce disposal costs, but it will also drastically decrease our carbon footprint – with less collection vehicles on the roads – and allow for a landfill diversion strategy that truly improves the recycling and segregation of food waste.”

The country’s Biorepak scheme – which centres around extended producer responsibility for compostable packaging – also came into force in 2020, to help reach the Waste Framework Directive’s target of recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2035.

“We visited some of their decentralised composting sites in the UK prior to the pandemic and were really impressed with the systems and the results, hence the decision to represent them in our homeland.

“We’re excited to launch the university project this year and look forward to working closer with the firm, to help our country meet its recycling targets in 2021 and beyond.”

Tidy Planet is an organic waste and Energy-from-Waste solutions expert based in Macclesfield, Cheshire. With over 20 years’ experience within the waste and recycling arena, the firm has worked with many small and blue-chip organisations, helping them to close the loop and reduce their carbon footprint. Clients include, City of Glasgow College, Raymond Blanc’s Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Gatwick Airport, to name a few.

Waste Directive recycling targets source article: https://www.interregeurope.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/plp_uploads/policy_briefs/Policy_brief_on_waste_management.pdf

3t EnerMech, a new strategic alliance between 3t Energy Group and EnerMech, has announced its first award, a significant contract with the UK Government, which will help to shape future training requirements for Mozambique’s growing oil and gas workforce. 

The newly launched joint venture combines the expertise of integrated solutions specialist provider EnerMech and 3t Energy Group, which owns leading energy sector training organisations 3t Transform, Drilling Systems, Survivex and AIS Training. The alliance will deliver world-leading training and competency solutions encompassing a blend of traditional training, digital learning technologies and training compliance management platforms. 

3t EnerMech has been contracted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office which is currently working in partnership with The National Authority of Professional Education (ANEP). 

The project will see the partnership provide evidence-based analysis into the current oil and gas skills training of Mozambican Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and compare this to international standards to identify any existing gaps.  

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The study will be benchmarked against the UK’s leading Oil and Gas Technical Apprentice Programme (OGTAP) which is globally recognised. The scheme is managed jointly by not-for-profit energy industry skills body OPITO and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and includes the four key disciplines of electrical maintenance, mechanical maintenance, process operations, instrumentation, and control maintenance. 

Experienced personnel from 3t EnerMech’s UK and Mozambique premises will conduct the research and also create procedures and guidelines to build TVET institutions and courses which achieve ECITB and OPITO standards and accreditation. 

3t EnerMech vice president Andrew Noble said: “The formation of 3t EnerMech combines our respective knowledge, experience and global reach to deliver training and technologies which create safer, smarter and more sustainable workforces. A core aim of the partnership is to engage with local regions to develop local content and ultimately deliver more highly skilled global workers. Winning this significant piece of work in support of Mozambique’s local content development strategy is of major importance to the new alliance and its strategic objectives. 

“Mozambique is a significant player in the global oil and gas market and with activity continuing to ramp up, the country requires a robust, skilled workforce to support new long-term projects. This study will play a key role in future training and development programmes in the country and we look forward to delivering the data it presents.” 

Paul Stonebanks, President of 3t EnerMech said: “This new venture will truly transform both the lives of individuals and the communities in which it operates in a positive and powerful way.  

“In line with 3t Energy Group’s goal to transform the global training market through technology, the new joint venture will help to bring high quality, industry-approved training rapidly and effectively to those geographical areas that need it most.”   

3t EnerMech is due to deliver the study to the UK Government in Q2 of this year. 

EnerMech: 

Formed in April 2008, EnerMech provides specialist integrated mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and integrity services to the international energy and infrastructure sectors, from pre-commissioning through operations and maintenance and late-life support/decommissioning.  

The business is focused on offering a safer, more customer-focused, responsive service at lower cost, while delivering a much greater level of engineering and technical support than competitors can offer. In December 2018, EnerMech was acquired by The Carlyle Group, the NASDAQ listed global asset manager.  

EnerMech specialises in providing integrated supply, operations, maintenance and engineering solutions in its core services of Cranes and Lifting, Electrical and Instrumentation, Equipment Rental, Hydraulic products and services, Industrial Services, Process, Pipeline and Umbilicals (PPU), Maintenance and Integrity Services, Training and Valve supply and services. 

The group is headquartered in Aberdeen with bases in Great Yarmouth, Bristol (UK); Stavanger, Houston, Pasadena, Sulphur, Casper, Williston (USA), Guyana, Trinidad,  Mexico, Abu Dhabi, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Singapore; Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Gladstone, Chinchilla (Australia); Malaysia, China, South Korea, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa and Mozambique. 
Website: www.enermech.com 

3T Energy Group: 

3t Energy Group was formed in 2018 and is defined by three pillars; technology, training and simulation.  It combines the expertise of advanced simulator developer, Drilling Systems, leading training providers, AIS Training and Survivex and virtual reality and software specialist, 3t Transform. The group delivers industry-approved training courses to more than 75,000 people annually, employs more than 300 staff and has sites in Aberdeen, Newcastle, Bournemouth, Houston, Dubai and China. In addition to the world-class training and competency management software, e-learning and virtual reality solutions offered by 3t Energy Group, it is also market leader in drilling, well control and crane operations simulators. This includes the latest revolutionary mobile On-The-Rig (OTR) and MultiSIM simulators that drive competence assurance and compliance. 

Wilmington, Del., March 15, 2021 - Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) has just announced the company plans to increase production capacity of Natrosol™ hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) at the Nanjing, China site.

Ashland 4color process“Ashland Natrosol™ rheology modifiers have been the leading cellulosic thickeners for waterborne architectural coatings for more than fifty years,” said Guillermo Novo, chairman and chief executive officer, Ashland. “Given the unprecedented demand and our customer-centric strategy, Ashland will build upon our previous investments in Nanjing and further expand capacity. This demonstrates our commitment to invest in Asia. It also supports a key lever of Ashland’s growth strategy to ensure we can meet our customers’ growing needs and provide additional supply security across the globe.”

Natrosol™ HEC is a natural product, excellent thickening agent and used as a non-ionic rheology modifier in industrial and consumer focused applications. Ashland is the leading global producer of HEC and supplies essential ingredients for a wide range of industries including paints and coatings, construction, oil and gas, personal care and pharmaceutical. The company said the unprecedented demand is a result of consumer trends towards more sustainable solutions including water-based paint and a global increase in the building and construction industries and the desire for milder, natural and sustainable solutions in consumer markets.

About Ashland

Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a premier specialty materials company with a conscious and proactive mindset for sustainability. The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including adhesives, architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, nutraceuticals, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 4,200 passionate, tenacious solvers – from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators – thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex
problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/sustainability to learn more.

Sustainability is one of Metso Outotec’s strategic priorities. The company is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C, with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. As the next step, Metso Outotec now introduces an all-encompassing approach to sustainability, Planet Positive. Covering the environmental, social and financial aspects of sustainability, Planet Positive efforts enforce the company’s purpose to enable sustainable modern life.

To serve customers’ sustainability needs and to increase the size of its ecological handprint, Metso Outotec focuses on further growing its sustainable offering. The Planet Positive portfolio focuses on the most environmentally efficient technologies (>100) in the company’s current portfolio, responding to the sustainability requirements of its customers in the aggregates, mining and metals refining industries. The customer requirements relate to energy or water efficiency, reduction of emissions, circularity and safety. 

Correspondingly, Metso Outotec focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of its own operations and supply chain to diminish its ecological footprint. Already today, Metso Outotec’s handprint is significantly bigger than its footprint.

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“We have a wide Planet Positive offering available for our customers, and with strong R&D focus we continue to strengthen our sustainable offering for Aggregates, Mining and Metals refining industries. We also have high targets for sustainability in our own operations and supply chain. There is a growing demand in our industry for environmentally efficient solutions,” says Piia Karhu, SVP, Business Development at Metso Outotec.

Read more about Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive thinking on mogroup.com/sustainability  

For further information, please contact

Pirjo Virtanen, Vice President, Sustainability & QEHS, Metso Outotec, Tel. +358 40 736 8637, email: pirjo.virtanen(at)mogroup.com

Helena Marjaranta, Vice President, Communications and Brand, Metso Outotec, Tel. +358 20 484 3212, email: helena.marjaranta(at)mogroup.com

Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change. Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets. We ranked 8th on the 2021 Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. 

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2020 were about EUR 3.9 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.mogroup.com

The world is building more significant projects in larger numbers than at any time in history. Our planet must accommodate the equivalent of 10,000 new cities by 2050 to keep pace with the projected population explosion.  70% of the world’s carbon emissions come from cities, and Digital Twin technology may hold the key to reversing this.

A recent Markets & Markets report estimated the Digital Twin market would grow from $3.1 billion in 2020 to $48.2 billion per year by 2026, at an annual CAGR of 58%. Digital Twin software is already revolutionizing industries such as Construction, Energy, Architecture, Aerospace, and Automotive & Transportation.

Image – Cityzenith’s Digital Twin software SmartWorld Image – Cityzenith’s Digital Twin software SmartWorld

Furthermore, the global Smart Infrastructure market is forecast to grow to $56b over the next four years, an annual growth rate of 19.5%, according to Market Research Explore.  The report for the global Smart Infrastructure market named Cityzenith, Siemens, and Black & Veatch, as the leading companies in the sector.

One of these Digital Twin software companies, Cityzenith who’s AI technology platform specializes in energy resilience and has recently launched an international campaign to help cities become climate-friendly under the banner of its Clean Cities – Clean Future campaign.   Cityzenith will donate its SmartWorldPro2 solution to up to 100 cities over the next three years to help them become carbon neutral.

CEO Michael Jansen noted that cities produce more than 70 per cent* of greenhouse gases and said that the use of data and artificial intelligence (AI) could cut this dramatically.

Digital twins were initially developed to aggregate, analyze and visualize complex information for manufacturing and construction industries. As they have evolved, they are increasingly being used as a tool by cities for urban resilience and lower carbon emissions.

ABI Research** expects more than 500 urban digital twins to be deployed by 2025, up from just a handful in 2019.  Jansen said, “For every million we raise in investment, we will donate our technology to a major city to help it become carbon neutral”.

“Since our inception, we have been using these tools to deliver custom climate resilience applications to greenfield cities, real estate developments, and infrastructure projects.

We know the issues and now have the right data aggregation, analysis, and visualization capabilities to help solve them for cities, and those who design, build, and manage them”.

If you would like to hear more about investing in sustainable cities, there is a unique opportunity to hear from the Architect behind the Clean Cities – Clean Future campaign and how Cityzenith is hoping to transform our cities and the Digital Twin market.

Special Webinar: Investing in a Sustainable Future for our Cities

Cityzenith CEO Michael Jansen Talks Digital Twins for 'Net Zero' Sustainable Cities with Investors

Wednesday, 17 March 2021, 8:00 AM

Wednesday, 17 March 2021, 1:00 PM

Central Time (US and Canada)

To date, over 4,500 investors have joined Cityzenith investing $9 million into this sector leading green technology company as featured in Forbes this month, Cities Today, and on the BBC.

Register for this FREE event here

*UNHabitat https://unhabitat.org/topic/climate-change

**ABI Research https://www.abiresearch.com/

About Cityzenith
Cityzenith is based in Chicago with offices in London and New Delhi. The company's SmartWorldPro2™ Digital Twin platform was created for anyone designing, constructing, and managing complex, large-scale building projects, properties, and real estate portfolios. Find out more at www.cityzenith.com

 

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