Ian Melin-Jones

Ian Melin-Jones

Following the press release on 13 January, where Blue World Technologies announced the acquisition of Danish Power System, the final approval from the Danish Business Authorities has now been granted.

With the acquisition, Blue World Technologies is welcoming fifteen highly skilled employees, and are thereby, strengthening their team. Going forward, Blue World Technologies will besides the headquarters in Aalborg, will also have a site in Kvistgaard, north of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Danish Power Systems has for the past 25-years specialised in high-temperature PEM technology and is widely recognised around the world. This acquisition enables Blue World Technologies to have all technologies and manufacturing of core components within the fuel cell stack value-chain in-house providing a strong platform for commercialising the methanol fuel cell technology.

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Blue World Technologies is an ambitious and visionary developer and manufacturer of methanol fuel cell components and systems for stationary/APU applications and the automotive and heavy-duty transportation sectors around the world. The fuel cells act as a green alternative to combustion engines and diesel generators. As a part of the Power-to-X eco-system the methanol fuel cell technology contributes to solving parts of the green transition which cannot be solved by direct electrification and battery technology alone.

The exclusive fuel for Blue World Technologies’ fuel cell systems is methanol – a renewable liquid fuel that simply and cost-effectively can be stored for years and transported around the world while reusing existing infrastructure.

Blue World Technologies is founded on extensive experience from the fuel cell industry and aims towards commercialising the technology through large-scale production. The company is focused on the High-Temperature PEM-technology combined with methanol-reforming. The combination ensures a simple system design with high conversion efficiency and significant benefits including CO2 reduction, fuel cost savings, and zero harmful emissions.

In December 2020 Blue World Technologies closed its most recent investment round of 6.4 mEUR and is aiming at a future Initial Public Offering.

Read more about Blue World Technologies on our website www.blue.world or visit us on social media.   

Waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) specialist Polska Korporacja Recyklingu – based in Lublin (Poland) – has taken delivery of its fourth UNTHA shredder, to support the company with its continued growth.

A medium-sized RS60 four shaft shredder is the latest machine to be added to the company’s fleet. Working alongside an UNTHA RS50, the technology will process up to 500 tonnes of redundant electric appliances and scrap per week, down to a refined particle.

Elsewhere on Polska Korporacja Recyklingu’s site, a 22 tonne RS150 – the largest four shaft shredder in UNTHA’s fleet – and a comparatively compact UNTHA RS40, have been supplied by German engineering partner URT, to reprocess 60.pcs of used refrigerators per hour.

Collectively, the four machines can now collectively tackle a wide range of WEEE, to liberate the recyclable materials including steel, aluminium alloys, copper and plastics, that would otherwise remain ‘locked’ inside.

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Shredded down to a homogenous particle size as little as 15mm in some cases, these high value resources then pass through a range of downstream separation equipment before being recycled, compliance tested and used within the remanufacturing process. Residual material is used for energy recovery.

It is estimated that these four machines will help Polska Korporacja Recyklingu handle up to 60,000 tonnes of WEEE in 2021.

“Our relationship with UNTHA began in 2015,” said Mr. Witold Champerek, vice president of the board at Polska Korporacja Recyklingu. “We were extremely diligent – carrying out in-depth market analysis, multi-directional tendering, material testing at the manufacturers’ plants and extensive pre-procurement dialogue. So when we needed additional four shaft shredders for our recycling facilities, UNTHA’s capabilities had already been proven.”

“These are robust, highly versatile machines which enable us to transform a range of difficult input materials into valuable recyclables, and we can adjust our output specifications thanks to the easy-to-configure cutters,” continued Mr. Witold. “The shredders have met our safety, throughput and cost-effectiveness expectations, but in terms of machine durability, uptime, ease of maintenance and energy efficiency, our expectations have actually been exceeded.

“The involvement of UNTHA Polska’s team throughout, has been superb – way before we signed the orders for our machines. They had answers to all of our questions and have had a huge impact on our process automation and throughputs.”

It is estimated that UNTHA’s energy efficiency, labour optimisation and ease of maintenance, has also achieved 15% cost savings.

“When it comes to the transformation of ‘waste’ materials, in Poland, this is a very inspirational company,” added UNTHA Polska’s country manager Ryszard Tomaszczyk. “The team has its own ‘Polskie Re-surowce’ research and development centre which continually pushes new recycling and resource management boundaries, and they’re committed to investing in innovative technologies and automated processes.

“We’re therefore delighted that UNTHA’s shredders play a part in their ground-breaking work. We too are passionate about efficient environmental excellence and I hope we can continue to support Polska Korporacja Recyklingu on their journey.”

Polska Korporacja Recyklingu runs a waste reclamation and recycling plant, the refrigerator recycling line, an alternative fuel production facility, a battery reprocessing line, and has plans to further expand in 2021.

Thermal power comprised 92.4% of the total power capacity in South Africa in 2000. However, with a few plants decommissioned and capacities of other technologies increasing, the share of thermal power fell to around 80% by 2019. South Africa, having signed the Paris Agreement and with plans to reduce thermal power and increase renewable power in order to cut emissions, could result in a major change in the country’s power mix going forward, says GloblaData, a leading data and analytics company.

Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham, Senior Power Analyst at GlobalData comments: “South Africa’s thermal power capacity is estimated to have increased slightly from 47.8 GW in 2019 to 49.4 GW in 2020. During 2021–2030, the capacity is not expected to increase any further, according to GlobalData’s forecast. While new capacity of around 19.5 GW is estimated to be added during 2021–2030, this is set to comprise mostly of solar PV and wind power capacity.”

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Thermal capacity is set to fall by around 4 GW during the same period. These new capacities and the expected shutdown of coal power are in line with the country’s 2030 target of reducing emissions by up to 26% below 2010 levels. The longer-term target of decarbonizing electricity in the country completely by 2050 is an ambitious one and it is expected that a future version of the IRP may help achieve this.

The share of solar PV and wind power was close to zero in 2010, but has increased significantly since then, and by 2030 it is estimated that these two technologies will represent a third of the country’s power capacity.

- Information based on GlobalData’s report South Africa Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2020 - Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape

- Comments provided by Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham, Industry Analyst at GlobalData

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, technology, energy, financial and professional services sectors.

With one of two cooling water pumps out of action, and the other showing worrying vibration, the on-site power plant at a major chemical plant in Belgium risked a costly and disruptive unscheduled shutdown. Quick action by Sulzer experts was needed to first address the immediate issue, then fix the problem for the long term.

Power generation equipment is essential to reducing the operating costs of a chemical plant, which is responsible for creating many everyday products, such as fuel, oils and plastics. Following a planned maintenance schedule improves reliability and reduces downtime, all of which helps to reduce operating overheads and deliver cost-effective products to the consumer.

Challenging circumstances

Precision machining created the new impeller from the initial castingPrecision machining created the new impeller from the initial castingThe failure of one pumping asset can have major implications for large integrated industrial operations. For the owners of a Belgian chemical plant, trouble with a pump meant the plant risked losing its primary source of electrical power and steam.

The problems affected the chemical plant’s on-site power plant, run as a joint venture between the owner and a major European energy provider. The integrated plant supplies the chemical plant with both electricity and process steam in an arrangement that is both efficient and cost-effective.

Recently, however, the power station’s operators faced a worrying situation caused by the failure of a pump in the plant’s cooling water system. Two vertical inlet pumps that deliver cooling water to the plant had been in operation for many years, and the redundant design meant that a single failure would normally allow operation to continue uninterrupted until the next scheduled shutdown. When the second pump started to show high levels of vibration, with the next planned maintenance shutdown still months away, the operators knew it was time to call in Sulzer’s expertise.

First fix

On-site engineers from the power plant removed the 8-meter long broken pump and sent it to the local Sulzer service center in nearby Kapellen. Once there, Sulzer service experts dismantled the unit to assess its condition. The initial inspection quickly revealed that the shaft of the pump was bent and unusable. Worse, the bend had resulted in the open impeller making contact with the pump’s casing, damaging both.

To fully evaluate the task of repairing the unit, the Sulzer team needed to compare the damaged components with an original template. Due to their age, the only design information available for the pumps were 2D drawings. To bring that information up to date, the team used the two-dimensional information to build 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models of the original components. Then, they compared those models to laser-scans created from the broken pump.

The analysis was mixed news for the team. It showed that both parts required replacement, but while the impeller was unusable, the casing could potentially provide a period of additional service.

In close dialogue with the customer, the team agreed a two-stage approach to fix the problem. As a matter of urgency, they would manufacture a new shaft and impeller, then install those components in the original casing to allow the pump to resume backup duties at the plant. Subsequently, they would make a new casing that could be installed during the forthcoming scheduled shutdown.

Speed and quality

Using the new CAD model, Sulzer manufacturing experts in Bruchsal, Germany CNC-machined a pattern for the 650 mm diameter impeller, allowing them to cast and then finish machine the complex geometry of the new part. In situations where speed is so important, Sulzer specialists benefit from the company’s close internal network of experts across Europe to find the best possible solution.

The project was complete in just seven weeks, avoiding any lost production [Source: Shutterstock - TonyV3112The project was complete in just seven weeks, avoiding any lost production [Source: Shutterstock - TonyV3112

The new impeller was shipped to Belgium where the Kapellen team mounted and balanced it on a new shaft. The replacement parts were installed into the original casing and, after testing, the repaired pump was returned to the plant and craned back into place.

“For a job of this scale and complexity, the normal lead time is around six months,” explains Ben Lauwerijssen, Sulzer Regional Sales Manager. “In this case, we knew our customer was extremely concerned about the potential for lost production. Thanks to close collaboration between different teams within Sulzer and with our customer’s maintenance engineers, we were able to complete the entire project in seven weeks, without any lost production.”

With the new solution installed, the plant operations and maintenance staff were able to turn their attention to assuring the long-term reliability of the cooling water system. Installation of the new casing is already planned for the next scheduled shutdown, as is an overhaul of the second pump. Sulzer specialists are also working with the customer to implement new condition monitoring technology as well as an enhanced maintenance strategy for the pumps.

About Sulzer:

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class production facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2019, our 16’500 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.7 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN).

www.sulzer.com

Hygiene and health company Essity has been recognized as one of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies by Corporate Knights. The list was announced virtually today during the World Economic Forum.

2021 01 25 084103The Global 100 list represents the top 1% of companies in the world in terms of sustainability performance. Corporate Knights analyzes and compares 8,080 companies with a minimum gross revenue of USD 1bn against global industry peers. The ranking is based on 24 quantitative key performance indicators, including resource management, employee management, financial management, clean revenue & clean investment and supplier performance. 

“Customers and consumers who use Essity’s products should feel reassured that these are responsibly sourced, manufactured and distributed, and our inclusion in Corporate Knight’s index once again shows our commitment to responsible business practices throughout our value chain. We are proud to be ranked as one of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies,” says Magnus Groth, CEO and President of Essity.

Corporate Knights is a publishing and research firm that publishes a magazine focused on sustainability and responsible business. Its research division produces rankings and financial product ratings based on corporate sustainability performance.

The full ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies by Corporate Knights is available on http://www.corporateknights.com.

Essity is a leading global hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as JOBST, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 46,000 employees. Net sales in 2019 amounted to approximately SEK 129bn (EUR 12.2bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society. More information at www.essity.com.

Following President Biden’s moves to implement new climate policies when he took office on the 20th January.

Will Scargill, Managing Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the targets set out for decarbonizing the power sector:

2021 01 25 083912“Biden’s target of a carbon-free power sector by 2035 is extremely ambitious and would require a massive acceleration in investment in renewable power generation and energy storage solutions.

“GlobalData’s current outlook for the US power sector sees renewables continuing to achieve rapid growth, increasing their share of total generation from around 20% currently to over 35% by 2035, driven by solar and wind. Fossil fuels, which represent around 60% of generation today, are still expected to contribute half of US power generation as gas generation remains relatively stable while coal declines. The replacement generation needed to phase out fossil fuels would be equivalent to a quadrupling of the growth currently expected in renewables.

“There may be some room to meet the target of a carbon-free power sector while retaining some fossil fuel generation through implementation of carbon capture and storage. However, we would expect such a transition to rely primarily on renewables growth, which would also necessitate a parallel acceleration in energy storage capacity. The ambitious nature of the target does not mean it is unachievable though, as there is still plenty of room for growth in US renewables. In particular, the nascent US offshore wind sector is currently on track to be less than 25% of the size of the European sector by 2030.”

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

CHANGING FROM GAS TO HEAT PUMPS AS THE PREFERRED HOME HEATING FOR NEW BUILDS IS PREMATURE AND PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE SAYS GAS USERS ORGANISATION

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UK will not have enough zero carbon electricity until 2040 to power heat pumps and they would cost an estimated £16400 more per household so change is a very costly jump from the frying pan into the fire.

On 20th January 2021, the UK government’s Ministry of Housing announced that they anticipate that heat pumps will become the primary heating technology for new homes'

Andrew Newman, Technical Director of the Gas Users Organisation, explains:

We all agree that climate change is a real problem and needs urgent action. But the UK government is not giving due regard whether their policies are achievable in engineering terms, and whether the costs passed on to UK consumers will actually make a significant difference, when other states, like China, Russia and India are not making equivalent changes. The UK is responsible for just over 1% global emissions, compared to 28% from China.

'The installation of heat pumps systems is prohibitively expensive. A recent government report set out typical costs for heating systems for new build houses, this was around £5400 for gas, but a whopping £21550 for an air source heat pump. The lifetime of a heat pump is similar to a gas boiler, so they would need replacing every 10 to 15 years. Although heat pumps are an efficient form of electric heating, because of the difference in price between gas and electricity, the majority of households would face higher bills.

The Committee for Climate Change’s own estimate is that the UK will not be approaching zero carbon electricity until 2040. So there needs to be real caution in any plans that, for example, seek to remove gas from people’s homes and move to electric heat pumps. Such a move would be rash and premature, because not only would the heat pumps consume electricity, that would not be from zero carbon sources, but any such move would cost consumers dearly.

The UK has a very exciting opportunity to keep our existing gas network, but switch to zero carbon hydrogen. A premature switch to heat pumps in new builds will impact the commercial viability of hydrogen, and close down that option, which is preferred by consumers as it involves lower costs and less disruption. Instead of promoting heat pumps, the Ministry of Housing should throw its weight behind all new builds fitting hydrogen ready gas boilers.

Unfortunately, the government’s model is that consumers are expected to pay for decarbonisation. This is why we urge caution from the government when they are loading more and more costs on consumers.

Subsidies to fund current renewable energy sources are paid for by a levy on household energy bills. The OBR calculate by 2022 the green levy to pay for renewables will cost £10 per week per household on household energy bills regardless of income and ability to pay. This is grossly unfair. BEIS is also now proposing an additional gas meter tax.

UK consumers should not be paying through the nose for expensive measures that will only make a marginal difference to greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale.

The UK also lacks the manufacturing capacity to switch to heat pumps for new builds. Current housing new builds is running at an annual completion level of 177,980 units, but there is only one UK manufacturer of Air Sourced Heat Pumps, Mitsubishi in Scotland, with a capacity of 3000 units per year. Almost all gas boilers fitted in the UK are built here, so we would be closing a successful UK manufacturing sector to import an inferior overseas product.

The German offshore wind industry presented the expansion figures for offshore wind energy in 2020. According to these figures, 32 turbines with a capacity of 219 MW were connected to the grid for the first time last year. In total, 1,501 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 7,770 MW are feeding electricity into the German North Sea and Baltic Sea. Due to incorrect political framework conditions, no new plants could be built in the second half of 2020.

  • No new installations in the second half of 2020. A total of 1,501 turbines with a capacity of
  • 7,770 MW on the grid - offshore wind delivers clean, safe and cost-effective electricity.
  • Tendering of potentially usable areas required as soon as possible to enable earlier construction activities and thus preserve existing innovation potential, employment and the value chain in Germany.
  • Use positive market dynamics through the EU strategy for renewable offshore energy, trigger investment push!

"While the long-term framework conditions for the offshore wind industry have improved over the past year with the EU's 'Green Deal' and the German government's new long-term targets until 2040, the short-term situation of the industry remains challenging with the very weak domestic market," industry organisations BWE, BWO, VDMA Power Systems, WAB and the OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE Foundation commented on the offshore expansion figures for 2020 published today by Deutsche WindGuard.

Enable construction activities immediately, equalise expansion and strengthen the value chain

Numerous companies in the offshore wind industry are not only confronted with the challenges of internationalisation and the Corona crisis, but also with the outlook that not a single offshore wind turbine will be installed in German waters next year - after expansion in 2020 was already only 15 percent of the 2017 level.

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The serious consequences of the lack of wind energy expansion in the North and Baltic Seas, such as company closures, employment losses and migration from the German market, which the industry has continuously warned about in recent years, must be overcome as quickly as possible. It makes sense to trigger a surge in investment now. This will secure the German offshore wind value chain. To this end, it is necessary to quickly implement the Coastal Sea Regulation proposed by the industry and to equalise the "expansion peak" in the years 2029 and 2030 towards the front. What is needed is a short-term stimulus for cost-efficient expansion. The modernisation and investment programme energy transition not only advances climate protection, it also makes Germany less dependent on energy imports, can be a job engine and offers great economic opportunities for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in this country and on the global export markets.

To achieve this, the existing potential must be put out to tender as quickly as possible and combined with rapid commissioning. More new capacity should be added before the end of the decade. By this the German government's expansion target of 20 gigawatts by 2030 can be safely achieved. "Bringing forward investments now helps the economy and climate protection in equal measure. Offshore wind power is essential as the foundation of the energy transition for German and European climate targets." said the representatives of the industry associations.

Spatially secure offshore expansion targets

Emerging conflicts of use with shipping, marine and nature conservation must be resolved pragmatically so that the achievement of the defined goals is not prevented through the back door. In order to defuse conflicts of use to some extent, the EU Commission developed the co-use approach. According to this approach, the scarce marine space should - if possible - be used by several actors at the same time. This idea should be further developed and also increasingly applied in Germany. It is right that the expansion of wind energy plants at sea must take existing forms of use into account and also be compatible with nature. However, it is also true that we can only prevent a displacement or shortage of habitats for many species in the long term if the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement are met.

Develop the market framework for offshore wind energy and "green" hydrogen further

The next legislative period must be used urgently to initiate a fundamental reform of the electricity market design and the refinancing of offshore wind projects. The current market design is designed to finance conventional generation with fuel costs. Therefore, the industry continues to advocate for the further development of the market design with the aim of relieving the burden on consumers and the economy and creating an attractive investment framework for national and international investors of all stakeholder groups. In this context, the introduction of contracts for difference should also be considered.

Since direct electrification is not possible in all sectors of the economy, synthetic energy sources based on renewable energies are an indispensable element for complete decarbonisation. The industry organisations expressly welcome the National Hydrogen Strategy and the associated approach of developing a comprehensive energy industry and industrial policy strategy that takes the entire value chain of technologies, components, production, storage, infrastructure and logistics into account. "Green" hydrogen needs a market-based foundation. CO2 pricing in the transport and heat sectors with a simultaneous reduction or restructuring of the EEG levy and financial burdens through other levies and taxes are steps in the right direction.

For better planning of hydrogen projects, a concrete and binding volume target to produce "green" hydrogen from offshore wind energy and reliable procurement mechanisms are also needed. Last but not least, the areas that have so far been earmarked for the production of "green" hydrogen at sea and are not connected are insufficient and must be expanded as quickly as possible.

Harnessing positive market momentum through EU strategy

The EU wants to expand offshore wind to 300 GW by 2050. This shows the great export potential. The announcement to revise the EU climate target for 2030 must be backed up by a faster expansion of offshore wind energy. Furthermore, the Green Deal is an investment offensive for Europe's energy sector and needs a clear framework to trigger production and value creation in Europe.

In order to secure the expansion targets in the long term and enable European planning, Germany also needs an expansion target for 2050. In addition, European and international cooperation - as recently called for by the North Sea Energy Cooperation under German chairmanship - should be further developed.

Asystom has just announced its new range of multi-sensor devices to best support manufacturers in the face of the challenges of industry digitalization. They address precisely the predictive maintenance needs of a wide array of industrial equipment, integrating new on-board, connected, energy-saving electronics that can perform in situ analysis. These innovative products offer increased performance; they are also eco-responsible, designed to be 100% upgradeable, operating on standard AA batteries which are simple to install and recyclable via standard waste management operations.

Asystom, a benchmark company in predictive maintenance for Industry 4.0, has designed and marketed a universal, turnkey, stand-alone solution for monitoring equipment and preventing breakdowns. Flexible, adaptable and scalable, it is already installed on many industrial sites in different sectors (e.g. steelworks, automotive, aeronautics, pharmaceutical laboratories, water and waste treatment, food, energy), covering a wide range of use cases. Its innovative technology takes the detailed operating footprint of a machine, to then monitor it in real time, and then give the earliest possible alert of any drift or malfunction. The objective being to improve the productivity and thus the profitability of the production units by avoiding unscheduled shutdowns.

Asystom: an intelligent turnkey solution for predictive maintenance

Measurements of a machine are taken via external multi-sensor devices to measure its state of health, detecting anomalies and drifts from its normal operating footprint. Integrating connected, energy-efficient electronics, non-intrusive and compact, the devices are positioned directly on the equipment to be monitored, without the need for additional wiring or other modifications.

Thanks to algorithmic innovations, Asystom devices process a large number of complex data and transfer them in real time. The devices integrate multiple physical parameters sensors (up to 9 parameters) to predict industrial equipment failures and to determine their causes.

The measured data are transferred safely to server-based storage via a wireless LoRa (Long Range) network, using encrypted data transfer, whilst network deployment does not incur additional installation burden.

Operating alerts, diagnostic tools and device set-up all run on a single web-application.

Eco-responsible range, aligned to Asystom's values

The entire range has been designed and developed with an eco-responsible vision: 0% obsolescence, a 100% scalable range and products with long autonomy.

We are increasingly seeing the emergence of the principles of a circular and responsible economy. Industry has come to realize that it is better to optimize the use of equipment, which must be durable whilst remaining efficient. Industry digitalization and preventive maintenance are effective means to achieve this as well as improving production capacity. Asystom has developed and designed its products to achieve this vision.

Asystom’s own devices are also in line with this. Customers don’t need to frequently change the batteries of their wireless sensors or, worse, throw them away after 2 or 3 years because they have become obsolete.” comments Stéphane Lhuisset, Technical Director of Asystom.

Pierre Naccache, founding president of Asystom adds: “We have driven technological innovation by allowing the devices to "wake up" just when needed. Asystom devices can be configured remotely to measure in real time, but also and above all are capable of determining when to take measurements. All data is transmitted in real time and accurately. Information and alerts are presented on an easy-to-use dashboard."

Finally, these devices are 100% manufactured in Europe.

A complete range of multi-sensor devices, adapted to the needs of industry.

To best meet the predictive maintenance needs of the various industry players, and thus help them maximize the use of their assets, Asystom has brought in new innovation and extended its range of multi-sensor devices.

  • AsystomSentinel Indoor- NEW Increased autonomy!

2021 01 25 082200The original AsystomSentinel Indoor version sees its initial performance increased, particularly in terms of autonomy. Originally with 3 years autonomy, it is now extended to over 5 years, powered by just 2 standard AA batteries. Particularly suitable for an indoor environment, this device is capable of performing multiple measurements, making it possible to monitor 95% of machine applications.

In particular:

  • The fusion of vibration and ultrasound measurements,
  • The surface temperature of a machine,
  • The ambient temperature and humidity.
  • AsystomSentinel Outdoor (IP66) – NEW product!

2021 01 25 082355This new device, AsystomSentinel Outdoor, is intended specifically to be able to work in harsh environments and in extreme conditions (dust and severe weather in particular). Its integrated vibration and ultrasound sensors allow it to efficiently and accurately detect all kinds of equipment drifts. Its computational capacity enables powerful and reliable analysis. Its miniaturized remote probe allows installation even on a small area, for more precise monitoring. This device has an extended battery life of over 10 years, using 4 standard AA batteries.

  • AsystomSentinel EX - NEW product!

2021 01 25 082528Global innovation, AsystomSentinel EX is the first fusion of triaxial vibration, sound and ultrasound sensors, specifically designed for hazardous environments.

Integrating the same anomaly detection performance as the other devices in the range, its ATEX / IECEx certifications and its intrinsic safety allow it to be used in areas at risk of explosion (Zone 1) of the petrochemical and chemical industries in particular.

It has a very long battery life (more than 10 years).

About Asystom :   

Created in 2016, by Pierre Naccache, supported by an experienced international team,  Asystom is located in Toulouse region (France). The company specializes in the development, manufacture and marketing of universal intelligent monitoring solutions for predictive maintenance. For more information: https://www.asystom.com/fr/fr-accueil/

Vattenfall, Shell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hamburg's municipal heat supplier Hamburg Wärme signed Letter of Intent

The companies Vattenfall, Shell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Hamburg's municipal heat supplier Hamburg Wärme are planning to build one of the world's largest electrolysers in the Port of Hamburg. The new electrolyser is to have a capacity of 100 megawatts and be built on the site of the former Moorburg coal-fired power plant. The four companies have now signed a Letter of Intent to this end.

The Hamburg metropolitan region thus continues to position itself to take a leading position in the European green hydrogen economy - and, according to the OECD, brings excellent prerequisites to the table. The region and the surrounding northern German states already score with a high share of renewable energies and are planning the rapid expansion of the green hydrogen economy along the entire value chain. In this, Northern Germany wants to lead the way on an international scale and further strengthen its position. As home to Europe's third-largest port and a strong ecosystem of business, politics and application-oriented research, Hamburg plays a key role in this. A new milestone has now been set with the Letter of Intent to convert the Moorburg coal-fired power plant into one of the most powerful electrolysers in the world. In the coming years, Germany will be investing nine billion euros in the development of a green hydrogen economy. Forecasts predict that the hydrogen economy in Europe will generate 5.4 million jobs and 800 billion euros in annual sales by 2050.

- 100 MW capacity to be installed in the Port of Hamburg (Moorburg site) from 2025 onwards
- Hamburg is on its way to becoming European hub for green hydrogen economy
- According to the OECD, the Hamburg metropolitan region is one of the most promising hydrogen regions in Europe

The companies Shell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Vattenfall and municipal company Wärme Hamburg are planning how they can jointly produce hydrogen from wind and solar power at the Hamburg-Moorburg power plant site and utilize it in its vicinity. To this end, the four companies have now signed a letter of intent. In addition to the construction of a scalable electrolyser with an initial output of 100 megawatts, the further development of the site into a so-called “Green Energy Hub” is planned. This includes the exploration of the extent to which the existing infrastructure of the Moorburg location can be used for the production of energy from renewable sources. In this context, concepts for the necessary logistics chains and storage options for hydrogen will also be considered. Subject to final investment decision and according to the current state of planning, once the site has been cleared, the production of green hydrogen is anticipated in the course of 2025 - making the electrolyser one of the largest plants in Europe.

The partners intend to apply for funding under the EU program “Important Projects of Common European Interest” (IPCEI). This should take place in the first quarter of 2021 with the submission of a first outline of the project. The four partner companies view the energy location as having ideal conditions for further use. It is connected to both the national 380,000 volt transmission network and the 110,000 volt network of the City of Hamburg. In addition, overseas ships can call at the location directly and use the quay and port facilities as an import terminal. The municipal gas network company also intends to expand a hydrogen network in the port within ten years and is already working on the necessary distribution infrastructure. Numerous potential customers for green hydrogen are located near the site, thus enabling the project to cover the entire hydrogen value chain - from generation to storage, transport and utilization in various sectors. With these prerequisites, the Moorburg location is optimal for the German federal state of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Northern Germany and can become a potential starting point for the development of a hydrogen economy.

For many years, Moorburg was the site of a gas-fired power plant operated by Hamburgische Electricitäts-Werke, and Vattenfall had been operating a coal-fired power plant here since 2015. Its commercial operation was terminated after the power plant won a bid in the auction for the nationwide coal phase-out in December 2020. A decision by the transmission system operator on the system relevance of the plant is expected in March 2021. The City of Hamburg and Vattenfall are striving to clear [partial] areas of the site as soon as possible for the project to produce green hydrogen and the development of a Green Energy Hub.

In their efforts to form a consortium, the four companies can also count on the support of the City of Hamburg’s government. In their coalition agreement, the governing parties agreed to examine and support the feasibility of sector coupling and the establishment of hydrogen production in the city-state.

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Quotes of the participating partners:

Jens Kerstan, Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of Wärme Hamburg GmbH and Gasnetz Hamburg GmbH as well as the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg’s Minister for the Environment and Energy: “For Hamburg as a city that embraces the energy transition, this agreement is a vital step. At the Moorburg site, we will be producing green hydrogen on a large scale in collaboration with experienced partners from industry, while at the same time establishing a Green Energy hub for climate-friendly energy. This is a bold venture that now needs to be filled with life. This project will be a major lever for reaching our climate goals. The gas pipeline networks in the port and around Moorburg are now being expanded to accommodate hydrogen and to facilitate supplies to industry and large businesses. Our hydrogen future is now taking shape, and Hamburg intends to be at the forefront here. The Hamburg Senate supports these efforts, and Hamburg’s public companies play a decisive role in this.”

Michael Westhagemann, Minister for Economy and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “I always believed in the project at the Moorburg site. There is no better location in Hamburg for a scalable electrolyser of this size. Via the 380 kV connection and the connection to Brunsbüttel, we have direct access to the supply of green electricity from wind power - and thus the possibility of actually producing green hydrogen in relevant quantities. With this announcement, a big step will be taken towards a long-term decarbonisation of the port and a competitive hydrogen economy in the metropolitan region of Hamburg and I congratulate the partners on this forward-looking project."

Kentaro Hosomi, President and CEO Energy Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: "We are looking forward to having the opportunity to apply our engineering and technology expertise to realize this project together with our partners. The establishment of a green hydrogen hub that is fully integrated into Hamburg's industrial infrastructure would show Europe and the world that the hydrogen economy is real and can make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the energy system and heavy industry.”

Fabian Ziegler, CEO of Shell in Germany: “In the future, green hydrogen will play a very important role in the energy system and therefore also for us. We keep an eye on the development of the entire value chain for hydrogen; from the entry into electricity production from offshore wind to the expansion of capacities for green hydrogen production as well as to the supply for mobility or transport applications and other industries. To achieve this, we need to and we want to collaborate with strong partners. We consider this project of the consortium of four together with the city of Hamburg to be exemplary.”

Andreas Regnell, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Development, Vattenfall: “The production of fossil free hydrogen is one key to the decarbonisation of the industry and the transport sectors. Vattenfall wants to enable fossil free living within one generation and we have high ambitions to grow within renewable energy production in the markets where we operate. In this project we can contribute with our expertise and experience and the unique Moorburg site that has the infrastructure that is necessary for large scale production of hydrogen. We are therefore pleased that we can support the city and the industrial location of Hamburg in implementing their ambitious climate goals."

Christian Heine, CEO of Wärme Hamburg GmbH and Gasnetz Hamburg GmbH: “Hydrogen has enormous potential not just as a means of power storage. Wärme Hamburg has pledged to make available all sources of waste heat and to utilize this climate neutral heat. This is the reason why Wärme Hamburg decided, to take part in the electrolyser project. In addition we want to evaluate if we can use the existing infrastructure at the Moorburg site, also to use other, additional forms of renewable energy. Moorburg has the potential to become an innovative urban hub for renewable energies.”

About Hamburg’s Metropolitan Region and green hydrogen
Hamburg introduces itself as a strong emerging location for green hydrogen in the heart of Europe and presents solutions along the entire value chain for green hydrogen. A recent OECD study confirms that the Hamburg Metropolitan Region is particularly well suited for the development of a green hydrogen economy. The region offers unique locational advantages for the production of renewable energies and a high potential for the purchase of green hydrogen – especially from local industrial companies. The surrounding area of Northern Germany thus plays a key role in meeting the climate protection targets and achieving the energy turnaround. Numerous factors contribute to this: from the highest generation capacities for onshore and offshore wind power and underground formations for hydrogen storage to seaports with logistics and import terminals for green hydrogen and synthetic energy carriers, experienced maritime companies and research institutes with scientific expertise in the field of innovative energy carriers. Industrial companies with a very high hydrogen demand potential complete the value chain, positioning the Hamburg with its Metropolitan region as an ideal European location with bright prospects for the future. The business development organisations of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, and Schleswig-Holstein have joined forces to form the green hydrogen initiative HY-5. The new initiative aims to turn Northern Germany into the strongest emerging region for green hydrogen in the heart of Europe and to complete the value chain for green hydrogen.

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