Displaying items by tag: AFRY

The technical and commercial tasks carried out by AFRY will contribute to have operational offshore renewable energy farms in Malta in coming years.

AFRY’s work for the state-owned company Interconnect Malta (ICM) is supporting the process of defining and awarding offshore renewables concessions in Malta’s exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea.

The process of awarding offshore renewables concessions ensures that the development of clean energy sources is carried out in a well-regulated, sustainable, and beneficial manner, addressing energy needs, environmental concerns, economic growth, and climate change mitigation. The work will be delivered by AFRY Management Consulting together with AFRY’s Energy engineering team, and will cover two complementary aspects: Technical and Commercial.

The technical tasks are helping the Maltese government to identify geographical areas, technologies, impacts on the network and development processes, to have operational offshore renewables farms in coming years. The commercial tasks will allow the Maltese government to evaluate the relationship between risk versus return and prices, enabling informed business decisions and ensuring optimal resource allocation as well as alignment with long-term objectives.

AFRY’s strong international team of experts will provide ICM several services along the whole offshore renewables value chain, from engineering to strategy, commercial and financial aspects.

“At AFRY, we are fortunate to have experts that cover all aspects of energy-related projects, providing us with a 360-degree view of our client projects that allows us to quickly gain an understanding of the optimal way forward. I am pleased that we can contribute to this exciting project with ICM and the Maltese Government and be part of Malta’s transition towards a clean energy future” says Bülent Mutlu, Head of the Expertise Cluster Power & Heat Generation at AFRY Management Consulting.

“We take pride in bringing our interdisciplinary skills to the forefront to support Malta’s transition towards sustainability. Our holistic approach, encompassing technical and commercial expertise, positions us as a valuable partner in this strategic project. It’s noteworthy that our recent acquisition of BLIX Consulting has significantly bolstered our offshore wind competencies with its unique and specialised expertise, further empowering us to play a pivotal role in Malta’s green energy transition”, says Peter Plug, VP and Global Head of Renewable Energy at AFRY.

“Malta is working to attain its forward-looking ambition to substantially increase the share of renewables in its energy mix, for increased environmental sustainability and energy security. In this regard, the Maltese Government is focusing on developing its offshore (floating) renewable potential, through the establishment of the necessary administrative and regulatory frameworks, enabling future deployment of larger-scale energy projects. In January 2021, Malta joined other EU member states in a non-binding agreement for the deployment of offshore renewables in the South and West offshore grid priority corridor, with our country aspiring to develop offshore floating clean energy installations in Malta's economic zones. We look forward to continue empowering the development of Malta’s renewable energy sector,” says Ismail D’Amato, CEO of Interconnect Malta (ICM).

Established in 2021, Interconnect Malta Ltd (ICM) is a government-owned company under the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise. It is entrusted with the development of major energy infrastructure projects, including Interconnector 2, the second electricity HVAC Cable link between Malta and Italy, the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project at Marsa and Delimara, offshore renewables and the Melita TransGas Hydrogen-Ready Pipeline, which has been identified as a Project of Common Interest (5.19) by the European Union.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 19,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy, and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

AFRY Management Consulting has published a report summarising the second phase of its study on reform of electricity market arrangements in Great Britain.

Over the past 15 months, AFRY has completed a review of electricity market arrangements in Great Britain, in response to a government consultation. Using its power modelling expertise, AFRY assessed proposals to switch to locational electricity markets. Changing to a zonal or nodal market could dent investor confidence and comes with little modelled benefit. Investor confidence is particularly important considering the recent offshore wind auction that received no bids, in the context of the target to decarbonise the power system by 2035 and the limited window to do so. Due to the risks associated with changing the market design radically, a more evolutionary approach to improving to market arrangements is recommended.

On locational energy pricing, AFRY Management Consulting concludes:  

• the potential economic welfare benefit of moving to locational markets is only around 1% and would be overshadowed by wealth transfers between parties;
• these potential economic welfare benefits disappear, and costs outweigh benefits, if investment risk in generation increases due to the change;
• the distribution of benefits between consumers and producers is very dependent on the nature of any specific mitigation measures such as grandfathering of rights for existing parties; and
• the increased complexity of locational markets may create barriers to entry, and at least some of the benefits of locational markets can be replicated in a national market framework with less risk to investment. 

Overall given the trade-off between additional benefit and additional complexity, AFRY recommends that: 

• nodal pricing, the most granular form of locational market, should not be progressed;
• any further exploration of a zonal market design should be accompanied by a programme of work to explore ways in which the risks – and wealth transfers – could be mitigated; and
• if the existing national market is retained, action should be taken to improve incentives and achieve some of the benefits of locational markets.

“We aim to decarbonise the GB power system by 2035, and investor confidence is essential. We do not recommend a move to a nodal market, which would be a severe departure from today's arrangements. We have found rather small potential benefits of a move to a zonal energy market, but this would come with risks which could outweigh the benefits which must be mitigated if zonal markets are to be considered further. Alternatively, the continuation of a national energy market should be accompanied by efforts to improve operational efficiency, especially for interconnectors and plants behind constraints. We reaffirm our recommendation of evolutionary rather than revolutionary market design to maintain the pace of investment” says Stephen Woodhouse, Director at AFRY Management Consulting and market design expert.

Sign up for the study webinar on 26 September 2023 at 11am BST here

Read the Key Messages and Recommendations here

Read the Executive Summary here

Background

The study was initiated in response to the electricity transmission operator National Grid’s programme for net zero reform, and the Review of Electricity market Arrangements (REMA) process, which was launched by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, now the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in July 2022. One of the most divisive topics in the REMA consultation is whether the current national wholesale energy market should be subdivided into zones or nodes, in which energy wholesale prices would vary by location. This change would result in a locational energy market.

Since the Phase 1 report in October 2022, AFRY has quantitatively addressed the issue of locational energy pricing. The Phase 2 report, which has been informed by a wide range of market participants, and detailed modelling of proposed electricity market arrangements. Phase 2 of the study confirms that evolutionary change is advisable to maintain the investment momentum which is required to deliver a decarbonised power sector by 2035. 

AFRY Management Consulting works globally on market design and provides commercial analysis, strategic and operational advice for private investors and operators. With experience of a wide range of global electricity markets, AFRY Management Consulting experts possess a deep insight into the merits of alternative electricity market designs. 

AFRY provides engineering, design, digital and advisory services to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.   

We are 19,000 devoted experts in industry, energy and infrastructure sectors, creating impact for generations to come. AFRY has Nordic roots with a global reach, net sales of 24 BSEK and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.  

Making Future 

Boliden has awarded AFRY engineering and site services assignment for the Odda zinc smelter expansion project. The expansion enables Boliden Odda to almost double zinc production and, at the same time, reduce already world-class low carbon dioxide intensity by 15 percent.

Boliden has decided to expand the zinc smelter in Odda, southern Norway. The project named Green Zinc Odda will increase the annual production capacity for zinc products to 350,000 tonnes. In addition to zinc products, it will also enable extract of the bi-metals lead, gold, and silver. Boliden’s total investment value is EUR 700 million, and the project will be completed at the end of 2024.

AFRY’s extensive assignment includes detail engineering, site services and project procurement support. The services will be delivered 2022 - 2024. The value of AFRY’s assignment is not disclosed. The expansion project will improve energy efficiency, use only fossil-free electricity, and use sustainable technologies in all production phases. Most of the production facilities will be expanded, and production processes will be modernized by increasing digitalisation and automation. Also, Boliden’s solution for waste handling will be expanded.

“We are extremely proud to be Boliden’s trusted partner in this strategic project. AFRY’s mission is to support transition towards more sustainable societies and this project is perfectly aligned with that target. Our operating model where local presence and knowhow is supported by global competencies enables us to deliver world-class solutions to Boliden”, says Janne Tikka, Head of Mining & Metals, Process Industries Division, AFRY.

Boliden is a Swedish mining and metals company with a focus on sustainable development. The company’s core competence lies within the fields of exploration, mining, smelting and metal recycling and it operates in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Ireland.  

“AFRYs deep and long relationship with Boliden covers their operations in all mines and smelters. Our expertise within sustainability and mining & metals enables us to support and create additional value for Boliden also with this project”, says Andreas Johansson, Global Key Account Manager Boliden at AFRY.

For further reading: Zinc is one of the most widely consumed metals in the world. Zinc is an incredibly important metal for the development of a sustainable society, and it is used in e.g. in automotive, buildings and infrastructure. Read more about AFRY’s offering within mining & metals, afry.com/en/area/mining-metals

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.
We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.
Making Future

AFRY will play a crucial part in preparation of the future Czech high-speed rail (HSR) network. The international consortium led by AFRY is designing a project for Moravian Gate I, one of the first Czech HSR pilot programs. It will fundamentally change the shape of the state public transport.

In accordance with the principles of Best Value, AFRY has won a public tender held by the state-owned manager of the Czech railway infrastructure. The quality criteria accounted for 70 percent of the tender result, the major winning factor being AFRY’s competence.

"AFRY has gained broad experience in developing many Europe's HSR projects. We’re bringing skills, proven experience and deep knowledge of the topic into the Czech Republic. The delivery team combines a strong and competent local presence with top international expertise. This project really contributes to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society", says Ivo Šimek, Country Manager for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The Moravian Gate HSR project means a substantial increase in capacity of the busiest sections of the Moravian region railway network. Although the new railway is designed within the parameters for passenger transport only, it will also bring a significant improvement for freight carriers. In order to allow a wide use of the HSR by different trains and to ensure a long-term reliability of operation, the project also includes several connections to the existing railway network.

The Czech railway manager follows French state rules and standards for designing and building the HSR. On this project, AFRY will be closely cooperating with the French engineering company SYSTRA, one of the world leaders in this segment, delivering their national HSR know-how.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

Neoen has chosen AFRY as their partner in wind measurements and analysis for their upcoming wind projects in three locations in Finland, namely Itämäki, Marjakeidas and Paholammi. The three wind farms, now being in the development phase, will have an combined nominal capacity of approximately 365 MW. With this turn-key solution, AFRY will assist Neoen with every aspect of wind measurements and analysis from start to finish.

AFRY has a long history and experience within wind power and will now provide Neoen with a turn-key solution for each of the three wind farms. This will include wind measurements with location analysis, 174 meter high met masts complete with state of the art wind measurement instruments, additional sodar units as well as wind energy yield analyses.

- We chose AFRY as a partner for these wind measurement projects based on the great value they can bring to the projects, including their experience and commitment in providing a complete solution for each project. Each project is of great significance to Neoen, why it is also critical that our chosen partner has the resources to provide state of the art services within our time frame, along with significant references. Quality is of utmost importance to us, which is why we expect the same level of quality from our partners, says Miika Pilli, Head of Business Development Finland at Neoen.

- We are happy to support Neoen in their brave ambition to become a world leader in renewable energy. We share a joint goal to advance clean energy, a corner stone of our strategic direction, which makes us the perfect partner to Neoen’s wind farm projects, says Ilkka Heikkilä, Regional Director, Renewable and Thermal Energy at AFRY.

Founded in 2008 in France, Neoen emerged as one of the key players in advancing transition to renewable energy on the world stage. An independent producer of renewable energy, the company develops and operates wind farms, solar power plants and energy storages with a long-term strategic vision. Currently the company has 515 MW in operation or under construction in Finland, including the country´s largest wind farm in Mutkalampi, which will account for 2% of the total energy production in Finland when in operation.

AFRY has more than 25 years of combined experience in the wind sector developing services such as site screening, Energy Yield Assessments, Technical and Commercial Due Diligence, Owner’s Engineer services, and Technical Advisory for O&M in wind farms totalling over 30,000 MW. Read more about AFRY’s wind power offering here.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

The Swedish textile recycling company, Renewcell, has chosen AFRY as partner in order to digitalize production operations in their plants in Kristinehamn and Sundsvall, Sweden. AFRY will deliver an Industrial IT solution, containing AFRY MES and AFRY ProTAK, to manage production information and secure both high quality, as well as high overall efficiency in the production. The delivered solution will serve as a hub for all production process information.

Renewcell is a multi-award-winning textile recycling company based in Sweden. With the technology they have developed, the company has succeeded in recycling and regenerating textile fiber from old clothes to turn it back into fiber pulp. Renewcell has had a production site in Kristinehamn since 2017 and is now scaling up the production in their new
production plant in Sundsvall. The new plant is expected to be operating during the first half of 2022.

“Modern production and logistics require a high level of digitalization to meet the demands for, e.g., traceability, and therefore the systems and experience from AFRY will be very important to us,” says Ylva Stjernquist, Supply Chain Manager and Project Leader at Renewcell.

AFRY has a long experience in Industrial IT and will now deliver the two leading, closely integrated digital solutions for production management to Renewcell. The AFRY MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a highly advanced digital information system that connects, monitors, and controls the complex production systems and data flows of the production processes. AFRY ProTAK is a digital tool that measures the effectiveness of a plant’s production machine performance. The system gathers information from different sources (e.g., DCS, MES, Maintenance) and combines that with the operators’ notes to calculate or
present Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE), which will lead to optimized production and
increased profitability.

Together these tools will improve traceability and secure a high production efficiency by
integrating data from all production systems and equipment.

“We are focusing on improving sustainability within process industries, and it is therefore an honor to be part of Renewcell’s textile recycling through a full-scale digitalized solution. Our modern and competitive digital solution will definitely bring added value to these types of processes,” says David Andersson, Business Segment Manager Digitalization,
AFRY Process Industries Sweden. 

AFRY MES and AFRY ProTAK will be installed to both Kristinehamn and Sundsvall plants. The installation is planned to be up and running during Q2 2022.

Read more about our digitalization offering for process industries:
https://afry.com/en/competence/digitalisation-and-smart-site

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

To further strengthen the digital offering, AFRY is acquiring the software company Zert AB.

Zert AB develops web-based software products and software enhanced services in the fields of occupational health and safety, risk management and technical documentation.

AFRY sees good potential in offering these products to a wider span of clients and increasing the revenue stream going forward. Environmental, health and safety is a top priority on corporate agendas and a pillar in sustainability. The market needs for experts and digitalisation in this field are increasing, driven by the sustainable transition with new technology and often more complex systems and products.

By acquiring Zert, AFRY will enable access for Zert’s digital products and services to many new clients enabling upscaling of the business from its current size; and also transforming more advisory services into software enhanced services, by combining digital tools with expert advisory.

“Successful and efficient risk management requires business integrated tools, and we are impressed by Zert and the value they create through their products. Together, we become a force in digitalising the field of safety and risk management in all sectors”, says Henrik Cederschiöld, VP and Head of Business Area Specialized Technical Services.

“We are very happy to become part of AFRY. Together we will be stronger and have even better opportunities to offer the market Zert’s smart services in technology and risk management”, says Peter Levisson, CEO Zert AB.

Zert AB has an annual sale of approximately SEK 16 million and nine employees based in Umeå. Zert will be consolidated into AFRY from October 1^st.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future - https://afry.com/en

By using AFRY Flowity, the Swedish Transport Administration can reduce work environment risks associated with manual measurements, in addition to streamlining the data management.

AFRY Flowity, developed by AFRY’s digital accelerator program AFRY X, uses cutting-edge technology to conduct special measurements of vehicle traffic, including bicycle and moped traffic in urban environments. By approving AFRY Flowity as a tool for special measurements, the Swedish Transport Administration advances its position in the digitalisation of the transport system.  

”Flowity is not only a new way of measuring things, we are revolutionizing the way we can collect information. Everything that could not be connected yesterday, such as mobility and behaviour in traffic or even the quality of the road, can today have its own part of the digital world. At the same time, preserving confidentiality and integrity. This is thanks to AFRY Flowity's unique edge AI system”, says Fredrik Hofflander, Head of AFRY X AI Lab.

AFRY Flowity consists of sensors that can be placed anywhere to monitor people or traffic flows, they are designed so that no video or image can be extracted. The unit converts patterns to datapoint values, such as the number of passing motor vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians, speeds and type of vehicle, and exports them. Collection of this type of data in traffic-intensive environments has historically required manual handling.

Using AFRY Flowity and its artificial intelligence reduces the climate impact, improves work environment and enables a quicker implementation of measures based on collected data. This enables reducing the risk of traffic congestions, accidents, and planning maintenance or temporary traffic diversions with a minimum of disruption.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

The acquisition of the Danish consulting engineering company INSUCO will strengthen AFRY’s digital services within railway design.

INSUCO is specialized within railway design, particularly tracks and stations, as well as drainage and safety (CMS). They are also recognized for leading competencies within digital 3D design and BIM modelling, and has several Danish railway lines in their portfolio.

“Digital solutions help to ensure stable, financially viable and smart infrastructure, which is crucial for efficient traffic flow at a time, when sustainability also plays a vital part. With their solid and well-documented experience INSUCO will be a great addition to the AFRY team,” says Malin Frenning, Head of Division Infrastructure at AFRY.

Amir Bigdeli, who founded INSUCO with fellow colleagues Ognjen Miseljic and Leon Stibolt Olsen, looks forward to sharing competencies with their new colleagues at AFRY.

”We are pleased to be part of AFRY, where we can work with what we are passionate about – developing innovative solutions and bringing the latest technology into play for exciting infrastructure projects. Together with AFRY we are stronger and thereby able to take on larger projects,” says Amir Bigdeli. 

The acquisition of INSUCO is a part of the growth strategy with focus on track technology and digitalisation, in addition to growing in the Greater Copenhagen area.

INSUCO has 11 employees, and the company’s 2020 turnover was approximately 13 MSEK. INSUCO was consolidated into AFRY from the 1^st of July 2021.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

AFRY has signed an agreement to acquire Cubiq Analytics Oy, a Finland-based consulting company delivering end-to-end data and analytics consulting and solutions. In line with AFRY’s strategy, the acquisition will strengthen AFRY’s digital offering and enable significant growth for digital consulting services and solutions across businesses and sectors.

Cubiq Analytics’ offerings are technology and industry independent and are focused on data and analytics consulting and solution development. The majority of the revenue is coming from transforming sectors where AFRY is already very active such as bioindustry, clean energy, infrastructure and food & life science.

“In a rapidly changing business environment, companies need to make data-driven and timely decisions on future direction, improve efficiencies and adapt to market changes. This requires advanced and unique business intelligence that combines business analytics, data mining and visualisation, data tools and infrastructure based on best practices. With the acquisition of Cubiq Analytics, we are excited to strengthen our digital consulting offering and enable our clients worldwide to benefit from the unique data and analytics competences and skills of Cubiq Analytics in advancing their business,” says Roland Lorenz, EVP and Head of AFRY Management Consulting.

"We are excited to join AFRY’s international team. There is huge potential in AFRY and Cubiq Analytics’ joint global offering in digital solutions where data and analytics play a key role. AFRY has been our important partner for a long time and this transaction is a result of successful strategic cooperation. It will open up new opportunities to scale our business to a completely new level, and as part of AFRY we can further enhance our services to clients,” says Jussi Huttunen, Chairman of the Board at Cubiq Analytics.

Cubiq Analytics’ valuable know-how and expertise are broadly applicable across different businesses at AFRY. For example, Cubiq Analytics’ data architecture, analytics and visualisation competences will strongly contribute to AFRY’s aim to become a global leader in precision forestry digital services and solutions. With the acquisition, AFRY will further meet the increasing demand for data and analytics consulting for performance monitoring and improvements in multiple industries.

Cubiq Analytics was founded in 2016 and has since grown rapidly to approximately 60 employees and three offices located in Helsinki, Tampere and Lahti. The company’s net sales in 2020 were approximately SEK 67 million. Closing is planned for end of August and Cubiq Analytics is planned to be consolidated to AFRY from September 2021.

About AFRY

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 16,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

For more information, please contact:

Saara Söderberg
Vice President, AFRY Management Consulting
Tel. +358 40 5336658
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