Ready for EU sustainability rules.

OMRON Electronic Components Europe is scaling product carbon footprint (PCF) reporting across its portfolio, including popular relay and switch lines. The data helps customers strengthen their supply-chain auditing and prepare for forthcoming EU Digital Product Passports.

PCF data is available for a growing number of products, including the G9KB, G6DN, and G9KC relays, and B3SL surface-mount tactile switches, as OMRON continues to calculate data for more products in the portfolio. The rollout strategically prioritises the most popular lines, to maximise early support for customers working towards the EU DPP initiative and other regulations.

The reporting program is one result of the wider DMS Green Project, begun by the OMRON Device & Module Solutions Company (DMS) in Japan to cut environmental impact and CO² emissions. With the goal of turning sustainability obligations into opportunities to share with partners and customers, the project encompasses energy consumption, product design, manufacturing, and supply chain.

Within the DMS Green Project, OMRON built its own PCF calculator leveraging the principles of ISO 14067, the international standard for carbon-footprint quantification. This calculator is now independently approved, and OMRON is making the tool available to supply-chain partners, assisting industry-wide expansion of product-level carbon reporting and reduction. Depending on the product family, OMRON’s PCF results are either third‑party verified or self‑declared based on ISO 14067 to accelerate data availability.

Among the board-mount relays for which PCF data is now available, the G6DN slim power relays pack 5A switching capability in a 5mm-wide package, featuring ultra-reliable crossbar twin contacts. The G9KB series provides bidirectional switching up to 50A at 600V, while the G9KB-E high-capacity variant handles up to 100A at 800V DC. The G9KC is a 4-pole high-power relay rated for 480V AC at 40A, featuring low contact resistance and a 4.0mm contact gap. Finally, the B3SL series surface-mount tactile switches feature an IP67-rated sealed structure with a rubber plunger, designed for a crisp click feeling with a middle stroke.

These products are in full production and target a wide range of applications, including industrial controls and automation, energy storage systems (ESS), domestic appliances, heat pumps and HVAC systems, EV charging stations, smart buildings, and energy infrastructure. To support customers, either third-party verified PCF data or self-declared, a report for each model is available upon request.

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@OmronEurope @OmronComponents @EUPublications @napierPR  #PAuto

Green hydrogen: Precision meets innovation.

The LiquiSonic® measuring systems, from SensoTech, enable inline concentration measurements of liquids. The measuring technology is able to analyse the concentration or density in real time. This high-precision measurement technology and innovative sensors is revolutionising process monitoring and offering pioneering solutions for various industries.

LiquiSonic® technology is based on the measurement of the sonic velocity using ultrasound and enables the exact determination of concentration and density in liquids. The precise inline monitoring provides real-time data that enables companies to adjust their processes immediately - for maximum efficiency and quality assurance.

Whether concentration and density measurements, phase detection or the analysis of complex reaction processes such as polymerization or crystallization - the applications are many and varied. Companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, steel production and mechanical and plant engineering in particular benefit from LiquiSonic® systems. The advantages are obvious: increased product quality, optimized use of resources and greater plant safety.

An important area of application for LiquiSonic® sensors is the production of green hydrogen, particularly in alkaline electrolysis. Here, the high-precision ultrasonic measurements enable continuous monitoring and control of the process parameters, significantly improving the efficiency and sustainability of hydrogen production. By precisely analyzing the electrolyte concentration, the sensors help to optimize energy consumption and extend the service life of electrolysis plants.

Sustainability plays a crucial role in modern production. SensoTech's precise measurement technology enables companies to minimize the use of raw materials, reduce waste and work more energy-efficiently.

SensoTech is thus setting a strong example for the future of Industry 4.0 - a combination of precision, digitalisation, automation and sustainability. Companies that rely on these technologies benefit from maximum efficiency, quality and safety in their production processes.

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@PresseBox #SensoTech #PAuto  #Sustainability

Measuring biogenic Carbon Dioxide.

A new tool to calculate potential cost savings by accurately measuring biogenic CO₂ in Waste-to-Energy (WtE) has been developed by ENVEA.

Jürgen Reinmann, Regulatory Director said, “Measuring biogenic CO_₂ emissions is essential for complying with regulations and global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide greenhouse gases. Operators often face several challenges in accurately reporting biogenic CO₂ emissions, which is why ENVEA has developed a calculator tool to help them estimate potential biogenic CO₂ cost savings.”

Biogenic CO₂ is carbon dioxide released from sources like plants and animals. As part of the natural carbon cycle, it can be deducted from reported emissions leading to savings through carbon credits when WtE falls under the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2028, and any regional carbon tax schemes.

The unique calculator is free to use and provides users with an estimate of their potential cost savings. By inputting data including total tonnes of waste per year, currency, market price for biogenic CO₂ per tonne and the percentage of biogenic content in the waste, customers can click calculate and the estimated cost savings results will appear instantly.

The AMESA-B smart sampler is the turn-key solution to accurate biogenic CO₂ reporting and to help meet regulations. It eliminates guesswork in carbon dioxide greenhouse monitoring through the flue gas sampling, and fulfils the requirements of EN ISO 13833 standards, resulting in unmatched accuracy and traceability.

With easy integration into existing systems, it also includes pre- and post-sampling leak checks for precise sample flow and fail-safe oversaturation. It also integrates with the plant’s wider sensor network to ensure precise data collection.

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@GlobalEnvea @codacomms #Environment #Green

Communication gateways for industry.

The latest Industrial Communication Gateway series by Advantech has been announced. They are tailored to meet the evolving needs of the green energy market. This groundbreaking series featuring the new models, ECU-1370 and ECU-1260, represents years of continuous development and innovation and reflects Advantech's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

The ECU-1370 and ECU-1260 models are the highlights of this series, embodying cutting-edge technology and robust features tailored for green energy applications.

The ECU-1370 is designed with a Cortex®-A53 Quad core 1.3GHz processor, 4GB DDR4, and 32GB eMMC, making it ideal for demanding applications. It offers multiple communication interfaces including 1 x CAN, 1 x RS-232/485, and 3 x GbE, along with 24 DI and 6 Relay outputs. This model operates efficiently in a wide temperature range of -40 to 80°C, ensuring reliability in various environmental conditions.

The ECU-1260 is equipped with a Cortex®-A35 Dual Core 1GHz processor, 2GB DDR3L, and 16GB eMMC. It provides 1 x CAN, 3 x RS-232/485, and 2 x GbE interfaces. This model also features a durable design, capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -40 to 70°C, making it suitable for diverse industrial settings.

Enhanced connectivity with innovative software bundles.
The Industrial Communication Gateway series stands out with its robust and versatile features, including multi-protocol support, high-performance IoT capabilities, and an industrial-grade design ensuring reliability in challenging environments. Most of the gateways are equipped with EdgeLink software, supporting over 200 OT drivers to connect to various devices, and enable smooth data flow across diverse protocols like IEC 61850, IEC 60870, OCPP, DNP3, and more. Also, leveraging the power of Advantech’s EdgeHub SaaS, the gateways in the large-scale infrastructures can be remotely monitored and managed on the single platform, saving 30% on setup and maintenance. The comprehensive gateway solutions facilitate seamless edge-to-cloud integration and simplifies the management of renewable energy systems like solar and wind power.

Continuously fulfilling commitment to sustainability.
Advantech's Industrial Communication Gateway series is not just a technological advancement but also a significant contribution to environmental sustainability. By focusing on the green energy market, the company contributes to global efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy sources. The series is expected to play a pivotal role in the management of solar, wind, and other renewable energy systems, offering enhanced efficiency and reliability.

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@Advantech_IIoT @AdvantechIA @proactivefleet #PAuto #Environment #Energy

Major green hydrogen complex.

The Bair Energy Green Hydrogen and Technology Alliance has been joined by ABB to provide expertise on turnkey automation, electrification and digitalization solutions that support the optimization of low-cost green hydrogen production at the 1 GW Clear Fork (TX USA) facility.

“Our collaboration with ABB, and their expertise in automation, electrification and digitalization solutions, will help us to bring the Clear Fork Texas Project one major step closer to success,” said Nicholas Bair, Chief Executive Officer of Bair Energy. “The deployment of ABB Adaptive Execution™ will also enable us to both reduce our CAPEX by 20 percent and speed up our delivery time of the facility by 10 to 20 percent, which is a game changer for a project of this scale.”

Phase one of the project will utilize renewable power to produce up to 33,000 kg of green hydrogen per day initially, with daily capacity designed to increase to 132,000 kg by 2028. The green hydrogen, which emits zero carbon when used as an energy source, will be liquefied on site, stored and transported to customers to help establish hydrogen networks in the mobility and transportation industry.

ABB Adaptive Execution™, a project methodology from design through to operations, will be employed to integrate expert teams, new technologies, agile processes and shared learnings. Using a portfolio of ABB products this helps customers reduce capital costs, while delivering projects ahead of schedule.

The Memorandum of Understanding between ABB and Bair Energy provides scope to explore deploying digital twin technology enabled by the ABB Ability™ 800xA Simulator and ABB Ability™ Process Power Simulator. These solutions will integrate electrical and process controls with dynamic simulation to provide a virtual representation of how the plant is designed, operated and maintained. This enables a shorter new plant start-up period, helps train operators and tests changes in a realistic but disconnected environment.

With transportation the number one cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, the project aims to provide a significant step in the decarbonization of the US transport industry. Due to start operating in 2025, the Clear Fork Texas Project will be one of the largest locally produced green hydrogen facilities.

“We are particularly pleased to be part of this project to support low-cost hydrogen production, and sustainable transport in the US and globally,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries. “It is an exciting time for hydrogen in the US following the Inflation Reduction Act incentives passed last year, which coupled with alliance formations such as this, support projections of reducing the cost of green hydrogen production to under $0/kg by 2030.”

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation #PAuto #Environment #USA

Colaboration to lead to global leadership in large-scale green hydrogen production systems.

ABB and Hydrogen Optimized Inc. (HOI) have signed an agreement to expand the companies’ existing strategic relationship. This includes an investment by ABB into Key DH Technologies Inc. (KEY), the parent company of HOI, as they seek to accelerate the fast-emerging green hydrogen production segment with unique large-scale architecture. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

LtoR: Justin Trudeau, PM Canada, Olaf Scholz, Bundeskanzler BRD, Joachim Braun, President ABB Process Industries and Andrew TB Stuart, President & CEO KEY & HOI.

The signing follows the two companies’ showcase of their green hydrogen technologies at the August 23, 2022 German-Canadian Atlantic Renewable Hydrogen Expo in Stephenville, Newfoundland (CDN), which was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Hydrogen produced with low-to-zero carbon dioxide emissions is widely recognized as essential to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

By accelerating the strategic collaboration between ABB and HOI launched in 2020, the two companies are advancing the deployment of economic large-scale green hydrogen production systems to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries that address a wide range of essential needs – energy, metals, cement, utilities, ammonia, fertilizers, and fuels for aircraft, ships, trucks and rail.

The companies will leverage their respective capabilities and resources to rapidly commercialize HOI’s patented RuggedCell™ high-power water electrolysis technology for the world’s largest green hydrogen plants. Water electrolysis is the process of applying electrical energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. RuggedCell™ technology converts renewable electricity such as hydro, solar and wind power into green hydrogen for industry.

“We look forward to building on our companies’ two-year working relationship to pursue the enormous global opportunity of green hydrogen,” said Joachim Braun, Division President, ABB Process Industries. “Following a rigorous validation of the RuggedCell™ technology, we are confident that, in combination with ABB’s high-power rectifiers, it can become a category leader in the large-scale green hydrogen segment. Our complementary technologies will strengthen the Hydrogen Optimized value proposition and fast-track the commercialization of the RuggedCell™.”

“This agreement positions us for success in the large-scale segment with customers requiring installations in the hundreds of megawatts to multi-gigawatts,” said Andrew T. B. Stuart, President and CEO of KEY and HOI. “ABB’s global footprint, commercial relationships and technology leadership in high-power rectifiers, distributed control systems and manufacturing automation provide us with the market reach and capabilities to achieve our company’s goals.”

Global electrolyzer capacity will reach an estimated 3,100 gigawatts by 2050, according to a June 2022 report published by DNV. The group forecasts that electricity-based green hydrogen will be the dominant form of hydrogen production by the middle of this century, accounting for 72 percent of output.

The proceeds of ABB’s investment into KEY, led by ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), will be used to advance HOI’s intellectual property development, build up corporate capabilities for increased business activity and introduce automated manufacturing and robotics. This will accelerate the rollout of gigawatt-scale electrolyzer manufacturing.

@ABBgroupnews @abb_automation @h_optimized #PAuto #Canada #Germany

Automation for the largest green hydrogen plant.

Integrated control and safety platform optimises world’s largest green hydrogen production and storage facility and supports reliable, clean power generation.

Mitsubishi Power Americas has selected Emerson to automate the world’s largest green hydrogen production and storage facility. The industry-leading hub will help integrate renewable energy by producing and storing green hydrogen for long-duration energy storage. Mitsubishi Power will leverage Emerson’s hydrogen production experience and automation software expertise to increase safety, decrease costs and simplify maintenance across the lifecycle of the facility.

Mitsubishi Power will use Emerson’s digitally connected Ovation architecture to optimise the industry-leading Advanced Clean Energy Storage hub’s production efficiency and help ensure safe operations. Photo: Mitsubishi Power.

Excess renewable energy generated during the winter and spring is difficult and costly to store in its native state for use during the peak summer season and, as a result, is wasted. The Advanced Clean Energy Storage hub will use renewable electricity to power electrolysers to produce green hydrogen. The produced hydrogen will be stored underground in salt caverns so that it can be dispatched when required to generate clean electricity from hydrogen-fuelled turbines, which will help stabilise the grid with sustainable sources and create a new pathway to decarbonisation of the western United States.

“Generating, storing and transmitting electricity with zero carbon emissions is critical to meeting the world’s sustainable power generation needs,” said Michael Ducker, senior vice president of Hydrogen Infrastructure for Mitsubishi Power Americas and president of Advanced Clean Energy Storage I. “Emerson’s hydrogen expertise and digitally connected architecture design will help shorten time to start-up, while also developing a safe, reliable and easily scalable transmission system to meet our goals for renewable energy production and storage.”

The Advanced Clean Energy Storage hub will convert renewable energy through the 220-megawatt (MW) electrolyser bank to produce up to 100 tons of green hydrogen per day. The facility will have storage for 300 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy in two salt caverns. In comparison, the battery storage capacity across the United States is 2 GWh via lithium-ion batteries. The Advanced Clean Energy Storage hub has space for up to 100 caverns.

This first-of-its-kind integrated facility will provide short- and long-duration hydrogen storage for use during peak seasons and throughout the year at the nearby 840 MW Intermountain Power Project (IPP Renewed). IPP Renewed will use 30% (vol) hydrogen fuel in Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbines at start-up, transitioning to 100% (vol) hydrogen by 2045. Emerson and Mitsubishi Power are collaborating on digital solutions for IPP Renewed to optimise plant performance, improve reliability and create cleaner, more reliable power.

“One of the most complex issues in power distribution is successfully managing variability of demand and supply to reduce stress on the grid,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water business. “Mitsubishi Power has successfully leveraged the digital automation stack to develop an innovative, sustainable way to solve that problem, enabling providers to consistently use peak-production renewable energy in peak-consumption hours.”

Mitsubishi Power will use the Ovation™ integrated control and safety platform to optimise the Advanced Clean Energy Storage hub’s production efficiency and help ensure safe operations. The Ovation platform will provide reliable control and monitoring of the renewable hydrogen production process and emergency shutdown, fire and gas protection. The platform will also gather and contextualise data from the plant’s wide variety of third-party systems to help eliminate complexity and risk. Emerson’s PACSystems™ RSTi-EP I/O will provide easier field connectivity and help facilitate project changes without extending timelines or increasing cost, while AMS Device Manager will help monitor the health of plant assets to improve safety, reliability, efficiency and sustainability.

@EMR_Automation @Emerson_News @EmersonExchange T @MHI_Group @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Power #USA

Monitoring methane emissions.

Continuous methane emissions monitoring solution for the energy industry Sensirion Connected Solutions has launched Nubo Sphere, its end-to-end solution for supporting customers in the energy industry with locating unintentional leaks and quantifying methane emissions in a cost-effective manner.

The reduction of methane emissions is being addressed by new regulations and ESG standards, investors and the public with a distinct call to action. Many industries, such as the energy sector, must act – and act quickly. However, existing methane detection technologies face several limitations: they only measure periodically and are therefore inaccurate, cumbersome and expensive.

Thus Sensirion Connected Solutions has developed a methane emissions monitoring solution, “Nubo Sphere,” which allows companies in the energy sector to continuously monitor their assets remotely and fulfill new regulations and ESG requirements. Nubo Sphere is an end-to-end solution that provides high-performance emissions detection, location and quantification at a low total cost of ownership. The compact and robust design ensures reliable operation and high-fidelity data from any oil or natural gas infrastructure at all times.

“Sensirion’s unique expertise in environmental sensing, built up over the last 20-plus years, has propelled us to become the go-to supplier for air quality, gas monitoring and flow sensing. Nubo Sphere is here to set new standards in continuous monitoring technology. With its robust, future-proof and easy-to-use design, Nubo Sphere drives actionable data that will streamline operation efforts and address emissions seamlessly, helping to empower customers’ ESG initiatives,” says Susanne Pianezzi, Sales Director at Sensirion Connected Solutions.

As part of Sensirion, a leading global manufacturer of microsensors and systems, Sensirion Connected Solutions can rely on established production processes and high supply capabilities to offer a scalable solution and excellent lead times for customers. 

@sensirion #Energy #Environment 

Renewable energy in the Pacific.

Multi-million-dollar project will enable conversion of Réunion Island power station to biomass, reducing emissions by 84%.

Albioma, a French independent energy provider, is engaging Emerson to help transition its coal-fired Bois Rouge plant to 100% renewable energy. As part of Albioma’s wider mission to transition all of its existing fossil fuel plants to renewable energy, Emerson’s automation systems and software will enable the coal-fired power station to convert to biomass feedstock.

The multi-million-dollar project is the latest example of how Emerson technologies are helping customers accelerate their transition to more sustainable energy. The power plant, one of three that Albioma operates on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean, will be converted to use 100% biomass wood pellets. The overhaul of the 108-megawatt facility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 640,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year, an 84% decrease in direct emissions compared to current operating levels.

“Our aim as a company is to reach almost 100% renewable energies by 2030 at the latest, and the complete discontinuation of coal at our flagship site represents a major milestone in this green revolution,” said Pascal Langeron, chief operating officer, Reunion Island of Albioma. “Emerson is an automation partner with whom we have a trusted relationship and whose extensive experience and expertise in biomass power plants will be crucial to this project being completed on schedule.”

Pic: Googlemaps

The Bois Rouge plant consists of three generating units. Two units are already controlled by Emerson’s Ovation™ distributed control system, which will be modified for use with biomass feedstock, and the third unit will be replaced with a new Ovation system. The units will also be modernised with new turbine protection and health monitoring systems, safety systems for the boilers, and upgraded boiler control elements and instrumentation.

To ensure the project is completed within the available timeframe – a critical requirement of Albioma – Emerson will provide its Project Certainty methodologies, digital technologies and software expertise. In addition to delivering local engineering support for the project, Emerson will provide its Remote Virtual Office (RVO) collaboration platform – a secure virtual engineering and testing environment that will enable Albioma to access Emerson’s resources and ongoing support to reduce project risk and costs.

“Emerson has a vital role to play in the global transition to a sustainable energy future by supporting customers in their conversion projects,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water business. “Our automation technologies, software, solutions and biomass project expertise will help Albioma operate Bois Rouge at peak performance, while also benefiting the environment by achieving a very significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.”

Work on the transition project will begin during a planned outage in June 2022 and is scheduled to be completed within five months.

@Emerson_News @EmersonExchange @EMR_Automation @Albioma @OvationUsers @HHC_Lewis#Pauto #Power #Environment

Automation for biorefinery.

Fintoil, together with Neste Engineering Solutions, has selected Emerson’s automation software and technologies to maximize the operational performance of its biorefinery being constructed in the port of Hamina-Kotka, (FIN). The plant is to be the third-largest crude tall oil (CTO) biorefinery in the world and produce advanced biofuel and biochemical feedstocks that help lower emissions and reduce reliance on fossil-based fuels.

The plant will refine CTO, a by-product of the wood pulping process, to produce a sustainable feedstock for renewable second-generation diesel, as well as rosin, sterol pitch and turpentine used in the chemicals, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals industries. These CTO derivatives have a carbon footprint up to 90% smaller than their fossil-based equivalents.

“This state-of-the-art facility, which utilizes Neste Engineering Solutions’ NEXPINUS™ technology, uses 40% less energy than a conventional tall oil refinery, and is the perfect example of efficient and sustainable production that supports the circular economy,” explained Fintoil CEO, Jukka Ravaska. “Working with Neste Engineering Solutions and Emerson to implement the latest digital automation technologies will enable us to operate the plant safely and efficiently, minimize operating costs and deliver large-scale production of biofuel and biochemicals as a viable alternative to fossil-based products.”

To reduce project risk and ensure schedule and budget are maintained, Emerson will apply its Project Certainty methodology, which digitalizes project execution and uses practices such as remote testing of equipment. And to enhance plant security performance, Emerson consultancy services will advise on the implementation of cybersecurity best practices.

“Emerson expertise and technologies are playing a significant role in helping companies achieve their ambitious decarbonization and environmental sustainability goals, including the accelerated transition to cleaner fuels,” said Mark Bulanda, executive president of Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “Our project expertise and latest advanced digital solutions are not only helping Fintoil develop the production capacity of a sustainable fuel, but also optimizing plant efficiency to lower its overall environmental impact. We are very pleased to have Neste Engineering Solutions as a partner in this project because of its extensive experience in the CTO business.”

In addition to providing NEXPINUS, engineering procurement and construction management for the project, Neste Engineering Solutions will also be responsible for delivering the entire application software for the new CTO biorefinery.

Fintoil, together with Neste Engineering Solutions, will implement Emerson’s DeltaV™ distributed control system, DeltaV safety instrumented system and DeltaV Live operator interface software to enable efficient production, greater visibility of operational performance and process, and emergency shutdown for improved plant and worker safety. Advanced measurement technologies that have minimal maintenance requirements and diagnostics made available through Emerson’s asset management software will enhance equipment reliability and performance, contributing to greater plant availability and throughput, and lower cost of ownership.

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in 2022. The expected annual capacity of 200,000 tons will create a 400,000-ton reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, which is roughly 1% of Finland’s total emissions.

@EMR_Automation @EmersonExchange @NesteGlobal #PAuto #Finland

Collaboration to accelerate the electrification of heavy machinery.

Danfoss Power Solutions and RISE™Robotics have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly validate and test a key innovation that has the potential to transform the heavy machinery market through electrification.

Danfoss Power Solutions and RISE™Robotics have formalized their collaborative relationship. The two businesses have signed an agreement to work together to validate the latest electromechanical actuator technology from RISE™.

This new partnership is an example of how both companies prioritize innovation and find new ways to meet the increasing demand for electrification solutions coming from current and prospective customers.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to work with RISE™Robotics to accelerate the development of solutions that have the potential to create near-term, low-carbon options for our customers,” said Danfoss Power Solutions President Eric Alström. “We’re taking bold steps to battle climate change and help customers around the world decarbonize. Electrification is a critical enabler to the Green Transition, and we’re thrilled to be on this journey with RISE™.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with Danfoss,” said RISE™Robotics CEO Arron Acosta. “Innovation isn’t for everyone, but at Danfoss, innovation is at the core of their DNA. Their speed of decision-making is electric. Their engineering and global manufacturing capabilities lead the way."

The RISE™Cylinder (US Patent 11255416, patent pending: WO2019/014259) is a fluid-free, electromechanical alternative to hydraulic cylinders for heavy equipment and machinery. It helps address the battery-electrification challenges inherent in hydraulic systems by delivering hydraulic-like forces at unprecedented efficiency, precision, speed, and weight.

“RISE™’s unwavering dedication to commercializing scalable solutions enabled by advanced technology is the same pioneering spirit that has fueled Danfoss’ journey from startup to industry leader,” added Alström. “We look forward to working toward these goals together.”

@Danfoss @RiseRobotics @NapierPR #Robotics #Transportation

Supporting green hydrogen for decarbonization.

Endress+Hauser has announced that it is now a sponsor of the Green Hydrogen Coalition (GHC). The manufacturer has donated to the nonprofit and is committed to supporting the GHC’s vision to deploy green hydrogen at scale to accelerate multi-sectoral decarbonization.

“Sustainability is deeply rooted in our company culture,” says Cory Marcon, Power and Energy Industry Manager, Endress+Hauser. “We are proud to support the mission of the GHC as it closely aligns with our company brand and core values. As one of the pioneers in developing cutting edge technologies, Endress+Hauser’s product portfolio supports online measurement of quantity and quality parameters in the hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and end-use processes.”

The GHC is the only 501c3 educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing green hydrogen adoption at scale. Green hydrogen can be produced using renewable energy sources, through means such as electrolysis. Hydrogen fuel has been referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” for hard-to-decarbonize industrial sectors such as agriculture, steel manufacturing, and cement production, and even aviation. The only byproduct is water, oxygen, and heat.

“As a family-owned company, we see the importance of responsible corporate management and know we have a part to play,” says Marcon.

As a Champion Circle sponsor of the GHC, Endress+Hauser is helping to build top-down momentum for scalable green hydrogen projects that leverage multi-sector opportunities to simultaneously scale supply and demand.

@Endress_US @Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK @Endress_CA  @GHC_hydrogen #Pauto #Environment 

"Moon landing for engineering" hailed with loud siren blast!

The Danish company Haldor Topsoe, has now ushered in a new era of digital, cooperative engineering with Aucotec's platform Engineering Base (EB).

Topsoe, one of the world's leading technology providers for the chemical and petrochemical industry, symbolically marked the start of the company-wide use of EB with a loud siren at the end of May. 'The introduction of this system is a key milestone in our digital transformation', explained Topsoe's CIO Niels Keller-Larsen at the go-live in which more than 100 engineers, managers and project managers participated.

'With EB, we are finally working in a truly data-driven manner across all engineering phases and disciplines on one data model!' emphasized Keller-Larsen. The migration to the platform is Topsoe's largest IT transformation project to date. 'Our moon landing, so to speak' he said.. As a knowledge base for everyone involved, EB supports projects from their "birth" to the very end and offers customers a continuous customer journey. Furthermore, EB standardizes Topsoe's system environment and engineering; numerous discipline-specific tools have been replaced. 'With them, this transformation would never have been possible. As a single source of truth, EB also lays the foundation for AI use.

Partner rather than supplier
The (petro)chemical professionals attached great importance to having to order as few special solutions as possible for their engineering ideal. Thus, EB was chosen. 'However, today's platform differs from how it was at the start of the partnership with Haldor Topsoe', said Aucotec Executive Officer Uwe Vogt. The partnership led to the joint creation of several new developments that are important efficiency drivers for EPCs, plant engineers and operators, such as EBML for faster data exchange or the automatic data sheets of Asset 360. 'Both are now part of the standard in EB's plant license, thus they benefit all customers', reported Vogt with a touch of pride. Furthermore, Keller-Larsen added: 'We wanted a partner, not a supplier. The implementation and pilot project have shown that this has been successful.'

Six weeks instead of six months
'The transformation process was complex and very democratic. Never before have we brought together so much expertise and knowledge', said Keller-Larsen. Everyone had to rethink, but they now have a uniform "data home" for the entire engineering and maintenance tasks. This increases flexibility and saves around 10% of costs. Due to considerable acceleration – some work now takes six weeks instead of six months – significantly more projects will be able to be created within the same time in the future according to Niels Keller-Larsen.

@HaldorTopsoe @AUCOTEC_AG @PresseBox #PAuto #Green #Digitalisation

Composting efficiency.

Ashtead Technology has been appointed as the exclusive distributor in Ireland & Britain for two innovative products that help waste managers improve composting efficiency; protect staff and site safety from waste fires; avoid odour complaints; protect the environment, and comply with the latest regulations.

Freeland's George Longmuir with Ashtead's 

Ben Travis

Developed by Freeland Scientific, ‘CompostManager’ is a complete system for managing the composting process, and ‘smarTprobe’ is a temperature monitoring system for compost and other wastes where overheating and fire represent a potential hazard.

Freeland Managing Director George Longmuir says: “This is an extremely exciting time for our business. CompostManager has been proven at over 85 sites around the world, and the smarTprobe system was launched for waste management licence holders seeking to demonstrate effective fire prevention plans. Both systems employ the Best Available Techniques (BAT) required by the (British ed) Environment Agency.

“As a small company our focus has been on the development of technologies that precisely meet the needs of the waste management sector, so this new partnership with Ashtead Technology will raise our profile enormously and provide a broader spectrum of waste managers with access to products that will benefit their businesses immediately.”

Probes in compost heap!

CompostManager consists of a portable probe and measurement system that records the key factors affecting composting efficiency: temperature, moisture, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Representative batches are measured in situ with a test that takes about one minute to perform, and barcoding ensures traceability of data. Collected data is then transferred to a PC and uploaded to a website which provides suggested management instructions such as ‘Turn’, ‘Irrigate’ and ‘Leave Alone.’ This ensures that unnecessary turning is avoided and that composting is as efficient and fast as possible, whilst minimising the production of bio-aerosols and odours. As well as demonstrating effective management practice, the system also produces PAS100 reports.

The smarTprobe system consists of robust temperature probes that are inserted into piles of bulk materials that have the potential to catch fire. The probes communicate wirelessly with a central server which displays continuous readings via a secure, password-protected website. A colour-coded display enables users to check the temperature profiles of their waste piles at a glance, and the system automatically issues warnings before dangerous conditions arise.

British fire and rescue services attend around 300 significant fires at waste sites every year, so the potential for the smarTprobe system is enormous if these fires are to be prevented.

Commenting on the business benefits for customers, Ashtead’s Ben Travis says: “The Freeland products employ best available techniques to provide traceable data, which demonstrates that a site is being managed properly and is in compliance with both fire safety and environmental regulations. This dramatically reduces risk, which will be of great interest to business owners and insurers. As a further benefit the systems also deliver operational efficiency, so we foresee enormous potential for these products.”

 #Safety #Environment @ashteadtech @Freeland_Sci @_Enviro_News

New EU regulations for airconditioning plants.

Bans on the use of certain refrigerants as well as new regulations and rules on the operation, servicing and labelling of cooling and air-conditioning plants will come into force on 01 January 2020. Rittal has the answers to the users of refrigeration equipment questions on what to do now. Thanks to personalised advice and end-to-end service, operators can make their plants fit for the future, meet the requirements of the F gases regulation and improve their energy efficiency.

Reducing fluorinated greenhouse gases is a highly topical issue that is bearing down on the users and operators of refrigeration systems such as car manufacturers. Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) are used as refrigerants in cooling units and climate control systems. In the future, emitting such climate-damaging substances (either as a result of targeted substitution or through the use of alternative technologies) will have to be reduced in order to limit their impact on global warming. EU Regulation No. 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases (the “F gases regulation”), which has been in force since 1 January 2015, aims to help reduce industrial emissions by as much as 70 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Specifically, the emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) in the EU will need to be reduced by 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to 35 million tonnes of CO2e in 2030. Bans on the use of refrigerants with a GWP greater than 2,500 as well as new and amended regulations on the maintenance, servicing, leakage checking, certification, disposal and labelling of refrigeration equipment concerned will be in force from 1 January 2020.

Due to the bans on the use of F gases and on the marketing of products containing them, companies contemplate which cooling units and chillers they will still be allowed to use after 2020. Manufacturing plants, maintenance staff and energy managers can rely on the fact that Rittal have designed their climate control solutions in accordance with the F gases regulation for years so that they do not need to take any further action. As a service partner, Rittal also provides actionable advice for all cooling system users – including non-customers: From determining the actual condition of a system, calculating its efficiency, drawing up a recommendation for action and determining potential savings, setting up and commissioning a new system (including a maintenance contract) to disposing of old devices, Rittal is supporting plant operators with personalised assistance in overcoming the hurdles of the regulations and efficiency requirements. Customers benefit from cost transparency, qualified service technicians and warranty extensions.

The EU regulation is focussed on the gradual limitation of quantities of F gases in order to protect the environment. Consequently, industry, plant operators and end users must all gradually switch over to refrigerants with a lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) value. Just how future-proof cooling units will be will depend, among other things, on the refrigerant used. Enclosure cooling units and chillers from Rittal are not affected by these use bans as they operate with a hermetically sealed refrigeration cycle and because they run on approved refrigerant. Rittal provides detailed information on the F gases regulation (EU) 517/2014 in this whitepaper.

With the inception of F gases regulation, operators of refrigeration equipment with a defined amount of refrigerant will be obliged to carry out regular leakage tests. Operators can easily determine the extent to which an existing system is affected by the consequences of the F gases regulation by using the Rittal F-gas calculator: This online tool calculates the GWP value and the corresponding carbon dioxide equivalent based on the type of refrigerant being selected and on the amount of refrigerant being used. The carbon dioxide equivalent determines the action the operator will have to take in order to comply with the regulation.

All system parameters (as shown on the rating plate), as well as the type of refrigerant and the filling quantity per circuit are entered. The result is the carbon dioxide equivalent of the system. The admissibility of refrigerant replenishment in the event of a leakage, as well as practical advice for the operation of the current system are also shown.

Investment amortisation periods are always a criterion businesses need to factor in. In addition to possible savings by replacing older climate control systems with new and efficient technology, the payback period can also be shortened by benefiting from grants and/or subsidies. Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) for instance is promoting and initiating climate protection projects throughout Germany via its National Climate Initiative (NKI). When it comes to efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction, funding is being provided to support system operators. The goal is to increase the energy efficiency, reduce the need for refrigeration and to cut fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions in the refrigeration and climate control technology sector. Plant operators will therefore find they can benefit from subsidies from the BMU or the German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) when replacing enclosure cooling units or chillers. The equipment and which activities are specifically subsidised will be surveyed and checked on a case-by-case basis. A company that specialises in making applications for funding supports plant operators at all the necessary stages and checks whether the same investment measure can be cumulated with other funding programmes. Detailed information in white paper “State subsidies for the replacement of enclosure and process air conditioning."

#PAuto @Rittal @bmu @PresseBox

Green go-kart in education!

At the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), engineering students are taught electronics and challenged with real-life industrial equipment driven by electric motors and drives manufactured by Nidec.

SDU gives young engineering students an opportunity to be part of developing the green technology of the future in a creative study environment with modern teaching facilities and dedicated teachers.

The students have access to a genuine go-kart 

The use of high-tech technologies in the form of real-life industrial equipment and advanced electronic techniques is an important part of the teaching and education of Denmark’s future electronics specialists. As part of the teaching projects, the institute and the students have access to several advanced electronic test benches, which gives them a good insight into the handling, testing and research of different combinations of industrial electronic equipment and teaches them to test torque, speed, load, etc. under realistic conditions.

The test benches combine different set-ups of advanced variable speed drives and high-tech electric motors, which have the flexibility to test a wide variety of electronic equipment. The test benches use Nidec Leroy-Somer motor units (servo motors, LSMV and IMfinity induction ranges) and Control Techniques Unidrive M600/M700 drives.

Each semester, the electronic engineering degree programme includes project work on a current topic, for example how to design the electronic controller of an electric go-kart motor. In the course of the project, the students work with the design of variable speed drives, programming, modulation and simulation of the drives as well as the design of electronic hardware. The students have access to a genuine go-kart with an electric motor as well as a corresponding test bench with programmable drives and electric motors.

All in all, the realistic project provides useful knowledge and intuitive understanding of the control of electric motors, which can also be used in connection with variable speed drives for electric cars,
robots, etc.

 @NidecMotorCorp #Education #Green #Denmark @SyddanskUniv

Green chairman re-elected!

The Green Rating Alliance has announced that Rob Wilkinson, CEO of AEW Europe, has been re-elected Chairman of the Green Rating Alliance for the year 2015.

Rob Wilkinson

Rob Wilkinson said: "I am pleased to continue my work as Chairman within the Green Rating Alliance in 2015. The last year was a year of great achievements for the Green Rating Alliance. Resulting from a strong commitment by all members new projects and sustainable services have been developed to further assess and manage the environmental performance of real estate assets across Europe. We trust in continuing member support in the future and are delighted to offer innovative solutions that address the member’s requirements as well as the market’s expectations in 2015.”

New Executive Board
GRA’s Chairman Rob Wilkinson will be supported by a regrouped Executive Board in 2015.
Paul Lensing, Business & ESG Manager and member of the Green Team at CBRE Global Investors was elected as CEO succeeding Christoph Wildgruber, former Head of Sustainability at Allianz Real Estate. He will be supported by Xavier de Saqui de Sannes, Director - Asset Management, France & Belgium at Invesco Real Estate, as CFO and Gérard Biessy, Vice President Corporate Business Lines at Bureau Veritas SA, as General Secretary. Thierry Laquitaine, Sustainable Manager at AEW Europe and Eric Saint-Martin, Director of Asset Management projects at Gecina, act as Deputy CEOs.

Electric vehicle charging stations at US automation vendor facilities

Yokogawa US is now offering electric vehicle charging stations to employees at its Newnan, GA USA facility. ECOtality -  a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies– has installed two Blink® Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations at Yokogawa Newnan as part of its Electric Vehicle Project. The EV Project is a public-private partnership with the Department of Energy that evaluates the effectiveness of EV charger infrastructure. Yokogawa Newnan is the first in the area to participate in the program and install EV charging stations.

“This is an advantage to me and future EV owners because it extends the range of our cars,” says Jimmy Newman, Engineering Manager for Yokogawa Corporation of America, who owns a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle.

The charging stations installed at Yokogawa are part of ECOtality’s nationwide Blink Network. They are Level 2 stations (240 volt AC input) and will charge any vehicle that uses a standard SAE J1772 connector. Some examples of vehicles using this standard are the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, Ford Focus Electric, Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid, Tesla, Mitsubishi I MiEV, and Fisker Karma. Level 2 stations can fully charge a vehicle like the Nissan Leaf, which has a range of about 75 miles, in about 4 to 5 hours.

The installation supports Yokogawa’s “Go Green Initiative” and enhances the Newnan facility’s ISO1401 requirements. Based on the Yokogawa philosophy which states, “Our goal is to contribute to society through broad-ranging activities in the areas of measurement, control, and information,” one of the Group Green Promotion Committee’s role is to promote environmental conservation and monitor environment data related to CO2 emission and promote CO2 emission reduction."

Load cell technology in Antartica!

Mantracourt Electronics’ miniature load cell and strain gauge amplifier (ICA4S) was chosen as a key component in a project to build a drill that recently extracted a 763m ice core from the Ross Ice Shelf in western Antarctica. The research from the study will build a better picture of atmospheric greenhouse gases, sea level and temperature change over the last 20,000-40,000 years.

For this project, Mantracourt’s ICA4S load cell amplifiers have been incorporated into a pair of load pins to provide a 4-20mA output for the monitoring of drilling forces during extraction.

Photo: Darcy

“The drill system is now into its third year of service on the ice,” said Louise Stubbs, Marketing Coordinator at Mantracourt. “This project is a very good test of our technology, with extreme temperatures and a rigorous demand for accuracy and reliability.”

The ICA range of miniature load cell signal conditioners offers a high performance strain gauge amplifier in miniature OEM format, designed specifically for fitting inside load cells, thereby converting a standard load cell to a 0-10 volt or 4-20mA output.

The ICA family offers high stability and fast response and is available in 6 versions with two performance categories S & H (industrial & very high stability). The ICAH range offers very low drift over wide operating temperatures. There is also an ATEX certification available on one version of this device.

“The Mantracourt aspects of this project were supported by our UK based Technical Partners, Applied Measurements,” said Louise. “Mantracourt works with a number of Technical Partners around the world to ensure our technology is backed up by the highest level of customer service and technical support.”

Biomass to low-cost energy

New offering helps create renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Emerson Process Management is expanding its energy management portfolio with new technologies and services that help companies and municipalities convert low-cost waste and biomass into renewable energy more efficiently and reliably, with lower carbon emissions.

As regulatory agencies increase renewable fuels standards and governments consider renewable energy and carbon management legislation, Emerson’s technology and plant automation and control solutions are helping customers convert biomass or waste fuel – whether waste gases from a petroleum refinery, hydrogen from a chemical plant, biogas from potato waste at a food processing plant, or wood waste from a pulp mill – into steam and electrical power.

In the United States, for example, the industrial sector accounts for nearly 30 per cent of the energy used nationwide and 27 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions.

“Biomass-to-energy conversion is the fastest-growing segment of the energy business,” said Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management. “Faced with high energy costs and environmental goals, our customers recognise they can retrofit decades-old plants to convert their own waste streams into environmentally friendly and low-cost sources of power, which is a plus to both the environment and their bottom line.”

Emerson’s new combustion optimisation technology uses Model Predictive Control (MPC) and other algorithms to determine the heat release of biomass and waste fuels. With this capability, the combustion can be optimised to the highest potential efficiency and the waste fuel can be maximised to minimise the cost of energy and reduce emissions. This provides the most affordable and environmentally friendly operation available in the industrial energy market.
“With this technology, many of our customers are operating on renewable energy up to 95 per cent of the time,” Sonnenberg said.

Seattle Steam, a district heating facility that provides heat in the form of steam to 200 buildings and hospitals in Downtown, the central business district of Seattle, USA, turned to Emerson’s new combustion optimisation technology when it decided to rely on low-cost urban wood waste to provide energy for the Downtown area.

“We have reduced our annual carbon emissions by 60 per cent since turning on the new biomass facility that uses wood instead of natural gas,” says Stan Gent, president and chief executive officer of Seattle Steam. “We are looking at upgrading the control systems at all of our existing facilities to achieve additional efficiency gains.”
Emerson’s energy solution includes biomass and waste fuel combustion optimisation technology, that provides automatic, real-time process adjustments based on changing quality and availability of alternative fuels, costs of alternate and fossil fuels, emissions, and process constraints. Emerson also provides energy monitoring and controls to spot unusual energy usage, identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, and manage operations based on real-time energy costs.

They also takes advantage of its wireless measurement technologies in its energy management programmes to reduce the installed cost of monitoring instruments and to allow more measurements in tougher places. In fact, wireless measurements are being installed at approximately a third of the cost of traditional hardwired implementations.

Biomass currently provides more than 3 per cent of the total energy consumption in the United States, with U.S. government studies (Report) predicting biomass could supply up to 15 per cent of U.S. energy demand by 2030.

Emerson Process Management is a leader in renewable energy, working with hundreds of biomass-to-energy industrial customers, advanced biofuel companies converting cellulosic feedstocks into premium fuels, and commercial power generators converting wind, solar, and hydro power and biomass into electricity. Emerson has a dedicated staff of experienced energy consultants who assist customers with identifying opportunities, developing alternate fuel solutions, and implementing overall sustainable energy programmes.