GaN is the chemical symbol for gallium nitride, which is an III-V semiconductor material commonly referred to as a 'wide bandgap' (WBG) material, because it has a relatively high energy requirement (compared to silicon or Si) to knock an atom’s electron from a valence band (e.g. – insulator) to a conduction band (e.g. – conductor). semiconducting devices When it comes to an electronically-controlled switch, users want a material that has a high breakdown electric field (e.g....
In late August, after Russia announced it would shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for repairs, gas prices at the Dutch TTF trading point, the European benchmark, reached €339 euros per megawatt hour. This was 140% higher than the week before and an 848% increase in prices in August 2021, where they sat at around €40/MWh. Such staggering price hikes have had a huge impact on consumers. Rising energy prices in the UK have contributed to the biggest drop in living standards...
Electrical contractor - Canyon State Electric (CSE) is continuing a decade-long tradition of offering free health insurance for employees. According to Poynter, average insurance prices are increasing ten percent over 2021 nationally, with some companies’ costs rising as much as 30%. Petersen-KFF Health System Tracker attributes the skyrocketing costs to greater utilization of healthcare benefits and increased healthcare spending in transitioning from the COVID-19 pandemic. When insuranc...
A broad, cross-industry task force released a report identifying key focus areas to support the B2B trade show industry’s transition towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. The report, titled Finding the future, together: Towards a more sustainable B2B trade show industry in the U.S. and Canada, creates a foundation of data and knowledge for decision-making, knowledge-sharing, and action, highlighting the industry’s most significant environmental impacts. It also showcases s...
The replacement of the internal combustion engine (ICE) by the electric motor is touted as key in reducing pollution from automobiles, but the trend isn’t confined to the road: converting diesel locomotives to electric or hybrid operation is also attracting much attention as a means to combat global warming. maintenance, and reliability For locomotives, switching to electric power has multiple benefits, including a reduction in NOx emissions, noise levels, and fuel consumption, improved...
Prioritizing energy efficiency and renewables while reducing fossil fuel use and diversifying supplies can address major energy security challenges, as per the new International Energy Agency (IEA) policy review. Hungary’s transition to clean energy can enable it to achieve greater energy security and independence as it navigates the supply challenges that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created for countries across Europe, according to a new in-depth policy review by the Internati...
IEA provides first ever assessment of energy jobs worldwide by region and technology, offering vital analysis in the context of the global energy crisis and clean energy transitions. Global employment in the energy sector has risen above its pre-pandemic levels, led by increased hiring in clean energy, according to a new IEA report that offers the first worldwide benchmark for employment across energy industries. Clean energy transitions The inaugural edition of the World Energy Employment Re...
Canyon State Electric (CSE) has selected Chris Reyes as Vice President of Operations on Wednesday, September 7. He boasts over 30 years of experience in the sales and operations of electrical systems and service businesses, and has led the special systems division of Canyon State Electric for over four years. Reyes was appointed by CSE’s executive leadership team to assume the former position of Robert Hughes, who was named company President late last month. In his new role, Chris...
Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm celebrates its 10-year anniversary of generating clean energy on Wednesday 7 September. All 140 turbines of the joint venture between RWE Renewables (50%) and SSE Renewables (50%) have been operational since September 2012 and in the last 10 years, they generated enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of over 400,000 UK homes each year. Reduce CO2 emissions Located in the North Sea, around 20km off the coast of Suffolk, the 504MW Greater Gabba...
In an opinion article published by the Financial Times this week, IEA Executive Editor - Fatih Birol rebuts three myths that are circulating about the current global energy crisis, stressing the importance of separating fact from fiction at this perilous time. first fallacy The first fallacy he addresses in the opinion article, which is also available to read in full on LinkedIn, is that Russia is winning the energy battle. Russia may have benefitted from spikes in oil and gas prices tri...
Two professors have called on businesses to invest in technological solutions to tackle their energy costs. ZPN Energy offers just those solutions. Energy optimization Prof David Bailey, of the Business Economics, University of Birmingham, and Prof Phil Tomlinson, Deputy Director of Centre for Governance, Regulation, and Industrial Strategy (CGR&IS), at the University of Bath, have said in an article that businesses need to look at technology as a means to tackl...
New research from fleet telematics company Geotab has shown that 20% of UK local authorities haven’t even started their transition to an electric fleet. This is despite government incentives and grant funding to support the changeover. When a council makes a move towards something like this, from better pay for their staff to the EV revolution, local companies follow, this is a case of councils not leading their areas by example. Research fi...
From driving LEDs to powering laptops and smart consumer devices, high-efficiency power supplies are a must to minimize power losses and optimize performance. Inefficient power supplies have higher internal power dissipation, which translates into heat. Removing unwanted heat from the unit translates into additional cost, bigger size, lower reliability, and a decrease in the overall performance of the electronic system. thermal management As systems get more powerful and compact, optimal ther...
International Energy Agency’s (IEA) contributions to Indonesia’s G20 Presidency include Net Zero Roadmap for Indonesia and new report on Security of Clean Energy Transitions. IEA Executive Director - Fatih Birol addressed energy ministers from the world’s biggest economies at the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, where he urged them to prioritize actions to ensure secure, affordable and sustainable energy, in response to the crisis the world curren...
Indonesia has a viable path to reaching its target of net zero emissions by 2060, bringing major benefits to its citizens in the process such as more secure and affordable energy supplies, according to a new IEA report. But key policy reforms and international support will be crucial to the success of the clean energy transition in the world’s fourth most populous country as it enters a new phase of its economic development. IEA’s Energy Sector Roadmap The IEA’s Energy Secto...
Volta Trucks, the pioneering and disruptive full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has completed a rigorous program of hot weather testing of its full-electric 16-ton Volta Zero. Taking place over six weeks at the purpose-built Nardo Technical Center in Southern Italy, the hot weather testing program was designed to ensure that the Volta Zero will deliver outstanding levels of reliability and durability when series production of customer specification vehicles star...
Volta Trucks, the disruptive full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, and DB Schenker, one of the world’s major logistics service providers and the pioneer in European land transport, have together completed the first test phase of the full-electric Volta Zero in Europe. For the first time, a Design Verification prototype - Volta Zero operated on roads and in real distribution environments in Paris. Volta Zero In 2021, both companies confirmed an intense part...
Volta Trucks, the disruptive full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has confirmed that the first Volta Zero vehicle has been completed at the company’s contract manufacturing facility in Steyr, Austria. Volta Zero vehicle The landmark vehicle, the first of a series of second-generation ‘Production Verification’ prototypes, will form part of a Pilot Fleet of trucks. These will be loaned to customers for extended periods in late 2022 and early 202...
Volta Trucks, the disruptive full-electric commercial vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has appointed Adam Chassin as its Chief Commercial Officer with immediate effect. Having received nearly €300 million of investment funding to date, and with the first prototype purpose-built full-electric medium-duty trucks for last-mile delivery now being tested by customers, Volta Trucks is poised to supercharge its commercial growth across Europe. Extensive industry experience ...
There are many benefits to using the latest protective relays available in the market. Fast communication and better system protection are two such examples. This article explores both concepts about source synchronization for generator paralleling schemes. To meet the requirements for large-scale electrical distribution systems, multiple generators often need to be paralleled (operate in tandem). Hence, the synchronization of generator sources becomes a very important aspect when multiple gene...
Though it may go out the window with the next PM appointed, the current UK government is planning to reform the way energy is sold on the wholesale markets, so cheaper renewable energy prices get passed onto consumers. This could well bring about new usage patterns across the board that are similar to those used by people using micro-generation and storage at home. The government consultation announced last week is intended to help tackle the cost of living crisis by passing on the lower c...
RWE Offshore Wind Poland, a subsidiary of RWE Renewables, has chosen UL Solutions, an experienced certifier for its F.E.W. Baltic II offshore wind farm. UL Solutions will certify the design fundamentals of the 350 MW project, which will be built in the Polish Baltic Sea about 55 kilometers from the shore, covering an area of 41 square kilometers, at a water depth of 30–50 meters. Ongoing local content strategy Lukas Prietz, Project Director of the F.E.W. Baltic II Wind Farm Project at...
Major economies sharply increased support for the production and consumption of coal, oil and natural gas, with many countries struggling to balance longstanding pledges to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies with efforts to protect households from surging energy prices, according to analysis released today by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Energy Agency. New OECD and IEA data show that overall government support for fossil fuels in 51 c...
Two fast-growing companies are joining forces to accelerate the mobility transition: gridX, the smart grid company recently acquired by E.ON, announced a collaboration with Charge Construct, a holistic charging infrastructure provider based in Ingolstadt, Germany. With the dynamic load management (DLM) solution based on gridX technology, Charge Construct aims to become one of the leading full-service providers for charging infrastructure in Germany and the DACH region. gridX and Charge Constru...
“With the acquisition of Alpha Solar, we are expanding our presence in Poland, one of our focus markets, and are taking a leading market position in solar. The experienced development team joining RWE and the attractive project pipeline are a perfect match with our existing business. RWE is already one of the world's leading renewable energy companies and this transaction underlines our ambition to grow rapidly and sustainably,” said Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG. European renewable...
Canyon State Electric (CSE) named Robert Hughes as President on Tuesday, August 23. Hughes boasts over 15 years in the construction industry and eight years with CSE. He joined Canyon State Electric in 2014 as a Project Manager and has served as Director of Construction and Vice President of Operations. In his new role, Robert Hughes will oversee Canyon State Electric’s financial, human resources, and marketing departments in addition to his previous responsibilities. Construction operati...
Electric Ireland Rewards is a way of saying thank users to customers. Electric Ireland is excited to announce it is re-launching the Rewards program with new and exclusive offers users can experience. With the launch, customers will be able to enjoy: Always on rewards – Offers that are always available. Green partner of the month – See which green partner they have picked for this month to showcase sustainability. Seasonal offers – Limited-time offer...
Even after a legacy of supporting technologies, energy harvesting (the ability to scavenge energy from any source that physics affords us) has only graduated from emerging to emerging. This can be attributed to the drastic reduction in system power budgets resulting from Moore’s law and MEMS. Can users imagine an entire sensor network, processor, and wireless communication (including a display!) with a system power budget of only a few milliwatts? Users no longer have to. Waste vs....
Earlier this week, Jerry Hein – the President of ECSI – announced the promotion of Matt Myers to Vice President and General Manager of ECSI. Matt started his career with ECSI over 20 years ago and has steadily advanced through the organization during that time. Back in 2001 when the company was just a handful of employees Matt held the titles of Systems Engineer, Estimator, and IT Director – all at the same time! New role as ECSI After 10 years, he moved into another h...
Household electricity prices are rising ever higher, and more and more end customers are investing in PV systems for self-generation. This means that gigawatts of photovoltaic and battery capacity will be installed in the coming months and years. However, these assets will most likely never make a contribution to the German power system, as their participation in wholesale and system service markets is blocked by regulation. Increased generation and opportunity Costs for balancing power and r...