QIA (Qatar Investment Authority), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, has agreed to invest EUR 2,427.6 million in RWE AG (RWE) to support RWE’s accelerated ‘Growing Green’ strategy. RWE will issue a mandatory convertible bond to a subsidiary of QIA. The bond will be converted into new ordinary bearer shares expected to represent just under 10% of RWE’s existing share capital (and approximately 9.09% of the enlarged share capital post-conversion).  glob...

Light rail transit (LRT) is a form of urban passenger rail transit that combines the features of a tram and rapid transit. While its rolling stock is more similar to a tram than a traditional railway, an LRT operates at a higher capacity and speed than a tram, and often on an exclusive right-of-way.  light rail network In the United States of America (USA), light rail operates primarily along exclusive rights-of-way and uses either individual tramcars or multiple units coupled to for...

Switzerland aims to transition to a net-​zero energy system by 2050. To meet this goal, it will need to replace fossil fuels with renewables. The Swiss government has also taken the decision to phase out nuclear power. As a result, its plans for carbon neutrality will require not only the electrification of transport and heating by means of electric vehicles and heat pumps, but also measures to compensate for the loss of nuclear generating capacity. To meet increased energy demand, Switzerland...

Three power plant units of RWE Power that were previously on standby will return to the electricity market on schedule in October. The German government has issued the necessary ordinance within the framework of the German Act on the Maintenance of Replacement Power Plants (Ersatzkraftwerkebereithaltungsgesetz). The units Neurath C, Niederaussem E, and F are already scheduled to go into operation in the coming days. As with all other power plants, it is up to the operator to deploy the plants...

RECOM has extended its range of DC/DC converters with a 3W version of their isolated RSH series in a surface-mount format with wide input ranges. RSH3 DC/DC converter features The RECOM RSH3 DC/DC converter is an addition to the successful RSH2 series featuring fully regulated, low-noise, and isolated 3W outputs in a surface mount package. The series features nominal inputs of 12V (9–18V) and 24V (18–36V), which are useful for battery or bus-powered systems, while the outputs avai...

Orcan Energy has installed its solution for waste heat for the first time on a river cruise ship. Currently the largest Rhine cruise ship, A-ROSA SENA, owned by A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH, has installed one of Orcan Energy's ORC modules, designed specifically for the marine market.  E-Motion ship The E-Motion ship, with a hybrid propulsion system consisting of a diesel engine and an electric motor, can convert the waste heat from the ship's engines into electrical energy, reducing its fuel c...

EDF provides an update on its UK nuclear generation business to help develop an understanding of its role in short-term energy security, as well as help the UK deliver longer-term policy objectives. EDF owns and operates eight nuclear power stations across the UK, five that are generating and three in the defueling phase. It is building Hinkley Point C in Somerset and there are plans to develop a sister station at Sizewell C, with a final investment decision due in 2023. EDF’s role in sh...

Orcan Energy, the company turning waste heat into clean electricity, has raised EUR 28.5 million in a late-stage growth round. The funding comes from prominent Article 9 Funds TiLT Capital, a new asset management company dedicated to energy transition and part of the Siparex Group, one of France’s leading private equity companies, and a well-known European institutional investor, as well as existing investor Air Liquide Venture Capital (ALIAD). Based in Munich, Germany, Orcan Energy will...

E.ON’s wholly owned subsidiary - PreussenElektra GmbH has reached an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) on the cornerstones of a potential continued operation of the Isar 2 nuclear power plant beyond 31 December 2022. Regarding a potential continued operation of Isar 2, the operators have recently been in close exchange with the Federal M...

The International Energy Agency (IEA) and several partners have launched a new tool to track financing costs for energy projects around the world, with the aim of identifying and addressing risks that have impeded vital investment flows to emerging and developing economies. Cost of Capital Observatory The Cost of Capital Observatory was developed by the IEA, together with the World Economic Forum, ETH Zurich and Imperial College London. It will be hosted on the IEA’s website and regularl...

Electric Miles is selected for Tech Nation's Net Zero 3.0 program, joining 34 of the UK’s most impactful early-stage scale up climate tech companies. They believe that the ready-to-scale product strongly focuses on the UK's ambition towards Net Zero with the mission of making charging better for drivers and the environment to ensure that charging is happening at the right time, at the right cost, and with the lowest carbon impact on the environment. Latest IPCC report From heating homes...

Despite encouraging signs of progress across a number of sectors, stronger efforts are needed to bring the world on track to reach net zero emissions by mid-century, according to the IEA’s latest appraisal of global progress on clean energy technologies. The annual Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP) update assesses 55 components of the energy system – sectors, technologies, infrastructures and cross-cutting CO2 mitigation strategies – and evaluates their progress in 2021 to...

Large-scale and prolonged power outages, waste piling up as waste disposal ceases to function, disruptions to water or gas supplies, and successful cyber attacks on critical infrastructures, especially the power grid, can have serious consequences.  Holistically conceived cyber security is necessary to prevent such scenarios. As part of the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Energy, Fraunhofer FKIE is working with partners to increase IT security and make the sector resilient to attacks....

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...

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...

Smart home technology is rapidly on the rise. From remote-controlled security cameras to the humble solar garden light – many users are starting to wake up to the benefits of smart.  New technologies are, without a doubt, making lives more convenient, comfortable, and safer while also helping users save time, energy, and effort. Smart gadgets On the interior front, smart gadgets can add modern flourishes to the home décor replacing old-fashioned models with sleeker...

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...

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...

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...

Data is at the heart of modern railway infrastructure. Both freight and passenger trains require robust communications to transfer location data between rolling stock systems, between trains, and between trains and control centers. Furthermore, modern passenger trains are equipped with convenience and entertainment functions such as internet access, information display screens, charging sockets, and vending machines. Wireless standards Due to the variety of these use cases, railway networks u...