SSE’s carbon capture ambitions in Scotland received a major boost today after the UK Government announced its backing for the Scottish Cluster.

The Acorn Project, which underpins the Scottish Cluster, had been in ‘reserve’ status since late 2021 but has now been officially named as a Track 2 Cluster.

That will progress the development of the transport and storage infrastructure required to deliver vital carbon capture projects in the north-east of Scotland.

SSE Thermal has set out plans to decarbonise its existing site in Peterhead, which plays a crucial role in Scotland’s electricity system as the only plant of its type north of Leeds.

Together with Equinor, SSE Thermal is developing Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station which is a key project within the Scottish Cluster and would ultimately replace the existing station.

The proposed plant, which would connect into the Scottish Cluster’s transport and storage network, could become Scotland’s first flexible power station with carbon capture technology. Planning is already underway for the project.

With a generating capacity of up to 910MW, Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station would capture up to 1.5MT of carbon annually, which represents around five percent of the UK Government’s 2030 target.

According to a report commissioned from BiGGAR Economics, the new development would contribute £60m to the Aberdeen City and Shire economy during development and construction, with 980 years of employment supported. Over the station’s operational lifetime, it is estimated that around £25m would be added to the wider Aberdeen economy each year, with around 240 jobs supported on an annual basis.

In addition, Viking CCS in the Humber has also been named as a Track 2 Cluster. The Humber is a key strategic location for SSE Thermal, with several low-carbon projects in development. That includes Keadby 3 Carbon Capture Power Station, being developed in collaboration with Equinor, which is the UK’s only power CCS project with planning consent.

Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of SSE, said:

“Carbon capture will play a critical role not only in decarbonising the UK’s power system but also in unlocking economic growth and boosting our energy security, and today’s announcement marks a major step forward in its deployment. We know how important it is that the north-east of Scotland is decarbonised and the decision to support the Scottish Cluster shows that there is commitment to doing so.

“Time remains of the essence. Now, we must move quickly to deploy the transport and storage infrastructure which will underpin the rollout of CCS across the Scottish Cluster. Doing so will allow crucial low-carbon projects – such as our carbon capture project at Peterhead – to be brought forward, supporting the energy transition while providing good, green jobs and enhancing the regional economy. The UK has a real opportunity to lead the world on carbon capture if we can accelerate progress and today’s announcement provides welcome impetus.”

For more information visit www.ssethermal.com

Chart Industries is all set to commemorate the grand opening of their second Theodore, Alabama site, affectionately known as “Teddy 2.” On Monday, July 31st, Chart Industries, a global leader in cryogenic storage and transportation equipment, will be joined by esteemed guests including CEO Jillian Evanko, CFO Joe Brinkman, Congressman Jerry Carl, Mobile County Commissioner Randall Dueitt, and Mobile Chamber Chairman of the Board G Brent Barkin.

The Teddy 2 facility is a game-changer in the industry, as it will be responsible for manufacturing the largest shop-built cryogenic tanks in the world. These tanks play a crucial role in various sectors, including propellant storage in the aerospace industry, hydrogen and LNG storage for the marine industry, and numerous applications in the sciences and decarbonisation sectors.

The grand opening of Teddy 2 marks a significant milestone for Chart Industries and showcases their commitment to innovation and excellence. With this state-of-the-art facility, Chart Industries is well-positioned to revolutionise cryogenic tank manufacturing, meeting the growing demands of the aerospace, marine, and decarbonisation industries.

For more information visit www.chartindustries.com

BP and OMV have announced a long-term sale and purchase agreement for the supply of up to 1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year for a period of 10 years starting from 2026. The agreement will see BP providing OMV with LNG from its diverse global portfolio, which will be received and re-gasified through the Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam, Netherlands, or other terminals in Europe.

The deal is seen as a strategic step for both companies. For OMV, it aligns with its ongoing efforts to diversify its supply sources, including gas from its own production and external sources like LNG. This diversification is aimed at ensuring the security of gas supply to its customers in Austria and Europe.

For BP, the agreement reinforces its view of LNG as an essential part of the energy transition and its own transformation into an integrated energy company. It also highlights the company’s LNG supply capability in the European market, supporting the security of supply for its European customers.

Overall, the agreement reflects the long-standing relationship between BP and OMV and their shared commitment to the energy transition and the security of gas supply in Europe.

For more information visit www.bp.com

Exergy International and Geothermal Engineering Ltd., the UK’s leading developer and operator of geothermal plants, signed a contract for the supply of a 3 MWe gross capacity ORC power plant at the United Downs site, in Cornwall. This represents the first integrated deep geothermal project in the UK which will deliver by late 2024 around 3 MWe of baseload renewable electricity and up to 10 MWth of zero carbon heat for a large housing development at Langarth Garden Village, a project being developed by Cornwall Council.

The turnkey EPC contract awarded to Exergy will include the design and engineering of the ORC system, the manufacturing of the equipment and the erection of the power plant. Exergy’s technology will utilise the highly efficient Radial Outflow Turbine to produce electricity exploiting the heat of the geothermal fluid. The condensing system chosen is air-cooled to avoid any water consumption. Being a closed loop cycle, the power plant will not release any vapour into the atmosphere and will have a small footprint and minimal visual impact. The system will be delivered in 18 months, with commissioning of the plant expected by late 2024. Once in operation, this installation will save more than 6,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year compared to the production of conventional fossil fuel power.

Luca Pozzoni, general manager of EXERGY INTERNATIONAL commented: “We are excited to embark on this journey with GEL. The United Downs project will be a milestone in the development of the geothermal industry in the UK and will give us the valuable opportunity to contribute with our technology and expertise to kick-starting geothermal power generation in the country. Under a structured long-term agreement with GEL, we will be able to partner for the development of future geothermal initiatives to unlock Europe’s largely untapped geothermal potential and support the decarbonisation of our energy systems.”

Ryan Law, CEO of Geothermal Engineering Ltd, said: “Geothermal heat is an untapped renewable resource with the potential to provide huge amounts of energy-efficient and carbon-free electricity and heat. Exergy is well known globally for their competence in the binary geothermal power sector and we are very pleased to be working with them on this landmark project in Cornwall. Our long-term agreement with Exergy will also enable us to develop a number of additional projects both in the UK and abroad.”

GEL and Exergy’s partnership

The United Downs power plant is expected to be the first of many projects to be developed under a partnership and cooperation agreement signed between Exergy International and Geothermal Engineering Ltd.

United Downs Geothermal Project

The United Downs Deep Geothermal Power project will be the home of the first geothermal power plant in the UK. The geothermal site, located near Redruth in Cornwall, utilises the naturally heat producing granite which underlies most of Cornwall. Two deep, directional wells have successfully been drilled for the purpose; the production well to a measured depth of 5,275m – the deepest onshore well in the UK – and the injection well to 2,393m. The naturally-heated geothermal fluid will be pumped to the surface, passed through the power plant to produce electricity, then returned underground via the injection well (Fig.1) where it will percolate through the granite to reheat. This process means that geothermal energy produces clean, green power with no waste product.

Fig 1 – GEL’s novel geothermal doublet with a deep production well and shallow injection well.

Organic Rankine Cycle geothermal power plant – How it works

An ORC or binary power plant consists of a closed loop cycle which extracts the heat of the geothermal fluid coming from the production well, transferring it by means of heat exchangers to an organic fluid. The organic fluid is first heated in the preheater and then vaporized, absorbing the heat from the geothermal fluid. After being superheated, the vaporized fluid drives a turbine coupled to a generator to optimize the production of electricity. The vapour exhaust returns to liquid state through a condenser, thereby retaining the organic fluid within the closed loop system.

Fig. 2 – Binary ORC power plant

For more information visit www.exergy-orc.com

Global integrated logistics and materials management specialists, ASCO, has appointed Mike Pettigrew as its new CEO.

Formerly UK managing director, Mike Pettigrew will replace out-going CEO, Peter France, following a planned transition on the 2nd of October.

Mike Pettigrew joined ASCO in March 2022 as general manager for the group’s AFM and Seletar businesses and was appointed UK managing director last November.

With extensive experience across the energy, marine, industrial power and ship building sectors, Mike Pettigrew spent 13 years with Babcock International before joining ASCO. He was also a non-executive director of Decom North Sea.

Commenting on his appointment, Mike Pettigrew said: “I look forward to working with Peter over the next couple of months to ensure a smooth transition, before taking up the role of CEO. This is an exciting period for ASCO as we continue to build our portfolio of services amid the energy transition. Working closely with the board of directors, I aim to deliver our strategy and further strengthen our leading position in the sector.”

ASCO chairman, Bob Keiller, added: “As a business committed to developing its people, we are excited to see Mike take on the role of CEO. We are confident he will continue to grow the business, spearheading our commitment to helping clients and partners tackle climate change and accelerate the energy transition while delivering our own target to become a net zero Green House Gas emissions business before 2040.”

“I would like to thank Peter for his leadership over the last five years, which have been highly challenging for the industry. During Peter’s tenure, ASCO has made significant progress through the development of new service lines and the establishment in new geographies.

Peter France added: “When I joined ASCO, the focus was on transformative and sustainable growth whilst delivering safety and service excellence in its operations. During that time, the business has strengthened partnerships with operators, developers and ports across the world, grown its materials and logistics management systems and used its existing capabilities to support supply chain optimisation in the renewables sector.

“It has been an honour to lead ASCO during the last five years. I am grateful to all of my colleagues who have worked tirelessly through challenging times such as the pandemic to deliver positive growth.

“I believe that with Mike at the helm, supported by the board and our colleagues across the world, ASCO has a very bright future.”

Peter France will join TT Electronics plc as CEO.

For more information visit www.ascoworld.com

Exolum and Vopak Ventures, two prominent players in the energy and logistics sectors, have recently made strategic investments in the French start-up HSL Technologies. HSL Technologies is focused on developing innovative and cost-effective methods for the safe transportation and storage of hydrogen, a crucial element in the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

At the core of HSL Technologies’ offering is its proprietary solution called HydroSil®, a liquid silicon derivative that enables the efficient and secure transport and storage of hydrogen. This breakthrough technology addresses the fundamental challenge of safely and economically transporting hydrogen on a large scale. By introducing hydrogen molecules into a silica-based liquid carrier, the hydrogen can be released on demand. This carrier has been proven to be stable and can be stored and transported within existing infrastructure at ambient pressure and temperature.

What sets HydroSil® apart from existing solutions is its unique energy dynamics. While energy is required to bind hydrogen in the carrier, no energy is needed for its release. This zero-energy release represents a significant advancement in the hydrogen market, as it eliminates the energy costs associated with traditional hydrogen storage and delivery methods.

Exolum, a company that specializes in energy infrastructure and services with a strong commitment to innovation, views this investment as a strategic move to diversify its business and embrace new energy vectors such as hydrogen. By supporting the development of HSL Technologies, Exolum aims to contribute to the growth of the hydrogen sector and promote sustainable energy solutions.

Vopak Ventures, the investment arm of Royal Vopak, a leading global provider of storage and handling infrastructure for liquid and gaseous chemicals, also recognizes the potential of HSL Technologies’ HydroSil® solution. Vopak Ventures focuses on funding ventures that facilitate new sustainable solutions, making this investment a perfect fit for their New Energies, Feedstocks & Sustainability fund. By supporting HSL Technologies, Vopak Ventures aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable logistics and storage solutions.

HSL Technologies’ president and CEO, Corine Dubruel, is excited about the investments from Exolum and Vopak Ventures. She believes that their expertise and market knowledge will be invaluable in scaling up the company and overcoming the barriers that currently hinder the widespread adoption of hydrogen-based applications. By addressing safety, regulatory, and supply chain issues, HSL Technologies aims to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen technologies and contribute to the decarbonisation of various industries.

In addition to Exolum and Vopak Ventures, HSL Technologies has attracted investments from other significant players in the industry. Equinor Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor, and EDP Ventures, the investment arm of the Portuguese utility company EDP, have also recently entered HSL Technologies’ capital. Furthermore, the European Innovation Council, the largest Deeptech investment fund established by the European Union to support start-ups, has joined as a shareholder, further validating the potential of HSL Technologies’ HydroSil® solution.

With a strong and diverse group of shareholders, HSL Technologies is well-positioned to accelerate the development and industrialization of its hydrogen logistics solution. The investments from Exolum and Vopak Ventures, along with the support from existing shareholders, will provide the necessary resources and expertise to propel HSL Technologies into a leading player in the hydrogen transportation and storage sector.

For more information visit www.vopak.com/ventures

The H2A (Hydrogen to Amsterdam) consortium has been officially launched in Amsterdam, marking a significant milestone in the development of the green hydrogen value chain. The consortium’s mission is to establish a green hydrogen supply chain by importing one million tonnes of 100 percent green hydrogen annually to and through the port of Amsterdam. The launch event, titled “The Importance of Hydrogen: Propelling the Future,” brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including visionaries, politicians, knowledge institutes, terminals, producers, transporters, offtakers, and ports.

The symposium, attended by approximately 250 people, demonstrated the broad cross-sector support for the use of green hydrogen as a catalyst for change. It was the first time that all these stakeholders appeared on one stage to explore the future of green hydrogen, with Amsterdam positioned as the hub for the North Sea Canal Area and the wider European hinterland.

The H2A consortium consists of eight international members that span multiple links in the green hydrogen ecosystem. Their aim is to create an end-to-end green hydrogen value chain by providing a road to market, as well as the necessary infrastructure, assets, and knowledge. All participants agreed that achieving this goal would require collaboration, utilising existing infrastructure, and accelerating development.

Collaboration was emphasised as the key to unlocking the power of hydrogen. Earl Goetheer, CTO HighTechXL, stated that working together was essential for connecting the port to the future. Ramon Ernst, managing director of Evos, highlighted the importance of building relationships across sectors and regions. Alice Krekt, director NL Hydrogen, stressed that collaboration, rather than competition, was crucial in the field of green hydrogen.

The target of importing one million tonnes of green hydrogen annually sets a clear and ambitious goal. Dorine Bosman, CIO of Port of Amsterdam, acknowledged the scale of the goal but also its ability to inspire and rally support. Misha Valk, Head of Capacity Development at SkyNRG, put the target into perspective by stating that eight million tonnes of green hydrogen would be needed by 2050 for sustainable aviation in Europe.

Amsterdam is uniquely positioned to realize regional, national, and international green hydrogen supply chains due to its existing infrastructure. The port has suitable locations and infrastructure for receiving, storing, and distributing various forms of hydrogen. Additionally, the Amsterdam region encompasses a seaport, airport, and large-scale industry, providing all the necessary infrastructure such as terminals, pipelines, and systems. The port also has direct connections to three of the nine European transport corridors, making it an ideal hub for supplying green hydrogen to the northwest European hinterland.

The urgency of the energy transition was emphasized throughout the event. Diederik Samson, chief of staff of Frans Timmermans and european commission executive vice president, urged stakeholders to take decisive action and reassess their plans. He emphasised the need for a reliable and available supply of hydrogen to meet the growing demand from industries.

The launch event highlighted the importance of infrastructure and the need for swift action, robust regulations, mandates, and subsidies to accelerate the transition to green hydrogen. The H2A consortium, consisting of Port of Amsterdam, Evos Amsterdam, Zenith Energy Terminals, Hydrogenious LOHC, Electriq Global, City of Amsterdam, SkyNRG, and Programmabureau Noordzeekanaalgebied, has announced multiple Memorandums of Understanding for large-scale projects and collaborations.

Overall, the H2A launch marks an important step towards establishing a green hydrogen value chain in Amsterdam and propelling the energy transition. The consortium’s focus on collaboration, infrastructure development, and swift action highlights the commitment of various stakeholders to drive the adoption of green hydrogen and achieve decarbonisation targets.

For more information visit www.hydrogenious.net

VARO Energy, a Swiss-based energy company, has successfully secured $3.33 billion in financing through an oversubscribed debt round. The financing consists of a $1.13 billion loan and a $2.2 billion Borrowing Base Facility, with an additional $831 million available for investment in the company’s ONE VARO Transformation strategy.

The loan size was increased by 13 percent due to high demand, and the banking syndicate was expanded to include fifteen lenders and five sureties. Four new lenders joined the round alongside VARO’s existing lending banks. Notably, VARO raised a $165 million green loan, meeting stringent environmental, social, and governance criteria for the partial refinancing of the Bio Energy Coevorden acquisition.

The refinancing of the Borrowing Base Facility and Ancillary Guarantee Facility also saw strong demand from banks and sureties. Both the Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan facility are unsecured, providing increased financial flexibility for VARO.

The funds raised through this financing will be invested in VARO’s ONE VARO Transformation strategy, with a focus on sustainable energies such as biofuels, biogas, e-mobility, nature-based carbon removals, and hydrogen. The company aims to position itself as a leading partner in the energy transition, supporting customers in their decarbonisation efforts.

VARO Energy has made significant investments in biogas and renewable energy services over the past year, acquiring Northern Europe’s largest biogas facility and increasing its stake in E-Flux, a provider of software for vehicle charging. The company has also signed an agreement with Lufthansa to supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Dev Sanyal, CEO of VARO Energy, expressed his satisfaction with the successful financing round, stating that it strengthens VARO’s financial position and demonstrates confidence in the company’s strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

The financing round was led by several institutions, including SMBC Group, Mizuho Bank, ING Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank, Rabobank, Société Générale, HSBC, Santander, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and Natixis, among others. Euler Hermes, Atradius Crédito y Caucion, Chubb European Group, Tokio Marine Europe, and Zurich Insurance also participated in the round as lead arrangers.

Overall, the successful financing round positions VARO Energy for further growth and investment in sustainable energy solutions, supporting the company’s commitment to the energy transition and decarbonisation.

For more information visit www.varoenergy.com/en/home/

The Board of Directors of Vopak Terquimsa, the leading logistics company in the Western Mediterranean, has approved the start of engineering work for the development of the fourth phase of expansion of its capacity at the Química quay in the Port of Tarragona.

This fourth phase will involve the construction of 37,000 m3 of capacity, dedicated to the storage of chemical products, linked in some cases to circular economy projects and the energy transition. Construction is expected to begin throughout the year 2024, once the administrative process for obtaining the corresponding permits has been completed, and the start-up of the facility is expected in the last quarter of 2026.

With this new expansion, Vopak Terquimsa will reach 483,901 m3 of capacity in Tarragona, and will add a total of 72 million euros of direct investment in growth investments since 2017, thus consolidating its leadership position in the Port of Tarragona.

EDUARDO SAÑUDO SÁNCHEZ, CEO of Vopak Terquimsa explains that “This new project is fully aligned with our strategy, which includes growth in industrial chemical enclaves and developing projects related to new energies and the circular economy.” The head of the company wanted to underline that “Our commitment to Tarragona is definitive, as an enclave for the storage of chemicals in southern Europe, and consolidates us as the reference partner of the petrochemical industry in its decarbonisation process”.

The new extension will incorporate the latest technology in industrial automation to allow safer and more efficient operations to be carried out, all under the highest standards of environmental efficiency. The construction characteristics of the new capacity will allow high flexibility to meet the needs of customers.

For more information visit www.vopakterquimsa.com/en/

TotalEnergies is pursuing its profitable growth in the renewable energy sector with today’s announcement that it is buying out Total Eren’s other shareholders, increasing its stake from close to 30 percent to 100 percent. The Total Eren teams will be fully integrated within TotalEnergies’ Renewables business unit. The deal follows the strategic agreement signed between TotalEnergies and Total Eren in 2017, which granted TotalEnergies the right to acquire all of Total Eren after a five-year period.

As part of this transaction, Total Eren is valued at an Enterprise Value of €3.8 billion based on an attractive EBITDA multiple negotiated in the initial strategic agreement signed in 2017. The acquisition of 70,8 percent represents a net investment of around €1.5 billion for TotalEnergies.

Total Eren’s integration should result in an increase in TotalEnergies’ Integrated Power Net Operating Income of around €160 million and CFFO of around €400 million in 2024.

A global player with a 3.5 GW renewables production and a 10 GW pipeline

Total Eren has 3.5 GW of renewable capacity in operation worldwide and a solar, wind, hydroelectric and storage projects pipeline of over 10 GW in 30 countries, of which 1.2 GW are in construction or late-stage development. TotalEnergies will leverage Total Eren’s 2 GW assets in operation in merchant countries (notably Portugal, Greece, Australia, and Brazil) to build up its integrated power strategy. TotalEnergies will also benefit from Total Eren’s footprint and ability to develop projects in other countries such as India, Argentina, Kazakhstan, or Uzbekistan.

A complementary fit with TotalEnergies’ footprint and workforce

Total Eren will not only contribute high-quality operated assets, but also the expertise and skills of nearly 500 people based in more than 20 countries. Total Eren’s successful organic growth testifies to the expertise that its teams have built up internally and in connection with partners and suppliers since its creation in 2012. The teams and the quality of Total Eren’s portfolio will strengthen TotalEnergies’ ability to deliver production growth while optimising its operating costs and capex by leveraging its size and purchasing bargaining power.

A pioneer in green hydrogen

Further to its activities as a renewable energy producer, Total Eren has launched pioneering green hydrogen projects in recent years, located in various regions, such as North Africa, Latin America, and Australia. These green hydrogen activities will be pursued through a new partnership in an entity named “TEH2”.

“Our partnership with Total Eren has been very successful, as shown by the size and quality of the renewables portfolio. With the acquisition and integration of Total Eren. we are now opening a new chapter of our development as the expertise of its team and its complementary geographical footprint will strengthen our renewable activities and our ability to build a profitable integrated power player,” said Patrick Pouyanné, chairman & CEO of TotalEnergies. “I want to thank Total Eren’s founders, Pâris Mouratoglou and David Corchia, as well as their teams, for their incredible development work, which led to this successful achievement. Today, we are welcoming Total Eren’s experienced teams, who will continue their remarkable work with the added resources of a bigger company.”

Pâris Mouratoglou, chairman of Total Eren, stated: “With Total Eren, we have successfully created a best-in-class renewable energy player. I want to thank BPI France, Tikehau Capital, NextWorld and Peugeot Invest, for their constant support since 2015. I also want to thank Patrick Pouyanné for his trust and for the spirit of partnership that has led to such achievements with TotalEnergies over the last five years.”

David Corchia, CEO of Total Eren, added: “This success belongs first to Total Eren’s teams around the globe. They will undoubtedly make a huge contribution to TotalEnergies’ highly ambitious plan in the renewable sector. Together with Pâris Mouratoglou, we will continue creating and developing new companies for the energy transition and the planet’s decarbonisation, as well as, within our new promising partnership with TotalEnergies, the development of giant green hydrogen production projects worldwide.”

For more information visit www.totalenergies.com

McDermott has secured a master services agreement from Gevo, Inc., to provide front end engineering and early planning services for Gevo’s development of multiple sustainable aviation fuel facilities in North America. The first facility, Net-Zero 1, is expected to be constructed near Lake Preston, South Dakota. The Net-Zero 1 plant is expected to produce up to 65 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel, diesel and renewable gasoline that, when consumed, is expected to have a lifecycle net-zero greenhouse gas footprint.

“Gevo is a premier provider in the fast-growing sustainable aviation fuel market. This agreement marks the commencement of a collaborative relationship through which we will support Gevo’s low-cost delivery and speed-to-market goals for Gevo’s novel alcohol-to-jet process design which incorporates Axen’s ethanol-to-jet process,” said Vaseem Khan, senior vice president of McDermott. “We believe we have the experience and expertise to deliver a standardised, modularised, and repeatable design for this and Gevo’s future Net-Zero projects.”

Under the scope of the MSA, McDermott will provide engineering, execution planning and pricing for the engineering, procurement, and construction phase of Gevo’s Net-Zero 1 project. The MSA is expected to lead to a final EPC agreement with Gevo for its Net-Zero 1 project to be finalized in coordination with the timing of Gevo’s financing activities for its Net-Zero 1 project.

“Gevo’s Net-Zero Plant Design with its focus on carbohydrates as feedstock, has been carefully chosen for its exceptional cost-effectiveness, reliability, and scalability to meet the surging demand for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable hydrocarbons. This MSA is the first step towards adding McDermott as a project EPC partner. In addition to Axens, Praj, and Fluid Quip, adding McDermott to our team, fortifies further our capabilities in project execution and modularization, especially when teamed with Praj. In an increasingly challenging project environment over the past years, this collaboration is designed to ensure we stay on track, manage costs, and execute our NZ-1 project, and be capable of executing additional NZ projects,” stated Dr. Chris Ryan, president and chief operating officer of Gevo.

The Net-Zero 1 plant will not only contribute to sustainable aviation fuel production but also has the potential to generate 550 million pounds of high-value nutritional products annually. The electricity needed to power the plant will come from wind energy, ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to fuel production. Additionally, the thermal energy needs of the plant are expected to be met by renewable natural gas sourced from upstream facilities that produce RNG using manure from dairy cattle and livestock.

The project will be led by McDermott’s team in Houston, Texas, with support from its engineering team in Gurugram, India.

For more information visit www.mcdermott-investors.com

Ondas Holdings Inc., a leading provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Airobotics Ltd. has partnered with Aero A2Z Services Pvt. Ltd. and will be presenting its UAS and C-UAS solutions at the International Drone Expo in New Delhi India. By partnering with Aero A2Z, Airobotics has expanded into the growing Indian markets, offering advanced drone infrastructures for Indian cities as well as industrial and critical infrastructure facilities.

Airobotics and Aero A2Z will offer the Optimus System, a fully automated drone system and Iron Drone on July 26 – 27, 2023, a fully automated drone interceptor. Optimus Systems are deployed in Safe & Smart Cities, Defense, Homeland Security, and industrial projects & facilities, performing various automated aerial missions 24/7 without human intervention. Iron-Drone C-UAS is an advanced, patented counter-drone solution designed to defend assets against hostile drones in complex environments with minimal collateral damage. The Iron Drone platform is agnostic to any detection solutions and is designed to physically capture hostile drones when identified.

“India has emerged as a promising market for drones, with a growing demand for UAS,” said Eric Brock, chairman and CEO of Ondas. “We see potential across various sectors such as critical infrastructure surveillance including defense establishments, ports, refineries, manufacturing facilities, all of which are a good fit for our UAS and Counter Drone solutions.”

The Smart City mission, launched by the Government of India, has played a significant role in fostering growth in the drone industry. As part of the mission, selected cities are undergoing comprehensive development, incorporating advanced technologies and infrastructure to enhance urban living. Drones have become an integral part of this transformation, offering solutions for efficient city planning, infrastructure monitoring, traffic management, surveillance, and disaster management. With the aim of creating sustainable and technologically advanced urban centres, the Smart City mission has created a favorable environment for the adoption and utilisation of drones, making India an attractive market for UAS manufacturers, service providers, and technology innovators. We believe the integration of drones into the Smart City ecosystem has the potential to revolutionise urban development, enabling more efficient resource allocation, improved citizen services, and enhanced overall quality of life.

Meir Kliner, CEO of Airobotics, said, “We are looking forward to commencing our business expansion into India, offering Airobotics’ trusted autonomous drones to local entities. We have partnered with Aero A2Z, a well-experienced and established local vendor, to achieve this objective, and we believe we will be able to capture many business opportunities in this remarkable country.”

For more information visit www.ondas.com

Climate Investment, a specialist investor focused on enabling capital-efficient decarbonisation of heavy-emitting sectors, has led the $12 million Series B fundraising round for SensorUp, a market-defining, geospatial platform for methane leak detection and repair. Evok Innovations also participated in this funding round.

Methane emissions reduction is essential to oil and gas companies’ journey to net-zero operations. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, second only to carbon dioxide in its overall contribution to climate change. It is responsible for about a third of current climate warming, according to the International Energy Agency.

SensorUp has developed the SensorUp Gas Emissions Management Solution, a data integration platform for methane leak detection and repair, measurement reconciliation, reporting, and verification of methane emissions. SensorUp GEMS enables swift detection and mitigation of methane emissions by providing contextualised, actionable, and auditable insight to its customers.

Furthermore, SensorUp GEMS will enable oil & gas companies to be compliant with international standards, such as the United Nations’ OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard, GTI Veritas Protocols, ISO/OGC sensor web data standards, and more, resulting in transparent, accurate and factual emissions data for those companies’ customers

Richard Jackson, president of operations for US Onshore Resources and Carbon Management at Occidental, said, “We are committed to reducing methane emissions in our operations, and our decision to use SensorUp Gas Emissions Management Solution aligns with Oxy’s net zero targets and helps advance our low carbon business objectives. Our teams will use SensorUp GEMS to help accelerate leak detection and repair while moving toward more measurement-based emissions inventories.”

With its industry-leading portfolio of methane detection companies, CI recognises the platform’s value. Mike Bishop, CI investment director, will join SensorUp’s board, with Daniel Palmer, CI commercialisation director, joining as an observer.

“Many oil & gas operators have found it difficult to reduce emissions because they do not have a way to map emissions data to their operations,” commented CI’s Mike Bishop. “SensorUp GEMS completes the picture by integrating emission data from all methane detection providers, including our portfolio of methane detection technologies, allowing operators to correlate emissions to operations, leading to better maintenance and predictive capability.”

SensorUp founder, Prof. Steve Liang, Ph.D., echoed this, “SensorUp GEMS streamlines legacy processes and unifies disparate systems into a coherent sensor web, enabling accurate emissions reporting and optimized emissions reduction operations. With companies like Oxy adopting SensorUp GEMS, and the CI investment, our team is excited to use a software approach mitigating climate change and making a global positive impact.

For more information visit www.sensorup.com

Koole Terminals, a major player in the energy transition process, is strengthening its role in Liverpool with the expansion of renewable storage tanks. The company recognises the importance of making a significant contribution to the energy transition and is committed to seizing sustainable opportunities.

In June, Koole successfully converted and prepared four storage tanks for a leading international client in a record time. These tanks are specifically designed to store sustainable renewable feedstock, marking Koole’s first foray into this area. The decision to convert the tanks was driven by market demand and the need to be flexible in response to fluctuations in supply and demand.

Working closely with the customer, Koole made specific modifications to tailor the project. This involved adding ship pumps, unloading points, and insulation to ensure optimal performance. The team, including sales manager Virgil Veira and operations manager Ronald Thonissen, is proud of the result and the customer has already expressed interest in more tanks like these.

The Liverpool project is a supply chain solution that provides partners with the infrastructure to create and store renewable feedstock streams. By facilitating and securing supply for the production of renewable fuels, Koole becomes an integral part of the chain and supports the energy transition. The solution also offers the customer the ability to collect and safely store used cooking oil in bulk, with the added benefit of filtering the collected oil for easier processing in their factories.

The success of the project is attributed to the expertise and experience of the team involved. The commitment and availability of the team have impressed the client, who commended their dedication. The team, which includes manager HSEQ Klaas Verburgt, project manager Edwin van Noord, and terminal manager Tankstorage Liverpool Shaun Davin, met all deadlines and stayed within budget. Their focus on maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety is paramount.

Looking back on the project, Ronald Thonissen is proud of how it was executed. The alignment with Koole Tankstorage Liverpool’s vision and strategy is promising for the future. With their commitment to sustainability and ability to seize opportunities, Koole Terminals is well-positioned to continue leading the way in the renewable energy sector.

For more information visit www.koole.com

Floating storage and slow sailing had already become hallmarks of the LNG market, before global gas’ paradigm shift that started in 2021, having been frequently seen in Europe and Asia as traders looked to push supply along late-year pricing contangos. And despite 2022’s unprecedented events, the queueing of laden carriers offshore key demand markets and the lowering of sailing speeds still returned as summer tipped into winter.

The floating storage incentives have returned for later this year, and traders have been well aware of them for more than a few months. But the LNG market can differ considerably each year from the last, as has shown to be true. Forward LNG and gas prices for Europe and Asia are much lower than they were during the 2022 summer, while Europe’s race for LNG last year will have lasting effects on the region’s import infrastructure. Both factors are set to impact how floating storage in Europe could look this time round.

NW Europe inter-month des price spreads

Kicking the bucket down the road

Underpinning floating LNG storage in previous late summer-early winter periods is one of the LNG market’s key price drivers – the difference between the seasonality of global demand and the far more tempered fluctuations in LNG production, which can lead to surplus supply in late summer and early winter that has to be pushed further into the year when the northern hemisphere’s heating demand fully rears its head.

The same forces are at play this time as well. Europe’s gas storage sites are largely heading for near-maximum inventories by the start of winter, aided by a storage overhang heading into summer that mirrored 2020’s stocks in size, which would severely curb the ability of Europe to absorb surplus molecules at the turn of seasons.

The LNG supply outlook for early winter looks stronger than last time too, with global loadings set to be mainly buoyed by the return of the US’ 15mn t/yr Freeport LNG export terminal as well as other, smaller liquefaction capacity additions and optimisation.

Forward spot charter rates and European delivered LNG prices assessed in recent weeks suggest an incentive for firms to delay October deliveries to the region well into November and potentially as far as early December, when accounting for additional vessel hire and boil-off losses incurred.

Flat price terra firma

LNG and gas prices in Europe and Asia have fallen back to more familiar levels after breaking into the stratosphere in 2022. But these lower prices leave much less space for temporal price spreads to grow and keep pace with any gains in floating storage costs that stem from higher rates as charterers jostle for finite available LNG shipping capacity. In turn, this suggests that there is scope for a tightening of LNG shipping capacity that could close the floating storage arbitrage.

Prompt spot LNG charter rates over the fourth quarter of last year also far surpassed previous records, driven by demand for carriers to float the cargoes. But this huge jump in freight costs was not enough to slam the floating storage arbitrage shut. Instead, prompt LNG and gas hub prices in Europe crumbled under the weight of excess gas to increase their discounts to the much higher prices for delivery slightly further into winter, countering the higher freight costs and leaving an incentive to keep floating cargoes and hold off regasifying LNG in onshore tanks. At its greatest, the Dutch TTF gas hub’s front-month contract held a $26.57/mn Btu premium over its day-ahead price, while the northwest Europe third half-month des price was as much as $15/mn Btu above the corresponding first half-month price. In turn, this has driven vessel availability down to near-zero and almost halted prompt Atlantic chartering activity entirely.

The lack of potential downward movement available to gas and LNG prices, without turning negative, may keep a lid on how many molecules can be kicked down the road.

Europe’s onshore LNG storage hurdle

Europe has made several LNG import capacity additions over the past year, largely in markets previously dependent on Russian gas supply. But while the region’s aggregate regasification capacity has jumped, its growth is fragmented over a greater number of terminals and has been quicker than the increase in total LNG storage capacity.

Almost all new import infrastructure has come in the form of floating storage and regasification units or similar infrastructure – a selection necessitated by the much shorter timeframes needed to bring such import projects on line than with onshore terminals which count their construction times in years.

A key downfall of using these offshore units is that they have limited LNG storage capacity, with each FSRU typically capable of holding roughly just one standard cargo of LNG at any time. This leaves capacity holders at FSRU-based import terminals with little ability to store LNG at the facility and regasify later in the winter, which had been widespread during previous occasions of European floating storage, albeit less so in 2022 – with the exception of Spain – when high terminal stocks throughout summer limited available space for firms to take advantage of temporal price spreads for the fourth quarter.

Additionally, most of these offshore terminals have multiple users, meaning that stocks must be drawn down to allow space for the next import slot’s owner to bring in its own cargo. This could either push firms to instead float their cargoes to their next import slot, or bolster excess gas supply downstream from the facilities.

The buildout of Europe’s regasification capacity, particularly the additions in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy, could also aid the drawdown of floating storage later in the winter, contrasting with last year when high sendout capacity utilisation kept laden carriers on the water well into the heating season.

The flexibility afforded by this new capacity goes further too, allowing more LNG to be imported should heating demand rise substantially in the event of any early winter cold snap, thereby limiting the need for Europe to dip early into its underground gas stocks and aiding the preservation of these inventories for the latter part of the season.

For more information visit www.argusmedia.com

The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project in Brownsville, Texas, has received a boost as Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has been given the Notice to Proceed. The project aims to improve the Brownsville ship channel for NextDecade Corporation’s Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville.

Great Lakes will begin Phase 1 of the project later this year. The main objective of the BIH project is to deepen the 17-mile-long Brownsville ship channel from its current depth of 42 feet to 52 feet. This will result in significant improvements in navigational safety for commercial shipping in South Texas.

The Port Director and CEO, Eduardo A. Campirano, emphasised the importance of the BIH Channel Improvement Project for the regional economy. He stated that it will strengthen the port’s position as a critical player in the global supply chain. As cargo volumes continue to increase, the project will enhance the port’s capabilities and support sustainable growth for the industries it serves.

The BIH project consists of two phases and is funded through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) between the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Brownsville, and NextDecade. NextDecade has agreed to cover 100 percent of the costs for Phase 1, including the deepening of the channel and the development of ship berths and a turning basin for the Rio Grande LNG facility. Phase 2, which involves deepening the channel from the turning basin area to the Rio Grande LNG site, will be executed by the Port of Brownsville and the USACE.

The federal government has also allocated $68 million for Phase 2 of the project under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Appropriations Law, which was announced in March 2022.

Lasse Petterson, president and CEO of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, expressed excitement about the project, calling it the largest undertaken in the company’s 133-year history. He looks forward to collaborating with NextDecade, the USACE, and the Port of Brownsville to complete this important improvement project, which will benefit navigation interests and facilitate future development at the Port of Brownsville.

For more information visit www.portofbrownsville.com

The Hydrogen Utility and Vopak Terminals Australia have announced a collaboration for the H2-Hub Gladstone project in Queensland, Australia. The project aims to establish a renewable energy complex for green hydrogen and green ammonia production. With 3 GW of planned electrolyser capacity and over 1.7 million tonnes per year of planned green ammonia production, H2-Hub Gladstone is set to be one of the largest green hydrogen and green ammonia developments in Queensland and a leading export project globally. The collaboration between H2U and Vopak will focus on the development of the Export Terminal of H2-Hub Gladstone.

H2U has already formed strategic partnerships and green ammonia offtake agreements with Orica Australia, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Korea East-West Power. Vopak Terminals Australia, a subsidiary of Royal Vopak, is a global leader in independent tank storage and has over 20 years of experience in storing ammonia. Vopak aims to contribute to the development of new supply chains for green ammonia and hydrogen and has plans for green ammonia projects in the Netherlands, Singapore, and the US.

The collaboration between H2U and Vopak is seen as a valuable addition to the H2-Hub Gladstone consortium, bringing Vopak’s expertise and industry-leading track record as a storage terminal operator. The project has been declared a Coordinated Project by the Queensland Coordinator-General and is progressing with the environmental impact assessment. The collaboration is expected to support the project’s development and future green ammonia offtake partnerships.

The project has received support from the Queensland Government, with Minister Glenn Butcher stating that it aligns with the government’s vision for a clean energy future and will create local job opportunities. Vopak’s managing director, Paul Kanters, sees the collaboration as an opportunity to shape a sustainable future and accelerate towards new energies.

Overall, the collaboration between H2U and Vopak for the H2-Hub Gladstone project signifies a significant step towards the development of a green hydrogen and green ammonia export hub in Queensland, contributing to the global energy transition.

For more information visit www.vopak.com

TC Energy Corporation has announced that it has entered into an agreement to monetise a 40 percent interest in its Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC and Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC systems. Columbia Gas and Columbia Gulf will be held in a new joint venture partnership with Global Infrastructure Partners. Total proceeds for the transaction are expected to be $5.2 billion (US$3.9 billion) in cash, to be paid at closing, subject to certain customary adjustments. The value of the 40 percent equity interest implies an enterprise value to a comparable EBITDA1 multiple of approximately 10.5 times TC Energy’s base 2023 outlook and expected run-rate capital structure for the partnership entity.

TC Energy will continue to operate the systems, focusing on maximising value through safe operations, reliability of service and operational excellence. TC Energy and GIP will jointly invest in annual maintenance, modernisation and sanctioned growth capital to further enhance system capacity and reliability. GIP will fund its 40 percent share of gross capital expenditures, which are expected to average more than $1.3 billion (US$1 billion) annually over the next three years.

“Today’s announcement represents a major milestone in achieving our 2023 strategic priorities. To date, we have advanced our deleveraging goals by delivering on our $5+ billion asset divestiture programme ahead of our year-end target, while maximising the value of our assets and safely executing major projects, such as Coastal GasLink and Southeast Gateway,” said François Poirier, TC Energy’s president and chief executive officer. “As part of our ongoing capital rotation program, we continue to evaluate opportunities to further our deleveraging objectives and optimally fund our secured capital programme. Our commitment to strong balance sheet fundamentals and disciplined sanctioned net capital spending of $6 to $7 billion annually post 2024 will continue to provide the foundation for a long-term sustainable annual dividend growth rate of three to five percent.”

Supporting the energy transition through critical natural gas infrastructure

The Columbia Gas and Columbia Gulf pipelines span more than 15,000 miles across a highly integrated North American natural gas network and are underpinned by strong long-term natural gas fundamentals and a rate-regulated commercial framework. These assets deliver a substantial portion of daily US natural gas demand, including approximately 20 percent of US liquefied natural gas export supply. The resiliency of these systems combined with their ability to connect the largest and lowest-cost natural gas basin to key demand centres and global export markets, uniquely positions them to remain a central player in further supporting the transition to lower-emitting energy sources.

“Long-term fundamentals continue to underscore the role of natural gas in a sustainable energy future. Our partnership with GIP will provide additional investment capacity to originate and execute Columbia Gas and Columbia Gulf projects to meet that need,” continued Poirier. “This, and future partnerships, across our portfolio will strengthen our ability to enable the energy transition while enhancing balance sheet strength. We look forward to combining the collective strengths of TC Energy’s strategic asset base and strong operating expertise, as well as GIP’s proven investment track record and extensive relationships in the global LNG market.”

“We are pleased to partner with TC Energy on energy infrastructure assets that are critical to the North American and global natural gas markets,” said Bayo Ogunlesi, Global Infrastructure Partners’ chairman and chief executive officer. “We welcome the opportunity for this joint venture to leverage the combined assets and capabilities of TC Energy and GIP to serve growing market needs for cleaner fuels, energy security and energy affordability.”

Transaction details

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

In connection with the transaction, Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. will contribute all of its equity interests in its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Columbia Gas and Columbia Gulf, to a newly formed wholly-owned entity, Columbia Pipelines Operating Company, LLC, which will be directly held by a newly formed wholly-owned entity, Columbia Pipelines Holding Company, LLC. CPHC represents the entity through which TC Energy and GIP will each hold their equity interest. At closing of the transaction, TC Energy and GIP will enter into a Limited Liability Company Agreement and Operation and Maintenance Services Agreement that provide GIP with certain customary rights commensurate with its 40 percent equity ownership interest while preserving TC Energy’s flexibility to efficiently and effectively operate the assets.

As CPG’s equity interests in Columbia Gas and Columbia Gulf constitute substantially all of the assets of CPG, in accordance with the indenture governing CPG’s outstanding 4.50 percent Senior Notes due 2025 and 5.80 percent Senior Notes due in 2045 with a total outstanding principal amount of US$1.5 billion (collectively, the “Existing Notes” and such indenture, the “Existing Notes Indenture”), CPOC and CPG will enter into a supplemental indenture to the Existing Notes Indenture pursuant to which CPOC will assume all of CPG’s obligations under the Existing Notes and the Existing Notes Indenture and CPG will be concurrently released from its obligations thereunder.

As part of the transaction TC Energy expects to undertake a recapitalisation and debt restructuring of CPHC and CPOC. TD Securities Inc. and Citi acted as financial advisers to TC Energy on the transaction and have provided capital commitments with respect to expected bank financing. Mayer Brown is acting as legal adviser to TC Energy.

For more information visit www.tcenergy.com

Elmac Envisafe Technologies, a subsidiary of The Protectoseal Company, announced the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Thane, Mumbai. The facility spans approximately 25,000 square feet and features the latest in CNC and material handling technology.

The opening of the new facility is a significant milestone for Elmac Envisafe Technologies. The investment in the state-of-the-art facility and equipment has allowed the company to streamline its production process and reduce lead times on orders. With the ability to produce high-quality products more efficiently, Elmac Envisafe Technologies is better equipped to meet the growing demand for its services in India and beyond.

The facility is strategically located near Thane, Mumbai, which is a hub for manufacturing and distribution in India. This location allows the company to easily transport its products to customers throughout the country. The new facility and upgrades have also allowed Elmac Envisafe Technologies to reduce production time, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.

“As a company, we are constantly striving to enhance our capabilities and better serve our customers, and this expansion is a testament to that. With our investment in innovative technologies, we are equipped to offer even higher quality products and services to our growing customer base,” said Swapnil Patil, managing director of Elmac Envisafe Technologies. This new facility not only strengthens our position as a leading provider of flame arresters and pressure protection equipment but also enables us to meet the increasing demands of the market. I am truly proud to be a part of this exciting milestone in our company’s journey and look forward to the continued growth and success.”

“We are excited to open our new manufacturing facility in Thane, Mumbai,” said Chuck Hall, president of The Protectoseal Company. “This investment in our manufacturing capabilities will allow us to better serve our customers with high-quality flame arresters and pressure protection equipment. We look forward to continuing to grow and expand our business in India and beyond.”

Elmac Envisafe Technologies is a subsidiary of The Protectoseal Company, a global leader in vapour and flame control technologies. With over 90 years of experience in the industry, The Protectoseal Company is committed to providing innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of its customers.

For more information visit www.elmactechnologies.com

This use case illustrates the digitalisation of inspection processes at KLM Equipment Services, resulting from the collaboration between Aboma and Smartflow with the implementation of the digital inspection system called AMTeK.

After the implementation of the AMTeK application, KLM Equipment Services managed to create a transparent data-transfer process between the field inspectors, office workers, and their customers.

KLM Equipment Services aimed at increasing efficiency, ensuring workers’ safety, creating a standardised workflow followed by each inspector, and ensuring equipment compliance.

KLM EQUIPMENT SERVICES

GOALS

• Future proof and flexible inspection solution
• Automated workflow for preparing, sharing, and completing inspections
• Structural data collection

CHALLENGES

• Improving and updating inspection methodology
• Preparing inspections for multiple inspectors and different assets & equipment
• Reporting and analysing inspection results

SOLUTION

• Standardised inspection workflow
• Connected environment with colleagues and external stakeholders
• Automated workflows and reporting

RESULTS

• Complete standardised inspections and error reduction
• Increased collaboration and knowledge transfer
• Increased insight about inspector, asset, and equipment performance
• Additional steps towards increasing preventive maintenance

WORKING AT ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD

KLM Equipment Services operates as an independent subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

KLM is the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name and the biggest operating airline in the Netherlands, carrying 34.1 million passengers and 621,000 tonnes of cargo, forming the heart of the KLM Group.

Since 1952, KLM Equipment Services has been the maintenance company for Ground Support Equipment at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, the world’s fifth busiest international airport in terms of traffic, serving 319 destinations.

KES provides the aviation industry with solutions for Ground Support Equipment, ensuring that customers can work carefree. Due to the utmost importance of safety and predictability of airplanes, equipment, people, and procedures, KES has a very high standard that it needs to maintain at the airport.

PAPER, PAPER EVERYWHERE!

KES was dealing with a couple of repetitive challenges that created a boomerang effect. Paper-based inspections can obviously be a time-consuming and error-prone process, which makes it difficult to prepare inspections effectively.

MAINTENANCE AND PREPARATION OF INSPECTIONS

Sometimes the inspection methodology needs to be updated because of new guidelines for a specific asset or machine or simply based on feedback from the inspectors.

This was often proven a difficult and time consuming project that KES had to do fully themselves without any assistance.

Trainings needed to be changed, all corresponding documents needed to be updated, and a dilemma occurred on how to deal with the new methodology compared to past inspections.

Secondly, the preparation of inspections was very time & resource intensive. All of the inspections needed to be prepared and filed, often with corresponding documents that were necessary for the inspector.

Everything was documented on paper, making it difficult for other team members to access vital information, which resulted in collaboration and preparation for inspections being ineffective

EXECUTING THE INSPECTIONS

A paper-based inspection process can be overwhelming due to the amount of collected data, the exact steps that need to be followed, and the precise location of an asset.

Most importantly, with paper inspections, it is difficult to give the proper (follow-up) instructions for specific situations or based on the findings of the inspector.

Often, therefore, the final inspection report turns out to be incomplete due to missing and wrong information caused by human error. This in its turn, can result in data loss and inefficiency.

REPORTING AND ANALYSIS OF INSPECTIONS

When keeping piles of hard-copy paper-based reports, there is always a risk of misplacing, losing, or even storing data in a non-compliant manner.

On top of that, traditional inspection methods are not designed to keep everyone involved in the process. In other words, companies gain no insights into the inspectors’ & asset performance. With this in mind, KES had the need to create a new preventive maintenance culture.

OTHER RECURRING CHALLENGES

Inspectors are not fully enabled unless their work is directly visible to others (and vice versa). Many times they hand the paper to someone else who will store it somewhere.

Often, this situation leads to a chain of double work being carried out that could have been prevented if inspectors’ checks had become immediately available and visible digitally.

Risks increase when data is not visible right after it has been captured, especially when there are no automated alerts to validate certain findings.

CENTERING THE INSPECTOR

The combination of Aboma’s expertise in equipment inspections and Smartflow’s knowledge in digitalising inspections resulted in the digital AMTeK inspection application we know today.

With all the challenges that KES was facing, AMTeK was already proven. The usage of the inspection app helped KES equip their inspectors with a tool that eases and simplifies the inspection process by replacing paper-based inspections and checks with fully digital and standardised ones.

The AMTeK app helps KES workers become the center of a connected ecosystem by equipping inspectors with the proper tools that allow them to deliver and receive information online and offline, anytime and anywhere, improving their own productivity while feeding into the productivity of their colleagues.

Simultaneously, giving better insights for all stakeholders involved by storing all the data in one place.

AMTeK provides a standardised inspection model for different kinds of equipment that requires the inspector to follow a certain workflow in order to complete and submit a checklist.

The workflow guarantees that the inspector follows a certain procedure which ensures that the right instructions and relevant follow-up questions are shown at the right time.

This process ensures quality by standardising the collection of data. The flexibility and scalability of Smartflow have enabled KES to start using other checklists thanks to an easy and standardised process. Most importantly, the look & feel of these checklists is similar, minimising the onboarding and training efforts of users.

HOW DOES THE AMTEK APPLICATION SUPPORT KLM?

• All inspections flows are standardised.
• Easy data exchange with other tools to leverage data management and compliance.
• Based on the inspection rules, only relevant checks need to be answered, and the users are guided through the process in an intuitive manner.
• The inspector has the information and guidance at the right place, at the right time.
• Inspection reports and certificates are automatically generated and shared with stakeholders that need to be informed.
• Access to the inspection history of a specific asset. Data can be used for repetitive inspections, such as yearly inspections.
• Questions are presented in the correct order, and provided with the right contextual information.
• The UI is specifically designed for field workers, with focus on readability and the ability to easily insert data.
• Data is collected in a structural and clear view.
• Customisable reports with insights on all aspects of the inspected asset/equipment, complete with a comment, action, or photo.

THE INSPECTORS OF THE FUTURE

After using the AMTeK app, KLM Equipment Services has nurtured a standardised work environment that simplifies communication, data, and knowledge transfer. By uniting technology with field workers, they managed to shape a new generation of inspectors and lead the way to smart ways of working.

SMARTFLOW & ABOMA: A STRONG DUO

The AMTeK application has been proving itself successful thanks to the close collaboration between Aboma and Smartflow.

Due to their shared efforts, the AMTeK app has been constantly adding new improvements targeting the needs of inspectors. Aboma’s strong knowledge in machinery, health & safety, and regulation supplies feedback directly from their customers, adding value to the complete AMTeK application.

Because of the flexibility of the Smartflow platform, it is then also possible to quickly implement this feedback into the solution.

ZERO INCOMPLETE INSPECTIONS

Along with the introduction of the AMTeK app, there have been zero incomplete or faulty inspection reports leading to increased efficiency and safety.

A benefit of utilising previous inspection records is being aware of what issues the machinery faced last year, which expedites the current inspection process. Instead of spending time on finding out the latest status of the equipment, the time saved is now focused on the thing that matters the most; the actual inspection.

ALL DATA IN ONE PLACE

Inspectors and office workers can access information digitally all in one place. This way they can ensure a comprehensive and transparent knowledge transfer that prevents delays.

If an inspection is done on the same asset, they simply use the previous inspection (and its findings) as a basis for the new inspection. If there was a point of interest last year, then a direct follow-up is possible with the current inspection.

DIGITAL REPORTS

KES can now automatically send reports to all important stakeholders. The inspectors have to perform little to no extra administrative work in addition to their inspection. This benefit encourages them to embrace digital technology, allowing them openness to new developments.

INSIGHTS & PERFORMANCE

With the inspection results being collected in a centralised database, it gives KES the opportunity to identify trends and patterns in inspector performance, asset condition, and equipment reliability.

By examining this data, KES can gain valuable insights into areas where improvements can be made and identify potential risks or issues before they become major problems.

Which, in its turn, can lead to reduced downtime and increased operational efficiency.

Further, by tracking equipment performance over time, KES can identify patterns and trends that may indicate the need for maintenance or replacement.

This can help the airline proactively manage its equipment, reducing the risk of unexpected downtime or failures. In the case of AMTeK, the inspections also help to track inspector performance and identify areas where additional training may be needed.

This can ensure that inspectors are consistently performing inspections to the highest standards, leading to increased safety and reliability.

NEW GENERATION OF INSPECTORS

This digital transformation has benefitted not only talent retention but a new generation of inspectors who are attracted to the simplified processes and a smarter, more agile way of working. The new generation of workers is much more tech-savvy, making the inspection job at KLM Equipment Services much more attractive as well.

EMPOWERED WORKERS

Digitalisation empowers inspectors to take more responsibility and look for new and better ways of performing their daily tasks. Tools that keep processes, systems, and reports up to date further encourage a culture of flexibility.

AMTEK TODAY

• 1700+ inspectors
• 600+ companies
• 120+ supported types of equipment
• 45-50K completed inspections per year

FINAL THOUGHTS

KLM Equipment Services has trusted Aboma and Smartflow to help with eliminating the risks endangering the workers’ safety and the quality of their machines.

The solution that Smartflow developed together with Aboma allows companies like KLM Equipment Services to digitalise their entire inspection process easily.

Field workers play a key role in driving better-informed operational and business decisions. They create a preventive maintenance mindset with the generation of a large amount of data that is necessary for these decisions to be accurate.

Still, similar companies continue to struggle with data-related issues. Some of the most frequently encountered challenges mentioned in this use case are collaboration, compliance, reporting, and data insights. And, of course, the ability to fully enable inspectors by providing them with the proper tools and insights.

Smartflow, together with Aboma, aims at helping customers like KES remain a market leader in the industry and have accurate and swift responses to their clients.

Data plays a big role in that as well as delivering more intelligent analysis. Hence Smartflow and Aboma will continue to improve the way inspections are done in the field.

For more information visit www.smartflowapps.com

Applus UK Ltd has recently become an Associate member of EEMUA. Specifically, their Tank Inspection Team is now included in the Associate status. With extensive experience in storage tank testing and inspection, Applus UK’s team is well-equipped to assist tank owners in optimizing their inspection intervals through detailed inspection data and the application of remaining-life and RBI principles. Additionally, they have a team of tank engineers who provide specialized advice on storage tank inspection, repair, modification, and maintenance.

EEMUA’s primary focus is to support its members and the wider industry in all aspects of storage tank design, inspection, maintenance, and repair in order to ensure safe and efficient operation. By joining EEMUA, Applus UK will have the opportunity to share and learn good practices from other industry experts, which will further enhance the capabilities of their Tank Inspection Team. Ultimately, this will enable them to better serve their clients and contribute to the continued safe operation of these critical assets.

For more information visit www.eemua.org/home.aspx

LBC Tank Terminals, a leading storage company, has announced its plans to expand its terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. The decision comes as a response to the growing demand for base oils and chemicals in the region and the need to strengthen its position as a base oil hub.

The expansion project will involve the construction of 28 tanks, providing an additional storage capacity of 80,000 cubic metres. This significant increase in capacity will enable LBC Tank Terminals to meet the growing demand for storage in the area. In addition to the new tanks, a state-of-the-art loading station for trucks and rail cars will be built as part of the project, ensuring safe and efficient transportation of goods.

Erik Kleine, general manager Europe, explained that the expansion is necessary due to the increasing competitive pressure faced by chemicals production in Northwestern Europe. Producers in the Middle East and the US have an advantage with access to lower priced feedstock, making it crucial for LBC Tank Terminals to enhance its capabilities and cater to the rising import of base oils and chemicals into Europe.

Moreover, the project aligns with LBC Tank Terminals’ commitment to sustainability in the storage industry. The company aims to provide integrated storage solutions that prioritise resource efficiency, minimise environmental impact, and contribute to a meaningful future. Specific measures and technologies will be implemented in the new infrastructure to achieve these goals.

The expanded terminal is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2025. This expansion not only demonstrates LBC Tank Terminals’ dedication to meeting customer needs but also positions the company for continued growth and competitiveness in the storage industry. With its enhanced storage capacity and modern infrastructure, LBC Tank Terminals is poised to maintain its prominent position as a base oil hub in the region.

For more information visit www.lbctt.com

Costain has successfully completed a key milestone in the journey towards the UK’s first fully decarbonised industrial cluster. When finished, the CO2 emitted from a variety of industries on Teesside will be captured, transported and securely stored under the North Sea.

The Costain project team, which included Mott MacDonald and px Group, has now completed the first phase of the engineering design for the onshore CO2 gathering pipelines for the Northern Endurance Partnership, the CO2 transportation and storage company that will serve the ECC carbon capture and storage project. The pipeline networks will take the CO2 from a variety of carbon capture projects, including Net Zero Teesside Power’s CCGT generating station, which will be the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power station with carbon capture. Alongside the pipeline, the project team also need to consider broader challenges including routing of the high voltage electrical connection, rail, road and rivers crossings.

The team, based in Redcar at the Wilton Centre, used laser scanning and modelling techniques to design the route for the new CO2 gathering network, which includes the crossing of the river Tees, natural gas pipeline and high voltage infrastructure.

The front end engineering design was carried out for the Northern Endurance Partnership and Net Zero Teesside Power, which are key elements of the ECC, which was selected by the UK Government as a track 1 cluster as part of the cluster sequencing process for carbon capture, usage and storage in 2021. The ECC is on course for first commercial operations by 2027.

Sam White, Costain’s natural resources managing director, commented:

“The East Coast Cluster has the potential to capture and store up to 23m tonnes of CO2 a year and make a huge contribution to the UK’s net zero goals. Innovative schemes like this one are vital to ensure we grow regional economies in a sustainable way.”

Ben Ken, Northern Endurance Partnership deputy director said:

“The successful design of the Northern Endurance Partnership’s onshore CO2 pipeline network on Teesside is a key milestone for the wider East Coast Cluster, which has a crucial role to play in decarbonising the industrial powerhouse regions of Teesside and the Humber”.

For more information visit www.costain.com

Mabanaft GmbH & Co. KG, an independent energy company, has announced its continued investment in the end-customer business by acquiring the remaining shares in five Petronord Group companies. The acquired companies are Hempelmann Wittemöller, Keck Energieservice, Lipps Energie, Staack Pooltankstellen, and Uhlenbruck Energie.

This acquisition is part of Mabanaft’s strategy to reorganise its end-consumer business, which now consists of three units: Bulk, Energy Distribution, and Retail. The Petronord Group, which previously formed a significant part of Mabanaft’s end-customer business, will now be split into two areas: Commercial Road Transport and ED.

The CRT business will include the automated truck service stations within the tankpool24 network in Germany and will become part of the Retail unit. The remaining end-customer businesses in Germany, Austria, and Sweden will be part of the ED unit.

The integration of the five Petronord Group companies is a significant step for Mabanaft as it aims to develop and strengthen its end-customer business in both the CRT and ED areas. By integrating these businesses, Mabanaft will be able to leverage group synergies and expand its offerings to customers in these segments.

Mabanaft is committed to actively participating in the energy transition and provides its customers with a wide range of energy products, including both conventional and innovative low-carbon fuel solutions. The company expects a stable and high demand for liquid fuels throughout the energy transition, as alternative fuels will remain essential in the medium and long term.

The acquisition of the remaining shares in the Petronord Group companies aligns with Mabanaft’s strategy of creating a fully owned platform to strengthen its market position and support customers in decarbonising their operations. The company aims to offer high-quality liquid fuels to customers, whether conventional or low-carbon, to meet their evolving needs.

The structure of the integrated businesses will be further defined in the coming months, with plans for the go-live of the new structure in early 2024. The transaction involving Hempelmann Wittemöller is subject to necessary authority approvals. The financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Mabanaft GmbH & Co. KG is a leading independent and integrated energy company that provides innovative energy solutions for transportation, heating, industrial, and agricultural needs. The company is involved in the import, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products, natural gas liquids, chemicals, and biofuels. Mabanaft supports its customers’ transition to cleaner fuels by offering alternative long-term solutions.

Petronord GmbH & Co. KG is a subsidiary of the Mabanaft Group and operates retail companies in Germany, Austria, and Sweden. The company is involved in the heating oil and diesel end-consumer business, lubricants distribution, operation of service stations for commercial trucking fleets, and trading of bitumen, wood pellets, natural gas, and electricity.

For more information visit www.mabanaft.com/en/

ENDEGS Group, an expert in industrial emissions reduction, has recently been involved in the recovery of a damaged ship in the Port of Amsterdam. As a result of a strong storm, two vessels had collided on the Dutch coast. One of the two ships was loaded with LNG and was severely damaged following the collision. To enable the maintenance work in the shipyard, ENDEGS provided two mobile vapour combustion units to empty the tanker of LNG.

In the beginning of July, storm “Poly” caused squalls, heavy rain and severe thunderstorms in the Netherlands and parts of Northern Germany. The storm was particularly severe in the Netherlands, where the highest warning level was issued in large parts of the country, with squalls reaching speeds of up to 140 kilometres per hour. On the Dutch coast, “Poly” caused – among other things – the collision of two ships. A tanker loaded with LNG was severely damaged.

“At no time was there any danger to the tanks”, says Kai Sievers, founder and CEO of ENDEGS Group. “Additionally, no LNG leaked at all during the entire emergency situation. However, the intervention of our team was necessary as the tanks had to be completely emptied before the necessary welding work on the hull of the ship could be carried out in the shipyard.”

Two mobile incinerators in operation for the degassing

“As a result of the collision between the two vessels, the outer hull of the LNG tanker had ripped open”, says David Wendel, managing director of ENDEGS Operations Group. “As collision protection, the outer hull of tankers of any kind is an important component for the safety of the vessels. Since this protection was no longer guaranteed, the tanker had to go to the shipyard immediately to repair the damage. However, if a ship is not gas-free and not completely emptied, work on the vessel is not allowed due to safety reasons. Therefore, we were contracted to degas the LNG tanks in order to empty them and thus make the wrecked vessel ready for repair.”

ENDEGS provided two of its mobile incinerators for the project. The units can destroy gases, gas-like substances and vapours in an environmentally-friendly manner – with an efficiency of more than 99.99 percent and without open flame. The two mobile vapour combustion units used for the project in the Port of Amsterdam have a combustion capacity of 5 MW each. Their rapid readiness and deployment make ENDEGS units particularly suitable for short-term projects such as emergency operations.

“As soon as we received the special permit from the Port of Amsterdam and the national environmental protection agency ODNZKG (Omgevingsdienst Noordzeekanaalgebied), we were able to start degassing immediately”, says David Wendel. “The degassing of the LNG tanks lasted from Saturday night until Monday afternoon.”

“We would like to thank the crew of the damaged vessel, the Port of Amsterdam and the national environmental protection agency for their great cooperation”, says Kai Sievers. “Together, we were able to end the emergency situation quickly and effectively. Of course, we shouldn’t forget to mention the great ENDEGS team that always stands by our customers – not only in Germany, but throughout Europe.”

For more information visit www.endegs.com/en/

New Zealand company Fabrum, a world leader in zero-emission transition technologies to enable a lower-carbon economy, and Chart Industries, a leading global engineering design and manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple applications in the clean energy and industrial gas markets, have formed a strategic partnership to collaborate on the manufacture and sale of Micro-Scale Liquefiers for hydrogen and other gases.

The collaboration targets the rapidly increasing demand for liquefaction systems as industries work to decarbonise and transition to new energy sources. The Micro-Scale Liquefier enables small-scale liquid hydrogen production under 5 tonnes per day, offering a new future for sustainable transport, industry, and energy self-sufficiency. The Micro-Scale Liquefiers can also be used in liquid natural gas and other cryogenic markets.

According to the MoU, Fabrum, a leader in industrialised small to medium-scale liquefaction systems and composite vessels for liquid hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, and other gases, will incorporate Chart products into manufacturing their Micro-Scale Liquefiers. Chart, a leading provider of technology, equipment and services related to LNG, hydrogen, biogas and CO2 Capture, amongst other applications, will add the Micro-Scale Liquefiers to its already expansive technology and equipment portfolio to market and sell through its global network.

Dr Ojas Mahapatra, CEO of Fabrum, says: “We’re delighted to enter this strategic collaboration with Chart as it brings together Fabrum, a leading hydrogen player worldwide, with one of the most prominent players globally for technologies and equipment across the entire molecule value chain. Our collective capability and talent will enable us to deliver game-changing technology to the market to allow micro-scale liquid hydrogen and liquid natural gas production.

“The timing of this collaboration is also important, as we’re seeing significant interest in end-to-end liquid hydrogen production and refuelling systems since various governments have introduced various investments in climate and energy to help tackle climate change. These types of public sector programs have ignited a new phase of decarbonisation and jump-started R&D, commercialisation, and investment in leading-edge technologies such as clean hydrogen.”

Jill Evanko, Chart’s CEO, says, “Partnering with Fabrum on technology and sales allows us to extend our offering in micro-scale liquid hydrogen and liquid natural gas for refuelling and energy applications. We’re excited to bring this combination to our customers in heavy transport, mining, and industry as we continue to support their transition to new and cleaner technologies with our extensive product and technology portfolio.”

Christopher Boyle, Fabrum’s executive chair, says, “Partnering with Chart, a world-leading technology innovator and supplier in clean energy and natural gas markets, represents an important milestone for Fabrum as we work to accelerate the uptake of our zero-emission transition technologies to enable a lower-carbon economy. We’ve already proven our hydrogen fuel solutions for small and medium-scale liquid hydrogen production, a paradigm shift from liquid hydrogen produced at large-scale plants and transported to the site of use. Chart is the ideal strategic partner to leverage Fabrum’s world-leading technology as it has a large and growing customer base and an established reputation as a technology innovator.”

For more information visit www.fabrum.nz

JERA Co., Inc. has concluded a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with ADNOC, related to cooperation in the clean hydrogen and ammonia fields.

UAE has set out a Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and aims to become one of the leading producers of clean hydrogen by 2031. ADNOC is expected to play an important role in achieving this target.

JERA and ADNOC have built a good relationship through years of LNG sale and purchase, and have jointly conducted feasibility assessments in the hydrogen and ammonia fields. We have discussed ways to further deepen cooperation in the hydrogen and ammonia field and concluded this SCA.

The SCA, signed on 17th July, is a continuation of the good collaboration and relationship established between ADNOC and JERA and will reinforce the collaboration toward a value chain in clean hydrogen and ammonia fields, contributing to the expansion of business opportunities for both companies.

In order to achieve its “JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050” objective, JERA will continue to work with leading companies in Japan and overseas to establish and expand supply chains for hydrogen and ammonia, thereby contributing to global decarbonisation and energy solutions.

For more information visit www.jera.co.jp/en/

Buckeye Partners has announced that it has acquired Elysian Carbon Management from EnCap Flatrock Midstream. Elysian provides integrated end-to-end carbon capture and storage solutions to industrial, power and similar facilities seeking to transition to lower carbon products to advance emissions reductions goals.

“This acquisition reflects Buckeye’s commitment to continue to provide essential infrastructure and logistics solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs in the energy transition,” said Buckeye CEO Todd Russo. “Rapidly developing CCS-related technologies and solutions offer abundant synergies across Buckeye’s project development capabilities and existing pipeline network and are essential to enabling the energy transition’s success. We’re excited for the Elysian team to join the Buckeye platform and to integrate their expertise to better serve our customers’ growing lower-carbon needs.”

This acquisition is another meaningful step in Buckeye’s ongoing commitment to building a business that is responsive to the needs of the future while continuing to serve the energy needs of communities today. Through advancing strategies to further reduce carbon emissions, Buckeye is committed to becoming a net zero energy business by 2040, across scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. These commitments and others can be found in Buckeye’s newly released 2022 Sustainability Report.

“Buckeye continues to demonstrate resiliency and emissions-reduction results across its increasingly diversified energy solutions portfolio,” said Elysian CEO Bret Logue. “We’re fully aligned with their decarbonisation mission and look forward to adding immediate value to Buckeye’s customer base and their momentum in the energy transition by integrating CCS technologies across the energy value chain.”

For more information visit www.buckeye.com

International-Matex Tank Terminals, an industry leader in the handling and storage of bulk liquid products, especially energy transition fuels, feedstocks and petrochemicals, announced that ITT Holdings LLC has successfully amended its existing revolving credit facility to include incentive pricing terms related to achieving various Sustainability Performance Targets.

The Facility represents the Company’s inaugural Sustainability-Linked Loan and is issued under IMTT’s recently developed Sustainability Linked Issuance Framework. The Framework outlines key performance indicators related to environmental and social factors. The outlined key performance indicators include: i) the percentage of new capital expenditures related to increasing IMTT’s ability to store and handle renewable and low-carbon products including but not limited to renewable diesel, biodiesel, hydrogen, blue and green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuels, and the feedstocks used to produce these products; and ii) supplier diversity. These key performance indicators further reinforce the Company’s commitment to sustainability in line with its Greener and Cleaner strategy.

“We are reshaping our portfolio so that over half of IMTT’s revenue in 2023 will be generated from the handling of non-petroleum products, such as renewable diesel feedstocks, renewable diesel, vegetable and tropical oils, and chemicals. Our Greener and Cleaner strategy is working, and we anticipate continuing to grow our non-petroleum share of revenue over the next several years through deployment of capital for new projects supporting the energy transition. The continued support from our lenders will allow us to continue to develop and execute the projects that support these ambitions,” said Carlin Conner, chairman and CEO of IMTT. “Additionally, we are committed to creating opportunities for vendors and suppliers that are capable, experienced and share our ESG goals.”

Sustainable Fitch has provided a Second Party Opinion which verifies that the Framework is aligned with the Loan Syndications and Trading Association Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles (2023).

CIBC Capital Markets acted as sole Sustainability Structuring Agent for the Framework.

For more information visit www.imtt.com

CST Industries, Inc. the global leader in storage tanks and aluminium domes and specialty covers, proudly announces its anniversary celebration, marking 130 years of delivering innovative solutions and exceptional value to its customers worldwide. Since its inception in 1893, the Columbian Steel Tank Company™, known today as CST Industries, Inc., has been a driving catalyst, propelling progress and spearheading advancements. CST has strived to provide longevity to all aspects of its storage tanks and covers market, including designing and manufacturing storage and cover solutions to meet any challenges, creating a reputation of class and skill.

Over its history, CST has seized market opportunities for growth and pioneered transformation with its strong foundation in integrity, adaptability and reliability. For decades, CST has remained at the vanguard of technological breakthroughs, and one of its most notable milestones include the introduction of a groundbreaking innovative clear span aluminium geodesic dome roof structures for municipal water and waste storage solution. Another exemplary showcase of its innovation is the awe-inspiring ‘Spaceship Earth’ at Epcot, a testament to CST’s visionary approach to creating immersive and iconic architectural marvels.

Throughout its journey, CST Industries has nurtured a special culture that focuses on excellence, teamwork, and trust. With its unwavering focus on delivering premium products and services to customers paired with its transformative mindset, CST Industries has become an international powerhouse manufacturer of bolted glass-fused-to-steel and epoxy coated tanks, aluminum domes and specialty covers.

Jeff Mueller, president and CEO of CST Industries, Inc. states, “At CST, we have dedicated ourselves to 130 years of product innovation and manufacturing efficiencies to provide our customers with the highest quality of products. We are immensely proud to celebrate our 130th anniversary as an organisation. We could not have achieved our outstanding success without our talented team’s hard work, zeal and persistent devotion. I feel incredibly privileged to lead this team of passionate employees driving success each day. I feel honoured to stand in the place of the great leaders that came before me who created a culture of quality and accountability.”

Furthermore, CST reaffirms its commitment towards continuous improvement and consumer satisfaction. The company remains steadfast in its drive to deliver distinctive products, contribute positively to the global community, and set new industry benchmarks. CST looks forward to continuing its legacy of success and making a lasting impact for years to come.

The entire organisation is proud of this momentous achievement.

For more information visit www.cstindustries.com

Honeywell has announced it has agreed to acquire SCADAfence, a leading provider of operational technology and Internet of Things cybersecurity solutions for monitoring large-scale networks. SCADAfence brings proven capabilities in asset discovery, threat detection and security governance which are key to industrial and buildings management cybersecurity programmes.

The OT cybersecurity industry is expected to grow to greater than $10 billion in the next several years. Particularly in the industrial sector, cyberattacks focused on OT systems can be a significant source of unplanned downtime, with estimates that unplanned downtime represents over a trillion dollars in lost revenue for the industrial and critical infrastructure sectors.

“It is essential to protect and maintain the integrity of operational systems like process control equipment in manufacturing facilities. A simple breach in the OT environment has the potential to create safety and business continuity risk for organisations of all sizes. OT assets are inherently different than those in the IT environment as they are domain specific. Honeywell has been delivering and installing these systems for decades, which is why we launched our cybersecurity business more than twenty years ago. Adding SCADAfence’s product portfolio will strengthen our capabilities and help our customers defend themselves against cyber security risks which are progressively increasing,” said Kevin Dehoff, president and chief executive officer, Honeywell Connected Enterprise.

The SCADAfence product portfolio will integrate into the Honeywell Forge Cybersecurity+ suite within Honeywell Connected Enterprise, Honeywell’s fast-growing software arm with strategic focus on digitalisation, sustainability and OT cybersecurity SaaS offerings and solutions. This integration will enable Honeywell to provide an end-to-end enterprise OT cybersecurity solution to site managers, operations management and CISOs seeking enterprise security management and situational awareness. The acquisition strengthens existing capabilities in cybersecurity and bolsters Honeywell’s high-growth OT cybersecurity portfolio, helping customers operate more securely, reliably and efficiently.

“SCADAfence is an ideal complement to Honeywell’s OT cybersecurity portfolio and, when combined with the Honeywell Forge Cybersecurity+ suite, it enables us to provide an end-to-end solution with applicability to asset, site and enterprise across key Honeywell sectors,” said Dehoff. “By enhancing our cybersecurity portfolio, we are accessing a growth engine and enabling our customers to operate their OT environments more securely and help to avoid disruption and possible catastrophic events.”

“We are thrilled to join Honeywell as we work towards fulfilling our mission of empowering industrial organisations to operate securely, reliably and efficiently. This combination creates significant opportunity for growth, allowing us to combine our top-tier OT cybersecurity products with one of the world’s leading companies in industrial software,” said Elad Ben Meir, chief executive officer, SCADAfence. “With this acquisition, we are poised to deliver some of the most advanced OT security technology to Honeywell’s broad customer base, bolstering the comprehensive Honeywell Forge Cybersecurity+ offering. We remain committed to proactively serving and supporting our customers across all verticals and geographies where we currently operate.”

SCADAfence is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel and will expand Honeywell’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Tel Aviv. Honeywell has been implementing OT cybersecurity solutions for more than twenty years, delivering thousands of projects in over 130 countries with more than 500 employees worldwide focused specifically on OT cybersecurity.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of certain regulatory approvals.

For more information visit www.honeywell.com/us/en

Getech, a world-leading locator of subsurface resources, is pleased to announce the signing of three contracts for Globe, worth together over £0.8 million over the next three years, of which £381k relates to the current financial year. These contracts represent significant additions to the Group’s existing orderbook, which now stands at £4.2 million.

Globe is Getech’s proprietary digital platform of earth science data that facilitates the exploration and location of subsurface resources that are vital for the energy transition, including carbon storage, geothermal, natural hydrogen and critical mineral assets. Globe is an innovative product that collects geoscience and earth observation data, and through proprietary computational modelling and AI led machine learning techniques, identifies favourable exploration opportunities for our customers.

Two of these contracts represent a one-year extension of Globe subscriptions for our existing clients: a leading European oil and gas supermajor and a respected global energy company. The third contract marks the introduction of a new client into our portfolio, securing a three-year Globe subscription for an Asian oil and gas company.

Richard Bennett, Getech executive chairman, commented:

“The Company continues to service and expand its long-standing oil and gas client base as these contracts show, enabling our clients to search for new resources far more efficiently and by doing so, significantly reduce their exploration costs.

“Alongside this, we are also continuing to develop new income streams from outside of the oil and gas sector. Both countries and companies alike are investing significantly to locate and secure high demand subsurface assets critical for the energy transition. Globe has the data to support these new searches and we are working with prospective clients to re-purpose our data, software and analytics to identify critical minerals (such as copper and lithium) and ideal locations for geothermal, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.”

For more information visit www.getech.com

ENDEGS Group, a leading expert in industrial emissions reduction based in Pförring, Germany, has once again been honoured as one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany. The company was recently awarded the prestigious TOP 100 Innovator seal for the third consecutive year. This recognition highlights ENDEGS’ ongoing commitment to innovation and its remarkable success in implementing cutting-edge processes and technologies.

The TOP 100 Innovator seal is awarded through a rigorous scientific selection process overseen by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke, a renowned researcher. A jury evaluates participating companies based on various criteria, including their innovation-promoting top management, their innovation climate, and their ability to implement innovative processes. The seal has been awarded since 1993 to companies that demonstrate exceptional innovation strength and above-average success in driving innovation.

Emmanuel Sievers, Ranga Yogeshwar and Kai Sievers at the Top 100 Innovator award ceremony 2023

At the award ceremony held in Augsburg, Ranga Yogeshwar, a well-known science journalist and mentor of the TOP 100 innovation competition, personally congratulated ENDEGS on its outstanding achievement. The company was recognised among other top innovators in Germany at the German SME Summit 2023. Ranga Yogeshwar presented the TOP 100 trophy to ENDEGS, further highlighting the company’s commitment to innovation.

Kai Sievers, the founder and CEO of ENDEGS GmbH, expressed his pride in the company’s consistent recognition as one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany. He emphasised that innovation is a core focus for ENDEGS, and the team dedicates their full attention to driving innovation in their daily work.

Kai Sievers, founder and CEO ENDEGS Group

With over 16 years of experience in emissions reduction, ENDEGS has successfully completed more than 1,500 projects. The company’s dedication to innovation is exemplified by its numerous patents, including its pioneering legal option for the environmentally friendly degassing of tankers on the Rhine in Duisport, the port of Duisburg.

ENDEGS serves customers from a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, chemicals and petrochemicals, ports, and the food industry. Their innovative technologies are tailored to meet the diverse needs of these industries, as substances used and regulations change regularly. Ongoing innovation is therefore critical to ensure their technologies remain suitable for different substances and expand their application areas.

In addition to its success in Germany, ENDEGS has also made a mark on the international stage. The company recently participated in an innovation competition for emissions reduction in Malaysia and achieved an impressive top 20 ranking among more than 500 companies and organisations that submitted over 3,000 ideas.

Looking towards the future, ENDEGS is planning to expand its business in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Earlier this year, the company’s representatives traveled to these countries with a delegation from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. This expansion will enable ENDEGS to offer its innovative services on the Arabian Peninsula, further solidifying its position as a global leader in sustainable emissions reduction.

Overall, ENDEGS’ consistent recognition as a top innovator reinforces its commitment to driving innovation in industrial emissions reduction and its dedication to providing sustainable solutions for a cleaner and greener future.

For more information visit www.endegs.com/en/

Costain has been appointed by United Utilities to work as its managed service provider for a further two years, from May 2024 to May 2026. This contract extension has an option to be extended for a further three years and builds on the original five-year MSP contract awarded in 2019. The award extends into the next regulatory cycle (AMP8 2025-2030).

United Utilities is the UK’s largest listed water company and is working to ensure the resilience of its network to the effects of climate change, including improving the quality of its wastewater effluent and providing a reliable drinking water supply to its customers.

Since 2019, Costain has provided management and asset maintenance activities throughout the north-west at 96 water treatment sites, 575 wastewater treatment sites, pumping stations and service reservoirs which serve over seven million people.

The MSP Framework consists of two types of work:

Core contract: This includes maintenance services of very high-volume, short-duration activities to over 900 sites covering repair, replacement and refurbishment of equipment such as pumps. It also covers core projects which are of a greater scale and complexity, delivered as projects. Since the start of 2022 the MSP has developed solutions to 132 Core Projects including installation of a new mixer system within Wayoh Impounding Reservoir, Lancashire and an upgrade to existing gas holders at Manchester Bio-resource Centre at Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works in Greater Manchester.

Non-core contract: This includes the delivery of larger capital projects such as the design and construction of remedial improvements to the Clough Bottom Impounding Reservoir in Lancashire and upgrades to the Audlem Wastewater Treatment Works in Cheshire.
Within the MSP Framework, Costain has delivered a wide range of activities and projects to date and made a significant contribution to United Utilities meeting key regulatory requirements.

Sam White, managing director of the natural resources division at Costain said:

“This is a strategically important contract for Costain. We’ve already delivered big improvements working together with United Utilities on the MSP Framework, leveraging increased automation of data processing and insights to enhance our service delivery. I’m delighted that we’ll be continuing this relationship to help United Utilities ensure a sustainable, resilient and efficient service for its customers.”

For more information visit www.costain.com

Invenergy Services, a subsidiary of Invenergy, the largest privately held global developer, owner, and operator of sustainable energy solutions, has announced their portfolio has surpassed 20 gigawatts of clean energy generation projects under management in less than 20 years.

“This milestone is a reflection of what can be achieved when you combine deep technical expertise, an owner’s mindset, strong partnerships, and a dedicated team with a clear vision to operate these plants like they’re our own,” said Jim Murphy, president, and corporate business leader at Invenergy. “We are incredibly proud of the sustained growth of Invenergy Services’ managed portfolio and look forward to expanding our services to optimise sustainable energy operations around the world.”

With over 840 employees operating and maintaining clean energy projects in 13 countries and 30 states in the US, Invenergy Services’ portfolio of 159 projects is comprised of:

• Wind: 11,500+ megawatts (MW); 109 projects
• Solar: 2,300+ MW; 23 projects
• Thermal: 5,700+ MW; 12 projects
• Energy Storage: 460+ MW; 19 projects

The growth of Invenergy Services’ managed portfolio allows Invenergy to continue creating positive change in the communities where they operate. To date, Invenergy developed and managed projects have offset over 182 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and created more than 50,000 clean energy jobs. In 2022, Invenergy invested over $400 million in its home communities.

For more information visit www.invenergy.com