Vattenfall Heat UK (part of Swedish energy company Vattenfall AB) and Midlothian Council are working together under a joint venture known as Midlothian Energy Limited and have employed Scottish company, FES Group to deliver the low-carbon heating, which will provide around 3,000 homes, education and retail properties at Shawfair Town, a development overseen by Shawfair LLP, in the north of the Midlothian Council area. This will be Vattenfall’s first ever heat project in Scotland and Midlothian Energy Limited’s flagship project.

Heat that would otherwise be wasted will be captured by Midlothian Energy from Millerhill recycling and energy recovery centre (RERC), operated by FCC Environment, then transported via a network of underground pipes to provide a low-carbon source of heating and hot water for properties at Shawfair. Vattenfall’s modelling suggests the heat networks in Midlothian could reduce emissions by up to 90% in comparison to individual gas boilers fitted in every home. Taking away reliance on fossil fuels to heat homes and businesses protects customers from market volatility.

Heat is expected to be delivered to homes by March 2024.The pipes for the initial phase of the network will be around four kilometres in length and the project is expected to save over 2,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking 1,200 cars off the road. The project will benefit from up to £7.3m from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transformation Project.

This initial supply of heat will be the catalyst for a wider regional network stretching into south Edinburgh and East Lothian. The Shawfair development is a key feature of the Midlothian Energy Limited 5-year business plan to supply low-carbon heat to over 30,000 households and progress a variety of other energy projects.

Eoghan Maguire, director for Scotland at Vattenfall Heat UK said:

“Scotland’s ambitious net zero target of 2045 cannot be met unless district heating is deployed at scale. The collaboration between organisations working to deliver this project means that the vision for this brand-new town can become exemplary for district heating in Scotland and beyond.

“This project is such an important first step in our vision for the region. Vattenfall have developed a strategy to deliver city-wide district heating that is capable of supplying heat to the equivalent of 170,000 homes in Midlothian, Edinburgh and East Lothian by 2050, matching the scale of our heat networks in Europe.”

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Dianne Alexander, said:

“The Council is delighted to see the first of many projects for Midlothian Energy reach the construction phase. Our innovative approach to working with a highly experienced partner will help Midlothian deliver on its ambitious net zero plans and contribute to reducing fuel poverty.”

Zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said:

“With thousands of people in Shawfair set to receive environmentally friendly heating, this project is a great example of the role heat networks will play in helping meet our decarbonisation targets. We are proud to have supported this project with £7.3 million from our Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and I look forward to seeing it grow in scale, supplying heating to even more buildings as the network expands.”

Craig Ormond, director at Shawfair LLP said:

“We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone in the development of Shawfair with installation of the first District Heating pipes underway. This will set Shawfair apart with a truly sustainable heat source for thousands of new homes helping to make this a popular new living destination with its own rail link and hundreds of acres of landscaped open space to enjoy.

“Our highly experienced design team have been working closely with Vattenfall and Midlothian Council for several months and are excited to see the progress being made on site. Our project manager (Thomas & Adamson) and Contractor have ensured we are progressing on schedule towards the first house connections.”

James Reid, FES Energy operations director at FES Group said:

“The first pipes being installed at the Shawfair Development is a great milestone achieved for the Vattenfall team following years of project development to get to this point.

“FES are delighted to be principal contractor supporting Vattenfall and Midlothian Council in their ambitious energy strategy for the Midlothian area and look forward to further milestones being achieved at the development over the coming year.”

Paul Taylor, group chief executive for FCC Environment said:

“Since 2019 the Millerhill recycling and energy recovery centre (RERC) has been converting non-recyclable household and business waste into heat and power. The plant was developed by us alongside The City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council to help them divert 155,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year and the facility is a key component in the Councils’ combined commitment to helping to reach the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste target.

“With Net Zero ever on the agenda and a pressing need to invest in UK based renewable power sources as we seek to move to a lower carbon future economy, utilising the heat from this plant is vital. So today’s news that real progress is being made towards delivering low-cost, low-carbon heating to 170,000 homes in the Midlothian and Edinburgh region is welcome and we are proud to be a part of this major step forward.”

For more information visit www.group.vattenfall.com

Colonial Terminals, a division of Savannah-based Colonial Group, Inc., has acquired 16.7 acres of land adjacent to an existing Colonial Terminal riverfront facility and a Norfolk Southern rail facility. The transaction will provide Colonial Terminals the ability to develop breakbulk infrastructure along the Savannah River. The new breakbulk facility is expected to support the development of a new wide-span berth that will move steel, paper, and other forest products, but capable of handling any general breakbulk cargo.

Breakbulk is a common method of moving goods that cannot fit in standard-size shipping containers or cargo bins. Instead, cargo is transported in bags, boxes, crates, drums and barrels, or by other methods. The new facility, directly served by Norfolk Southern, should allow in excess of a million tons of throughput and support the development of a new wide-span berth expected to move steel, paper, and other forest products, but capable of handling any general breakbulk cargo.

“For nearly a century, Colonial Terminals has built its reputation by delivering world-class product handling services to dry and liquid bulk customers through our intermodal marine terminals,” said Ryan Chandler, president of Colonial Terminals. “Leveraging our strategic infrastructure in partnership with Norfolk Southern to extend our reach into the breakbulk space is a logical next step for our high-service culture.”

Chandler said the project should stimulate the regrowth of business that had been lost in recent years due to Georgia Port Authority’s conversion of its Ocean Terminal facility, and would support further growth in the breakbulk segment as well as provide 20+ local jobs.

“At Norfolk Southern, real estate assets are a strategic opportunity that we’re leveraging to drive smart, sustainable growth for our customers and our rail network,” said vice president of real estate and business development Kathleen Smith. “This partnership furthers that mission, aligning our organisations to fulfil a critical supply chain need in the Southeast.”

Phase one of the project would see the construction of the berth and refurbishment of the existing warehouse facility, and phase two will support a new rail-served warehouse or outside storage complex. The berth is expected to be permitted in mid-July of 2023, with construction to commence shortly thereafter. The project is expected to be completed in late 2024 and cost more than $100 million.

Colonial Terminals began operations in 1934 with the construction of a 21-acre, deep-water terminal located on the Savannah River to serve the burgeoning import and export, petroleum storage market. Today, Colonial Terminals owns and operates the largest, independent, liquid and dry bulk storage facilities with breakbulk capability in the Southeastern United States. Colonial Terminals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colonial Group, Inc.

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the US economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tonnes of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern US, serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes.

For more information visit www.colonialterminals.com

US Fire Pump’s Emergency Response Team successfully extinguished a 150′ Naptha tank fire in Lake Charles, Louisiana caused by a lightning strike on June 3, 2023. The firefighting operation presented unique challenges due to the presence of an internal floating roof which collapsed in the tank. However, utilising Dwight’s Signature Series 1 X3 AR-AFFF foam, specifically engineered for such demanding scenarios, proved to be the ultimate solution.

By employing a film-forming foam application, US Fire Pump Emergency Responders were able to successfully reach crucial areas, enabling the efficient extinguishment of the fire. The remarkable achievement marks another milestone for US Fire Pump and their Signature Series Foam products, which have successfully extinguished multiple major fires.

Furthermore, the deployment of Signature Series Vapor Suppressant Product (VSP) for post-extinguishment operations offers effective vapor suppression and delivers substantial cost savings for the customer. As a fluorine-free product, VSP outlasts traditional firefighting foam in its ability to control and mitigate vapors, making it a superior choice for long-term vapor suppression. US Fire Pump continues to lead the industry with its advanced firefighting solutions, driven by a commitment to innovation and the highest safety standards.

For more information visit www.usfirepump.com

Neste has made the final investment decision to commence construction of upgrading facilities for liquefied plastic waste at its Porvoo refinery in Finland. With the investment of 111 million euros, Neste will build the capacity to upgrade 150,000 tonnes of liquefied waste plastic per year. Upgrading is one of the three processing steps turning liquefied waste plastic into high-quality feedstock for new plastics: pretreatment, upgrading and refining. The investment is part of a broader project (PULSE*), which has received an EU Innovation Fund grant of 135 million euros if fully implemented and is targeting a total capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year.

Pretreatment and upgrading of liquefied waste plastic play an important role in Neste’s approach to chemical recycling. They allow the company to increase flexibility for processing lower-quality plastic waste and scale up processing the liquefied waste plastic into high-quality petrochemical feedstock in its existing refinery in Porvoo.

“We have developed our capability to process circular raw material at the Porvoo refinery over the recent years and are now set to build a respective facility. The new facility processing 150,000 tonnes of liquefied waste plastic, is planned to be finalised in the first half of 2025,” states Markku Korvenranta, executive vice president in Neste’s Oil Products.

The project will see Neste building new assets at the Porvoo refinery, but also leveraging existing assets through retrofitting, to scale-up chemical recycling fast and efficiently. The upgraded liquefied waste plastic will then be processed in the conventional refinery in which it will replace a portion of the fossil resources processed at the Porvoo refinery.

Required preparation works at the Porvoo refinery were successfully completed during the first half of 2023, enabling the construction work to commence without any delay.

For more information visit www.neste.com

Koole Terminals has announced the successful implementation of a barge portal at its Koole Tankstorage Botlek (KTB) in Rotterdam. The portal was developed by the Process Excellence & Innovation team at Koole Terminals and integrated with KTB’s own IT systems, eliminating the need for manual data entry.

Documents are now exchanged automatically for digital signing and storage, and operational critical times are logged automatically. This integration marks a significant milestone for KTB, making it the first terminal worldwide to implement this advanced level of integration. The innovation will enable KTB to devote more attention to efficiently executing its primary process, said Bob Möhlmann, process excellence & innovation consultant. UAB-Online, founded in 2010, is a platform that optimises liquid bulk operations and supports safe, efficient, and sustainable inland and sea shipping worldwide.

The UAB-Online solution provides direct benefits in terms of efficiency and safety, and indirectly benefits the entire chain, while also guaranteeing compliance with national and international laws and regulations. Hans Bobeldijk, CEO of UAB-Online, said that through this integration, Koole has accomplished a significant milestone by integrating UAB-Online with its terminal management system. This has empowered Koole to elevate the just-in-time arrival experience for barges and seagoing vessels at its terminal location.

By facilitating real-time exchange of vital operational timestamps with key stakeholders such as surveyors and agents, Koole can achieve greater alignment in its planning and operations. Consequently, Koole benefits from reduced port stay, a streamlined and error-minimised process, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information visit www.koole.com

Following the Annual General Meeting in Horisont Energi the board now consists of the following members:

New Chairperson: Dr. Gabriël Clemens

Deputy Chairperson: Leif Christian Salomonsen (new)

Board member: Rob Stevens (re-election)

Board member: Rolf Magne Larsen (re-election)

Board member: Beatriz Malo de Molina Laborde

Stefan Håkansson (personal deputy to Dr. Gabriel Clemens)

With the new member and the continuation of the other Board members, we have a strong and experienced board.

“I am excited to embark on my new role as chairperson of Horisont Energi and continuing to represent E.ON on the board of directors. Horisont Energi has carried out considerable and valuable work over the last year within carbon capture and storage, and clean ammonia (energy). We have ambitious plans to develop projects based on our knowledge base, powered by Horisont Energi’s skilled and dedicated organisation and new partners. Together we are scaling projects for a carbon-neutral future,” says Dr. Gabriël Clemens, the new chairperson of Horisont Energi.

Leif Christian Salomonsen, the new deputy chairperson is an experienced business executive with a long track record of creating value through substantial transformation and turnaround of large public and private international industrial companies.

Horisont Energi would like to thank Rob Stevens for his effort as the former chairperson and they are very pleased that he will continue as a board member with his expertise in clean ammonia and his international network.

For more information visit www.horisontenergi.no

Voortman Steel Machinery, a leading manufacturer of high-end steel processing machinery, are thrilled to announce their upcoming webinar titled “Becoming a Bevel Cutting Pro”. In partnership with Hypertherm, a renowned provider of cutting solutions, this interactive event aims to equip attendees with the knowledge, tips, and expertise necessary to create high-quality bevel cuts and weld preparations. The webinar is designed to cater to individuals of all skill levels, from beginners seeking to learn the fundamentals to seasoned professionals looking to enhance their bevel cutting capabilities.

Scheduled for June 29th, this webinar will be broadcasted live from the state-of-the-art Voortman Engineering Centre. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in immersive discussions and demonstrations set in a real production environment. Recognising the diverse global audience, the event offers two time slots, allowing participants to choose the session that best suits their schedule during the registration process.

Sharing hands-on knowledge and tips about bevel cutting

Drawing from their hands-on experience, industry experts from Voortman and Hypertherm will share a wealth of practical knowledge, tips, and tricks pertaining to bevel cutting. Joey Schreur, business unit manager of plate processing at Voortman, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “We aim to provide concrete, actionable knowledge, addressing frequent issues our users encounter in their daily bevel cutting operations.”

During the webinar, a range of essential topics related to bevel cutting will be covered. This includes programming bevel cuts, implementing general optimisations, understanding the role of height control and cutting path transformation in bevel cutting, achieving flawless long bevel cuts, and exploring technologies used to automatically correct for bevels. Additionally, common challenges associated with bevel cutting, such as warped plates, disrupted cuts, and deck maintenance, will be addressed.

Registration for the webinar is now open, and both Voortman and Hypertherm anticipate a significant number of participants on June 29th. To secure a spot for this event, register through the following link: www.voortman.net/en/news/upcoming-bevel-cutting-webinar?utm_source=press_release&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=en-webinar-bevel-cutting

For more information visit www.voortman.net/en/

Registration is now open for Emerson’s Innovation Days, a series of in-person events designed to demonstrate how its latest automation technologies and software can help industrial organisations meet their key operational and environmental sustainability goals.

Being held across Europe throughout 2023, the Innovation Days will be both interactive and customisable, with delegates able to select a programme applicable to their own industry and specific company challenges. Delegates will be able to learn how the latest Emerson solutions help to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency, transition to renewable energy, optimise process performance, reduce downtime, manage corrosion, remotely monitor equipment health, increase operational safety, perform data analysis at the network edge, and optimise control system performance.

Emerson experts will present deep-dive discussions, Q&A sessions and a series of technology demonstrations that explain ways of increasing energy efficiency that provide a quick return on investment; understanding and reducing fugitive emissions; how data integration and digital transformation supports automated predictive maintenance; and strategies for the digitalisation of decarbonisation projects. Additional demonstrations will focus on specific technologies, including intelligent valves, advanced control systems and software applications, and intelligent field devices, with Emerson product specialists describing current and future developments. Delegates will also have the opportunity to share their experiences, network with their peers and discuss their application challenges.

“Industrial organisations have a shared responsibility to help create a more environmentally responsible planet, and that requires them to not only meet consumer demand as safely and efficiently as possible, but also ensure that they do so in the most sustainable manner,” said John Nita, president of Emerson’s Europe business. “Emerson’s Innovation Days are designed to help delegates discover ways that automation solutions can help them improve their energy management and reduce emissions, while also ensuring continued safe, reliable and compliant operations.”

The Innovation Days are aimed at plant management, operations and maintenance personnel in a range of industries, including energy, life sciences, mining, power, water, chemical, and food and beverage. The events will be held in more than a dozen countries and presented in the local language. The first Innovation Day in the UK will be held in Harrogate on June 27th. For further details and pre-registration, visit Emerson.com/uk/InnovationDay2023.

For more information visit www.emerson.com

Gibson Energy, a midstream company based in Canada, has announced its intention to acquire South Texas Gateway Terminal for $1.1bn, marking the company’s largest acquisition to date. The terminal, which is located on the Texas Gulf Coast, is one of just two in the area that can accommodate very large crude carriers and serves the Permian and Eagle Ford basins. Since its opening in 2020, the terminal has set records, with more than 670,000 barrels of oil per day being transported through it.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing adjustments. The deal is being financed through a $350m bought deal offering of subscription receipts. Gibson Energy plans to maintain its investment grade ratings and outlooks assigned to the company by S&P and DBRS.

Gibson Energy’s CEO, Steve Spaulding, said that the acquisition of the South Texas Gateway Terminal is an “important step” in the company’s growth strategy and further positions it as a “leading provider of midstream infrastructure and services in the United States.” He added that the terminal’s strategic location and “world-class marine and terminal assets” will enable Gibson Energy to better serve its customers and capture “meaningful incremental growth opportunities.”

The South Texas Gateway Terminal is a joint venture between Buckeye Partners and Phillips 66 Partners. Buckeye Partners will continue to own a 50 percent interest in the terminal, while Phillips 66 Partners will sell its 50 percent interest to Gibson Energy. Buckeye Partners will also enter into a long-term throughput agreement with Gibson Energy for the use of the terminal.

The acquisition of the South Texas Gateway Terminal is part of Gibson Energy’s broader strategy to expand its midstream services in the United States. The company has been actively investing in its infrastructure and services over the past few years, including the expansion of its Hardisty Terminal in Alberta, Canada, and the construction of a new crude oil storage terminal in the Delaware Basin.

For more information visit www.gibsonenergy.com

Providing the highest level of customer service is a key part of the UM Terminals ethos.

One of their more recent innovations in this area was the establishment of their Client Central Services team with the aim of providing their customers with a wealth of important information, including real-time data, to make business critical decisions.

Such has been the success of Client Central Services, they have added a further two colleagues to the team to ensure they continue to meet the requirements that come with a growing portfolio of customers across different industries.

Based out of UM Terminals’ Regent Road HQ in Liverpool, the service integrates all weighbridge and administration from across UM’s 8 terminals.

A dedicated portal gives clients instant access to essential weighbridge documentation and current stock levels for each tank. They also have a secure log-in and can access their data 24/7, 365 days a year via a desktop, tablet or mobile device.

The team is led by Lynn McCoy, UM Terminals’ Client Central Services manager, and combines the best of technology with experience of the bulk liquid storage sector extending more than 120 years.

The central control room at Regent Road is filled with banks of screens giving the team visibility of the different weighbridges along with immediate access to all customer information, such as current stock levels, via the client portal.

Having all the necessary information in one place makes a huge difference in terms of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction levels. The average turnaround time is now less than 40 minutes.

A lot of planning went into the development of Client Central Services including analysing all the administration going on across our UK sites. This got UM Terminals thinking about how they could streamline and bring it all together in one place.

UM Terminals knew they were undertaking a significant change to their business process by centralising all the customer information and that the only reason for doing so was to enhance the personalised service and operational effectiveness received by their customers.

The project involved working side-by-side with our group business intelligence developer Adam Pierce to create a whole new way of working.

One good example of this concerned their weighbridge which had previously depended upon a lot of manual reporting, but which, due to the changes, moved online. Whereas before, there would have been lots of paper trails, now they have a paperless solution in which information is stored electronically. The impact is clearer, more accurate and faster information.

Operational planning and flexibility are key in a fast-moving environment like UM Terminals. At certain terminals they can regularly be handling over 40 vehicles a day.

Almost three years on since they introduced Client Central Services, the results have been transformational and, consequently, they are now embarking on the next phase of investment in further improving the functionality and capability of the service.

This, in turn, is a key component of UM Terminals’ wider programme of digitisation, ensuring that the quality of the solutions and services offered by their business continue to be best-in-class.

For more information visit www.umterminals.co.uk

VARO Energy has announced the acquisition of Renewable Energy Services, a leading biogas trading company in Europe. The acquisition will expand VARO’s trading capacity of biogas and green certificates across ten European countries, adding a trading capacity of 1 TWh of biogas and green certificates per year. This is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 100,000 European homes. The acquisition will strengthen VARO’s position in Europe by integrating its feedstock aggregation, manufacturing, and trading and customer offers.

According to the International Energy Agency, biogas is a key renewable energy source that can help reduce GHG emissions and improve energy security. European demand for biogas is expected to triple by 2030, and bio-LNG, which is expected to grow by 10X in Germany by the end of the decade. Biogas is a strategic growth pillar for VARO, and its integrated value chain will provide sustainable energy solutions to complement customers’ energy needs.

Since 2013, Renewable Energy Services has been one of Europe’s fastest-growing biogas suppliers and traders, having achieved growth in excess of 800 percent year on year. In 2022, RES sourced 250,000 MWh of biogas across ten European countries, resulting in a reduction of 60,000 tonnes of GHG emissions, equivalent to 100,000 European households. RES is on track to deliver an even more substantial amount, aiming for 1 TWh of biogas in 2023.

RES sources biogas from a large portfolio of producers in national and international markets, orchestrating the logistics, and supporting customers with their deep knowledge of both compliance and green certificates. This guarantees that the biogas was produced from renewable energy sources. The acquisition aligns with VARO’s dedication to delivering high-quality, sustainable energy solutions to meet customer demand, including for many of Europe’s largest companies.

The transaction is expected to be completed in Q3 2023, subject to approval by relevant authorities. The acquisition reinforces VARO’s commitment to expanding the production and consumption of biogas across Europe and creating a sustainable future.

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

Stolt Tankers has officially relaunched its Slashed Zero health and safety programme with a renewed focus on sustainability.

Over the past five years, Slashed Zero has been very successful in helping to reduce accidents and incidents across the organisation. Through the programme, Stolt Tankers focuses on minimising onboard and onshore safety risks and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all employees. With the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, it also makes sense to include caring for our planet all under the one umbrella of the Slashed Zero programme.

Care for people

Stolt Tankers understands its people are its most important asset, and that every one of them should return home from work safely. With a focus on minimising operational risks, reducing personal injuries and supporting mental health and wellbeing of crews across their fleet, care for people has always been the foundation of Slashed Zero.

Care for the company

The programme has also provided increased care for the company with its aims of creating a safe and respectful place to work.

Care for the planet

The broadened focus of sustainability – symbolised by a new, green Slashed Zero logo – is a logical step; care for people and company implies care for the planet. Going from red to green we are steering from zero accidents and incidents towards zero harm.

“Slashed Zero is about behaviours. In the last five years, we have changed our behaviours at work and slashed the number of incidents and accidents significantly. We can use this newfound confidence and knowledge to protect our planet.” Ajay Furtado, global manager SSHEQ

The increased situational awareness that has been created, for example, not only reduces the likelihood of an accident that causes a personal injury, but also minimises any potential spills.

Pride of Stolt Tankers

“With its increased scope, Slashed Zero will help us to substantially reduce harm to our planet.” Continues Ajay. “As we have always done with Slashed Zero, we will be calling upon our employees to make an active contribution to the revitalised programme.

“Together, we will strive to reduce, re-use, recycle and repair, to make good, environmentally sound decisions daily and to increase our situational awareness of sustainable matters. We are looking forwards to the continued success of the Slashed Zero programme as it ventures into new territory and to sharing news of its achievements in the future.”

With a series of tools, seminars and trainings, and the creation of new sustainability focused teams, Stolt Tankers will support employees as it works towards its environmental goal of reducing its carbon intensity by 50 percent (relative to 2008) by 2030.

For more information visit www.stolt-nielsen.com

Advario Singapore Limited have announced that the company has entered a long-term partnership with Neste in which Advario provides integrated storage and logistics services for Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The agreement between Advario and Neste will enable the storage of SAF and Jet A-1 (“Jet Fuel”), as well as the blending of SAF with Jet Fuel (“SAF blends”), allowing Neste to supply SAF blends to airlines operating at Singapore Changi Airport and supply SAF to other markets.

Advario will provide bespoke storage and related logistics services to Neste to facilitate Neste’s SAF operations.

“SAF is a renewable fuel aligned with Advario’s strategic growth plans. Advario is strongly committed to driving innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. The entry into SAF storage signals Advario’s ambition to play a frontrunner role in our industry’s transformation. The partnership between Advario and Neste enables both companies to accelerate Singapore’s transition into sustainable fuels and to take a leading role in the SAF storage and logistics in Singapore,” said Andres Bereilh, VP Southeast Asia of Advario Asia Pacific.

“Neste started up operations in our expanded Singapore refinery after mid-April, providing us up to one million tons of SAF production capability to serve our customers in the Asia Pacific region and globally. We are pleased to partner with Advario establishing the capability to blend our Singapore-produced SAF with conventional jet fuel. This enables us to supply our customers with certified SAF blends that can be delivered to airports across the Asia Pacific region. The blending terminal also forms a key element in Neste’s integrated SAF supply chain into the Changi airport where Neste, as a minority shareholder in the Changi Airport Fuel Hydrant Installation Company Pte Ltd (CAFHI), the fuel storage and infrastructure joint venture of the airport, is able to supply blended SAF directly to our airline customers” says Sami Jauhiainen, acting executive vice president for the Renewable Aviation business unit of Neste.

For more information visit www.advario.com

NextDecade Corporation, a liquefied natural gas development company, has announced that it has entered into framework agreements with Global Infrastructure Partners and TotalEnergies to support the Rio Grande LNG project. Under the agreements, GIP will become a majority investor in phase one of the project, while TotalEnergies will become a 16.67 percent investor. TotalEnergies has also agreed to purchase 5.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG for 20 years from phase one of the project.

Furthermore, as part of the agreements, TotalEnergies will acquire a 17.5 percent common stock position in NextDecade, which will provide the company with further investment options in trains four and five of the project, as well as in a planned carbon capture and sequestration project at Rio Grande. The carbon capture and sequestration project is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the LNG facility, making it one of the world’s first LNG export facilities to incorporate carbon capture and sequestration technology.

The Rio Grande LNG project is a proposed LNG export facility located in Brownsville, Texas, with a planned production capacity of up to 27 million tonnes per annum. The facility will be constructed in phases, with phase one expected to have a production capacity of 13.5 million tonnes per annum. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs during the construction phase and hundreds of jobs during the operational phase, generating significant economic benefits for the region.

NextDecade is currently targeting a final investment decision on phase one of the project by the end of the second quarter of 2021. The agreements with GIP and TotalEnergies will provide NextDecade with additional financial resources to support the project’s development and accelerate its progress towards a final investment decision. The agreements also demonstrate the growing interest in LNG as a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels and the importance of carbon capture and sequestration technologies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from LNG facilities.

For more information visit www.next-decade.com

Alfanar and N+P Group have announced a partnership to source and process up to 1 million tonnes per year of non-recyclable waste from local authorities and waste companies.

The joint venture will require the equivalent to the amount of rubbish produced by Birmingham and the wider West Midland Metropolitan Area every year. It will be used to create feedstock pellets which can then be used to produce green jet fuel, also known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

To process the waste up to three further processing facilities will be built across the country – with locations dependent on where the waste is sourced from. Everyday non-recyclable household and business rubbish, contaminated recycling loads and MRF residues can all be sorted by N+P for use in the process, instead of the rubbish being sent to landfill, burnt in incinerators or exported. Recyclable and inert materials will be removed, before the waste is dried and turned into high carbon content pellets. The pellets will then be converted into SAF at Alfanar’s Lighthouse Green Fuels facility in Teesside, which is due to be operational in 2028 and will create over 1,000 jobs during construction before employing 240 people locally when operational.

Taken together, this unique end-to-end solution will produce SAF that can be used in today’s aircraft engines and refuelling infrastructure with no modifications. It will produce 165 million litres of SAF, equivalent to 2,500 long-haul flights or 25,000 short-haul flights per year – enough to meet 10 percent of the UK 2030 SAF target.

“We specialise in creating value out of things that others literally throw away. Our focus is to ensure we recycle as much as we can, but also to look for opportunities to create value from the things that can’t be recycled. Our new partnership with Alfanar enables us to take non-recyclable household and commercial waste and convert it into pellets, which can then be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel. We maximise the usage of these materials which have already had a life in the value chain.

We are now actively looking to secure long-term waste supply contracts with waste companies and local councils from across the UK for this project, for what will be Europe’s biggest waste processing facility by tonnage. Next to this we aim to develop at least 3 new production facilities in the country in the next two years.” – Lars Jennissen, chief development officer, N+P Group

“Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) delivers 80 percent greenhouse gas lifecycle emissions savings compared to conventional kerosene, but fuel produced at our facility will deliver up to 200 percent savings with access to Teesside’s Carbon Capture and Storage infrastructure. This means Lighthouse Green Fuels will not only be the biggest SAF production facility in the UK when operational, but the UK’s first negative emissions SAF project, and therefore a critical contributor to the UK Government’s 2030 SAF targets.

With the third largest aviation network in the world, a third of Europe’s carbon storage capacity, and readily available waste feedstock, the UK is perfectly positioned to be a world leader in SAF production. We look forward to making this a reality by delivering this project, and others that will follow.” – Noaman Al Adhami, Country Head UK, Alfanar

Alfanar is a global project development and engineering construction company headquartered in Saudi Arabia, and employs over 20,000 people worldwide. Alfanar specialises in developing projects as well as manufacturing electrical products and EPC solutions covering energy, water, infrastructure, and green fuels. Alfanar has developed, tested and optimised a unique end-to-end solution that uses gasification and Fischer-Tropsch technology to convert readily available household and commercial waste into ultra-low carbon SAF.

N+P is a Dutch-based world-leader specialising in the production and supply of waste derived alternative fuel production for various industries. N+P is also developing new concepts to substitute fossil fuels with non-recyclable paper and plastic waste fractions, and has also worked on supplying alternative raw materials, substituting primary materials and contributing to cheaper and cleaner production processes.

The Alfanar and N+P partnership enables the conversion of waste to SAF through the following two stage process:

Purpose built sites will sort the waste, which will include everyday non-recyclable household and business rubbish, contaminated recycling loads and Materials Recycling Facilities (MRF) residues. The sorting will involve removing recyclable materials (like metals) and inert materials (like glass). These sites will then dry and pelletise the waste. The pellets will then be transported by train to Alfanar’s Lighthouse Green Fuels SAF facility, where they will be converted to SAF using Alfanar’s gasification and Fischer-Tropsch technology.

For more information visit www.npgroup.com

The newly launched TRANSGEO project aims to investigate abandoned oil and gas wells in central Europe and how they can be utilised for extracting geothermal energy.

The project was co-funded by the European Commission and the Interreg Central Europe Programme. With a budget of €2.61 million (80 percent funded by the European Regional Development Fund), the project has partners in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia. The coordinator for this project is Hannes Hofmann, the head of the Helmholtz Young Investigators Group “Advanced Reservoir Engineering Concepts (ARES)” at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam.

TRANSGEO’s initiative is to explore innovative concepts and technologies that facilitate the effective repurposing of oil and gas infrastructure. The project will achieving this by focusing on the following objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive system for evaluating the techno-economic aspects of repurposing wells. This includes the creation of a repurpose assessment tool to identify feasible solutions for transitioning towards regional energy sustainability.
• Evaluate the potential, demand, and feasibility of different repurposing technologies within former hydrocarbon exploitation regions located in Central Europe.
• Formulate a framework consisting of policies, regulations, and supportive measures that promote and accelerate the transition from fossil fuel-producing areas towards sustainable growth through the utilisation of geothermal energy.

Interreg champions this transnational collaboration in order to achieve “technological, legislative, economic and social challenges related to structural change and heat transition.” Furthermore, the push for scientists, industry leaders, and regional development in these countries are “essential for the development of joint novel solutions for well repurposing.”

This initiative will allow for thousands of highly skilled oil and gas workers to redirect their expertise into the clean energy sector. According to ThinkGeo, similar initiatives are taking place globally, such as Project Innerspace in the United States and CeraPhi in the United Kingdom.

This has been a core initiative of Eavor since its inception. Alberta’s rich history and prosperity in oil and gas have allowed engineers, geologists, and skilled labour workers to become experts of worldwide calibre. Using this drilling expertise and repurposing them for cleantech is key to making an efficient and cost-effective transition to a cleaner electrical grid.

For more information visit www.eavor.com

The oil and natural gas industry is taking a significant step towards reducing emissions and addressing environmental concerns with the introduction of a groundbreaking product that targets emissions from above ground storage tanks. Developed by Mesa ETP, FlexCoreTM Liquid Mounted Seal with Armor FabricTM offers a remarkable improvement over existing technologies by significantly reducing emissions, while ensuring optimal performance and reliability.

Mesa ETP FlexCoreTM Liquid Mounted Seal is a patent-pending engineered solution that uses tougher- than-steel Armor FabricTM to provide industry-best emission control, durability, application flexibility and ease of installation.

“The oil and natural gas industry plays a vital role in the global economy, but it also faces challenges associated with emissions, particularly methane and volatile organic compounds VOCs,” says Tim Nymberg, Mesa ETP CEO. “Innovation in emission reduction technologies for storage tanks has been limited until now. This breakthrough will enable the oil and natural gas industry to significantly mitigate its environmental impact while maintaining its bottom-line performance.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), liquid mounted seal products offer the best solution for reducing emissions (AP-42). Unfortunately, the service reliability and lifespan of such products have historically been a challenge. As a result, alternative seal technologies like mechanical shoe seals, which offered better reliability but less effective emissions control, have become the industry norm.

“By combining the reliability and lifespan of mechanical shoe seals with the superior emission control performance of liquid mounted seals, Mesa ETP FlexCoreTM Liquid Mounted Seal sets a new industry standard,” says Adam Vance, Mesa ETP business innovation manager. “By providing a reliable and long- lasting liquid mounted seal product, we aim to empower the industry to meet its emission reduction goals while ensuring enhanced fire safety and ease of installation.”

“Mesa ETP is committed to supporting the oil and gas industry in its transition towards a greener and more sustainable future,” says Tim Nymberg, Mesa ETP CEO. “Our new product represents a major step forward in emission reduction for above ground storage tanks, and we are excited to partner with industry leaders to implement this innovative solution.”

For more information visit www.mesaetp.com

Yara Clean Ammonia and Cepsa have formed a strategic partnership to establish the first clean hydrogen maritime corridor between the ports of Algeciras and Rotterdam, connecting southern and northern Europe. The partnership aims to decarbonise European industry and maritime transport, and establish a credible and robust supply chain for clean energy transformation in Europe.

As part of the partnership, Yara Clean Ammonia will supply Cepsa with clean ammonia volumes, which will allow the energy company to get a head start in establishing the clean hydrogen corridor and lead the initiative to serve industrial and maritime customers in Rotterdam and Central Europe. The partnership incorporates Yara Clean Ammonia as the newest partner of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, which aims to accelerate the energy transition in heavy transport and ensure energy independence in Europe.

Cepsa will build a new green ammonia plant at its energy park in San Roque, Cádiz, near the port of Algeciras, with an annual production capacity of up to 750,000 tonnes to establish a safe, resilient, and cost-efficient supply chain for delivering clean ammonia to Cepsa’s industrial and maritime customers in Rotterdam and Central Europe. The partnership will enable Cepsa to deliver the first clean hydrogen molecules to its customers by using Yara Clean Ammonia’s global supply base and logistical footprint.

Clean ammonia is one of the most effective alternatives for decarbonising maritime transport. As of 2026, shipping companies are expected to expand the use of this sustainable fuel to reduce CO2 emissions by 100 percent. Both its production, combining clean hydrogen and nitrogen from the atmosphere, and its use as a fuel are carbon neutral. In addition, it is easier and more sustainable to transport ammonia than hydrogen as it can be transported at a higher temperature.

The partnership between Yara Clean Ammonia and Cepsa is in line with the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package, which includes “FuelEU Maritime,” a legislative initiative that aims to stimulate demand for sustainable alternative fuels in maritime transport to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity by 2 percent in 2025, 6 percent in 2030, and 75 percent in 2050, compared to 2020 levels. The development and use of sustainable fuels contribute to several of the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (Climate action).

By 2050, clean hydrogen is expected to account for one third of the fuel used in global land transport, 60 percent of maritime transport and will be instrumental in storing energy from a 100 percent renewable electricity system. Yara Clean Ammonia aims to significantly strengthen its leading global position as the world’s largest ammonia distributor, unlocking the green and blue value chains, and driving the development of clean ammonia globally. The company operates the largest global ammonia network with 15 ships and access to 18 ammonia terminals and multiple ammonia production and consumption sites across the world, through Yara.

For more information visit www.yara.com

Northern Lights JV and Ørsted announce the signing of a CO2 Transport and Services Agreement (TSA) to store 430,000 tonnes biogenic CO2 emissions per year from two power plants in Denmark. This agreement represents a major milestone for Northern Lights JV and is an essential step for creating a commercial market for CCS in Europe.

“We are very pleased that Ørsted has selected Northern Lights as CO2 tranport and storage provider. Ørsted is our second commercial customer who, together with Yara, gives us the opportunity to further utilise the capacity at our storage site below the North Sea. This agreement confirms the commercial potential for CCS and demonstrates that the market for transport and storage of CO2 is evolving rapidly”, says Børre Jacobsen, managing director of Northern Lights.

Ørsted has been awarded public funding from the Danish Energy Agency under the first Danish tender of the CCUS Fund to develop a CO2 capture hub for the biomass power stations Asnæs and Avedøre. The facilities will capture and liquefy 430,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 per year. Northern Lights will transport the liquefied CO2 by ship for permanent offshore storage below the North Sea.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the tender process, and we look forward to initiating the work of establishing carbon capture units at two of our CHP plants running on sustainable straw and wood chips. According to the UN’s panel on climate change, IPCC, capture and storage of biogenic carbon is one of the tools we must use to fight climate change, and our CCS project will contribute significantly to realising the politically decided Danish climate target for 2025 and 2030,” says Ole Thomsen, senior vice president, and head of Ørsted’s CHP business.

Carbon capture and storage is one of the four credible pathways to net zero as outlined by the International Energy Agency. In IEA’s net zero scenario, bio-CCS plays an important part in not only reducing but removing CO2 emissions. Because biomass absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, capture and storage of biogenic CO2 results in net removal of CO2.

“From 2026 Northern Lights will be shipping the first cargo of biogenic CO2 from Denmark to Norway, which shows that CCS is a realistic tool that contributes to reach the global climate targets. Together with the Yara announcement, the agreement with Ørsted supports Northern Lights’ ambition on commercial growth and expansion, and establishing a European market for CCS”, Børre Jacobsen concludes.

The tender procedure is fully completed when the contract has been signed by Ørsted and the DEA. Signing is expected to take place shortly after expiry of the mandatory standstill period.

Facts about the agreement

• Northern Lights will transport 430,000 tonnes biogenic CO2 annually from the Ørsted Kalundborg Hub in Denmark to a CO2 receiving terminal at Øygarden, Norway.
• Biogenic CO2 refers to the emissions from bioenergy production, generated by the release of absorbed CO2 from biomass such as wood or organic waste.
• The liquefied biogenic CO2 will be stored intermediately in onshore tanks at Øygarden prior to the injection into the offshore reservoir via pipeline for permanent and safe storage, 2,600 metres below the seabed.
• The agreement is effective from 1 January 2026 and Northern Lights will be storing 430,000 tonnes CO2 annually for 10 years.

For more information visit www.norlights.com

Inverness-based GEG Capital has acquired a majority stake in IKM Consulting bolstering GEG Capital’s engineering and environmental capabilities and its role in the UK energy transition.

Speaking about the acquisition, GEG Capital, director, Jia MacKenzie, commented:

“We are delighted to bring IKM under the GEG Capital umbrella and look forward to embarking on the next stage of its growth journey together. IKM not only have an exemplary reputation and culture that aligns with our own, they bring to the group extensive expertise in civil & structural engineering design and environmental consultancy.

“Those capabilities – and vast experience working with some of the largest international blue chip organisations – supported by the GEG Capital management team will present numerous opportunities for the growth of the business in a dynamic, transitioning economy.”

With offices in Grangemouth and Runcorn in the North West of England, IKM recently provided onshore infrastructure support for the Moray West offshore wind farm, while our environmental team has been engaged by Siemens Mobility who are working with the Scottish Government on the decarbonisation of its railways.

Speaking about becoming part of GEG Capital, IKM managing director, David Taylor, said:

“Myself and the team are looking forward to an exciting new chapter in IKM’s history. Our extensive legacy in the energy and infrastructure sectors makes us a perfect fit for GEG Capital in many respects. With their support, we will continue to support our existing clients in Scotland and grow our networks across England’s Northwest and Northeast regions, benefitting from the synergies and strategic relationships that will be created with other companies within the group.

“As an Investor in People, the cultural fit with the group is good and there will be opportunities for further professional and personal development for the IKM team, not to mention the creation of multiple new roles as we continue to grow.”

For more information visit www.ikmconsulting.co.uk

The Njord field in the Norwegian Sea will be officially opened by the minister of petroleum and energy, Terje Aasland. The platform and the floating storage and offloading vessel (FSO) have undergone extensive upgrades and are now ready for doubling the field life – and more than doubling production.

“With the war in Ukraine, the export of Norwegian oil and gas to Europe has never been more important than now. Reopening Njord contributes to Norway remaining a stable supplier of gas to Europe for many years to come,” says Terje Aasland, Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

The Njord field started production in 1997 and was originally supposed to produce until 2013. However, systematic work with increased recovery means that there are still large volumes of oil and gas left. New discoveries in the area can also be produced and exported via Njord.

In 2016, the platform and FSO were disconnected from the field and towed to shore for extensive upgrades. On 27 December 2022, production resumed from the Njord field.

“This is the first time a platform and an FSO have been disconnected from the field, upgraded and towed back offshore. We have now doubled the field life,” says Grete B. Haaland, Equinor’s senior vice president for exploration and production north, and continues:

“It has been a big and demanding job, partly carried out during a pandemic, and I would like to thank everyone involved in preparing Njord for continuing its supply of oil and gas to the market. With the prices we anticipate in the coming years this comprehensive upgrading project will be repaid in just under two years after startup.”

It is not just the field life that has been doubled. The ambition is also to double production and produce approximately the same volume from Njord as we have produced so far, around 250 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Ten new wells will be drilled on Njord from an upgraded drilling facility, discoveries have previously been made in the Njord area and more exploration will be carried out close to the field.

In addition, two new subsea fields have already been tied back to Njord. On 8 April, the Equinor-operated Bauge field started its production, while the Fenja subsea field, operated by Njord partner Neptune Energy, came on stream on 27 April. Recoverable volumes from the two fields combined are 110 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Plans call for future partial electrification of the Njord field based on power from shore via the Norwegian Sea Draugen platform, thereby reducing annual CO2 emissions by around 130,000 tonnes.

For more information visit www.equinor.com

GFL Environmental Inc., the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, and OPAL Fuels Inc., a vertically integrated producer and distributor of renewable natural gas and renewable energy, have announced that they have completed construction of their new RNG production facility, Emerald RNG. The parties held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the occasion at GFL’s Arbor Hills landfill in Michigan, where the facility is located.

Patrick Dovigi, GFL’s founder and CEO, said, “The completion of construction of the largest of our landfill gas to RNG projects is an important step for GFL toward achieving our ambition for a low-carbon future. This RNG project advances our own sustainability goals by reducing GHG emissions from both our landfills and our fleet, as well as the goals of our customers, by avoiding emissions through the beneficial reuse of RNG to displace virgin fuel applications.”

Adam Comora, Co-CEO of OPAL Fuels, said, “This successful joint venture with GFL reflects our continued focus on growth – expanding RNG production to ultimately bring more renewable fuel supply online, while simultaneously providing GFL’s heavy duty transportation fleets with a fuel source that’s cleaner than fossil fuels at no additional cost. RNG is a here and now solution to address the impacts of climate change and is a sought-after source of renewable energy.”

This is the first of two previously announced RNG projects to be developed via a joint venture between the companies at landfills owned by affiliates of GFL. The second project, located in North Carolina, is expected to commence commercial operations next year. GFL and OPAL Fuels are also pursuing renewable energy projects at seven other landfill sites that are in various stages of development.

The Emerald RNG facility will capture naturally occurring biogas from the decomposition of organic material at the landfill and refine it into RNG. The facility has a nameplate capacity of 10,000 SCFM of landfill gas and is expected to produce more than 2,500,000 MMBtu or almost 20 million gasoline gallon equivalent of RNG annually.

Landfill gas to RNG facilities provide a proven solution to reduce emissions across the transportation network, resulting in lower GHG emissions at the landfill and displacing diesel fuel with a low-carbon fuel alternative. The RNG produced by the plant will help avoid GHG emissions equivalent to achieving zero Scope 1 emissions from more than 1,500 heavy-duty trucks each year and will be used, in part, to power a portion of GFL’s US CNG fleet.

For more information visit www.investors.opalfuels.com

Advario are pleased to announce that Roderic Heeneman has joined the Advario leadership team. As their new senior vice president (SVP) Strategy, Portfolio and Sustainability, Roderic will be instrumental in shaping and implementing Advario’s forward-looking Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), as well as their ambitious Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda.

“We are very pleased to welcome Roderic at Advario,” says Bas Verkooijen, Advario CEO. “He is a seasoned professional with over two decades experience in the energy industry, spending a large portion of his career in commercial leadership, M&A, and business development roles in Shell and private equity, across the entire Downstream and Renewables valuechain. He will be a great fit for our organisation, and we are happy to have him onboard.”

“And I am very excited to have joined Advario,” says Roderic Heeneman. “Advario made waves in the sector during the launch, a bit more than a year ago. The company strategy is compelling: ​​​​​​​I strongly believe in the choice to focus on partnerships and sustainability, on chemicals, gases, future fuels, and new energy products. We have a global portfolio of high-performance terminals that are ready to make the transition towards a future of cleaner energy. The journey will be both exciting and challenging, and I am happy to be a part of it. I look forward to working with the great team at Advario, and with our partners.”

For more information visit www.advario.com

MFE Inspection Solutions has recently announced its partnership with Voliro, a leading innovator in drone technology. The partnership involves the use of the Voliro T drone, which boasts omnidirectional capabilities and the ability to exert significant force and torque to structures, allowing for greater manoeuvrability in any orientation, height, or location.

The Voliro T drone is equipped with semi-autonomous flight modes and sophisticated pilot assistance, ensuring safe and effortless navigation even in GPS-unavailable environments. It also features a modular payload system equipped with multiple integrated sensors for diverse inspection needs and is open for custom third-party payloads.

The partnership between MFE and Voliro promises to revolutionise the inspection industry by offering safety, efficiency, and speed, with zero personnel exposure to height risks and up to 50 times faster operation compared to conventional methods. The drone is designed for service providers and asset owners alike, making it an ideal addition to MFE’s arsenal of external inspection equipment.

This partnership highlights MFE’s commitment to drive innovation and equip its customers with the most advanced technology in the inspection industry. Customers can now gain real-time insights into their critical infrastructure through Voliro T’s end-to-end digital workflow and geo-located inspection data.

Overall, this partnership between MFE Inspection Solutions and Voliro is set to transform the inspection industry by offering a safe, efficient, and advanced inspection process for customers.

For more information visit www.mfe-is.com

Spirit Energy with the support of majority shareholder Centrica Plc, and Stadtwerke München GmbH (SWM) have been granted a carbon storage licence by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). This represents a further step towards their Net Zero vision of repurposing the North and South Morecambe gas fields for carbon capture and storage.

This announcement places the companies at the forefront of the decarbonisation efforts in the UK, with the MNZ (Morecambe Net Zero) Cluster having the potential to be one of the UK’s biggest carbon storage hubs. It will be able to store up to a gigaton of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of three years’ worth of current UK CO₂ emissions. It could initially store above 5MTPA of CO₂, scaling in time to 25MTPA. The MNZ Cluster will be able to accept CO₂ transported by pipeline, ship and rail.

Last month, Spirit Energy submitted a qualifying Expression of Interest for the MNZ Cluster to be considered as part of the Government’s Track 2 CCUS Cluster Sequencing process. The Cluster’s carbon stores will provide long-term access to a sustainable carbon storage solution for the UK’s carbon-intensive industries, helping tackle its emissions while still supporting the many thousands of reliant jobs across the UK.

Chris O’Shea, chairman of Spirit Energy and CEO of Centrica plc, said: “At Centrica, Net Zero is our business, helping us deliver a decarbonised energy system. I’m delighted we’ve been awarded this licence to move forward our plans for carbon capture and storage. Morecambe Bay has the ability to become a world leading carbon storage facility and could see the creation of thousands of jobs in the North of England. We look forward to progressing plans with our partners to support the UK’s leading Net Zero ambitions and stand ready to invest over £1 billion in this project pending the outcome of the Track 2 process.”

Neil McCulloch, CEO of Spirit Energy, said: “I am extremely pleased and proud that we have been granted a licence by the NSTA to repurpose the depleted North and South Morecambe gas fields into a world-leading carbon storage hub. This is an important step forward in developing our project which will provide an effective way for emitters to tackle their carbon emissions and meet Net Zero targets.”

Spirit Energy has ambitions for the two gas fields to form the core of a green super-hub. This would explore opportunities like direct air capture, the manufacture of blue hydrogen, the production of green hydrogen, the integration of other renewable power generation facilities, and energy storage – all of which would put Barrow and the North West on the map as a centre for low-carbon innovation.”

For more information visit www.spirit-energy.com

Vitol are pleased to welcome Clive Christison to the newly created role of head of origination and business development.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the energy sector, Clive will lead the development of their growing midstream and downstream investment portfolio.

Clive said: “The energy challenges facing the world are complex and multifaceted. I am pleased to be joining Vitol and working with its investments and portfolio companies as they strive to improve the delivery of energy solutions, as efficiently and safely as possible.”

Clive will be based in the London office.

For more information visit www.vitol.com

The joint declaration signed by ACE Terminal, Iberdrola, and Gasunie’s subsidiary Hynetwork Services is a significant step towards establishing a hydrogen value chain between Spain and the Netherlands. The project is part of the European Union’s plan to create a hydrogen economy and reduce carbon emissions, and it is expected to help accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable energy system.

Iberdrola, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, will produce green ammonia at its renewable energy facilities in Spain, using electricity from wind and solar sources. The green ammonia will then be transported to Rotterdam, where it will be converted into hydrogen and distributed to customers in the Netherlands and other European countries. The project will rely on ACE Terminal’s facilities to receive, store, and distribute the ammonia as a carrier of green hydrogen.

The project is expected to have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions. Green ammonia is a sustainable and carbon-free alternative to conventional ammonia, which is produced using fossil fuels and emits large amounts of carbon dioxide. By using green ammonia as a carrier of hydrogen, the project will help reduce carbon emissions along the entire value chain.

Moreover, the project is expected to create new jobs and business opportunities in the renewable energy sector. The development of a hydrogen economy requires significant investments in infrastructure and technology, which will create new jobs and stimulate economic growth in the region.

The partners plan to start the project in 2024, with the aim of supplying green hydrogen to customers in the Netherlands and other European countries by 2025. The project is a significant milestone towards the development of a hydrogen economy in Europe and a more sustainable energy system.

For more information visit www.aceterminal.nl

ED&F Man Liquid Products, the molasses blends and bulk liquid storage specialists, have achieved accreditation to ISO14001 certification the leading international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) and the most widely used EMS in the world. The accreditation covers all business activities including bulk storage.

The company operates deep water bulk liquid Ports and has Terminals at Hull, Liverpool, and Grangemouth with a total of almost 100,000 cubic metres of storage for low hazardous products. Last year the business handled almost 500,000 tonnes of products including cane/beet molasses and molasses blends, fish oils, vegetable oils, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, organic vegetable oils, liquid lysine, and other chemicals. The ED&F Man tank storage business is a very important part of the UK food and feed industry. They also specialise in storage of niche products and has recently invested over £3,5M is their sites and facilities.

Operations manager Ian Mackenzie comments: “The storage industry is under increasing pressure to demonstrate high environmental standards. This accreditation is an independent and verifiable demonstration of the high standards we apply to the storage of all products.”

ISO14001 certification helps manage the environmental aspects of the business, reduce impacts and ensure legal compliance. Having already achieved ISO9001 some time ago, Mr Mackenzie says ISO14001 accreditation is the next step to help shape and develop the business and set the standard in the markets they operate.

“This certification continues to move our business forward and improving environmental control as well as demonstrating alignment with ethical choices and acts as proof for assurance of service, maintaining business image and reputation in a world where preservation of the planet becomes ever more important.

“It is demonstrable verification to our customers, of the high environmental standards that our terminals operate to and the high priority we give to the vitally important area as well as helping us to move towards net zero.”

For more information visit www.edfmanliquidproductsuk.com/terminals/

Canadian Tank and Vessel has become the latest company to join EEMUA as an Associate.

CT&V is a storage tank contractor involved in the design, fabrication, construction and repair of steel containment structures. The company serves a wide range of industries across Canada, including terminals, pipeline, refining, petrochemical, LNG/cryogenics and nuclear hazardous materials.

EEMUA looks forward to working with Canadian Tank and Vessel in supporting the Association’s aim of helping improve the safety, environmental and operating performance of industrial assets worldwide.

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

Neste announced its final investment decision on additional renewable products production capacity in Singapore in December 2018. The EUR 1.6 billion Singapore Expansion project has been successfully completed, the start-up of the refinery expansion has been completed after mid-April, and Neste is celebrating its opening. The Singapore refinery expansion doubles Neste’s production capacity in Singapore and brings the refinery’s total capacity to 2.6 million tonnes annually of which up to one million tonnes can be sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This strengthens their position as the world’s leading SAF producer. In addition to increased production capacity, the enhanced raw material pre-treatment capacity onsite increases Neste’s capability to process more challenging waste and residue raw materials.

“We celebrate our Singapore refinery expansion opening with our customers, partners and employees. This marks another important milestone in our renewables growth strategy execution. The completion of the construction of the refinery is a remarkable achievement given the complexity of the project and as it was carried out during a global pandemic. I want to express my sincere and warmest thanks to all our partners and employees who have been part of this project,” says Matti Lehmus, president and CEO of Neste.

“Singapore has world-class logistics connectivity enabling efficient transportation of the renewable raw materials as well as final products globally. Also, its world-class education supports the availability of future talents to be a part of our production and commercial operations, as well as to enhance our R&D in our recently established Innovation Centre,” continues Lehmus.

Neste has established an integrated SAF supply chain to Singapore Changi Airport

Neste is committed to supporting the aviation industry globally in achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Also, Neste is pleased to support Singapore in achieving its ambitious emission reduction targets as part of the Green Plan 2030 and Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint under preparation for completion later in 2023.

“Singapore is a leading aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to being a global hub for Neste’s SAF production, we have established an integrated SAF supply chain to Singapore Changi Airport to make our product available to an increasing number of regional and international airlines. The neat SAF is produced at our refinery located in the Tuas area of Singapore, then blended together with conventional fossil jet fuel and certified to meet jet fuel specifications at the blending terminal in Singapore, and finally delivered to our customers at Changi Airport,” says Sami Jauhiainen, acting executive vice president for the Renewable Aviation business unit of Neste.

In order to be able to offer blended Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ directly to airlines at Singapore Changi Airport, Neste has agreed to acquire a stake and become a minority shareholder in Changi Airport Fuel Hydrant Installation Company Pte Ltd (CAFHI), the fuel storage and infrastructure joint venture in the airport. The transaction is subject to the fulfilment of customary closing conditions.

SAF is widely acknowledged as a key element in achieving the aviation industry’s ambitious emission reduction goals. To support its aviation customers across the globe in achieving their climate targets by reducing their emissions with SAF, Neste is also developing a global network of airports where it has the capability to supply SAF directly into aircraft. Singapore’s Changi airport extends this network of airports, which includes San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX) in the U.S., Amsterdam (AMS) in the Netherlands, and Helsinki Airport (HEL) in Finland. Neste is also supplying SAF to various fuel marketing companies, broadening its availability outside its own airport network.

Using Neste’s SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Neste’s total SAF production capability will be 1.5 million tonnes per annum by the end of 2023 when the modifications at Neste’s Rotterdam refinery are completed, and 2.2 million tonnes when the expansion of the Rotterdam refinery is completed by the first half of 2026.

For more information visit www.neste.com

Technology group Wärtsilä will deliver the know-how and equipment for a significant Swedish bioLNG project. The Wärtsilä solution will upgrade the biogas from agricultural waste and then liquefy it into high quality bioLNG. The installation has been ordered by Gasum AB and it will be located at the company’s facility near Götene, Sweden. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in May 2023.

When operational, the Wärtsilä offering will be capable of producing 25 tonnes of bioLNG per day. BioLNG is formed by purifying biogas, removing hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and water vapour before it’s liquefied at -160 °C. It has the same calorific value and other properties making it usable as an environmentally sustainable fuel fully compatible with fossil LNG.

“Götene biogas plant project is very important to us. It is the first of our five large biogas plant projects in Sweden in the coming years. After thorough and extensive procurement phase we were happy to conclude the deal with Wärtsilä. We have high expectations on the equipment and service, and are confident that Wärtsilä will meet those,” stated Eero Lallukka, senior manager, procurement at Gasum.

“Wärtsilä’s corporate strategy is focused on decarbonising our customers’ operations. Our biogas upgrading and liquefaction capabilities in support of this bioLNG facility are fully in line with this commitment. We look forward to supporting Gasum as they work to expand their operations in promoting green fuel alternatives,” commented Rolf Håkansson, business development manager, Biogas Solutions, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

The full Wärtsilä scope of supply includes the delivery, installation and commissioning of the upgrading and liquefaction equipment. Delivery is planned for August 2024, and the facility is expected to be fully operational at the beginning of 2025.

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions is a market leader with innovative systems and lifecycle solutions for the gas value chain. Their main focus areas are the handling of gas in seaborne transport (storage, fuel, transfer and BOG management), gas to power, liquefaction and biogas solutions. They help their customers on their journey towards a sustainable future through a focus on lifecycle performance, innovation and digitalisation.

For more information visit www.wartsila.com

Cashco, Inc., a top-tier manufacturer of industrial control products, has recently announced a new project team to spearhead their upcoming projects. The team is composed of two highly experienced and qualified individuals, Bob Wood, and Cody Bird.

Bob Wood has been appointed as the global project manager and brings over 26 years of experience in the industry. He has a proven track record of successful project delivery and has previously managed large-scale projects across the globe. Bob’s expertise and experience will be instrumental in guiding the team towards successful project delivery and ensuring that Cashco continues to maintain its position as a leader in the industry.

Cody Bird, who has been appointed as the project manager, is an accomplished professional with over 5 years of experience in the industry. Cody has previously managed several critical projects, delivering exceptional results each time. With his strong leadership skills, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering projects on time and within budget, Cody is a perfect fit for the team.

The new project team will be responsible for leading and executing critical projects for Cashco and its customers. Their primary focus will be on delivering high-quality industrial control products that meet the evolving needs of the industry. The team will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including customers, representatives, and internal teams, to ensure seamless product delivery.

Speaking about the new project team, Cashco, Inc.’s V.P. sales & marketing, Dimity Ankerholz, said, “We are thrilled to have Bob Wood and Cody Bird lead our new project team. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, and we are confident that they will lead the team towards success. With their leadership and guidance, we look forward to delivering exceptional solutions for our customers and maintaining our position as a leading manufacturer of industrial control products.”

The new project team at Cashco is poised to deliver exceptional results and drive the company’s growth. With Bob Wood and Cody Bird leading the way, the team is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the industry and deliver high-quality products that exceed customers’ expectations. Cashco is excited about the new project team and looks forward to the positive impact they will have on the company and our customers.

For more information visit www.cashco.com

Halliburton, a multinational oil and gas service provider, has announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide completions, liners, and monitoring products and services for the carbon capture and storage (CCS) system within the HyNet North West project in the Liverpool Bay, UK. The HyNet North West project aims to reduce carbon emissions in the UK by applying CCS to transport carbon dioxide captured from industry and store it in depleted reservoirs underneath Liverpool Bay. This project marks the first CCS project commissioned in the UK.

Halliburton will manufacture and deliver equipment from its UK completion manufacturing center in Arbroath. The company’s expertise will be used to develop and deliver innovative well completions and monitoring solutions for this groundbreaking CCS project. Jean Marc Lopez, Europe, Eurasia and Sub Saharan African (EESSA) Region vice president at Halliburton, said, “This project provides a great opportunity to expand our completions activity and showcase Halliburton’s leadership in CCS projects. We look forward to providing our services to support the HyNet project.”

The carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is crucial in the fight against climate change as it captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and stores them safely underground. The HyNet North West project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 10 million tonnes per year by 2030, helping the UK to achieve its carbon emissions targets.

For more information vist www.halliburton.com

Gibson Energy Inc. has announced it has sanctioned the construction of two tanks, representing 870,000 barrels of new tankage, at its Edmonton Terminal underpinned by a 15 year take-or-pay and stable fee-based contract agreement with Cenovus Energy Inc., an investment grade, senior integrated oil sands customer.

“Gibson is very pleased with the sanction of two new tanks at our Edmonton Terminal, which will further increase our high-quality, long-term infrastructure revenues and drive continued distributable cash flow per share growth,” said Steve Spaulding, president and chief executive officer. “With this sanction we currently have three tanks under construction at our Edmonton Terminal, representing 1.3 million barrels of storage. Combined with other smaller projects that have materialised across our asset base, we now have line of sight to reaching up to $150 million in growth capital in 2023 and will also carry additional capital commitments into 2024.”

The project will include the construction of two 435,000 barrel tanks as well as significant supporting infrastructure at the Edmonton Terminal and is expected to be placed into service in late 2024.

Increased 2023 Capital Guidance

With the additional capital spending during the current year from the sanction of the new Edmonton tankage as well as numerous smaller growth initiatives throughout its asset base, the Company has increased its 2023 growth capital expenditure guidance to be up to $150 million with the strong majority of the underlying projects having already been sanctioned.

For more information visit www.gibsonenergy.com