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Category: Renewable Energy

  • MIL-Evening Report: Keep fighting for a nuclear-free Pacific, Helen Clark warns Greenpeace over global storm clouds

    Asia Pacific Report

    Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark warned activists and campaigners in a speech on the deck of the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior III last night to be wary of global “storm clouds” and the renewed existential threat of nuclear weapons.

    Speaking on her reflections on four decades after the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior on 10 July 1985, she said that New Zealand had a lot to be proud of but the world was now in a “precarious” state.

    Clark praised Greenpeace over its long struggle, challenging the global campaigners to keep up the fight for a nuclear-free Pacific.

    “For New Zealand, having been proudly nuclear-free since the mid-1980s, life has got a lot more complicated for us as well, and I have done a lot of campaigning against New Zealand signing up to any aspect of the AUKUS arrangement because it seems to me that being associated with any agreement that supplies nuclear ship technology to Australia is more or less encouraging the development of nuclear threats in the South Pacific,” she said.

    “While I am not suggesting that Australians are about to put nuclear weapons on them, we know that others do. This is not the Pacific that we want.

    “It is not the Pacific that we fought for going back all those years.

    “So we need to be very concerned about these storm clouds gathering.”

    Lessons for humanity
    Clark was prime minister 1999-2008 and served as a minister in David Lange’s Labour government that passed New Zealand’s nuclear-free legislation in 1987 – two years after the Rainbow Warrior bombing by French secret agents.

    She was also head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009-2017.

    “When you think 40 years on, humanity might have learned some lessons. But it seems we have to repeat the lessons over and over again, or we will be dragged on the path of re-engagement with those who use nuclear weapons as their ultimate defence,” Clark told the Greenpeace activists, crew and guests.

    “Forty years on, we look back with a lot of pride, actually, at how New Zealand responded to the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. We stood up with the passage of the nuclear-free legislation in 1987, we stood up with a lot of things.

    “All of this is under threat; the international scene now is quite precarious with respect to nuclear weapons. This is an existential threat.”


    Nuclear-free Pacific reflections with Helen Clark         Video: Greenpeace

    In response to Tahitian researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva who spoke earlier about the legacy of a health crisis as a result of 30 years of French nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa, she recalled her own thoughts.

    “It reminds us of why we were so motivated to fight for a nuclear-free Pacific because we remember the history of what happened in French Polynesia, in the Marshall Islands, in the South Australian desert, at Maralinga, to the New Zealand servicemen who were sent up in the navy ships, the Rotoiti and the Pukaki, in the late 1950s, to stand on deck while the British exploded their bombs [at Christmas Island in what is today Kiribati].

    “These poor guys were still seeking compensation when I was PM with the illnesses you [Ena] described in French Polynesia.

    Former NZ prime minister Helen Clark . . . “I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    Testing ground for ‘others’
    “So the Pacific was a testing ground for ‘others’ far away and I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’. Right? It wasn’t so safe.

    “Mind you, they regarded French Polynesia as France.

    “David Robie asked me to write the foreword to the new edition of his book, Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, and it brought back so many memories of those times because those of you who are my age will remember that the 1980s were the peak of the Cold War.

    “We had the Reagan administration [in the US] that was actively preparing for war. It was a terrifying time. It was before the demise of the Soviet Union. And nuclear testing was just part of that big picture where people were preparing for war.

    “I think that the wonderful development in New Zealand was that people knew enough to know that we didn’t want to be defended by nuclear weapons because that was not mutually assured survival — it was mutually assured destruction.”

    New Zealand took a stand, Clark said, but taking that stand led to the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour by French state-backed terrorism where tragically Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira lost his life.

    “I remember I was on my way to Nairobi for a conference for women, and I was in Zimbabwe, when the news came through about the bombing of a boat in Auckland harbour.

    ‘Absolutely shocking’
    “It was absolutely shocking, we had never experienced such a thing. I recall when I returned to New Zealand, [Prime Minister] David Lange one morning striding down to the party caucus room and telling us before it went public that it was without question that French spies had planted the bombs and the rest was history.

    “It was a very tense time. Full marks to Greenpeace for keeping up the struggle for so long — long before it was a mainstream issue Greenpeace was out there in the Pacific taking on nuclear testing.

    “Different times from today, but when I wrote the foreword for David’s book I noted that storm clouds were gathering again around nuclear weapons and issues. I suppose that there is so much else going on in a tragic 24 news cycle — catastrophe day in and day out in Gaza, severe technology and lethal weapons in Ukraine killing people, wherever you look there are so many conflicts.

    “The international agreements that we have relied are falling into disrepair. For example, if I were in Europe I would be extremely worried about the demise of the intermediate range missile weapons pact which has now been abandoned by the Americans and the Russians.

    “And that governs the deployment of medium range missiles in Europe.

    “The New Start Treaty, which was a nuclear arms control treaty between what was the Soviet Union and the US expires next year. Will it be renegotiated in the current circumstances? Who knows?”

    With the Non-proliferation Treaty, there are acknowledged nuclear powers who had not signed the treaty — “and those that do make very little effort to live up to the aspiration, which is to negotiate an end to nuclear weapons”.

    Developments with Iran
    “We have seen recently the latest developments with Iran, and for all of Iran’s many sins let us acknowledge that it is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” she said.

    “It did subject itself, for the most part, to the inspections regime. Israel, which bombed it, is not a party to the treaty, and doesn’t accept inspections.

    “There are so many double standards that people have long complained about the Non-Proliferation Treaty where the original five nuclear powers are deemed okay to have them, somehow, whereas there are others who don’t join at all.

    “And then over the Ukraine conflict we have seen worrying threats of the use of nuclear weapons.”

    Clark warned that we the use of artificial intelligence it would not be long before asking it: “How do I make a nuclear weapon?”

    “It’s not so difficult to make a dirty bomb. So we should be extremely worried about all these developments.”

    Then Clark spoke about the “complications” facing New Zealand.

    Mangareva researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva . . . “My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    Teariki’s message to De Gaulle
    In his address, Ena Manuireva started off by quoting the late Tahitian parliamentarian John Teariki who had courageously appealed to General Charles De Gaulle in 1966 after France had already tested three nuclear devices:

    “No government has ever had the honesty or the cynical frankness to admit that its nuclear tests might be dangerous. No government has ever hesitated to make other peoples — preferably small, defenceless ones — bear the burden.”

    “May you, Mr President, take back your troops, your bombs, and your planes.

    “Then, later, our leukemia and cancer patients would not be able to accuse you of being the cause of their illness.

    “Then, our future generations would not be able to blame you for the birth of monsters and deformed children.

    “Then, you would give the world an example worthy of France . . .

    “Then, Polynesia, united, would be proud and happy to be French, and, as in the early days of Free France, we would all once again become your best and most loyal friends.”

    ‘Emotional moment’
    Manuireva said that 10 days earlier, he had been on board Rainbow Warrior III for the ceremony to mark the bombing in 1985 that cost the life of Fernando Pereira – “and the lives of a lot of Mā’ohi people”.

    “It was a very emotional moment for me. It reminded me of my mother and father as I am a descendant of those on Mangareva atoll who were contaminated by those nuclear tests.

    “My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.

    “French nuclear testing started on 2 July 1966 with Aldebaran and lasted 30 years.”

    He spoke about how the military “top brass fled the island” when winds start blowing towards Mangareva. “Food was ready but they didn’t stay”.

    “By the time I was born in December 1967 in Mangareva, France had already exploded 9 atmospheric nuclear tests on Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls, about 400km from Mangareva.”

    France’s most powerful explosion was Canopus with 2.6 megatonnes in August 1968. It was a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb — 150 times more powerful than Hiroshima.

    Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman . . . a positive of the campaign future. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    ‘Poisoned gift’
    Manuireva said that by France “gifting us the bomb”, Tahitians had been left “with all the ongoing consequences on the people’s health costs that the Ma’ohi Nui government is paying for”.

    He described how the compensation programme was inadequate, lengthy and complicated.

    Manuireva also spoke about the consequences for the environment. Both Moruroa and Fangataufa were condemned as “no go” zones and islanders had lost their lands forever.

    He also noted that while France had gifted the former headquarters of the Atomic Energy Commission (CEP) as a “form of reconciliation” plans to turn it into a museum were thwarted because the building was “rife with asbestos”.

    “It is a poisonous gift that will cost millions for the local government to fix.”

    Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman spoke of the impact on the Greenpeace organisation of the French secret service bombing of their ship and also introduced the guest speakers and responded to their statements.

    A Q and A session was also held to round off the stimulating evening.

    A question during the open mike session on board the Rainbow Warrior. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Keep fighting for a nuclear-free Pacific, Helen Clark warns Greenpeace over global storm clouds

    Asia Pacific Report

    Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark warned activists and campaigners in a speech on the deck of the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior III last night to be wary of global “storm clouds” and the renewed existential threat of nuclear weapons.

    Speaking on her reflections on four decades after the bombing of the original Rainbow Warrior on 10 July 1985, she said that New Zealand had a lot to be proud of but the world was now in a “precarious” state.

    Clark praised Greenpeace over its long struggle, challenging the global campaigners to keep up the fight for a nuclear-free Pacific.

    “For New Zealand, having been proudly nuclear-free since the mid-1980s, life has got a lot more complicated for us as well, and I have done a lot of campaigning against New Zealand signing up to any aspect of the AUKUS arrangement because it seems to me that being associated with any agreement that supplies nuclear ship technology to Australia is more or less encouraging the development of nuclear threats in the South Pacific,” she said.

    “While I am not suggesting that Australians are about to put nuclear weapons on them, we know that others do. This is not the Pacific that we want.

    “It is not the Pacific that we fought for going back all those years.

    “So we need to be very concerned about these storm clouds gathering.”

    Lessons for humanity
    Clark was prime minister 1999-2008 and served as a minister in David Lange’s Labour government that passed New Zealand’s nuclear-free legislation in 1987 – two years after the Rainbow Warrior bombing by French secret agents.

    She was also head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009-2017.

    “When you think 40 years on, humanity might have learned some lessons. But it seems we have to repeat the lessons over and over again, or we will be dragged on the path of re-engagement with those who use nuclear weapons as their ultimate defence,” Clark told the Greenpeace activists, crew and guests.

    “Forty years on, we look back with a lot of pride, actually, at how New Zealand responded to the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. We stood up with the passage of the nuclear-free legislation in 1987, we stood up with a lot of things.

    “All of this is under threat; the international scene now is quite precarious with respect to nuclear weapons. This is an existential threat.”


    Nuclear-free Pacific reflections with Helen Clark         Video: Greenpeace

    In response to Tahitian researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva who spoke earlier about the legacy of a health crisis as a result of 30 years of French nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa, she recalled her own thoughts.

    “It reminds us of why we were so motivated to fight for a nuclear-free Pacific because we remember the history of what happened in French Polynesia, in the Marshall Islands, in the South Australian desert, at Maralinga, to the New Zealand servicemen who were sent up in the navy ships, the Rotoiti and the Pukaki, in the late 1950s, to stand on deck while the British exploded their bombs [at Christmas Island in what is today Kiribati].

    “These poor guys were still seeking compensation when I was PM with the illnesses you [Ena] described in French Polynesia.

    Former NZ prime minister Helen Clark . . . “I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    Testing ground for ‘others’
    “So the Pacific was a testing ground for ‘others’ far away and I remember one of the slogans in the 1970s and 1980s was ‘if it is so safe, test them in France’. Right? It wasn’t so safe.

    “Mind you, they regarded French Polynesia as France.

    “David Robie asked me to write the foreword to the new edition of his book, Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, and it brought back so many memories of those times because those of you who are my age will remember that the 1980s were the peak of the Cold War.

    “We had the Reagan administration [in the US] that was actively preparing for war. It was a terrifying time. It was before the demise of the Soviet Union. And nuclear testing was just part of that big picture where people were preparing for war.

    “I think that the wonderful development in New Zealand was that people knew enough to know that we didn’t want to be defended by nuclear weapons because that was not mutually assured survival — it was mutually assured destruction.”

    New Zealand took a stand, Clark said, but taking that stand led to the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour by French state-backed terrorism where tragically Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira lost his life.

    “I remember I was on my way to Nairobi for a conference for women, and I was in Zimbabwe, when the news came through about the bombing of a boat in Auckland harbour.

    ‘Absolutely shocking’
    “It was absolutely shocking, we had never experienced such a thing. I recall when I returned to New Zealand, [Prime Minister] David Lange one morning striding down to the party caucus room and telling us before it went public that it was without question that French spies had planted the bombs and the rest was history.

    “It was a very tense time. Full marks to Greenpeace for keeping up the struggle for so long — long before it was a mainstream issue Greenpeace was out there in the Pacific taking on nuclear testing.

    “Different times from today, but when I wrote the foreword for David’s book I noted that storm clouds were gathering again around nuclear weapons and issues. I suppose that there is so much else going on in a tragic 24 news cycle — catastrophe day in and day out in Gaza, severe technology and lethal weapons in Ukraine killing people, wherever you look there are so many conflicts.

    “The international agreements that we have relied are falling into disrepair. For example, if I were in Europe I would be extremely worried about the demise of the intermediate range missile weapons pact which has now been abandoned by the Americans and the Russians.

    “And that governs the deployment of medium range missiles in Europe.

    “The New Start Treaty, which was a nuclear arms control treaty between what was the Soviet Union and the US expires next year. Will it be renegotiated in the current circumstances? Who knows?”

    With the Non-proliferation Treaty, there are acknowledged nuclear powers who had not signed the treaty — “and those that do make very little effort to live up to the aspiration, which is to negotiate an end to nuclear weapons”.

    Developments with Iran
    “We have seen recently the latest developments with Iran, and for all of Iran’s many sins let us acknowledge that it is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” she said.

    “It did subject itself, for the most part, to the inspections regime. Israel, which bombed it, is not a party to the treaty, and doesn’t accept inspections.

    “There are so many double standards that people have long complained about the Non-Proliferation Treaty where the original five nuclear powers are deemed okay to have them, somehow, whereas there are others who don’t join at all.

    “And then over the Ukraine conflict we have seen worrying threats of the use of nuclear weapons.”

    Clark warned that we the use of artificial intelligence it would not be long before asking it: “How do I make a nuclear weapon?”

    “It’s not so difficult to make a dirty bomb. So we should be extremely worried about all these developments.”

    Then Clark spoke about the “complications” facing New Zealand.

    Mangareva researcher and advocate Ena Manuireva . . . “My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.” Image: Asia Pacific Report

    Teariki’s message to De Gaulle
    In his address, Ena Manuireva started off by quoting the late Tahitian parliamentarian John Teariki who had courageously appealed to General Charles De Gaulle in 1966 after France had already tested three nuclear devices:

    “No government has ever had the honesty or the cynical frankness to admit that its nuclear tests might be dangerous. No government has ever hesitated to make other peoples — preferably small, defenceless ones — bear the burden.”

    “May you, Mr President, take back your troops, your bombs, and your planes.

    “Then, later, our leukemia and cancer patients would not be able to accuse you of being the cause of their illness.

    “Then, our future generations would not be able to blame you for the birth of monsters and deformed children.

    “Then, you would give the world an example worthy of France . . .

    “Then, Polynesia, united, would be proud and happy to be French, and, as in the early days of Free France, we would all once again become your best and most loyal friends.”

    ‘Emotional moment’
    Manuireva said that 10 days earlier, he had been on board Rainbow Warrior III for the ceremony to mark the bombing in 1985 that cost the life of Fernando Pereira – “and the lives of a lot of Mā’ohi people”.

    “It was a very emotional moment for me. It reminded me of my mother and father as I am a descendant of those on Mangareva atoll who were contaminated by those nuclear tests.

    “My mum died of lung cancer and the doctors said that she was a ‘passive smoker’. My mum had not smoked for the last 65 years.

    “French nuclear testing started on 2 July 1966 with Aldebaran and lasted 30 years.”

    He spoke about how the military “top brass fled the island” when winds start blowing towards Mangareva. “Food was ready but they didn’t stay”.

    “By the time I was born in December 1967 in Mangareva, France had already exploded 9 atmospheric nuclear tests on Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls, about 400km from Mangareva.”

    France’s most powerful explosion was Canopus with 2.6 megatonnes in August 1968. It was a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb — 150 times more powerful than Hiroshima.

    Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman . . . a positive of the campaign future. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    ‘Poisoned gift’
    Manuireva said that by France “gifting us the bomb”, Tahitians had been left “with all the ongoing consequences on the people’s health costs that the Ma’ohi Nui government is paying for”.

    He described how the compensation programme was inadequate, lengthy and complicated.

    Manuireva also spoke about the consequences for the environment. Both Moruroa and Fangataufa were condemned as “no go” zones and islanders had lost their lands forever.

    He also noted that while France had gifted the former headquarters of the Atomic Energy Commission (CEP) as a “form of reconciliation” plans to turn it into a museum were thwarted because the building was “rife with asbestos”.

    “It is a poisonous gift that will cost millions for the local government to fix.”

    Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman spoke of the impact on the Greenpeace organisation of the French secret service bombing of their ship and also introduced the guest speakers and responded to their statements.

    A Q and A session was also held to round off the stimulating evening.

    A question during the open mike session on board the Rainbow Warrior. Image: Asia Pacific Report

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mayors Reflect on Hosting Nuclear Facilities

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    “My city of Idaho Falls owns and operates its electric utility, integrating hydropower, wind, geothermal, and emerging hydrogen technologies. We are now planning to add micro-reactors. As policymakers, we study complex energy markets, transmission and regulations, all so we can provide reliable, cost-effective power to our citizens. And they in turn support nuclear because it offers safe, reliable, carbon-free, baseload energy. Advanced reactors are the path forward securing our community’s energy future while keeping costs low for generations to come.” 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Mayors Reflect on Hosting Nuclear Facilities

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    “My city of Idaho Falls owns and operates its electric utility, integrating hydropower, wind, geothermal, and emerging hydrogen technologies. We are now planning to add micro-reactors. As policymakers, we study complex energy markets, transmission and regulations, all so we can provide reliable, cost-effective power to our citizens. And they in turn support nuclear because it offers safe, reliable, carbon-free, baseload energy. Advanced reactors are the path forward securing our community’s energy future while keeping costs low for generations to come.” 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mayors Reflect on Hosting Nuclear Facilities

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    “My city of Idaho Falls owns and operates its electric utility, integrating hydropower, wind, geothermal, and emerging hydrogen technologies. We are now planning to add micro-reactors. As policymakers, we study complex energy markets, transmission and regulations, all so we can provide reliable, cost-effective power to our citizens. And they in turn support nuclear because it offers safe, reliable, carbon-free, baseload energy. Advanced reactors are the path forward securing our community’s energy future while keeping costs low for generations to come.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President hails BMW’s local production of plug-in hybrid as milestone for green mobility

    Source: Government of South Africa

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded BMW South Africa’s launch of the locally produced BMW X3 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) as a significant leap toward a low-carbon future and a boost for South Africa’s industrial and economic growth.

    Speaking at BMW’s Rosslyn plant in Tshwane on Thursday, the President praised the milestone as a symbol of trust in the country, as well as a demonstration of BMW Group’s long-standing commitment to the South African market. 

    The President highlighted that this world-class facility was the first BMW plant to be built outside of Germany and has been at the centre of the group’s operations since 1973. 

    “A number of world-class vehicles are manufactured right here at this plant, including both ICE and hybrid models from the BMW X family. And now, we have reached another milestone with the production of the BMW X3 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.  

    “The shift to green mobility and electrification in vehicle production is in line with commitments by countries to reduce emissions and support the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient global economy. We are greatly encouraged by this milestone reached by the BMW Group,” the President said. 

    WATCH | 

    [embedded content]

    President Ramaphosa said the Rosslyn plant remains a pillar of South Africa’s automotive sector, which contributes approximately 4.9% to the country’s GDP, sustains over 115 000 direct manufacturing jobs, and supports more than half a million jobs across its value chain.

    BMW’s investment in local manufacturing comes at a time when South Africa is working to position itself as a globally competitive hub for future mobility. 

    “As the transition to battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen mobility gathers momentum, South Africa is perfectly positioned as a key global manufacturing base for the mobility of the future,” President Ramaphosa said.

    He reaffirmed government’s commitment to enabling this shift, highlighting the recently released Electric Vehicle White Paper and an incentive programme under the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP). 

    These are aimed at creating a stable and predictable policy environment to attract investment, grow exports, and expand the local electric vehicle (EV) market. 

    “The production of the BMW X3 plug-in hybrid locally is a testament to the trust placed in our skills, our workers, our partnerships and our potential. Let us honour this achievement by staying the course, driving transformation, creating jobs and leading Africa’s industrial future,” he said.

    President Ramaphosa also touched on the strategic opportunity presented by South Africa’s mineral wealth. 

    “The global shift to clean vehicles presents opportunities for the local component manufacturing sector, whose focus has been on ICE components. With our significant reserves of critical minerals, we must become a hub for processing and beneficiation. 

    “We are finalising targeted incentives for battery cell localisation, EV component manufacture, clean mobility research and design, and critical mineral beneficiation,” he said. 

    The President also acknowledged the changing global trade landscape – particularly the recent announcements on tariffs by the United States. 

    “The recent announcements on tariffs by the United States, an important market for our vehicle exports, further underscores the need to diversity our export base and accelerate domestic value creation,” he said. 

    Youth development

    The President commended BMW’s commitment to youth development, including its training academy that produces 300 apprentices annually, its long-term support for the Youth Employment Service (YES), and its initiatives to develop young women leaders and black industrialists. 

    He also praised BMW’s investment in digital skills through its partnership with UNICEF and its Tshwane-based IT Hub, which employs more than 2 000 digital professionals.

    “As a founding partner of the Youth Employment Service, BMW has supported over 3 500 youth, with placements across all provinces and in diverse sectors such as retail, IT, education and health. 

    “BMW’s roots may be in Bavaria, but its beating heart is South African. We are proud of your presence. We are greatly encouraged by your ongoing investment as we strive to build the low-carbon economies of the future,” the President said.

    Looking ahead

    Calling on BMW to continue its role as a flagship partner in the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC), the President urged the company to deepen localisation, expand youth training, lead in EV battery development, and support township-based supplier development.

    “As the Government of National Unity, we welcome the role you continue to play in supporting our drive for inclusive growth and job creation.  

    “BMW’s presence in the country is one of mutual interest and shared value. To the entire BMW team, you are building more than cars. 

    “You are building a legacy of excellence, inclusion and hope among South Africans. We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting the next chapter of your journey,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: EIB and Eni sign €500 million finance agreement to convert Livorno refinery into a biorefinery

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • This will be Eni’s third biorefinery in Italy, after those in Venice and Gela.
    • Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the use of advanced technologies, there is the possibility of adapting the plant to also produce SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) in the future.
    • This initiative contributes to the European Union’s decarbonisation goals, with particular reference to the transport sector, and confirms Eni’s energy transition path.
    • The project is part of Enilive’s strategy to reach more than five million tonnes of biorefinery capacity by 2030.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Eni have signed a €500 million 15-year finance contract to support the conversion of Eni’s Livorno refinery in Tuscany into a biorefinery. The agreement was signed today at Eni’s headquarters in San Donato Milanese by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.

    Eni’s project involves the construction of new plants to produce hydrogenated biofuels at the Livorno refinery site, including a biogenic pre-treatment unit and a 500 000-tonne/year Ecofining™ plant.

    Thanks to its proprietary Ecofining™ technology, Eni’s company dedicated to sustainable mobility, Enilive, produces HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) – a biofuel made from renewable raw materials[1] such as used cooking oil and agrifood waste. Pure HVO can now be used in approved engines and is distributed through existing infrastructure.

    EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said: “The EIB financing is key to delivering a project of high environmental, technological and strategic value, helping to promote the decarbonisation of the transport sector. This is a concrete example of how industrial innovation can accelerate the path towards climate neutrality, while generating sustainable value for regions.”

    Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said: “The agreement with the EIB confirms Eni’s concrete and high-quality commitment in the transition towards increasingly decarbonized energy. It also underscores the validity of our approach, which is to invest and leverage all available and effective initiatives and technologies for reducing emissions. This virtuous approach is now leading us to convert a third refinery into a biorefinery in Italy, following the examples of Venice and Gela.”

    HVO biofuels play a key role because they can make an immediate contribution to reducing transport sector emissions generated not only on roads, but also by air traffic, maritime and rail transport (calculated along the entire value chain). The conversion of the Livorno site is in line with Enilive’s strategy to increase the production of biofuels in response to growing demand in Europe and Italy, in order to meet both emission reduction targets under RED III (Renewable Energy Directive) and the obligations to release pure biofuels for use as defined by Italian legislation. Worldwide, it is estimated that the demand for hydrogenated biofuels will increase by 65% over the period 2024-2028[2].

    The Livorno biorefinery will be able to treat different types of biogenic charges, mainly waste and residues of plant origin, to produce HVO diesel, HVO naphtha and bio-LPG.

    Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the adoption of advanced technologies, there is the possibility in the future of modifying the layout of the plant to have the flexibility to also produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is a key element of efforts to decarbonise aviation. This gives flexibility to the investment and brings it up to speed with the environmental priorities of the European Union, broadening the potential impact.

    This operation is part of the energy transition at national and European level, contributing substantially to decarbonisation of the transport sector and the reduction of CO2 emissions. It also supports the achievement of Italy’s targets for the production of pure biofuels, which under current legislation provides for a gradual increase in use from 300 000 tonnes per year in 2023 to one million tonnes by 2030.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality. In the last five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy. All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower.

    Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32.500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers. In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni’s areas of activity and research. In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy – a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.

    [1] In accordance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive

    [2] IEA Renewables 2023 report, main case, analysis and forecast to 2028.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: EIB and Eni sign €500 million finance agreement to convert Livorno refinery into a biorefinery

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • This will be Eni’s third biorefinery in Italy, after those in Venice and Gela.
    • Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the use of advanced technologies, there is the possibility of adapting the plant to also produce SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) in the future.
    • This initiative contributes to the European Union’s decarbonisation goals, with particular reference to the transport sector, and confirms Eni’s energy transition path.
    • The project is part of Enilive’s strategy to reach more than five million tonnes of biorefinery capacity by 2030.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Eni have signed a €500 million 15-year finance contract to support the conversion of Eni’s Livorno refinery in Tuscany into a biorefinery. The agreement was signed today at Eni’s headquarters in San Donato Milanese by EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi.

    Eni’s project involves the construction of new plants to produce hydrogenated biofuels at the Livorno refinery site, including a biogenic pre-treatment unit and a 500 000-tonne/year Ecofining™ plant.

    Thanks to its proprietary Ecofining™ technology, Eni’s company dedicated to sustainable mobility, Enilive, produces HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) – a biofuel made from renewable raw materials[1] such as used cooking oil and agrifood waste. Pure HVO can now be used in approved engines and is distributed through existing infrastructure.

    EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti said: “The EIB financing is key to delivering a project of high environmental, technological and strategic value, helping to promote the decarbonisation of the transport sector. This is a concrete example of how industrial innovation can accelerate the path towards climate neutrality, while generating sustainable value for regions.”

    Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said: “The agreement with the EIB confirms Eni’s concrete and high-quality commitment in the transition towards increasingly decarbonized energy. It also underscores the validity of our approach, which is to invest and leverage all available and effective initiatives and technologies for reducing emissions. This virtuous approach is now leading us to convert a third refinery into a biorefinery in Italy, following the examples of Venice and Gela.”

    HVO biofuels play a key role because they can make an immediate contribution to reducing transport sector emissions generated not only on roads, but also by air traffic, maritime and rail transport (calculated along the entire value chain). The conversion of the Livorno site is in line with Enilive’s strategy to increase the production of biofuels in response to growing demand in Europe and Italy, in order to meet both emission reduction targets under RED III (Renewable Energy Directive) and the obligations to release pure biofuels for use as defined by Italian legislation. Worldwide, it is estimated that the demand for hydrogenated biofuels will increase by 65% over the period 2024-2028[2].

    The Livorno biorefinery will be able to treat different types of biogenic charges, mainly waste and residues of plant origin, to produce HVO diesel, HVO naphtha and bio-LPG.

    Among the distinctive features of the project, in addition to the adoption of advanced technologies, there is the possibility in the future of modifying the layout of the plant to have the flexibility to also produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is a key element of efforts to decarbonise aviation. This gives flexibility to the investment and brings it up to speed with the environmental priorities of the European Union, broadening the potential impact.

    This operation is part of the energy transition at national and European level, contributing substantially to decarbonisation of the transport sector and the reduction of CO2 emissions. It also supports the achievement of Italy’s targets for the production of pure biofuels, which under current legislation provides for a gradual increase in use from 300 000 tonnes per year in 2023 to one million tonnes by 2030.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality. In the last five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy. All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower.

    Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32.500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers. In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni’s areas of activity and research. In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy – a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.

    [1] In accordance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive

    [2] IEA Renewables 2023 report, main case, analysis and forecast to 2028.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Swirling nebula of two dying stars revealed in spectacular detail in new Webb telescope image

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Pope, Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Macquarie University

    The day before my thesis examination, my friend and radio astronomer Joe Callingham showed me an image we’d been awaiting for five long years – an infrared photo of two dying stars we’d requested from the Very Large Telescope in Chile.

    I gasped – the stars were wreathed in a huge spiral of dust, like a snake eating its own tail.

    The coils of Apep as captured by the European Space Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.
    ESO/Callingham et al., CC BY

    We named it Apep, for the Egyptian serpent god of destruction. Now, our team has finally been lucky to use NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to look at Apep.

    If anything could top the first shock of seeing its beautiful spiral nebula, it’s this breathtaking new image, with the JWST data now analysed in two papers on arXiv.

    Violent star deaths

    Right before they die as supernovae, the universe’s most massive stars violently shed their outer hydrogen layers, leaving their heavy cores exposed.

    These are called Wolf-Rayet stars after their discoverers, who noticed powerful streams of gas blasting out from these objects, much stronger than the stellar wind from our Sun. The Wolf-Rayet stage lasts only millennia – a blink of the eye in cosmic time scales – before they violently explode.

    Unlike our Sun, many stars in the universe exist in pairs known as binaries. This is especially true of the most massive stars, such as Wolf-Rayets.

    When the fierce gales from a Wolf-Rayet star clash with their weaker companion’s wind, they compress each other. In the eye of this storm forms a dense, cool environment in which the carbon-rich winds can condense into dust. The earliest carbon dust in the cosmos – the first of the material making up our own bodies – was made this way.

    The dust from the Wolf-Rayet is blown out in almost a straight line, and the orbital motion of the stars wraps it into a spiral-shaped nebula, appearing exactly like water from a sprinkler when viewed from above.

    We expected Apep to look like one of these elegant pinwheel nebulas, discovered by our colleague and co-author Peter Tuthill. To our surprise, it did not.

    The ‘pinwheel’ nebula of the triple Wolf-Rayet star system WR104.
    Peter Tuthill

    Equal rivals

    The new image was taken using JWST’s infrared camera, like the thermal cameras used by hunters or the military. It represents hot material as blue, and colder material in green through to red.

    It turns out Apep isn’t just one powerful star blasting a weaker companion, but two Wolf-Rayet stars. The rivals have near-equal strength winds, and the dust is spread out in a very wide cone and wrapped into a wind-sock shape.

    When we originally described Apep in 2018, we noted a third, more distant star, speculating whether it was also part of the system or a chance interloper along the line of sight.

    The dust appeared to be moving much slower than the winds, which was hard to explain. We suggested the dust might be carried on a slow, thick wind from the equator of a fast-spinning star, rare today but common in the early universe.

    The new, much more detailed data from JWST reveals three more dust shells zooming farther out, each cooler and fainter than the last and spaced perfectly evenly, against a background of swirling dust.

    The Apep nebula in false colour, displaying infrared data from JWST’s MIRI camera.
    Han et al./White et al./Dholakia; NASA/ESA

    New data, new knowledge

    The JWST data are now published and interpreted in a pair of papers, one led by Caltech astronomer Yinuo Han, and the other by Macquarie University Masters student Ryan White.

    Han’s paper reveals how the nebula’s dust cools, links the background dust to the foreground stars, and suggests the stars are farther away from Earth than we thought. This implies they are extraordinarily bright, but weakens our original claim about the slow winds and rapid rotation.

    In White’s paper, he develops a fast computer model for the shape of the nebula, and uses this to decode the orbit of the inner stars very precisely.

    He also noticed there’s a “bite” taken out out of the dust shells, exactly where the wind of the third star would be chewing into them. This proves the Apep family isn’t just a pair of twins – they have a third sibling.

    An illustration of the cavity carved by the third star companion in the Apep system.
    White et al. (2025)

    Understanding systems like Apep tells us more about star deaths and the origins of carbon dust, but these systems also have a fascinating beauty that emerges from their seemingly simple geometry.

    The violence of stellar death carves puzzles that would make sense to Newton and Archimedes, and it is a scientific joy to solve them and share them.

    Benjamin Pope receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Big Questions Institute.

    – ref. Swirling nebula of two dying stars revealed in spectacular detail in new Webb telescope image – https://theconversation.com/swirling-nebula-of-two-dying-stars-revealed-in-spectacular-detail-in-new-webb-telescope-image-258314

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Swirling nebula of two dying stars revealed in spectacular detail in new Webb telescope image

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Benjamin Pope, Associate Professor, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Macquarie University

    The day before my thesis examination, my friend and radio astronomer Joe Callingham showed me an image we’d been awaiting for five long years – an infrared photo of two dying stars we’d requested from the Very Large Telescope in Chile.

    I gasped – the stars were wreathed in a huge spiral of dust, like a snake eating its own tail.

    The coils of Apep as captured by the European Space Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.
    ESO/Callingham et al., CC BY

    We named it Apep, for the Egyptian serpent god of destruction. Now, our team has finally been lucky to use NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to look at Apep.

    If anything could top the first shock of seeing its beautiful spiral nebula, it’s this breathtaking new image, with the JWST data now analysed in two papers on arXiv.

    Violent star deaths

    Right before they die as supernovae, the universe’s most massive stars violently shed their outer hydrogen layers, leaving their heavy cores exposed.

    These are called Wolf-Rayet stars after their discoverers, who noticed powerful streams of gas blasting out from these objects, much stronger than the stellar wind from our Sun. The Wolf-Rayet stage lasts only millennia – a blink of the eye in cosmic time scales – before they violently explode.

    Unlike our Sun, many stars in the universe exist in pairs known as binaries. This is especially true of the most massive stars, such as Wolf-Rayets.

    When the fierce gales from a Wolf-Rayet star clash with their weaker companion’s wind, they compress each other. In the eye of this storm forms a dense, cool environment in which the carbon-rich winds can condense into dust. The earliest carbon dust in the cosmos – the first of the material making up our own bodies – was made this way.

    The dust from the Wolf-Rayet is blown out in almost a straight line, and the orbital motion of the stars wraps it into a spiral-shaped nebula, appearing exactly like water from a sprinkler when viewed from above.

    We expected Apep to look like one of these elegant pinwheel nebulas, discovered by our colleague and co-author Peter Tuthill. To our surprise, it did not.

    The ‘pinwheel’ nebula of the triple Wolf-Rayet star system WR104.
    Peter Tuthill

    Equal rivals

    The new image was taken using JWST’s infrared camera, like the thermal cameras used by hunters or the military. It represents hot material as blue, and colder material in green through to red.

    It turns out Apep isn’t just one powerful star blasting a weaker companion, but two Wolf-Rayet stars. The rivals have near-equal strength winds, and the dust is spread out in a very wide cone and wrapped into a wind-sock shape.

    When we originally described Apep in 2018, we noted a third, more distant star, speculating whether it was also part of the system or a chance interloper along the line of sight.

    The dust appeared to be moving much slower than the winds, which was hard to explain. We suggested the dust might be carried on a slow, thick wind from the equator of a fast-spinning star, rare today but common in the early universe.

    The new, much more detailed data from JWST reveals three more dust shells zooming farther out, each cooler and fainter than the last and spaced perfectly evenly, against a background of swirling dust.

    The Apep nebula in false colour, displaying infrared data from JWST’s MIRI camera.
    Han et al./White et al./Dholakia; NASA/ESA

    New data, new knowledge

    The JWST data are now published and interpreted in a pair of papers, one led by Caltech astronomer Yinuo Han, and the other by Macquarie University Masters student Ryan White.

    Han’s paper reveals how the nebula’s dust cools, links the background dust to the foreground stars, and suggests the stars are farther away from Earth than we thought. This implies they are extraordinarily bright, but weakens our original claim about the slow winds and rapid rotation.

    In White’s paper, he develops a fast computer model for the shape of the nebula, and uses this to decode the orbit of the inner stars very precisely.

    He also noticed there’s a “bite” taken out out of the dust shells, exactly where the wind of the third star would be chewing into them. This proves the Apep family isn’t just a pair of twins – they have a third sibling.

    An illustration of the cavity carved by the third star companion in the Apep system.
    White et al. (2025)

    Understanding systems like Apep tells us more about star deaths and the origins of carbon dust, but these systems also have a fascinating beauty that emerges from their seemingly simple geometry.

    The violence of stellar death carves puzzles that would make sense to Newton and Archimedes, and it is a scientific joy to solve them and share them.

    Benjamin Pope receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Big Questions Institute.

    – ref. Swirling nebula of two dying stars revealed in spectacular detail in new Webb telescope image – https://theconversation.com/swirling-nebula-of-two-dying-stars-revealed-in-spectacular-detail-in-new-webb-telescope-image-258314

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ARENA backs Calix with $44.9M to fire up green steel future

    Source: Ministers for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

    Overview

    • Category

      News

    • Date

      24 July 2025

    • Classification

      Renewables for industry

    The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed $44.9 million to Calix to build a novel demonstration plant using its Zero Emissions Steel Technology (ZESTY).

    Powered by renewable electricity and hydrogen, the plant will aim to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen direct reduced iron (HDRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI) each year in a strong step toward cleaner steelmaking.

    ZESTY leverages Calix’s proprietary Flash Calciner technology which aims to reduce the cost of green iron production. The new funding builds on the successful outcomes of ARENA funded engineering studies for the demonstration plant. The funding also supports early-stage engineering studies for a much larger commercial scale ZESTY plant, helping build local capability in low emissions metals—a strategic priority for ARENA and a critical future industry for Australia.

    The project will also showcase a flexible green iron process that can ramp production up or down to match renewable energy supply—supporting a smarter, cleaner industrial future.

    ARENA CEO Darren Miller stressed that finding a low or zero emissions pathway for steelmaking is crucial, given its significant contribution to global emissions.

    “As the world’s largest producer and exporter of iron ore, Australia has a critical role in reducing emissions across the steel value chain,” he said.

    “ZESTY is a strong step toward building a low-emissions steel industry at home.”

    “What makes ZESTY so compelling is its potential to dramatically lower the amount of hydrogen required to convert iron ore into pure iron. ZESTY, in combination with use of renewable electricity from Australia’s world-class solar and wind resources, has the potential to create a new green iron industry targeting both domestic and export markets as the world transitions away from fossil fuels.”

    Calix CEO Phil Hodgson welcomed the funding, saying, “green iron can tackle one of the world’s hardest to abate emissions sources while adding value to Australia’s biggest export. ZESTY is designed to do this cost effectively – minimising hydrogen use, avoiding pelletisation, and operating flexibly on low-cost electricity.”

    Founded in 2005, Calix is an Australian innovator in sustainable high-temperature mineral processing, with applications across steel, cement, alumina, lithium and critical minerals.

    ARENA media contact:

    media@arena.gov.au

    Download this media release (PDF 151KB)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £30 million to decarbonise shipping, boost careers and deliver growth across the UK

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    £30 million to decarbonise shipping, boost careers and deliver growth across the UK

    Funding will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.

    • coastal communities across the UK will benefit from £30 million to make shipping and sea travel greener, boosting local economies, and supporting jobs and skills
    • decarb funding is helping to revitalise Glasgow’s strong shipbuilding heritage, as Maritime Minister heralds a new Scottish-built high-tech wing sail which can save ships up to 40% per annum in fuel and emissions
    • latest boost builds on over £136 million for already delivered to more than 142 organisations across every region in the UK, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change missions to kickstart economic growth and become a clean energy superpower.

    Coastal communities across the UK are to benefit from £30 million funding to decarbonise shipping and power up local economies the Maritime Minister will announce today (24 July 2025) during a visit to Clydeport in Glasgow.

    Awarded from the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), successful companies will be given a share of funding to support the development of clean maritime fuels and technologies such as ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, solar and electric. 

    Investment in green fuels not only supports the decarbonisation of shipping, helping cement the UK as a clean energy superpower, it also revitalises coastal communities by growing local economies and boosting jobs and skills.   

    CMDC has provided over £136 million funding to date to 142 organisations, as part of the wider UK SHORE funding – the government’s flagship programme dedicated to decarbonising maritime – for over 300 organisations, including 250 SMEs. Successful projects include the installation of electric chargepoint networks across ports, including at Aberdeen, the demonstration of an electric crew transfer vessel at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, and the demonstration of a green hydrogen shore power system at the port of Leith. 

    Maritime Minister Mike Kane said:  

    It’s so exciting to see investment in green fuels and technologies spurring on skills, innovation and manufacturing across the UK, delivering on our Plan for Change missions to kickstart economic growth and become a clean energy superpower.

    We’ve charted a course to net zero shipping by 2050 and this £30 million will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.

    During his visit to Clydeport, the minister will meet with workers from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which is looking to help Smart Green Shipping scale up the manufacturing of the FastRig windsail going forward. Built nearby in Glasgow, the FastRig is a high-tech wing sail which can be installed onto vessels, reducing fuel use and emissions by up to 40% per annum. The project received £3.3 million from the third round of the CMDC and has now been successfully deployed at sea. 

    Chris Courtney, CEO, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland said:

    Clean maritime is a vital part of a wider mission to decarbonise transport. Advanced manufacturing is critical to enable companies to scale up novel solutions that deliver emissions reductions and allow the creation of new jobs in these industries of the future.

    We’ve spent the past 2 years working on the CMDC-funded MariLight projects, led by Glasgow-based Malin Marine Consultants, part of the Malin Group, supported by industry partners, where we demonstrated how advanced manufacturing can cut lead times, lower carbon, and enable localised production in shipbuilding. It’s great to see continued momentum through the programme, and we look forward to supporting Smart Green Shipping’s journey as it scales.

    Diane Gilpin, Smart Green Shipping (SGS), CEO said:

    CMDC3 support enabled SGS, a Scottish based business, to demonstrate the safety and robustness of FastRig, our Cyldebuilt wingsails, and to build out our digital decision-making platform, FastReach, which underpins our unique wind-as-a-service proposition.

    Over the last 3 years SGS has invested £7.6 million in R&D, 60% of that in Scotland. We’ve drawn upon engineering design skills in adjacent sectors like renewables and oil and gas, and digital expertise created in Scotland’s vibrant tech community. We are also working alongside the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland to design circular manufacturing solutions to reduce embedded emissions and minimise use of precious materials while creating good green jobs as part of a sustainable just transition.

    The minister will meet with Peel Ports and local workers at Clydeport’s King George V Docks. Delivering £3 million of investment to support the growing demand for handling huge wind turbine components for the renewable energy sector, Clydeport is keeping Glasgow’s shipbuilding heritage and manufacturing expertise alive, equipping it to meet the modern-day needs of the sector. 

    Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said:

    We’re proud to welcome the Maritime Minister to Peel Ports Clydeport today and showcase how our facilities continue to create opportunities for investment, jobs and skills that will benefit the people and businesses of Scotland. 

    Our recent £3 million investment in road infrastructure at King George V Dock to accommodate growing demand for handling wind turbine components, and our ongoing transformative work at Hunterston PARC in Ayrshire to support the renewables sector, demonstrate our commitment to decarbonising supply chains and enabling the transition to a greener economy.  

    It’s fantastic to see government and industry working together to back innovation and today’s visit reinforces how Glasgow’s maritime legacy is helping to drive the UK’s clean energy future.

    Mike Biddle, Executive Director, Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

    Congratulations to the awarded projects from Round 6 of the Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition – a great opportunity for UK innovators to take part in a world-renowned maritime transport R&D grant funding programme. Innovate UK looks forward to working with partners to support these projects focused on the ever-more prevalent issue of decarbonisation with emphasis on a range of physical, digital, system and skills-based innovation.

    Building on its commitment to clean up shipping and deliver on the UK’s climate ambitions, UK SHORE is also delivering £3.85 million to the Clean Maritime Research Hub. Formed from a consortium of 13 universities across the UK, dedicated to conducting scientific research in clean maritime, the funding will enable the hub to continue its important research, and support the installation of a liquid hydrogen facility at Durham University. The centre will develop the maritime sector’s understanding of the potential impact of liquid hydrogen – which is emission free – in the clean maritime transition.

    Maritime media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Maritime News – Passenger Ship HANARIA Equipped with Yanmar’s Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System Wins Marine Engineering of the Year 2024

    Source: Yanmar Holdings

    July 23, 2025 – Osaka, Japan – The passenger vessel HANARIA, equipped with Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.’s GH240FC maritime hydrogen fuel cell system, has received the Marine Engineering of the Year 2024 (Dokou Memorial Award). The honor is awarded by the Japan Institute of Marine Engineering for outstanding technological innovation in the field. This year, the award recognized four companies: MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd., HONGAWARA Ship Yard Co., Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation, and Yanmar Power Technology, a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings.

    HANARIA is Japan’s first hybrid passenger ship powered by both hydrogen and biodiesel. Operated by MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd., the vessel features Yanmar’s first maritime hydrogen fuel cell system, a proprietary lithium-ion battery system developed by Yanmar, and an integrated management system that controls all onboard power. It features two operating modes: a zero-emission mode using only hydrogen fuel cell systems and lithium-ion batteries, and a hybrid mode that combines hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and a biodiesel generator running in parallel.

    The onboard systems aim to reduce the environmental footprint of vessels—a challenge in the hard-to-electrify maritime sector—while also enhancing passenger comfort by significantly cutting noise, vibration and exhaust odor.

    Furthermore, HANARIA has been selected for the “Ship of the Year 2024,” an award presented by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers that recognizes vessels demonstrating technical, artistic, and social excellence. This marks the first time in history that a vessel has received both the “Marine Engineering of the Year” and the “Ship of the Year” awards.

    The Yanmar Group continues to advance its sustainability goals through its YANMAR GREEN CHALLENGE 2050 initiative and remains committed to providing decarbonization solutions that meet customer needs.

    References

    Press release (November 9, 2023): Yanmar Makes First Delivery of Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System to Hybrid Passenger Ship

    https://www.yanmar.com/global/marinecommercial/news/2023/11/09/130776.html

    Press release (July 9, 2025): Yanmar Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System Wins Red Dot Design Award 2025

    https://www.yanmar.com/global/news/2025/07/09/154079.html

    About Yanmar

    With beginnings in Osaka, Japan, in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. A pioneer in diesel engine technology, Yanmar is a global innovator in a wide range of industrial equipment, from small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, to machine tools, and components — Yanmar’s global business operations span seven domains. On land, at sea, and in the city, Yanmar provides advanced solutions to the challenges customers face, towards realizing A Sustainable Future. For more details, please visit the official website of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI: Fusion Fuel Green PLC Announces $4.3 Million Private Placement and Noteholder Agreements

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fusion Fuel Green PLC (Nasdaq: HTOO) (“Fusion Fuel” or the “Company”), a provider of integrated energy solutions, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for a private placement (the “PIPE”) with investors for aggregate gross proceeds of $4.3 million.

    Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated July 22, 2025 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), Fusion Fuel will issue and sell:

    • 269,459 Class A Ordinary Shares;
    • Pre-funded warrants to purchase 541,706 Class A Ordinary Shares at a nominal exercise price of $0.0035 per share, which can be converted at any time;
    • Warrants to purchase 1,622,330 Class A Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $4.926 per share, with a three-year exercise window; and
    • Warrants to purchase 811,165 Class A Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $9.852 per share, with a three-year exercise window.

    The Securities Purchase Agreement requires Fusion Fuel to use the net proceeds from the offering to fully repay any indebtedness under its outstanding Senior Convertible Notes dated January 10, 2025 and March 3, 2025 (collectively, the “2025 Notes”). The remaining funds will support general corporate and working capital purposes, as well as transaction-related costs.

    In connection with the PIPE, the Company also entered into agreements with holders of the 2025 Notes, providing for:

    • Redemption of any unconverted or unpaid 2025 Notes, which had been converted in full as of July 22, 2025;
    • Cancellation of previously issued warrants to the noteholders and an exchange for new warrants to purchase an aggregate of 294,658 Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); and
    • waivers and releases from noteholders regarding certain rights and obligations under prior agreements.

    The PIPE was conducted as a private placement exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. Fusion Fuel has agreed to file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within 15 days of the closing to register the resale of the securities issued in the PIPE.

    John-Paul Backwell, CEO of Fusion Fuel, commented, “This transaction significantly simplifies our capital structure, allowing us to make important headway on several legacy items while maintaining strong forward momentum. With a cleaner and simplified cap table and funding terms, as well as greater financial flexibility, we are well-positioned to continue delivering on our ambitious growth plans for 2025 and beyond.”

    About Fusion Fuel Green PLC

    Fusion Fuel Green PLC (NASDAQ: HTOO) provides integrated energy engineering, distribution, and green hydrogen solutions through its Al Shola Gas and BrightHy Solutions platforms. With operations spanning LPG supply to hydrogen solutions, the Company supports decarbonization across industrial, residential, and commercial sectors.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company’s future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify these statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “seeks,” “future,” “continue,” “plan,” “target,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements relating to expectations about future results or events are based upon information available to the Company as of today’s date and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company, and actual results may vary materially from the results and expectations discussed. The Company’s expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described under Item 3. “Key Information – D. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, on May 9, 2025 (the “Annual Report”), and other filings with the SEC. Should any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions about the Company’s business and the commercial markets in which the Company operates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described as anticipated, estimated or expected in the Annual Report. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or other matters and attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations Contact
    ir@fusion-fuel.eu 
    www.fusion-fuel.eu

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EnerPure Appoints Advisory Board Members to Support Strategic Growth and Commercialization Efforts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Winnipeg, MB, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EnerPure Inc. (“EnerPure” or the “Company”), a waste to energy company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Farrar, Susan Rohac, and Mogens L. Mathiesen as Advisory Board Members. Each of these newly appointed Advisors brings significant industry experience and expertise in their respective areas and their thought leadership, strategic acumen, and experience will be invaluable to management as EnerPure moves through the commercialization and growth phase.

    “Gary, Susan, and Mogens as true experts in their respective fields provide tremendous depth and width to the knowledge base of our team, we are honoured to have them on the team” said Rick Koshman, President and CEO of EnerPure. “Each of them brings a unique and highly complementary skill set that aligns perfectly with our goal to deploy 21 recycling plants in 6 years. Gary with over 46 years experience in UMO recycling, Susan as one of Canada’s most prolific Cleantech investors, and Mogens with his shipping decarbonization focus provide us with priceless industry insights and know-how as we look to navigate the next few years.”

    About Gary Farrar
    Gary is a seasoned executive with over 45 years of leadership in the used motor oil (UMO) recycling and environmental services industry across North America. His expertise spans operations, business development, logistics, refinery supply, and sales. He has held senior roles including U.S. Vice President of Supply and Product Sales at Safety-Kleen, where he led the growth of recycled oil streams and oversaw the world’s largest UMO re-refinery. As General Manager of Safety-Kleen Canada, he managed nationwide operations and multiple business lines. At Heritage-Crystal Clean, he helped launch and scale a 75-million-gallon refinery in Indianapolis. Gary is known for building high-performing teams and driving operational and commercial success in complex industrial environments.

    About Susan Rohac – LinkedIn
    Susan recently retired from BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) after 34 years of service. As Managing Partner of the Climate Tech venture capital fund, she led a pan-Canadian team of investment professionals and managed a portfolio of over $1 billion in assets including a $500 million fund that was launched in 2022 focusing on investing in Canada’s most promising cleantech companies. She has invested in a wide range of climate technologies such as CCUS, CDR, hydrogen, critical minerals, energy storage/battery, mobility, proptech, and advanced materials. Susan was recognized as a Climate Leader in 2024 by the Clean50 and was recipient of the Clean16 award. Susan holds honour degrees in both science and finance and has her executive MBA and ICD governance designation.

    About Mogens L. Mathiesen – LinkedIn
    Mogens has over 25 years of expertise in maritime technology and sustainability. Specializing in maritime decarbonisation, he has pioneered data-driven solutions to reduce shipping emissions. As Chief Industry and Strategy Officer at HUB Ocean, Mogens led initiatives to enable green shipping routes and foster industry collaboration. He co-founded Arundo Analytics, driving the development of analytics platforms for maritime applications, and volunteers in the Ocean Rescue Service in Norway. With an M.Sc. in Ocean Engineering and Marine Cybernetics from the NTNU and UC Berkeley, Mogens is committed to advancing sustainable practices through innovation and strategic leadership.

    About EnerPure – https://enerpure.tech
    “We recycle Used Motor Oil (UMO) to reduce GHG emissions while producing a lower carbon-intensive marine fuel.”

    Each year ~17 billion litres of UMO* are improperly burned or dumped, causing widespread environmental harm. EnerPure sees a tremendous opportunity to solve this problem through the deployment of its modular micro-scale recycling plants using its patented technology to convert UMO into high-quality marine fuel.

    EnerPure is entering its next phase of growth, with our first commercial plant planned for Alberta. Our recycling plants require ~5% of the capex of traditional solutions, enabling localized recycling (while reducing the cost of collection) and providing strong economic returns. 

    Our technology has been proven via our pilot plant (operating at 43% of scale) with 1.6 million litres processed and validated through the sale of over 1.2 million litres. Our drop-in ISO 8217-compliant marine fuel is in high demand in a growing market with its 14.6% lower carbon intensity.  Annually each recycling plant can reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and criteria air contaminants by 36,315 and 437 tonnes, respectively.

    EnerPure, while delivering strong economic returns, offers a proven, scalable platform where environmental need meets commercial opportunity, powering the energy transition through smart regional recycling.

    *UMO is defined as any petroleum-based or synthetic lubricating oil that cannot be used for its original purpose due to contamination.

    Disclosure and Caution
    This press release may contain certain disclosures that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. However, the forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to economic, capital expenditures, and engineering projections, that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Next Hydrogen Announces Aggregate of $1.5 million in Loans and Provides Corporate Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. (the “Company” or “Next Hydrogen”) (TSXV:NXH, OTC:NXHSF), is pleased to announce that it is entering into a loan agreement with certain existing directors and officers of the Company (the “Lenders”) providing for the advance of an unsecured loan (the “Loan”) bearing interest at 5.0% per annum in the principal amount of $530,000. The Loan shall mature on the date that is one year from the advance of the Loan (the “Maturity Date”).   In conjunction with the advance of the Loan, the Company will also pay a set-up fee of $20,000 to the Lenders.

    The advance of the Loan is expected to take place on July 23, 2025, immediately prior to the advance of a $1 million loan from an arm’s length commercial lender (the “Original Loan”) that is being negotiated between the Company and such lender. There can be no assurances that the Original Loan will be completed as proposed or at all.

    In consideration of the advance of the Loan by the Lenders, the Company shall, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) in accordance with the policies of the TSXV, issue to the Lenders, an aggregate of 214,140 common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a deemed price of $0.495 per share as bonus shares (the “Loan Bonus Shares”), representing approximately 20% of the principal amount of the Loan, subject to adjustment in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.

    In addition, subject to the approval of the TSXV in accordance with the policies of the TSXV, the Loan may be converted into Common Shares (the “Conversion Shares”) at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on the earlier of the Maturity Date or the closing of an offering of equity securities of the Company.

    Next Hydrogen intends to use the proceeds of the Loan and the Original Loan for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Loan and the Original Loan will assist the Company in bridging its financial position in order to keep its talented team and continue operations while it evaluates longer term financial and strategic solutions.

    In conducting its review of financial and strategic solutions, the Company’s board and management team are committed to acting in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its stakeholders. There is no deadline or definitive timetable for the completion of the review of financial and strategic solutions, and the Company does not intend to comment further unless the Company’s board has approved a specific transaction or otherwise determined that disclosure is necessary or appropriate. There can be no assurances that the review will result in any specific transaction or outcome.

    This issuance of the Loan Bonus Shares and the Conversion Shares, if applicable, are subject to receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Loan or the Original Loan and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

    All moneys quoted in this press release shall be stated and paid in the lawful money of Canada.

    The Company also advises that the last day of trading of the Common Shares on the OTCQX will be Thursday, July 24, 2025.

    The Lenders consist of Allan MacKenzie, Anthony Guglielmin, Adarsh Mehta, Jens Peter Clausen, Susan Uthayakumar and Walter Howard, each a director of the Company, Raveel Afzaal, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and Rohan Advani, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Each Lender is an Insider of the Company (as such term is defined under the policies of the TSXV) and the participation of Insiders in the Loan would constitute a “related party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(b) as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(b), based on a determination that the fair market value of the Loan, insofar as it involves the related parties, will not exceed $2,500,000. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the expected closing date of the Loan as closing occurred on an expedited basis. An aggregate of 214,140 Loan Bonus Shares will be issued to the Lenders which in the aggregate represents less than 1.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

    About Next Hydrogen

    Founded in 2007, Next Hydrogen is a designer and manufacturer of electrolyzers that use water and electricity as inputs to generate clean hydrogen for use as an energy source. Next Hydrogen’s unique cell design architecture supported by 40 patents enables high current density operations and superior dynamic response to efficiently convert intermittent renewable electricity into green hydrogen on an infrastructure scale. Following successful pilots, Next Hydrogen is scaling up its technology to deliver commercial solutions to decarbonize transportation and industrial sectors.

    Contact Information

    Raveel Afzaal, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc.
    Email: rafzaal@nexthydrogen.com
    Phone: 647-961-6620

    www.nexthydrogen.com

    Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Cautionary Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes”, or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the Loan and the Original Loan will not be completed as planned or at all; changes to the use of proceeds of the Loan and the Original Loan, risks associated with the pursuit of any financial or strategic transaction or the completion thereof, the risks associated with the hydrogen industry in general; delays or changes in plans with respect to infrastructure development or capital expenditures; uncertainty with respect to the timing of any contemplated transactions or partnerships, or whether such contemplated transactions or partnerships will be completed at all; the timing for any submissions or correspondences with applicable securities laws regulators; whether the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to costs and expenses; failure to obtain timely necessary regulatory approvals and all required TSXV approvals; health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to infrastructure developments or capital expenditures; currency exchange rate fluctuations; as well as general economic conditions, stock market volatility; and the ability to access sufficient capital. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, there will be no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jobs unlocked as first wave of hydrogen projects sign contracts

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Jobs unlocked as first wave of hydrogen projects sign contracts

    10 projects from the first phase of the government’s flagship hydrogen programme can begin construction.

    • Spades in the ground as 10 of the UK’s first commercial-scale green hydrogen projects sign contracts, boosting growth as part of Plan for Change
    • homegrown, green hydrogen to fuel range of British business and industry with clean power, from tissue manufacturing and waste disposal to breweries and bus services
    • projects to unlock more than 700 good jobs across Britain in the clean energy industries of the future, while delivering on clean energy mission and industrial strategy

    Skilled jobs will be created in Britain’s industrial heartlands, as the first commercial-scale green hydrogen projects in the country sign long-term contracts to fuel heavy industry with clean, homegrown energy. 

    In an update to the hydrogen market, the government has confirmed that 10 projects from the first phase of its flagship hydrogen programme – Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) – can begin construction, supporting the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower.   

    This means spades can now enter the ground across the country in a major boost to the UK’s hydrogen industry, creating highly skilled jobs in industrial cities and regions such as South Wales, Bradford (North West), North Scotland and Teesside (North East).  

    These projects will support British industry to move away from using fossil fuels towards domestically-produced low-carbon hydrogen, reducing emissions heavy industry – such as steel, glass and heavy transport – ensuring decarbonisation is a route to reindustrialisation. 

    The HyMarnham project in Newark, Nottinghamshire has already started construction. The project is transforming the old High Marnham coal-fired power station into a clean energy hub by using hydrogen to decarbonise waste disposal operations.  

    Cromarty Hydrogen Project in Northeast Scotland is another of the 10 projects. The project’s 3 5MW electrolysers – which use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen – will power local industrial users, including distilleries. 

    Taken together, the projects are expected to create over 700 jobs, including roles for apprentices, graduates, pipefitters and engineers. They are also expected to bring in over £400 million of private capital investment which has been committed between 2024 and 2026 – driving economic growth and British innovation through the Plan for Change. 

    The update comes as Andrex and Kleenex producer Kimberly-Clark announces that it will be the first major consumer goods company in the UK to make a significant commitment to green hydrogen. Kimberly-Clark, together with energy partners HYRO, Carlton Power, and Schroders Greencoat, will invest a combined £125 million into HAR1 projects at two plants in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and Northfleet, Kent.

    Minister for Industry, Sarah Jones, said: 

    This government is rolling out hydrogen out at scale for the first time, with 10 of the first projects now shovel-ready to start powering businesses with clean, homegrown energy from Teesside to Devon.  

    Hydrogen will help us cut industrial emissions and support Britain’s industrial renewal by creating thousands of jobs in our industrial heartlands as part of the Plan for Change. 

    Neil McDermott, Chief Executive of Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC), said: 

    LCCC is proud to have signed the UK’s first Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreements, supporting the development of projects under the Hydrogen Production Business Model.  

    These agreements provide revenue stability for producers, and a clear signal that low-carbon hydrogen has a key role to play in the UK’s future energy system.  

    We look forward to working closely with project developers to bring these projects into operation.

    Dan Howell, Managing Director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland said:  

    We are delighted to be the first UK consumer goods manufacturer to really embrace green hydrogen, showing that manufacturing industries can take the lead and overcome the technical challenge and adopt green hydrogen at scale. This initiative builds on the investments and progress we’ve already made with innovative technologies for our business, our consumers and our customers.

    Today’s announcement follows the Spending Review which saw an extra £500 million confirmed for the first ever hydrogen transport and storage network as part of Britain’s industrial renewal, connecting hydrogen producers with vital end users, including power stations and industry for the first time. 

    The government has also announced that it will consult on transmission-level hydrogen blending – assessing the economic and technical feasibility for hydrogen to be blended into the networks that are the backbone of Britain’s gas system, before it is safely transported into homes and businesses. 

    Hydrogen transmission blending has the potential to reduce costs for hydrogen production projects and the wider energy system, and the consultation will also gather evidence to assess whether hydrogen blending could lower consumers’ energy bills. 

    Clare Jackson, CEO of Hydrogen UK, said:  

    Signing these contracts demonstrates the confidence and commitment of both the government and industry in building a sustainable hydrogen sector.   

    Our members are at the forefront of this transition, and their projects will play a vital role in meeting the UK’s net-zero targets while driving economic growth and job creation.

    Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said:  

    This announcement marks a significant and encouraging milestone for the UK’s hydrogen sector.   

    The signing of contracts for 10 projects under HAR1 provides vital momentum and confidence for industry and investors alike.   

    We look forward to seeing these projects move into the next phase, helping to scale up the UK’s low carbon hydrogen economy.

    Pierre de Raphélis-Soissan, CEO of Hynamics UK who are developing the Tees Green Hydrogen project, said:  

    We are delighted that Tees Green Hydrogen has successfully signed a contract as part of the Hydrogen Allocation Round.   

    We are committed to advancing low carbon hydrogen solutions that not only support the UK’s energy transition but also contribute to a sustainable future for our communities.   

    This achievement marks a significant milestone in the journey towards industrial decarbonisation within the Tees Valley region.

    Gareth Mills and Kevin Selleslags, on behalf of Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen (BLCH) said: 

    Signing our contract to take the largest HAR 1 project forward is a significant step.  

    Thanks to the government’s investment, we’re able to continue to progress our plans to transform Birkshall from a former fossil fuel gas site powering Bradford’s homes and businesses to a flagship low carbon hydrogen production facility and fuelling station.  

    The scheme will not only help the area decarbonise with cleaner fuel but will vitally create around £120 million and support 125 jobs in the regional economy.

    Alistair Collins, Director at HyMarnham Power, said:   

    As one of the first HAR1 projects now commissioning electrolyser systems, we’re proud to demonstrate what government support can unlock, real infrastructure, green hydrogen production and a tangible contribution to the UK’s net zero and energy security goals.

    Lucy Whitford, RES’ Managing Director, UK&I, said:  

    Green hydrogen, created using British low carbon energy, will revolutionise how we power industry, helping the UK to build a globally competitive, zero carbon economy in the process.  

    We are proud of the success of HYRO’s Northfleet project, which will show how we can make green hydrogen a reality.

    Notes to editors

    HAR1 projects are expected to access over £2 billion over 15 years in revenue support from the Hydrogen Production Business Model and over £90 million in capital expenditure support via the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. 

    Further details of the 10 projects which have signed to HAR1 are detailed in the table below, with contracts available on the LCCC registry. 

    Government is working collaboratively with the project developer of the final HAR1 project to ensure they are ready to sign the Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement as soon as possible. 

    See the transmission blending consultation.

    Project name Developer Constituency Summary
    Cromarty Hydrogen Project Scottish Power & Storegga Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Cromarty Green Hydrogen Project is located in northeast Scotland and is being developed by Scottish Power and Storegga. The project will use electricity from nearby wind farms produce hydrogen that could be sold to local industrial offtakers, including distilleries.
    Bradford Low Carbon Hygen Bradford East Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen is located within the city centre of Bradford, Yorkshire and is being developed by Hygen in partnership with Ryze. The project will use renewable electricity to produce hydrogen for use in a range of offtakers in the mobility sector. JCB and Wrightbus are key potential customers.
    West Wales Hydrogen Project Morgen & Trafigura Mid and South Pembrokeshire West Wales Hydrogen Project is located in Milford Haven, West Wales, and is being developed by MorGen and Trafigura. The project will produce hydrogen could be sold to local industrial offtakers including Natural Gas facilities to decarbonise their operations.
    High Marnham JG Pears & GeoPura Newark HyMarnham is located on the site of an old coal power station in the East Midlands and is being developed by JG Pears and GeoPura. Hydrogen produced is expected to be used by GeoPura to supply their remote power generation units and by JG Pears as part of their waste disposal operations.
    Whitelee Green Hydrogen Scottish Power Kilmarnock and Loudoun Whitelee Green Hydrogen is located in central Scotland, 14 miles south of Glasgow and is being developed by Scottish Power. The project will use electricity from Whitelee Wind Farm to produce hydrogen to be sold to local distilleries and transportation companies to decarbonise their operations.
    Green Hydrogen 3 HYRO Gravesham Green Hydrogen 3 is located in Northfleet, South east, and is developed by HYRO. Electricity will be sourced through a renewable Power Purchase Agreement and aims to be used to produce hydrogen for use in a paper mill to power industrial boilers.
    Trafford Carlton Power Stretford and Urmston (Greater Manchester) Trafford Hydrogen Project is located in Trafford, Manchester and is being developed by Carlton Power. The project will produce hydrogen to be sold to a range of local industrial offtakers.
    Barrow   Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria) Barrow Hydrogen is located in Cumbria and is being developed by Carlton Power. The project could provide low carbon hydrogen to the neighbouring Kimberly Clark tissue manufacturing site.
    Langage   South West Devon (Plymouth) Langage green hydrogen is located in Plymouth and is being developed by Carlton Power. The project will supply hydrogen to companies located in Langage Energy Park which could utilise Hydrogen in place of gas in industrial processes such as minerals processing.
    Tees Green EDF/Hynamics Redcar (Teesside) The Tees Green hydrogen project is located in Teeside. Low carbon hydrogen will be produced from electricity generated in the Teesside Offshore Wind Farm for use in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, helping decarbonise the aviation industry in the future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tailored support for Aberdeen oil and gas workers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Tailored support for Aberdeen oil and gas workers

    Around 200 oil and gas workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will be offered tailored support to seize clean energy job opportunities.

    • Around 200 oil and gas workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will be offered tailored support and funding to help unleash the North Sea’s clean energy future
    • new skills pilot will support a fair and prosperous transition by giving workers the tools and support to move into the thousands of high-quality jobs being created in growth industries like offshore wind, carbon capture and hydrogen – delivering on UK Government’s Plan for Change
    • backed by £900,000, the pilot will be delivered in partnership between the UK Government, Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland

    Around 200 Aberdeen oil and gas workers are set to benefit from a tailored skills programme launched today (Wednesday 23 July), which will support them to take advantage of the high-quality job opportunities in Scotland’s growing clean energy sector.   

    The Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund, backed by £900,000 of UK Government funding, will help build the pipeline of skilled workers needed to make Britain a clean energy superpower as part of the government’s Plan for Change. 

    The programme is open to current and former oil and gas workers who live in or are employed in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire, and are interested in moving into roles within clean energy, to take advantage of the thousands of high-quality jobs being created in the clean energy growth industries of the future.

    Successful applicants will receive careers advice and funding towards training courses – supporting local people into opportunities in sectors such as offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, which could include roles in welding, electrical engineering, and construction.

    This underscores the government’s commitment to unleashing the North Sea’s clean energy future and putting workers, communities, families and trade unions at the heart of a prosperous and sustainable transition for oil and gas.     

    Aberdeen is a key growth region for clean energy and is the headquarters of Great British Energy, alongside a thriving offshore wind and carbon capture industry. It is estimated that the offshore wind sector could support up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in Great Britain by 2030, with many jobs expected to be generated in other growth areas.  

    The programme will be delivered in partnership between the UK Government, Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland. 

    Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said:

    Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture.  

    This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen’s workforce.

    Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said:

    It’s great news that this vital skills training in Aberdeen is now going live. We are absolutely committed to supporting Scotland’s world-class oil and gas workers as we transition to clean energy.  

    This pilot will ensure there is a key role for our offshore workers in delivering our net zero future.

    Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said: 

    The North East of Scotland has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of driving a just transition to new fuels and sustainable energy. 

    This new Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government’s Regional Skills Pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland. 

    Through initiatives such as the Just Transition Fund and the Energy Transition Fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £120 million in the North East’s transition to net zero to help create green jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.

    Skills Development Scotland Chair Frank Mitchell said:

    Scotland’s oil and gas workforce possesses a broad range of skills and experience which is vital to the continued growth of the renewable energy sector. 

    The shift to sustainable energy generation and transmission represents a generational opportunity, and this funding will assist workers in making the most of their expertise in that growing sector. 

    Our careers advisers are available for anyone who needs support in considering their options, or whether applying for the fund is right for them.

    This builds on previous government action to drive investment and deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers, including: 

    Oil and gas workers are also benefitting from the Energy Skills Passport, in collaboration with industry and Scottish Government, which helps workers to identify routes into several roles in offshore wind including construction and maintenance. This will also be expanded to include more clean energy sectors over time. 

    The Aberdeen pilot is part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Regional Skills Pilots. Funding has already been given to Cheshire West and Chester, North and North East Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire to identify skills support that is needed in their area. These areas will be considered for further funding for targeted measures. The Aberdeen pilot did not receive funding as part of Phase 1 of the Regional Skills Pilot as extensive skills mapping for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has already been undertaken. 

    Sue Ferns OBE, Senior Deputy General Secretary at Prospect union said:

    This is an important announcement which recognises the vital need for more support for workers transitioning away from carbon-intensive jobs. 

    We will only be able realise the government’s ambitious decarbonisation agenda through investing in the workforce in the energy sector, and the progression of these skills pilots is a welcome signal of intent to better support workers to re-skill. The transition will be different for different workers, so it is welcome that this intervention offers flexibility in what training courses will be funded. 

    As the sector continues with the transition it is vital employers are also held to account for helping their workers gain the necessary skills and training, and unions will be working with the Government to ensure employers step up to the plate and provide further support to transitioning workers.

    Katy Heidenreich, Director of Supply Chain and People at Offshore Energies UK said:

    Aberdeen’s integrated energy workforce has the expertise that’s essential for the offshore energy we need today and for the roll out of renewable energy alongside it.  

    The UK’s energy workers have a proud heritage and hold high value jobs in oil and gas, which the nation needs for decades to come.  

    This world-class expertise is essential for building a low carbon, high growth energy future and it’s critical government and industry work together to secure it.

    Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive at the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said: 

    The North East of Scotland will be the engine room for the UK’s energy transition. As we pivot from oil and gas to renewables and new technology it’s vital that our workforce is leading that process – not left behind.  

    We welcome investment in the skills needed to unlock the opportunity ahead. Matching these skills with sustainable career paths will depend upon a strong future pipeline of projects, a stable policy landscape and a clear consensus between industry and government on the direction of travel.

    Case study

    Many oil and gas workers have already made the transition. Aishawarya Lakshmanann started as an electrical engineer in oil and gas in Aberdeen, before moving into clean energy and is now working for Ocean Winds on an offshore wind farm. She said: 

    Being able to lead a sustainable life has always been my dream and is what drove me towards the renewables sector.  

    As an engineer I worked in the oil and gas sector from 2018, and it made me rethink how we use our natural energy resources. The UK’s thriving renewable energy sector aligns perfectly with my life and career goals.  

    My transition from oil and gas into renewables has been hugely beneficial for me, allowing me to build a more sustainable life and make a positive impact on the issues we face globally.  

    The idea of creating a carbon neutral world fascinates me as an engineer and working for a major offshore wind company is providing a great place to learn and grow alongside brilliant minds. It’s great to see the funding announcement from UK government to support others to make the transition.

    Notes to editors

    The Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Regional Skills Pilot was announced in January.

    The Regional Skills Pilot comes from the Office for Clean Energy Skills Fund and has been awarded to the following regions: 

    • North and North East Lincolnshire-Midlands Net Zero Hub hosted by Nottingham City Council 
    • Cheshire West and Chester – North West Net Zero Hub – overseen by Local Enterprise Partnerships and Combined Authorities in the North West 
    • Pembrokeshire – Welsh Government  *Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire- Scottish Government. 

    To be eligible, applicants must be resident or work for an employer in the oil and gas sector with an office in the Aberdeen City or Aberdeenshire area or have worked in the oil and gas sector within the last 2 years. 

    Further information regarding eligibility and how to apply can be found at: Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund.

    Up to 100,000 jobs supported by offshore wind in Great Britain by 2030: This includes direct and indirect jobs. Information on the methodology underpinning this estimate can be found here: Job estimates for wind generation by 2030: methodology note. 

    North Sea oil and gas production is in natural decline, with a 72% reduction in production occurring between 1999 and 2023, so embracing clean energy is the route to the jobs and investment of the future.  

    This natural decline of oil and gas in the North Sea is already having an impact on jobs and will continue to do so. ONS figures show that direct jobs in oil and gas extraction fell by around a third between 2014 and 2023, despite ongoing domestic licensing and production.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pilot to support oil and gas workers in the North East

    Source: Scottish Government

    Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund launched.

    Oil and gas workers in the North East will be able to access tailored support to help them transition into the sustainable energy sector thanks to a new programme launched today. 

    The Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund will enable successful applicants to access careers advice and funding for training to move into sectors such as offshore wind, onshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. 

    It is expected to support around 200 oil and gas workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to build the skills needed to access sustainable energy jobs and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, working in partnership with UK Government’s £900,000 Regional Skills Pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The fund will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland and has been supported by an additional £40,000 from the Scottish Government.

    Through initiatives such as the Just Transition Fund and the Energy Transition Fund, the Scottish Government has already invested over £120 million into transitioning the North East to net zero by creating green jobs, supporting innovation, and securing the highly skilled workforce of the future.

    Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin said: 

    “The North East has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the valuable expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of the transition to new fuels and sustainable energy.

    “This new Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government’s Regional Skills Pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland.

    “I am determined to ensure a positive impact and powerful legacy of Scotland’s clean energy revolution which benefits communities across the North East of the country.”

    Skills Development Scotland Chair Frank Mitchell said:

    “Scotland’s oil and gas workforce possesses a broad range of skills and experience which is vital to the continued growth of the renewable energy sector.

    “The shift to sustainable energy generation and transmission represents a generational opportunity, and this funding will assist workers in making the most of their expertise in that growing sector.

    “Our careers advisers are available for anyone who needs support in considering their options, or whether applying for the fund is right for them.”

    UK Government Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said:

    “Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture.  

    “This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen’s workforce.” 

    Background 

    Further information on eligibility and how to apply can be found at: https://transitiontrainingfund.scot/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Households given freedom and choice with more ways to cut energy bills

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Households given freedom and choice with more ways to cut energy bills

    Government sets out plans for a more flexible electricity system, helping working families save on their bills.

    • More support for consumers to bring down their bills, with new ways to take advantage of off-peak, lower electricity prices if they choose 
    • flexible tariffs and technologies allow consumers to shift energy usage to times when it is cheaper 
    • plans for a more flexible electricity system will ensure families benefit from the government’s clean energy mission and Plan for Change

    Households and businesses will be supported with more options to take control of their energy – expanding freedom and choice as the government drives for clean power.  

    The government’s plans for a more flexible electricity system set out today will help working families save on their bills, by supporting those who want to take advantage of low prices when clean energy is abundant. Consumers will have the opportunity to switch to a flexible tariff and use smart appliances to automatically reap the rewards of cheaper power at non-peak times. 

    Many consumers are already protecting their pockets by varying when they use their electricity. Electric vehicle drivers, for example, could save up to £330 per year by smart charging overnight.  

    More households who want to feel those benefits will be supported through the government’s commitments in the Clean Flexibility Roadmap. These include helping electric vehicle drivers get discounts on their electricity when using public chargers at off-peak times, requiring suppliers to make information on smart tariffs more accessible to consumers, and taking the next steps to help consumers access tailored products and services based on their electricity usage. 

    Supporting more consumers to use electricity at off-peak times will also boost the efficiency and resilience of the electricity network, making up to £70 billion in estimated savings on system costs by 2050.  

    This marks a crucial milestone in ensuring consumers reap the rewards of the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, which it is driving forward as part of its Plan for Change.

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

    This roadmap gives households and businesses the choice and control over when and how they use their energy.

    The flexible electricity system we are working to build will help make that a reality for consumers across the country, by supporting them to bring down their bills through using new tariffs and technologies.

    In this way we will protect working people’s pockets and ensure they are the first to benefit from our clean power mission.

    Kayte O’Neill, Chief Operating Officer, NESO, said:  

    The journey towards a decarbonised system will bring opportunities for industry and consumers if we can solve the challenges of using the system flexibly. 

    This roadmap provides clear direction for that, setting out the actions needed to increase flexibility across Great Britain and the rewards it will bring.

    Akshay Kaul Director General for Infrastructure Group, Ofgem, said:

    A more flexible energy market will be a real game changer, giving households more control over what they pay for their energy.   

    Small lifestyle tweaks such as programming a dishwasher or tumble dryer to run overnight when costs are low or charging your electric car during high winds can have a material impact on people’s bills.    

    At Ofgem we’re opening up flexibility markets to bring better tariffs and products to consumers to make cheaper bills a reality.

    Stakeholder reaction

    Sarah Honan, Head of Policy at ADE: Demand, said: 

    Industry demanded a step change in leadership to match our ambition – and this roadmap delivers. A dedicated Flexibility Commissioner aligns squarely with our sector’s blueprint for consumer-led clean power.  

    Now, we must place British homes and businesses at the heart of the system; paying them to flex, not paying gas plants to bail us out. That’s how we lower bills, ditch fossil fuel dependency and make clean power by 2030 real.

    Barnaby Wharton, Director of Future Electricity Systems, RenewableUK, said:  

    A secure, affordable and resilient power system based on renewables needs flexibility at its core, to match times when wind and solar are generating with smart demand. 

    This roadmap puts consumers at the heart of that system, empowering households and businesses to take control of how and when they use electricity, so they can save money by using power when it’s cheapest. 

    By embracing smart tariffs and technologies like EVs, modern heating systems and home batteries, and by accelerating the roll-out of more grid-scale batteries and Long Duration Energy Storage alongside renewables, we can build a more agile system which can shift, adapt and respond to demand faster. Scaling up our capacity to store energy is essential to strengthen the grid and enhance the UK’s energy security.

    Naomi Baker, Senior Policy Manager at Energy UK, said: 

    Energy UK welcomes the roadmap as a positive step towards a smarter, more flexible electricity system that passes the lower cost of renewables through to bill payers. We support the comprehensive scope – from the major new technologies (long duration storage, CCUS and hydrogen) that will ensure system resilience, through to the knotty regulatory barriers that limit market access from consumer assets. 

    The UK is already leading the world in creating an energy system with consumers at the heart of it. Today’s publication builds on this with a market-led approach where customer participation is voluntary, attractive and accessible. A smart flexible system will be a win for bills, a win for British jobs and a win for energy security.

    Kelly Butler, Director of External Affairs at BEAMA, said: 

    As long-standing advocates for accelerating electrification, BEAMA welcomes the publication of the Clean Flexibility Roadmap and a commitment not only to track progress but also focus on practical delivery.

    With appropriate lead times for product development, a technology agnostic approach within electrification and a clear connection across consumer facing policies such as EPCs, we anticipate major supply chain investment to meet the challenge.

    With the oversight of a new Flexibility Commissioner, the roadmap has the potential to help grow the sector, and bring increased momentum to delivering flexibility to consumers and businesses through mass market uptake of Energy Smart Appliances.

    Merlin Hyman OBE, Chief Executive of Regen, said: 

    Making our power system more flexible in how we match supply and demand is a key part of clean power 2030 so we greatly welcome the government’s Clean Flexibility Roadmap.

    The roadmap is an important step to bring together reforms needed to unlock the full value of the rapidly developing grid scale storage sector and consumer led flexibility in a coordinated work programme.

    The challenge now is to deliver what is a significant programme of reform of the way our electricity markets and system work to enable a rapid transition to a clean power system and to deliver value to customers.

    Notes to editors

    In December 2024, the government published its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which set out plans for a two to three-fold increase in clean flexibility capacity from 2023 levels, to a range of 51 to 66 GW, by 2030. The Clean Flexibility Roadmap, published today, explains how the government, working with Ofgem and NESO, will deliver that commitment.  

    The first steps that will be taken to support a more flexible electricity system as part of the roadmap include:  

    • appointing a Flexibility Commissioner, who will provide leadership over the policy area 
    • establishing ways of working with NESO and Ofgem to hold government and industry to account for delivery
    • setting up an annual forum to track progress

    Policies being delivered as part of this work include Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement, which will enable energy usage to be billed every 30 minutes, and the Smart Secure Electricity Systems programme, which aims to help people access consumer-led flexibility. 

    All figures included are based on government analysis unless clearly labelled otherwise.  

    The government has today also published:

    • a consultation on consumer engagement in consumer-led flexibility, which explores how more consumers who want to use energy flexibly can be supported to do so, to help optimise and sustain uptake over the short, medium and long term

    • a call for evidence on improving asset visibility, which seeks views on options for improving how distributed energy assets, like heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points, are registered with distribution network operators (DNOs). This aims to reduce administrative burdens for installers, support flexible use of the assets and prevent network infrastructure from being built unnecessarily

    • a response to the call for evidence on energy smart data, which confirms that the government will continue work to consider whether to introduce a smart data scheme for the energy sector. Smart data is the process of sharing customer data – at the customer’s request – with authorised third parties in a secure way. It will help customers access useful, innovative and personalised products and services that cater to their needs

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release: Jud Virden, Ph.D., Appointed Laboratory Director at NREL

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Jud Virden, Ph.D.

    The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance) today announced the appointment of Jud Virden, Ph.D., as director of NREL and president of the Alliance, which manages the laboratory for the Department of Energy (DOE). Dr. Virden will officially join NREL in this role on Oct. 1, 2025. Virden was selected following a competitive national search.

    Virden joins NREL from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he has served as associate laboratory director for the Energy and Environment Directorate since 2011. In that role, he led approximately 1,700 scientists, engineers, and staff advancing DOE’s applied energy priorities—ranging from power grid modernization and energy technologies to nuclear and environmental management.

    “Jud’s leadership in driving transformative energy solutions makes him an outstanding fit for NREL,” said Alliance Board co-chairs Ian Colrain, president and CEO of MRIGlobal, and Juan Alvarez, executive vice president of laboratory operations at Battelle. “He brings a rare combination of scientific rigor, strategic vision, and a collaborative spirit—paired with a deep understanding of DOE priorities and the national lab system. His ability to translate innovation into impact makes him ideally suited to lead NREL into its next chapter.”

    “It’s a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal time,” Dr. Virden said. “I am eager to build on NREL’s reputation for scientific excellence and drive meaningful, lasting transformation. I look forward to growing collaborations within DOE, industry, academia, and the national labs—working together to accelerate energy innovation and impact.”

    Dr. Virden earned both his Bachelor of Science and doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Washington and has been with PNNL since 1991. His career is marked by a strong record in forging public-private partnerships and advancing grid resilience and energy technologies.

    Dr. Virden will succeed Dr. Martin Keller, who has served as NREL’s laboratory director since 2015. Under Dr. Keller’s leadership, NREL has experienced record growth in funding, talent, and impact—cementing its role as a global leader in energy research and innovation. He will continue at the laboratory as a strategic advisor through early November to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. Keller will then leave the laboratory for his new role as president of the Helmholtz Association in Berlin, Germany. 

    “Martin led with vision, thoughtfulness, and unwavering integrity,” Colrain and Alvarez said. “His leadership left an enduring mark on NREL’s legacy and future. We thank him for his extraordinary service and look forward to seeing the continued impact of his work in the global research community.”

    NREL—the National Renewable Energy Laboratory—is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for energy systems research, development, and integration. NREL is managed and operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by a partnership led by MRIGlobal and Battelle.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) supports electric cooking expansion across three African nations

    Source: APO

    The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org), is tackling charcoal dependence in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia with a $4 million reimbursable grant. This grant will fund the Burn Electric Cooking Expansion Program (BEEP), deploying 115,000 Burn ECOA Electric Induction Cookers to provide clean cooking solutions for low-income, grid-connected households currently relying on charcoal.

    Burn, a Kenya-based clean cookstove company and carbon developer with operations in over 10 African countries, will implement BEEP. This program makes clean cooking appliances more affordable and accessible by prefinancing induction cookers and recovering costs through carbon credit sales in the voluntary market. This innovative model combines carbon-backed subsidies with pay-as-you-go payment plans, significantly lowering upfront costs for end-users.

    Capitalised through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Program is funded by a $5 million senior loan from the Spark+ Africa Fund, a $4 million reimbursable grant from SEFA, and $1 million in equity from Burn Manufacturing Company. This SPV will partner with Burn to manage sales, distribution, and servicing of the cookers. The appliances will generate carbon credits, owned by the SPV, with revenues shared among investors.

    Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank Group, stated, “This marks the Bank’s first carbon finance transaction of its kind, with SEFA playing a critical role in mitigating carbon market risks and enhancing the Program’s financial sustainability.”

    The program aligns with SEFA’s thematic area on Energy Efficiency, catalysing private sector investments in efficient appliances and promoting scale-up of clean cooking technologies. It also supports the Mission 300 Initiative and the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, which aim to deliver universal energy access through low-carbon solutions.

    “We are honoured to receive this catalytic investment from the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa—their first-ever investment in carbon projects focused on electric cooking. This milestone enables BURN to rapidly scale our IoT-enabled induction stove across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, providing low-income households with a zero-emission, digitally monitored alternative to charcoal and wood,” said Peter Scott, Founder and CEO, BURN. “By integrating cutting-edge technology, carbon financing, and mobile-enabled Pay-As-You-Cook models, we are demonstrating that electric cooking can be clean, affordable, and scalable across the continent.” 

    In addition to environmental and health benefits, the program will stimulate job creation and fortify local supply chains within the three target countries, paving the way for a cleaner, more prosperous future for communities across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media contact: 
    Alexis Adélé
    Communications and External Relations Department
    media@afdb.org

    ABOUT SEFA:
    SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and the M300.

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Portugal Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Strategic Partnership with Morocco

    Source: APO


    .

    The Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, praised, on Tuesday in Lisbon, the excellent bilateral ties with the Kingdom of Morocco, reaffirming the mutual will to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, which represents a stellar cooperation model.

    This position was set out in the Joint Statement signed at the end of his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita.

    On this occasion, MFA Bourita and his Portuguese peer welcomed the excellent bilateral ties which continue to gain new momentum, strengthened in 2024 by the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the historic Peace and Friendship Agreement signed between the two countries in 1774, and the 30th anniversary of the Friendship, Neighbourhood and Cooperation Treaty, signed in Rabat on May 30, 1994.

    The two ministers stressed the need to work towards implementing the commitments contained in the strategic partnership linking the two countries, endorsed at the 14th session of the High-Level Meeting held in Lisbon in May 2023.

    In this respect, MFA Bourita and Rangel seized the opportunity to underline the economic potential and the means to be deployed to further strengthen cooperation in priority areas, notably green hydrogen, calling for continued joint efforts to install the electricity interconnection project and ensure connectivity, including maritime connectivity, between the two countries.

    The two ministers also welcomed the joint organization by Morocco and Portugal, alongside Spain, of the 2030 Football World Cup, underscoring the momentum that could be unleashed by such a large-scale event in terms of shared prosperity and growth, as well as cultural rapprochement between the two countries.

    Regrading shared objectives and responsibilities, the two leaders undertook to pursue consultations and coordination within international bodies.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: LanzaTech Awarded Significant Grant by UK Government to Propel Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) (“LanzaTech” or the “Company”) a leader in carbon management solutions, announced it has received a grant of £6.4 million from the UK government’s Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF), operated by the Department for Transport (DfT).

    The grant will accelerate the development of LanzaTech’s innovative DRAGON 1 & 2 projects, each playing a crucial role in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK. Project DRAGON stands for Decarbonizing and Reimagining Aviation for the Goal Of Netzero.

    The DRAGON 1 project is LanzaTech’s existing UK SAF project that will convert recycled carbon fuel ethanol (including ethanol from LanzaTech’s gas fermentation process) into Advanced SAF in Port Talbot, South Wales, using the LanzaJet® Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) process.

    The DRAGON 2 project is a Power-to-Liquid (PtL) facility that will convert waste carbon dioxide and green hydrogen into ethanol for subsequent conversion into PtL SAF at an adjacent facility using the LanzaJet® Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) process. The location for DRAGON 2 in the UK will be determined during this grant-funded project.

    Integrating LanzaTech’s gas fermentation process with LanzaJet’s AtJ technology gives this approach a distinctive edge. By turning regional waste resources into valuable SAF, LanzaTech facilitates the production of low Carbon Intensity (CI) fuels, contributing positively to the UK’s SAF Mandate and supporting economic growth and job creation in industrial zones in the UK.

    “The future of aviation fuel is ethanol-to-SAF and LanzaTech is at the forefront,” said Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech. “Our commitment to enabling cleaner jet fuel is bolstered by the UK government’s continued support and confidence in LanzaTech as a leader in the sector. This funding not only affirms the value of our unique technology and feedstock approach but also propels our mission to integrate air travel into a circular carbon economy. DRAGON 1 & 2 are set to drive the global SAF market forward and exemplify the UK’s commitment to leading SAF innovation on the global stage.”

    The UK government’s significant investment in these projects underscores their confidence in LanzaTech’s proven, commercial-scale technology and its potential to substantially boost the UK’s SAF production. This endorsement not only solidifies LanzaTech’s reputation as a leader in advancing global clean energy initiatives but also emphasizes the crucial role of feedstock providers. By leveraging low-cost, sustainable inputs for SAF production, LanzaTech is poised to play a key role in aiding the aviation sector’s pursuit of its net-zero commitments.

    Separately, Project Speedbird by LanzaJet, in which LanzaTech holds a 36% ownership stake, also received recognition and £10 million in funding from the Advanced Fuels Fund, further testament to the government’s trust in the Lanza technology portfolio. In 2024, LanzaTech and LanzaJet partnered to create CirculAir™, that transforms nearly any form of waste carbon (including CO2, MSW, agri residues) into SAF, combining the groundbreaking technologies of both companies to provide the aviation industry with a solution to produce waste-based SAF on a global scale.

    Today’s allocation boosts total government contributions through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) to £198 million, aimed at expanding cleaner aviation technologies. This strategic investment is a testament to the UK government’s comprehensive approach to environmental strategies, aligning with initiatives like the recently enacted SAF Mandate. This funding round notably supports a broad spectrum of pathways and feedstocks for SAF production—an inclusive move by the UK government that recognizes the need for varied solutions in the pursuit of net-zero aviation.

    LanzaTech is committed to continuing its collaborative efforts with the UK government, industry partners, and the global community to scale solutions that can transform waste carbon into an opportunity for sustainable growth. We are proud to be recognized as part of the diverse array of solutions required to achieve a sustainable future for aviation.

    About LanzaTech

    LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) is a carbon management solutions company that transforms industrial emissions, gasified solid waste and carbon dioxide into recycled carbon ethanol via proprietary bio-fermentation technology. Ethanol is a crucial building block in the world – a key feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other downstream chemical derivatives. Operating commercially at six assets today, the expanding project pipeline is set to meet growing SAF demand on a global scale in the coming years. LanzaTech’s technology unlocks value across the supply chain, reducing the carbon footprint of hard-to-abate sectors while shepherding recycled carbon fuels and products to the world, building a circular carbon economy.

    Investor Relations
    John Ragozzino
    Lanzatech@icrinc.com

    Public Relations
    Matt Dallas
    Lanzatech@icrinc.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ALL4 Mining Targets Mass Adoption with Risk-Free Entry and Transparent Mining Returns

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jacksonville, Florida, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Revolutionizing Digital Asset Mining for the Modern Investor

    Cryptocurrency mining has long been associated with complex setups, massive electricity consumption, and heavy capital requirements. However, ALL4 Mining is changing this outdated narrative by introducing a modern, streamlined solution that empowers both new and seasoned investors to earn consistent daily profits through cloud-based mining. Leveraging clean energy and advanced cloud computing, the platform is making digital mining more sustainable, affordable, and accessible to everyone.

    An Innovative Mining Model for Smarter Investments

    At its core, ALL4 Mining offers an intelligent system that removes the traditional burdens of crypto mining. Users no longer need to worry about purchasing costly hardware, maintaining devices, or paying high electricity bills. Instead, they simply rent computing power via flexible contracts and begin mining cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Dogecoin with ease.
    This model suits a variety of users—from individuals entering the space to large-scale investors seeking to optimize returns without the overhead.

    How ALL4 Mining Works Behind the Scenes

    ALL4 Mining operates through a distributed cloud mining infrastructure. Instead of requiring physical equipment on the user’s end, the platform routes mining tasks to high-performance, secure data centers powered by renewable energy. Here’s a breakdown of how the system operates:

    • Computing Power Rental: Users select a contract based on their budget and profit expectations. The platform allocates corresponding computing resources automatically.
    • Real-Time Tracking: Through an intuitive dashboard, users can monitor their mining progress, daily income, and contract performance in real time.
    • Automated Profit Distribution: Profits are calculated daily and distributed based on the proportion of the user’s investment, ensuring complete transparency and fairness.

    This seamless and automated structure allows users to focus on their investment strategies while the system handles the technical workload.

    Key Benefits of Choosing ALL4 Mining

    ✅ Low Entry Barrier

    Unlike traditional mining operations that require significant capital upfront, ALL4 Mining lowers the threshold significantly. Users can start mining with minimal investment, making it an ideal platform for beginners.

    ✅ Clean, Sustainable Energy Use

    ALL4 Mining relies on green energy sources to power its data centers. This commitment to sustainability not only reduces operational costs but also supports global efforts to minimize carbon emissions in blockchain technology.

    ✅ Flexible Contracts

    The platform offers a variety of computing power packages with different durations and profitability rates. Whether you’re aiming for short-term gains or long-term passive income, there’s a plan tailored to your goals.

    ✅ Enterprise-Grade Security

    The platform employs SSL encryption, firewalls, and real-time risk detection to ensure your assets and personal data remain protected at all times.

    ✅ Dedicated Customer Support

    A knowledgeable support team is available 24/7 to assist users with technical issues, account inquiries, or contract questions, ensuring a smooth experience for all users.

    Who Can Benefit from ALL4 Mining?

    ALL4 Mining is built to serve diverse segments of the crypto community:

    • Individual Investors: Those with limited knowledge or no technical background can still mine top cryptocurrencies using an easy-to-navigate platform.
    • Small Enterprises: Startups and small businesses can generate additional income streams by participating in cloud mining without investing in hardware.
    • Large Mining Pools: Established investors and institutions can significantly scale their operations by leveraging ALL4 Mining’s powerful cloud infrastructure.

    How to Start Earning with ALL4 Mining

    Getting started on ALL4 Mining is fast and simple:

    1. Register an Account: New users receive a $15 welcome bonus immediately upon sign-up.
    2. Daily Check-In Contract: Activate the free daily contract and earn $0.6 per day just by checking in.
    3. Choose a Paid Contract: Recharge your account and select from a variety of flexible packages designed to meet different financial goals.

    Popular Contract Packages Available

    ALL4 Mining offers several attractive contract options. These are tailored to various investor levels:

    BTC basic computing power: investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4.0, expiration income: $100 + $8

    LTC [classic computing power contract]: investment amount: $600, contract period: 6 days, daily income of $7.2, expiration income: $600 + $43.2

    BTC [classic computing power contract]: investment amount: $3,000, contract period: 20 days, daily income of $42, expiration income: $3,000 + $840

    DOGE [classic computing power contract]: investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 31 days, daily income of $74, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,294

    BTC [advanced computing power contract]: investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 40 days, daily income of $170, expiration income: $10,000 + $680

    BTC [advanced computing power contract]: investment amount: 50,000 USD, contract period: 48 days, daily income: USD 930, maturity income: USD 50,000 + USD 44,640

    BTC [Super Computing Power Contract]: Investment amount: USD 150,000, contract period: 45 days, daily income: USD 3,000, maturity income: USD 150,000 + USD 135,000

    Large-scale investors can explore premium packages, such as $300,000 contracts, which deliver over $288,000 in profits in just 40 days.

    Each package allows users to earn passive income with zero operational burdens or hidden fees.

    How to Earn $7,050 Daily with ALL4 Mining

    To understand the platform’s profit potential, consider this example:
    A user invests in a BTC Super Computing Contract with a $300,000 value. With a daily return rate of 2.35%, the user earns $7,050 per day.
    In 40 days:

    • Daily Return: $7,050 × 40 = $282,000
    • Total Return: $300,000 + $282,000 = $582,000

    This hands-free earning model demonstrates how ALL4 Mining can generate significant revenue for serious investors.

    Final Thoughts: A Future-Proof Investment Solution

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to Spotlight Energy, Mining Finance Solutions at African Mining Week (AMW) 2025

    Source: APO – Report:

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    Thabiso Sekano, Head of Mining and Metals at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, will join African Mining Week (AMW) as a featured speaker on the high-level panel, The Investor Perspective – Financing Africa’s Mineral Industrialization. He is expected to share insights into innovative financing mechanisms that are accelerating project development across Africa’s mining and energy value chains.

    Sekano will highlight the IDC’s instrumental role in advancing South Africa’s mining sector, particularly its platinum group metals (PGMs), which represent over 70% of global reserves. Among the IDC’s recent investments, in June 2025, the agency approved R622 million in funding to Canadian firm Theta Gold Mines to develop multiple sites under the TGME Project in Mpumalanga Province. This seven-year facility is expected to extract 1.24 million ounces of gold, creating jobs and contributing to national revenue growth.

    AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    In April 2025, the IDC approved a further R1.6 billion facility to support the operational stability of ArcelorMittal South Africa, helping preserve jobs and strengthen South Africa’s position as a top global steel producer. Beyond South Africa, Sekano will spotlight the IDC’s growing regional footprint. The corporation is considering a $16 million loan to Giyani Metals to advance the K.Hill manganese project in Botswana – an important development aimed at boosting supply chains for lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles.

    As African governments increasingly focus on formalizing small-scale mining and empowering junior miners, AMW will also offer a platform for Sekano to discuss the IDC’s initiatives targeting these groups. In 2024, the IDC launched a R400 million Junior Mining Exploration Fund in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Council for Geoscience, aimed at addressing funding constraints that limit entry and scale-up of junior mining companies.

    In addition, the IDC is driving synergies between the mining and energy sectors to foster energy resilience and decarbonization. In June 2025, it announced that four utility-scale energy projects it financed are now delivering a combined 219 MW to the national grid – powering mining operations and creating 442 annualized jobs. The agency also signed a EUR 17 million agreement with Germany’s KfW to support green hydrogen projects in South Africa, further enhancing the role of PGMs in electrolyzer technology. In March 2025, the IDC raised R2 billion through a sustainable bond issuance to scale up investments across both mining and energy.

    At AMW 2025, Sekano will unpack these developments and more, reinforcing the IDC’s commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth in Africa’s extractive and energy sectors.

    – on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: YORK COUNTY – Shapiro Administration and PUC to Announce 2 Gigawatts of Solar Power Generation Installed in Pennsylvania

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    July 22, 2025 – Lewisberry, PA

    ADVISORY – YORK COUNTY – Shapiro Administration and PUC to Announce 2 Gigawatts of Solar Power Generation Installed in Pennsylvania

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DCNR), and the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC), will converge on Gifford Pinchot State Park, in the Quaker Race Day Use Area, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, to announce the installation of two gigawatts of solar power energy generation in Pennsylvania.

    The current two gigawatts (2,000,000,000 watts) of installed solar generation in Pennsylvania is enough to power nearly 350,000 homes.

    WHAT: DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley, DCNR Deputy Secretary Mike Walsh, and PUC Commissioner Stephen DeFrank will hold a press conference to announce two gigawatts of solar power generation in Pennsylvania.

    WHEN:
    Tuesday, July 22, 2025: 1:30 PM

    WHERE:
    Gifford Pinchot State Park
    Quaker Race Day Use Area
    Lewisberry, PA 17339

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Decker, thomadecke@pa.gov// 814-332-6615

    For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website, or follow DEP on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or LinkedIn.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS maps moon for water, supporting NASA mission

    Source: US Geological Survey

    “The USGS and NASA have partnered for over 50 years to leverage space technologies to map the Earth’s resources, and to bring Earth science to bear on space exploration,” said Sarah Ryker, acting USGS director.“As the nation plans to return astronauts to the Moon, the Artemis missions will require resources prohibitive to bring from Earth. Our USGS expertise in assessing resources will help locate ice, which can be purified for drinking, or electrolyzed to make hydrogen and oxygen, key ingredients in rocket fuel.” 

    Since its establishment in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey has been mapping mineral resources in the U.S. and on Earth, with satellite-based scanning beginning in 1972. Off-planet prospectivity is the latest step in the USGS and NASA’s partnership applying Earth science tools to space. 

    NASA’s planned VIPER, or Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, mission will explore volatile-bearing deposits within the loose surface materials near the Moon’s South Pole, specifically around the Mons Mouton landing site. By locating and characterizing these resources, particularly water ice, the mission could reduce the need to transport such materials from Earth, supporting long-term lunar exploration and future space missions.

    “Contributing to the VIPER Science Team helps the USGS test our methods in new settings, with new types of data. This mission represents a bold leap forward in lunar science, and also advances what we do on Earth,” said Joshua Coyan, lead author of the study and a research geologist with the USGS Mineral Resources Program.

    Mapping lunar resources paves the way for uncovering critical supplies on other planetary bodies. On Earth, the USGS maps energy and water resources; on the Moon and other planets, as on Earth, water is a potential energy resource.

    To support the VIPER mission, the USGS Mineral Resources Program partnered with NASA, the University of Hawai’i, and the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute to develop a new astrogeological prospectivity map with the goal of identifying locations with a high likelihood of containing water-ice deposits around the Lunar South Pole.

    “This is the first time Earth-based geostatistical techniques have been adapted to map potential resources on another celestial body,” said Coyan. “By applying proven terrestrial methods in a new planetary context, we’re showing that the tools used to assess mineral potential on Earth can also help identify strategic exploration targets on the Moon and potentially beyond.”

    Studying these potential water ice deposits may also help to shed light onto the origin and distribution of these lunar volatiles, offering a deeper understanding of the Moon’s geologic and thermal evolution.

    The team found that there are several highly prospective areas near the VIPER landing site. Notable locations include the bases of the Jaci, Masina, and Dawa craters, in addition to several smaller clusters of depressions in the surrounding areas.

    3D Map showing prospectivity of water ice volatiles in the Mons Mouton region (Map by Coyan et al., 2025, USGS Mineral Resources Program).

    The prospectivity map was generated using methodologies for uncovering drilling and mining locations. Remote sensing and geophysical data on the lunar poles are relatively scarce, so the team used a “fuzzy logic” artificial intelligence technique to locate areas with high potential for ice based on factors like shade and slope.

    These techniques were designed to improve as new data is collected during the mission, allowing for near-real time refinement of the locations considered prospective for water ice.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Introducing Alvenco Advisory: Guiding Strategic Investment in Namibia’s Energy Future

    Source: APO

    With Namibia set to start oil production by 2029, the country is witnessing a surge in global investments across its exploration and production landscape. From global energy majors to leading independents to regional energy companies and financiers, energy firms are ramping up their investments in what is poised to become the next major African producer. As international investors navigate Namibia’s evolving energy and mining industries, the newly-launched Alvenco Advisory will support companies as they expand their presence across the southern African country.  

    Spearheaded by Namibia’s former-Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo, Alvenco Advisory represents the partner of choice for global companies seeking to make forays into Namibia. As a strategic advisory firm, Alvenco Advisory is committed to shaping investments that are profitable, inclusive and sustainable. The company will work closely with government stakeholders and global companies, aligning closely with the country’s energy goals by offering policy and regulatory support, strong alignment with national priorities, local stakeholder engagement and ESG focus as well as strategies for shared value and long-term returns. As Namibia embarks on its next chapter of energy development Alvenco Advisory has emerged as a strong partner for global investors.

    The launch of Alvenco Advisory comes as Namibia accelerates the development of offshore oil and gas discoveries made in the Orange Basin. TotalEnergies targets a final investment decision for its Venus discovery in 2026, with first oil expected in 2029. Galp is making progress with the development of the Mopane field following a string of positive results at exploration wells drilled in 2024 and 2025. The latest of these – the Mopane 3S well – revealed the presence of light oil and gas condensate. On the exploration front, Rhino Resources is making strides towards field development following a discovery at the Capricornus-1X well in April 2025 and the confirmation of a hydrocarbon reservoir at the Sagittarius-1X well in February 2025. Halliburton is set to drill two exploration wells at Block 2914 in PEL 85 while Stamper Oil & Gas Corp is also pursuing exploration projects in the Orange and Lüderitz Basins. Chevron is spearheading exploration in the Walvis Basin following its acquisition of an 80% stake in Blocks 2112B and 2212A. These investments seek to unlock a new hydrocarbon province in southern Africa.

    Namibia’s energy transformation comes not only from its oil and gas industry but its bold steps into green hydrogen. The country seeks to reach green hydrogen volumes of between 10-15 million tons per annum by 2050 and is working closely with global partners to achieve this goal. Major projects include the country’s flagship $10 billion flagship Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project – targeting 350,000 tons of green hydrogen annually – and the Daures Green Hydrogen Village – targeting 700,000 tons per annum after 2032. In addition to Hyphen, Namibia is already producing hydrogen from the Hylron Oshivela Project. The project started operations in March 2025, producing green hydrogen using 12 MW of electrolyzer capacity.  Meanwhile, a partnership between the European Union and Namibia – forged in early 2025 – is set to drive up to $12 billion in European private investments into the country in support of its green hydrogen goals. As this investment flows into Namibia, Alvenco Advisory stands ready to support companies as they navigate policy, national priorities and local stakeholder engagement.

    “Namibia is on the cusp of extraordinary change. With major oil discoveries and bold steps into green hydrogen, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to ensure that our natural resources uplift all Namibians. Alvenco Advisory will not only support global investors in Namibia, but ensure their investments unlock tangible opportunities for the people of Namibia. At Alvenco Advisory, we are committed to driving inclusive and sustainable projects. We are here to align the goals of governments and investing companies – if you’re investing in Namibia or thinking about it let’s talk,” states Alweendo.  

    Alweendo has held various positions in Namibia, including Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Director General of the National Planning Commission and Minister in Charge of the National Planning Commission. In 2018, he was appointed Minister of Mines and Energy. His term ended in 2025. In this role, he oversaw all of the country’s major oil discoveries, and since these milestones, has maintained investor confidence through competitive policies, engagement with international operators and flexible investment structures. This laid the foundation for future growth across the market, setting the country up for continued success in the oil, gas and broader energy sectors.

    To learn more about Alvenco Advisory, visit www.AlvencoAdvisory.com.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Microbes in deep-sea volcanoes can help scientists learn about early life on Earth, or even life beyond our planet

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James F. Holden, Professor of Microbiology, UMass Amherst

    A submersible, which travels to the seafloor to collect rock and microbe samples, is lifted by the arm of a research vessel. James F. Holden

    People have long wondered what life was first like on Earth, and if there is life in our solar system beyond our planet. Scientists have reason to believe that some of the moons in our solar system – like Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus – may contain deep, salty liquid oceans under an icy shell. Seafloor volcanoes could heat these moons’ oceans and provide the basic chemicals needed for life.

    Similar deep-sea volcanoes found on Earth support microbial life that lives inside solid rock without sunlight and oxygen. Some of these microbes, called thermophiles, live at temperatures hot enough to boil water on the surface. They grow from the chemicals coming out of active volcanoes.

    Because these microorganisms existed before there was photosynthesis or oxygen on Earth, scientists think these deep-sea volcanoes and microbes could resemble the earliest habitats and life on Earth, and beyond.

    To determine if life could exist beyond Earth in these ocean worlds, NASA sent the Cassini spacecraft to orbit Saturn in 1997. The agency has also sent three spacecraft to orbit Jupiter: Galileo in 1989, Juno in 2011 and most recently Europa Clipper in 2024. These spacecraft flew and will fly close to Enceladus and Europa to measure their habitability for life using a suite of instruments.

    A diagram of the interior of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which may have hot plumes beneath its ocean.
    Surface: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute; interior: LPG-CNRS/U. Nantes/U. Angers. Graphic composition: ESA

    However, for planetary scientists to interpret the data they collect, they need to first understand how similar habitats function and host life on Earth.

    My microbiology laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studies thermophiles from hot springs at deep-sea volcanoes, also called hydrothermal vents.

    Diving deep for samples of life

    I grew up in Spokane, Washington, and had over an inch of volcanic ash land on my home when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. That event led to my fascination with volcanoes.

    Several years later, while studying oceanography in college, I collected samples from Mount St. Helens’ hot springs and studied a thermophile from the site. I later collected samples at hydrothermal vents along an undersea volcanic mountain range hundreds of miles off the coast of Washington and Oregon. I have continued to study these hydrothermal vents and their microbes for nearly four decades.

    Crewed submarines travel deep underwater to collect samples from hydrothermal vents.
    Gavin Eppard, WHOI/Expedition to the Deep Slope/NOAA/OER, CC BY

    Submarine pilots collect the samples my team uses from hydrothermal vents using human-occupied submarines or remotely operated submersibles. These vehicles are lowered into the ocean from research ships where scientists conduct research 24 hours a day, often for weeks at a time.

    The samples collected include rocks and heated hydrothermal fluids that rise from cracks in the seafloor.

    The submarines use mechanical arms to collect the rocks and special sampling pumps and bags to collect the hydrothermal fluids. The submarines usually remain on the seafloor for about a day before returning samples to the surface. They make multiple trips to the seafloor on each expedition.

    Inside the solid rock of the seafloor, hydrothermal fluids as hot at 662 degrees Fahrenheit (350 Celsius) mix with cold seawater in cracks and pores of the rock. The mixture of hydrothermal fluid and seawater creates the ideal temperatures and chemical conditions that thermophiles need to live and grow.

    Plumes rising from hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic Ocean.
    P. Rona / OAR/National Undersea Research Program; NOAA

    When the submarines return to the ship, scientists – including my research team – begin analyzing the chemistry, minerals and organic material like DNA in the collected water and rock samples.

    These samples contain live microbes that we can cultivate, so we grow the microbes we are interested in studying while on the ship. The samples provide a snapshot of how microbes live and grow in their natural environment.

    Thermophiles in the lab

    Back in my laboratory in Amherst, my research team isolates new microbes from the hydrothermal vent samples and grows them under conditions that mimic those they experience in nature. We feed them volcanic chemicals like hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur and iron and measure their ability to produce compounds like methane, hydrogen sulfide and the magnetic mineral magnetite.

    The thermophilic microbe Pyrodictium delaneyi isolated by the Holden lab from a hydrothermal vent in the Pacific Ocean. It grows at 194 degrees Fahrenheit (90 Celsius) on hydrogen, sulfur and iron.
    Lin et al., 2016/The Microbiology Society

    Oxygen is typically deadly for these organisms, so we grow them in synthetic hydrothermal fluid and in sealed tubes or in large bioreactors free of oxygen. This way, we can control the temperature and chemical conditions they need for growth.

    From these experiments, we look for distinguishing chemical signals that these organisms produce which spacecraft or instruments that land on extraterrestrial surfaces could potentially detect.

    We also create computer models that best describe how we think these microbes grow and compete with other organisms in hydrothermal vents. We can apply these models to conditions we think existed on early Earth or on ocean worlds to see how these microbes might fare under those conditions.

    We then analyze the proteins from the thermophiles we collect to understand how these organisms function and adapt to changing environmental conditions. All this information guides our understanding of how life can exist in extreme environments on and beyond Earth.

    Uses for thermophiles in biotechnology

    In addition to providing helpful information to planetary scientists, research on thermophiles provides other benefits as well. Many of the proteins in thermophiles are new to science and useful for biotechnology.

    The best example of this is an enzyme called DNA polymerase, which is used to artificially replicate DNA in the lab by the polymerase chain reaction. The DNA polymerase first used for polymerase chain reaction was purified from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus in 1976. This enzyme needs to be heat resistant for the replication technique to work. Everything from genome sequencing to clinical diagnoses, crime solving, genealogy tests and genetic engineering uses DNA polymerase.

    DNA polymerase is an enzyme that plays an essential role in DNA replication. A heat-resistant form from thermophiles is useful in bioengineering.
    Christinelmiller/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    My lab and others are exploring how thermophiles can be used to degrade waste and produce commercially useful products. Some of these organisms grow on waste milk from dairy farms and brewery wastewater – materials that cause fish kills and dead zones in ponds and bays. The microbes then produce biohydrogen from the waste – a compound that can be used as an energy source.

    Hydrothermal vents are among the most fascinating and unusual environments on Earth. With them, windows to the first life on Earth and beyond may lie at the bottom of our oceans.

    James F. Holden receives funding from NASA.

    – ref. Microbes in deep-sea volcanoes can help scientists learn about early life on Earth, or even life beyond our planet – https://theconversation.com/microbes-in-deep-sea-volcanoes-can-help-scientists-learn-about-early-life-on-earth-or-even-life-beyond-our-planet-260977

    MIL OSI –