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Category: Sustainable Energy

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK drives green growth by connecting millions to electricity across Africa

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins announces support to extend electricity access to millions across Africa.

    • Minister for Africa Lord Collins announces support to extend electricity access to millions across Africa.

    • New deal between British International Investment and UK cleantech company MOPO will connect over a million people across the DRC to renewable energy sources, delivering on the Plan for Change by unleashing the power of British technological innovation.

    • UK partnership with the African Development Bank will also channel private sector capital into African clean energy.

    Millions more people across Africa will have access to clean power thanks to UK investment, Africa Minister Lord Collins has announced.

    This comes as UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte attends the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit today [27 January] in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

    The UK is one of the largest investors in clean energy in Africa and is working in partnership to support the Mission 300 initiative, which aims to expand electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. Half of Africa’s population – 600 million people – lack vital access to electricity.

    Lord Collins is announcing a £5.3 million new deal between British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, and UK cleantech firm MOPO. 

    This investment will enable MOPO to expand its pay-per-use battery rental operations in the DRC where over 80% of the population lack access to electricity. It demonstrates how UK companies are unlocking new opportunities for growth and positive impact that the clean energy transition has to offer in the UK and beyond.

    Lord Collins will also announce new UK support of £8.5 million towards the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to build on existing efforts between the UK and African partners to connect millions of people across the continent with clean, reliable power.

    Today’s announcement will unlock private sector investment in renewable energy projects including clean cooking and energy efficiency.

    The support, which will be delivered as part of the UK’s Africa Regional Climate and Nature Programme (ARCAN), will accelerate renewable energy adoption and improve energy efficiency, developing solar-powered mini-grids in rural communities and providing technical assistance for large-scale renewable energy projects.

     Minister for Africa Lord Collins of Highbury said:

    The UK has set a landmark goal to be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030, and through our Plan for Change we’ll harness technology to transform the UK into a clean energy superpower. We want to leverage this ambition with our African partners to power green growth, eradicate poverty and tackle climate change.

    Connecting the continent to clean, reliable energy is vital, and UK support is helping ensure millions are getting the access they need to prosper through planet-friendly solutions. This will also allow us to deepen our partnerships across Africa, sharing expertise, finance and innovation.

    These announcements from Lord Collins show how the UK Government is delivering on the Plan for Change, which will transform the UK into a clean energy superpower, cutting bills and guaranteeing our energy independence, while championing clean technology innovation overseas  and generating opportunities for investment and jobs in British businesses. 

    Speaking at the summit, the UK’s Special Representative on Climate, Rachel Kyte, said:

    Reliable, affordable and clean energy is the cornerstone of economic growth and development. Clean energy, through modern grids and distributed renewable energy offers an opportunity for inclusive growth. Helping end energy poverty supports growth, builds resilience and puts countries on a pathway that helps our common challenge of fighting climate change.  The UK is working with partners across Africa to connect millions of people in the region with cleaner and more efficient power. That is why I’m pleased to be at this summit, supporting Mission 300 and reaffirming our commitment to our shared sustainable development goals especially in Africa.

    At the summit, the UK’s Special Representative for Climate will set out how the UK is deepening our partnerships with African nations and multilateral institutions to fuel the clean energy revolution and stimulate growth whilst tackling the climate emergency.

    Leslie Maasdorp, BII CEO said: 

    At BII we want to use our distinctive position, and track record, to create more early-stage solutions that help expand access to energy for more Africans. This is demonstrated through our investment in MOPO, which is expected to reach over a million people in DRC where energy access is limited.

    More broadly, we welcome the partnership of African governments, as well as other institutions like the African Development Bank, in making that ambition a reality.

    Today’s announcements at the Dar Es Salaam summit also reinforce the long-standing UK-Tanzania partnership.

    Tanzania was one of the first countries to sign up to the first mission of the UK’s Global Clean Power Alliance. The two countries are working together to boost the global clean energy transition, whilst furthering trade opportunities that will create jobs and deliver economic growth.   

    Notes to Editors:

    • BII is playing its part in the overall ecosystem to meet the goals of Mission 300. Today, BII’s investments provide clean energy to over 26 million people across sub-Saharan Africa and it has ambitions to do more.
    • MOPO installs hundreds of solar powered hubs which rent MOPO batteries to customers in regions far from the main grid. MOPO was supported in its early stages to develop its technology, business model and partnerships through the FCDO’s Transforming Energy Access programme.
    • The ADB funding will be delivered through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and will provide concessional finance and technical assistance to mobilise finance from the private sector into innovate, clean energy projects. Investments made by SEFA with support from the UK and other donors is expected to create 1.3 million new electricity connections in Africa.
    • The Africa Regional Climate and Nature Programme (ARCAN) is part of the UK’s wider £11.6bn International Climate Finance commitment. Other projects include the Climate Adaptation and Resilience research programme (CLARE), FSD Africa and FSD Africa investments, and Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA).

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Chad: New EUR 28 million African Development Bank-funded solar project to boost Chad’s energy access

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 20, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved funding worth EUR 28 million to build solar power plants in Gassi and Lamadji, Chad. This is part of the Bank’s Desert to Power program to increase energy access across Africa.

    The funding includes EUR 20 million in direct support, combining a loan and a grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, plus EUR 8 million in financial guarantees. These guarantees are split equally between the African Development Fund and the Green Climate Fund, which both contribute EUR 4 million each to support this clean energy project.

    This important project is part Chad’s Desert to Power plan. It will increase power supply by 20% and pave the way for the country’s energy transition from expensive, polluting fuel-based power to clean energy. The project will build two solar power plants in the outskirts of N’Djamena, each able to produce 15-megawatt peak of electricity. It also includes new power stations, connection lines, and a 6-megawatt-hour battery system to store energy for when the sun isn’t shining. The total project cost is estimated at EUR 41 million. The Bank’s financing is in addition to financing expected from other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

    Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of the Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth complex at the African Development Bank, said: “The Gassi and Lamadji solar project is a landmark development that underscores Chad’s strong commitment to the transition to renewable energy under the Desert to Power Initiative, and the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting transformative, clean energy projects across the continent. This project not only facilitates the Government of Chad’s efforts to increase access to energy through renewable energy but also drives local economic growth and strengthens the country’s energy security.”

    Wale Shonibare, the Bank’s Director of the Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulations department, added, “As a pioneering solar project in Chad, this initiative exemplifies the scale of renewable energy potential in the Sahel region. It demonstrates how strong partnerships and the Bank’s deployment of its suite of instruments and innovative solutions can advance the energy transition and foster sustainable economic development.”

    The solar plants are expected to generate 61 gigawatt-hours of clean, reliable, and affordable energy each year responding to Chad’s energy deficit. This will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 49,000 tons each year, helping Chad meet its climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement. The project will create 200 jobs during construction, with special opportunities for women and young people and 34 permanent jobs during operation. The project will generate revenue for the national treasury through taxes, reduce fuel subsidies, and improve the country’s balance of payments by reducing energy imports. 

    Aligned with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, the New Deal on Energy for Africa, and its High 5 objective of “Light Up and Power Africa,” the Gassi and Lamadji Solar PV project reinforces Chad’s commitment to increase energy access through renewable energy. It also supports the African Development Bank’s mission to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy development across Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s wind power installed capacity sees expansion

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo shows a major onshore wind power project in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, on Dec. 30, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s installed capacity of wind power has continued to grow as the country accelerates its push for a green transition, official data showed Friday.

    Wind power installed capacity in the country reached 490 million kilowatts at the end of November, rising 19.2% year on year, according to data from the National Energy Administration.

    Solar power capacity surged 46.7% to about 820 million kilowatts last month, the data showed.

    China’s new energy industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years, maintaining a double-digit annual growth rate.

    Since 2013, the country’s wind power installed capacity has grown sixfold, while that of solar power has surged more than 180 times. Annual new installations in China account for over 40% of the global total, making a significant contribution to the world’s green development.

    According to the Global Wind Energy Council, an international trade association for the wind power industry, China added 75 gigawatts of wind power installed capacity in 2023, accounting for nearly 65% of new wind power installed capacity worldwide.

    In a tone-setting annual economic work conference last week, China’s policymakers pledged to accelerate the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development next year.

    To achieve the country’s dual carbon goals, China will tighten control over the consumption of fossil fuels, work faster to develop a new energy system, and promote the integrated development of hydro, wind and solar power, said an official from the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Greece wind power collaboration boosts renewable energy transition

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Four wind farms nestled in the mountains of northern Greece have become prominent landmarks in the area. These wind farms are part of the Thrace Wind Power Project, led by China Energy Guohua Investment Europe Renewable Energy S.A..

    Since commencing operations in 2019, the project has generated approximately 160 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying power to more than 30,000 households in Greece.

    Speaking ahead of the International Day of Clean Energy, the company’s deputy general manager, Wu Bate, told Xinhua that the Thrace Wind Power Project was launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between China and Greece under the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018.

    As China’s first wind power investment in Greece, the project comprises four wind farms equipped with 34 turbines, with a total installed capacity of 78.2 megawatts.

    “The project reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 150,000 tons annually and saves 53,000 tons of standard coal, equivalent to planting 360,000 trees,” Wu said. “It has played a pivotal role in supporting Greece’s energy transition.”

    In recent years, Greece has accelerated its shift toward renewable energy. According to the Greek government’s revised National Energy and Climate Plan, renewable energy is projected to account for 75 percent of electricity generation by 2030, increasing further to 95 percent by 2035. Data from the Hellenic Wind Energy Association shows that wind power contributed 23.5 percent of Greece’s total electricity generation in 2023.

    “The cooperation between Greece and China on renewable energy has been remarkable,” said Konstantinos Loukidis, the company’s development manager.

    “Developing renewable energy projects not only optimizes Greece’s energy mix and enhances energy independence, but also attracts investment, fosters innovation, creates jobs, and drives economic growth,” he added.

    Currently, Chinese companies are actively participating in investment and construction in Greece’s renewable energy sector.

    Wu Bate highlighted the significant potential for further cooperation between China and Greece in the renewable energy sector.

    “In the future, both sides will build upon this platform to deepen collaboration in areas such as wind power and photovoltaics, achieving mutual benefits and win-win outcomes while injecting powerful momentum into the global green transition,” the deputy general manager said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: American-Made Program Shines Light on Innovation at RE+

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL Has a Major Presence at One of the Renewable Energy Industry’s Key Conferences

     

    Photo from Corcino Productions

    For 20 years, the RE+ conference has served as a gathering place for clean energy professionals who come together to engage and connect on ways to propel the industry forward. For the last five of those years, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) American-Made program has partnered with RE+ to become a key player at the conference, helping American-Made innovators bring their technologies closer to commercialization and showcasing easy-access opportunities for clean energy development funding.

    The American-Made program, administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis, incentivizes clean energy innovation through prize competitions, training, teaming, and mentoring. The program boasts a suite of more than 90 prizes seeking to advance technological development and capacity building across the country, many of which were represented at this year’s RE+ in Anaheim, California.

    A Live Grand Finale

    American-Made’s partnership with RE+ began in 2019 as a venue for Go! Demo Day, the culmination of the American-Made Solar Prize. The Solar Prize is a multimillion-dollar prize competition funded by DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office that energizes U.S. solar innovation through a series of contests that accelerate the entrepreneurial process from years to months. Now, the Solar Prize event has become a mainstay at RE+, which hosted more than 40,000 attendees and 1,300 exhibitors this year.

    During this year’s Solar Prize Round 7 Go! Demo Day, competition finalists presented their pitches for innovative technologies that can advance solar adoption to conference attendees and a panel of industry experts. Fram Energy was selected as a grand prize winner for their solar adoption software solution, while Gritt Robotics won for their artificial intelligence solar installation robotics innovation. Two additional teams were awarded the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Prize for their innovations that address solar power accessibility and education.

    “The Solar Prize was the prize that launched the American-Made program, and over seven rounds, it has generated revolutionary concepts that are kickstarting the solar industry,” American-Made Program Manager Debbie Brodt-Giles said. “Having the finale at RE+ each year really magnifies the reach of the prize and these competitors’ innovations. It’s the ideal place to share how American-Made is empowering everyday citizens to contribute to the clean energy transition.”

    All 10 Solar Prize Round 7 finalists were allotted a booth at RE+ to showcase their technologies to conference attendees. Here, the EmpowerSun Solutions team—winner of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Prize—share their concept with Becca Jones-Albertus, director of DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office; Alejandro Moreno and Jeff Marootian, from DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and David Crane, DOE’s Undersecretary for Infrastructure. Photo from Corcino Productions

    Expanding Presence and Purpose

    American-Made’s involvement at RE+ has grown beyond celebrating the Solar Prize to include other competition, network, and informational events to support past, current, and future prize competitors.

    Perovskite Startup Prize winner Verde Technologies made use of their time at RE+ to share their lightweight, high-performance, and low-cost solar panels. Photo from Corcino Productions

    “What’s helpful about being at a conference like RE+ is that it allows us to step out of the core technology that we’re developing and realize how it fits into the broader renewable energy transition and solar market,” said Skylar Bagdon, CEO of Verde Technologies, a past winner of the American-Made Perovskite Startup Prize. “Being here and seeing what the market really cares about helps us get out of the lab and get our technology out into the market where it will have an impact.”

    The Fall 2024 EPIC Pitch Competition featured six cleantech startups vying for cash prizes for their innovative clean energy-related pitches, with three startups and one incubator winning more than $100,000 total in cash prizes from DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions, which funds the EPIC Pitch Competition.

    DOE also announced several new prizes during the conference, including the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize, the Promoting Registration of Inverters and Modules with Ecolabel (PRIME) Prize, and the Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 3.

    Labwide Impact at a Nationwide Event

    In addition to those associated with the management of the American-Made program, NREL had robust representation at this year’s conference, with researchers from nine centers specializing in clean energy systems, technologies, deployment, and analysis. Researchers hosted tech talks at the conference, sharing NREL expertise in the areas of solar grid integration, equitable transition strategies, market analysis, and more.

    NREL’s participation at the largest clean energy industry conference in North America allows the laboratory to share cutting-edge research and identify trends in the renewable energy industry, helping inform research needs and opportunities for partnerships.

    “NREL’s leadership in the solar space continues to be well represented at RE+ with dozens of staff representing prizes and new innovative research that is integral to the industry’s success and rapid growth,” Solar Laboratory Program Manager Mary Werner said. “NREL staff coordinate prizes, present their research results, attend educational sessions, explore the extensive exhibit halls, host project booths, and help guide the development of educational sessions at RE+ to increase our impact on the market and identify new partners for future research projects.”

    Learn more about the American-Made program, and subscribe to the American-Made Newsletter for updates on all future prize opportunities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Investing in America: Western Winds of Change

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Investing in America: The Power of Western Winds centers on Carbon County, Wyoming, a historic coal community that is building one of the largest wind farms and transmission systems in the United States. These projects will create over 1,500 jobs for union workers.

    In June 2023, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Carbon County to celebrate the groundbreaking of the TransWest Express Transmission Project, which will carry clean energy from the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project across the American West.

    Western Winds of Change is the latest video in DOE’s new clean energy jobs series. It follows three more videos highlighting workers across the United States.



    https://youtu.be/ihuMvTllqc8?si=UjI1dxBiiy5UAC1h

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fohncu9LQLY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp: SOLARCYCLE Accelerates Plans for Polk County Operation

    Source: US State of Georgia

     Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based solar recycling company, will accelerate its expansion into Polk County to meet increasing demand for solar panel recycling services. The company is investing an additional $62 million to increase its panel recycling capacity to 10 million solar panels per year and create 640 new full-time jobs.

    “As Georgia continues to lead the nation in attracting jobs from emerging industries, we’re thankful SOLARCYCLE is moving up creation of these opportunities in northwest Georgia, benefitting that entire region’s economy,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “I want to thank our local and state partners who made this accelerated growth in Polk County possible, and I look forward to its impact in the years to come.”

    The facility is located directly across the street from the company’s previously announced 1.1-million-square-foot solar glass factory that will employ an additional 617 people. The factory will use recycled materials from retired solar panels from the recycling facility to make five to six gigawatts worth of solar glass every year. The factory positions the company as one of the first manufacturers of specialized glass for crystalline-silicon (c-Si) photovoltaics in the U.S.

    “We are pleased to accelerate our work in Cedartown in partnership with Governor Kemp and Polk County. In response to continued demand for solar recycling and domestic manufacturing, we will be able to scale operations and begin hiring sooner than originally planned,” said Suvi Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder at SOLARCYCLE. “We applaud Governor Kemp for his leadership supporting clean energy policy that has made it possible to scale solar manufacturing in the state, and bring good jobs and meaningful investment to local communities as a result. This is exactly what the future of American manufacturing looks like and SOLARCYCLE is proud to be at the helm.”

    SOLARCYCLE has acquired an existing building at 270 North Park Boulevard in Cedartown, adjacent to the new facility under construction at Cedartown North Business Park, a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certified site. The existing 255,000-square-foot building will be renovated to house the company’s solar panel recycling operations.

    The facility is move-in-ready and will be operational in the second half of 2025. SOLARCYCLE is hiring full-time jobs in manufacturing, engineering, management, research and design, and support staff. Open roles are available at www.solarcycle.us/careers.

    “The decision by SOLARCYCLE to expedite their manufacturing process by refurbishing a currently vacant facility and creating additional employment opportunities is a true testament to their commitment as a long-term corporate sponsor in Cedartown-Polk County,” said Chris Thomas, President and CEO of Development Authority of Polk County. “This expansion not only underscores the confidence that businesses have in our community as a place to invest but also promises significant economic benefits.  We are excited about the opportunities this expansion brings and remain dedicated to supporting SOLARCYCLE’s continued growth and success.”

    Senior Regional Project Manager Lori Dowdy represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Development Authority of Polk County, Georgia Power, and Georgia Quick Start.

    “SOLARCYCLE’s technology is important because it takes materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill and puts them back in the supply chain, effectively reducing our reliance on importing new materials,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Northwest Georgia has been a center of manufacturing in Georgia for decades – from providing the flooring we use in our homes and offices to now producing technology for clean energy to power those same buildings. We are excited that our partners and SOLARCYCLE were able to work together to bring the company’s recycling operations online earlier.”

    Georgia is a Top Ten state for installed solar, ranking seventh by cumulative solar capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Georgia’s energy solutions providers are helping to accelerate the development of renewable energy products by lowering risks, reducing costs, providing access to innovative industry research, and investing in a superior infrastructure network.

    About SOLARCYCLE

    SOLARCYCLE is a technology-driven platform designed to maximize solar sustainability by offering solar asset owners a low-cost, eco-friendly, comprehensive process for recycling retiring solar panels and technologies and repurposing them for new uses. The company’s proprietary technology allows it to extract 95% of the value from solar panels, such as silver, silicon, copper, and aluminum, and to recycle or repurpose panels for new uses. Experts in solar technology, recycling, and sustainability founded SOLARCYCLE in 2022 to accelerate the circular economy for solar and renewables. www.SOLARCYCLE.us.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heliostat Consortium Delivers New Tools To Ensure Quality of Precision Mirrors and Support the Concentrating Solar Industry

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    HelioCon’s 2024 Annual Report Details Its Advancement of a Technique To Improve Heliostat Accuracy and the Launch of an Open-Source CSP Platform

    Maintenance workers drive between the heliostats at the Ivanpah concentrating solar energy plant, where mirrors track the sun and reflect sunlight to boiler receivers on power towers. When the concentrated sunlight strikes the boiler pipes, it heats the water to create superheated steam. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    Large mirrors that track the sun to concentrate and capture thermal energy—heliostats—are a core component of every power-tower concentrating solar power (CSP) plant around the world. But the sheer variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations of these giant mirrors has created the need for new, adaptable testing and calibration methods, both on the assembly line and in the field, to maximize the potential output of these precision devices.

    The newly released HelioCon 2024 Annual Report highlights a host of new advances toward improving the cost and performance of heliostats, including a universally adaptable heliostat quality-control tool developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and an open-source platform developed at Sandia National Laboratories to share data, code, and workforce educational tools for the global CSP community.

    “HelioCon has made tremendous progress on developing, maturing, and validating third-party evaluation and testing capabilities to make them ready for industry,” said Guangdong Zhu, HelioCon executive director and a senior researcher at NREL. “This is exactly what the industry needs right now.”

    The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) funds the Heliostat Consortium for CSP (HelioCon), which is coled by NREL and Sandia, along with core members at the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI). HelioCon was founded in 2021 with a mission to develop and promote heliostat-based CSP technologies in the United States and advance the techno-economic performance of heliostats. Lowering the cost of producing, operating, and maintaining heliostats would ultimately lower the overall costs for CSP systems, which can provide clean long-duration energy storage and low-cost thermal energy for dispatchable electricity generation and high-heat industrial processes that have been difficult to decarbonize.

    “Concentrating solar has a unique role to play in our clean energy future,” said Matthew Bauer, SETO’s CSP program manager. “Not only can CSP complement other clean energy sources by providing long-duration energy storage, but it can also supply the high temperatures that tough-to-electrify industrial processes require. Heliostats are a key to lowering the overall costs of all of these applications, so improving heliostats can boost a range of decarbonization strategies.”

    Heliostats and a solar power tower operate at the Ivanpah CSP plant in California. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    The consortium’s online and in-person engagement efforts at seminars, events, and an annual workshop led to a growth spurt in 2024. HelioCon now includes 16 member institutions and more than 100 researchers, and it has developed partnerships with universities to prepare college students for work in the CSP field. HelioCon also awarded six new projects that are focused on workforce development, heliostat controls, and deployment, for a total of $3 million in its second-round funding request.

    The HelioCon 2024 Annual Report details members’ advances in preparing metrology, measurement, and heliostat control tools for commercial readiness. These advances include a solar field closed-loop wireless control system, Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) characterization tools, the Solar Optical Fringe Alignment Slope Technique (SOFAST), and composite mirror facets assessment. The report also announced that two major HelioCon projects are now being tested by industry partners:

    ReTNA: An Adaptable Commercial Quality-Control Tool for Heliostat Manufacturers

    An employee runs diagnostics on heliostats at the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project CSP facility. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    To tackle the question of how manufacturers can check the optics of heliostats before they are deployed in the field, NREL researchers used an existing tool they developed for testing heliostats outdoors—NIO measurement—as a starting point for developing a new measurement method for indoor use. The team, led by NREL researcher Devon Kesseli, set specifications to make the new optical measurement tool useful to industry: Regardless of the size and shape of the heliostats, the tool should be low cost, require minimal setup, measure a heliostat in less than a minute, and use the available lighting along the production line in a warehouse or laboratory.

    Reflected Target Non-Intrusive Assessment (ReTNA) measures slope and canting in heliostats by deflectometry, or deflected reflection, with a commercially available camera. The camera captures images of a printed target panel that can be mounted to a wall or even the ceiling, and computer vision stitches together multiple reflected images of the patterned target to create a precision measurement of each mirror. Because ReTNA is so easily adaptable, the tool can measure the surface slope and facet canting of heliostats of various sizes and in any orientation along an assembly line.

    Development of ReTNA under HelioCon began in 2022, and in 2024 it completed its proof-of-concept phase. ReTNA is now undergoing further testing by the consortium’s commercial partners.

    OpenCSP: An Open-Source Platform for Code and Data Sharing and Workforce Development

    Workers monitor system operations at Ivanpah’s control room. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    At the 2024 SolarPACES conference in October, HelioCon researcher Randy Brost, who leads the Optics Lab team at Sandia National Laboratories, announced the public launch of OpenCSP, an open-source platform that will serve as a collaborative environment where the CSP community can share code, data, and computer-aided design models, as well as tools for workforce education.

    Designed to grow as a repository of information, OpenCSP launched with a number of tools and datasets already in place, including optical targets for heliostat metrology testing and Sandia’s SOFAST 2.0 code in Python. SOFAST is an adaptable, low-cost tool that can be used across the industry to create high-fidelity slope maps of concentrating solar mirrors.

    Read the full HelioCon 2024 Annual Report.

    Learn more about HelioCon’s research and outreach efforts and visit the NREL CSP and Sandia CSP sites.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Mozambique: African Development Bank approves $54 million loan for Mozambique’s first wind energy project

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a loan of $54 million for a 120 MW onshore wind farm that will help position Mozambique as a regional energy hub.

    The Bank’s loan, which includes $12 million from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), is in addition to financing expected from International Finance Corporation (IFC), U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) and the Private Infrastructure Development Group’s Technical Assistance. The total project cost is estimated at $224.5 million.

    Mozambique’s national electricity utility, EDM, will be the sole off-taker from the wind farm, located 50 km west of Maputo, under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

    The wind farm will be Mozambique’s first utility-scale wind power project. It is expected to generate 331.6 GWh annually, supplying affordable, reliable, and clean energy to both local consumers and regional markets, diversifying Mozambique’s energy mix, and improving access to electricity. It will also position the country as a regional energy hub, capitalizing on increased energy trade through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

    With Mozambique’s energy sources currently dominated by hydropower and gas, the Namaacha wind farm project will help reduce annual CO₂ emissions by approximately 71,816 tons, contributing to the country’s commitments under the Paris climate agreement.

    The project will support economic growth, job creation, and improved living standards. During construction it will create 600 jobs, of which its targeting about 120 will be for women, and 300 for youth. Once operational, 20 permanent jobs will be created, with a focus on gender and youth inclusion.

    Commenting on the project, Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, said, “This wind project represents a milestone for Mozambique and underscores the Bank’s strong commitment to advancing clean, renewable energy solutions in the region. It will not only enhance energy security but also facilitate regional electricity trade, benefiting Mozambique’s socio-economic development.”

    Wale Shonibare, Director of the Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulations Department at the African Development Bank stressed the technological impact of this milestone project. “As the first large-scale wind energy initiative in Mozambique, this project showcases the transformative potential of renewable technologies to drive sustainable growth. By leveraging Mozambique’s natural resources, we are creating pathways toward a diversified and resilient energy sector that not only meets current demands but is future-proofed to support an evolving economy,” he said.

    Globeleq is one of the project developers. Its CEO Jonathan Hoffman said: “The Namaacha Wind Farm is a significant milestone in Mozambique’s journey toward a diversified and sustainable energy landscape. We are proud to partner with EDM and Source Energia in contributing to the government’s ambitious ‘Energy for All by 2030’ program, which is rapidly transforming into a reality for countless Mozambicans. This project reflects our commitment to supporting Mozambique’s clean energy goals and bringing reliable power to the communities we serve.”

    Aligned with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, the New Deal on Energy for Africa, and its High 5 objective of “Light Up and Power Africa,” the project underscores Mozambique’s dedication to renewable energy development and supports its goal of achieving universal access to electricity by 2030.

    The project complements the Bank’s earlier energy sector initiatives in Mozambique, including the Songo Matambo transmission line and the Mozambique Energy for All program.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Suzy DiMont Works at the Intersection of Research and Action

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Distinguished Member of Operations Staff Is Busy Making the World a Better Place

    Suzy DiMont is a force to be reckoned with.

    Suzy DiMont. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL 

    Since she was hired at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2014, the Energy and Sustainability manager has evolved from an intern to a program manager and integral member of the Women’s Network Employee Resource Group (ERG). On the Intelligent Campus team, she is involved with all things sustainability, including the annual commuter survey, Site Sustainability Plan, and climate resilience planning and was also a key contributor to the NREL Smart Labs initiative, which NREL uses to meet sustainability goals.

    DiMont is actively engaged in her community and is always looking for ways to give back. Annually, she participates in the Bike MS NREL team ride to raise funds for multiple sclerosis (MS) research. As a member of the Women’s Network, she regularly mentors NREL peers and helps enable pathways for the professional advancement of women.

    Earlier this year, DiMont was named a Distinguished Member of Operations Staff for her “dedication to advancing NREL’s mission and making meaningful strides toward a sustainable and clean energy future.” As a member of the Intelligent Campus Program, she is the primary point of contact with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office and manages NREL’s electric vehicle supply equipment rollout and cost recovery program and NREL’s energy and water utility billing.

    When asked if she ever gets time to rest amid numerous projects, leadership roles, and community engagement activities, DiMont responded, “I do rest, I do rest. Well, I have a toddler now, so I don’t rest.”

    Then, always finding a way to make others shine, DiMont said, “It’s not just me doing it. I couldn’t do it by myself. I work with a lot of really great people all over the lab.”

    During her decade at the laboratory, DiMont has collaborated with diverse groups across NREL and is constantly getting involved with new projects related to sustainability. Although this line of work may seem custom fit, her path from student to educator to engineer to Sustainability manager was far from linear.

    Suzy DiMont, husband Neil, and Kosol Kiatreungwattana on their first Bike MS Ride. Photo by Suzy DiMont, NREL 

    A Lifelong Love for Learning

    As a child, DiMont did not long to settle into a perfect career. Instead, her innate curiosity sparked a desire to learn and participate in as many activities as possible.  

    “I don’t know if I ever really had a dream that I wanted to work,” DiMont said. “I always had a dream that I wanted to learn. I really liked school, I liked all topics, I liked everything. Math, reading, art, history, science—I wanted to do all of it.”

    DiMont’s desire to be a well-rounded learner drew her to a liberal arts education at Hamilton College in New York.

    At Hamilton, she explored a variety of majors—psychology, art, French, and archeology—before landing on anthropology and mathematics.

    Her first job after college was teaching math at the Solebury Boarding School in Pennsylvania. The role was intimidating because, although DiMont was a lifelong learner, she had no practice developing formal lesson plans for grade schoolers. She learned how to write tests that were appropriately challenging for students and experienced the joys of being a dorm mom for the girls on campus. DiMont also realized teaching was not her calling.

    After leaving Solebury, DiMont joined AmeriCorps, an independent U.S. government agency focused on service and volunteerism, and began working for the “I Have a Dream” Foundation. DiMont worked with students at under-resourced schools on dropout prevention and helped the students, known as “dreamers,” realize their aspirations and connected them with support.

    One of DiMont’s former dreamers, Anakary Valenzuela, is now a business support administrative associate for NREL’s Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate. She remembers meeting DiMont as a sophomore at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado.

    Valenzuela had been a dreamer since second grade and was all too familiar with the influx of AmeriCorps members who served for a year then moved onto the next opportunity. DiMont was different. She stayed with the program for three years—long enough to see the cohort of students graduate high school—and she took a genuine interest in the lives of students she mentored.

    When Anakary Valenzuela was a student, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation hosted an event to celebrate high school graduation. Photo from Casie Zalud Photography

    “She was the best AmeriCorp we ever had,” Valenzuela said. “I would go to her for advice. She would mentor me. [She was] my counselor, my friend. She would always stay extra hours to talk to us if it had to do with homework or college prep or advising us on what type of college we should go to or major [we should declare]. And then she would drive us home.”

    Their friendship extended well beyond Valenzuela’s high school graduation as DiMont informally mentored Valenzuela throughout college and encouraged her to apply at NREL. After Valenzuela was hired, DiMont encouraged her to get involved with the Women’s Network and Hispanic and Latinx Alliance and invited her to ERG meetings and dinners to make friends and build her network.

    “She inspires me to do more. I feel like I am part of her family,” Valenzuela said. “I can always count on her, she’s always been there. I don’t know how she does everything, but I’m so grateful that we crossed paths in this lifetime.”

    From Educator to Engineer

    During her three years with AmeriCorps, DiMont realized she could pursue her dual loves for mathematics and community engagement with a career in engineering. Working with low-income students exposed disparities in the lack of access to civil infrastructure. She saw engineering as a way to make infrastructure and transportation equitable for all.

    DiMont enrolled in the Engineering and Developing Communities graduate program at the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder. DiMont got involved in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, known as the RASEI program, now a joint program between NREL and CU Boulder.

    The university was DiMont’s introduction to NREL, via one of the laboratory’s vocal supporters: former NREL research technician Marc Landry.

    “What an incredible human,” DiMont said. “He would not stop talking about NREL and what a wonderful place it was … an unbelievable mind.”

    During one of the first events DiMont attended as an intern in 2014, Xcel Energy awarded NREL the Self-Direct Achievement Award. Photo from Suzy DiMont, NREL 

    During graduate school, DiMont pondered a career in international development work. She and her then boyfriend, now husband, traveled to Bolivia with a South Dakota Engineers Without Borders program to participate in a water development project. Although the work was important, she felt it was better to stay in Boulder.

    “To do international development work well, you have to be part of that community, and you have to invest in that community and spend time there and be there,” DiMont said. “You can’t just swoop in with technology. It’s not kind; it’s not effective.”

    After hearing Landry sing NREL’s praises for so many years, DiMont decided to apply for a sustainability internship at NREL.

    ‘Sustainability Is a Marathon, not a Sprint’

    As DiMont evolved from an intern into her current role, much of her work folded into the Intelligent Campus program, which leverages NREL campuses to advance research and achieve operational excellence by deploying cutting-edge control and analytics technology. Or in DiMont’s words, her job “sits at the intersection of research and making things happen.”

    She focuses on creating programs and strategies to implement changes regarding energy efficiency, the kind of energy NREL uses, and getting to net zero. However, DiMont acknowledged that “sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint.” For NREL to achieve its sustainability goals, the right folks—including researchers, subject matter experts, communicators, and technicians—need to come together and stay excited about work ahead.

    “A lot of what we do won’t have an impact for a while. That’s why it’s important to keep a generational lens,” DiMont said. “It’s not always easy, but having a great team makes it possible. They can commiserate with you, they support you, they back you up.”

    The NREL Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Team was recognized for a DOE Sustainability Award in 2016. Right to left: Ali Mohagheghi, Kenneth Proc, Kevin Donovan, Ellen Fortier, Laura Justice, Nancy Stovall, Laurie Snyder, Suzy DiMont and Susan Chadwick. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

    Making the World a Better Place for All

    When it comes to making the world a better place, for DiMont, that starts with making NREL a better place. As an early member of the Women’s Network, Suzy advocates for diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The Women’s Network is one of NREL’s 11 ERGs and provides a platform for promoting women in leadership and the workforce.

    “I think the Women’s Network is so important, because there is still, especially in research in STEM, so much discrimination against women, people of color, women with intersectional identities, folks that are marginalized in some way,” DiMont said.

    For many, the biggest hurdle is staying in a career field if you see few people who look like you or share your experiences.

    “It’s a huge loss, because these are the fields where we need a diversity of thought, people that don’t see the world the same way, that think about problems differently, people that lead differently,” DiMont said. “You need that diversity in a field where you’re looking for innovation and new things. To reach everyone on the planet, you must have that diversity to be successful.”

    During her tenure at NREL, DiMont has witnessed major changes in the ways NREL promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and credits much of this change to NREL’s women in leadership, such as Bobi Garrett, NREL’s former chief operating officer, and Julie Baker, deputy laboratory director for Laboratory Operations.

    Suzy DiMont and her child Sebastian. Photo from Suzy DiMont, NREL

    “It’s incredible to be around these powerful women,” DiMont said. “It’s very inspiring.”

    As a mother, DiMont wants to make the world a better place for her child. Living in a world impacted by climate change causes many to feel anxious and depressed about the future. For DiMont, knowing that humans caused climate change means humans are also part of the solution. She hopes to impart this optimism onto the next generation.

    “I want my child to live in a world where he sees engineers and expects them to be women,” DiMont said. “I want him to feel like he has agency and can be part of these solutions.”

    It is a lot of work and the job is not easy, but for DiMont, making the world better for the next generation is what it is all about.

    “When do I rest?” DiMont asked. “I’ve got this time to do what I can do with it. I put in my energy when I can, then I unplug. I unplug and put my energy in other places. It’s just about being present for the things you are doing in that moment.”  

    Learn more about NREL’s commitments to sustainability and resilience.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) Commits Eur 40 Million to Nakkas- Basaksehir Section of Türkiye’s Northern Marmara Highway Project

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ISTANBUL, Turkey, October 30, 2024/APO Group/ —

    • ICD is investing EUR 40 million in the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section as part of a EUR 1.04 billion funding package.
    • The project incorporates solar energy and LED lighting, aiming to cut energy use and emissions significantly.
    • It’s backed by a consortium led by Rönesans Holding, with support from MDBs and ECAs.

    The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-ps.org) has signed a EUR 40 million to co-finance the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section of Türkiye Northern Marmara Highway Project.

    The Project  aimes to enhance Istanbul’s east-west connectivity, improve road safety and reduce congestion. It is being developed under a build-operate-transfer agreement by a consortium led by Rönesans Holding A.Ş. in partnership with Samsung C&T Corporation and other Korean investors. It involves a 31.3-km toll road, including a 1.6-km cable-stayed bridge and multiple overpasses and underpasses.

    ICD’s EUR 40 million contribution is part of a broader EUR1.04 billion senior debt package, fully financed by international institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), alongside Atradius and SERV as European export credit agencies, ICIEC, and a consortium of commercial lenders.

    Thanks to Solar Energy Production System to be installed within the scope of the Nakkaş-Başakşehir project, which has “sustainability” at the center of its design, the clean energy obtained from solar panels will meet the energy needs of the highway’s operation and management (O&M) center and service stations.

    The installation of over 4,500 LED lamps, replacing sodium lamps, will cut energy consumption by 37.5%, saving over 35 MWh. Within the scope of the project, in which all O&M highway vehicles are planned to be hybrid or electric, it is expected to save approximately 112 thousand liters of fuel annually.

    While the Nakkaş-Başakşehir Highway Project is expected to prevent 7.9 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 30 years, in particular, it will reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by 1,399 tons, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 58,699 tons and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 95 tons. tons reduction is aimed.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Zambia: African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa approves $8 million for development of 25 MW Solar Plant

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 30, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group’s (www.AfDB.org) Board of Directors has approved an $8 million concessional loan to support the construction of a 25MW Solar Photovoltaic power plant in Zambia. The financing for the Ilute Plant will be sourced from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a multi-donor Special Fund managed by the Bank. Ilute is expected to advance  Zambia’s sustainable development and help the country unlock its renewable energy potential.

    The venture has faced rising costs associated with  the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. Serengeti Energy Ltd (http://apo-opa.co/4hth8dE) and Western Solar Power Ltd (http://apo-opa.co/3YJBxUr) are leading the plant development in Zambia’s Sesheke District. Competitively selected by GreenCo Power Services Ltd (GreenCo) (http://apo-opa.co/4hiM3ci), this project will serve as a pilot for GreenCo’s energy aggregator model under the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) (http://apo-opa.co/3YIpw1h) open grid access framework. Acting as an intermediary off-taker, GreenCo will purchase the generated electricity through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement and sell it to the Southern African Power Pool Day-Ahead Market (http://apo-opa.co/3YELlih).

    “We are delighted to support the Ilute Solar PV project – which will be the first project to use Africa GreenCo as an intermediate off-taker. SEFA’s support has been instrumental in bridging the financing gap and will pave the way for future projects that contribute to Southern Africa’s energy transition,” said Dr Daniel Schroth, African Development Bank Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

    Anton-Louis Olivier, CEO of Serengeti Energy, acknowledged SEFA’s support. He said, “We appreciate the support from the African Development Bank Group and SEFA in helping us move the Ilute 25MW Solar PV project forward. This loan addresses the financial challenges we’ve faced due to the pandemic and rising costs. The Ilute project is a testament to innovative collaboration and serves as a pioneering model for future renewable energy initiatives in Zambia as well as the wider region.” Serengeti Energy is a leading renewable independent power producer specialising in the development, construction, and operation of utility-scale renewable energy plants tailored to the needs of both public and private off-takers.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Zambia: African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa approves $8 million for development of 25 MW Solar Plant

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved an $8 million concessional loan to support the construction of a  25MW Solar Photovoltaic power plant in Zambia. The financing for the Ilute Plant will be sourced from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a multi-donor Special Fund managed by the Bank. Ilute is expected to advance  Zambia’s sustainable development and help the country unlock its renewable energy potential.

    The venture has faced rising costs associated with  the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. Serengeti Energy Ltd and Western Solar Power Ltd are leading the plant development in Zambia’s Sesheke District. Competitively selected by GreenCo Power Services Ltd (GreenCo), this project will serve as a pilot for GreenCo’s energy aggregator model under the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) open grid access framework. Acting as an intermediary off-taker, GreenCo will purchase the generated electricity through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement and sell it to the Southern African Power Pool Day-Ahead Market.

    “We are delighted to support the Ilute Solar PV project – which will be the first project to use Africa GreenCo as an intermediate off-taker. SEFA’s support has been instrumental in bridging the financing gap and will pave the way for future projects that contribute to Southern Africa’s energy transition,” said Dr Daniel Schroth, African Development Bank Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

    Anton-Louis Olivier, CEO of Serengeti Energy, acknowledged SEFA’s support. He said, “We appreciate the support from the African Development Bank Group and SEFA in helping us move the Ilute 25MW Solar PV project forward. This loan addresses the financial challenges we’ve faced due to the pandemic and rising costs. The Ilute project is a testament to innovative collaboration and serves as a pioneering model for future renewable energy initiatives in Zambia as well as the wider region.” Serengeti Energy is a leading renewable independent power producer specialising in the development, construction, and operation of utility-scale renewable energy plants tailored to the needs of both public and private off-takers.

    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 Sustainable Development Goal 7.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Northern Ireland’s innovators encouraged to apply for Horizon

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The best of Northern Ireland’s research and development (R&D) sector will be on display in Lisburn today (Thursday 24 October) as part of a push to support bids for Horizon funding. 

    • Top innovators arrive in Lisburn to share their experience in applying for and receiving Horizon Europe funding in the hope of encouraging more successful bids 
    • Researchers, scientists and businesses based in Northern Ireland get the opportunity to network with potential collaboration partners and receive advice for their Horizon Europe applications.  
    • UK Government pushes more innovators from Northern Ireland to apply for Horizon Europe funding and realise their research ambitions – from new treatments to improved digital infrastructure. 

    The best of Northern Ireland’s R&D sector will be on display in Lisburn today (Thursday 24 October), as top researchers, scientists and businesses gather under one roof to exchange ideas and network with potential partners for the next successful bids for Horizon Europe funding. 

    Horizon Europe is the largest research collaboration programme in the world, worth over £80 billion. Through the UK’s association, researchers, innovators and businesses from up and down Northern Ireland can apply for funding grants that will help researchers fund projects across all sectors from health, to clean energy, to digital infrastructure.  

    Getting backing for their ideas could put the UK at the forefront of the next generation of technologies, which will be the foundations of the jobs and businesses of the future. Over £81 million was awarded to projects in Northern Ireland through its predecessor, Horizon 2020, so we know the opportunities are there. 

    The roadshow gives researchers and innovative businesses at all stages of their career from Northern Ireland the chance to speak to those who have been through the process of bidding for Horizon funding, gain support for their applications, and connect with likeminded innovators. This will highlight the opportunities available to both public and private sectors wanting to realise their research ambitions.  

    UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance said:  

    The discoveries and innovations on display in Lisburn today demonstrate the potential that researchers in Northern Ireland have to make the most of the UK’s association to Horizon. Their ideas are already attracting investment, driving  partnerships between some of the brightest minds from Europe, New Zealand, Canada and more.  

    With more successful bids for Horizon funding, researchers from the public and private sector in Northern Ireland could come up with the solutions we need to kickstart economic growth and improve living standards.

    Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Chris Johnson said:

    Having made Northern Ireland my home and working at one of its great universities, I know what the brilliant minds here are capable of, and I am pleased to be here today to hear of the ambitious projects that have already been brought to life thanks to funding from Horizon. This roadshow is a great opportunity for researchers, scientists and businesses in the region to hear from innovators who have been through the application process and succeeded.  

    We want more researchers based in Northern Ireland to seize the benefits of Horizon Europe, to accelerate the discoveries that will boost our economy, and deliver new technologies that will improve all our lives.

    A litany of Northern Irish R&D projects received backing through Horizon’s predecessor, Horizon 2020. One example is the EYE-RISK project, a collaborative effort between a group of researchers based at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and several leading research centres around Europe to find a cure for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). AMD is a progressive and currently incurable disease leading to declining sight that progresses to the irreversible loss of vision. 

    The EYE-RISK team published many milestone papers and reviews, and the project is still considered as a flagship programme in Ophthalmology which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. The researchers developed a computational model of potential risks, physiological activities, hazards, and the impact of aging on patients with AMD which can serve as the basis for future research initiatives. 

    Imre Lengyel and Tunde Peto, project leaders for EYE-RISK:

    The EYE-RISK project embedded the QUB ophthalmology cluster amongst the leading teams in Europe and gave us a leading edge worldwide. The academics and the early career scientists involved in this project have been given an excellent opportunity to be involved in breakthrough research and develop professional and personal friendships.

    An array of speakers from across government, including the Chief Scientific Advisors from both the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and from the Northern Ireland Executive, are attending the roadshow. The roadshow which has been brought together in a collaboration between DSIT, Innovate UK, the Northern Ireland Government and Enterprise Northern Ireland.  

    Northern Ireland is already playing a big role in tackling the challenges facing the UK today, from driving cybersecurity through to seizing the opportunities of our push towards net zero. Queen’s University Belfast’s Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy is looking at ways we can build the UK as a net zero superpower, supported by £4.5 million from the Northern Ireland Executive. Grants awarded through the Horizon Europe programme could allow researchers to discover more in this area and ultimately help us protect our planet. 

    Innovative companies are increasingly making Northern Ireland their home. Recently, ASOS set up a £14 million tech hub that will create over 180 jobs in the coming years.  

    The roadshow in Northern Ireland is the latest event in a series of roadshows, following 2 previous sessions in Birmingham and Glasgow, building on a range of campaign efforts to get more businesses, researchers and academics to make the most of the benefits we can grasp from our association to the world-leading programme. 

    Backing the science and technology sectors is a central if we are to achieve the missions of this new government. The discoveries and solutions that researchers bidding for Horizon funding can produce will help us improve the daily lives of people across the UK – from transforming our NHS and transport systems so that they are fit for the future to securing more funding that will help us rebuild our economy.  

    We know from recent history that the UK can be a leader in this area. We have 4 of the top 10 universities in the world, and the second-highest number of Nobel prize winners. A quarter of projects in which the UK participated, funded through Horizon’s predecessor, were UK led. 

    Further information, including practical support on how to apply, is available on Innovate UK’s website and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) also host regular events that help guide businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and the application process. 

    Potential applicants can find Horizon Europe calls (funding opportunities) open to UK-based applicants using the European Commission’s funding and tender opportunities portal. They can apply for Horizon Europe funding through the European Commission’s funding and tenders portal, where the original funding call is found. More information on how to submit applications are available on the European Commission’s website. 

    NOTES TO EDITORS 

    The EYE-RISK project aimed to pinpoint who is at risk of developing the condition, and why loss of vision progresses in patients with the disease. This understanding is an important first step towards better diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dive Into a Lake of Data: Open Energy Data Initiative Increases Big Data Access for Everyone

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    When data is widely accessible and available to anyone, anywhere, it can transform communities—especially when that data concerns something as vital as energy.

    2.6 PB

    OF DATA

    27,057,932

    TOTAL DOWNLOADS

    2,142

    TOTAL DATASETS

    227

    DATA PROVIDERS

    The Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI) database makes vast amounts of openly accessible energy data available to anyone. Image from OEDI

    The Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI)—currently funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—makes energy data widely available to anyone by providing access to big data via “data lakes,” large collections of open-access energy data that are at anyone’s fingertips in the cloud.

    In the past, “big data”—data too large or too complex (or both) to be easily consumed by conventional means—could only be used by people with access to high-performance computing systems or supercomputers. OEDI makes vast amounts of energy data available for schools, companies just getting started, and data enthusiasts of all stripes. Each dataset includes access instructions and examples of how to work with the data.

    Accessible from OpenEI, OEDI is a centralized location that can house data generated across the 17 national laboratories and all their partner organizations for research and development funded through DOE, with additional contributions from other federal agencies and private companies. Currently, over 200 providers from government labs, private industries, and universities contribute to OEDI. And that data is available to anyone with a laptop and an internet connection to access and use in the cloud.

    OEDI’s data repository runs the gamut, spanning high-resolution data for atmospheric conditions used every day by U.S. weather forecasters; real-world building data in hourly increments that shows buildings’ energy consumption to serve as examples for engineers and architects; high-resolution data that shows how much wind or solar energy a given location can produce, not only for the United States but also many regions around the globe; databases about drilling and laser drilling; raw materials and supply chain analysis; and beyond, in over 2,000 datasets.

    “Limited access to big data historically excluded startups, small organizations, and minority-serving institutions from research collaborations and community initiatives,” SETO Director Becca Jones-Albertus said. “OEDI gives universal access to big data, fostering inclusive partnerships that enable better decision-making throughout the clean energy transition.”

    NREL researchers Ryan King (left) and Grant Buster (right) discuss datasets using Super-Resolution for Renewable Energy Resource Data with Climate Change Impacts (Sup3rCC), a collection of data that includes 4-km hourly wind, solar, temperature, humidity, and pressure fields for the United States under climate change scenarios. Sup3rCC data is intended to help researchers study the impact of climate change on energy systems with high levels of wind and solar capacity and is available on OEDI. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL

    Open, Accessible, and Standardized

    Traditional data repositories are not typically optimized for discovering or sharing data. Huge amounts of data further complicate data sharing by making the cost of storage and the time needed to transfer the data prohibitive, limiting access and reducing the potential for collaboration and innovation. Stored on the cloud, OEDI solves these issues by providing a centralized location for large energy datasets.

    Making energy data free and widely accessible allows communities to work with researchers and the energy industry to find solutions that meet the communities’ needs, fostering innovation that benefits everyone.

    A sample of OEDI’s 2,142 datasets, which are publicly accessible using Amazon Web Service’s cloud storage. Anyone with a laptop and an internet connection can now access and use this data without having to download and store it. Screen capture from the OEDI Data Lakes page

    OEDI further supports accessibility by making data easier to use. Simple access is one thing, but if datasets are messy and difficult to work with, mere access means very little.

    Converting raw data into standardized formats can be difficult and time-consuming. By cleaning and curating datasets, OEDI programmers aim to reduce the burden on individual data owners and project teams for data standardization, freeing up time and resources and improving the quality and consistency of standardized data.

    OEDI data pipelines automatically detect certain raw data formats and standardize them, displaying the standardized data right alongside the raw data for scientific posterity. OEDI data standards adhere to the precedents from the U.S. General Services Administration’s Open Data and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data principles.

    “With DOE support, NREL built OEDI from the ground up to share data,” said Jon Weers, who leads OEDI for NREL. “Anyone can access the data through OEDI directly or through a network of data sharing partners like Data.gov, Google Datasets, and dozens of other sites.”

    Introducing Ask OEDI: Your New Research Assistant for Data Questions

    Accessibility—making data available to the widest possible audience and reducing the learning curve for working with that data—is an essential function of OEDI. In support of FAIR data principles, NREL developed an artificial intelligence research assistant, AskOEDI, to help users find answers about datasets that go beyond simple searches.

    AskOEDI provides answers to research questions about datasets with vetted information. Screen capture from OEDI

    AskOEDI is an integrated large language model with the metadata and supporting documents for OEDI datasets and can provide answers to users’ questions using natural language processing and generative machine learning. Users can get answers to questions about specific datasets, including inquiries about the equipment, assumptions, and methodologies used in the origination of a dataset along with more abstract questions, such as the applicability of data to specific research fields. It only pulls answers from information vetted by OEDI and always cites sources, making it an ideal research assistant for OEDI data. AskOEDI increases the utility and discoverability of energy data by providing users with the means to quickly understand the nuances of a dataset without having to search through numerous associated publications.

    “Many of the questions that used to be an email to the data owner can now be answered instantly,” Weers said. “As long as they’ve been discussed in a linked publication or supporting document, AskOEDI can quickly find the answers to deeper questions on data such as ‘How was this data collected?’ or ‘What assumptions went into the calculation used for this data column?’ We’re excited to see where this technology goes as we work in this emerging field of artificial intelligence.”

    Using Big Data for Big Impacts

    OEDI is already impacting communities. The OEDI team supported communities in Puerto Rico in their transition to renewable energy in response to hurricanes Maria and Fiona. Working with DOE, the U.S. Census’ The Opportunity Project (TOP), local governments, and local teams, OEDI researchers facilitated the development of five different innovative solutions to help Puerto Rico increase its resilience and transition to 100% renewable energy.

    These solutions were developed by small teams of local collaborators focusing on community-driven solutions by applying and analyzing big data freely accessible through OEDI, which was recognized by Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi during the TOP Summit.

    Small teams of local collaborators used OEDI to develop community-driven, innovative solutions to help Puerto Rico to increase its energy resilience and transition to renewable energy. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL

    “Open access to data supports local communities,” Weers said. “In the wake of recent hurricanes, communities on the ground in Puerto Rico were able to use OEDI data to help them devise plans to rebuild and reinforce their energy infrastructure their way.”

    With OEDI, researchers from national laboratories to high school labs, from the United States and across the world, have greater access to valuable data to answer key energy questions. Over five years, OEDI has increased access to public data by 7,296%, to over 2.28 petabytes of data in 2024. Its data lakes now boast massive amounts of valuable data from solar, wind, geothermal, buildings, and marine energy programs to help anyone seeking to understand and contribute to innovative energy solutions.

    Access the Open Energy Data Initiative on OpenEI.

    Contact Jon Weers, NREL lead technologist and data systems architect.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa’s Power Revolution: Mission 300 to Light up Continent’s Future

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, January 24, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • Exceptional World Bank Group-African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org/en) Collaboration to Connect 300 million People to Electricity by 2030
    • Dar es Salaam Energy Summit to Chart Pathways for Energy Transformation

    In a continent where millions of homes are still shrouded in darkness each night, a groundbreaking initiative is sparking hope. Next week, African and global changemakers will converge in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the inaugural Africa Heads of State Energy Summit, where they will commit to an ambitious project to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

    The initiative, dubbed ‘Mission 300’ (M300), represents an unprecedented collaboration between the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group, alongside other global partners. The project aims to bridge the continent’s vast power divide by leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative financing.

    Several heads of state and Government from Africa and the rest of the world, will join 1,500 other participants—with strong representation from the private sector—at the January 27-28 summit. Together, they will chart Africa’s course toward universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030.

    This initiative comes at a critical time: nearly 600 million Africans, representing a staggering 83 percent of the world’s energy-deprived population, lack access to electricity.

    “No economy can grow, industrialize, or be competitive in the dark,” declared African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. “This partnership is a game changer for Africa’s development.” Mission 300, launched at the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings 2024, also has the backing of the Group of Seven (G7) and the G20.

    Next week’s summit is expected to yield two significant outcomes: the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, stating commitments and reform actions from African governments to reform the energy sector, and the first set of National Energy Compacts, which will serve as blueprints for country-specific transformations.

    Under the first phase of Mission 300, twelve countries will present their energy compacts: Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. These countries represent more than half of the global population lacking access to electricity and a quarter of those lacking clean cooking solutions. Other African countries are expected to develop their compacts in subsequent phases.

    The two-day gathering will also highlight energy sector successes in selected countries, establish an alliance of sector stakeholders to accelerate energy infrastructure investments, and strengthen regional power planning, market trade, and policy frameworks. These efforts will support the implementation of the Continental Master Plan and the African Single Electricity Market.

    World Bank Group President Ajay Banga outlined a three-pronged approach for success: “We need action from governments, financing from multilateral development banks, and investment from the private sector.”

    Already, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and The Rockefeller Foundation have committed $10 million to technical assistance for electricity projects across 11 African nations—from Nigeria’s bustling cities to Madagascar’s remote villages—while energizing initiatives within COMESA, Africa’s largest regional economic community.

    Pioneering Role

    As Africa’s premier development finance institution, the African Development Bank Group brings substantial experience to the M300 initiative. The Bank’s current portfolio and pipeline of energy projects are forecast to deliver access to 43 million connections. Under Mission 300 and the Bank’s new Ten-Year Strategy, this will increase to 50 million connections, complemented by the World Bank’s pledge of 250 million connections by 2030.

    The Bank’s track record includes landmark projects such as Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, which added 310 megawatts to the country’s capacity. Another ambitious effort, the Desert to Power (D2P) initiative, aims to transform Africa’s vast, sun-drenched Sahel region into a solar energy powerhouse spanning 11 countries, connecting 250 million people.

    Recent successes under the D2P initiative include a $302.9 million loan co-financing for a solar power plant and electricity interconnection project between Mauritania and Mali. This project is expected to benefit 100,000 households. Through its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), the Bank has supported green mini-grid projects across the continent.

    As Africa works toward universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030, Mission 300 offers more than infrastructure development. For millions of Africans who have never known reliable electricity, it represents the promise of transformation—not just of the energy landscape but of daily lives.

    The continent’s leaders and changemakers gathering in Dar es Salaam next week will set the stage for Africa’s electrification revolution. The partnerships forged and commitments made there will shape the continent’s journey toward achieving universal energy access, transforming millions of lives, and driving sustainable development.

    “The entire world will be watching us,” Adesina said in anticipation.

    Join in the conversation via our X Space live (http://apo-opa.co/42KL4wX) today.​

    Learn more about Mission 300 and the Africa Energy Summit here (http://apo-opa.co/3CbevgL).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: APEC Finance Ministers Issue Joint Statement Lima, Peru | 21 October 2024 Issued by the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    Finance Ministers from the 21 APEC member economies released a joint statement at the conclusion of their meeting in Lima on Monday under the theme, “Sustainable + Digital + Resilient = APEC.”

    The statement reflects the outcomes of the 2024 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting chaired by José Arista Arbildo, Peru’s Minister of Economy and Finance. It describes joint actions to be taken forward by APEC member economies in the following priority areas:

    • Global and Regional Economy
    • Sustainable Finance
    • Domestic Carbon Pricing and Non-pricing Measures
    • Sustainable Energy Transitions
    • Sustainable Infrastructure Financing
    • Open Finance to Enhance Competition and Foster Innovation
    • Digital Financial Inclusion
    • Hydrometeorological Risk Financing
    • Modernization of the Finance Ministers’ Process

     

    View the 2024 APEC Joint Finance Ministerial Statement

    and accompanying Chair’s Statement

    Finance Ministers also launched the Sustainable Finance Initiative for the coordination and promotion of voluntary information sharing and capacity building on sustainable finance issues. They further welcomed the adoption of the guidance document for developing a new roadmap and endorsed a strategy to modernize the Finance Ministers’ Process.

    Read the accompanying annexes to the joint statement:

    Annex A. Sustainable Finance Initiative

    Annex B. Guidance Document for Developing a New Finance Ministers’ Process Roadmap

    Annex C. Second Strategy for Modernization of the Finance Ministers’ Process

    For further details, please contact:

    APEC Media at [email protected]

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NCL Launches Sustainable Initiatives for a Greener Future Under Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 19 OCT 2024 3:19PM by PIB Delhi

    Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a leading subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has undertaken a series of innovative and sustainable initiatives as part of Special Campaign 4.0. With a strong focus on harnessing renewable energy, promoting health and hygiene, and implementing eco-friendly waste management practices, NCL is driving progress towards a cleaner, greener future while contributing to national development goals.

    Solar Energy Projects: Pioneering Clean Energy

    As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, NCL is making significant strides in renewable energy. The company has successfully installed a 480 kW rooftop solar plant at its Jayant project and is currently expanding its solar capacity with the installation of 1.3 MW rooftop solar systems at the IWSS Khadia, Bina, and Kakri areas. These initiatives not only help reduce NCL’s carbon footprint but also align with India’s renewable energy targets.

    Promoting Health and Hygiene: Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines

    NCL is dedicated to improving the health and hygiene of young women in the Singrauli region. In line with this objective, the company has installed Sanitary Napkin Vending and Disposal Machines in four schools as part of Special Campaign 4.0. This initiative benefits around 1,850 female students by ensuring access to sanitary pads, thus promoting better menstrual health and hygiene.

    “Waste to Wealth”: Transforming Organic Waste into Fertilizer

    Under its “Waste to Wealth” initiative, NCL is promoting eco-friendly waste management practices by creating vermicompost beds. By recycling cow dung and organic waste, the company is producing nutrient-rich vermicompost in Birkunia and Khirwa villages. This initiative supports sustainable agriculture by offering a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers, improving soil fertility, and reducing environmental impact.

    Focus on Cleanliness and Zero Pendency

    As part of its campaign for cleanliness, NCL has identified 69 sites for cleaning and beautification, with 23 sites already completed. Additionally, NCL has made significant progress in scrap disposal, having disposed of 1,661 MT of scrap materials out of a targeted 2,180 MT. This effort underscores NCL’s commitment to maintaining cleanliness and minimizing waste.

    Efficient Record and Space Management

    To enhance office efficiency, NCL is implementing robust record and space management systems. To date, 400 old files have been transferred to record rooms, and 3,729 e-files and 207 physical files have been reviewed, contributing to better utilization of office space and streamlined operations.

    Public Grievance Redressal

    NCL remains committed to public service and has resolved 30 out of 37 grievances received during Special Campaign 4.0. The company’s focus on timely and effective grievance redressal reflects its dedication to public satisfaction and responsiveness.

    Through its proactive participation in Special Campaign 4.0, NCL is contributing to the national vision of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.

    ****

    ST

    (Release ID: 2066294) Visitor Counter : 44

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SEE attends Singapore International Energy Week in Singapore (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SEE attends Singapore International Energy Week in Singapore (with photos)
    SEE attends Singapore International Energy Week in Singapore (with photos)
    **************************************************************************

         The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the 17th Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) today (October 21).      SIEW is organised by the Energy Market Authority under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of Singapore. The theme this year is “A Connected and Sustainable Energy World”. Mr Tse attended the SIEW Summit to speak on the topic of Asia’s Collaborative Journey to a Sustainable Energy Future, and engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges with other participants.      Speaking at the Summit, Mr Tse said that Hong Kong strives to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. The carbon emissions in Hong Kong peaked in 2014. Compared to the peak, the carbon emissions of Hong Kong have reduced by about a quarter and the target is to reduce them by half before 2035. Hydrogen energy is a low-carbon energy with development potential. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is advancing with prudence to create an environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy, which includes improving legislation, setting up infrastructure and funding trial projects. He said, “Our country places great emphasis on developing hydrogen technology, and has a number of high-quality products and advanced technology. Hong Kong can grab the opportunity to become a hub for the country to promote different products and technologies, helping Hong Kong and other countries to promote a green transition.”      Mr Tse also pointed out that there are three key elements to promote regional collaboration, namely political will to set policy targets, active participation from industries and the establishment of an exchange platform for sharing experiences and seeking co-operation. He expressed his gratitude to SIEW for providing an excellent platform that brings together various parties to explore new opportunities and collaboration.      In the afternoon, Mr Tse met with the Senior Minister of State for the MTI, Ms Low Yen Ling, to exchange views on hydrogen development. He later met with officials of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to learn more about the latest developments of green maritime fuel in Singapore.      Mr Tse also visited a local shipping company today and received a briefing on the supply chain and bunkering operations of green marine fuels, particularly the application of green methanol.       Tomorrow (October 22), Mr Tse will visit a local enterprise to understand better the developments and applications of sustainable aviation fuel. He will return to Hong Kong the same evening.

     
    Ends/Monday, October 21, 2024Issued at HKT 19:10

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tse Chin-wan attends energy summit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today attended the opening day of the 17th Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW).

     

    SIEW is organised by the Energy Market Authority under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI). The theme this year is ‘A Connected & Sustainable Energy World’.

     

    Mr Tse attended the SIEW Summit, where he gave an address on ‘Asia’s Collaborative Journey to a Sustainable Energy Future’, and held in-depth discussions with other participants.

     

    Mr Tse said Hong Kong is striving to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. He highlighted that hydrogen energy is a low-carbon energy with enormous potential, and explained that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is taking steps towards creating an environment conducive to its development.

     

    He added that efforts have been made to improve legislation, set up infrastructure and fund trial projects.

     

    “Our country places great emphasis on developing hydrogen technology, and has a number of high-quality products and advanced technology,” he said. “Hong Kong can grab the opportunity to become a hub for the country to promote different products and technologies, helping Hong Kong and other countries to promote a green transition.”

     

    In the afternoon, Mr Tse met Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for the MTI Low Yen Ling, to exchange views on hydrogen development.

     

    He later met Maritime & Port Authority officials to learn more about the latest developments concerning green maritime fuels in Singapore.

     

    Mr Tse also visited a local shipping company and listened to a briefing on the supply chain and bunkering operations associated with green marine fuels, in particular green methanol.

     

    Tomorrow, Mr Tse will visit a local enterprise to hear about developments in and applications of sustainable aviation fuel. He will return to Hong Kong in the evening.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: BOEM Completes Environmental Review of Wind Lease Areas Offshore New York and New Jersey

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON – In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed an environmental review to assess potential wind development activities within six wind lease areas covering over 488,000 acres offshore New York and New Jersey in an area known as the New York Bight. BOEM estimates that full development of the lease areas could generate up to 7 GW of offshore wind energy, enough to power up to two million homes.

    “BOEM has collected input from Tribes, Federal and state government agencies, local communities, ocean users, and key stakeholders as part of our comprehensive environmental review,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We appreciate the feedback we have received, and we believe our regional approach will provide a solid baseline for future environmental reviews for any proposed offshore wind projects in the New York Bight.”

    In February 2022, BOEM held an auction that brought in over $4.3 billion for the rights to six lease areas in the New York Bight – a record amount for any U.S. offshore renewable or conventional energy lease sale.

    BOEM prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze potential environmental impacts of offshore wind activities in the six New York Bight lease areas. The Proposed Action for the PEIS identifies avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and monitoring (AMMM) measures that BOEM may require as conditions for approval for activities proposed by lessees in the individual construction and operations plans submitted for these six lease areas. Additional environmental analyses specific to each proposed project would build on the PEIS. This is the first time BOEM has conducted a regional analysis of offshore renewable energy development activities across multiple lease areas.

    In early 2024, BOEM held five public meetings and eight regional environmental justice forums between 2022 and 2024 to receive input on the Draft PEIS from Tribal Nations, local community members, government partners, and ocean users. This public engagement was supported by funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. BOEM sought information on important resources and issues, potential impacts to the environment, and AMMM measures found in the Draft PEIS. BOEM received 1,568 unique comments from 560 submissions, which informed the Final PEIS, including the categorization and analysis of the AMMM measures. The Final PEIS analyzes 58 AMMM measures that have been applied previously to offshore wind activities, and eight that have not been applied previously but may help reduce potential impacts.

    Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy from ten offshore wind projects, enough to power nearly 5.25 million homes. It has also held five offshore wind lease auctions, including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and New Jersey and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earlier this year, Secretary Haaland announced a schedule of potential additional lease sales through 2028.  

    The “Notice of Availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Expected Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight” will publish in the Federal Register on October 25, 2024.

    For more information, see BOEM’s website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Leads Democratic Efforts to Put a Spotlight on Project 2025 With New Documentary Style Video Series

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    New Documentary Video Series Details Project 2025’s Threat to Reproductive Freedom, Workers’ Rights, Environmental Protections, Public Education, and American Democracy

    Video Series Comes as Democrats Seek to Employ New Strategies to Meet the American People Where They Are, Capitalize on Strength of Social and Non-Traditional Media

    Series Features 13 Members of Congress, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Planned Parenthood Vice President Karen Stone, NY League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe, and Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone

    View Video on Project 2025’s Threat to Democracy Here

    View the Trailer for the Series Here

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) released the first full-length video in his five-part video documentary series detailing Project 2025’s threat to democracy, reproductive freedom, workers’ rights, environmental regulation, and public education. The series will feature interviews with Congressman Goldman and 12 of his House Democratic colleagues from across the country, as well as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Planned Parenthood Vice President Karen Stone, NY League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe, and Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone. 

    As an increasing share of Americans consume their news from non-traditional sources on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media sites, Congressman Goldman’s series marks an effort by Democrats to reach audiences where they are in a diversified media landscape. Across various social media platforms, the first two videos of the series have received over 400,000 views, signaling the potential of this new format to reach large numbers of Americans.

    “Project 2025’s shocking plan to gut checks and balances, restrict abortion access, decimate public education, pollute our air and water, and endanger American workers for the sole benefit of Republican authoritarian extremists is utterly reprehensible and incredibly dangerous,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This document is a detailed guide for how a second Trump administration will dismantle our democracy, and it is critical that the American people understand exactly how Trump intends to do it. I am proud to be joined by so many of my colleagues and policy leaders to expose this radical plan to reshape American society as we know it.”

    Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Becca Balint said, “Project 2025 is a far-right plan by Trump allies to impose Christian nationalist values onto every American. It goes completely against our American values to promote a strong, resilient democracy; in fact this plan aims to erode our democratic institutions by gutting checks and balances and seizing power for the presidency. Project 2025 is nothing short of an anti-freedom and anti-equality agenda: it further attacks reproductive rights and disproportionately harms communities of color and our LGBTQI+ community. Project 2025 would increase gun violence rather than protect our communities. And its plan to abolish the Department of Education would hurt millions of families whose kids go to public schools, teachers who are already underpaid, and students. It’s dangerous and we must take it extremely seriously. I’m proud to be a part of this series to help Americans understand the threat it poses to our values and democratic norms.”

    Pre-K and Child Care Caucus Co-Chair Suzanne Bonamici said, “Project 2025 is a blueprint for MAGA extremists to undermine government and destroy programs and policies that support working families. It’s the product of people who held top positions in the previous administration and special interest groups that hold significant influence over the GOP’s agenda. I’m working with my colleagues to counter this extremist plan and to educate Americans about its potentially devastating effects.”

    Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chair Judy Chu said, “Trump and his allies’ Project 2025 is a 900 page comprehensive plan for MAGA Republicans to grab power for themselves, enrich their allies, and shatter our already fragile democracy. Project 2025 touches on every agency in the federal government and is January 6th extremism crafted into a governing ideology: fire tens of thousands of civil servants to replace them with partisan loyalists, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that rips away our freedoms and takes money out of pockets. It’s so critical for House Democrats to work together to shine a light on as many details of this plan as possible so we can equip ourselves and the American people with the information we need to fight back and make certain we put systems into place to protect us from these extreme policies.”

    Freshman Leadership Representative Jasmine Crockett said, “Let me make it plain: Project 2025 is the GOP’s attack plan against the American constitution. It doesn’t just undermine the progress made in this country forwomen, people of color, and LGBTQIA folks over the past century; it undermines the very principles of self-government that our country was founded on. If our Founding Fathers were to read Project 2025, they would have thought it was sent over by King George himself. It’s a blueprint for authoritarianism, a blueprint for monarchy, and a blueprint for a right-wing dictatorship in America that will end our democratic experiment for good. If the majority of Americans were to read and understand this plan – a plan authored by hundreds of members of former President Trump’s administration – they would reject it as un-American and dangerous. Thank you to Congressman Goldman for bringing us together to break down Project 2025 from every angle – no matter how engaged you are, you can still learn something from this series.”

    Committee on Natural Resources Vice Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove said, “Project 2025 poses a grave threat, not just to our democracy but to our planet, too. This hostile takeover of the federal government would depose dedicated public servants and install Trump loyalists and climate denialists at the EPA, enabling Republicans to slash environmental protections at the behest of Big Oil. But Project 2025 doesn’t stop at encouraging the world’s worst polluters—this agenda also seeks to discontinue air quality, clean energy, and decarbonization programs by overturning the Inflation Reduction Act, harming the health of our communities and the environment, eliminating clean energy jobs, and exacerbating the climate crisis. With Project 2025, Republicans have shown that they will continue to put polluters over people—this plan must be stopped.”

    Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Intelligence and Law Enforcement Ranking Member Seth Magaziner said, “Donald Trump’s Project 2025 will hand a future Trump administration nearly unlimited power to ban abortion, take away healthcare for people with preexisting conditions, and rip away the freedoms that Americans have fought hard for. Trump’s Project 2025 is dangerous, cruel, and out-of-touch with the needs of the American people. We will not let Trump and Congressional Republicans take us back.”

    House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Co-Chair Kathy Manning said, “Project 2025 is simply a more detailed blueprint of Donald Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda that promises to roll back Americans’ basic rights and freedoms. Because of Donald Trump and the three extreme MAGA Justices he appointed to the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. v. Wade, one in three women of reproductive age lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban. Now, his extreme Project 2025 plans will attack reproductive freedoms even further by targeting abortion pills and contraception coverage, and threatening IVF treatments. Project 2025 would also ban the mailing of abortion medications, equipment, or materials, effectively creating a nationwide, backdoor abortion ban — without the approval of Congress.”

    Labor Caucus Co-Founder Donald Norcross said, “Project 2025 is a 920-page manifesto designed to tell every American how to live their life. If enacted into law, Project 2025 would destroy the 250-year-old system of checks and balances that make up our democracy and completely dismantle almost every labor standard that protects workers. As a union electrician and co-chair of the Labor Caucus, it pains me to see a document that would strip away worker protections and fair labor practices that working families have been fighting for decades. I’m proud to join Rep. Goldman in this video series to help explain the threat Project 2025 poses to American values, ideals, and freedoms.”

    Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett said, “Project 2025 is the playbook for Donald Trump’s second term, which will ensure that the few have power over the many and that the rule of law as we know it, is gone. It is a plan to ensure that the federal government no longer acts as a check on the greed and desire for absolute power that Trump and his cohort of friends share. In every way, Project 2025 will make Americans less safe and less free. Republicans know that these ideas are not popular with the people of America and that’s why they hide from the facts, obfuscate the truth and distract the public’s attention with wild claims to vilify minorities and keep us divided. It is imperative that we all do our part to ensure that Donald Trump is not allowed to enforce the clear and present danger that the Project 2025 master plan represents to American democracy.”

    American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said, Project 2025 is about institutionalizing Trumpism. It’s about going after educational opportunity, economic opportunity and equal opportunity. It’s about going after the legitimacy of elections. This is the stuff of demagogues and dictators, not democracies. This is not the promise of America. We can and must do better than this—for the sake of our families and the future of our republic.”

    Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone said, “Project 2025 isn’t about serving the people; it’s about ensuring that political loyalty becomes the guiding rule. They want to replace our government’s independent watchdogs with partisan loyalists, dismantling checks and balances to consolidate power in the executive branch. With a captured Supreme Court and a weaponized Department of Justice, the next conservative administration would have all the tools they needed to drive America closer and closer to their idealized far-right dystopia, at the cost of our personal freedoms.”

    A third of all U.S adults say they regularly get their news from Facebook or YouTube, and nearly 20% report preferring to receive their news from social media. As more Americans turn to non-traditional platforms such as social media, YouTube, and online searches to stay informed Congressman Goldman is focused on ensuring that important information reaches all Americans in this rapidly transforming media landscape.

    Featured in the videos are Representatives: Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Becca Balint (VT-AL), Pre-K and Child Care Caucus Co-Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chair Judy Chu (CA-28), Freshman Leadership Representative Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), Dads Caucus Founder and Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Committee on Natural Resources Vice Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Intelligence and Law Enforcement Ranking Member Seth Magaziner (RI-02), House Bipartisan Task Force forCombating Antisemitism Co-Chair Kathy Manning (NC-06), Labor Caucus Co-Founder Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), and Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Co-Chair Paul Tonko (NY-20). 

    Project 2025 is a comprehensive plan for the next conservative president to swiftly enact the most anti-democratic and archconservative agenda in the history of this country. It lays the groundwork for Donald Trump to seize power, gut checks and balances, and enact a radical agenda. It touches on every department and agency within the federal government.

    The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank funded by shady dark money interests, has been plotting Project 2025, an unprecedented scheme to help the next conservative president quickly enact the most radical agenda in the history of the country. The plan is laying the groundwork for a new president to seize power and enact broad changes that are deeply unpopular with the American people. This includes vastly expanding the ability of the president to purge civil servants who are not sufficiently loyal to this extreme right-wing agenda.

    • Within the first 180 days of taking office, the plan calls for attacks on reproductive rights, the rule of law, and the expansion of the cruel and inhumane immigration policies from the Trump administration. Project 2025 is a comprehensive plan that would touch every department of the federal government and fundamentally reshape the lives of the American people. The Project’s four-pronged strategy that includes:

      • A laundry list of extreme policies to be enacted across the federal government;

      • A blueprint for how to use existing authority – or expand the power of the presidency – to implement right-wing policy proposals;

      • A database of right-wing ideologues who wholeheartedly endorse this power grab and far-right policies;

      • Training for staff so they can more efficiently enact this extreme agenda.

    While Project 2025 is being run out of the Heritage Foundation, its advisors include former Trump White House aides like Stephen Miller, and more than half the groups supporting the effort have received $21.5 million in funding from Leonard Leo’s dark money network.

    Congressman Dan Goldman is a member of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: NDB positioned to drive growth of member states

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The New Development Bank will make greater efforts to advance economic growth in emerging economies and help address pressing issues such as climate change as it welcomes more potential members, said Dilma Rousseff, the NDB’s president.

    To help emerging countries ensure stable development and avoid crises, the NDB will facilitate the building of infrastructure in areas such as logistics, education, digital services and healthcare, Rousseff had said during an interview in September after she received China’s Friendship Medal, the highest honor China offers foreigners.

    The NDB has already stepped up efforts to finance infrastructure projects in member countries. It has cumulatively approved loans of $35 billion for 105 projects, with the major ones being the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-III in India, the Serra da Palmeira Wind Power Project in Brazil, and the Jiangxi Urban and Rural Cold Chain Logistics Project in China, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

    At the end of August, the NDB announced a $280 million loan agreement with Transnet, South Africa’s leading freight transport and logistics company, to support the modernization and improvement of the country’s freight rail sector.

    During a meeting of the bank’s board of directors in late August, a $1-billion loan was approved for financing South Africa’s water and sanitation infrastructure development. Another $150 million loan was approved to China’s Bank of Communications Financial Leasing for the acquisition of at least three liquefied natural gas carriers.

    In January, the NDB inked three loan agreements with India to boost the country’s transportation, water and sanitation infrastructure in designated areas. The combined value of the loans is about $700 million.

    As Rousseff pointed out, developing countries have limited capacity to address climate change. Further development and use of more renewable energy sources was needed, she said. As China is already a world leader in the electric vehicle segment, she hoped the nation would make more progress in energy storage and stable renewable energy supply.

    According to the NDB’s strategy between 2022 and 2026, climate change mitigation will be a focus area, as the majority 40 percent of the bank’s $30 billion financing to be provided by 2026 has been reserved for green goals.

    After issuing a 6-billion yuan ($840 million) five-year panda bond — yuan-denominated bonds issued by overseas institutions in the Chinese onshore market — at the beginning of the year, in July the NDB issued an 8-billion yuan three-year panda bond. The bonds are part of the bank’s efforts to finance infrastructure and sustainable development in member states while addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

    Initiated by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in 2014 with the purpose of mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging markets and developing countries, the NDB formally began operations in July 2015, with its headquarters in Shanghai.

    In 2021, the NDB began expanding its membership and admitted Bangladesh, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay as new member countries.

    “The partnership within the NDB does not sit on the development goals of respective members but rather represents the vision of member countries and better connects them,” she said, adding that the NDB welcomes other countries.

    A model for the future

    According to Rousseff, China’s development trajectory can serve as a good reference for the Global South. The nation’s experiences show that economic, infrastructure and technological development can overcome barriers, sanctions and obstacles, she said.

    Applauding China’s achievements in the fields of socioeconomic and cultural development over the past 75 years, Rousseff said that it is now taking the lead in innovation, helping to advance globalization and reform. The country’s stress on development of new quality productive forces has shown its dedication to scientific and technological development.

    “I feel like that there is no one single moment that I can have a full picture of China, as it is always developing, taking on a new look. The ever ongoing reform and opening-up has been refreshing China’s image,” she said.

    The stronger ties between China and Brazil are another good example, showing that partnership among the Global South countries can help facilitate economic growth and improve people’s well-being, she said.

    Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Brazil have strengthened their cooperation in the areas of trade and technology. At the same time, Brazil has served as China’s largest food supplier over the past few years, playing an important role in China’s food security, said Rousseff.

    Meanwhile, Chinese companies’ presence in Brazil is of great importance, facilitating Brazil’s reindustrialization, she said.

    As Rousseff further explained, there are several highlights in China’s investments in Brazil. These include the China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s concession contracts with Brazil’s leading oil and gas company Petrobras for oil exploration in the Pelotas Basin in southern Brazil.

    Also, the less-developed areas in Brazil have benefited from China’s investment in power and overall energy supply, and high-voltage direct transmission lines built by China have helped address Brazil’s energy shortage, she said.

    Since 2009, China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner and a major source of investment, while Brazil has been China’s largest trading partner in Latin America. Trade volume between China and Brazil reached $181.53 billion in 2023.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE to support Turkmenistan in green energy transition and methane emissions reduction

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    UNECE is supporting Turkmenistan to strengthen efforts on its sustainable energy transition and to deliver methane emissions reductions from the energy sector, in alignment with global climate objectives. 

    This was the focus of discussions this week between Mr. Dario Liguti, Director of the Sustainable Energy Division of UNECE, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. 

    A central point of discussion was Turkmenistan’s Global Energy Security and Sustainability Cooperation Alliance, an initiative launched by the Government of Turkmenistan at the World Government Summit and reaffirmed at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This initiative seeks to create a global framework for cooperation on energy security that emphasizes the transition to sustainable energy systems. The Alliance aims to pool resources, expertise, and innovative technologies to tackle energy resilience, enhance energy access, and ensure environmental sustainability. UNECE expressed its support for this initiative and its readiness to foster collaboration across governments, international organizations, and the private sector in addressing the growing challenges of energy transition. 

    The meeting also explored concrete steps for enhancing Turkmenistan’s renewable energy capacity, with a particular focus on solar and wind energy projects. Turkmenistan, with its vast natural resources and favorable climate, has significant untapped potential for renewable energy development. UNECE will provide technical expertise to assist in the planning, development, and implementation of large-scale renewable energy projects, focusing on solar and wind technologies. These projects will be supported by innovative energy storage and transmission solutions, enabling Turkmenistan to overcome the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply. UNECE’s collaboration with Turkmenistan in this area is expected to play a key role in advancing the country’s energy diversification strategy, contributing to both national energy security and the achievement of its long-term climate goals. 

    In addition to expanding renewable energy, the meeting emphasized the importance of methane emissions management, a critical issue for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing methane emissions from energy production is a priority for Turkmenistan, where UNECE can help deliver reductions. UNECE will support Turkmenistan in developing effective methane monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, as well as strategies for reducing methane emissions from its energy sector, particularly from oil and gas operations. These efforts align with global initiatives such as the Global Methane Pledge and UNECE’s work on methane management in the energy sector. 

    UNECE’s technical assistance can help Turkmenistan to modernize its energy infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and reduce its environmental impact, harnessing innovation and technology transfer in accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies, together with capacity building support. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SEE to attend International Energy Week in Singapore

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SEE to attend International Energy Week in Singapore
    SEE to attend International Energy Week in Singapore
    ****************************************************

     ​     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, will depart for Singapore tomorrow (October 20) afternoon to attend the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW).      Mr Tse will attend the SIEW Summit on October 21 to speak on the topic “Asia’s Collaborative Journey to a Sustainable Energy Future” and engage in in-depth discussions and exchanges with other participants. During his stay in Singapore, Mr Tse will meet with officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to exchange views on hydrogen development and green maritime fuel respectively. He will also visit a local enterprise to understand better the application of sustainable aviation fuel.      The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, and officers from the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will also join the visit.          Mr Tse will arrive in Hong Kong on October 22. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, will be the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology.

     
    Ends/Saturday, October 19, 2024Issued at HKT 18:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tse Chin-wan to join energy summit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan will depart for Singapore on October 20 to attend Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW).

    Mr Tse will attend the SIEW Summit on October 21 to speak on “Asia’s Collaborative Journey to a Sustainable Energy Future” and engage in in-depth discussions and exchanges with other participants.

    During his stay in Singapore, Mr Tse will meet officials from the Ministry of Trade & Industry and the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore to exchange views on hydrogen development and green maritime fuel respectively.

    He will also visit a local enterprise to understand better the application of sustainable aviation fuel.

    Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services Poon Kwok-ying and officers from the Environment & Ecology Bureau and the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department will join the visit.

    Mr Tse will arrive back in Hong Kong on October 22. During his absence, Under Secretary for Environment & Ecology Diane Wong will be Acting Secretary.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Vietnam Offshore Wind Competitive Investor Selection Study

    Source: Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC

    Headline: Vietnam Offshore Wind Competitive Investor Selection Study

    Offshore wind (OFW) is essential for Vietnam’s energy security, economic growth, and carbon reduction goals. Recent developments signal significant progress in advancing OFW development in Vietnam. Vietnam’s PDP8 (Power Development Plan 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050) establishes ambitious OFW targets of 6 GW by 2030 and between 70 to 91.5 GW by 2050.

    Despite the ambitious target, the development of OFW has been hindered by a lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework and clear guidance on key processes such as marine spatial planning, leasing, and routes to market.

    The current developer-led model may have served its purpose initially, but it lacks the efficiency and transparency necessary for rapid deployment of OFW projects. Defining a long-term competitive investor selection model for OFW would provide certainty to all stakeholders, allow the development of infrastructure and achieve learning curve cost reductions.

    Therefore, GWEC has commissioned this forward-looking “Vietnam OFW Competitive Investor Selection Study” report. The report outlines industry’s position regarding the fit-for-purpose approach to a competitive investor selection process for OFW projects moving forward. This report has proposed a two-stage competitive model for OFW development in Vietnam.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Joins Democratic Efforts to Put a Spotlight on Project 2025 with New Documentary Style Video Series

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    New Documentary Video Series Details Project 2025’s Threat to Reproductive Freedom, Workers’ Rights, Environmental Protections, Public Education, and American Democracy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) for a five-part video documentary series detailing Project 2025’s threat to democracy, reproductive freedom, workers’ rights, environmental regulation, and public education. The series will feature interviews with Representatives Kamlager-Dove, Goldman, and 11 of their House Democratic colleagues from across the country, as well as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Planned Parenthood Vice President Karen Stone, NY League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe, and Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone. As Vice Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove will highlight the devastating impacts Project 2025 would have on the environment.

    Watch the Trailer for the Series Here

    “Project 2025 poses a grave threat, not just to our democracy but to our planet, too,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “This hostile takeover of the federal government would depose dedicated public servants and install Trump loyalists and climate denialists at the EPA, enabling Republicans to slash environmental protections at the behest of Big Oil. But Project 2025 doesn’t stop at encouraging the world’s worst polluters—this agenda also seeks to discontinue air quality, clean energy, and decarbonization programs by overturning the Inflation Reduction Act, harming the health of our communities and the environment, eliminating clean energy jobs, and exacerbating the climate crisis. With Project 2025, Republicans have shown that they will continue to put polluters over people—this plan must be stopped.”

    As an increasing share of Americans consume their news from non-traditional sources on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media sites, Congressman Goldman’s series marks an effort by Democrats to reach audiences where they are in a diversified media landscape. Across various social media platforms, the first two videos of the series have received over 400,000 views, signaling the potential of this new format to reach large numbers of Americans.

    “Project 2025’s shocking plan to gut checks and balances, restrict abortion access, decimate public education, pollute our air and water, and endanger American workers for the sole benefit of Republican authoritarian extremists is utterly reprehensible and incredibly dangerous,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This document is a detailed guide for how a second Trump administration will dismantle our democracy, and it is critical that the American people understand exactly how Trump intends to do it. I am proud to be joined by so many of my colleagues and policy leaders to expose this radical plan to reshape American society as we know it.”

    Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Becca Balint said, “Project 2025 is a far-right plan by Trump allies to impose Christian nationalist values onto every American. It goes completely against our American values to promote a strong, resilient democracy; in fact this plan aims to erode our democratic institutions by gutting checks and balances and seizing power for the presidency. Project 2025 is nothing short of an anti-freedom and anti-equality agenda: it further attacks reproductive rights and disproportionately harms communities of color and our LGBTQI+ community. Project 2025 would increase gun violence rather than protect our communities. And its plan to abolish the Department of Education would hurt millions of families whose kids go to public schools, teachers who are already underpaid, and students. It’s dangerous and we must take it extremely seriously. I’m proud to be a part of this series to help Americans understand the threat it poses to our values and democratic norms.”

    Pre-K and Child Care Caucus Co-Chair Suzanne Bonamici said, “Project 2025 is a blueprint for MAGA extremists to undermine government and destroy programs and policies that support working families. It’s the product of people who held top positions in the previous administration and special interest groups that hold significant influence over the GOP’s agenda. I’m working with my colleagues to counter this extremist plan and to educate Americans about its potentially devastating effects.”

    Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chair Judy Chu said, “Trump and his allies’ Project 2025 is a 900 page comprehensive plan for MAGA Republicans to grab power for themselves, enrich their allies, and shatter our already fragile democracy. Project 2025 touches on every agency in the federal government and is January 6th extremism crafted into a governing ideology: fire tens of thousands of civil servants to replace them with partisan loyalists, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that rips away our freedoms and takes money out of pockets. It’s so critical for House Democrats to work together to shine a light on as many details of this plan as possible so we can equip ourselves and the American people with the information we need to fight back and make certain we put systems into place to protect us from these extreme policies.”

    Freshman Leadership Representative Jasmine Crockett said, “Let me make it plain: Project 2025 is the GOP’s attack plan against the American constitution. It doesn’t just undermine the progress made in this country for women, people of color, and LGBTQIA folks over the past century; it undermines the very principles of self-government that our country was founded on. If our Founding Fathers were to read Project 2025, they would have thought it was sent over by King George himself. It’s a blueprint for authoritarianism, a blueprint for monarchy, and a blueprint for a right-wing dictatorship in America that will end our democratic experiment for good. If the majority of Americans were to read and understand this plan – a plan authored by hundreds of members of former President Trump’s administration – they would reject it as un-American and dangerous. Thank you to Congressman Goldman for bringing us together to break down Project 2025 from every angle – no matter how engaged you are, you can still learn something from this series.”

    Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Intelligence and Law Enforcement Ranking Member Seth Magaziner said, “Donald Trump’s Project 2025 will hand a future Trump administration nearly unlimited power to ban abortion, take away healthcare for people with preexisting conditions, and rip away the freedoms that Americans have fought hard for. Trump’s Project 2025 is dangerous, cruel, and out-of-touch with the needs of the American people. We will not let Trump and Congressional Republicans take us back.”

    House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Co-Chair Kathy Manning said, “Project 2025 is simply a more detailed blueprint of Donald Trump’s extreme MAGA agenda that promises to roll back Americans’ basic rights and freedoms. Because of Donald Trump and the three extreme MAGA Justices he appointed to the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. v. Wade, one in three women of reproductive age lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban. Now, his extreme Project 2025 plans will attack reproductive freedoms even further by targeting abortion pills and contraception coverage, and threatening IVF treatments. Project 2025 would also ban the mailing of abortion medications, equipment, or materials, effectively creating a nationwide, backdoor abortion ban — without the approval of Congress.”

    Labor Caucus Co-Founder Donald Norcross said, “Project 2025 is a 920-page manifesto designed to tell every American how to live their life. If enacted into law, Project 2025 would destroy the 250-year-old system of checks and balances that make up our democracy and completely dismantle almost every labor standard that protects workers. As a union electrician and co-chair of the Labor Caucus, it pains me to see a document that would strip away worker protections and fair labor practices that working families have been fighting for decades. I’m proud to join Rep. Goldman in this video series to help explain the threat Project 2025 poses to American values, ideals, and freedoms.”

    Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett said, “Project 2025 is the playbook for Donald Trump’s second term, which will ensure that the few have power over the many and that the rule of law as we know it, is gone. It is a plan to ensure that the federal government no longer acts as a check on the greed and desire for absolute power that Trump and his cohort of friends share. In every way, Project 2025 will make Americans less safe and less free. Republicans know that these ideas are not popular with the people of America and that’s why they hide from the facts, obfuscate the truth and distract the public’s attention with wild claims to vilify minorities and keep us divided. It is imperative that we all do our part to ensure that Donald Trump is not allowed to enforce the clear and present danger that the Project 2025 master plan represents to American democracy.”

    American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said, Project 2025 is about institutionalizing Trumpism. It’s about going after educational opportunity, economic opportunity and equal opportunity. It’s about going after the legitimacy of elections. This is the stuff of demagogues and dictators, not democracies. This is not the promise of America. We can and must do better than this—for the sake of our families and the future of our republic.”

    Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone said, “Project 2025 isn’t about serving the people; it’s about ensuring that political loyalty becomes the guiding rule. They want to replace our government’s independent watchdogs with partisan loyalists, dismantling checks and balances to consolidate power in the executive branch. With a captured Supreme Court and a weaponized Department of Justice, the next conservative administration would have all the tools they needed to drive America closer and closer to their idealized far-right dystopia, at the cost of our personal freedoms.”

    A third of all U.S adults say they regularly get their news from Facebook or YouTube, and nearly 20% report preferring to receive their news from social media. As more Americans turn to non-traditional platforms such as social media, YouTube, and online searches to stay informed Congressman Goldman is focused on ensuring that important information reaches all Americans in this rapidly transforming media landscape.

    In addition to Representatives Kamlager-Dove and Goldman, the following members of Congress are featured in the series: Congressional Equality Caucus Co-Chair Becca Balint (VT-AL), Pre-K and Child Care Caucus Co-Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chair Judy Chu (CA-28), Freshman Leadership Representative Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), Dads Caucus Founder and Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Intelligence and Law Enforcement Ranking Member Seth Magaziner (RI-02), House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Co-Chair Kathy Manning (NC-06), Labor Caucus Co-Founder Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Ranking Member Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL), and Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Co-Chair Paul Tonko (NY-20).

    Project 2025 is a comprehensive plan for the next conservative president to swiftly enact the most anti-democratic and archconservative agenda in the history of this country. It lays the groundwork for Donald Trump to seize power, gut checks and balances, and enact a radical agenda. It touches on every department and agency within the federal government.

    The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank funded by shady dark money interests, has been plotting Project 2025, an unprecedented scheme to help the next conservative president quickly enact the most radical agenda in the history of the country. The plan is laying the groundwork for a new president to seize power and enact broad changes that are deeply unpopular with the American people. This includes vastly expanding the ability of the president to purge civil servants who are not sufficiently loyal to this extreme right-wing agenda.

    • Within the first 180 days of taking office, the plan calls for attacks on reproductive rights, the rule of law, and the expansion of the cruel and inhumane immigration policies from the Trump administration. Project 2025 is a comprehensive plan that would touch every department of the federal government and fundamentally reshape the lives of the American people. The Project’s four-pronged strategy that includes:
      • A laundry list of extreme policies to be enacted across the federal government;
      • A blueprint for how to use existing authority—or expand the power of the presidency—to implement right-wing policy proposals;
      • A database of right-wing ideologues who wholeheartedly endorse this power grab and far-right policies;
      • Training for staff so they can more efficiently enact this extreme agenda.

    While Project 2025 is being run out of the Heritage Foundation, its advisors include former Trump White House aides like Stephen Miller, and more than half the groups supporting the effort have received $21.5 million in funding from Leonard Leo’s dark money network.

    Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove is a member of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Turbo Energy Teams with Connection Holdings to Introduce All-in-One, AI-Optimized SUNBOX Home Energy Storage System to U.S. Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VALENCIA, Spain, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turbo Energy, S.A. (NASDAQ:TURB) (“Turbo Energy” or the “Company”), a global provider of leading-edge, AI-optimized solar energy storage technologies and solutions, today announced that the Company has partnered with Florida-based Connection Holdings, LLC (“CH”), the managing entity of brands operating in the performance marketing and lead generation sectors with focus on a broad range of industries, including the U.S. solar energy market. 

    Pursuant to the strategic advisory agreement entered into on October 18, 2024, CH will employ its organization’s award-winning market penetration capabilities and leverage its extensive nationwide network of leading U.S. solar installation companies to assist Turbo Energy in introducing and winning U.S. market share for the Company’s proprietary, all-in-one, Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)-optimized SUNBOX solar energy storage system designed specifically for residential application (“SUNBOX Home”).

    Turbo Energy Partners with Connection Holdings to Introduce SUNBOX Home to U.S. Market

    Mariano Soria, the Chief Executive Officer of Turbo Energy, stated, “With virtually thousands of SUNBOX Home installations spanning nine countries throughout Europe, we have been actively engaged over the past several months in progressing through extensive U.S. testing and certification processes to affirm that SUNBOX Home meets and exceeds American public and product safety standards for energy storage systems and equipment. We are very excited to be partnering with Connection Holdings to take the next pivotal step in our global expansion plan, introducing SUNBOX Home to the U.S. market in hopes that we will achieve meaningful market awareness and rapid adoption of what we believe is the industry’s most price-competitive, smart, all-in-one solar energy storage solution on the market today.”

    “We are very proud to have been chosen by Turbo Energy to lead the market launch of SUNBOX Home in the U.S.,” noted Edmond Pain, Managing Principal and Co-Founder of CH. “Considering that SUNBOX Home features scalable energy storage capacity that is up to four times greater than other leading residential energy storage systems available in the U.S., coupled with the fact that all components – inverter, batteries and AI-optimized software — are fully integrated in an innovative, all-in-one, elegantly designed system, we expect that market demand will be strong and immediate and grow exponentially in the coming years as sustainable solar energy storage solutions become a must-have for homeowners nationwide.”

    According to the Q3 2024 industry research report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie, homeowners and businesses are increasingly demanding solar systems that are paired with battery storage. California’s shift in net metering policy and state incentives for solar-plus-storage in other markets have driven attachment rates up in recent quarters. The report further states that by 2028, 28% of all new distributed solar capacity will be paired with storage, compared to under 12% in 2023.

    SUNBOX Home is a complete intelligent solar energy storage system powered by Turbo Energy’s patented AI algorithms and processes that allow homeowners to fully optimize the energy efficiency of their solar power panel installations. Moreover, the cloud-based Turbo Energy mobile app gives SUNBOX Home users total control over the storage system, including determining best times of day when to use the surplus energy stored, as well as providing complete real-time visibility into battery status, energy production, actual power usage and monthly cost savings. In addition, the app provides data-driven insight into weather and electricity price forecasts, among other vital metrics.  

    Turbo Energy’s  U.S. market launch will be led by a multi-month beta test, whereby Connection Holdings will coordinate the deployment of several SUNBOX Home system installations in residences located in key, high growth markets across the nation.  Following the conclusion of the beta test and analysis of collected data and feedback from installers and homeowners, Connection Holdings is tasked with implementing a national marketing campaign designed to ramp sales of SUNBOX Home and help to define and refine, as necessary, the U.S.-based infrastructure needed to support anticipated market demand in the months and years to come.

    About Connection Holdings, LLC

    Connection Holdings has built and consolidated a portfolio of U.S. companies which are trusted to provide award-winning performance marketing and comprehensive data analytic services to the nation’s leading solar, roofing, home improvement, consumer financial and health insurance companies. Its brands, which have collectively generated nearly $500 million in sales for its valued customers, include Solar Direct Marketing, Connecting the Dots, Home Direct Marketing, Senior Direct Marketing, Encompass Leads, Debt Direct Marketing, Vested Exchange and Blockhub. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, Solar Direct Marketing earned distinction as one of Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing, privately held companies in the country. Connecting the Dots was also named to Inc.’s top 500 fastest growing companies in 2022; and in 2023 and 2024 was nominated as the premiere Data Provider of the Year at the prestigious Affy Awards. For more information, please visit http://www.connectionholdings.com.  

    About Turbo Energy, S.A.

    Founded in 2013, Turbo Energy is a globally recognized pioneer of proprietary solar energy storage technologies and solutions managed through Artificial Intelligence. Turbo Energy’s elegant all-in-one and scalable, modular energy storage systems empower residential, commercial and industrial users expanding across Europe, North America and South America to materially reduce dependence on traditional energy sources, helping to lower electricity costs, provide peak shaving and uninterruptible power supply and realize a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. A testament to the Company’s commitment to innovation and industry disruption, Turbo Energy’s introduction of its flagship SUNBOX represents one of the world’s first high performance, competitively priced, all-in-one home solar energy storage systems, which also incorporates patented EV charging capability and powerful AI processes to optimize solar energy management.  Turbo Energy is a proud subsidiary of publicly traded Umbrella Global Energy, S.A., a vertically integrated, global collective of solar energy-focused companies.

    For more information, please visit http://www.turbo-e.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business of the Company, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, including the risks described in our registration statements and annual report under the heading “Risk Factors” as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Turbo Energy, S.A. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For more information, please contact:

    At Turbo Energy, S.A.
    Dodi Handy, Director of Communications
    Phone: 407-960-4636
    Email: dodihandy@turbo-e.com

    At Connection Holdings, LLC
    David Stodolak, Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: 919-802-1555
    Email: david@solardirectmarketing.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the Singapore International Energy Week 2024 in Singapore

    Source: ASEAN

    At the invitation of H.E. Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn will participate in the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2024, under the theme “A Connected and Sustainable Energy World,” where he will deliver the Singapore Energy Summit Keynote at the SIEW Summit, on 21 October 2024. Dr. Kao will also be holding a bilateral meeting with the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Dr. Fatih Birol on the sidelines of the SIEW, as well as giving interviews with representatives of the media to further promote the work of ASEAN, including ASEAN’s efforts and priorities in the energy sector. SIEW is organised by the Energy Market Authority of Singapore and is the premier platform for global stakeholders from across the region and the world to come together to discuss key energy issues.
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN to participate in the Singapore International Energy Week 2024 in Singapore appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –