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CLH and the US company Plug Power have signed a collaboration agreement to extend the use of hydrogen in Spain through the design, implementation and operation of energy solutions based on this technology. This alliance will make it possible to offer comprehensive solutions to customers, such as retrofitting existing equipment to use hydrogen, selling new equipment, offering a steady supply of hydrogen and building and maintaining the required infrastructures. Therefore, the proposal offered to customers will be Hydrogen as a Service.

Under this agreement, the two companies will cooperate on the development of hydrogen-based energy solutions for diverse sectors and activities, including handling cargo, transporting goods, and other areas in which hydrogen-based solutions may afford advantages over the alternatives. In this regard, one area of particular interest is its use in powering forklifts and other equipment operated at ports and airports.

By using hydrogen as a fuel, no harmful emissions are released into the atmosphere because only steam is given off. In addition to generating no contaminating emissions, the use of hydrogen has other advantages such as the fact that it is completely silent when operating and refuelling is more convenient and faster, which makes steady operation possible. Hydrogen-based logistics and industrial energy solutions also pose an advantage in that they take up less space and eliminate the need for high power electrical connections. And, over their full lifecycle, they are often more economical than other alternative solutions.

CLH will guarantee a constant hydrogen supply, backed by its experience and knowledge in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of transport and storage networks, in addition to its capacity to design and implement energy solutions and offer services to industrial customers.

Plug Power is the global leader in the design and marketing of hydrogen fuel cell systems, with 28,000 fuel cells distributed on the international market and more than 270 million hours of operation in mobility applications.

The CLH Group is the leading company engaged in the transport and storage of oil products in the Spanish market and the second largest logistics operator in Europe in terms of the extension of its pipeline network and storage capacity. In Spain, it has a pipeline network over 4,000 kilometres in length and 39 storage facilities with capacity for 8 million cubic metres, as well as being present at the main Spanish airports. At the international level, the company is developing an ambitious expansion plan and conducts its business in the UK, Oman, Ireland, Panama and Ecuador.

Source: CLH

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Sales of alternatively-powered vehicles are following a highly uneven pattern across EU member states, according to new findings from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Indeed, the consumer uptake of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric passenger cars, as well as those fuelled by natural gas or hydrogen, differs strongly from country to country as a recent report points out.

For instance, the number of battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids (electrically-chargeable vehicles, or ECVs) sold last year ranged from just 93 cars in Latvia (0.6% market share) to 67,504 in Germany (2% market share), ACEA’s data shows.

This picture is very representative, as the consumer uptake of electrically-chargeable cars is particularly low in Central and Eastern Europe, with Poland for instance selling hardly any (0.2% of total passenger car sales). An ECV market share of more than 1.5% is something that is exclusive to Western European countries.

When it comes to electrically-chargeable vehicles, the ACEA report highlights not only an east-west divide, but also a marked north-south distinction. Indeed, electric cars represent less than 1% of total sales in Italy and Spain – the third and fourth largest EU economies respectively.

Clearly, the uptake of electrically-chargeable cars is correlated to a country’s standard of living, with half of all EU member states having a market share lower than 1%. In only four EU countries electrically-chargeable vehicles make up more than 2.5% of the car market.

ACEA’s report also shows that sales of cars running on natural gas are mainly concentrated in Italy and Germany (74% of the EU total), and that fuel-cell cars account for a negligible share of total EU passenger car sales for the time being.

If the extremely ambitious 2025 and 2030 CO2 targets set by the EU are to be achieved, sales of all types of alternatively-powered vehicles will have to pick up rapidly in all member states.

Source: ACEA

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As climate discussions are underway among global leaders at COP24, the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference, a new report showcases the feasibility of a European energy transition to 100% renewable sources. The new scientific study shows that the transition to 100% renewable energy will be economically competitive with today’s conventional fossil fuel and nuclear energy system, and lead greenhouse gas emissions to zero before 2050. The study’s financial case for an energy transition becomes even stronger when taking into account significant projected job growth and the indirect economic benefits for health, security, and the environment, that were not factored into the study.

Undertaken by LUT University and Energy Watch Group, the first-of-its-kind scientific modeling study has simulated a full energy transition in Europe across the power, heat, transport, and desalination sectors by 2050. The study’s publication came after approximately four and a half years of data collection, and technical and financial modeling under the research and analysis of 14 scientists.

“This report confirms that a transition to 100% renewable energy across all sectors is possible and not more expensive than today’s energy system,” said Hans-Josef Fell, former German parliamentarian and president of Energy Watch Group, during its COP24 press conference, “It demonstrates that Europe can switch to a zero-emission energy system. Therefore, European leaders can and should do much more for climate protection than what is currently on the table.”

Some of the study’s key findings:

• The transition will require mass electrification across all energy sectors. Total power generation will exceed four to five times that of 2015, with electricity constituting for more than 85% of primary energy demand in 2050. Simultaneously, fossil fuels and nuclear are phased out completely across all sectors.
• Electricity generation in the 100% renewable energy system will consist of the following mix of power sources: solar PV (62%), wind (32%), hydropower (4%), bioenergy (2%) and geothermal energy (<1%). • Wind and solar make up 94% of total electricity supply by 2050, and approximately 85% of the renewable energy supply will come from decentralized local and regional generation. • 100% renewable energy is not more expensive: The levelised cost of energy for a fully sustainable energy system in Europe remains stable, ranging from 50-60 €/MWh through the transition. • Europe’s annual greenhouse gas emissions decline steadily through the transition, from approximately 4200 MtCO2 eq. in 2015 to zero by 2050 across all sectors. • A 100% renewable power system will employ 3 to 3.5 million people. The approximate 800,000 jobs in the European coal industry of 2015 will be zeroed out by 2050, and will be overcompensated by more than 1.5-million new jobs in the renewable energy sector. “The results of the study showcase that the current goals set forth under the Paris Agreement can and should be accelerated,” said Dr. Christian Breyer, professor for solar economy at Finland’s LUT University, “The transition to 100% clean, renewable energy is very realistic, right now, with the technology we have available today.”

The study concludes with policy recommendations to promote a swift uptake of renewable energy and zero-emission technology adoption. Primary measures promoted in the report include support of sector coupling, private investments, tax benefits, legal privileges, with a simultaneous phase out of coal and fossil fuel subsides. By implementing strong political frameworks, the report shows that a transition to 100% renewable energy can be realised even earlier than 2050.

Source: Energy Watch Group (EWG)

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The Everywh2ere Project—part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme to ensure the sustainable development and competitiveness of the European economy—will develop gensets using hydrogen fuel cells instead of the traditional fuel-based solutions. This will eliminate the CO2 emissions, noise and fumes produced by existing generator types, leading to hardware that is more environmentally sustainable and can be used in applications where conventional generators are not suitable.

The twelve partners* forming the consortium come from different areas of specialisation (hydrogen supply, engine manufacture, environmental consultancy, and construction), which will generate synergies for the adaptation of the hydrogen engine technology currently used in ships and trucks to applications in construction sites, music festivals, public events in cities, emergency situations, natural disasters and critical buildings (such as hospitals, data centres, etc.).

The five-year project, with a budget of approximately 7 million euros, is aimed at realising 8 plug and play fuel-cell gensets, with different outputs (25 kW and 100 kW), for testing from 2020 onwards at, among others, a number of music festivals, and at construction sites managed by Acciona, such as roads and tunnels, with a view to extrapolating the experience for commercial marketability from 2023.

*The organisations participating in EVERYWH2ERE along with Acciona are: PowerCell d’Appolonia; VTT; Genport SRL; Swiss Hydrogen SA; Mahytec SARL; Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Nuevas Tecnologías del Hidrógeno en Aragón; Delta1; Parco scientifico e tecnologico per l’ambiente SpA; ICLEI European Secretariat GMBH and Linde Gas. The project received funding from the Horizon 2020 Programme (grant reference 779606).

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The 23rd Winter Olympic games will be one of the most sustainable events in the tournament’s history. The games, taking place in PyeongChang, South Korea, has sustainable thinking at its heart with a goal of becoming the first zero-emissions event in its history.

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) has taken responsibility of greenhouse gas emission (GHGs) during the 2018 Winter Games preparation and operation phases. To this end POCOG has planned to reduce emitted GHGs from all the phases of the Games through various reduction measures, while the rest of GHGs will be offset through voluntary activities.

Green transport

Participants are not allowed to park their own cars at the venues, but access the venues using public means of transport.

On the other hand, operational staff will use electric cars and hydrogen powered cars during the Games-time. To this end, POCOG signed an agreement with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Within the framework KEPCO has provided 150 electric vehicles and 24 EV charging stations to be used during the Games-time. Furthermore, POCOG secured 15 hydrogen vehicles and prepared a plan for utilising them in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Gangwon Province and Hyundai Motor Company. All vehicles will continue to be used by KEPCO after the Games; moreover, the quick charging stations installed in the Host City are expected to increase the supply of eco-friendly vehicles in the local communities.

Green building construction

All six stadiums have been awarded with green-building and building energy efficiency certifications. While minimising GHG emissions, the snow competition venues will be conserved as a sustainable legacy of the local community.

Using renewable energy

Independent and clean energy sources for the six new Olympic venues not only bring a positive impact to the environment but also maximise the energy efficiency required for the maintenance and management of the buildings. The competition venues that have been newly constructed accommodate solar and geothermal generation facilities. Solar power is used to generate electricity and geothermal heating supply heated water. Renewable energy accounts for 12% of the total energy consumption for each venue, which is a significant contribution to the energy cost savings in venue operations.

For the Gangneung Ice Arena and the Kwandong Hockey Centre, the renewable energy facilities were already part of their initial designs. Construction of these facilities was completed in November 2016.

Moreover, wind power capacity currently in operation in the Host Province will meet more than 100% of energy needs, The total generation capacity reachs 203 MW, exceeding the required capacity of 194 MW by 104%.

Finally organisers have ensured that a forest area twice the size of the event has been restored, and the Olympic Park has been built on the site of an old landfill, covering 86,696 square meters.

An index of its performance towards the Sustainable Development Goals is publicly available

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Decarbonising transport is central to achieving Europe’s policy commitments on climate change. The transport sector is expected to deliver a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU by 2050. Achieving these commitments is expected to require a complete decarbonisation of the passenger car fleet. The more ambitious COP21 commitment to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C will demand a complete decarbonisation of transport by 2050.

This study has been carried out as part of the EAFO project to look at the pathways and the impacts of a transition of the EU car fleet to ZEVs (Zero Emission Vehicles). Undertaken by the EAFO partners AVERE, TNO and VUB, the study is designed to help policymakers understand the impacts of a rapid transition to a ZEV fleet. It considers the effects of this transition on imported fossil fuels, GHG emissions, air quality and the overall competitiveness of EU industry.

An extensive literature review failed to identify any scenarios or forecasts that provide new insights on the impacts of a complete transition to a ZEV fleet in the EU. To address this need, a range of scenarios were modelled to determine the financial, energy and CO2 emission impacts of a transition to a ZEV passenger car fleet by 2050. Read more…

Article published in: FuturENERGY December 2017 – January 2018

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DACHSER Iberia and Mercedes-Benz Trucks continue to invest in a more innovative and sustainable logistics industry, with the launch of the first 7.5 ton hybrid truck that has already started to circulate in Madrid. The FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid 7C15 non-plug hybrid vehicle, distinguished by the Spanish Traffic Institution with the ECO category, is already operational under DACHSER, in a first route that covers the heart of the center of the capital: Calle Alcalá, Carrera de San Jerónimo , Sol, Calle Mayor, Cuesta de Santo Domingo and Gran Vía.

Ecological, social and economic sustainability is deeply anchored in DACHSER’s corporate values. The company supports various initiatives aimed at discovering new solutions to optimize distribution services. One of the projects is the implementation of this hybrid vehicle within the Euro 6 standards, combining a combustion and an electric engine; a combination that will significantly reduce the CO2 emission count and guarantee fuel savings of up to 23% compared to conventional trucks. The technological participation of Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been crucial in the project, designed to validate the application of sustainable vehicles for City Distribution.

Sustainability as a future strategy

Both companies are fully aligned when it comes to environmental awareness and consider it to be an indispensable part of their long-term business vision. Regarding DACHSER, the multinational has different lines of action within its Corporate Solutions, Research & Development unit, which develops more innovative and sustainable business models to deliver to inner cities within the framework of the project ‘City Distribution’. As all cities have their own individual and special requirements, the toolbox will serve as a practical method for providing a variety of solutions to the General Managers running the operational business on a local level. They will be able to choose between the relevant concepts and apply them regionally in their metropolitan areas, flexibly and according to their needs.

For example, Munich has had a hybrid truck exactly like the one implemented in Madrid since 2014, and other cities such as Paris already have their own trucks powered by electricity and liquefied natural gas (LNG). On the other hand, city distribution in Stuttgart, Copenhagen and Amsterdam has more alternative programs aimed at optimizing logistics in the city by involving different means of transport such as electric bicycles or barges on the cities’ canals. At the beginning of the year, DACHSER announced a total investment of 177 million euros for 2017 for the extension and improvement of its network. This also includes R&D projects concerning the optimization of transport efficiency and further investments in DACHSER´s advanced IT systems.

DACHSER Iberia has not only introduced the first hybrid truck in Madrid, but has also welcomed the first long truck (25,25m) in the DACHSER Iberia fleet, that connects Madrid with Barcelona and Arteixo with Lleida with two daily routes. Juan Quintana, Managing Director European Logistics Iberia, states that “DACHSER is committed to the progressive implementation of process and customer value-orientated innovation in its network, in line with the company’s long-term strategy in Europe and with the present environmental situation, which requires an adaptation of new energies and technologies”.

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Offering an intelligent and cost-effective solution for charging larger fleets during the night and ensuring zero emission transportation during the day, ABB showcases its new HVC-Overnight Charging products and smart charging functionality.

From 20-25 October on stand 816, Hall 8 at Busworld 2017 in Kortrijk, Belgium ABB will showcase its latest solution for charging electric buses, incorporating smart charging features with a future proof and modular design, safe and reliable operation and remote service and data management as part of the ABB Ability™ portfolio of solutions.

After 12 years of research and development in EV charging solutions and experience from commercial products in the field since 2010, the HVC-Overnight Charger offers a compact, single power cabinet paired with up to three charge boxes. This means that after the first vehicle has finished charging, the next will start charging automatically, maximizing vehicle availability and reducing the initial investment and subsequent operational costs.

Frank Mühlon, Head of ABB’s Global Business for Electric Vehicle Charging explains: “Policy makers across the globe are focusing on developing sustainable public transit solutions to tackle emissions in and around the most densely populated cities.

“At ABB we have always been at the forefront of developing state-of-the-art and cost-efficient solutions that meet our customers’ needs and enable us all to look forward to a greener future. The launch of our HVC-Overnight Charging products enabling a smart sequential charging is another significant step towards making this a reality.”

Designed with scalability in mind, the power cabinets of ABB’s HVC-Overnight Charger can be upgraded from 50kW to 100kW or 150kW at any time.

The chargers also come with an extensive suite of connectivity features including remote monitoring, remote management, remote diagnostics, and remote software upgrades. These advanced services from ABB Ability™ provide customers with powerful insight into their charging operation, and enable high uptime and fast response to problems.

Also being showcased by ABB at Busworld 2017 is the HVC-Opportunity Charging range, which offers high-power automated charging for both single and double deck electric buses from any manufacturer in as little as 3-6 minutes by using a pantograph coming down from the infrastructure.

In addition, visitors to the ABB stand will be able to find out about its innovative TOSA flash charging and on-board electric vehicle technology for e-buses. Electric bus lines can save thousands of tons of carbon dioxide per year when compared with diesel counterparts.

ABB has provided charging solutions as part of its drive to promote sustainable mobility since 2010 and has sold more than 6,000 cloud connected DC fast-chargers around the world for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

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Acciona Energy, a leading global operator of renewable energy projects, inaugurated the 93-MW San Roman Wind Farm. Acciona Chairman José Manuel Entrecanales and Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos presided over the ceremony, which was attended by business and community leaders from across Texas and the U.S. San Roman will produce enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes in Southeast Texas. Located near Brownsville, Texas and equipped with 31 AW125/3000 turbines manufactured by ACCIONA Windpower (Nordex Group), San Roman is ACCIONA’s eighth wind farm in the U.S. and brings the company’s total U.S. wind capacity to 721 MW. Each turbine has a 125m diameter rotor on 87.5 m high (hub height) steel tower.

The San Roman Wind Farm is expected to generate $30 million in tax revenue for local school districts and other public services and approximately $25 million in lease payments to local landowners over its operating life.

 

Community support

As part of Acciona’s commitment to supporting the local community, the company also established a scholarship program with local school districts that will provide merit-based scholarships to two deserving students each year for the full life of the project. Chairman Entrecanales and Secretary of State Pablos awarded the first of those scholarships at the dedication ceremony. Acciona provides similar scholarship programs at all its U.S. windfarms.

Construction of the San Roman wind farm was completed in 11 months and generated more than 100,000 hours of work for local contractors.

Acciona currently owns 721 MW of operating wind power capacity in the U.S., bringing its total North American renewable energy capacity to more than 1,500 MW. Along with the San Roman Wind Farm, Acciona’s U.S.-based portfolio includes three wind farms in Oklahoma (329 MW), one in North and South Dakota (180 MW), one in Illinois (100.5 MW) and two in North Dakota (12 MW) and Iowa (6MW). ACCIONA also operates a 64 MW concentrating solar power plant in Nevada.

Acciona has also started construction on a new 168 MW wind farm and will install a 339 MW solar plant in Mexico, both expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Acciona has committed to invest around $2.5 billion between 2016 and 2020 to build renewable energy installations worldwide, increasing the company’s capacity by approximately 1,900 MW.

Source: Acciona

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From automotive to mobility supplier: Schaeffler is putting solutions for Mobility for tomorrow and change at the center of its exhibition presence at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2017

The attention grabber on the stand is Schaeffler’s bio-hybrid, a compact mobility solution for urban areas. This covered mini-vehicle offers more than just protection from the weather: Its four wheels provide high driving stability and with a length of only just over two meters and a width of 85 cm, it occupies very little space. Propulsion is via an electric powertrain designed by Schaeffler.

Schaeffler is also addressing the change which is happening at the component level and is presenting its contributions to the field of digitalization. The rolling bearing, which is the technology company’s conventional product, is becoming a sensor for the networked automobiles of the future. Sensor coatings incorporated in the bearings at a microscopic level will allow them to measure torques, revolutions, forces and temperatures in the future – and thus supply invaluable data.

 

Electromechanical actuators, such as the active roll control system which Schaeffler has already put into production, will be able to provide data to the Internet of Things in the future. The active roll control system compensates movements in automobile chassis caused by driving around corners or on uneven road surfaces. When combined with intelligent wheel bearings, a high-accuracy satellite navigation system and a communications module, it may, in the future, be possible to produce a real-time image of the condition of the road. This could then be used to send information to vehicles following behind or to the infrastructure operator.

Transmissions for future, electrified generations of vehicles are a further point of focus for Schaeffler at the exhibition – for example in self-driving taxis which can navigate their way through cities autonomously. In this case, all the drive components, with the exception of the battery, are located within the wheel. This makes it possible to have automobiles which have an extremely good usable space/footprint ratio whilst at the same time offering excellent maneuverability. “The urban spaces of the future will require the smallest possible traffic footprint with the maximum mobility,” says Prof. Gutzmer. “Innovative drive concepts such as the wheel hub motor make new types of mobility possible and are extremely significant components as far as digitalization is concerned.” The level of electrification in conventional vehicles is already increasing.

Source: Schaeffler

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