Freightliner Partners With Zero To Decarbonise Critical Transport Operations
The title of this post, is the same as that of this news item from Freightliner.
This is the sub-heading.
Today, Freightliner and Zero, a breakthrough energy company that develops and manufactures whole-blend synthetic, non-biological fuels, announced a partnership to achieve a fossil-free locomotive operation by 2040 and overall Net Zero by 2050, representing a major evolution for one of the world’s oldest, safest and most reliable forms of freight transport. To successfully meet these ambitious emissions targets, Freightliner is exploring alternatives to diesel, such as Zero’s carbon-neutral synthetic diesel, which will eliminate fossil-carbon emissions and improve air quality and environmental wellbeing.
These are my thoughts.
Freightliner
Freightliner is a rail-freight company, that you see regularly hauling freight trains all over the UK.
The picture shows two of their Class 90 electric locomotives in their latest livery.
These posts talk about the company and lower or zero carbon operation.
- Clean Air Power Adds Hydrogen To Class 66 Fuel Mix
- Freightliner Continue Trials On New Low Carbon Fuel
- Freightliner Secures Government Funding For Dual-Fuel Project
- The Ultimate Bi-Mode
The current post fits that pattern.
Zero Petroleum
Zero Petroleum is one of those companies that gives Elon Musk nightmares.
But when you have backers like Babcock, Boeing, Intertek, Rolls-Royce and the Royal Air Force, you must be doing something right.
The Wikipedia entry for the company has this first paragraph.
Zero is a manufacturer of non-biological carbon-neutral synthetic fuel (also known as e-fuel) co-founded by former Formula One engineer Paddy Lowe. Its product has been developed as an alternative to fossil-based fuels and a more scalable sustainable alternative to waste and bio-fuels. The Royal Air Force used its fuel in November 2021 to achieve a World Record first flight powered by synthetic fuel. In July 2022, Zero entered a new partnership with the Royal Air Force to move towards mass production of sustainable aviation fuel.
The company is often known as just Zero.
These two and a half paragraphs from the Wikipedia entry describe the technology.
Zero uses Direct FT (a proprietary and specialised version of Fischer-Tropsch) to directly manufacture target fuels (gasoline, kerosene and diesel) at high yield and with no need for refinery upgrading.
When manufactured using renewable energy, synthetic fuel can be used as a carbon neutral or carbon negative direct drop-in replacement for fossil fuels, particularly for operations that require high energy densities – such as air travel, shipping and farming – and to ensure the continued use of legacy vehicles. It can also be used as a raw material to produce various forms of plastic.
It is manufactured using a process known as petrosynthesis, in which carbon dioxide and hydrogen are combined to create hydrocarbons. The process involves direct air capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the electrolysis of water to obtain hydrogen.
The Fischer-Tropsch process, despite its association in the past with dodgy regimes, seems to be at the heart of things, as it is with Velocys.
I describe the Velocys process and its link to Fischer-Tropsch in Grant Shapps Announcement On Friday.
Surely, the carbon-neutral fuel produced by Zero, are the ideal stop-gap fuel until true full zero-carbon fuels are available.
But Zero’s fuels will always be available for heritage and legacy trains, planes and automobiles and for applications, where older technology must be used.
As an example of older technology still being used on UK’s railways, Network Rail operate, the New Measurement Train to check all tracks in Great Britain.
The train may have been manufactured in the 1970s, but it has modern engines and is the ideal train to carry the wide variety of sophisticated equipment to ensure the safety of Britain’s railways.
Synthetic diesel like that produced by Zero could keep the New Measurement Train running for some years yet.
Freightliner Have Made A Pragmatic Decision
I believe that Freightliner have made a pragmatic decision, that allows them to go carbon neutral without without taking risks or spending millions on new equipment, that is not fully-developed.
As new zero-carbon technology is developed, like say hydrogen-electric hybrid locomotives, these may take over certain tasks, which will reduce some of the need for synthetic diesel.
But synthetic diesel from Zero will always be there as a fuel of last resort.
Coire Glas Exploratory Tunnel 70% Complete
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in Ground Engineering.
This is the sub-heading.
A tunnel to investigate ground conditions at SSE Renewables’ Coire Glas project to build a pumped hydro scheme in the Scottish Highlands is 70% complete, as wider ground investigations come to an end.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Coire Glas on the shores of Loch Lochy in Great Glen is the first large scale pumped hydro storage scheme to be developed in the UK for more than 40 years.
It would take excess energy from the grid and use it to pump water 500m up a hill from Loch Lochy to a vast reservoir where it would be stored. This will be done through a tailrace tunnel, underground cavern power station, high pressure tunnel and low-pressure headrace tunnel.
SSE Renewables has started exploratory works on the scheme. This has involved building an up to 1km long and 4m wide tunnel to investigate the ground conditions in which the powerhouse will be built.
All the information gathered will be used in the detailed design of the 1,5GW/30 GWh pumped storage system, which is expected to be a £1.5 billion capital investment.
The Wikipedia entry for Coire Glas power station, says this about the current status and completion.
In December 2023, the exploratory tunnel had reached 720m in length.
A final investment decision will depend on UK government assurances about how the regulated electricity market would reward storage schemes. SSE hope to make that £1.5Bn decision in 2024, in which case the scheme could be completed in 2031.
I suspect that as this is one of the largest green energy projects in the UK, that there’ll be a lot of media coverage of the construction of this power station.
Rolls-Royce Supplies mtu Large-Scale Battery Storage To Secure The Latvian National Grid
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Rolls-Royce.
These four bullet points, act as sub-headings.
- Latvia synchronizes its electricity grid with the European grid in 2025
- Large-scale battery storage system from Rolls-Royce ensures stability of the power grid in Latvia
- Transmission system operator AST orders 160MWh mtu EnergyPack
- Facility will be one of the largest battery storage systems in the EU
This is the first paragraph.
Rolls-Royce has received an order from the Latvian transmission system operator Augstsprieguma tikls (AST) to supply an mtu large-scale battery storage system to secure the Latvian power grid. In 2025, Latvia, together with the other Baltic states, will synchronize its energy supply system with the continental European power grid.
Note.
- This is a Rolls-Royce press release, not a Rolls-Royce mtu press release.
- Recently, Rolls-Royce mtu supplied the generators for Redditch power station, which I wrote about in Centrica Completes Work On 20MW Hydrogen-Ready Peaker In Redditch.
- In The Modern Way To Grow Tomatoes, I describe how a Rolls-Royce mtu Combined Heat and Power unit (CHP), is used in the growing of tomatoes.
Could it be that using the Rolls-Royce name prominently, makes sales easier?
SSE Partners With Bord na Móna On 800MW Onshore Wind JV In Ireland
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from SSE.
These four bullet points, act as sub-headings.
- Leading low-carbon energy companies SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna continue to progress their respective portfolios in Ireland, by partnering to develop new onshore wind energy projects across the Midlands.
- More than €1 billion could be invested by the joint venture partnership to develop up to 800MW of new renewable energy projects, enough to provide power to over 450,000 homes.
- Onshore wind farm projects to be developed as part of the portfolio will include Lemanaghan Wind Farm in north-west Offaly, Littleton Wind Farm in Tipperary, and Garryhinch Wind Farm on the Laois Offaly border.
- The partnership has the potential to support hundreds of jobs across the Midlands during construction and operation of the onshore wind projects.
Note.
- It is a 50:50 project between SSE Renewables and Bord na Móna.
- It will deliver 800 MW of onshore wind energy.
These link to the three web sites for the wind farms.
- Lemanaghan Wind Farm will be 80-100 MW
- Littleton Wind Farm will be 60-80 MW
- Garryhinch Wind Farm will be 60-80 MW
These must be the first phases, as they are nowhere near 800 MW.
There is an interesting comparison to be made here.
- As I said in Wind Farm: Yorkshire Moors Could Get England’s Biggest Wind Farm, it looks like a 304 MW wind farm on England will be controversial.
- The 539 MW Whitelee Wind Farm near Glasgow is the largest onshore wind farm in the UK.
- The republic of Ireland is building three schemes totalling 800 MW in the Irish Midlands.
So why does England object?
Wind Farm: Yorkshire Moors Could Get England’s Biggest Wind Farm
The title of this post, is the same as that, of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The largest onshore wind farm in England could be built on moorland in the Pennines if plans get the go-ahead.
These are the first two paragraphs.
Calderdale Windfarm Ltd is exploring options for 65 turbines on Walshaw Moor, near the Walshaw Dean reservoirs above Hebden Bridge in Calderdale.
The company said the scheme would generate enough electricity to power more than 286,000 homes a year.
The Calderdale Wind Farm has a web site, which adds these details about the proposals.
- The 65 wind turbines will generate up to 302 MW of electricity.
- There will be a 150 MW battery on site.
- £2.5 million per year will be put in a Community Benefit Fund.
- Up to 300,000 trees will be planted across the site.
This Google Map shows the Walshaw Dean reservoirs and Hebden Bridge.
Note.
- Walshaw Dean reservoirs are in the North-West corner of the map.
- Hebden Bridge is at the bottom of the map.
- Hebden Bridge station on the Calder Valley Line is also marked.
- This will be a very unusual wind farm for England.
It could also be a controversial wind farm.
These are some of my thoughts and those of the BBC article.
Environmental Opinions
These five paragraphs indicate both sides of the environmental argument.
Environmental campaigners warned the development would disturb peat bogs, releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
A spokesperson for Calderdale Windfarm, which is backed by Worldwide Renewable Energy (WWRE), said the proposal was an “incredibly exciting opportunity”.
“During a cost-of-living crisis, with ongoing energy security challenges and the climate emergency, the UK needs to explore how it can generate more carbon-free renewable electricity,” the firm said.
“But our proposals are at a very early stage and we recognise there will be a range of views about the merits of our proposal.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the local community, environmental groups, local councillors and others over the coming months to help shape the final design of the project.”
The £2.5 million per year Community Benefit Fund could be the clincher.
The Site Has A Battery
In my view, it is good practice to fit every wind farm with a battery, if this is practical and cost-effective.
As most batteries associated with wind farms, seem to be able to replace the wind farm for two hours, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the battery specified as a 150 MW/300 MWh unit.
A battery this size would improve the stability of the electricity supply in the area.
How Will Calderdale Wind Farm Be Connected To The Grid?
This question is answered in the page of FAQs.
We already have an offer from the Distribution Network Operator Energy North West to connect into the local electricity network substation at Padiham. Negotiations are also ongoing about an alternative connection via a new substation and that would go into National Grid which would connect into existing 440 KV pylons.
Padiham is a few miles away to the West, so the second option may need a smaller number of pylons.
The grid connection and associated infrastructure would be subject to a separate planning application to the wind farm.
Is Calderdale Wind Farm Just Wind Turbines?
This question is answered in the page of FAQs.
- No. Alongside our proposals for onshore wind we are also exploring the potential for the inclusion of battery storage and solar panels on southern slopes.
- As we develop the proposals further, we will be able to confirm whether we will be including other renewable technologies as part of the proposals.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see solar panels floated on the reservoirs. This also has the secondary benefit of reducing evaporation.
How Will Calderdale Wind Farm Benefit Calderdale?
This question is answered in the page of FAQs.
If consented, Calderdale Wind Farm would represent an investment of circa £500m into the local economy. Calderdale Wind Farm will support the local economy and present many opportunities for years to come.
Community Benefit Fund
Around 16,500 households in Calderdale are living in fuel poverty, with around 1,200 of these being in the HX7 postcode area. As part of our proposals for Calderdale we are exploring a community benefit fund to provide support to these households across the 30-year operational lifetime of Calderdale Wind Farm.
This fund would represent £75m worth of funding across a 30-year timeframe that would be paid to Calderdale Council to help relieve fuel poverty for the operational lifetime of the Calderdale Wind Farm.
We want to work closely with the communities in and around Calderdale to ensure they benefit from the project to help address identified local challenges such as the current energy and cost of living crisis.
Socio Economic Impacts
A socio-economic report produced by Biggar Economics suggests that the project would be a significant boost to both the Calderdale and wider regional economy if it goes ahead. The report estimates that Calderdale Wind Farm would generate at least £2.2million GVA for Calderdale through the design, build and operational lifetime of the windfarm.
This is surely going to level-up Calderdale.
Is This Going To Impact My Walking Route?
This question is answered in the page of FAQs.
As we develop our proposals, we will design the scheme and placement of the wind turbines and associated infrastructure to minimise any disruption to existing paths and trails. Our team has taken into consideration the importance of preserving the natural beauty and accessibility of the area in our early stage designs, which will evolve as we undertake further work ahead of a planning submission.
While there might be temporary adjustments or diversions to certain paths during the construction phase to ensure safety, these changes will be communicated well in advance, and we will strive to keep any inconveniences to a minimum.
Once operational the moor will continue to be accessible to members of the public.
As part of our commitment to community consultation, we want to hear your thoughts on the proposals, if you have any specific concerns about how the wind farm might affect your walking routes please let us now, community input is vital to designing a scheme that works seamlessly with the local environment.
It does look like the impact will not be all that great.
Is Grouse Shooting On Walshaw Moor Expected To Continue If Calderdale Wind Farm Is Approved?
This question is answered in the page of FAQs.
WWRE and Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd are pleased to confirm that the approval of the wind farm would result in the end of grouse shooting on Walshaw Moor.
This could face a lot of opposition from the shooting lobby.
Who Are WWRE?
The Calderdale wind farm has a page of FAQs.
In response to who are the funding partners of the project, this is said.
WWRE Global is a UK based company that was looking at projects in Spain and registered with Companies House in Gibraltar. With its investors and opportunities its current operations are focused on helping to deliver new renewable energy infrastructure in locations across the UK, which is why the business is now listed at Companies House in London.
WWRE Global is responsible for delivering investment opportunities for Energy Horizon II Investment Company and managing the planning and consenting process.
WWRE Global has a web site.
When Will The Wind Farm Be Built?
This question is answered in the page of FAQs.
Calderdale Wind Farm is a fully funded project, and it is envisaged the construction would commence within 12 months of any planning permission being granted and conditions being discharged. At this stage it is expected that construction could take up to two years.
WWRE Global certainly seem to want to get on with it.
Objectors
Use Google to search for news about Calderdale wind farm and you get a lot of objectors.
Conclusion
This is a bold and scientifically-correct proposal and it will be a close decision, as to whether the wind farm gets built or not!
The Crews Bracing Themselves For A Rise In Electric Car Fires
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Each year, Essex Fire and Rescue Service focuses on one area of “top-up” training for its crews. In recent years, this has included sessions on firefighting at height and managing hazardous materials. This year, a new course is being introduced: How to deal with electric vehicle fires. Why?
These are the first three paragraphs.
Station manager Terry Maher has recently taken on a new role within the fire service.
A hazardous material expert, he is now the service’s lead officer on tackling lithium-ion battery fires.
His new responsibility comes as the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads hits more than 540,000. And the number is rising fast.
The article certainly worried me.
Most of the views expressed are by a fire officer, who is also a hazard materials expert.
It should be remembered that I have had serious fire training both as a Scout with the London Fire Brigade and a few years later at both Enfield Rolling Mills and at ICI.
These are a few points from the article.
- Dealing with a petrol or diesel car fire would normally take about 30 minutes. With an EV fire we’re looking at four or five hours or longer, if we’ve used water.
- As more and more people use electric vehicles we can expect more and more electric vehicle fires.
- The results of text searches show there were 59 electric vehicle fire references in 2022-23 across England – up from 30 the previous year.
We are dealing with dangerous vehicles and must handle with care.
These are my thoughts.
Car Insurance Rates For Electric Vehicles Will Rise
The worse the risk, the more you will have to pay.
A Full Safety Assessment Should Be Done Before Buying An Electric Vehicle
For instance, I have an integral garage in my house and wouldn’t feel safe at night, if an electric car or bicycle was in there on charge.
I certainly wouldn’t buy an electric car with a plastic body. Although I did own a Lotus Elan for over twenty years.
Conclusion
Everybody, who is thinking of buying an electric car or bicycle, should read the BBC article first.
SeaTwirl Partners With Local Firm To Bring Vertical-Axis Floating Wind Turbine To Japan
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Sweden-based SeaTwirl has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sumitomo Corporation Power & Mobility (SCPM) to promote its vertical-axis offshore floating wind turbine in the Japanese market.
These two paragraphs detail the responsibilities.
Under the MoU, SCPM will be responsible for identifying, marketing, negotiating, and contracting potential clients.
The Swedish company will be in charge of promoting and offering the products and services to potential clients.
Note.
- In SeaTwirl And Verlume Join Forces To Drive Decarbonisation Of Offshore Assets, I talk about their MoU with Verlume.
- In SeaTwirl, Kontiki Winds To Explore Powering Oil & Gas Assets With Floating Wind, I talk about their MoU with Kontiki Winds.
SeaTwirl either likes using Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) or their technology is very good.
The article says this about the applicability of SeaTwirl to Japanese waters.
Japan has over 4,000 islands, and according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), it has approximately 128 GW of fixed-bottom offshore wind potential and 424 GW of floating offshore wind potential.
SeaTwirl said that its vertical-axis wind turbine is well-suited for the conditions in the Japanese offshore environment with its robust and flexible design and high serviceability.
That certainly looks to be a good match and I wonder, if this could end up as a three-way co-operation, with the inclusion of Verlume’s underwater batteries.
Will SeaTwirl and Sumitomo target other island nations or those with lots of islands like Croatia, Greece, the Caribbean, Italy, Micronesia and the Philippines?
RWE And Vattenfall Complete Multi-Gigawatt Offshore Wind Transaction In UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
RWE and Vattenfall have completed the sale of three offshore wind projects in the UK. With the transaction completed, RWE has expanded its offshore wind portfolio in the UK by 4.2 GW.
There is also this RWE infographic, which shows the three wind farms in relation to the East Anglian coast.
RWE are getting to be a big player in UK offshore wind, with these wind farm in operation or planned.
- Galloper – 353 MW – Operation
- Gwynt y Môr – 576 MW – Operation
- Rhyll Flats – 90 MW – Operation
- Triton Knoll – 857 MW – Operation
- Sofia – 1400 MW – Under Construction – Completion in 2026
- Norfolk Boreas – 1380 MW – Planned – Completion in 2027
- Norfolk Vanguard East – 1380 MW – Planned – Completion before 2030
- Norfolk Vanguard West – 1380 MW – Planned – Completion before 2030
- Dogger Bank South – 3000 MW – Planned
- Awel y Môr – 500 MW – Planned
- Five Estuaries – 353 MW – Planned
- North Falls – 504 MW – Planned
That is a total of 11,773 MW, of which 10,607 MW is on the German side of the UK.
With RWE likely to have some success in auctions this year, these figures, are likely to increase and some wind farms will start construction.
UK’s Sixth Contracts For Difference Round Open
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The UK Government has opened the sixth allocation round (AR6) of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme on 27 March and will continue until 19 April 2024. The round will see a range of renewable technologies, including offshore wind compete for the government’s support.
This paragraph outlines how to apply and when the results will be published.
Applications may be submitted via National Grid ESO’s EMR Portal. The results are expected to be published at some point this summer.
The fifth round was a bit of a disaster for offshore wind and hopefully, it will be better this time, as the government will be upping prices.
At least it appears that Iberdrola will be bidding for two wind farm in their East Anglia Array, as I wrote about in Iberdrola Preparing Two East Anglia Offshore Wind Projects For UK’s Sixth CfD Round.
In The Crown Estate Refines Plans For Celtic Sea Floating Wind, I wrote about developments in the Celtic Sea, where contracts should be signed this year.
2024 could be a bumper year for new wind farm contracts.
SeaTwirl And Verlume Join Forces To Drive Decarbonisation Of Offshore Assets
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Swedish energy-tech company SeaTwirl and UK-based energy management and energy storage firm Verlume have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the electrification of offshore assets and decarbonisation of the oil and gas industry.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The MoU will see the two companies identify and pursue potential opportunities for decarbonisation of offshore oil and gas and other associated offshore electrification opportunities using renewable energy, seabed-based energy storage, and intelligent energy management.
SeaTwirl and Verlume plan to develop systems for commercial sale, using combined technologies.
Note.
- This YouTube video introduces SeaTwirl.
- This YouTube video introduces Verlume.
This could be an MoU made in engineering heaven.
Verlume And Wave Power
The last two paragraphs of the article describe another project involving Verlume.
Aberdeen’s intelligent energy management specialists Verlume has developed a GBP 2 million (approximately USD 2.5 million) project linking the Blue X wave energy converter constructed by Mocean Energy with a Halo underwater battery storage system.
The industry-supported project, situated five kilometres east of Orkney Mainland, demonstrates the integration of green technologies to deliver consistent and sustainable low-carbon power and communication to subsea equipment.
Could Verlume, be the missing link that wave power needs?
The Anonymous Widower 