HS2 Tech Incubator Bases Start-Ups On Site
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from HS2.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The latest cohort of the successful Innovation Accelerator initiative will base tech start-ups with project’s main civil engineering contractors to help tailor innovative solutions for the construction industry.
After discussing the aims, the press release then lists five SMEs.
Silicon Microgravity, a SME spun out from Cambridge University research, is developing non-invasive next-generation gravity sensors to identify underground hazards that could be deployed for ground investigation surveys and utility diversion planning.
EHAB is developing hyper-local weather forecasting and using A.I. to optimise daily works schedules according to when or if rain is due. Reducing weather-related delays helps to maintain programme timetables and control costs.
Immense Simulations will further develop its A.I.-based strategic and operational transport planning tool to de-risk the effects of works traffic on local road networks. The technology could also help plan for the effects future that HS2 stations could have on traffic movements in surrounding areas.
Consequence has developed “carbon accounting” technology that illustrates the full carbon content of construction materials used on HS2.
Mafic is developing technology to enhance productivity and protect delivery schedules.
My experience of science, data analysis and writing a lot of database and project management software, leads me to the conclusion, that these companies have been well-chosen and a majority will be a success.
Former US President Donald Trump Launches $99 NFT Trading Cards
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
Under images of two of the cards, one showing him as a roughneck with a shotgun and the other as a superhero, this is the first paragraph.
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a collection of digital trading cards depicting him in various guises including a superhero, astronaut and Nascar driver.
In the superhero picture he has a T on his chest.
I would think a W with an anchor would have been more appropriate.
Ducking And Diving Between Moorgate And Liberty
Liberty is one of my favourite shops. That probably dates from the times in the 1970s, when C and I didn’t have large amounts of money and three kids, so if she needed a new summer dress, I’d make it and we’d usually choose the fabric at Liberty.
I was doing some Christmas shopping today, so after breakfast at Leon on Moorgate, I jumped into the Lizzie Line to the Hanover Square entrance at Bond Street station, where it was a short walk to Liberty.
These pictures document the route.
Note.
- I took one stop on the Metropolitan Line from Moorgate to Barbican.
- I positioned myself, at the front of the train.
- This enabled me to take the lift at Barbican station to the Lizzie Line passenger interchange level at Farringdon station.
- I then got the escalator down to the platforms.
- I was able to get into the back of the Westbound train, which I needed to avoid a long walk at Bond Street station.
The Lizzie Line will bring out the best ducking and diving in us all.
But with my manoeuvres, I avoided a two hundred metre walk from one end of the train to another!
This Google Map shows my walking route from Bond Street station to Liberty.
Note.
- Hanover Square is the green space to the left of the map.
- The Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station is in the North-West corner of the square.
- Liberty is at the far right of the map.
Advantages of this route include.
- The Western end is in one of London’s best squares.
- All major road crossings have zebras or light controlled crossings.
- There are a few smaller useful shops like itsu, a Pret and a Ryman on Hanover Street.
- The route wasn’t too busy with pedestrians.
I would recommend using the Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station for places like Bond Street, Carnaby Street, John Lewis, Regent Street and The Palladium.
After I’d done my shopping at Liberty, I walked along Great Marlborough Street to the back entrance of Marks and Spencer’s flagship store, thus avoiding the crowds on Oxford Street.
What If I Want To Go To John Lewis On Oxford Street?
As for Liberty, you would take the Lizzie Line to Bond Street station and use the Hanover Square or Eastern exit, then follow these pictures.
Note the Leon, which will probably opening soon.
What If I Want To Go To Bond Street?
You take the Medici Courtyard by the side of the station.
Note.
- There is an upmarket hotel in the courtyard.
- The courtyard has some artwork.
- The floral entrance on Bond Street.
It will be interesting to see how the Medici Courtyard develops.
ERM To Lead EIA For Salamander Floating Project Offshore Scotland
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
A joint venture (JV) between Simply Blue Group, Ørsted, and Subsea7 has selected ERM Group company MarineSpace to lead the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for its Salamander floating offshore wind project in Scotland.
Note.
- The Salamander floating offshore wind farm is going to be a 100 MW wind farm 35 km. North of Peterhead.
- It is likely to be a pathfinder, in the development of new facilities to build wind farm structures and components in the North of Scotland.
- I talked about the floaters in Ocergy Floaters Selected For 100 MW Project Off Scotland.
- I suspect that it could be an INTOG project.
Salamander seems to be progressing at a decent pace.
Electrolyser System To Linde For Green Hydrogen Production In Niagara Falls, New York
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Cummins.
This is the first paragraph.
Cummins Inc. will supply a 35-megawatt (MW) proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system for Linde’s new hydrogen production plant in Niagara Falls, New York. Once commissioned, Cummins’ electrolyzer system will power Linde’s largest green hydrogen plant in the U.S., marking significant progress in moving the green hydrogen economy forward.
Note.
- The electrolyser will be powered by hydroelectricity.
- Linde have a strategic investment in iTM Power, who are a British manufacturer of electrolysers.
- ITM Linde Electrolysis is a joint venture between iTM Power and Linde.
Why did Linde choose Cummins over iTM Power?
Is it down to cost, delivery, politics or quality?
Would Southeastern’s Proposed Battery-Electric Trains Be More Reliable In The Snow?
This article on CityMonitor, which is entitled No Trains South Of London During Cold Weather? Blame A Pair of Herberts For Choosing The Wrong Electrical System, explains it all.
The article was written in 2018 and these are the first two paragraphs.
As is often the case when the weather is below freezing, commuters around London are having a terrible time this week. The blizzard has hit services on all lines around the capital. Trains running towards the south and southeast have had the worst of it, with services cancelled on Monday before the full impact of the storm really hit.
It’s frustrating to compare the UK’s lack of readiness when extreme weather hits with services in Switzerland or Sweden, which cheerfully run in heavy snow conditions.
The article blames the poor performance on South London’s third rail electrification, which as the title suggests was chosen by a couple of Herberts.
Does anybody know of a child in the last fifty years, who has been called Herbert?
I shouldn’t be too hard on Herberts, as my paternal grandfather was a Herbert. But he was an alcoholic and died before he was forty.
Hydrogen Corolla Cross Begins Testing In Japan
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Toyota UK Magazine.
These two introductory paragraphs outline Toyota’s plans for hydrogen.
Toyota’s approach to carbon neutrality is to develop and offer multiple technologies to support widely varying customer needs and market environments around the world. This multi-technology approach – which includes battery electric and fuel cell electric and plug-in hybrid electric and hybrid electric vehicles – is witnessed in the company’s development of a new hydrogen car powered by a hydrogen combustion engine.
Toyota firmly believes it is too early to focus on a single zero-emission solution and is therefore concurrently developing hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion technology alongside battery electric technology. Today’s announcement follows last week’s confirmation that Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK will lead a consortium developing a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Hilux pick-up at its Burnaston car plant in Derbyshire.
This paragraph gives more details of the car.
This version of the mid-size Corolla SUV* is powered by the 1.6-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine featured in the GR Corolla* performance model, re-engineered with high-pressure hydrogen direct injection technology. The prototype is also fitted with hydrogen fuel tanks, packaged with know-how gained from the development of the Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric saloon. The prototype is able to accommodate five passengers and their luggage. Real-world evaluation is being carried out alongside digital development, and the vehicle will soon undergo winter testing in northern Japan.
I must admit, that if I still drove, this type of vehicle with a hydrogen internal combustion engine, would be what I’d buy.
Edvard Grieg And Ivar Aasen Runs On Power From Shore
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Aker BP.
This is the first paragraph
The Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen production platforms on the Utsira High area in the North Sea are now operated with electric power from shore. Two gas fired turbines have been shut down, and thus we achieve a significant reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.
This is surely the way to power offshore assets.
Why Don’t I Feel The Cold?
It’s been cold today in London, but I didn’t really feel it.
Offshore Wind Developers Answer Scotland’s Call For Innovation, Oil And Gas Decarbonisation
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Crown Estate Scotland has received a total of 19 applications for its Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) offshore wind leasing process.
INTOG
Note that there are two sections to INTOG.
This document on the Crown Estate Scotland web site, is entitled INTOG – Public Summary and it defines the two sections.
Innovation:
- To enable projects which support cost reduction in support of commercial deployment of offshore wind including alternative outputs such as Hydrogen.
- To further develop Scotland as a destination for innovation and technical development which will lead to risk reductions and supply chain opportunity.
Applications in this section should be no more than 100 MW in capacity.
Targeted Oil and Gas:
- To maximise the role of offshore wind to reduce emissions from oil and gas production.
- To achieve target installed capacity in a way that delivers best value for Scotland, creating supply chain opportunity in alignment with Just Transition principles.
A rough estimate is that powering rigs by using offshore wind would increase gas production by around ten percent.
The Applications
The article says this about the applications.
Of the 19 applications, ten are for the Innovation part, while nine have been submitted for the TOG element.
It is expected that up to 500 MW will be awarded to innovation projects and around 4 GW for projects looking to decarbonise oil and gas assets.
The article also lists the known bidders.
Conclusion
I believe that there is going to be some outstanding applications for leases under the INTOG scheme.
I have already written about Cerulean Winds ambitious proposal in Cerulean Winds Is A Different Type Of Wind Energy Company, which could result in 6 GW of wind turbines installed amongst the oil and gas fields to provide electricity and decarbonise the platforms and rigs.
The Anonymous Widower 