Centrica To Invest In Fund Backing The Technologies Driving The Energy Transition
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Centrica.
This is the sub-heading.
Centrica has made a $13.5 million anchor commitment to the first close of ERV Fund II, a new fund from London-based venture capital firm Energy Revolution. The fund is targeting US$50 million and invests at Seed and Series A in energy storage, grid technology and advanced materials.
These two paragraphs add more details.
The electrification of transport, heating and industry, alongside the rapid growth of data centres, is accelerating demand for electricity. That is putting greater pressure on the grids, storage systems, and materials needed to generate, move and deliver reliable power.
Founded in 2021, ERV Group backs early-stage energy technology companies through ERV Fund II and its venture builder, Prosemino. Its technical committee is led by three UK experts: Professor Paul Shearing, Director of the Zero Institute at Oxford University; Professor Chris Howard, Professor of Materials Physics at University College London; and Daniel Brett, CEO of Sention Technologies and formerly co-head of UCL’s Electrochemical Innovation Lab. The firm also has seven full-time PhDs across its technical team.
It looks to me, that this is a good long-term strategy from Centrica.
Can The Hiiroc Process Be Used To Make Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
After Writing Cemex To Install World-First Hydrogen Process At UK Cement Plant, I just had to ask this question of Google AI and I received this reply.
Yes, the HiiROC process is currently being developed and studied to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
How the Process Works
Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE): HiiROC’s core technology splits hydrocarbons (like biomethane, natural gas, or flare gas) into clean hydrogen and solid carbon without burning them or emitting carbon dioxide.
Thermal Plasma Reforming (TPR): Building on TPE, this adaptation is being evaluated to create synthetic e-SAF by combining the produced clean hydrogen with carbon dioxide at a lower electricity cost than traditional water electrolysis.
Current Developments
Feasibility Study: HiiROC received grant funding from Scottish Enterprise to study a negative-carbon SAF business in Scotland through its subsidiary Zeleno Ltd and partner Stratus Energy Partners.
Partnerships: The initiative has drawn interest from aviation and energy stakeholders like Airbus, World Kinect, and the Forth Green Freeport to make power-to-liquid SAF more scalable and affordable.
It certainly seems it could be a possible route to SAF.
I should say, that when I worked at ICI at Runcorn, for a period, I had the privilege of sharing an office, with an elderly scientist, who before the Second World War, was closely involved in the development of polythene.
That was a long process, but in the end they got there, mainly because radar needed a top-class insulator for which polythene was the only solution.
Jim Ratcliffe Mothballs UK Plants Over ‘Ridiculously High Gas Price’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
These three paragraphs give more details.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos is mothballing three chemical plants in Hull in response to Britain’s “ridiculously high gas price”.
The plants directly employ 245 people producing acetyls, which are used as raw materials for everything from pharmaceuticals to food and military explosives. Ineos said the sites support almost 4,000 jobs in the wider supply chain across Humberside.
Ineos’s Hull acetyls plants “just cannot compete” as gas prices are now 12 times higher in Britain than in the United States, Ratcliffe said. The plants use gas as a feedstock and also burn hydrogen derived from gas as an energy source to power chemical production.
I don’t think, that this story, is as simple as it seems.
Consider.
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1974 with a degree in chemical engineering.
- The plants in Hull make acetyls.
- The acetyl group has a Wikipedia entry.
- From my own experience, the 1970s was an exciting time for chemical engineering.
- ICI were trying to use a process purchased from BASF to make acetylene, which failed miserably, as all the process did was coat Runcorn in soot.
- Did ICI use the acetylene to make acetyls?
- Google AI says you can make acetyl-containing compounds, such as acetic acid and vinyl acetate, starting from acetylene.
- For a time, I shared an office, with a fellow Liverpool University graduate, who was helping to get the ICI plant working.
In the end the ICI plant was dismantled.
Has Sir Jim Ratcliffe A Connection To HiiROC?
I asked Google AI this question and received this reply.
Yes, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has an indirect financial and strategic connection to HiiROC through his petrochemical company, INEOS.
The INEOS Connection: INEOS backed HydrogenOne Capital Growth—a hydrogen-focused investment fund—which made a £10 million equity investment in HiiROC to develop affordable “turquoise hydrogen” (clean hydrogen produced via thermal plasma electrolysis).
Shared Industrial Projects: HiiROC has collaborated on low-carbon hydrogen projects in the Humberside region close to major INEOS operational footprints, connecting clean-tech hydrogen initiatives with heavy UK industrial chemical hubs.
Note.
- The last paragraph, I clipped from The Times mentioned hydrogen.
- The HiiROC process can use any hydrocarbon gas as feedstock and is five times more energy efficient than traditional electrolysis.
- HiiROC is backed technically by the University of Hull.
- The ICI plant produced loads of soot and HiiROC produces carbon black, so I wonder, if the two processes are by any chance related?
It strikes me that some of the various interests have come up with a route to creating acetyls, that is more efficient.
I suspect Sir Jim Ratcliffe will disclose a clever plan at some time.
What Is The Connection Between The University Of Hull And HiiROC?
I asked Google AI this question and received this reply.
The University of Hull and HiiROC have a collaborative partnership focused on developing clean energy technology.
Nature of the ConnectionTechnology
Collaboration: HiiROC worked collaboratively with the University of Hull (leveraging regional programs like those from the university’s Aura Innovation Centre) to help develop and test Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE).
Clean Energy Innovation: This proprietary TPE technology converts biomethane, flare gas, or natural gas into clean “emerald” hydrogen and valuable solid carbon black without greenhouse gas emissions.
By-Product Research: The partnership includes joint efforts to research potential commercial uses for carbon black, the solid carbon by-product created during HiiROC’s hydrogen-generation process.
Regional Growth: HiiROC established its development and testing facilities in Hull to advance this technology, working alongside local academic and business innovation networks tied to the university.
From my experience in the 1960s at ICI Mond Division in Cheshire, I believe that this could be one of the most important research projects in the UK.
Could INEOS Be Going To Collect All Their Flare Gas In Hull?
Consider.
- The HiiROC process can use any hydrocarbon gas as feedstock.
- This would include chemical plant flare gas, biomethane and natural gas.
- The HiiROC process extracts the hydrogen as hydrogen gas.
- The HiiROC process extracts the carbon as carbon black.
I have seven questions.
- Suppose INEOS collected all the flare gas from their chemical plants in Hull, could they use this as feedstock in a HiiROC process to create hydrogen efficiently?
- Could they collect biomethane from Humberside and mix this with the flare gas?
- Could they bring in extra flare gas from chemical plants elsewhere in the UK and Europe using coastal gas tankers or rail tankers?
- Could INEOS use natural gas, if they were short of flare gas and biomethane?
- Could any excess hydrogen be stored in Aldbrough or Rough gas storage?
- Could any excess hydrogen be sold on to other companies?
- Could hydrogen be used to make the acetyls?
I suspect that all questions have an answer in the affirmative.
Conclusion
I feel that Sir Jim Ratcliffe made a very shrewd investment in HiiROC.
India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train Notified: Know Route, Launch Date & What Makes It Special
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Times of India.
These two paragraphs add some detail.
India’s first hydrogen train has been notified by Indian Railways. The new hydrogen-powered train is expected to be flagged off by PM Narendra Modi on July 17. He will also unveil a series of other infrastructure projectsacross Haryana, state minister Krishan Kumar Bedi said on Thursday.
The government says that project underscores Indian Railways’ wider focus on technological innovation, improved energy efficiency, and environmentally sustainable transportation, while supporting India’s national objectives on clean energy and achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
The route will be between Jind and Sonipat, which are both shown on this OpenRailwayMap.
Note.
- Jind, which has two stations Jind City and Jind Junction is in the North-West corner of the map.
- The blue arrow indicates Jind City station.
- Jind Junction station has a Wikipedia entry, which indicates that Jind Junction station has a hydrogen refilling station.
- Sonipat Junction station is in the South-East corner of the map.
- Jind and Sonipat are about fifty miles apart by train.
- OpenRailwayMap shows that most, if not all of the rail lines shown in this map are electrified using 25 KVAC overhead.
It looks to me, that Indian Railways are following similar rules to Network Rail, when they tested the battery-electric Class 379 train on the Mayflower Line.
- Test new technology on a line with spare capacity.
- Test new technology with a train, that can still run using current electrification.
- Test new technology on an electrified line.
From talking to some of those, who used the Harwich train every day, there were no problems during the test.
Visiting The Hydrogen Train
I feel that if you were passing through New Delhi, it would be feasible, if you had time to spare to visit the hydrogen train.
Google AI says this about the New Delhi and Sonipat service.
Trains to Sonipat Station run directly from New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS). Several long-distance, express, and local EMU/MEMU trains connect the two stations daily, making the journey in approximately 30 to 50 minutes.
The Ghostly Drone That Spins Almost Too Fast To See
The title of this post, is the same as this article on The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
The ‘Phantom Twist’ prototype rotates about 25 times a second while its body moves in the opposite direction — appearing as a faint haze
These two initial paragraphs add some more details.
Engineers have created a drone that almost vanishes in flight by spinning so quickly the human eye sees only a faint, translucent haze.
The body of the drone, called the Phantom Twist, rotates about 25 times a second, while its propeller spins in the opposite direction. Its inventors describe it as “morphing into a ghostly smudge that seamlessly blends into the background”.
This technology obviously works and was developed at North Western University in the United States.
This paragraph speculates on a few civilian uses.
It is, they say, intended for civilian uses. The researchers believe less conspicuous aircraft could be useful for monitoring nesting birds, surveying wilderness areas or inspecting bridges and other infrastructure without causing wildlife to scatter or prompting people to alter their behaviour.
The article then details how drones have transformed the war in Ukraine.
An Avenue Of Trees, Cheered Me Up Today
I was feeling a bit down, after the loss of my phone on a train yesterday, as I cam back from Cambridge South station.
After reporting its loss at Liverpool Street station this morning, I thought I might be able to get something I needed at Sainsbury’s in Walthamstow.
To get from Walthamstow Central station to Sainsbury’s I walked along this avenue of trees.
Note.
- It was lovely and cool on a hot day.
- There was a gentle breeze through the trees.
- Halfway along, I chatted to a guy with Indian heritage. He said he liked the trees at Chistmas, when the Council put lights on them.Now surely, that is multiculturalism.
I asked Google AI about the trees and got this reply.
The avenue of mature trees leading from Walthamstow Central Station towards the High Street consists of lime trees. Also locally referred to as Lime Tree Walk, these established trees are well known for soaking up pollution from the adjoining bus and transit areas.
Google AI estimates that the trees are at least a hundred years old.
I believe we should do things like this more often, as it is surely a scientifically-correct way to deal with the pollution of only a few vehicles emitting it.
Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI,”Are we doing research to increase the effectiveness of trees clearing pollution?” and received this reply.
Yes, there is extensive, ongoing scientific research dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of trees at clearing pollution. Studies focus on optimizing urban canopy cover, vegetative barrier design, and microbiome/soil enhancements to maximize both particulate matter (PM) capture and carbon sequestration.
Current research initiatives and findings include:
Vegetative Barriers & Species Traits: Research from the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) has developed a plant selection framework. By evaluating traits like leaf hairs, canopy density, and seasonal leaf retention, they identify highly effective species (such as silver birch, elder, and yew) to act as physical green barriers that trap particulate matter and filter exhaust.
Tree Spacing & Dispersion: Studies on urban street canyons show that sparse or dense tree spacing can sometimes trap pollutants if the canopy blocks wind flow. However, “medium spacing” (where the gap between trees is roughly equal to the crown diameter) has been proven to optimize both airflow and particle reduction for pedestrians and cyclists.
Soil & Growth Interventions: Studies like the Glandwr Forest Carbon Study by Imperial College London and The Carbon Community are testing methods to boost young tree growth and carbon sequestration using enhanced rock weathering and microbial enrichment.
Cooling & Air Purification Pathways: Recent findings published in Landscape and Urban Planning highlight that trees reduce particulate pollution (PM10) not just by trapping it on leaves, but also through localized cooling. By mitigating extreme heat, trees promote the natural deposition of suspended particles.
It seems that the good citizens of Walthamstow and the nearby forest, probably achieved a result, that was very much in line with modern research.
Is The UK Developing Sea-Drones To Protect Wind Farms?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, the UK is actively developing and utilizing sea-drones (and autonomous boats) for its offshore wind farms. This technology is being used to protect the farms by patrolling subsea infrastructure, inspecting underwater turbine foundations, and delivering heavy equipment to mitigate human risk.
Here is a look at how sea drones and autonomous systems are being developed and used for the UK’s offshore energy sector:
Subsea Security and Patrolling: The UK and NATO are highly focused on protecting critical subsea cables and wind networks from adversarial interference. Firms like Aberdeen-based Honuworx have been contracted to develop autonomous underwater vehicles capable of prolonged remote operation for defense and infrastructure surveillance.
Underwater Structure Inspection: Projects like the UNITE program (led by Heriot-Watt University and supported by the National Robotarium) are testing AI-controlled underwater robots to operate in turbulent seas and maintain offshore wind infrastructure. Meanwhile, Beam (an offshore wind services company) successfully deployed the world’s first AI-driven autonomous underwater drone at Scotland’s Seagreen wind farm, cutting inspection times in half.
Sailing Drones & Remote Operations: Energy companies like Vattenfall are controlling uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and sailing drones from remote operation centers in Aberdeen to patrol and keep North Sea wind farms safe and efficient.
Heavy-Lift Cargo Drones: Beyond sea drones, energy giant Ørsted has utilized giant autonomous drones to deliver heavy equipment—like 70kg boxes of safety gear—directly to the tops of offshore wind turbines in the UK, removing the need for ships and cranes in rough seas
We should fight fire with innovation.
Disappearance Of Biological Sex In Research ‘Is Like Stalin-Era Purge’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Sir Anthony Finkelstein, a university vice-chancellor, laments that the category has become ‘politically uncomfortable’
These three paragraphs add detail to the post.
A university vice-chancellor has warned of the “quiet disappearance” of sex as a recorded variable in academic research, likening pressure to abandon politically sensitive classifications to Stalin-era persecution of statisticians.
According to Times Higher Education, Sir Anthony Finkelstein, head of City St George’s, University of London, made the remarks at an event to discuss the Sullivan review, which recommended that biological sex be used as the default category in research data collection.
Finkelstein said it was essential that researchers retain established classifications for sex in their statistical analysis. He said: “In recent years, there’s been growing unease about recording sex as a basic variable, and pressure — sometimes explicit and sometimes ambient — to replace it with or collapse it into gender identity.”
I fund and participate in medical research and certainly wouldn’t do so, if I felt the research was not being conducted in a scientifically-correct manner.
Trump May Have Alzheimer’s, Says Niece
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Mary Trump said the president appeared to have developed a ‘deer-in-the-headlights look’ that reminded her of his late father, Fred Trump.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
President Trump’s niece has suggested her uncle could be suffering from Alzheimer’s based on a “deer-in-the-headlights” expression that reminds her of the president’s father.
Mary Trump, a longtime critic of her uncle, said she saw flashes in him of Fred Trump, her grandfather, who she witnessed struggle with the degenerative disease before his death aged 93 in 1999.
“Sometimes it does not seem like he’s oriented to time and place,” Mary Trump, 60, told New York Magazine of her uncle. “And on occasion, I do see that deer-in-the-headlights look.”
Fifteen years ago, my consultant at Addenbrooke’s said I should go on Warfarin (rat poison) to thin my blood. But my GP said I should stick to a small aspirin every day.
The result was that I had a serious stroke on holiday in Hong Kong.
Luckily, I made a remarkable recovery and I am now testing a Warfarin replacement drug, which is two pills a day and no testing, except by the doctors every three months.
My current cardiologist has even used the GP’s actions in a lecture to students on how not to behave.
Trump is playing with fire!
Surely he should at least be taking Warfarin and being tested frequently.
If any cardiologists are reading this, they should note, that I am coeliac and for the last twenty-eight years, I have been having regular B12 injections.
As B12 injections are used in Trumpland to help stroke patients recover, but not in the UK, from observations of my own recovery, by several doctors, I am tempted to believe that B12 injections may help stroke recovery.
Any sensible offer to help in research will be considered.
From my own experience, an affordable drug, like B12 injections could have a place in stroke recovery.
To get a second opinion, I asked Google AI, this question. – “Do Vitamin B12 Injections Help With Stroke Recovery?”
I received this answer.
Vitamin B12 injections may aid stroke recovery, particularly for individuals with a deficiency, by supporting nerve function, reducing homocysteine levels, and enhancing neurological rehabilitation. Research indicates that adequate B12 levels are crucial for protecting the brain after an ischemic stroke.Key findings regarding Vitamin B12 and stroke recovery:
- Neuroprotection: Vitamin B12 aids in maintaining myelin sheaths, which are essential for nerve repair and protecting the central nervous system after a stroke.
- Reduced Damage: Studies suggest that B12 can help reduce cerebral injury and improve long-term neurobehavioral function.
- Correcting Deficiency: People with B12 deficiencies often have worse stroke outcomes, making correction via injections crucial.
- Homocysteine Control: B12 helps lower homocysteine, a risk factor for vascular damage and recurrent stroke.
- Efficiency of Injection: For those with absorption issues (e.g., older adults or those with GI issues), injections bypass the digestive system to ensure maximum absorption.
The NHS will face a lot of resistance, if they want to take away my B12 injections.
