Hydrogen Deployment Milestone For Cemex And HiiROC
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Agg-Net.
This is the sub-heading.
Cemex kick-start first-of-a-kind low-carbon hydrogen project using thermal plasma electrolysis in cement production
These first two paragraphs add more detail.
CEMEX Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit, announced today an initial hydrogen deployment at industrial scale with HiiROC, the pioneering British hydrogen company that produces affordable, clean hydrogen, at their Rugby cement plant in the UK.
Hydrogen has emerged as a low-carbon energy source within the construction industry’s decarbonization roadmap and offers potential as an energy solution to help reduce the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions. This venture marks a significant milestone for Cemex, as it represents the beginning of a large-scale strategic project plan with the aim to further lower their carbon emissions in cement production.
These third paragraph is a good outline of HiiROC and how it can be deployed.
HiiROC produce carbon-neutral hydrogen using their proprietary Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) process, which requires just one-fifth of the electrical energy used in water electrolysis and captures carbon as a solid by-product, avoiding CO2 emissions – a game-changer for the industry. HiiROC’s modular solution can be deployed as single units to full-scale industrial plants, and the hydrogen produced can be used as an alternative energy source to fuel clinker production processes, helping Cemex to achieve their decarbonization goals.
Centrica, Cemex, Hyundai, Kia and others are investors in HiiROC.
I asked Google AI, what percentage of carbon emissions came from cement production and got this answer.
Cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to think tank Chatham House. This makes it a significant contributor to climate change, with the industry’s emissions comparable to the total emissions of some countries.
If HiiROC can take a big bite out of carbon emissions, by reducing cement production’s 8 % share, they would be on a winner.
Is Another “I Was There” Event Happening At Brisbane Road?
As I start to write this amazingly, Leyton Orient are one-nil up in the F. A. Cup at home to Manchester City.
Is it going to be one of those events, where in years to come, people will claim they were at Brisbane Road to watch it?
I thought about going, but didn’t buy a ticket. In a way, I’m glad I didn’t, as the weather wasn’t too good today.
The goal that Leyton Orient scored was one of the most spectacular goals ever scored in the F. A. Cup. But I saw everything on television!
This page on the BBC is entitled ‘Strike of a lifetime’ – an own goal that belongs in FA Cup folklore.
It contains a video clip which shows the goal, which was an own goal scored off a rebound of a shot from Jamie Donley.
The classic event of this type happened on the 31st October, 1972, when Llanelli famously beat the All Blacks 9-3 in a Rugby match.
The Wikipedia entry for the match has this first paragraph.
As part of their 1972–73 tour of the Northern Hemisphere, the New Zealand national rugby union team’s fourth match saw them take on Llanelli RFC of Wales at Stradey Park, Llanelli, on 31 October 1972. In one of the most famous results in rugby union history, Llanelli won the match 9–3 in front of 20,000 spectators. Llanelli centre Roy Bergiers scored the only try of the game, charging down a clearance by All Blacks scrum-half Lin Colling after a penalty from Phil Bennett rebounded back into play off the crossbar. New Zealand full-back Joe Karam scored a penalty to give them their only points of the game, before Llanelli wing Andy Hill hit a penalty to secure victory for the Scarlets. The result was immortalised by Welsh entertainer Max Boyce, whose poem 9–3 appears as the opening track on his Live at Treorchy album.
A much larger number of people claimed to have been at the match, than actually were.
Sadly unlike Llanelli, Leyton Orient didn’t hang on.
But according to the BBC, the goal has acquired legendary status.
The Most Crowded Train I’ve Been On For Sixty-Plus Years
I started going to Tottenham Hotspur matches by myself somewhere between the age of fourteen and sixteen.
- I used to take the 107 bus from where we lived in Oakwood to Enfield Town station and then get the electric trains to White Hart Lane.
- I don’t remember much about the trains, but they were slam door stock.
- I remember this as we used to fold the doors back before the train entered the station and jump out when the train got to running speed.
- Coming back into Enfield Town station, this was essential, otherwise you wouldn’t be to the front of the queue for the 107 bus.
- Those trains returning from White Hart Lane were incredibly packed.
And I haven’t been on a train as crowded until today.
Today, I planned a simple mission to go to Ebbw Vale Town station and back to see the working of the new service between Newport and Ebbw Vale Town station.
- As I often do, I used my Freedom Pass on the Elizabeth Line to get to Reading.
- At Reading station, I bought a Super Off-Peak Return from Reading to Ebbw Vale Town for £47.05 with my Senior Railcard.
- By comparison, a Super Off-Peak Return from Paddington to Ebbw Vale Town is £57.55 with a Railcard.
The first train today, on which I could use my cheap ticket was the 11:13 from Reading.
- I had hoped, that there would still be a few seats left at Reading, as there are always a few, who use Great Western Railway’s fast trains between Paddington and Reading.
- I also expected, that many going to the Wales and Scotland match in Cardiff would take later trains.
- Unfortunately, quite a few Scots and Welsh supporters got on at Reading.
- It was a wrong decision, as there wasn’t a spare seat anywhere.
So in the end, I stood all the way from Reading to Newport.
I would hope that next time, that Scotland play Wales in Cardiff, that Great Western Railway add some more capacity.
Trying To Watch The Rugby World Cup, But All I Get Is Adverts
At least I could watch the athletics on the BBC, whilst waiting for the match to start.
As all matches would appear to be on ITV, I doubt I’ll be watching many of the matches.
Landmark Levelling Up Fund To Spark Transformational Change Across The UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from the UK Government.
These are the four bullet points.
- More than 100 projects awarded share of £2.1 billion from Round 2 of government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund.
- Projects will benefit millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and create jobs and boost economic growth.
- £672 million to develop better transport links, £821 million to kick-start community regeneration and £594 million to restore local heritage sites.
- Successful bids include Eden Project North in Morecambe, a new AI campus in Blackpool, regeneration in Gateshead, and rail improvements in Cornwall
The press release expands the last bullet point.
Projects awarded Levelling Up Fund money today include:
Eden Project North
Eden Project North will receive £50 million to transform a derelict site on Morecambe’s seafront into a world class visitor attraction. It will also kick-start regeneration more widely in Morecambe, creating jobs, supporting tourism and encouraging investment in the seaside town.
Note.
- Because of its closeness to the West Coast Main Line, it will have excellent rail connections to all over the North of England and Central and Southern Scotland, through Lancaster, which will only be a shuttle train away.
- One of High Speed Two’s direct destinations will be Lancaster, which will be served by High Speed Two by hourly trains to Birmingham, Carlisle, Crewe, London, Preston, Warrington and Wigan and by two-hourly trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lockerbie and Motherwell.
- London and Lancaster will be a journey of just two hours and three minutes.
I believe that this high quality rail access will ensure the success of the Eden Project North.
Cardiff Crossrail
Cardiff Crossrail has been allocated £50 million from the fund to improve the journey to and from the city and raise the economic performance of the wider region.
The Cardiff Crossrail is obviously a good project from the little that I’ve read about it. But it does need a web site to explain the reasoning behind it.
Blackpool Multiversity
Blackpool Council and Wyre Council will receive £40 million to deliver a new Multiversity, a carbon-neutral, education campus in Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway Central Business District. This historic funding allows Blackpool and The Fylde College to replace their ageing out-of-town centre facilities with world-class state-of-the-art ones in the heart of the town centre. The Multiversity will promote higher-level skills, including automation and artificial intelligence, helping young people secure jobs of the future.
Blackpool certainly needs something.
My suggestion in Blackpool Needs A Diamond, was to build a second Diamond Light Source in the North to complement the successful facility at Harwell.
I don’t think the two proposals are incompatible.
Fair Isle Ferry
Nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
Note.
- Will it be a British-built ferry?
- Will it be hydrogen-powered? After all by the time it is built, the Northern Scottish islands will be providing enough of the gas to power a quarter of Germany.
- Surely, a hydrogen-powered roll-on, roll-off ferry will be a tourist attraction in its own right.
I hope the Government and the islanders have a good ship-yard lined up
Gateshead Quays And The Sage
A total of £20 million is going towards the regeneration of Gateshead Quays and the Sage, which will include a new arena, exhibition centre, hotels, and other hospitality. The development will attract nearly 800,000 visitors a year and will create more than 1,150 new jobs.
I don’t know much about the Sage, but this project seems very reasonable.
Mid-Cornwall Metro
A £50 million grant will help create a new direct train service, linking 4 of Cornwall’s largest urban areas: Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth/Penryn. This will level up access to jobs, skills, education, and amenities in one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in the UK.
I wrote about this scheme in The Proposed Mid-Cornwall Metro, where I came to this conclusion.
I believe that a small fleet of Hitachi Regional Battery Trains could create an iconic Metro for Cornwall, that would appeal to both visitors and tourists alike.
Judging by the recent success of reopening the Dartmoor Railway to Okehampton in Devon, I think this scheme could be a big success. But it must be zero-carbon!
Female Changing Rooms For Northern Ireland Rugby
There is £5.1 million to build new female changing rooms in 20 rugby clubs across Northern Ireland.
Given the popularity of the female version of the sport in England, Scotland and Wales, perhaps this is a sensible way to level it up in Northern Ireland. As rugby is an all-Ireland sport, perhaps the Irish have already sorted the South?
Calcutta Cup By Lumo
According to Scottish Rugby, the Culcutta Cup between Scotland and England next year is at Murrayfield on the 5th of February 2022.
I have just looked up services that day on Lumo’s web site.
- It would be possible to travel North on the 05:45 train, which arrives in Edinburgh at 10:06.
- After the match, there is a train South at 17:56, which arrives back in London at 22:29.
- Tickets are available at £45.50 both ways.
As Lumo could probably run both services with ten-car trains, that hold eight hundred passengers, this could earn ticket revenue for Lumo of £72,800.
The Northern Ends Of The Platforms At Kings Cross Station
These pictures show the Northern ends of the platforms at Kings Cross station.
The two trains are both nine-car Hitachi Class 800 or Class 801 trains and I was standing in line with their noses.
I wonder what is the maximum length of trains that can be handled in these platforms.
- They can certainly handle ten-car trains, as LNER run these to Leeds.
- Hitachi have designed the trains, so they can be up to twelve-cars, which are 312 metre long trains.
- Looking at maps, I suspect that eleven-car trains would be the largest that can be handled.
But surely to maximum the number of passengers handled in the station, the platforms should be able to handle the longest Hitachi trains.
- Unless, the capacity of an individual train is limited by the gate-lines and Network Rail have said that ten-car trains are the longest allowed.
- Or would twelve-car trains be two far to walk with lots of luggage.
But ten-car trains would allow Lumo to double-up trains to increase capacity selectively, when perhaps, there is an important sporting event.
So when say the Culcutta Cup is taking place, an early morning train to the match and a late evening return could be doubled to add another four hundred seats.
But the current Lumo timetable only shows just two trains on a Saturday.
- London King’s Cross – Edinburgh, which leaves at 10:25 and arrives at 14:57.
- Edinburgh – London King’s Cross, which leaves at 08:49 and arrives at 13:17.
Not very good to go to the rugby or a birthday lunch with your mum.
But realtimetrains reveals two early morning paths allocated to Lumo.
- London King’s Cross – Edinburgh, which leaves at 05:45 and arrives at 10:06.
- Edinburgh – London King’s Cross, which leaves at 05:36 and arrives at 10:04.
So you can get to the other capital, but is there a later last train back?
Oh! Yes there is! And again they are revealed by realtimetrains.
- London King’s Cross – Edinburgh, which leaves at 18:27 and arrives at 22:56.
- Edinburgh – London King’s Cross, which leaves at 17:56 and arrives at 22:29.
Is the Southbound service earlier, as Murrayfield is closer to Waverly station, than Twickenham is to King’s Cross?
If the return was fifty pounds and the trains were doubles, that could be revenue of around £ 40,000. There would be more electricity and track access charges, and they’d need extra train crew, but Lumo would surely be quids in!
Lumo’s financial model has several nice little earners.
End Of The World! All Blacks Stunned By Incredible English
The title of this post, is a caption to a picture on the NZ Herald web site.
I watched and enoyed every minute of the match!
Rugby Is A Team Game And So Is Formula One!
On Saturday morning, the Japanese rugby team, showed how teamwork is important, as they hardly seemed to make a mistake.
The Welsh and the Australians, both played their parts in an excellent match.
And then we had the Russian Grand Prix at lunchtime!
Mercedes got the teamwork like clockwork and they won.
As to Ferrari, the two drivers felt out with each other and Vettel didn’t obey team orders.
I have watched Formula One for many years, and every so often Ferrari seem to lose the plot!
The Anonymous Widower 