London, December 13, 2024 (Oilandgaspress) –- Working people will benefit from a new era of clean electricity, as the UK government today unveils the most ambitious reforms to the country’s energy system in a generation, to make Britain energy secure, protect households from energy price spikes, reindustrialise the country with thousands of skilled jobs, and tackle the climate crisis. In a major milestone to deliver on the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change which aims to drive economic growth and rebuild Britain with mission-driven government, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will today (Friday 13 December) set out a detailed plan for achieving the target of clean power by 2030. The plan will provide the foundation for the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good. The independent National Energy System Operator (NESO) set out pathways to a clean power system in 2030, and confirmed it was deliverable, more secure, and could see a lower cost of electricity, and lower bills.
For too long, there has been no plan for building new energy infrastructure based on an assessment of what the country actually needs for the long term. As a result, billions of pounds of clean energy projects have been held up by a clogged-up planning system, and a dysfunctional power grid queue that means renewables projects cannot get online.
The government will now plan an energy system based on what the country needs. The plan sets out bold measures to get more homegrown clean power to people. These include: cleaning up a dysfunctional grid system by prioritising the most important projects and ending the ‘first-come-first served’ system; speeding up decisions on planning permission by empowering planners to prioritise critical energy infrastructure; and expanding the renewable auction process to stop delays and get more projects connected. Read More
Iran’s oil exports to Syria have mostly been in the form of grants to support the Assad regime. The government’s collapse could put an end to these flows for the time being, while Tehran takes a wait-and-see approach to what comes next in Syria. The first sign of that came over the weekend when the Iran-flagged Lotus, which left Kharg Island on 11 November destined for Banias, reversed course just as it was about to enter the Suez Canal. The tanker is now headed back through the Red Sea without specifying a destination. Read More
The European Union on Wednesday issued new sanctions against Russia, targeting the “shadow fleet” of tankers that Moscow has deployed to circumvent Western restrictions on oil trade and maintain a source of revenue that is crucial to fund the war on Ukraine.
The fleet consists of old-age, uninsured ships whose poor condition has stoked fears of an impending environmental disaster near or inside European waters. A handful of Chinese companies suspected of enabling Russia’s production of drones are also blacklisted as part of the agreement, a diplomat told Euronews. The sanctions were sealed by ambassadors of the 27 member states during a meeting on Wednesday and represent the 15th package since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Read More
The UK government is considering curbing communities’ rights to protest against wind and solar power projects, which extends to preventing these projects from being built. Currently, communities can oppose projects through judicial reviews and they can do it repeatedly. The Starmer government’s proposal is to limit potential opponents of wind and solar installations to just one judicial review per project, a new document published today has suggested. The document features plans to speed up planning and permitting processes for large wind and solar projects and “streamlining” those processes to make sure that there is nothing to “unduly slow down vital infrastructure development,” the FT quoted from what was probably an earlier version of the document. The final version published on the UK government’s website does not contain references to community opposition to wind and solar. Read More
Three Just Stop Oil supporters are appearing in court today after taking action at Stonehenge to demand that the UK government commit to working with other governments to agree an equitable plan to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030. Read More
Stellantis celebrates the first year of activity of the leading SUSTAINera Circular Economy Hub based in Mirafiori, Turin.
Circular Economy plays a key role in Stellantis’ target of becoming a carbon net zero corporation by 2038, combining sustainability with economic development. Created with the primary goal of extending the lifespan of parts and vehicles by applying the 4R strategy at industrial level – Reman (remanufacturing), Repair, Reuse, and Recycle – in just 12 months of activity, the leading Circular Economy Hub has achieved significant milestones:
10,000 engines, 10,000 gearboxes and 1,000 electric vehicle batteries, all remanufactured according to Stellantis OEM specifications, ensuring the same performance and warranty as original MOPAR aftersales parts
5,000 vehicles reconditioned
1.8 million components processed in the sorting center for remanufacturing activities within the Hub or at other suppliers or destined for the Stellantis recycling network. The remanufactured parts flow into the SUSTAINera range, which is the sustainable alternative within the Stellantis full Aftersales offer aiming to provide customers – motorists, maintenance and repair professionals – with affordable products and services, without compromising quality and while preserving the environment reducing waste and the use of new planet’s resources.
Reconditioned vehicles, answering to high quality standards, flow into SPOTiCar used vehicles offer. The business generated by all these activities is sustainable as it contributes to the reduction of the environmental impact, is profitable, and directly contributes to the target to achieve more than €2 billion Circular Economy revenues by 2030, as part of Dare Forward 2030. Read More
MotorTrend has named the Ram 1500 its 2025 Truck of the Year® after weeks of testing, as editors of the automotive publication awarded high scores to the truck in every category of the competitive testing process. The performance capabilities of the 3.0-liter Hurricane Straight-Six Turbo engine that delivers up to 540 horsepower played a significant role in the evaluation and scoring. MotorTrend editors also lauded the wide variety of trim levels for customers to choose, from the opulence of Tungsten to the raw off-road capability of RHO. The honor marks the seventh time a Ram pickup has earned the prestigious title since Ram became a standalone brand in 2009: 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025.
MotorTrend’s “Of the Year” awards recognize the best vehicles representing exceptional value, superiority in their classes and impact on the automotive scene. The accolades are one of the most coveted automotive industry awards and represents the pinnacle of an extremely competitive segment. Read More
Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with His Excellency, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior of Bahrain, for the purchase of nine H145 helicopters. These aircraft will be operated by the Police Aviation Command for law enforcement missions and emergency medical services in the kingdom. “We are very proud that the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain has chosen to become a new member of the H145 worldwide community,” said Olivier Michalon, EVP for Global Business of Airbus Helicopters. “We are sure that the H145 will quickly become a valuable new asset for the Bahraini police. As a truly multi-role helicopter, the H145’s versatility makes it a key asset for public safety missions around the world and in the region. More than 60 H145s are already in service in the Middle East and demand for this type of helicopter continues to grow for a vast array of missions: emergency medical services, operations in the energy sector, law enforcement and utility missions,” he added.
The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150kg. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design also eases maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. Read More
RTX has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands Aerospace Group (NAG) providing a strategic framework for collaboration on technology research and development. Under the MOU, RTX businesses Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney will collaborate with Dutch aerospace companies and research institutions across the Netherlands to develop advanced technologies for sustainable aviation.
The MOU supports collaboration across a wide range of areas including, but not limited to: advanced manufacturing processes and advanced materials, including thermoplastic composite structures; innovative propulsion technologies, including hydrogen and hybrid-electric systems; aircraft electrification and energy management; and environmental studies to assess and validate the impact of more sustainable solutions. Read More
Anduril and Archer (NYSE: ACHR) announced an exclusive partnership to jointly develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft for critical defense applications targeting a potential program of record from the DOD. With Archer’s ability to rapidly develop advanced VTOL aircraft using existing commercial parts and supply chains and Anduril’s deep expertise in artificial intelligence, missionization, and systems integration, the partnership will accelerate speed to market for critical hybrid VTOL capabilities at a fraction of the cost of more traditional alternatives.
Archer’s efforts on this project will be part of its new Archer Defense program. To support this initiative and for other general corporate purposes, Archer raised $430M in additional equity capital today, with participation from Stellantis, United Airlines, and new institutional investors, including Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi investment holding company 2PointZero, a subsidiary of UAE’S largest listed entity, IHC. Archer ended Q3’24 with $502M of cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet and this raise brings Archer’s total capital raised to nearly $2B to date. Following this capital raise, and together with Archer’s other announced financing arrangements, Archer believes it is now well-positioned with one of the sector’s leading balance sheets with no near-term financing needs. Read More
Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M), a multi-product Airline MRO, and AAR CORP. announced they have signed an agreement to form a joint-venture in the Asia-Pacific region to support nacelles of “new gen” aircraft. This is the second joint venture to be formed by the companies. The first was formed in 2021 by Triumph Product Support, which was acquired by AAR earlier this year, and AFI KLM E&M to serve the Americas region.
Located in AAR’s Chonburi, Thailand, facility, the joint-venture will perform “new gen” nacelle maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, including on-wing/on-site inspections, and ensure extensive part availability for their valued customers. Together, AFI KLM E&M and AAR are dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of the aviation industry and maintaining their well-known reputation for excellence in MRO services. The combination of an independent MRO with a global airline-MRO will provide unparalleled service and support for operators. The formation of the joint venture is subject to regulatory approval and serves as an addition to the worldwide network for nacelle service. Read More
Imagine infantry vehicles gliding across the terrain, whisper-quiet, with meanwhile reduced fuel consumption. That is the promise of hybrid military tech. Over the past 15 months, the second phase of the Hybrid Drive Train Demonstrator (HybriDT II) project has been seeking to turn this vision into reality. On 26 November, the project successfully concluded with a final meeting at the Dutch Army base in Oirschot. The research focused on both wheeled vehicles, specifically 8×8 and 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), and tracked vehicles. Launched under the CapTech Ground Systems framework of the EDA’s Research and Innovation Directorate, HybriDT II, aims to enhance maneuverability, improve energy efficiency, cut fuel consumption, and lower emissions.
EDA as Hub for EU Defence Cooperation
HybriDT II brought together several Member States, with Germany leading the initiative. Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovenia also participated. The project was carried out by a consortium of 13 industrial and research entities, including AVL List as the project leader and General Dynamics European Land Systems – Steyr from Austria. Other contributors included Germany’s AVL Schrick, AVL Software and Functions, and the Institute for Chemical Technology Fraunhofer; the Dutch firms DNV, TNO, and VDL; Poland’s Military University of Technology and Huta Stalowa Wola Ironworks; and Slovenia’s AVL Slovenia, Elaphe Propulsion Technology, and the University of Ljubljana.
What’s next?
HybriDT II’s journey is far from over. The next phase, HybriDT III, will tackle the remaining challenges and further advance hybrid technology for military applications. Read More
The Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS) has entered its fourth phase (2024-2028), marking a new push in the European Union’s energy and climate objectives to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
On 11 December, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Commission signed the grant agreement in a ceremony at the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy, underscoring the project’s importance in supporting the defence energy transition and the preparedness goals. The CF SEDSS is an EU-funded initiative managed by EDA, comprising Europe’s largest defence energy community. It is now entering its fourth phase, called Phase IV, funded by the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme.
The global defence sector consumes a significant amount of energy and is estimated to be responsible for up to 5.5% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. The Consultation Forum’s efforts spanning almost a decade have been instrumental in supporting EU Ministries of Defence in developing sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy models in line with the EU’s climate ambitions. Phase IV of the project was officially launched on 1 October 2024. Read More
(Reuters) – The European Commission is not considering changing Europe’s policies to cut CO2 emissions from cars, despite a push from the EU’s biggest political group to weaken the laws, the bloc’s climate policy chief told Reuters on Thursday.
The centre-right European People’s Party – the European Parliament’s biggest lawmaker group – launched a campaign this week to weaken the climate rules, adding to pressure on Brussels from automakers and national governments to urgently help Europe’s ailing autos sector.. Read More
Scientists in Japan have demonstrated a new proof-of-concept reactor that can harvest renewable hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water.
The new 1,076-square-foot (100 square meters) reactor uses photocatalytic sheets to split apart the oxygen and hydrogen atoms found in water molecules, thus siphoning the hydrogen away to be used as fuel. While the technology remains in its infancy, the scientists behind the research say that, if more efficient photocatalysts can be developed, their breakthrough could enable the production of cheap, sustainable hydrogen fuel to meet various energy needs. They published their findings Dec. 2 in the journal Frontiers in Science. Read More
Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the Sea Giraffe 1X radar system to the Swedish navy. The order value is approximately SEK 340 million with deliveries 2024-2026.
The order includes Saab’s Sea Giraffe 1X naval radar system in different configurations for training as well as installation on surface ships.
“We are happy to continue to provide the Swedish Navy with modern radar systems. Sea Giraffe 1X will contribute in protecting costal and littoral areas and strengthen the naval units with advanced capabilities to detect, track and classify threats in the air and on the surface,” says Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s business area Surveillance. Sea Giraffe 1X is a radar with ability to simultaneously detect, track and classify objects in the air and on the surface, including drones. The software-defined radar enables updates to meet new threats and is suitable for both smaller and larger ships, as well as autonomous vessels. Read More
Kosmos Energy Ltd. notes announcement by Tullow Oil plc (“Tullow”) (LSE: TLW) regarding a potential transaction involving Tullow and Kosmos and confirms that it is in very preliminary discussions with Tullow regarding a possible all-share offer by Kosmos for Tullow.
There can be no certainty that any offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made. Pursuant to Rule 2.5 of the Code, Kosmos reserves the right to vary the form and/or mix of the offer consideration and vary the transaction structure. A further announcement will be made as and when appropriate.
As stated in the announcement by Tullow, in accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Kosmos is required, by not later than 5.00 p.m. on 9 January 2025, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Tullow in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline can be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code. Read More
Ørsted announces contracts collectively worth £75 – £100m with UK companies.
JDR Cable Systems, Severfield and Smulders, all based in the North of England, will produce integral components and services for the Hornsea 3 wind farm on UK soil. Severfield, headquartered in York, is the largest steel fabricator in the UK but this is their first contract on an offshore renewables energy project, marking an important step in their journey into the sector. Severfield will work with their strategic key contractor Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes, site of the recent Great British Energy launch, and will undertake final assembly of key components at the Teesworks Port in Teesside. Smulders is a leading steel fabricator in the offshore wind industry, and since 2016, has operated the UK based facility in Wallsend (Newcastle).
Severfield and Smulders will supply a large proportion of secondary structures for Hornsea 3’s foundations from the UK. This includes the Suspended Internal Platforms or SIPs, key internal parts of the foundations on which the wind turbines sit. In addition they’ll build the boat landings where smaller vessels will arrive, allowing technicians to directly access the turbine foundation. They’ll also provide anode cages, which protect the steel-made foundation structure from corrosion.
North East England-based JDR won the Array Cable Testing and Termination contract. JDR will prepare and connect the cables between the turbines and offshore convertor stations and then using their state of the art testing system will ensure that all array cabling is fully integrated into the offshore electrical infrastructure and working safely.
The work on Hornsea 3 will help support more than 300 jobs across the three partners.. Read More
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OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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