Carbon Chemist

Tag: The Innovation Platform Issue 17

  • Exploring the farmer-focused initiatives of CAP 23

    Exploring the farmer-focused initiatives of CAP 23

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    With the new legislation for CAP 23, Olof Gill answered our questions about how CAP will impact European farmers and what support it offers.

    With farmers facing more and more issues both within the industry and environmentally, the European Commission has established the Common Agricultural Policy 2023 (CAP 23) legislation to provide European farmers with support through disasters, environmental support, and financial support.

    Olof Gill, Spokesperson of the European Commission for Agriculture and Trade, answered some of our questions regarding the new legislation.

    How does CAP 2023-27 align with the European Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy to ensure agricultural practices will contribute to environmental sustainability and biodiversity?

    CAP 23 reflects a greener approach, striving to be the most environmentally and climate-focused CAP to date. To receive full payments, farmers are required to meet an enhanced set of standards covering the environment, climate, food safety, plant protection products, animal welfare, and working conditions. This conditionality principle applies to nearly 90% of the utilised agricultural area in the EU, emphasising the mainstreaming of sustainable farming practices.

    In support of environmental goals, the Plans allocate a significant 32% of the total CAP budget (approximately €98bn) to voluntary actions. For instance, Italy designates over €10bn for climate and environmental interventions, compensating farmers for adopting practices that are more environmentally and climate-friendly. These include the use of fertilisers and pesticides, for example, or soil conservation practices.

    These efforts highlight CAP’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability and biodiversity while encouraging farmers to adopt practices that are more sustainable.

    How will CAP balance providing income support through direct payments with encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable and environmentally friendly practices?

    On average, agricultural income is only 45% of the average wage in the economy, with variations between different agricultural sectors and farming systems. In 2020, CAP support accounted for 23% of EU farm income on average. It proves key to maintaining agricultural activity and jobs in remote rural areas, slowing down land abandonment and rural depopulation.

    To receive full CAP payments, farmers must respect an enhanced set of requirements and standards for the environment, climate, health, animal welfare, and decent working conditions. This principle of conditionality applies to close to 90% of the utilised agricultural area in the EU and plays an important role in mainstreaming sustainable farming practices.

    Under CAP legislation, farmers will have to work to guidelines, but will be provided with much support

    Besides income support, how does the CAP contribute to rural community development and job creation in both upstream and downstream sectors of agriculture?

    CAP goes beyond income support, making substantial contributions to rural community development and job creation in both upstream and downstream sectors of agriculture.

    With a dedicated focus on the social and economic fabric of EU rural areas, CAP 23 invests in precision farming, innovation, and farmer training across the EU.

    In concrete terms, CAP allocates nearly €25bn (8% of the total budget from 2023 to 2027), significantly boosting the economic landscape of EU rural areas. Initiatives such as installation aid and higher investment rates target the attraction of 377,000 new young farmers, fostering innovation and job creation in the upstream agriculture sector.

    Indeed, we aim at having 377,000 new young farmers during this programming period, thanks to several tools such as the support income for young farmers, the installation aid for young and new farmers, higher rate for investments, support to farm transfers via the co-operation tool, or even intergenerational exchange of knowledge.

    The CAP framework offers multiple opportunities to support rural areas in creative ways beyond agricultural activities. Several Member States take advantage of these opportunities to support social services, natural parks, renewable energy production, rural mobility systems or business creation in sectors other than farming.

    The Horizon Europe fund, with over €3bn, supports research and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas; and provides a substantial financial backing for technological advancements, creating job opportunities in downstream sectors.

    Strategic partnerships, like Circular Bio-based Europe, showcase a dedication to job creation and environmental protection. Supported by CAP, precision farming technologies optimise resource use, enhancing crop yields and generating jobs in related sectors.

    In summary, the CAP’s multi-faceted approach actively promotes rural community development and job creation across the entire agricultural value chain.

    How will transparency and accountability be ensured in the management of CAP funds at the national level, and what measures will track the impact of CAP financing on income support and rural development?

    The Commission has solid rules and procedures in place to protect the EU budget and to make sure every euro is well spent.

    Under shared management, EU countries are responsible for implementing and controlling the various schemes under CAP legislation. The Commission’s role is to ensure that Member States manage CAP funds in a sound way, that taxpayers’ money is spent properly, and that the EU does not pay for projects or claims that do not comply with the established rules.

    EU countries execute payments to farmers and other beneficiaries through national or regional paying agencies, and these agencies undertake a rigorous system of checks before payments are made.

    The Commission also conducts audits several times a year and claims back to Member States the amount that has not been paid in compliance with EU rules due to errors or, more rarely, fraud.

    Regarding the evaluation of the current CAP for farmers and the agricultural sector, the Commission has already published a first evaluation report in November 2023, which assesses the impact of the Strategic Plans for delivering on the goals of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027, particularly those linked to environment, climate, and societal expectations such as animal welfare.

    The report confirmed that the CAP Strategic Plans aim to deliver the most ambitious CAP ever from an environmental and climate perspective.

    There will also be annual performance reports and interim and final evaluations in 2026 and 2031, respectively. In line with its transparency and monitoring requirements, the European Commission also provides detailed information on all CAP Strategic Plans online, with a summary of all Plans, a catalogue of CAP interventions, and dashboards on result indicators and financial allocations.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Neutrino oscillations at the wrong location?

    Neutrino oscillations at the wrong location?

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    Neutrino oscillations, discovered 25 years ago, break the Standard Model of particle physics and have been the subject of much investigation.

    But even in this new picture, there remain some anomalous measurements suggesting neutrinos could be even stranger.

    Neutrinos are very strange particles indeed. Neutrinos have a property known as ‘flavour’, which dictates which charged particle they pair with – the humble electron or its lesser-known and heavier cousins, the muon and tau. But oddly, as neutrinos travel, they can change from one flavour to another!

    This actually isn’t quite as impossible as it sounds – quarks, the particles that form protons and neutrons, have a similar property, and this comes from the fact that in the quantum realm, things can be in a mixture (or ‘superposition’) of different states. For both quarks and neutrinos, there are three masses and three flavours, but they don’t line up. The lowest mass neutrino is a combination of electron, muon, and tau flavour. It may sound far-fetched, but the maths adds up and matches our data.

    The thing about neutrinos

    The big problem for neutrinos is that the Standard Model has no way of producing neutrino masses, so there shouldn’t be any mass states to mix up. Putting that problem to one side, there are three neutrino flavours, so there should be three masses.

    The rate at which the flavours change depends on three things: the distance the neutrino travels, its energy, and the difference in neutrino masses. By picking the energy and distance, an experiment will be sensitive to a particular mass difference. Three neutrino masses mean two mass differences should be enough to describe all measurements, so we should only see oscillations at two distance/energy pairs, in theory.

    There are two mass differences established: the ‘solar’ mass difference of around 10-5 electronvolts (eV) and the ‘atmospheric’ mass difference of around 10-3 eV.

    neutrino oscillations

    However, a few experiments have now seen indications of oscillations at mass differences of around one electronvolt. Where can this third mass difference come from? Is it an experimental mistake, another neutrino, or some other kind of new physics?

    Other experiments have searched for these ‘extra’ neutrino oscillations, and many have failed to see any effect, but no experiment is completely foolproof, and it’s still possible that there is another neutrino making these oscillations happen.

    The Fermilab experiment

    The Fermilab Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) programme pairs new detector technology with a well-understood beam. Importantly, there are three detectors in the beam, placed at three very different distances, with the closest detector at 110m, the furthest at 600m, and another in the middle at around 450m. If neutrinos are changing as a function of distance, as the theory suggests, the three detectors will see three different things.

    The first of these detectors to operate is the ‘middle’ one, known as ‘MicroBooNE’, and has already searched for evidence of these oscillations by itself. The early data shows no real evidence of an anomaly, but the experimental collaboration is currently working on processing its full dataset (twice as much as the first measurement used) and improving the analyses to enhance the sensitivity of the data.

    However, when the new detectors come online, the sensitivity should be able to easily cover all possible explanations for the anomalous results. This isn’t because the new detectors are better; it’s just because there’ll be multiple detectors. The reason having multiple detectors is so important comes down to uncertainties.

    It’s hard to say exactly how many neutrinos are produced in the beam and what energies they have, exactly. It’s also hard to predict how neutrinos interact in detectors and exactly how detectors respond to those neutrinos.

    So, when we only have a single detector, we’re comparing measured data to an uncertain prediction. The ‘smoking gun’ signature of these oscillations is how they change with distance, and we can see a change by measuring the same beam multiple times.

    If your detectors are identical (or close to it), the beam is the same, and they are interacting with the same material, then all these uncertainties have the same impact on all three detectors, but they won’t lead to differences between what each one sees.

    This same multi-detector strategy has been used extensively by ‘standard’ oscillation experiments for many years. We’re now adopting it to see if we can spot any other oscillations. This will be the most stringent test yet of this potentially anomalous behaviour. Whatever we find, we should settle a 20-year-old question!

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Research excellence at the Université de Sherbrooke

    Research excellence at the Université de Sherbrooke

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    Innovative programmes, partnerships, and scholarships are driving advances in research at the Université de Sherbrooke, a leading Canadian institution renowned for its commitment to excellence and discovery.

    The Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS), located in the heart of Québec, is a research and innovation powerhouse. Its diverse range of research programmes are nationally recognised and have significant global impact. The university is dedicated to creating the next generation of researchers and has established itself as an international hub for academic excellence.

    To discuss the university’s dynamic research environment, variety of expertise and commitment to scientific excellence, Dr Jean-Pierre Perreault, Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, at the Université de Sherbrooke spoke with The Innovation Platform.

    Can you provide a brief overview of Université de Sherbrooke and the opportunities you have to offer?

    A university community at the service of society, the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) is dedicated to learning, critical knowledge-seeking and the quest for new insights through teaching, research, creation and social engagement. UdeS is a French-language university located in Québec, Canada. It welcomes 31,170 students to its three campuses, including 3,000 international students from 104 countries.

    UdeS is the only university in the province of Québec located outside a metropolitan area offering a complete range of training programmes, from medicine and engineering to law, science, humanities, arts, social sciences and management.

    Because the next generation of researchers is at the heart of our research enterprise, UdeS has set up an ambitious institutional scholarship programme to support excellence in research, awarding Master’s scholarships worth up to $50,000 for two years and doctoral scholarships worth up to $105,000 for three years. One hundred new scholarships are awarded annually to students enrolled at UdeS, including international applicants.

    Our recognised research expertise lies in a variety of disciplines including: Quantum sciences, sustainable health, outdoor education, green chemistry, and integrative ecology. At UdeS, research is structured around six multidisciplinary unifying themes. The university boasts 19 research centres, over one hundred research chairs, six interdisciplinary institutes and two CNRS International Research Laboratories: The Nanotechnologies and Nanosystems Laboratory (LN2) and the Quantum Frontiers Laboratory.

    By combining our disciplinary strengths, we explore emerging scientific fields and enable promising innovations that shed new light on societal challenges. Across each theme, researchers develop new methodologies, multiply the angles from which they analyse complex issues, and find innovative ways to improve systems thinking in research.

    Where does the Université de Sherbrooke research stand compared to other Canadian institutions, and what is its ranking in the international GreenMetric ranking system?

    Across all disciplines, the UdeS is transforming society through discoveries and analyses, each more relevant than the last. As of 2023, this dynamism propelled UdeS to an unprecedented tenth place among Canada’s most research-intensive universities, as measured by research income, according to Research InfoSource. Over the past 20 years, Université de Sherbrooke has posted the highest growth in research revenues among Canadian universities.

    Research revenues are a reliable indicator of quality university research, testifying to the confidence partners and funding agencies have in the university’s research teams and their readiness to train the next generation of highly specialised researchers in priority areas.

    Sustainable development

    For the past 11 years, UdeS has ranked first among Canadian universities and among the top 20 universities globally in sustainable development, according to the GreenMetric international ranking.

    Achieving carbon neutrality in June 2022 – eight years earlier than planned – is one of the contributing factors to our continual improvement. This result is even more impressive considering that UdeS has more than doubled its campus infrastructure since the 1990s, and student enrolment has jumped by almost 60% since 2002.

    These results are driven by a 64% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2002, propelled most notably by installing a geothermal system, transitioning to hydroelectricity from steam heating, and purchasing renewable natural gas.

    Further, our solar park, the largest such park dedicated to applied research in Canada, also ensures savings of some 6850m³ of natural gas annually.

    How does the Université de Sherbrooke utilise its partnerships to foster innovation within organisations, particularly regarding scientific excellence and knowledge transfer?

    UdeS has developed an effective and innovative model for university-business partnerships. We focus on entrepreneurship, collaboration and knowledge sharing across all disciplines and various public and private partners.

    We have also seen notable successes in technology transfer: From 2017-2022, the commercialisation rate for inventions resulting from UdeS research activities was 46%, among the highest in North America.

    UdeS’s signature Integrated Innovation Chain is a driving force for innovation in Québec and Canada, supporting organisations in Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies, digital technology, and innovative manufacturing. Since 2010, it has benefited from over a billion dollars in investments, of which 60% is from private sector partners.

    Anchored at the junction between university research and the development of new industrial products, the Integrated Innovation Chain drives innovation from basic research at Institut Quantique through advanced development at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT) and through to pre-commercial testing at MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI).

    The UdeS is a founding partner in the first two designated Québec Innovation Zones. DistriQ is a quantum innovation zone dedicated to quantum sciences and technological applications. Technum Québec specialises in digital technologies. These zones, supported by public, private, and international investments, are designed to increase the commercialisation of innovation, generate exports and stimulate local and foreign investment in all regions of Québec.

    From the University’s perspective, they will significantly impact teaching and research while attracting and retaining talent, generating multiple, high-value-added spin-offs and creating hundreds of high-quality jobs.

    UdeS is home to a wealth of knowledge; can you elaborate on some of your fields of expertise?

    While UdeS has many fields of expertise, our research in the high Arctic illustrates our commitment to multi-disciplinarity, collaboration with communities and impacting the problems that matter to society.

    At present, the Arctic is the fastest-warming region on the planet. Université de Sherbrooke professor, Dr Alexandre Langlois, a geographer by training and a specialist in Earth evolution, is the instigator, in partnership with colleagues from three other Canadian universities, of the Multidisciplinary Observatory for Monitoring Climate Change and Extreme Events in the Arctic (MOACC).

    The main objective of this project is to develop a permanent multidisciplinary scientific infrastructure that will enable long-term observations of climate change in the Arctic by bringing together experts from a wide range of backgrounds and institutions. The innovative aspect of MOACC lies in its multidisciplinary approach, enabling long-term measurements of the Arctic in several disciplines: Atmosphere, permafrost, remote sensing, etc.

    The observatory is located at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The team aims to make the site one of the largest instrumented observatories in the High Arctic, dedicated to monitoring key indicators that determine climate change. The site has created and strengthened partnerships with Canadian research centres, organisations, the Inuit community, and international research partners and networks.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • PV technology innovation driving the clean energy transition

    PV technology innovation driving the clean energy transition

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    The ACT-FAST project brings together change makers from four EU leading PV researcher institutions to establish an impactful, innovative, all thin film PV tandem technology driving the clean energy transition.

    The Sustainable Antimony Chalcogenide Thin-Film TAndem Solar Technology (ACT-FAST) project, receiving funding from the European Commission, in the frame of the Clean Energy Transition Partnership, (CETPartnership) is targeting to provide scalable and impactful thin film tandem photovoltaic (PV) solutions with the highest potential of rapid transferability and mass adoption by the society.

    The power of PV

    Increasing the proportion of power generated by PV will reduce world carbon emissions and provide a green future for society.

    ACT-FAST project capitalises on European wide thin-film (TF) PV expertise to deliver a new type of solar technology capable of producing high power densities, with a wider application range than traditional Si based modules.

    We target a technology with excellent long-term stability, allowing PVs to be deployed in a wider range of settings e.g., flexible, or low weight modules more suitable for building integrated PV (BIPV), mobility and customised product integration applications (PIPV/IPV).

    ACT-FAST aims to develop high efficiency TF tandem solar cells, based on emerging earth abundant antimony chalcogenides, using novel and low-cost techniques, low environmental impact materials, high versatility, and scalable depositions processes. This will yield a technology compatible with a future upscaling for mass deployment and transferable solutions which are adopted by society.

    Achieving climate-neutral Europe

    In the fight against climate change, the European Union (EU) is committed to transitioning towards a sustainable, secure, and competitive energy system to achieve the goal of a climate-neutral Europe with net-zero emissions by 2050 outlined in the European Green Deal.1  2

    Photovoltaic (PV) energy represents a key technology to enable the decarbonisation of the energy system, as the most cost-effective solution. The key drivers towards widescale adoption of PV technologies are the continued reduction of cost per watt from module production and identifying alternative applications (e.g. building integrated or semi-transparent PV) to maximise usage of the technology and accelerate their adoption by the society.

    While substantial efforts in various PV technologies (such as silicon or thin film CdTe) have been devoted to increase cell PCE through optimisation in material quality and optics, the most direct route to enhance performance beyond the limit of single junction PV devices is tandem technology.

    Thin film PV technologies are adaptable

    Thin film PV technologies are ideally suited to meet this challenge as producing lower cost per Watt due to rapid production techniques, but also have a high degree of adaptability in available design and applications.

    ACT-FAST proposes an alternative approach to extend the concept of highly efficient tandem devices to novel thin-film PV technologies and to develop novel all TF tandem solar cells (SC) (Fig. 1) entirely based on emerging low temperature process antimony chalcogenides.

    Fig. 1: Tandem solar cell architectures proposed in ACT-FAST, offering several possibilities of integration in future BIPV, IPV and PIPV solutions, thanks to their flexibility in design and development on various substrate configurations.

    Long-term vision of the ACT-FAST project

    The long-term vision of the project is to deliver a new generation of TF tandem solar cells (SC) and modules reaching high levels of performance with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) ≥25%, at low manufacturing costs of ≤€0.10/Wp.

    To reach the ambitious target, ACT-FAST brings together top research groups from Tallinn University of Technology (TALT), University of Liverpool (ULIV), Universitat Polytechnical de Catalunya (UPC), Institut de Recerca de l’Energia de Catalunya (IREC, and Università degli Studi di Verona (UNIVR), with the highest EU share of cumulative efforts on the development of emerging thin film PV technologies.

    This project takes the view that the long-term delivery of the technology needs to be considered during its development, not as an afterthought.  ACT-FAST will contributing towards:
    •   Building a sustainable and ultracompetitive mass production process for thin film tandem PV (i.e., based on a market-oriented roadmap);
    •   Boosting the European PV industry by providing a framework to convert EU-based expertise into products, services and innovations;
    •   Reducing the carbon footprint of tandem PV technologies;
    •   The positioning of Europe as a leader in the industrial production of TF PV along the entire European PV value chain; and
    •   Producing highly qualified human resources via research excellence and career development of researchers (following the gender balance principles) for leading roles in the reindustrialisation of Europe as a low-carbon economy.

    “This research was funded by CETPartnership, the Clean Energy Transition Partnership under the 2022 CETPartnership joint call for research proposals, co-funded by the European Commission (GAN°101069750), with the funding detailed on https://cetpartnership.eu/funding-agencies-and-call-modules and with the funding organisation Estonian Research Council, agreement No MOB3PRT2’’

    References

    1. Stepping up Europe’s 2030 Climate Ambition Investing in a Climate-Neutral Future for the Benefit of Our People, COM/2020/562 Final.
    2. Fit for 55 packages. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/green-deal/fit-for-55-the-eu-plan-for-a green-transition/

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • How Vineland is protecting Canada’s soil

    How Vineland is protecting Canada’s soil

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    Advocating for the importance of healthy soil, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre explains its role in the future of food security, conservation and agricultural sustainability.

    Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is a uniquely Canadian results-oriented organisation dedicated to horticulture science and innovation. Delivering innovative products, solutions, and services, the Centre provides an integrated and collaborative cross-country network that advances Canada’s research and commercialisation agenda.

    As part of this dedicated effort, Vineland advocates for improving and maintaining soil health, sustainability and food security. Crucial to global agricultural productivity, water conservation, and a sustainable food supply, our soil must be protected. Experts from the Centre elaborate on the how and why.

    How do soil carbon levels impact soil health and agricultural productivity, and how does this affect sustainability?

    Soil health is defined as the ongoing ability of soil to function as a vital ecosystem for plants, animals, and humans. It is a living, breathing system determined by physical (e.g. texture, bulk density), chemical (e.g. available nutrients) and biological factors (e.g. organic matter, soil respiration). Soil carbon, a vital aspect of the biological property, is crucial in soil health, productivity and sustainability.

    Carbon naturally exists in all soils, but levels vary based on factors such as production practices, soil disturbance, and texture. Enhancing microbial life using organic matter input and improved production practices helps build soil carbon, an essential component for agricultural productivity and farm sustainability. Soil carbon:

    • Serves as a food source for micro-organisms, promoting mineralisation and returning nutrients to the soil for plant use and growth;
    • Provides soil structure, aiding in the formation of aggregates that improve water-holding capacity, infiltration, and erosion resistance; and
    • It acts as a storage system for nutrients and water, regulating their release to plant roots, preventing leaching, loss, and erosion, thereby protecting aquatic habitats, which can become contaminated with excess nutrients and sediment from soil erosion.

    Prioritising the development of soil carbon enhances sustainable farming by reducing fertiliser and irrigation needs, fostering plant growth and sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide.

    How does the use of absorbent soil contribute to water conservation and soil erosion prevention?

    Water conservation and soil erosion are interconnected. To better understand their relationship, let’s revisit the essence of soil. Soil is comprised of four key components: Minerals (e.g. sand, silt, clay), organic material, water, and air. When we look at healthy soil, 50% of the soil should consist of water and air, often referred to as ‘open space’, ‘pore space’ or, more specifically, ‘soil porosity’. One cubic metre of healthy soil can store up to 0.5m³ of water (or 500L).

    Healthy soil can act like a sponge, absorbing and storing rainwater for prolonged periods. This stored water then becomes accessible to plants. This is critical for plant growth, especially for the newly planted, establishing vegetation facing water limitations, which can determine their success or failure.

    Compacted soil prevents water from entering pore spaces, leading rainwater to become surface runoff or stormwater runoff. As it travels downhill, it carries loose soil particles, causing soil erosion and soil loss. Massive erosion results in muddy streams flowing into rivers. To minimise soil erosion, a focus on upstream soils is crucial. Enhancing porosity by reducing soil compaction enables the absorption of rainwater into the soil, decreasing surface runoff and the risk of erosion.

    Improving soil health, including absorbency, in urban environments can save on costs for watering and tree replacement programmes, while contributing toward the establishment of healthy and resilient urban trees that can grow to canopy height and contribute vital ecosystem services, including heat mitigation, urban cooling, air filtration, and shading.

    What are the key characteristics of soil that promote healthy tree growth, and how do you study this?

    Good soil health results from the proper balance of physical, chemical, and biological properties that mutually regulate one another, forming a sustainable foundation for plant growth. Degradation of one soil parameter adversely affects the others, as evident in soils with low organic matter. Soil organic matter, comprising living organisms and organic residues, enhances soil porosity and reduces bulk density, facilitating increased water and air entry. This environment supports micro-organisms that break down organic matter and release nutrients, like nitrogen, for plant uptake. The absence of organic matter leads to negative impacts, such as nutrient deficiency, heightened compaction and reduced soil microbial activity.

    Trees are large, long lived organisms that require greater soil volume, investment during the three to five-year establishment phase, and long-term maintenance as compared to other ornamental and landscape plants. Where soil is heavily compacted, low in organic matter, or has typical urban issues like high salt content resulting from the use of de-icing salts, trees often cannot penetrate and establish adequate root systems to support effective growth, limiting their ability to become large, healthy trees. Poor soil health often leads to the gradual decline and eventual removal of newly planted trees in the urban environment, typically occurring over five to ten years as the tree exhausts the limited resources available in unmaintained urban soil and eventually dies.

    The need to understand tree establishment and its interaction with soil health was the impetus to develop the TreeCulture Research Park. This state-of-the-art facility was designed to allow researchers to study trees and soil under semi-controlled conditions. Most research involving trees occurs either in the field, where conditions can be pretty unpredictable, or in the lab, where researchers work to replicate real-world conditions by building and testing model systems in benchtop experiments. The TreeCulture Research Park offers the best of both, allowing scientists to conduct research trials and experiments at scale while controlling inputs and testing specific soil treatments under natural environmental conditions.

    Each tree is planted into a specially designed tree compartment buried below ground and filled with particular soil mixtures that are being trialled and tested before use in real-world applications. Compartments measure 4.5×4.5m wide and 1m deep, giving tree roots plenty of space to extend and grow. All compartments are outfitted with soil sensors, measuring everything from soil temperature, moisture and pH to oxygen content and water availability. Sensors collect soil data continuously and transfer information to the cloud, which our research team monitors and analyses. The inaugural research experiment assesses the effectiveness of low-impact developments to optimise stormwater infiltration and storage and maximise tree establishment and growth.

    What are the key considerations in breeding crops for adaptation to Canadian climates and growing conditions?

    Climate change has presented several additional challenges for growers. Whether it is the extreme heat, drought, unexpected frost events, or new and emerging pests and diseases, growers are looking to newer, adapted varieties to help withstand these pressures. Here at Vineland, we take a unique approach to breeding that combines the considerations from the entire value chain and cutting-edge scientific expertise & tools. These tools include:

    Development of a consumer preference map:

    A statistical model that links discrete sensory attributes & their contribution to consumer preference or product optimisation.  This tool is used in the selection process to identify material predicted to have high consumer acceptance;

    Biochemical selection tools:

    Using a process of biochemical selection, we can incorporate traits like the aroma volatile profiles of consumer-preferred varieties into modern cucumber genetics; and

    Patented non-GMO technology enabled trait development:

    Deep Variant Scanning (DVS) technology quickly turns off genes in practically any seed-crop species.  This can create new traits such as stress tolerance and disease resistance.  Based on mutagenesis, this technique is recognised globally as a non-GMO technology.

    In turn, an adapted crop should have the ability to respond to these pressures to minimise losses. In the case of fresh food, an adapted variety should have the appearance, taste, aroma, and texture preferred by consumers. Furthermore, the adapted variety must perform well throughout harvesting, packaging, and shipping to enable it to perform in the retail environment and maintain its freshness and visual appeal. For processed crops, a new variety should meet the parameters of the food processors (e.g. size, shape, nutritional content) so that minimal modifications to their equipment are required. With the growing demands of food production, developing adapted varieties is one consideration to tackling food security, while an alternative approach is reducing waste.

    A tree grows in Vineland’s Tree Culture Park

    What is critical when determining the waste streams for various agricultural products and considering how to repurpose said waste into more productive processes?

    Several factors determine the viability of repurposing fruit and vegetable by-products (e.g. skins, peels, stalks, grade-outs) into value-added products. These considerations include:

    • Volume of by-products available;
    • Availability and seasonality of the by-products (year-round or specific time period);
    • Perishability of the by-product;
    • Purity of the by-product stream (mixed or single ingredient);
    • Quality of the by-product stream (food grade or non-food applications);
    • Minimal transportation from the grower facility to the processing facility;
    • Pre-processing requirements (water, debris, seed removal, etc.);
    • Potential functionality of upcycled by-product (fibre, enzyme activity, nutrients); and
    • Potential applications and implementation into value-added products (e.g. food ingredients, fruit and vegetable powders, coatings, soil amendments, nutrient supplements).

    Each by-product stream needs to be evaluated individually for its optimal upcycling use. Vineland recently assessed underutilised by-products from the top seven Canadian horticultural crops — carrots, apples, potatoes, field tomatoes, greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions. Our findings identified crops with limited processing markets ideal for by-product streams, including unavoidable waste from produce processing.

    However, linking producers with companies who can utilise these by-products remains a challenge. This is where Vineland’s R&D support for product development, market analysis, and supply chain connections can help fill an important gap.

    How can the life cycle assessment (LCA) results inform decision-making related to sustainable food systems?

    The entire food system operates through various stages and involves multiple players in a complex network. Each stage contributes to environmental footprints, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and water usage. The global food supply chain is responsible for 13.7 billion tonnes of CO2 (26% of total anthropogenic emissions), utilising 50% of habitable land, 70% of global freshwater, and 78% of global eutrophication (Ritchie, n.d.).

    Amidst the challenge of increasing food demand due to population growth and climate change impacting agriculture, there’s a pressing need to reduce the food system’s environmental impact. Recognising this environmental burden is a crucial initial step toward achieving a sustainable food system.

    Life cycle assessment is a science-based method to map and gauge the environmental impact of food across the agri-food system, effectively painting a complete picture of the ecological burden. More specifically, this analysis can articulate sustainable food systems in several ways, including:

    1. Mapping the food journey through various life cycle models, such as cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-farm gate, based on specific requirements;
    2. Systematically measuring the environmental burden associated with the food system, including carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emission intensity, acidification, depletion of abiotic resources, ecotoxicity (freshwater, marine, terrestrial), eutrophication, human toxicity, and ozone layer depletion;
    3. Identifying the life cycle stage with the highest environmental footprint, offering insights for decision-making on food imports, domestic production, and emission reduction strategies;
    4. Pinpointing environmental footprint hotspots aids in developing effective mitigation strategies, using the initial LCA as a baseline for future studies; and
    5. Farmers adopting measures to minimise environmental footprints aligns with climate action and emission reduction goals set by governments, making them competitive in the downstream value chain, including distributors and retailers. This approach is relevant to the food processing industry and agribusiness.

    Important linkages for sustainable food production: Soil health and food security

    The poor establishment, growth and survivorship of trees in our landscapes, or underperforming crops in agricultural fields are indicative of soil health declines.  The challenges affecting our urban forest parallel those of the agricultural and horticultural production industries, where an overuse of soil resources and general lack of investment in soil health has contributed toward agricultural soils that are highly compacted and lacking organic matter with poor infiltration and insufficient water and nutrients to support plant growth and productivity.

    Compounded by the effects of climate change, these agricultural soils are subject to the same fate as our urban landscapes, where a lack of basic resources will limit root development, plant growth, productivity, and survival to the point at which vegetation, in this case the crops that make up our food, may fail to meet our widespread production and consumption needs. Where trees are large and long-lived, they have the unique capacity to demonstrate the impact of soil health over time in a way that short lived annual crops do not. What we see in our trees is demonstrative of the impacts we are likely to see in our food over successive crop cycles, with gradual declines in productivity and yield occurring year to year, rather than within a single tree.

    Accordingly, Vineland’s history of soil health research, is increasingly relevant to our food and crop security- where building soil’s physical, chemical and biological health at a landscape level will contribute toward more sustainable, resilient and interconnected systems that support survival, establishment and growth of plants.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Innovative applications for vanadium flow battery technology

    Innovative applications for vanadium flow battery technology

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    StorEn Tech explores the advantages of using vanadium redox flow batteries in telecom applications.

    Energy storage systems are becoming a requirement for many electrical power delivery systems. Flow battery technology has commercial advantages over other energy storage systems because of the inherent efficiencies and life cycles available that do not exist with other energy storage technologies.

    StorEn is developing a revolutionary suite of products that can: Economically store and supply large amounts of electricity on demand; incorporate long life, low maintenance costs; and is scalable from both a power and storage capacity perspective.

    StorEn’s Energy Storage System (ESS), based on a proprietary flow battery design, is particularly beneficial to renewable energy providers, power utilities and industrial end users such as telecom service providers. StorEn’s technology offers these industries the ability to cost effectively ‘inventory’ electricity on a large scale and call to service this electrical energy on demand. Unlike other battery technologies, StorEn’s ESS does not lose capacity after thousands of charge and discharge cycles.

    Description of StorEn’s vanadium flow battery system

    What is a vanadium flow battery? A flow battery is a type of rechargeable battery in which the energy is stored chemically in liquid electrolytes. Unlike conventional batteries that store all of their reactive materials within the cells, a flow battery stores the electrolyte in tanks. The electrolyte is pumped through the cells and the electric energy is generated by a chemical reaction that takes place as the electrolyte passes through the cell stack. The liquid is then returned into the tanks.

    There are two electrolytes, one that is positively charged and one that is more negatively charged. The technology exploits the natural ability of vanadium to exist in four different oxidation states. Each electrolyte tank is charged with vanadium in a different redox couple. The two electrolytes do not mix together but are separated in the cell stack by an extremely thin membrane that only allows selected ions to flow through.

    Also in the cells are very stable carbon electrodes, manufactured to a proprietary process and formulation, where the transfer of chemical energy to electrical energy takes place. The reactions only involve the change of state of oxidation of the vanadium pentoxide, and the electrodes do not change physically or chemically.

    Additionally, the presence of vanadium in both electrolyte tanks does not lead to cross-contamination of the metal species, as it takes place with any other technology using different metals.

    Therefore, a large number of charge and discharge cycles, in excess of 20,000 cycles, may be performed without any significant decrease in capacity.

    Generally, the cells are grouped together in blocks known as stacks (cell stacks or modules). In each stack the cells are connected electrically in series by bipolar plates, i.e., conducting plates that have positive electrolyte on one side and negative on the other. Therefore, the stack voltage is the sum of the voltage of the individual cells. A ten-cell stack has ten times the voltage of a single cell.

    Conventional batteries (or cells) may be grouped in series and are then known as a battery string. The energy of a battery string is limited by the poorest battery (cell). However, each cell of a flow battery is practically identical because they share the same electrolytes. Therefore, flow batteries do not suffer the same intrinsic limitation.

    The stack power (in kW) is also the sum of each cell’s power. The power of each cell is governed by the battery chemistry, temperature, and cell dimensions, as well as a few other parameters. However, the energy (in kWh) of the battery is dictated by the amount of electrolyte that is present in the tanks. With more electrolyte (energy) the battery will be able to provide the same amount of power for longer periods of time. There is practically no upper limit to the energy to power ratio of a flow battery.

    Flow batteries are unique in being able to independently specify the energy and power to meet the demands of any given application.

    Applications that will benefit from StorEn Technology’s flow battery system include the following:

    Telecom applications

    StorEn targets on-grid, off-grid, and poor grid situations at telecommunications sites in North, Central and South America, Europe, India, Africa, and remote island communities worldwide. For on-grid applications, StorEn’s ESS can be used in a number of applications such as traditional battery backup and, at the same time, shift energy use to a lower time of use rate. In remote locations, StorEn ESS works well at sites that use a ‘hybrid’ and/or cycling approach where a diesel generator is combined with renewable energy such as wind and/or solar to power cellular and microwave sites.

    In this market, StorEn’s first to market product offers immediate benefits such as lower life cycle costs, minimal maintenance and longer discharge capabilities with end users experiencing short payback cycles for many systems. The additional environmental benefits include a significant reduction in diesel emissions and minimal disposal concerns.

    Telecom applications: Traditional backup power

    In the majority of telecommunications systems worldwide, lead/acid batteries are used to provide DC backup functionality or to bridge to a much longer-running backup system such as a diesel generator. In grid connected systems, these batteries serve only as a UPS, only being called into service when the grid fails or there is an outage due to weather. In North America and other locations, the normal specifications for backup battery power are to operate up to four hours continuously on batteries, allowing for continued emergency communications during the outage. In off-grid telecom sites, diesel generators provide the primary source of power and batteries are used as backup if the on-site generator fails to operate.

    Lead/acid backup power systems are designed for infrequent use and generally for shallow depths of discharge due to the fact that the life span of lead/acid batteries are controlled by the number of discharge cycles and the depth of discharge during these cycles. Battery life is also controlled by operating temperatures and by the charging voltages used during the charge cycle.  Recharge times are often five times that of the discharge cycle, thus making lead/acid batteries very inefficient to operate in high cyclic locations. Four hours of discharge can take up to 20 hours to recharge.

    For lead/acid batteries, the depth of discharge plays an important role in determining the operational life of a battery. If an acceptable depth of discharge is exceeded, the battery system’s life is severely depleted. A maximum of 30% depth of discharge is considered acceptable for most telecom designed lead/acid battery systems. StorEn’s flow battery technology eliminates these issues. The StorEn flow battery has the ability to cycle between charge and discharge virtually an unlimited number of times with no ill effect on the battery. The StorEn-ESS also allows for complete discharge every time, again, with no ill effect. The third feature is the StorEn flow battery technology has the ability to rapidly charge and approaches a one-to-one charge/discharge ratio allowing for quick and rapid response to multiple power outage scenarios. In locations such as India, Africa, Central and South America, telecom sites experience multiple outages each day, stressing the capacities of backup power systems and requiring continuous replacement of lead/acid battery systems.

    StorEn will be addressing the backup power market for telecommunications on a worldwide basis. Although telecom service providers have a number of choices for backup power systems, the value of replacing lead/acid batteries with StorEn flow battery technology will enhance a telecom service provider’s network by increasing reliability, improving longevity of the backup power system and dramatically improving performance by allowing rapid charge cycling.

    Telecom applications: Off-grid prime power and on-grid poor power sites

    Telephone service providers are constantly studying ways to curb the costs of operating remote telecommunications transmission sites. The more remote the site, the higher the costs of energy used to power the site, regardless of whether the energy is utility power or other sources – such as on-site, diesel-powered generators.  Remote transmission sites are also expensive to service and support. Many sites are accessible only by helicopter or during the summer months.

    There are tens of thousands of transmission sites across the globe, many of which rely on localised generation of electrical power from on-site diesel generators. Attempts have been made to augment the diesel generators with some form of energy storage, such as large banks of lead/acid batteries. Battery banks have traditionally been used as backup power systems, operating only when the main source of power is not available.

    Attempts have been made to augment the diesel generators with some form of energy storage, such as large banks of lead/acid batteries. Battery banks have traditionally been used as backup power systems operating only when the main source of power is not available.

    There have been attempts to use traditional batteries for cycling down generators during extended periods of time. In theory, using batteries could save fuel costs or help eliminate generator noise and pollution at sites located close to populated areas. Traditional battery technologies such as lead/acid and lithium batteries cannot hold up to this aggressive charge and discharge cycling. The cost to constantly replace damaged batteries becomes more expensive than the realised operational costs of using batteries in this capacity.

    Worldwide, telecommunications service providers have relied on diesel generators as a primary source of electrical power at remote telecom sites where utility power is unavailable. Diesel generators provide primary power to microwave transmission stations located on top of mountains or on remote islands. The value of the transmitted information easily justifies the high costs of localised diesel power generation. These sites are typically referred to as ‘prime power’ sites.

    Microwave transmission is used as the backbone of many telecommunication networks. Microwave systems have proven a reliable and inexpensive medium to transmit voice and data communications over long distances or rough terrain such as mountain ranges, between islands, or locations where cable access is not feasible.

    For prime-powered microwave sites, the fuel cost tops the list of operating expenses. Other expenses, such as engine service and maintenance, are directly related to engine run hours, load, and temperature. Generally, the lower the load – as a percentage of engine rating – the lower the efficiency of the diesel engine, thus the higher the maintenance costs due to premature engine wear, carbon build-up, and increased oil change schedules.

    Microwave transmission equipment is usually a light load for a diesel generator.  To increase engine efficiency, a ‘dummy load’ in the form of a resistor bank is added. The energy absorbed by the resistor bank is completely wasted in the form of heat.

    Operational cost savings could be realised if it were possible to store the excess electrical energy and turn off the generators for a significant period of time each day. Traditional lead/acid batteries have been used in an attempt to capture the excess energy from the generator, turn the generator off and run completely from the batteries thus turning the site into a ‘cycling power’ site. Unfortunately, there are issues with this solution.

    Traditional lead/acid batteries and lithium batteries are limited to the number of deep discharge cycles before permanent damage occurs. An innovative energy storage technology is needed that is not affected by daily deep discharge cycling and can be quickly charged.

    StorEn’s flow battery technology is the forerunning solution for this application as traditional battery systems fail to perform well when implemented in off grid sites. StorEn plans to dominate this application by offering tremendous value to telecom service providers who operate equipment off-grid. The amount of fuel savings alone justifies deploying StorEn Flow Battery technology on a large scale.

    On-grid energy shifting and UPS backup using the same platform at telecom sites

    Typically, every telecommunications site will have some form of backup power system. Power is usually supplied by banks of lead/acid batteries that supply uninterrupted power to the telecommunications equipment during utility power outages. Most telecommunications systems operate on DC voltage and use rectification equipment to convert the AC voltage supplied by the utility into either 48- or 24-volt DC. Larger sites, such as central office sites, or Point of Presence (POP) sites also have permanently installed petroleum generators. The typical load of a central office site is 10-50KW. Backup batteries are typically housed inside a building and are climate controlled as required. Backup batteries are typically replaced on a three-to-five-year cycle based on the number of times they were called into service. There would be many banks of batteries capable of supplying up to 50KW of power for up to two hours of runtime.

    The StorEn ESS flow battery system could be a direct replacement for any lead/acid battery bank used in this capacity. Unlike lead acid batteries, the StorEn ESS system has the capacity to be fully discharged and recharged many thousands of times with no detrimental effect on the battery system. The installation of the StorEn ESS system would improve the reliability of the telecom network by lengthening the operational runtime of the backup power system as well as reducing the replacement and disposal costs for lead acid batteries. The StorEn ESS would also decrease the amount of time the system would need to recover from an extended outage as the StorEn ESS charges much more quickly than lead acid batteries.

    The StorEn flow battery system can also be used to shift on-peak utility energy demands to off peak periods on a daily basis. By controlling the power rectifiers, power delivered to the telecom transmission equipment can be supplied by the StorEn ESS during peak load times and the battery can be recharged during off peak times. This extended use of the StorEn ESS has no detrimental effect on the battery system thus allowing the telecom service provider to continue to use the battery in the traditional mode as a backup power device. The StorEn ESS would be designed to supply up to six hours of peak load shifting power and an additional two hours of backup energy power for a total of eight hours of energy storage capacity.

    Telecommunications cell sites, central office sites, and larger POP (Point of Presence) sites are configured to operate uninterrupted in the event of voltage dips and power outages. The load curves of many such sites exhibit flat profiles with occasional demand spikes due to air conditioner inrush currents.

    Based on the Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs in place in many states in the US, StorEn’s flow battery technology could be used to shift the load from the grid to the batteries during the hours of the day when the utility company is experiencing peak demand. However, at the same time, the primary purpose of these batteries, namely, to provide a UPS function, would not be compromised. Conventional and advanced batteries cannot have the power and storage duration sized separately from one another. Flow batteries, however, allow for the independent specification of power and energy. This feature allows the telecom service provider to specify the amount of power to be delivered by the battery and, independently, specify the length of run time used for backup and for the peak shaving application.

    The key here is the flow battery serves two important roles: It replaces and improves reliability over existing lead/acid backup batteries used to bridge an outage until the on-site genset starts, and it reduces utility costs by shifting the utility energy costs from prime time to night-time tariff rates.

    Our vanadium flow battery technology leads the way in Green House Gas Emissions (GHGs) Emission Reduction and sustainability.

    One StorEn Energy Module 5kW/30kWh coupled to a photovoltaic system, cycling once per day at 100% Depth of Discharge, would spare the following GHG emissions:
    •   7.7 metric tons of CO2 per annum, or
    •   154 metric tons of CO2 over the lifecycle of 25 years¹

    All StorEn Energy Modules are fully recyclable and deliver environmental advantages when compared to alternative energy storage technologies such as:
    •   All major components are made of fully recyclable plastic and metals with a recyclability factor close to 100%;
    •   Disassembling is very easy as all parts are simply bolted together;
    •   The processing is cost-effective for the majority of parts being primary mechanical reprocessing such as the process used for domestic appliances;
    •   The only two components requiring specialist treatments are the printed circuit board of the battery management system, that are processed in facilities used for electronic waste such as computers’ motherboards;
    •   The electrolyte can be processed and reused, or if desired, 100% of the vanadium can be extracted and reused for other applications with no impact on primary mining;
    •   Lack of toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, zinc, and nickel, which could contaminate the environment;
    •   Acidity levels are much lesser than lead acid batteries which again could be a hazard; and
    •   In its lifespan, one StorEn VFB avoids the disposal, processing, or landfill of eighty lead-acid batteries of forty lithium-ion batteries.

    References

    1. Calculator: www.epa.org

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Securing critical raw materials for western markets

    Securing critical raw materials for western markets

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    GREEN14’s plasma technology facilitates greener, cheaper silicon production for solar, semiconductors, and batteries.

    GREEN14, a startup established in 2021, is poised to modernise silicon production. The Sweden-based firm aims to decarbonise and reshore silicon production for semiconductors, battery electrodes, and solar cells within Europe and the US, reducing emissions by up to 95%. Currently, about 90% of silicon production is concentrated in China, but GREEN14’s innovative approach seeks to change this dynamic, positioning Europe as a key player in the field.

    GREEN14’s focus

    The company’s focus is not just on shifting the geography of production but fundamentally altering the production process itself. Traditionally, producing pure silicon from silicon dioxide involves a carbon-intensive process, using an electric arc furnace at high temperatures, followed by the Siemens process in which refinement takes place. These methods are both energy-intensive and release significant amounts of carbon dioxide through direct and indirect emissions. This is similar to the shift from outdated iron production methods using blast furnaces, which the green steel movement aims to modernise. GREEN14 aims to overhaul silicon production entirely by making it greener and cheaper than competitors with the added benefit of a transparent supply chain.

    The company’s technology drastically reduces the operating cost by up to 50% and the embodied carbon by up to 95% in the silicon production process by implementing a novel method that eliminates direct carbon dioxide emissions and dramatically decreases energy requirements. Up to 80% of the embodied emissions come from electricity in the main process, therefore, reducing energy consumption in the value chain will reduce emissions and the cost of production.

    Moreover, moving the production to markets with large shares of renewable electricity allows for a significant abatement of carbon emissions. This approach positions the company to be competitive in the European, US, and global markets outperforming traditional methods in both cost and sustainability.

    GREEN14’s patents also apply to 16 of the materials listed in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act including copper, cobalt, and titanium. The company aims to produce silicon and silane (silicon gas) for the solar, semiconductor, and battery markets while its business model is to licence out its plasma reduction-refinement (PRR) technology where the processing of high purity metals is concerned. Copper is a large market to which it could licence its technology. For example, hydrogen plasma reduction refinement can be used to form ultra-pure copper from a mixture of copper oxide and recycled copper.

    Company tools and assets

    A key component of GREEN14’s strategy is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to expedite research and development. The company applies reduced-order modelling wherein AI neural networks are applied to computational models to significantly accelerate the development process. This AI-driven approach enables the company to quickly iterate and improve its technology, reducing both the time and cost typically associated with R&D in the silicon production industry.

    The raw material for GREEN14’s process is quartz, which is abundantly available. This is processed with hydrogen in the form of plasma. The emissions of GREEN14’s operations are minimised through the use of green hydrogen – hydrogen produced with renewable electricity – but its emissions are not tied to the use of such low-emission hydrogen. Hydrogen is used in relatively low amounts in the process: Less than 10% by weight per kilogramme of silicon. To be optimal, sites with available renewable electricity for industry is essential for the startup’s base of operations. Sites in the EU, US, India, and Australia are being considered for GREEN14’s first factory.

    © shutterstock/Philip Steury Photography

    The company’s pilot plant, under construction with the collaboration of KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, is expected to initially produce up to five kilogrammes of silicon per hour, with plans for a larger demo plant capable of producing up to 100 kilogrammes per hour. This scaling up is not just a demonstration of the technology’s viability but a stepping stone to larger production efforts in the EU in line with the Critical Raw Materials Act. Silicon is classified as a critical raw material within this new piece of Brussels legislation, as it is a key factor in semiconductors for computing and renewable energy devices, including solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines.

    GREEN14’s technology development is not without its challenges. Scaling up plasma metallurgy to industrial levels, particularly where megawatt-scale equipment is required, faces significant limitations due to the limited number of suppliers capable of producing such high-powered plasma equipment. This can lead to longer lead times for equipment procurement and potentially higher costs due to the lack of competitive pricing. The dependency on a few suppliers also poses risks related to supply chain disruptions. To address this, GREEN14 is working closely with several suppliers of plasma equipment, and investing in the development of alternative plasma generation technologies. Furthermore, the limitations in science around modelling plasma, especially in the context of plasma metallurgy, form a crucial area of ongoing research. Plasma behaviour is incredibly complex and dynamic, making accurate modelling a difficult task. GREEN14 prioritises its in-house simulations for optimising its patent pending processes and works to integrating this progress with its AI development roadmap.

    Interestingly, GREEN14’s technology also encompasses the recycling of silicon. Retired solar panels, which degrade over time, can be reintegrated into the company’s silicon production process. This circular approach not only reduces waste but also maximises the utility of existing materials. The waste from silicon wafer production, known as kerf, is also well suited to be integrated into the process. The recycling of solar modules and silicon kerf have presented challenges to date with respect to their integration in the silicon value chain.

    Upgrading silicon production technology

    In the realm of battery technology, GREEN14’s silane – a by-product of their silicon production process – addresses significant supply constraints. Silane, a gas consisting of a silicon atom and four hydrogen atoms, is a preferred material for silicon-based battery anode manufacturers. Major American scale-ups such as Sila Nanotechnologies Inc. and Group14 Technologies Inc. require increasing amounts of silane for their next-generation battery electrodes as well as European scale ups such as Leyden Jar. This shift from traditional graphite anodes to silicon-graphite anodes is expected to enhance batteries’ efficiency and storage capacity by 30%, meeting the automotive industry’s demands for faster charging electric vehicles.

    The installation of such silane plants facilitates these next generation anodes, as there is currently significant under-supply of silane for such technologies. The inclination of customers to adopt green silicon varies significantly between industries, primarily driven by the proportion of embodied energy or emissions that silicon contributes to the final product. In the solar panel industry, where silicon constitutes up to 50% of the embodied energy, the impact of switching to green silicon is much more pronounced. This substantial contribution means that using green silicon can dramatically reduce the overall carbon footprint of solar panel production. Customers in this industry, who are typically more environmentally conscious and invested in sustainable solutions, are likely to view the switch to green silicon as a critical step towards achieving their environmental goals. Furthermore, the solar panel industry’s inherent focus on sustainability aligns well with the adoption of green silicon, making it an attractive option for both manufacturers and end-users.

    In contrast, the scenario in the computing industry presents a different dynamic. Silicon accounts for only about 8% of the embodied emissions in computing devices, positioning it as a less impactful factor in the industry’s overall carbon emissions. Consequently, the motivation for customers to switch to green silicon in the computing industry may be less compelling. However, supply chain security ought to influence this industry more, given the critical nature of semiconductor devices. In this sector, the focus tends to be more on performance and cost-efficiency rather than on the environmental impact of components, but transparent and secure supply chains are becoming more apparent.

    The future for GREEN14 looks promising as it aligns with the global shift towards more sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes. The company’s innovative approach of producing in the silicon market while licensing for other markets, combined with its strategic utilisation of AI in R&D, positions it not only as a pioneer in green technology but also as a key player in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions in industrial manufacturing. With its pilot plant set to operationalise and plans for expansion underway, GREEN14 is on the cusp of leading a significant shift in how silicon is produced, setting new standards in both environmental sustainability and cost-efficiency.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • STEP is the Apollo of fusion energy

    STEP is the Apollo of fusion energy

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    Paul Methven, the inaugural CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), details the road ahead for the development of the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.

    Clearly, we must make significant changes to address the effects of climate change and provide our uncertain world with energy security. Fusion energy offers enormous potential for both. We must deploy renewable and traditional nuclear (fission) energy to the maximum extent. We know they work, but even with those, the scale of the global challenge means we need much more.

    Energy demand will continue to rise well beyond 2050 as we strive for equity in access to energy, as the world population rises significantly and as we seek continued economic growth. We simply do not have enough low-carbon energy sources to meet this long-run demand, but we just might with fusion.

    The energy transition must not be a zero-sum game, and few really appreciate how monumental this needs to be. We cannot wreck economies to get there because if that is the path, then the reality is that we will not follow it, and then it will be too late. We need to find ways of making the energy transition an industrial transition and one that provides equitable benefits. We can do that in fusion.

    The UK is at the forefront of fusion science, engineering, and operations today. The UK also has the opportunity to be at the forefront of the commercial delivery of fusion, a global and strategic technology, for decades to come. The Government’s Fusion Strategy recognises that and aims to drive an industrial sector that can serve fusion programmes across the world.

    Andrew Bowie MP, Minister for Nuclear and Networks, took to the stage at London’s Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre during the opening of the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference last October to launch the update to that strategy with an audience of over 1,300 representing the international fusion community from 81 countries. Minister Bowie revealed more fusion news, detailing the UK’s Fusion Futures Programme – a £650m fusion energy package.

    The following week, the Energy Bill received Royal Assent, setting out a new approach for regulating fusion energy to enable its rapid development. Regulation of fusion energy in the UK will be different from that of fission in recognition of fusion’s intrinsically lower hazards – fusion cannot result in a runaway reaction. All this is part of the UK’s drive to commercialise a transformational new energy source, aiming to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of innovative strategic technology and an emerging global industry.

    Fusion regulation has also been on the international agenda with an event organised to share experiences on the safety and regulation of fusion facilities. Hosted by the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), the event was attended by more than 100 representatives from 23 countries and three international organisations.

    The Head of the IAEA, Kirsi Alm-Lytz, explained in her opening remarks how recent scientific breakthroughs in fusion science has led to both public and private sector ventures looking to move away from experimental fusion devices and towards prototype and commercial fusion powerplants. As the scale and nature of fusion facilities evolve, regulations and safety approaches must evolve with them.

    The technical meeting was attended by the UKAEA, who support the IAEA as being central to capturing and consolidating knowledge into fusion standards, with the aim of achieving a degree of standardisation in design safety internationally whilst supporting innovation and reflecting the lower intrinsic hazards of fusion. Seeking high-level harmonisation of regulatory frameworks for fusion energy will aid the development and deployment of fusion energy systems globally in the future.

    STEP

    At the heart of the Government’s Fusion Strategy is STEP, the UK’s flagship fusion programme. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) aims to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to the commercial viability of fusion. By demonstrating net energy from fusion, we pave the way for the potential development of a fleet of future fusion power plants around the world. Most importantly, through the endeavour of designing and delivering that plant, STEP will focus and develop the essential industrial capability that will place and keep the UK at the forefront of global fusion energy.

    From later in 2024, STEP will be led by UKIFS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), with Professor Sir Ian Chapman remaining as the Group CEO.  The breadth of UKAEA’s world-leading fusion research, which covers the full lifecycle of future fusion energy plants, is integral to STEP’s success.

    I first joined UKAEA in 2020 to be part of the STEP programme because it really matters. It matters for the planet, for the UK’s economy, and its standing within the global community. It is also very challenging and exciting!

    It has been an enormous privilege to lead the STEP programme over the last three years and I am genuinely honoured and humbled to have been given the opportunity to help take this amazing endeavour into its next stage as CEO of UKIFS.  We are striving for something that has never been done before; very few opportunities like this come around and I am excited to continue to be part of helping unite a national endeavour to deliver fusion.

    Fossil to fusion energy

    One of the most important parts of what we will do is benefit the region around our site in West Burton. Minister Bowie joined Professor Sir Ian Chapman and I for a tour of West Burton, where he met with local representatives who are helping transform the former coal-fired power station, quite literally, from fossil to fusion energy, and spoke of his excitement to help make fusion power a reality.

    The communities along the river Trent, known as Megawatt Valley, have been powering the UK for 60 years, and are rightly proud of that heritage. They want to keep powering the UK, and STEP provides an enormous opportunity for new growth and regeneration in that region, showing how the energy transition can make a real difference to individuals as well as the global climate challenge. The response of the West Burton community has been outstanding. STEP has been welcomed with open arms, and we look forward to working with local communities to shape the way we deliver.

    Fusion power has the potential to transform the landscape of renewable energy, if done right

    Agility in action

    There’s a huge amount to do, but we’ve come a long way already. The programme is divided into three phases. In the first phase, to 2024, we’ve focused on a number of key activities.

    These include the concept design, development of the organisation to enable us to deliver a major technology and infrastructure programme, selection of a site, and getting the right regulatory framework in place.

    Already, STEP’s technical team have:

    • Explored over 66 integrated concepts with over 150 iterations;
    • Been to 66 technical decision boards that have taken over 165 decisions;
    • Delivered five Concept Maturity Level reviews; and
    • Undertaken two Independent Fusion Technical Advisory Group reviews.

    We have selected a home, West Burton, following a high-quality and competitive process that saw 15 self-nominated sites shortlisted to five, and a final decision by the Secretary of State announced in October 2022. The UKIFS announcement followed shortly after, alongside the commitment to develop a skills centre at West Burton to provide high-value jobs for future generations.

    Site characterisation works are underway and, in conjunction with the local community, we are developing a Masterplan that considers transport infrastructure and the social and economic impact of the programme. This is levelling up in action!

    You can hear the thoughts of local residents by watching a video from our recent community engagement event held in Retford.

    We have been working hard on our industrial model, which will combine the best of the public and private sectors in an integrated delivery team. We will soon go formally to market for our Engineering Partner and Construction Partner, who will work alongside UKAEA as the Fusion Partner in an Integrated Delivery Team.

    From the appointment of these strategic partners will flow a vast range of other opportunities for the broader supply chain – details of this will unfold in due course. Our approach is to create a true rainbow team that enables the best of each organisation and the best of every individual to be brought together.

    It is a rather nice analogy that what we seek to achieve technically, fusing high-energy particles so we release more energy than they hold individually, is also what we aim to do as a public-private integrated delivery team. Each person is vital when alone, but when fused together, they are so much more.

    For further information about STEP and future opportunities, visit: step.ukaea.uk

    Meet Paul Methven CB

    Paul joined the STEP programme in September 2020 from the Ministry of Defence, where he was Director of Submarine Acquisition at the Submarine Delivery Agency. In this role, he was Programme Director for Dreadnought, the UK’s second-largest major programme after HS2, and has previously led a number of other major and complex programmes across the MoD.

    Paul joined the Royal Navy in 1988 as a submariner, having a long and distinguished career, achieving the rank of Rear Admiral and being awarded a CB (Companion of The Order of the Bath).  He is also a graduate of the Government’s Major Projects Leadership Academy.

    Paul is married and has two grown-up children. He lives in Devon and enjoys sailing whenever he can, skiing and playing the bagpipes (but not all at the same time).

    (Image description: Plasma from the UKAEA’s spherical tokamak at Culham Campus, MAST-U) Regulation of fusion in the UK will differ from fission in recognition of fusion’s intrinsically lower hazards

    What is fusion energy?

    Fusion energy has the potential to provide ‘baseload’ power, complementing renewable and other low carbon energy sources as a share of many countries’ energy portfolios. Achieving this involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology.

    Based on the same process that powers the stars and the Sun, a mix of two forms of hydrogen are heated to extreme temperatures – ten times hotter than the core of the Sun – they fuse together to create helium and release huge amounts of energy.

    There is more than one approach of achieving fusion. Examples include magnetic confinement and inertial confinement. At UKAEA, we hold this hot plasma using strong magnets in a ring-shaped machine called a ‘tokamak’. Another way is to use lasers to compress a small pellet.

    The energy created from fusion can be used to generate electricity in the same way as existing power stations.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Establishing sustainable magnesium production in Europe

    Establishing sustainable magnesium production in Europe

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    MFE Magnesium For Europe GmbH was founded in 2021 to establish a clean, green and competitive magnesium production in Kupres, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Europe.

    Magnesium (Mg) metal is a unique, strategically important, and critical raw material for many downstream industries such as aircraft, vehicle, and steel manufacturing and notably aluminium (Al) alloy production. No substitute materials can rival Mg’s powerful combination of light weight, sturdiness, and relatively low cost.

    At present, the European industry is entirely reliant on Asian primary Mg supplies. Another challenge for Europe’s Mg-consuming industries is the increasing pressure on them to become climate-neutral and the relatively large CO2 footprint of conventional magnesium production.

    Fortunately, there is a solution in sight. About two decades after European Mg manufacturers closed their unprofitable plants, MFE is pioneering the re-establishment of a clean, green, and sustainably competitive Mg production in Europe.

    MFE’s project is motivated and facilitated by two important catalysts:

    • Progress in Mg manufacturing technology; and
    • An advantageous location where MFE has control over and access to a high quality dolomite deposit with up to 100 million MT proven and probable reserves of raw material, ownership of a suitable production site close to the deposit, good infrastructure, and access to an abundance of low-cost green energy (hydro, wind, photovoltaic).

    The two catalysts pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and more efficient Mg manufacturing – European Mg production 2.0.

    Benefitting from technological progress

    MFE will use the Aluminothermic (Al-thermic) process for its future production, a fully established Mg production process with a Technology Readiness Level of eight to nine. The Al-thermic process constitutes a quantum leap in magnesium production regarding efficiency and environmental friendliness. It is a further development and a combination of the conventional Pidgeon process and the Magnetherm process used by Alcoa for about 50 years and until the beginning of this century.

    The Pidgeon process, which extracts Mg from calcined dolomite in a vacuum at high temperatures with ferrosilicon as a reducing agent, has been the gold standard of Mg production for over half a century, particularly in China. However, the process has been attracting increased criticism for its high energy use (also in connection with the required ferrosilicon production), the resulting slag as a waste product, and the emission of substantial amounts of CO2 (c. 20-25 tonnes per tonne of Mg), especially where coal-generated gas and electricity is used to power the process.

    The development of the Al-thermic process involved three critical changes: The insertion of a process step where calcium and magnesium are separated, the use of Al-Scrap (or pure Al) as reductant, and a slightly lower operating temperature of 1150°C instead of 1250°C. In summary, these three seemingly minor differences make for a radically different result:

    • Highly efficient conversion of dolomite into four sellable products: Mg and Mg-Alloys, PCC (Precipitated Calcium Carbonate), Al-Mg-Spinel, and dry ice — four products with substantial market value and deep markets across Europe and thus lower unit costs allocated to each ton of Mg produced; and
    • No waste material and, therefore, no waste disposal cost.

    MFE will power its Al-thermic Mg production plant with green electricity (hydro, wind, photovoltaic). By using Al-scrap as a reductant and with its multi-product output, MFE will be able to produce Mg with a carbon footprint of less than one ton of CO2 per one ton of Mg and about twelve tons of by-products (as determined by DLR, the external LCA auditor acting on behalf of MFE).

    MFE is in the final stages of an industrial scale test using its Kupres dolomite in an Al-thermic pilot plant. The test and the process have been audited by DMT (TÜV Nord), and the final test results will be available in April 2024.

    Advantages of Kupres, Bosnia-Herzegovina, as a production location

    The other factors required for a clean, green, and competitive Mg production are to be found in the specific characteristics of MFE’s production location. These include:

    • Access to a high quality and sufficiently large proven and probable dolomite raw material source;
    • Access to vast amounts of green electricity to power the production;
    • A large production site sufficiently close to the dolomite deposit;
    • Reliable infrastructure, educated workforce, and political and legal stability; and
    • Proximity to large clients (mainly for the by-products with a limited catchment area).

    Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) is part of the Western Balkans and strategically well positioned with its proximity to the EU and the Adriatic Sea. In December 2022, the EU unanimously granted BiH EU candidate status. Since 2013, duties, visas, and trade restrictions for industrial products have largely disappeared between BiH and the EU. MFE’s raw material, the production site, and all relevant utilities are located in Kanton 10, the very Western and Croatian-speaking part of BiH, and less than 150km away from the industrial port of Ploce, the major deep-water gateway for goods shipped to and from the Balkans.

    The Grguljaca mine from which MFE will source its raw material covers an area of ~9.5 ha (23.5 acres) with ~11 million MT of mineable dolomite, sufficient to feed a 15kt p.a. Mg production for over 50 years. An additional adjacent deposit s.t. exploration covers a further ~47.5 ha with enough raw material to run a 50 kt p.a. Mg production for over 75 years. DMT (TÜV Nord) has audited the deposit twice (PERC resource and PERC reserve audit report). The deposit in Kupres is one of the highest quality dolomite deposits currently known in Europe.

    Kanton 10 is generating green electricity only (so far mainly hydro and wind power) and is a net exporter of green electricity. The Kanton’s topography and weather are extremely favourable for hydro, wind, and solar power generation. As a result, a substantial ramp-up of further wind farm capacity is planned for the next decade, warranting an ample supply of green electricity for MFE’s production.

    Multi-product output for sustainable competitiveness

    Combining the Al-thermic process and MFE’s specific location advantages will make for a diversified revenue base and improved economics, ensuring MFE can offer Mg, Mg-alloys and the three by-products at competitive prices.

    Whilst Mg prices have historically been very volatile, prices for the by-products are much more stable and predictable, particularly if the products are of high quality. At current market prices, the combined sales value of the by-products covers most of MFE’s forecast production cost. Consequently, MFE’s ability to tolerate price fluctuations in the Mg and Mg-alloy markets is expected to be very high.

    In terms of cost control, MFE’s project is also unique. Besides long-term price and supply stability for the raw material, MFE is investigating the possibility of building its own wind and solar park near the production site, thus relying much less on the local grid for its electricity supply. Furthermore, the reductant, the second largest cost item in the production process, can be hedged short- to medium-term. In contrast to ferrosilicon, aluminium is quoted on the LME; therefore, the price of Al (and Al-Scrap) can be much better managed.

    MFE’s project is close to implementation readiness

    MFE is in the final stages of the preparation and planning phase, with only three tasks left to finalise:

    • Completion of the industrial scale pilot test to optimise industrial design and equipment specification;
    • Receipt of a local permit comprising of general construction approval and environmental permit; and
    • Organisation of ~$80m-$200m capital expenditure funding, subject to the degree of backward integration, consisting of equity and debt.

    Following the successful completion of the above, MFE will proceed with general contracting, equipment order, and construction in Q3 2024. MFE is in the process of signing a letter of intent with an experienced contractor and operator who will also commission MFE’s Mg production facility.

    MFE is grateful for the support that it has and will receive from numerous stakeholders and is looking forward to a cleaner, greener, and more competitive European magnesium production future.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Ontario’s economic growth depends on Long-Duration Energy Storage

    Ontario’s economic growth depends on Long-Duration Energy Storage

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    Justin Rangooni, Executive Director of Energy Storage Canada, discusses Long-Duration Energy Storage, and how it is a necessity for a sustainable future that not only has the technology to create it, but the energy to power it.

    After years of consistency, in the next three decades, Ontario’s energy sector and its electricity grid are expected to undergo a substantial transformation, which, of course, leaves a lot of room for innovation. While all types and technologies of energy storage are seeing substantial innovation in their composition and application, long-duration energy storage (LDES) is perhaps seeing more than others because there are far fewer instances of LDES assets having been deployed or connected to major grids, apart from pumped hydro.

    LDES for the future

    Yet, long-duration storage technologies are poised to be one of the critical technologies supporting the changes to Ontario’s grid as the province, like many regions, prepares to secure two or three times its current generating capacity and meet its ambitious decarbonisation goals. Changing the blend of resources supplying energy to the province, with an emphasis on non-emitting resources – including renewables like wind, solar, and hydro, new grid-scale and small modular nuclear assets, and emerging resources like hydrogen and geothermal – is going to be a major challenge. As we electrify heating and transportation, the frequently simultaneous demand for charging EVs or powering heat pumps is going to drive unprecedented levels of peak electricity demand that will compound the strain on our power grids.

    As Ontario brings on more generation capacity and electricity demand reaches new levels, the province will require a greater variety of energy storage resources to ensure Ontario has the power it needs, when it needs it. Long-duration assets – broadly defined as assets capable of discharging energy for a period of ten or more hours – will be a key component of this mix. In fact, a recent report commissioned by Energy Storage Canada (ESC), and prepared by Dunsky Energy & Climate Advisors, identifies a minimum of six gigawatts (GW) of +10-hour duration energy storage starting in 2032, could mitigate potential supply, planning and deployment risks and achieve savings between $11bn–$20bn compared to Ontario’s current transition plans.

    Policies to back it up

    Fortunately, in recent years the Government of Ontario worked closely with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to adopt an ambitious approach to regulatory and market reforms to enable the deployment of energy storage resources (ESRs). The province achieved a major milestone last summer with the IESO’s procurement of over 880 MW of energy storage capacity, the largest in Canada – and as the initial stage of an ultimately 2,500 MW addition, one of the most ambitious such initiatives anywhere in North America. A 2022 report commissioned by ESC indicates the province could need as much as four to six gigawatts (GW) of short-duration storage – generally defined as assets capable of discharging energy for six hours or less – as part of Ontario’s path to net zero.

    long-duration energy storage
    © shutterstock/RytisG
    Pumped hydro is an example of Long-Duration Energy Storage

    Energy storage resources (ESRs) are important for Ontario’s future grid because they can all, regardless of duration, intake power during times of high generation, store it, and then discharge that power to the grid at periods of high demand. This alleviates stress on the system and reduces costs. ESRs comprise a wide range of technologies, durations, and lifespans, from familiar hydroelectric dams to lithium-ion batteries and a wide array of emerging designs like compressed air and molten salt. These assets will be essential in reducing incidences of surplus baseload generation (SBG) – moments when the province’s power resources are generating more than can be consumed or economically exported – ensuring that electricity can be used to power the province’s growing, energy-intensive industrial and natural resources sectors. These grid-scale batteries will also act as ‘Non-Wires Alternatives’ (NWAs), relieving transmission constraints at a fraction of the cost – and time – of constructing traditional poles and wires expansions.

    Collectively, batteries and other energy storage resources are helping reduce the need for natural gas-fired generation capacity and accelerating the pace at which the province can achieve an emissions-free power system. Most energy storage resources are also capable of supporting the provincial grid during extreme weather events, including ‘black-start’ functionality that can bring the lights back on in the event of a system-wide power outage. However, as Ontario brings on more non-emitting generation, particularly intermittent resources (such as wind or solar), and peak demand reaches new levels, the province will need a more substantial inventory of LDES resources to ensure its grid continues to be reliable when the wind isn’t blowing, and the sun isn’t shining.

    Energy Storage Canada’s report is the first to go beyond speculating the potential use cases for LDES technologies to research the potential scope of investment for Ontario as the province decarbonises, with new modelling from Dunsky Energy & Climate Advisors, which illustrates the specific advantages that investment in LDES assets can provide.

    Challenges ahead

    Using the IESO’s Pathways to Decarbonization (P2D) study from December 2022 as a baseline, Dunsky analysed the likeliest risks in those scenarios, quantifying the cost of falling short in our planning, procurement, construction, and import objectives compared to the alternative cost of procuring LDES assets. Evaluating the technical readiness and value proposition of LDES as a ‘guardrail’ for Ontario’s economic growth and decarbonisation journey, Dunsky found that a minimum of six GW of LDES capacity would be economically beneficial starting in 2032.

    However, compared to most short-duration energy storage technologies procured in Ontario to date, LDES technologies generally have long lead times for development, meaning that to ensure the assets are available when we need them, we need to start planning now. Again, Ontario is making progress ahead of many other regions in acknowledging the importance of looking ahead if the province is to capitalise on LDES technologies. Last month, the province’s Minister of Energy, Todd Smith, issued a letter to the IESO instructing them to continue working with proponents of the province’s most advanced LDES initiatives, the pumped hydro 1,400 MW Meaford and 400 MW Marmora projects.

    long-duration energy storage
    © shutterstock/Maria Avvakumova
    Salt caverns can be used to store energy in the form of gas, such as hydrogen

    As Dunsky’s report makes clear, the development of these two projects should just be the start of a much larger capacity addition over the next decade. As the province’s grid undergoes a massive transformation and modernisation in the coming decades to meet its energy needs, integrating new assets in new ways, the importance of pursuing innovative solutions and technologies, such as long-duration energy storage, will become increasingly important. While 2032 is eight years away, the time to act is now.

    What needs to be done

    To that end, Energy Storage Canada is calling on the IESO to make a formal commitment this year to initiating a procurement process in 2025, with a six GW target. Critical factors such as the availability of Canada’s Clean Technology Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) for projects completed prior to 2032, the extensive lead time necessary for prospective proponents to develop positive relationships with Ontario municipalities, to develop equitable and beneficial partnerships with the province’s First Nations communities, and secure supply chain commitments in a competitive global market, all demonstrate the need to begin the process now.

    Energy Storage Canada and our members look forward to continuing the work with the Ministry of Energy and the IESO to further develop the innovative research related to long duration energy storage, and all storage technologies. The integration of LDES has the potential to build on Ontario’s energy storage advantage, ensuring the province continues to have a reliable, sustainable, and flexible energy supply in the decades to come.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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