• Clean energy investments expected to hit $2tn in 2024 – double that of fossil fuels

    Global investment in clean energy technologies and infrastructure is expected to hit $2tn (£1.6bn) in 2024, twice that likely spent on fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said. But while the figures suggest ramping-up investment in low-carbon energy, the amount spent on oil and gas is still too high to meet 2050 climate goals. The increased funding was largely due to improving supply chains and lower costs for clean technologies, the IEA report found, although it warned that that there are still “major imbalances” and shortfalls in energy investment flows in many parts of the world. It highlights the low level of clean energy spending in emerging and developing economies outside China, which is set to exceed $300bn for the first time – led by India and Brazil. Yet…

  • Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner achieves first manned flight

    Boeing’s long-delayed Starliner finally achieved its first crewed launch yesterday, which saw Nasa astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams undertake a 25-hour flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The lift-off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is located on an island off the coast of Florida, was achieved without a hitch just before 11am local time on Wednesday morning. “This crew flight test represents the beginning of a new era of space exploration as we watch astronauts Wilmore and Williams put Boeing’s Starliner through its paces on the way to the ISS,” said Ted Colbert, CEO for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This is a great start. We look forward to getting the astronauts safely to the space station and back home.” The launch of Starliner means…

  • UK quantum company reaches new milestones on the path to powerful quantum computers

    Quantinuum has announced that its H-Series processor has surpassed the ability to be simulated by the world’s best supercomputers, enabling the company to “extend the lead in the race towards fault tolerant quantum computing.” The UK quantum computing company has announced a major qubit (or quantum bit) count enhancement to its flagship System Model H2 quantum computer from 32 to 56 trapped-ion qubits. Formed in 2021 by Honeywell and Cambridge Quantum, Quantinuum has to date raised approximately $625m to further the development and commercialisation of quantum computing. Its mission is to see the quantum computing industry depart the era when quantum computers could be simulated by a classical computer. This has been achieved, with the announcement that its upgraded H2-1 from 32 to 56…

  • Moving towards low-carbon industry with proactive services for motors and drives

    As the world advances to a low-carbon future, industrial businesses should be looking to significantly reduce their carbon footprint. As Erich Labuda, ABB’s president of motion services, writes, one answer lies in proactively servicing motor-driven systems. Electric motor-driven systems serve as a critical part of global industry, powering everything from manufacturing and transportation to vital infrastructure. Collectively, industrial businesses around the world run on more than 300 million of them. Nevertheless, many of these systems are not operating at peak efficiency, and this is having a huge impact on both business and the planet. If all these motor-driven systems were optimised, global electricity usage could be reduced by up to 10%, according to the International Energy Agency…

  • Harnessing the power of AI and machine learning to accelerate AEC projects

    Arnab Ghosh, global sales engineering director at Accuris, a provider of technology solutions to optimise workflows, looks at how harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies can help accelerate the design and construction of large infrastructure projects. The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries have long been characterised by formal processes and rigorous methodologies, honed over decades of informed engineering practices. When it comes to the design and planning of large-scale critical infrastructure projects – such as airports, bridges and ports – the sheer volume of factors to consider is astronomical. From identifying and adhering to stringent regulatory standards to navigating variables like climate change, traffic implications…

  • Lack of skilled electricians to meet net zero targets, warns trade association

    The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) is calling on the next government to prioritise investment in the electrical skills necessary to achieve the UK’s net zero goals. As we ramp up the installation of renewable technologies in our transition to net zero, such as solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle infrastructure, the demand for a skilled electrical workforce to install and maintain these technologies is becoming increasingly urgent. However, the ECA, a UK trade association representing electrical, electrotechnical and other engineering contractors, warns that the industry faces a significant shortfall in skilled electricians. According to ECA, despite over 20,000 aspiring electricians enrolling in classroom-based electrical courses annually, fewer than 10% advance to…

  • Devastating Brazil floods will become more common if emissions are not cut, scientists warn

    A new study by World Weather Attribution (WAA) reveals that human-driven climate change made the recent extreme rainfall in Southern Brazil two to three times as likely. This comes as a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) finds that countries around the world are falling short on renewable energy targets for 2030. Between 24 April and 4 May 2024 Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced unprecedented rainfall. It led to catastrophic flooding that resulted in 80,000 displaced people, 150,000 injuries and 169 fatalities. The persistent rainfall also caused disruption to essential services, leaving 418,200 households without electricity and more than a million households without potable water. Being a region focused on agriculture, there has also been…

  • Battery-powered trains could cut CO2 while saving Britain’s railways £3.5bn

    ‘Bi-mode’ trains that operate on battery power when not using an electrified track could save Britain’s railways £3.5bn and 12 million tonnes of CO2 over a 35-year period, Siemens Mobility has said. The trains, which would be assembled at the firm’s manufacturing facility in Goole, East Yorkshire, could be powered by overhead wires on already-electrified routes, then switch to battery power where wires are absent. Only small sections of the routes or particular stations would have to be electrified, making it much quicker and less disruptive to replace diesel trains compared with full electrification. Siemens also said it had developed a way to fast-charge the train’s batteries at key points along the route, using infrastructure that can be plugged directly into the domestic grid. Last…

  • Construction gets underway at new substation to help power Sunderland’s new gigafactories

    National Grid has announced that work has begun on the new Hylton Castle substation, which will connect nearby gigafactories and other businesses to the electricity grid. The 275kV Hylton Castle substation is being built at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland. The hope is to have it complete and energised in 2026. The substation will provide a new grid connection for Nissan, AESC UK and Sunderland City Council’s ambitious EV36Zero electric vehicle (EV) hub at IAMP, which includes EV manufacture, battery production and a renewable energy microgrid. In November 2023, Nissan announced that it would invest an additional £2bn into its Sunderland manufacturing plant to produce three EV models, meaning the EV36Zero hub will now consist of three gigafactories. …

  • ‘The future of computing is accelerated’, says Nvidia’s CEO at major tech expo

    Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang made several AI-related announcements during his two-hour keynote at Computex, a computer and tech trade fair held annually in Taipei, Taiwan. “Generative AI is reshaping industries and opening new opportunities for innovation and growth,” said Huang as he kicked off his keynote to an audience of 6,500 ahead of the four-day trade show taking place this week. “Today, we’re at the cusp of a major shift in computing. The intersection of AI and accelerated computing is set to redefine the future,” he added. While Nvidia only very recently introduced its Blackwell platform, which Huang called the engine to power generative AI, he now announced that the Rubin platform will succeed the upcoming Blackwell platform, featuring new GPUs, a new Arm-based CPU –…

  • AI is bridging the gap between physical and digital engineering

    By Keith Perrin, Dr. Kambiz Kayvansash and Dr. Guillaume Boisot, Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the convergence of physical and digital realms is no longer a distant vision—it’s a reality unfolding before our eyes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). As we stand at the precipice of this transformation, let’s explore the implications and possibilities in this future. Current practices in CAE stand at the forefront of this convergence, because high-quality physics-based simulations can accurately represent the tangible world of physical prototypes with the limitless possibilities of digital simulations. The cloud democratizes access to simulation, enabling engineers and designers to…

  • New deal with Scottish farmers will see farmland used for solar installations

    The National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) has signed a deal with a solar power and battery developer that will see a marginal amount of productive farmland being developed for solar installations. The NFUS, which represents more than 9,000 Scottish farming and crofting businesses, has signed a new ‘affinity’ deal with Iqony Solar Energy Solutions (SENS) UK – a division of Iqony SENS, a large multi-national solar and battery developer, engineering contractor and independent power provider. The deal aims to ensure that only a marginal amount of productive farmland is used for solar installations, with the two organisations working closely to identify suitable sites for PV technology and battery projects. Once the sites have been identified, SENS will own and develop them, with the landowners…

  • No new fossil fuel projects needed in the transition to net zero, study finds

    A new study by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) finds that there is “no room for new fossil fuel projects in a 1.5°C-aligned world”. At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in late 2023, 198 governments officially recognised the urgency to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems” in order to reach net zero targets by 2050. However, oil and gas producers continue to expand exploration and drill for resources, and are being supported by governments. Indeed, the Australian government recently released a strategy outlining how the country will ramp up production and use of gas until ‘2050 and beyond’. According to IISD figures, governments collectively expect to produce 29…

  • Energy on an Industrial Scale: Enhancing Resilience in UK Manufacturing

    In the wake of unprecedented energy cost spikes, UK manufacturing faces a critical challenge. Over 60% of businesses were on the brink of closure due to soaring energy prices, according to Make UK. While prices have somewhat stabilised, they remain high, threatening future stability and resilience. This whitepaper delves into the current energy landscape, explores its impact on manufacturing, and provides actionable insights for improving energy efficiency and resilience. Fill out your details here to download the whitepaper now and discover strategies to safeguard your operations and enhance competitiveness in a volatile energy market.

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Galactic Energy successfully blasts its Ceres-1 rocket into space off a sea-based launch platform

    Chinese company Galactic Energy has successfully undertaken its second sea-based launch mission for the Ceres-1 carrier rocket. Yesterday, Ceres-1, a rocket manufactured and operated by Chinese company Galactic Energy, lifted off from a mobile sea platform off the coast of China’s eastern province of Shandong, successfully sending four satellites into a low orbit about 850km above the Earth. According to Galactic Energy, the satellites were built by Guodian Gaoke, a Beijing-based private satellite operator, for its Tianqi Network and will form part of a planned constellation of Iot data connectivity satellites. This is the second sea-based launch for Ceres-1. The first took place in September 2023, also off the coast of Shandong. To date, Galactic Energy has carried out 12 orbital launches…

  • New data reveals a spike in women aged 35-44 leaving engineering roles

    Based on new workforce data, Engineering UK is calling on organisations to review their recruitment and retention practices to ensure women aged 35-44 in engineering and technology roles remain in the profession. EngineeringUK, an independent organisation that promotes the contribution of engineers, engineering and technology in our society, has published new data on women in engineering as part of its annual review of the engineering workforce. To do this, it analysed the 2023 Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using an engineering footprint developed by EngineeringUK together with the Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The findings reveal that the percentage of women working in engineering and technology occupations dropped from 16.5% in 2022 to 15.7% in 2023, representing…

  • Cutting the carbon footprint of vehicles – lightweight is not always best

    It is often thought that cutting a vehicle’s carbon footprint means making structural components from the lightest possible materials. However, Stefan Lindner, lead technical manager, mobility and transport, BL Advanced Materials, at Outokumpu, a producer of stainless steel headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, says that is not necessarily the case as any evaluation must consider both the material’s production and the use phases. There are a select few materials automotive companies can use to make structural components for their vehicles. Carbon fibre is both light and strong, but not feasible for volume production vehicles. As a result, companies often turn to either standard carbon steel or aluminium. Due to its low density, aluminium is often regarded as the most suitable for building…

  • ESA launches EarthCARE on its mission to study clouds and aerosols in Earth's climate

    The EarthCARE satellite has successfully lifted off, aiming to provide crucial information on the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols and radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere. The European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite embarked on its journey into space onboard a Space X Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California just after midnight (CEST) on 29 May. Ten minutes after launch, the satellite separated from the rocket, with the Hartebeesthoek ground station in South Africa receiving the all-important signal indicating that EarthCARE was safely in orbit around Earth. EarthCARE has been designed to examine the role clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back out to space and…

  • Teardown: Apple Vision Pro

    The Vision Pro sees Apple finally entering the augmented reality (AR) sector years after rivals such as Google and Microsoft launched products that were not considered major successes. The device features futuristic eye tracking and gesture control features that have impressed reviewers, in addition to very high resolution micro-OLED displays that eliminate the ‘checkerboarding’ phenomenon that typically plagues cheaper alternatives. The amount of tech stuffed into the relatively small device is impressive, although a hefty price tag of $3,499 in the US will probably prevent it going mainstream until a cheaper refresh is announced. Regardless, Apple’s approach is an impressive demonstration of what current AR tech is capable of when concerns over cost are largely an afterthought. One…

  • ChargeUK calls on the next government to accelerate chargepoint roll-out

    ChargeUK has published a manifesto for the next government to ensure UK charging infrastructure provision stays ahead of demand. In its manifesto – Our Electric Future: ChargeUK’s manifesto for the next government – ChargeUK is calling on the next government to adopt measures that will accelerate the roll-out of vital charging infrastructure and ensure drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) have easy access to a high-quality charging solution. “Our manifesto details a comprehensive plan to support the UK’s transition to net zero, ensuring convenient, affordable and accessible charging for all drivers,” said Vicky Read, chief executive of ChargeUK. ChargeUK launched in April 2023 as the new trade association representing the companies involved in installing, operating and supporting chargepoint…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • New floating offshore wind survey reveals the major hurdles and risks facing the sector

    Findings from a new floating offshore wind survey have highlighted how a lack of technology standardisation, port investment and manufacturing capability are major hurdles in unlocking the future of floating wind. Westwood Global Energy Group, an energy market research and consultancy firm, has unveiled the findings from its floating offshore wind survey, which it developed in partnership with Norwegian Offshore Wind and World Forum Offshore Wind. The survey gathered insights from 184 stakeholders in the floating offshore wind industry. Floating offshore wind has experienced a boom in recent years. While conventional offshore wind turbines are fixed to the seabed, floating wind turbines are deployed on top of floating structures secured to the seabed with mooring lines and anchors. These…

  • easyJet opens new AI-equipped control centre in Luton to better manage flights

    easyJet’s new integrated control centre (ICC) near Luton Airport will manage the safe and efficient operation of 2,000 mostly European flights a day. Airline travel is heading for a very busy summer. According to Airports Council International (ACI), global passenger traffic in 2024 is predicted to surpass the 2019 level for the first time since Covid-19, reaching 9.7 billion passengers. In anticipation of this growing passenger number, easyJet, a British multinational low-cost airline group headquartered at Luton Airport, has opened its new ICC to manage its daily flight programme. “We are really pleased to have our new operations control centre up and running in time for the summer season ramp-up, providing our operational team with a modern and bespoke facility from which to manage…

  • The Path Towards Industrial Energy Efficiency with Electric Motors

    Paramount to achieving net-zero targets is optimizing existing facilities and processes to reach higher energy efficiency. Considering that 45% of electrical energy is converted today into motion by electrical motors, research estimates that the world’s electricity consumption could be reduced by 10% with high efficiency motion solutions. That is why energy efficiency improvement of applications driven by electrical motors are relevant and need to be identified and realized to reach carbon neutrality. Energy efficiency improvements have been already for many years a driver to reduce energy cost. To achieve it, industrial operators now have a pathway that they can follow: 1. Make better decisions with an energy efficiency audit 2. Implement the key energy efficiency solutions identified…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Openreach adds 517 UK locations to its latest full fibre broadband upgrade plans

    Openreach has published updated plans to build ultrafast, ultra-reliable full fibre broadband to 517 more locations across the UK, including some of the most isolated parts of the UK. The UK network operator and BT subsidiary intends to make gigabit-capable technology available to 25 million homes and businesses by the end of 2026, including 6.2 million in rural areas. In this £15bn project, Openreach will upgrade the UK’s broadband infrastructure while retiring most of its old copper landlines. These plans support the UK government’s ambition of rolling out a faster, more reliable full fibre, ‘gigabit-capable’ broadband to more than 85% of the country, including hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise miss out. Full fibre is capable of delivering speeds of up to 1,000Mbps (or 1Gbps…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

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