Author: Hanna Stasiuk

Sweden’s going to provide renewable and affordable energy by 2030. Now it is on track tp meet the goals a little ahead of schedule. The Swedish Wind Power Association (SWPA) says its members are to generate 18 terawatt-hours of electricity every year by the end of 2018, making it possible for the nation to reach its renewable energy goals 12 years early.

In 2015, Sweden joined to develop the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The plan traditionally covered four global divisions: humanitarian development, environmental sustainability, long-term economic planning and advancing peace. Sweden developed a 17-part plan to end poverty, provide clean water and sanitation and combat global climate change.

Many of the plans are still in progress, however, one could be achieved in 2018. Representing Sweden’s wind energy industry, the SWPA projects the number of wind turbines alone could provide clean and affordable power to the nation as soon as December.

The organization says, amount of wind turbines by the end of year will fulfill two goals of the Swedish energy plan: ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy service and substantially increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

If the energy industry hits the projections, the future is bright for the Nordic nation. The additional power boost comes as demand for energy access is set to spike. According to the International Energy Agency, electricity needs could jump by up to 37 percent worldwide over the next 22 years. To help developing nations answer their electricity needs, Sweden’s next major milestones are to double renewable energy efficiency rates, partner with other countries to improve renewable energy and supply energy to the world’s least developed nations and islands.

Our partners, chemical concern BASF investigates an option to establish the second Verbund site in Chinese South province of Guangdong. Lately, representatives of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors and the province’s authorities undersigned a non-binding Memorandum of understanding.

China remains a leader on the global chemical  market (excl. pharma) by manufacturing around 40% of  products. On the other hand, BASF is in a good and stable position in China. There are 25 plants, a range of sales offices as well as Innovations Campus in Shanghai.

Guangdong province is home to customers from these key industries, as well as other fast-growing industries. With more than 110 million residents, Guangdong is the most populous province in China. Its gross domestic product, currently growing at 7% annually, already exceeds that of Spain and will soon have reached that of South Korea.

Prelimenary, it is planned to start-up a steam cracker plant with 1 mln tons of ethylene pro year capacity as a core of the new cluster. BASF intends to implement a comprehensive smart manufacturing concept based on cutting-edge technologies. In the future, customers based in South China would be supplied from this high-tech Verbund site. Investments can reach $10 bln until 2030 and the first plantsare to be started up not later than 2026. So BASF has a little left to do before taking a final decision. The next step is to be a pre-feasibility study. In case, results are satisfactory we will see a brand new smart Verbund soon.

For more than two decades, hackathons are great events for exploring innovations and proffessionals’ networking. Consequentially, they crossed IT borders. WindEurope conference announced that they are partnering to host a joint hackathon for a second consecutive year. Hack the Wind aims to help shape the future of wind energy by facilitating the development of innovative new technologies.

Participants in the hackathon, held at the WindEurope Conference 2018, will be split into teams – all competing for a share of a €20,000 prize. To be awarded this prize, participants will have to propose innovative and implementable solutions to the challenges promoted by the event partners. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will have the participants working on Blockchain applications for hybrid systems optimisation, while EDP Renewables will propose a challenge related to predictive maintenance and Operation and Maintenance Optimization.

The teams will be judged by a panel of C-level representatives of the event partners and the best innovators will get the opportunity to pitch their ideas and showcase their solutions at the Global Wind Summit.

Last year’s Hack the Wind was attended by more than 80 participants and saw Jungle AI and Smart Turbine Management hack their way to a €7,000 prize each. A further €5,000 was awarded to TRM Systems and Vento due to the judges’ belief in their potential to convert their innovations into viable long-term businesses.

Alternative energy doesn’t give up looking for alternatives blockchain technology and hackathon form seem to be prospective ones. So we are looking forward to Hack the wind results that let us and range of enterprises get even better!

Our partner Alfa Laval is a recognized world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling. Recently, the company has won an order to supply large heat exchangers to a petrochemical plant in China. The order has a value of approximately Euro 120 million. It comprises of OLMI Welded Heat Exchangers, with deliveries scheduled for 2018 and 2019. The equipment to be used to recover and reuse energy in different steps in the chemical process of producing components for polystyrene production.

Alfa Laval offers an extensive product range of heat exchangers that are all highly efficient and thereby contribute to huge energy savings. In addition, every year they save a lot of CO2 emissions which is beneficial to the society and ecology.

ACHEMA 2018 is an annual exhibition dedicated to technologies and innovations in chemical industry. It starts today in Frankfurt am Main. Our partner company, BASF, will be there this week at Stand C37 in Hall 8. It will present selected products, services, and innovations in high-pressure and surface technologies as well as additive manufacturing.

We have already published news on 3D technologies developed by BASF. You have a perfect option to check them out within Achema. Moreover, we expect demonstration of products developed by equipment division of the corporation. There will be a cross-section of a T-emergency valve used as a safety device for LDPE (low-density polyethylene) plants. The valve with a nominal width of 89 mm is suitable for pressures of up to 3600 bar. Although it weighs around two tons, the valve can be opened or closed in less than 200 milliseconds. BASF develops and supplies safety equipment for the entire LDPE process at a PE producer, making a significant contribution to the safety of its production facilities.

Worldwide, BASF runs more than 40 of its own high-pressure plants at more than 325 bar. It remains to be the only manufacturer to operate the high-pressure components in its own production plants. In addition to high-pressure equipment, fittings, and pipes, the company’s extensive portfolio includes measurement and control components for chemical processes at pressures of up to 3600 bar.

You can find solutions for your business at Achema till the 15th of June.

Our partners, company Flowserve, takes part in the 25th Caspian Oil & Gas Conference in Baku, Azerbajdjan. the forum gathers each year specialists from different organizations, experts, developers of know-how and managers of the highest level to discuss the hottest issues of oil and gas projects in the region, as well as providing security of energy supply.

Flowserve is going to present at their booth #2035 the latest products for oil and gas.You will be able to take a closer look at products as well as communicate with Flowserve experts, learn more about safety, durability and performance of Flowserve equipment. You can speak with Flowserve’s Europe, Middle East and Africa-based specialists in pumps, wet seals, dry gas seals and valves who have extensive knowledge of original equipment and aftermarket oil and gas applications. Find answers to your questions and smart solutions for your enterprises.

Learn more about specialized products such as ebulated PR pumps, delayed coking units and high-temperature process slurry pumps for catalytic cracking. Flowserve announces demonstration of solutions like new electric rotating compressor seal gas booster, Ampliflow G-Boost and the latest Logix 3800 positioner that features powerful diagnostics that identify field problems and expedite corrective actions to ensure reduced return-to-operation times.

Visit Flowserve booth at Caspian Oil & Gas 2018, learn more about the latest solutions for industry and we assist you to choose and integrate ones that are the most suitable for your needs!

Natural sunlight makes us feel better and even more concentrated. However, what to do if there is not that much neither light, nor windows? BASF specialists propose a smart solution! It opens a lot of opportunities for augmentation of comfort. Whether your room doesn’t have windows at all, or you work in the metal-and-glass office, BASF system allows to distribute light in a smart way.

A façade element made with a special foil is used to capture and transmit sunlight. This façade element can be integrated invisibly into the façade, giving the architect complete creative freedom for design. As soon as the sunlight has been captured and concentrated, it is transported through the light tunnels to the interior of the building. The range depends on the height of the tunnels installed. Finally, inside the building, the lighting fixtures distribute the light in the rooms. The lighting fixtures are combined with LED components to intelligently modulate the light. 1:10 scaled model of the system has already been presented within Light+Building 2018 exhibition in Frankfurt.

BASF daylight system can be widely used to enhance characteristics of such places as schools, hospitals, trade centers and office buildings. Humans feel better in the beams of natural light and moreover the amount of  illnesses decreases. On the other hand, utilisation of natural light allows to reduce usage of electric lights.

The idea of daylight management is not that new. Italian company CoeLux manufactures “daylight windows” since 2009. They fill rooms even on the rainy day with natural sunlight. 2015, BASF started researches. They achieved a great scope, since the system allows not only to imitate sunlight, but to capture sunlight directly from façade and to manage it. The first prototype of the system is aready installed in the headquater of Bartenbach GmbH in Austria.