Japanese conglomerate agrees to import 400,000 tonnes of green hydrogen-based ammonia a year from India

ACME has secured offtake for 30% of its Odisha plant’s output once fully built.

Japanese engineering conglomerate IHI has signed a term sheet with Indian renewables developer ACME for 400,000 tonnes a year of green ammonia offtake starting from 2028.

IHI will then sell on this NH3 to “customers in various industries, including power generation, primarily in Japan.

ACME plans to supply ammonia from its project in the state of Odisha, currently being developed in multiple phases, which it expects will produce nearly 1.3 million tonnes of green NH3 a year once fully built — meaning only 30% of these volumes have been pre-sold to IHI.

The Japanese firm had previously signed a preliminary agreement to co-invest in the project, which is expected to cost 600 billion rupees ($7.2bn) in total.

In August, ACME said it would stump up 270 billion rupees ($3.3bn), although it is unclear whether this refers to the amount of investment needed to build the project’s first phase, or its total commitment to the plant’s costs.

Ammonia’s use in power generation is controversial. While proponents in Japan have argued that the country has limited options to built out wind and solar to decarbonise its grid, necessitating imports of clean H2 and NH3, critics have pointed out that in the short term, this will necessarily mean co-combustion with fossil fuels.

Ammonia co-firing with coal, which is already being trialled by Japan’s largest power generator JERA, has faced particularly fierce critique due to high costs while emitting more CO2 than a power plant burning 100% natural gas.

However, IHI has also this week announced its partnership with US engineering giant GE to develop a turbine capable of running on 100% ammonia.

Late last year, the Japanese government announced ¥3trn ($21bn) in subsidies for both domestically produced and imported clean hydrogen (and its derivatives) to cover the cost gap with their fossil equivalents.

source:hydrogen Insight

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Next-generation solar panels with record efficiencies within reach

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Next-generation solar panels with record efficiencies within reach: Perovskite tandem solar cells on the verge of commercialisation

Solar modules using perovskite tandem solar cells are highly efficient, which is why they are of great interest to some of the world's largest solar companies as a renewable energy source for power generation. There have been problems with the instability of perovskites, but research is progressing rapidly and several start-ups are competing to bring them to market.

Commercial solar panels with record-breaking efficiencies could be realised in just a few years using perovskite tandem solar cells. Researchers at Swift Solar, a Silicon Valley company, have been working on the technology for more than a decade, as have many other start-ups. But some scientists fear that time is running out:

The process involves coating silicon with perovskites (e.g. by vapour deposition, printing or spin coating) so that different wavelengths of sunlight are absorbed, and has already achieved over 33% efficiency in the laboratory. One of the challenges is the perishability of perovskite as a material for solar panels, but progress has recently been made in improving its stability. Some solar companies have shown their confidence in the technology in recent months by investing large sums in pilot production lines.

In addition to the volatility caused by high sensitivity to water, light and heat, the scalability of the projects plays a crucial role. The US Department of Energy has invested millions of dollars in two recent projects by Bin Chen and Barry Rand, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Princeton University, to test perovskite silicon configurations that could be more durable, as well as projects by universities and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Tomas Leijtens, co-founder and chief technology officer of Swift, says the company can now expose its cells to temperatures of up to 70°C. The start-up hopes to have its high-efficiency modules on the market within four years:

A few months ago, First Solar, the largest solar manufacturer in the US, acquired the European perovskite company Evolar. UK start-up Oxford PV plans to launch the first perovskite tandem modules with an efficiency of 28.6% this year. Hanwha Q Cells of Korea plans to invest US$100 million in the construction of a perovskite tandem pilot line.

source:notebookcheck.net

Polyplastics-Evonik’s PEEK Resin Adopted for High Branch Electric Clippers

Polyplastics-Evonik Corporation announced that their product “VESTAKEEP®-J” has been adopted as the PEEK gear for the high branch electric clippers of Ars Corporation.

5x Durability Compared to Conventional Plastic Gears:

The high branch electric clippers of Ars Corporation are widely used in various fields such as fruit farming, vegetable farming, flower farming, carpentry, craft making, landscaping, and gardening due to their excellent sharpness. However, there was a challenge in improving the durability of the plastic gears made of engineering plastic used in the reduction unit of the electric clippers, which is a part of this product.

In order to ensure the necessary durability of the gears in the reduction unit, it was considered to change the entire unit to metal gears. However, this raises concerns about electric shock prevention for workers, design changes, and an increase in overall weight. In addition, to maintain stable performance over a long period of time, regular maintenance such as applying grease is necessary. To improve workability, it is also necessary to reduce noise and suppress vibrations that can cause white rust disease.

By adopting VESTAKEEP®-J 5000GB, which has excellent fatigue resistance, in such a harsh environment, it has been possible to achieve approximately five times the durability compared to conventional engineering plastic gears, and the use of an integrated gear that does not require metal inserts has made significant weight reduction and noise reduction possible.

Polyplastics-Evonik will continue to expand its operations and provide precise technical support to its customers in order to build a sustainable society in partnership with its partner companies through the extension of product life.

VESTAKEEP® is a trademark of Evonik Industries and Polyplastics-Evonik Corporation is its distributer in Japan.

Source: Polyplastics

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:PLA BOTTLE

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Ever wondered how we can reduce plastic pollution in India?

The Mysuru-based Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), affiliated with the DRDO, has launched an eco-friendly remedy with the introduction of biodegradable water bottles.

Crafted from sustainable Polylactic acid (PLA) material, these bottles not only combat plastic waste but also contribute to reducing the overall carbon footprint.

The best thing about this bottle is its all-encompassing sustainability approach – the bottle, cap, and label are all compostable.

This innovation, derived from 100% bio-based and renewable sources, sets us on a path towards environmental conservation and fosters a greener and more sustainable future.

Source:The Better India

#polymers #bioplastics #pla  #compostable  #ecofriendly #sustainability

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Cobalt-free batteries could power cars of the future

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Cobalt-free batteries could power cars of the future

MIT chemists developed a battery cathode based on organic materials, which could reduce the EV industry’s reliance on scarce metals.

Many electric vehicles are powered by batteries that contain cobalt a metal that carries high financial, environmental, and social costs.

MIT researchers have now designed a battery material that could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars. The new lithium-ion battery includes a cathode based on organic materials, instead of cobalt or nickel (another metal often used in lithium-ion batteries).

In a new study, the researchers showed that this material, which could be produced at much lower cost than cobalt-containing batteries, can conduct electricity at similar rates as cobalt batteries. The new battery also has comparable storage capacity and can be charged up faster than cobalt batteries, the researchers report.

“I think this material could have a big impact because it works really well,” says Mircea Dincă, the W.M. Keck Professor of Energy at MIT. “It is already competitive with incumbent technologies, and it can save a lot of the cost and pain and environmental issues related to mining the metals that currently go into batteries.”

Alternatives to cobalt

“Cobalt batteries can store a lot of energy, and they have all of features that people care about in terms of performance, but they have the issue of not being widely available, and the cost fluctuates broadly with commodity prices. And, as you transition to a much higher proportion of electrified vehicles in the consumer market, it’s certainly going to get more expensive,” Dincă says.

Because of the many drawbacks to cobalt, a great deal of research has gone into trying to develop alternative battery materials. One such material is lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), which some car manufacturers are beginning to use in electric vehicles. Although still practically useful, LFP has only about half the energy density of cobalt and nickel batteries.

Another appealing option are organic materials, but so far most of these materials have not been able to match the conductivity, storage capacity, and lifetime of cobalt-containing batteries. Because of their low conductivity, such materials typically need to be mixed with binders such as polymers, which help them maintain a conductive network. These binders, which make up at least 50 percent of the overall material, bring down the battery’s storage capacity.

About six years ago, Dincă’s lab began working on a project, funded by Lamborghini, to develop an organic battery that could be used to power electric cars. While working on porous materials that were partly organic and partly inorganic, Dincă and his students realized that a fully organic material they had made appeared that it might be a strong conductor.

This material consists of many layers of TAQ (bis-tetraaminobenzoquinone), an organic small molecule that contains three fused hexagonal rings. These layers can extend outward in every direction, forming a structure similar to graphite. Within the molecules are chemical groups called quinones, which are the electron reservoirs, and amines, which help the material to form strong hydrogen bonds.

Those hydrogen bonds make the material highly stable and also very insoluble. That insolubility is important because it prevents the material from dissolving into the battery electrolyte, as some organic battery materials do, thereby extending its lifetime.

“One of the main methods of degradation for organic materials is that they simply dissolve into the battery electrolyte and cross over to the other side of the battery, essentially creating a short circuit. If you make the material completely insoluble, that process doesn’t happen, so we can go to over 2,000 charge cycles with minimal degradation,” Dincă says.

Strong performance

Tests of this material showed that its conductivity and storage capacity were comparable to that of traditional cobalt-containing batteries. Also, batteries with a TAQ cathode can be charged and discharged faster than existing batteries, which could speed up the charging rate for electric vehicles.

To stabilize the organic material and increase its ability to adhere to the battery’s current collector, which is made of copper or aluminum, the researchers added filler materials such as cellulose and rubber. These fillers make up less than one-tenth of the overall cathode composite, so they don’t significantly reduce the battery’s storage capacity.

These fillers also extend the lifetime of the battery cathode by preventing it from cracking when lithium ions flow into the cathode as the battery charges.

The primary materials needed to manufacture this type of cathode are a quinone precursor and an amine precursor, which are already commercially available and produced in large quantities as commodity chemicals. The researchers estimate that the material cost of assembling these organic batteries could be about one-third to one-half the cost of cobalt batteries.

Lamborghini has licensed the patent on the technology. Dincă’s lab plans to continue developing alternative battery materials and is exploring possible replacement of lithium with sodium or magnesium, which are cheaper and more abundant than lithium.

Source:MIT News

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Complex Morphology

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Injection Molding creates non-monotonic crystallinity gradients through the thickness, and corresponding non monotonic elastic modulus.

On one hand the rapid quench of the skin (combined with fountain flow) reduces crystallinity of the most outer layers leading to typically half the nominal modulus ( PP data).

The high shear just below (frozen skin) will produce strong "flow induced nucleation" and more crystallinity ( and oriented structures). These layers can be 4X stiffer than the skin in PP.
Finally the core section undergoes a more quiescent crystallization with slower cooling and shear rates and will have "average" crystallinity, larger non-oriented crystals and pretty much the data-sheet kind of modulus.

Source:Vito leo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share :Biochar from Green Algae:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Biochar from Green Algae: A Dual-Solution for Green Energy

A new study has harnessed the power of a humble green macroalgae, dry, to create a biochar with surprising capabilities. This biochar acts as a dual-threat in the world of green energy, functioning both as an efficient hydrogen catalyst and an electrocatalyst for fuel cells.

The research, published in Fuel, highlights the potential of E. intestinalis as a sustainable and cost-effective resource for clean energy solutions. Traditionally, hydrogen production from sodium borohydride relies on expensive metal catalysts. This biochar, however, offers a promising alternative, significantly boosting hydrogen production rates.

But the biochar’s talents don’t stop there. It also shines as an electrocatalyst for methanol fuel cells. These cells hold immense potential for clean energy generation, but often require expensive platinum-based catalysts. The E. intestinalis biochar paves the way for a more affordable and environmentally friendly option.

The key to unlocking the biochar’s dual potential lies in optimizing its creation process. The researchers employed Taguchi’s experimental design, a robust method for identifying the ideal combination of factors for superior performance. By analyzing various parameters like acid concentration, impregnation times, and burning temperatures, they identified the settings that yielded the most effective biochar.

This study is significant for several reasons:

Sustainability: E. intestinalis is readily available and grows rapidly, making it a sustainable source for biochar production.

Cost-effectiveness: Compared to traditional metal catalysts, the biochar offers a more affordable solution for both hydrogen production and fuel cell applications.

Environmental benefits: Replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen and methanol fuel cells reduces greenhouse gas emissions,contributing to a cleaner environment.

Overall, this research opens exciting possibilities for utilizing E. intestinalis biochar in the development of clean and sustainable energy solutions. Its dual functionality and impressive performance make it a valuable asset in the fight against climate change and the quest for renewable energy sources.

Further research could explore:

Scaling up the biochar production process for large-scale applications.

Investigating the long-term durability and stability of the biochar in both hydrogen production and fuel cell operation.

Exploring the potential of other readily available biomaterials for creating similar dual-functional catalysts.

Source:biochartoday