The UK government has opened the GBP 160 million Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS) for expressions of interest.
Announced in November 2021, the investment scheme will provide government funding to boost floating offshore wind capability around the UK at sites in Scotland, Wales, and elsewhere by supporting manufacturers and giving private investors the confidence to back this emerging sector which is expected to rapidly expand in the years ahead, the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said.
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A pioneering new U.K. project, PRoGrESS, is now underway to develop what is said will be Britain’s first wind turbine blade recycling pilot plant. The £2 million, three-year project, part-funded by Innovate UK and industry partner Aker Offshore Wind (Lysaker, Norway), seeks to deliver a circular model for wind turbine blades to support the U.K.’s climate change targets. Led in Scotland, it will benefit the wider U.K. economy and create green jobs.
https://www.compositesworld.com/news/uk-wind-turbine-blade-recycling-project-progress-commences
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Amid rising energy costs, reducing emissions and meeting environmental targets, IfM Engage, part of the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge and global technology company ABB have teamed up to develop a blueprint for better ways of working that look at technology challenges processes and people to plan purposeful change.
The World Bank warned in 2021 that energy prices were expected to average more than 80% higher compared to 2020 and remain at high levels in 2022.
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The £9.7m government backed Celeritas project aims to reduce electric vehicle battery charging times to 12 minutes. This should accelerate the adoption of the vehicles and help towards the UK government’s target of zero tailpipe emissions by 2050.
Funding is being delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and consortium members Sprint Power, BMW, BP, AMTE Power, Clas-SiC and Eltrium.
“Sprint Power sits at the heart of the project, leading the consortium,” said Ben Russell, Sprint Power’s commercial director.
“We’re developing our battery architecture to bring it up to 800V. An 800V architecture allows the platform to be lighter and more efficient. A higher voltage allows for a lower current to be used when charging, reducing overheating and increasing efficiency.