News from the 29th April- 6th May 2022

New survey reveals global industry is accelerating investment in energy efficiency

The Energy Efficiency Investment Survey 2022 comes in the wake of a recent UN report calling for concerted action from countries to cut greenhouse emissions at a faster rate.

The global survey conducted by Sapio Research targeted 2,294 companies in 13 countries, ranging in size from 500 to 5,000 or more employees. It offers the latest snapshot of how industries across the world are planning to invest in energy efficiency measures to achieve Net Zero. A key finding is that more than half (54 percent) of the companies are already investing, while 40 percent plan to make energy efficiency improvements this year.

https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/new-survey-reveals-global-industry-is-accelerating-investment-in-energy-efficiency/

Worley brings its tool box to Grimsby as it gears up to play key part in Energy Estuary engineering boom

Specialist Equipment Solutions, global engineering giant Worley’s plant and equipment facility, is set to open in Grimsby.

The new base has been established to bring the provision in-house, alongside calibration services.

Already operating in Aberdeen and Great Yarmouth, having been established there to support North Sea operations in oil and gas, SES will bring more than a century’s experience in plant and equipment provision and solutions to the region while acting as the go-to provider for Worley in the area.

Third party businesses and projects will also be able to benefit from a full spectrum of specialist tools for onshore projects, offshore oil and gas maintenance, modifications, hook-up, and decommissioning.

https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/worley-brings-tool-box-grimsby-23858266

Airbus to ramp up production despite 'challenging' economic outlook

Airbus is planning to ramp up production of its A320 family of aircraft despite challenges facing the aerospace sector amid the war in Ukraine and strains in the economy.

The company, which employs thousands of people at its UK sites in Filton, South Gloucestershire, and Broughton, North Wales, made the announcement as it reported its Q1 results.

The business reported a 15% rise in revenues to €12bn, mainly reflecting the higher number of commercial aircraft deliveries. A total of 142 commercial aircraft were delivered - up from 125 in the same period in 2021 - including 11 A220s, 109 A320 Family, six A330s and 16 A350s.

Airbus said commercial aircraft production for the A320 family of planes was progressing towards a monthly rate of 65 aircraft by the summer of 2023 and 75 a month in 2025.

https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/airbus-ramp-up-production-despite-23868094

News from the 22nd - 29th March 2022

UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus hits the road

The UK’s first full-sized self-driving bus will take to the roads this week as part of a government-sponsored autonomous vehicle project.

The Project CAVForth pilot, which is funded by the UK government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), will see five single-deck autonomous buses – each manned by a safety driver – operate in and around the Edinburgh region over the next two weeks.

Bus firm Stagecoach, in partnership with technology company Fusion Processing, bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, and Transport Scotland, will carry out initial passenger less on-road testing in preparation for the launch of a passenger service this summer.

https://cities-today.com/uks-first-full-sized-autonomous-bus-hits-the-road/

A quarter of car buyers want to buy British to help the motor industry after Covid and the supply crunch, study claims

Car buyers say they are more likely than ever to buy British in a bid to help the industry recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Buyers are also feeling more inclined to purchase made in Britain models in the hope they can get their hands on vehicles quicker by leapfrogging to the front of the long order queues, as car makers continue to have their outputs limited by parts supply issues.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-10755531/Quarter-car-buyers-likely-buy-British-help-UK-motor-industry.html

UK car production drops as firms struggle to get parts

Car production in the UK has continued to fall as manufacturers struggle with global supply chain problems. Almost 100,000 fewer cars were built in the first three months of 2022 compared to last year. Manufacturing has dropped by nearly a third, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The SMMT linked the decline to a global shortage of computer chips and rising energy costs for manufacturers.

During the first three months of the year, a total of 207,347 new cars were built in the UK, down from 306,558 in the same three months in 2021, when the pandemic created added pressures for manufacturers.

Manufacturers have been struggling to get hold of the parts they need - in particular semiconductors, or computer chips, which are widely used on modern vehicles.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61248689

News from the 15th - 22nd April 2022

Railway industry companies are increasingly innovating in digitalization

Research and innovation in digitalisation in the railway equipment supply, product and services sector is on the rise.

The most recent figures show that the number of digitalisation related patent applications in the industry stood at 35 in the three months ending February – up from 32 over the same period in 2021

Digitalisation is one of the key areas and has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.

The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

https://www.railway-technology.com/analysis/railway-industry-companies-are-increasingly-innovating-in-digitalization/

As energy crisis bites, Rolls-Royce boss says mini-nuclear power stations could operating within seven years

Rolls-Royce could get the regulatory go-ahead for a new generation of mini-nuclear power stations as early as 2024.

Paul Stein, chairman of Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors, told Reuters its design for a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) could then go on to produce power for the national grid by 2029.

Rolls-Royce, which is headquartered in Derby and has a big operation in Filton, South Gloucestershire, hopes the SMR subsidiary will play a big part of the UK’s Net Zero agenda.

It says a single mini power station could be around a tenth of the size of a conventional nuclear plant and generate enough power for around one million homes.

https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/energy-crisis-bites-rolls-royce-23728383

Planes running on batteries and hydrogen to become a reality under new group of aviation experts

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng yesterday (20 April 2022) set out a new group of aviation experts across industry and government who will work together to make zero emission flight a reality.

As world leaders in aviation decarbonisation, the new Zero Emission Flight (ZEF) Delivery Group, will further Britain’s role in the global effort to end flight emissions.

Launched at the fifth meeting of the Jet Zero Council, the new steering group will help position the UK at the forefront of the global shift to green aviation by supporting the development of zero emission aircraft and airport infrastructure. It will also look at how the law needs to adapt so that sustainable flying can truly become a reality.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/planes-running-on-batteries-and-hydrogen-to-become-a-reality-under-new-group-of-aviation-experts

News from the 8th - 14th April 2022

Scottish pharmaceutical manufacturer gets £20m funding boost

Target Healthcare has received a £20m working capital boost for its plans to grow organically and through acquisitions.

The funding package from Santander UK should provide the Glasgow-headquartered pharmaceutical manufacturer with what it needs to expand the client base throughout the UK, including Northern Ireland.

It supplies medicines to retail pharmacies, hospital trusts and large pharmacy wholesalers. Most sales are in the UK, but the business also has clients in Europe and the Middle East, with the bank lending expertise for expansion into these markets

Read more at:

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scottish-pharmaceutical-manufacturer-gets-20-26665473

Hanson to build UK’s first net-zero cement plant

Hanson UK (HeidelbergCement) plans to build the UK’s first net-zero cement factory at a facility in north Wales. Hanson is aiming to capture up to 800,000t of CO2 per year at its cement plant in Padeswood, near Mold. The site is set to undergo a GBP400m upgrade to implement carbon-capture technology in the coming years.

Hanson’s Head of Process and Sustainability, Iain Walpole, said the upgraded plant would be able to combine low-carbon cement with carbon capture to ensure zero-net emissions from its production. He said: “The whole concept of the Padeswood project was to make net-zero cement. So almost every little bit of calculation we’ve done, we have asked ourselves ‘what does that do to the net-zero balance?’

Read more at:

https://www.cemnet.com/News/story/172500/hanson-to-build-uk-s-first-net-zero-cement-plant.html

Airbus runs decarbonising wing technology tests at Filton site

Airbus has completed key tests at its site near Bristol of new aircraft wing technology it says could help decarbonise the aviation industry.

The aerospace giant has run wind-tunnel trials of its eXtra Performance Wing demonstrator at its base in Filton, South Gloucestershire. Launched last September, Airbus has said the project aims to improve wing aerodynamics and performance in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions and is intended to be compatible with any future aircraft configuration and propulsion system.

Airbus’ aerodynamics teams in Filton ran the tests on a low-speed wind tunnel, which replicates conditions similar to aircraft take-off and landing wind speeds. The simulator is also used by external organisations testing F1 cars, ship radar systems, urban air mobility vehicles, as well as more conventional aircraft. The eXtra Performance Wing will examine onboard technologies, like gust sensors, pop-up spoilers and multifunctional trailing edges, to enable the active control of the wing.

Read more at:

https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/airbus-runs-decarbonising-wing-technology-23669967