Latest news with #Black&Veatch
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Black & Veatch Has Completed a Green Hydrogen Front-End Engineering Design Study for ScottishPower in U.K.
GLASGOW, Scotland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Black & Veatch has completed execution of a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project, a proposed development by owner ScottishPower Energy Retail Limited. The contract was awarded to Black & Veatch in October of 2024. Black & Veatch has completed a green hydrogen front-end engineering design study for ScottishPower in U.K. The first phase of the plan, located 15 miles south of Glasgow, was awarded via U.K. government funding support as part of its Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) process. The project will produce green hydrogen via a power supply connection to the U.K.'s largest onshore windfarm, Whitelee Windfarm, creating a valuable renewable fuel with zero carbon emissions. Green hydrogen effectively provides a resilient fuel source by using electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, and converting it using an electrolyser —a device that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. Green hydrogen then operates as a transportable and fungible fuel, ensuring low to no carbon emissions in the process. As the U.K. government shortlists new green hydrogen projects for funding as part of its Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2), Black & Veatch continues to work with clients using the company's power generation and lower carbon expertise to plan, design and build green hydrogen plants. Black & Veatch has recently completed more than 200 front-end loading (FEL) studies globally with 245MW of green hydrogen projects completed or under construction. 'ScottishPower develops green hydrogen responsibly and we selected Black & Veatch because of their decades of experience in hydrogen and strong commitment to safety,' said Mark Bradley, Hydrogen Director, ScottishPower Green Hydrogen Limited. 'We take a holistic development approach, consulting with local stakeholders to ensure we are able to successfully develop low carbon sources of energy for our customers.' The multi-disciplinary engineering team from Black & Veatch delivered a design with safety at the forefront and leveraged the internal experience of constructing and commissioning hydrogen production facilities in other regions. The FEED study includes the incorporation of the OEM's electrolyser package design, as well as the design of all balance of plant scope including hydrogen compression and a tube-trailer dispensing station. The first phase of this project covers 10MW of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, and the conceptual design from Black & Veatch includes a second phase that incorporates an additional 10MW in electrolysis capacity. The second phase has been shortlisted for the U.K. government's HAR2 process. Black & Veatch is also the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) provider for Advanced Clean Energy Storage I (ACES I), a green hydrogen hub in Utah in the United States, and is considered a leading global innovator in the design and engineering of first of a kind, at-scale green hydrogen plants. 'Our clients entrust us to help engineer and deploy innovative, bankable green hydrogen energy infrastructure to transition them to lower carbon solutions,' said Youssef Merjaneh, senior vice president and managing director, Europe Middle East and Africa, Black & Veatch. 'This innovative project will produce green hydrogen from adjacent onshore wind as part of the U.K. government's HAR funding program, and we look forward to continued collaboration with the ScottishPower team.' For more information on the company's hydrogen and ammonia experience, visit Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with more than 100-years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure and energy assets. Follow us on and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Hydrogen: Sarawak must balance ambition with commercial reality
Sarawak is on a promising hydrogen path but requires a cautious and commercially grounded approach to development. KUCHING: Sarawak's push to become a green hydrogen exporter depends not just on infrastructure and technical ability, but also on the commercial viability of its project especially in securing committed buyers and meeting global standards for safety, efficiency and bankability. This was the key message from Jerin Raj, managing director for Asia Pacific at global engineering and infrastructure firm Black & Veatch, on Sarawak's readiness and long-term prospects in the green hydrogen space. Raj, who has worked in Sarawak's since 2011 and lived in Kuching for several years, said the state is on a promising path but urged a cautious and commercially grounded approach to development. To note, Sarawak is aiming to export green hydrogen by 2030. Currently, it is spearheading two flagship projects currently in the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase expected to complete by end of this year, namely the H2ornbill and H2biscus Project. Combined, Sarawak will be producing up to 240,000 metric tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Jerin Raj. 'On one hand, having timelines creates focus and discipline, while on the other, it is important to remember that Sarawak is on a journey and is heading in the right direction,' he said in an exclusive interview with The Borneo Post. 'What gives me confidence is the leadership and collaboration at the heart of the development. The right organisations are being brought in to develop the sector in the right way,' he said. He stressed that long-term success will only come if Sarawak's hydrogen industry develops with sound technical and commercial pathways. 'If the development is done right and goes through the right technical and commercial pathways to make the investments sustainable, ultimately this will provide the most benefit to the region and its people over the long term,' he said. Bankability, according to Raj, hinges on having viable and committed hydrogen buyers which requires not just technological readiness, but committed offtakers. He said investors want confidence that facilities will be completed on schedule, operate reliably and provide stable returns. At the of the day, he said investors want to reduce and manage their risk as much as possible, and receive steady and sustained returns from their investments over time. 'Hydrogen is still a new industry, so the most critical questions remain customer-focused: who will buy the hydrogen, at what price, in what volumes, and how will it be delivered?' he said, adding that globally, first wave of viable hydrogen projects only moved forward because they had committed offtakers and strong commercial propositions. This highlights a central challenge in scaling up hydrogen. While its versatility across sectors is an advantage, it also means demand must be cultivated across a fragmented group of end-users. Raj noted that governments play a key role in aligning investment timelines with actual demand to avoid mismatches in supply and uptake. 'As a new industry, the state has to continue focus on safety and setting the best practice standards. This can't simply be relying on existing oil and gas standards,' he said. Don't rush into construction From a technical perspective, Raj cautioned against rushing into construction or appointing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors too early especially in the development process. He noted that hydrogen related infrastructure are first-of-a-kind projects, unlike traditional power plants, and they lack a wide pool of reference examples. 'Globally, only a few such ventures have reached full financing. 'This is why we advocate developers to go through the Front-End Loading process, and working through stage gates, and ask the hard questions both technically and financially. Raj drew from Black & Veatch's experience in delivering or constructing over 245MW of green hydrogen capacity worldwide to drive home the point that doing the groundwork properly is essential. That includes site evaluation, technical studies, and commercial analysis before moving to execution. According to Raj, another often-overlooked element in hydrogen development is water. Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy to split water through electrolysis — a process that requires ultra-pure water. Raj explained that it takes roughly nine litres of ultra-pure water to produce one kilogram of hydrogen, and poor water quality can lead to lower efficiency, higher costs and even equipment damage. 'If the quality of water supply is poor, then the water will need further treatment before being used in hydrogen production. 'Treating water to an appropriate quality level can be time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, the disposal of wastewater generated from the treatment process can be challenging and may result in environmental impacts if not properly handled.' For Sarawak to compete globally, he said, water treatment and supply must be treated as a core part of project planning, not an afterthought. When asked whether Sarawak could scale up hydrogen production without destabilising domestic electricity supply, Raj was optimistic. With over 60 per cent of its current power generation already coming from renewable sources and abundant natural gas reserves, Raj said Sarawak has a strong foundation. 'Sarawak has great potential as a clean energy hub. It has abundant natural resources, including natural gas, and therefore has a strategic advantage that can be harnessed to develop a balanced energy mix both for domestic use and export. He noted that curtailment of renewable energy, where surplus generation is wasted due to lack of demand, is challenging in many power grids. However, Raj said using that excess power to produce hydrogen is a practical solution. 'Using excess energy that is developed to produce hydrogen in these cases is certainly a feasible consideration. 'More than sixty percent of power generation in Sarawak is already from renewable energy and it has the potential to produce more. 'Natural gas will also play an important role given its availability. Such facilities complement renewables on grids today and, in the future, they can be also used to co-fire hydrogen,' he noted. While Black & Veatch conducted a feasibility study on hydrogen commercialisation as part of the TNB–Petronas Joint Feasibility Study towards Malaysia's Net Zero 2050 goal, Raj declined to draw comparisons between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. 'It's not particularly productive to compare. We still need to think of hydrogen development on a project-by-project basis, proving the commercial readiness of each proposed project,' he said. He stressed that the global energy transition doesn't hinge on a single solution, but rather a full ecosystem of clean energy technologies. 'If we take a step back, our world's energy future relies on scaling renewables, enhancing storage and increasing grid stability. 'There's not one thing that will drive these objectives, but more so the entire ecosystem of our power industry, and hydrogen can play an important role in providing sustainable and long-term energy storage. 'This means, in terms of drivers, whether it is Peninsular or East Malaysia, hydrogen can help improve a nation's or region's energy security and may also emerge as a key fuel for other applications,' he said. This, he said, is the test Sarawak must meet to ensure its projects are not only technically sound, but also commercially viable, bankable and built with long-term competitiveness in mind. hydrogen hydrogen production renewable energy
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay local governments prepare for ‘active' hurricane season
The 2025 hurricane season, forecast by experts to be 'above-normal,' began with the start of the month. And, after President Donald Trump's cuts to Federal Emergency Management Agency's staffing and financial aid, hurricane recovery may be more of a localized effort this year. Last year's back-to-back hurricanes showed Tampa Bay governments have room to improve their response to natural disasters, but these projects cost millions of dollars and take time to complete. Here are some lessons Tampa Bay's elected officials learned last year and the steps they're taking to improve the region's hurricane resiliency. Last year, areas of Hillsborough County that are not in flood zones, such as the Forest Hills neighborhood that drapes northwest Tampa and the unincorporated county line, were saturated with high water during Milton when backup generators failed to turn on stormwater pumps. In November, Hillsborough commissioners voted to hire an independent engineering firm, Black & Veatch, for $500,000 to investigate the county's stormwater infrastructure, identify deficiencies, explore policy changes and make recommendations. The first phase of the study was slated to end by the start of the hurricane season, and during the next phase, the firm will recommend projects to minimize flooding. As a part of the study, the county held community meetings and conducted an online survey this spring to hear feedback from residents about what went wrong last year. In the meantime, the public works department is trimming trees, clearing pipes and ditches and completing hundreds of drainage inspections across the sprawling county. It may be time to consider adding flood insurance to your home, regardless of where you live, said Timothy Dudley Jr., director of the Emergency Management Department. 'Water always finds a way,' he said. The city of Tampa is a part of Hillsborough County's stormwater study, and failed backup generators for stormwater pumps have been a particular point of contention for residents living outside of flood zones. Pump stations that move wastewater to the city's sewer system failed last year, which city officials said contributed to flooding in neighborhoods that didn't expect any. Some of the city's pumps haven't haven't been properly maintained, according to an audit from this year. And residents have recently complained the city isn't cleaning drainage ditches. Mayor Jane Castor announced in April that the city was spending $94 million toward pump upgrades at 28 stations and raising their electrical connections. The city is also installing more backup generators to pump stations — totaling 74 in Tampa. But there are more than 200 pumping stations in the city, and the city's wastewater department is continuing to evaluate whether generators can be added at additional sites. Another problem: gas shortages. Companies assisting with the response couldn't find enough gas, despite the majority of Central Florida's fuel coming through the Port of Tampa. Castor said that this year, every city employee has an assignment for emergency situations, and she cautioned residents they, too, have personal responsibility to stay safe. Local officials can plan for a lot of scenarios, Castor said, but as last year showed, until they experience storm situations first hand, they won't know all of the answers. Helene stayed 100 miles offshore but pushed almost 7 feet of storm surge ashore, causing unprecedented flooding in Pinellas. Many residents ignored evacuation orders. Only 1,700 residents went to shelters, said Adam Pedzich, Pinellas' response and recovery manager. Many who stayed behind had to be rescued by first responders. The county is targeting messages about that risk to those who live in condos, boats and mobile homes and focusing outreach on senior living centers. When Milton quickly followed Helene, 13,000 residents filled up shelters. In a shelter, residents can expect a small personal space and three basic meals a day. Operators aim to serve hot food but a meal could be a sandwich and a bottle of water. Pedzich recommends bringing any preferred drinks or snacks. Bedding won't be provided, so residents are encouraged to bring a cot or air mattress and, in case their home is destroyed, important documents. For those evacuating with pets, residents should bring a kennel, pet food and shot records, though the county will work with folks who don't have those items. 'We shouldn't be waiting until you're in the cone of the storm,' Pedzich said. 'Think about it now.' St. Petersburg had to shut down sewage plants last year — a first for the city — to protect expensive equipment from long-term damage and safely evacuate employees. But that precaution left thousands of residents unable to flush toilets or shower. Mayor Ken Welch said the city is accelerating $545 million of investments over the next five years in its sewage plants. And at the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility, the city raised a platform that will house generators for when the power goes out. It's now at 11 feet, two feet above federal standards, but it will soon have a 15-foot wall around it. The generators could be there by the height of hurricane season, but since much of the equipment is manufactured overseas, the city is at the mercy of the supply chain. The city hasn't raised the facility where plant employees work, though that's also in the plans. Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley said the city is working this year on a way to shut the sewage plant down remotely. 'We're doing everything, I think, humanly possible, everything fiscally possible, to give us a higher level of capacity and resilience,' Welch said. 'But at some point, if a storm crosses that threshold, folks need to understand they need to evacuate.' The city of Clearwater is pursuing grants to elevate Bayshore Boulevard and engineering a design to raise a low-lying sewer pump station to avoid flood risk. The city has also increased creek and ditch clearing and is adding temporary pumps in low-lying areas on North Beach while permanent pumps are designed and installed. Mayor Bruce Rector said the city's tourism industry was able to bounce back quicker than other areas on the coast because of the rebuilding it had already done. Also helpful, he said, was moving quickly on storm debris pickup and creating pop-up permitting sites to expedite repairs for those whose homes were damaged. Rector said when city staff went door-to-door to help residents, some just wanted to grieve and talk. 'They served a role in engaging our community, going out there where the people are at,' Rector said, 'and hopefully build a relationship that will continue on for years to come, where [residents] now not only trust our local government and our staff, but they feel more engaged in our community.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Black & Veatch Participates in Industry Dialogues, Identifies Viable Pathways to Deliver Asia's Energy Transition at Energy Asia 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Black & Veatch, a global leader in human critical infrastructure solutions, will share ways to adapt international best practices to accelerate Southeast Asia's energy transition at the Energy Asia 2025 conference, taking place June 16-18 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center here. "As geopolitical tensions rise and extreme heat waves become more prolonged, Malaysia and its Southeast Asian neighbors need energy transition solutions that will meet their economic and environmental targets. "Black & Veatch is committed to drawing on its extensive sustainable infrastructure experience to help the region meet its growing energy demands with low and no-carbon energy sources," said Jerin Raj, managing director, Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch. Deep collaborations with industry leaders from energy and other sectors, and knowledge transfer are part of that commitment. At the conference in Malaysia, Anand Pattani, vice president and managing director, International Energy Majors, Black & Veatch, will discuss how traditional refiners can adapt to remain competitive in a low-carbon world and the pathways most viable for the refining sector. Pattani will propose global strategies that can be adapted to overcome technical, regulatory, and financial barriers. Aligning with Malaysia's priorities to reduce carbon footprints, optimize resource efficiency, and promote sustainable development, Black & Veatch has supported power projects in Malaysia since the 1990s, from strategic decision-making to financial and resource commitments, implementation and execution. About Black & Veatch Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with more than 100-years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure and energy assets. Follow us on and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram. View source version on Contacts Media Contact Information: EMILY CHIA | +65 6335 6623 | Media@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Black & Veatch Participates in Industry Dialogues, Identifies Viable Pathways to Deliver Asia's Energy Transition at Energy Asia 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Black & Veatch, a global leader in human critical infrastructure solutions, will share ways to adapt international best practices to accelerate Southeast Asia's energy transition at the Energy Asia 2025 conference, taking place June 16-18 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center here. 'As geopolitical tensions rise and extreme heat waves become more prolonged, Malaysia and its Southeast Asian neighbors need energy transition solutions that will meet their economic and environmental targets. 'Black & Veatch is committed to drawing on its extensive sustainable infrastructure experience to help the region meet its growing energy demands with low and no-carbon energy sources,' said Jerin Raj, managing director, Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch. Deep collaborations with industry leaders from energy and other sectors, and knowledge transfer are part of that commitment. At the conference in Malaysia, Anand Pattani, vice president and managing director, International Energy Majors, Black & Veatch, will discuss how traditional refiners can adapt to remain competitive in a low-carbon world and the pathways most viable for the refining sector. Pattani will propose global strategies that can be adapted to overcome technical, regulatory, and financial barriers. Aligning with Malaysia's priorities to reduce carbon footprints, optimize resource efficiency, and promote sustainable development, Black & Veatch has supported power projects in Malaysia since the 1990s, from strategic decision-making to financial and resource commitments, implementation and execution. About Black & Veatch Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with more than 100-years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure and energy assets. Follow us on and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.
