Latest news with #PaulEllis
Scotsman
04-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
ScotWind: Mingyang Smart Energy wind power project creates double-edged dilemma over security
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... When the West of Orkney Wind Farm received planning permission from the Scottish Government last month, it was a rare bright spot for a sector that's been bruised by global economic headwinds and domestic regulatory uncertainty for over a year. The decision marks a key step forward in the project's plan for 125 wind turbines to be fixed to the seabed about 30 kilometres west of the Orkney mainland, allowing the generation of enough electricity to power two million homes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It also makes West of Orkney the first of 20 wind farms – collectively known as ScotWind – to be given such consent since Crown Estate Scotland awarded options to develop seabed acreage in the North Sea in 2022. The granting of onshore consent is a significant planning milestone for the Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm project. Yet while the decision will be welcomed by the project's backers – TotalEnergies of France, Renewables Infrastructure Development Group of the UK, and Corio Generation, part of Australia's Macquarie – the mood among most of the other ScotWind developers is anxious. That's because, a thousand miles away in London, consent of a different kind is pending that has greater consequences for the future of ScotWind. Westminster has for months been grappling with whether to allow a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, Mingyang Smart Energy, to build a wind turbine blade factory in the Inverness area. The deliberations have widened to whether the Chinese company's kit should be used in the UK's offshore wind supply chain at all. The case in favour is economically compelling. Mingyang, like many businesses in China's green tech juggernaut, produces turbines more cheaply than its European rivals. Mingyang's factory would also create hundreds of green jobs in the North-east of Scotland. Small wonder that Holyrood has earmarked £30 million for the project. The investment from Mingyang would be around £120m, attractive for Labour as it tries to attract foreign investment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The case against boils down to two issues: perceived security threats to the UK's critical national energy infrastructure and supply chain dependency. An aerial view shows wind turbine blades stored on the quayside ready for shipping at the Siemens Gamesa blade factory in Hull. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images Concerns have been raised by MPs including Andrew Bowie, Nick Timothy, Christine Jardine and Harriet Cross that because the operational software embedded in a turbine remains in the control of the manufacturer after installation, the risk exists that a wind farm using Chinese turbines could be switched off, causing damage to downstream transmission and grid. Cyber espionage is another worry. Germany has already raised a red flag. A paper commissioned from the German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies by the country's defence ministry this year said that the Waterkant wind farm off the German coast should not go ahead on the grounds of public safety, citing planned use of Chinese wind turbines. For anyone who still thinks this is far-fetched, it's worth reading two recently published government policy documents that lay out the stark geopolitical reality of our times. China is assessed in the Strategic Defence Review as a 'sophisticated and persistent challenge', while the National Security Strategy says: 'Economic coercion will become more common as other states weaponise trade or use export controls and supply chain dependencies to gain advantage." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dependency stems from the fact that more than 60 per cent of ScotWind's wind farms are designed to be floating units in deep waters, unlike the fixed bottom technology used by West of Orkney. Mingyang specialises in floating turbines. The only other manufacturers in the game, Vestas and Siemens-Gamesa, are too financially constrained to develop floating turbines at scale any time soon. They are also busy fulfilling existing orders for fixed-bottom projects. This means that, without Mingyang, much of ScotWind is less likely to materialise, jeopardising the UK's overall offshore wind targets. The government now finds itself on the horns of a geopolitical dilemma. Sir Keir Starmer, on whose desk the Mingyang decision likely now sits, must now navigate between the White House's antipathy towards wind power – expressed yesterday in the gutting of Biden-era tax credits for wind and solar in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' – and China's desire to expand its wind power champions in Europe. Tension flared last month when China's embassy in London slammed as 'groundless' any 'so-called security concerns' over the use of Chinese wind equipment in the UK's energy infrastructure. This came after a report that Washington had warned London about national security risks associated with allowing Mingyang to build a plant in the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The dilemma is complicated by the fact that another Scottish offshore wind project, Green Volt, backed by Eni of Italy and Tokyo Electric Power Company, reportedly intends to use Mingyang turbines. It was the only successful bidder from Scotland at the last government auction that allocates offtake prices, meaning it is well advanced. Allowing Mingyang in with technical and legal safeguards would be one option. Another would be to incentivise Vestas and Siemens-Gamesa to ramp up floating wind turbine technology, providing more flexibility to developers. I understand one measure under consideration is sweetening the terms of the next auction to make it more viable to incorporate Siemens-Gamesa turbines in project plans. Germany might also look at channelling some of the up to €1 trillion recently approved as part of relaxing the 'debt brake' to upgrade its military and infrastructure for its own offshore wind champion, Siemens-Gamesa.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Fluminense shocks Inter Milan, advances to Club World Cup quarter-finals
Inter Milan's Italian forward Sebastiano Esposito (L) and Fluminense's Brazilian defender Thiago Silva (R) fight for the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 football match between Italy's Inter Milan and Brazil's Fluminense at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on June 30, 2025. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP Image: Paul Ellis/AFP Fluminense sent Inter Milan packing from the Club World Cup on Monday with a 2-0 win in Charlotte that took the Brazilian side through to the quarter-finals. German Cano's header from close range gave Fluminense an early lead in their last-16 tie and they then withstood an onslaught from the Italian side in the second half before substitute Hercules sealed their victory late on. The Rio de Janeiro outfit, who qualified for the Club World Cup thanks to their Copa Libertadores triumph in 2023, become the second Brazilian side to make the last eight after Palmeiras had already sealed their quarter-final spot. Captained by 40-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva, 'Flu' will now go to Orlando for a tie on Friday against either Manchester City or Al-Hilal. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Fluminense Secures Massive Upset Victory Over Inter Milan 'We knew they were not going to be easy opponents. Less than a month ago they were playing the Champions League final, but we played really well,' Silva told broadcaster DAZN. It is the latest victory for a Brazilian team against prestigious European opposition at the tournament in the United States, after Botafogo defeated PSG and Flamengo got the better of Chelsea in the group stage. 'This is a very important victory for our fans, for all of Brazil, for my country, for South America,' said Jhon Arias, the lively Colombian winger who was named man of the match. 'We are not only representing Fluminense but a whole continent and we are really pleased with what we are doing in this World Cup.'
Sinar Daily
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
'Strange' to play in front of 50,000 empty seats: Chelsea's Maresca
Only 22,000 fans were present at the 71,000-capacity arena. 17 Jun 2025 10:38am Two Chelsea's supporters sit in an empty tribune during the Club World Cup 2025 Group D football match between England's Chelsea and US Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta. Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP ATLANTA - Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca labelled the atmosphere in his team's opening Club World Cup game on Monday "strange" after the Blues triumphed in front of nearly 50,000 empty seats. The UEFA Conference League winners defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with only 22,000 fans present at the 71,000-capacity arena. "The environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty, not full," Maresca told reporters. "We are professional, we have to adapt to the situation, to the environment... "It's important the behaviour of the players, the attitude, and once again they showed how professional they are." Giant screen shows attendance during the Fifa Club World Cup 2025 group D match between Chelsea FC and Los Angeles Football Club at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 16, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Alex Grimm/AFP The Chelsea coach said his team had expected a larger crowd, but were hopeful they would get that in their second game against Flamengo of Brazil in Philadelphia. "We prepared this game also thinking that the environment was a bit different, but no doubt that the next one will be a nice one, because we know that the Brazilian teams, they always bring many, many fans," he added. Over 60,000 spectators attended the opening match between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Al Ahly on Saturday, while 80,000 were present at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Sunday for the clash between UEFA Champions League winners Paris-Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid. Plenty of Boca Juniors fans created a raucous atmosphere later on Monday for their match against Benfica at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. With Chelsea playing at 3pm local time on a working Monday, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under a third full. MLS side Atlanta United average nearly 45,000 fans at their matches and are the best supported US team. "PSG against Atletico, in front of a big crowd at the Rose I don't know if there's just more fans in Los Angeles who are into this tournament than here, or if it's the pairing tonight," said LA coach Steve Cherundolo. However the American said it was too early to judge FIFA's new expanded competition on the basis of just one match. "Regarding crowds I think it's kind of different each game you look at, so I don't think we should be talking about this right now," he added. "I think we should wait until the end of the tournament...(to make) an opinion about it as a whole, as opposed to one game." - AFP
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
LAFC's 10-match unbeaten streak ends in loss to Chelsea at FIFA Club World Cup
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez scores during a 2-0 win over LAFC in group play at the FIFA Club World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday. (Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images) LAFC's first foray into the FIFA Club World Cup was competitive, but ultimately a defeat. LAFC hung around against English powerhouse Chelsea at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and had the match still in striking distance nearly the entire way, but lost 2-0 in its first of three group stage matches. Advertisement Chelsea broke through in the 34th minute when Pedro Neto beat LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris following a quick turn inside around defender Ryan Hollingshead. The goal came after Chelsea controlled most of the opening half hour. Read more: FIFA Club World Cup: Everything you need to know about all 32 teams Enzo Fernandez put the match away with a goal in the 80th minute after taking down a Liam Delap cross and gliding it past Lloris. LAFC forward Nathan Ordaz left the game in the 38th minute when Chelsea captain Reese James took him down with a hard foul on the left wing. James received a yellow card, and Ordaz left the game and was placed into concussion protocol. Advertisement The setback snapped LAFC's run of 10 consecutive undefeated matches across all competition, but it will have an opportunity to bounce back quickly. Group play continues Friday in Nashville against Tunisia's Espérance de Tunis before finishing Jun. 24 against Brazilian club Flamengo in Orlando, Fla. Read more: Paris Saint-Germain hopes Champions League title will help it expand its brand Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Free at last: Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool
Free at last Spanish giants Real Madrid have announced the signing of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Premier League side Liverpool. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP Image: Paul Ellis/AFP Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday. The 26-year-old England international's contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the FIFA Club World Cup. Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019. He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti. Alexander-Arnold's close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season. But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool's success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday. The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season. Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank. Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position. Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami. Real Madrid have also signed Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back-line which was ravaged by injury this season. AFP
