Latest news with #greenTechnology
Times of Oman
07-07-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
bp Oman and Green Universe Enterprise complete the first Drone Training
Green Universe Enterprise, in partnership with bp Oman, held a graduation ceremony for 30 Omani Youth, celebrating the successful completion of the Youth Wings Workshop programme. It aims to deliver the first drone training initiative of its kind for young Omanis, to help develop their skills in drone technology, regulations and operations. This supports employability in the field of drone inspection, create new freelancing opportunities and enhance their ability to compete in the labour market in this field. Participants came from diverse technical backgrounds reflecting Oman's next generation potential in green technology and 47% of the trainees being female showing diversity and inclusion. Over 6 weeks, the programme immersed graduates in a focused learning experience combining both theoretical and practical training. The practical component was delivered in Wadi Al Abyad, Jabal Akhdhar and other locations focused on flight simulations, basic and advanced outdoor flight, and missions simulating realistic scenarios. The training was concluded with participants completing group projects that demonstrated their understanding of the techniques they had learned. The Green Universe Enterprise team conducted performance assessments of the participants to select the top five graduates to advance to the second phase of the programme, which will include career guidance and mentorship, support, resources and obtaining necessary licenses to work as independent drone specialists. Eng. Sumaya Al Rawahi, Founder and CEO of Green Universe Enterprise, commented: 'This programme wasn't just about flying drones and data processing—it was a window for gaining advanced technology and opened new horizons for the participants to gain experience in the field. For many, this was their first hands-on experience using drones in real-world projects, and it was a journey filled with passion, exploration, entrepreneurial spirit, and self-confidence. This experience reinforced their true desire to continue working contributing to Oman's economy.' Ibrahim Al Hinai, Social investment manager at bp Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, added, 'This programme empowers Omani job seekers with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the growing field of innovative drone technology, while emphasising safe drone usage. The programme not only teaches drone technology, but promotes employment opportunities by providing the necessary certifications in the field of drone inspection. Well done to the participants and graduates.'
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beyond Boundaries: Envision's Record 49-Hour Fire Test Breaks New Ground in Energy Storage Safety
SHANGHAI, July 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, has successfully completed a groundbreaking large-scale fire test for its smart energy storage system, raising the bar for safety, environmental responsibility, and system resilience. Conducted under full on-site supervision by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), strategic partners, and North American Fire Protection Engineers (FPEs), the test fully complied with the stringent CSA C800 standard – a consensus standard developed with input from insurers, regulators, and industry experts, providing one of the most authoritative international safety benchmarks for energy storage. World's Densest BESS Setup: 5cm Tightest Spacing, Zero Fire Propagation in 49 Hours The test recreated real-world worst-case site conditions by placing four fully charged (100% SOC) 5MWh Envision Smart Energy Storage containers (A, B, C, D) in an ultra-dense back-to-back, side-by-side configuration - just 5 centimeters apart, compared to the typical industry standard spacing of 3 to 5 meters. This setup represents the most energy-dense fire test layout ever attempted, significantly increasing the challenge due to heightened thermal coupling and limited airflow. Importantly, the burn was allowed to proceed with zero intervention. The test pushed the boundaries of the most stringent safety limits - yet even under unprecedented thermal stress and energy concentration, the system showed exceptional resilience and containment. Container A burned for 49 hours and 32 minutes, reaching a peak temperature of 1,297°C. Meanwhile, internal battery temperatures in the adjacent containers B, C, and D remained stable at just 35°C, 44°C, and 43°C respectively - well below our normal operational window. Notably, container A maintained structural integrity throughout the burn, showing no deformation, no collapse, and intact sealing gaskets. Even more impressively, there was zero fire spread or damage to neighboring containers. Units B, C, and D remained unscathed inside and out, with post-test inspections confirming all internal modules were fully operational and undamaged. 3-Hour Ignition Delay - Extended Window for Fire Response To simulate a worst-case ignition scenario, the fire was initiated by applying high-power, synchronized heating to four battery cells within a modified pack, from which the nano-level thermal insulation had been removed. The ignition source was strategically placed at the center of the container cluster - where fire spread risk is greatest in all directions. Under these extreme conditions, ignition took nearly three hours - over 50% longer than typical - offering a critical window for early detection and emergency response. Zero Emission Fire Testing - New Benchmark for Environmental Safety Environmental safety was also a key focus throughout the test. All combustion gases from the burning container A were captured by overhead smoke hoods, analyzed for composition, and fully neutralized through advanced treatment. The entire 49-hour test produced no odors, no emissions, and zero pollution, setting a new industry benchmark for clean and environmentally responsible fire testing in energy storage. AI-Driven Safety & Full Lifecycle Asset Protection Envision's AI-powered Smart Energy Storage System offers superior safety even under extreme conditions. It integrates Envision's proprietary high-safety battery cells within a robust three-layer safety architecture spanning cell, pack, and system levels. Coupled with AI-driven fire detection and active pack-level firefighting, the system isolates thermal events within a single container. To date, Envision's storage systems have been deployed in over 300 projects worldwide with zero safety incidents. This breakthrough fire test proves that even in highly unlikely fire scenarios, Envision's Smart Energy Storage can fully contain risk within a single container. The quantifiable safety results provide insurers with greater confidence to underwrite storage assets, paving the way for broader commercial adoption and accelerating the transition to safe, large-scale energy storage. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Envision Energy
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
I bought a smart home and my energy bill is now ZERO: Here's how I did it
When Mark Puddicombe moved out in 2023, he was most excited about the gadgets that came with his new smart home. Unlike the detached period property he had previously lived in, Mark's new home in Exeter can be run via an app. This allows him to control his lighting and heating, which is 100 per cent renewable, remotely from his phone. But there was another bonus, too: he'd no longer have to pay an energy bill. And he's not alone. Mark is one of a growing number of homeowners who generate enough energy to have zero bills. He has solar panels, an air source heat pump, and triple-glazed doors and windows. What is the zero-bills scheme? The zero-bills scheme has been spearheaded by the supplier, Octopus Energy. Homes signed up to the initiative have green technology installed, including a heat pump, solar panels and a battery, and are signed up to Octopus's Zero energy tariff. The idea is that the property will generate more energy than is consumed, meaning energy bills are a thing of the past. It doesn't necessarily come cheap, though. The average cost for the required technology and installation ranges from between £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the size of the home and whether the home already has some tech installed. Octopus guarantees each property will pay nothing for energy, even if it uses more than it generates, for five to 10 years. Octopus says it makes enough revenue from exporting excess energy produced back to the grid to make it commercially viable. The scheme started small with three eligible homes made by Bellway in Stafford's Victoria Gate estate, before expanding to hundreds more. Last year, Octopus said it wanted to build 100,000 zero-bill homes by 2030. Currently, it has 1,200 customers who are paying nothing for their electricity. How does a zero-bill home work? Since Mark moved in two years ago, he's not paid a penny towards his electricity usage. The chartered building surveyor had stumbled across the scheme when he'd seen eco homes being built around Exeter. Long interested in what he calls 'environmental stuff', Mark spoke with the developers and eventually moved into his four-bedroom home. Although saving on bills is a bonus, he says being able to control his home remotely and reducing his impact on the environment were his main motivations. 'It was more the renewables and smart home element. I really like gadgets and stuff, so all of that appeals to me. I was quite keen to have a smart home,' he says. 'I like the design as well, they're nice, modern-looking places. 'The zero bills element came later on when there was an option to talk about having the battery pack and everything else. That's certainly been a positive.' Every month, Mark receives an email from Octopus with his energy usage, and his bill is nil. 'I literally get a zero bill every month. I haven't gone beyond the fair usage policy, it would be way more than I'd be using it.' Each home has a fair usage policy of 10 megawatt hours (MWh) of free electricity a year, and Octopus will charge you for anything you use over that amount. Electric vehicle charging is not included in a home's usage. Energy regulator Ofgem says the average three-bedroom household uses around 14.2 MWh of energy a year, but Octopus estimates that a similar sized home signed up to its scheme would only use 6MWh of electricity. Mark says his energy usage is already much lower than in his previous home, which had single-glazed timber sash windows. His new home is better insulated, with all doors and windows triple-glazed and the house well-sealed. 'I think even if I were paying for the energy, I'd still be paying a lot less proportionately than if I were in a traditional, older home,' Mark adds. Which homes are eligible for zero bills? Mark is a big fan of his smart home. He raves about the benefits of being able to control everything via an app, which he admits was 'a little clunky' when he first moved in. After some fiddling around, he can now control his heating and lighting through voice commands. 'It knows I've got my phone with me, so if I come home at night and it's after dark, then the app starts and the lights will come on for a couple of minutes before I get into the house,' he says. It means it's well placed to connect to Octopus' Kraken tech, which automatically imports and exports energy to the grid. 'The house has an air source heat pump. On the first floor, there's radiators and MVHR [mechanical ventilation with heat recovery] so it's always drawing air from the wet room, showers, kitchen and utility room,' explains Mark. 'Then it harvests heat from there and then in the winter months, it blows back out to the living room, bedrooms and lounge.' You do not need to have a smart home to be eligible for Octopus's zero-bill scheme, but it currently only works with new build homes that have been designed around the Zero tariff. Octopus has partnered with housebuilders Vistry, Persimmon and Bellway, the latter of which has a 130-home zero bills development planned in Bedfordshire. If it all sounds a little high-tech, that's because it is - but Octopus thinks it's the future. It estimates that half a million homes built since 2013 could be upgraded and eligible for zero bills.
Globe and Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Business Email Database Leads Climate-Friendly Tech Initiatives in Iraq under Ali Owaid Jasim
In a world increasingly aware of environmental challenges, Ali Owaid Jasim AL-RIKABI is championing the integration of climate responsibility within Iraq's burgeoning technology sector. At a recent public forum on sustainable innovation, Jasim stressed the importance of ensuring that digital progress does not come at the expense of the environment, urging policymakers, entrepreneurs, and technologists to adopt eco-friendly practices that balance growth with sustainability. Iraq, with its rich natural resources and unique environmental challenges, stands at a critical juncture. The country faces issues such as water scarcity, air pollution, and land degradation—problems that are exacerbated by rapid industrialization and climate change. Against this backdrop, Ali Owaid Jasim's call for green technology is both timely and vital. 'Technology has the power to solve many of Iraq's most pressing problems,' Jasim explained, 'but it also has a responsibility to do so in a way that preserves our natural heritage.' He highlighted that climate-conscious innovation should be embedded at every stage of technological development—from design and manufacturing to deployment and disposal. One key area Jasim pointed out is the energy consumption of digital infrastructure. Data centers, for example, can be significant energy users, and without proper efficiency measures, their environmental footprint can grow substantially. He advocates for investing in energy-efficient data centers powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. 'Iraq's abundant sunlight is an opportunity waiting to be harnessed,' he said. Moreover, Jasim called attention to the need for sustainable hardware design. This includes using recyclable materials, reducing e-waste, and promoting longer product lifecycles. 'We need to rethink the entire tech ecosystem to minimize its impact on the environment,' he urged. Another focus of Ali Owaid Jasim's vision is the development of digital tools that help monitor and manage natural resources more effectively. He spoke about leveraging IoT (Internet of Things) devices and AI analytics to optimize water usage in agriculture and track pollution levels in urban areas. Such smart technologies can enable Iraq to manage its resources more efficiently and mitigate environmental risks. Jasim also emphasized the importance of government incentives to encourage climate-conscious tech innovation. He proposed policies such as tax breaks for green startups, funding for research in sustainable technologies, and national strategies prioritizing environmental goals alongside digital transformation. For Ali Owaid Jasim, the role of youth in this transition is crucial. He praised the growing number of young Iraqi entrepreneurs and innovators focused on environmental technology and urged continued support for their initiatives. 'Young people bring fresh ideas and passion that can drive Iraq towards a sustainable future,' he said. Jasim concluded by stressing that innovation and sustainability must go hand in hand. 'We cannot separate progress from responsibility,' he said. 'By adopting climate-conscious technology development, Iraq can not only solve its environmental challenges but also position itself as a leader in green innovation in the region.' Through his advocacy and vision, Ali Owaid Jasim AL-RIKABI is helping to steer Iraq's tech sector toward a future that respects both economic growth and ecological balance—demonstrating that digital transformation and environmental stewardship are mutually reinforcing goals. For More information,
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
University of Regina unveils renewable energy microgrid
WATCH: A new microgrid that relies on renewable energy is up and running at the University of Regina. Damian Smith reports. Green is the colour, not just for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but also for the University of Regina – as the organization has unveiled a new microgrid system which relies on renewable energy. The U of R's greenhouse gas technology centre is host to a power generator capable of producing several hundred megawatts. It's part of the university's research efforts on microgrids – a small-scale power grid that can produce electricity for a localized area. 'Microgrids provide a lot of benefits, including advanced stability, lower costs, and new usability of, of generation,' explained Irfan Al Anbagi, an associate professor in the faculty of engineering and applied science. 'The control system is the brain of the micro. So everything is located in one area.' The researchers say it's the first of its kind in Saskatchewan – and the university has partnered with small to medium sized businesses to put the grid to use. Those with electric vehicles can also make use of the microgrid through free chargers just outside the facility. Off campus, microgrids can help make renewable energy easier to access – especially in areas where connecting to a regular power grid is much more difficult. 'This can be beneficial to locations where you have difficulty supplying over. and you can utilize renewable generation as well,' Al-Anbagi added. For now, the microgrid is powered by solar. However, in the longer term, the team hopes their efforts can help renewable energy power the entire U of R campus. '[This] allows, like a sandbox environment for small and medium sized enterprises to use, as well as larger utilities like SaskPower, to test out or model,' Gregory Mack, the director of research partnerships and innovation explained. 'It's very useful and they can work with professors and students on campus.' Based on the lifespan of the solar cells and the lithium-ion batteries – the microgrid is expected to keep on producing energy with its current set-up for approximately 20 years.
