Søgeresultater

News release from Vestas Wind Systems A/S Vestas is presenting a new solution that renders epoxy-based turbine blades as circular, without the need for changing the design or composition of blade material. Combining newly discovered chemical technology developed within the CETEC initiative, and partnerships with Olin and Stena Recycling, the solution can be applied to blades currently in operation. Once matured, this will eliminate the need for blade redesign, or landfill disposal of epoxy-based blades when they are decommissioned. “Until now, the wind industry has believed that turbine blade material calls for a new approach to design and manufacture to be either recyclable, or beyond this, circular, at end of life. Going forward, we can now view old epoxy-based blades as a source of raw material. Once this new technology is implemented at scale, legacy blade material currently sitting in landfill, as well as blade material in active windfarms, can be disassembled, and re-used. This signals a new era for the wind industry, and accelerates our journey towards achieving circularity, ” says Lisa Ekstrand, Vice President and Head of Sustainability at Vestas. Turbine blades have previously been challenging to recycle due to the chemical properties of epoxy resin, a resilient substance that was believed to be impossible to break down into re-usable components. This has led to many technology leaders attempting to replace or modify epoxy resin with alternatives that can be more easily treated. Vestas’ solution is enabled by a novel chemical process that can chemically break down epoxy resin into virgin-grade materials. The chemical process was developed in collaboration with Aarhus University, Danish Technological Institute, and Olin the partners of the CETEC project, a coalition of industry and academia established to investigate circular technology for turbine blades. “The newly discovered chemical process shows that epoxy-based turbine blades, whether in operation or sitting in landfill, can be turned into a source of raw material to potentially build new turbine blades. As the chemical process relies on widely available chemicals, it is highly compatible for industrialisation, and can therefore be scaled up quickly. This innovation would not have been possible without the ground-breaking CETEC collaboration between industry and academia enabling our progress until this point,” says Mie Elholm Birkbak, Specialist, Innovation & Concepts at Vestas. Through a newly established value chain, supported by Nordic recycling leader Stena Recycling and global epoxy manufacturer Olin, Vestas will now focus on scaling up the novel chemical disassembly process into a commercial solution. Once mature, the solution will signal the beginning of a circular economy for all existing, and future epoxy-based turbine blades. “As the leading customer solution provider of innovative epoxy systems, Olin is proud to support the anticipated massive expansion in wind energy worldwide. By utilising unique technologies, together with our partners, we are ready to recover molecules and convert them into new epoxies that can be re-used in wind turbine blades. We are excited to bring our expertise and unique asset footprint to this partnership, and realize breakthrough sustainable material solutions for existing wind blades and those of the future”, says Verghese Thomas, Vice President, Epoxy Systems and Growth Platforms at Olin. “In the coming years, thousands of turbines will be decommissioned or repowered, representing a major sustainability challenge but also a valuable source of composite materials. As one of Europe’s leading recycling groups with a wide footprint in Europe, we have a central role in the transition to a circular economy. We see this solution as a huge opportunity to take part in making a sustainable solution even more sustainable and circular and are ready to apply our chemical recycling expertise and knowledge to this process”, says Henrik Grand Petersen, MD Stena Recycling Denmark. For several decades, producing wind turbine blades manufactured with epoxy-based resin has been standard practice in the wind industry. In the most mature markets for wind energy, the first turbines are reaching the end of their operational life and this will increase over the coming years. WindEurope expects around 25,000 tonnes of blades to reach the end of their operational life annually by 2025. Once mature, the new solution will provide Vestas with the opportunity to produce new turbine blades made from re-used blade material. In the future, the new solution also signals the possibility to make all epoxy-based composite material a source of raw material for a broader circular economy, potentially encompassing industries beyond wind energy. For more information, please contact: Kristian Holmelund Jakobsen Lead Specialist, Communication and Press Tel: +45 5221 1467 Mail: KRHJA@vestas.com About Vestas Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 160 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 140 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 28,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels: www.twitter.com/vestas www.linkedin.com/company/vestas www.facebook.com/vestas www.instagram.com/vestas www.youtube.com/vestas About Olin Olin Corporation is a leading vertically-integrated global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition. The chemical products produced include chlorine and caustic soda, vinyls, epoxies, chlorinated organics, bleach, hydrogen, and hydrochloric acid. Winchester's principal manufacturing facilities produce and distribute sporting ammunition, law enforcement ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges. For more information, visit www.olin.com About Stena Recycling Stena Recycling plays an important and central role in the transition to a circular economy by offering services and comprehensive solutions within recycling and efficient resource management. With more than 3000 committed employees and 178 facilities across eight markets, Stena Recycling annually recycles nearly six million tons of waste and end-of-life products from more than 100,000 customers across a range of industries. The recycled raw materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, and paper, are resold as feedstock for the manufacture of new products. Stena Recycling operates in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, Italy, and Germany and the USA. Stena Recycling is part of the Stena Metall Group For more information, visit www.stenarecycling.com About Danish Technological Institute Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is an independent research and development institute. At DTI, we deliver sustainable and exceptional competitiveness through decisive technological knowledge translated into action. With more than 12,000 customers in 65 countries, we develop new knowledge through research and development activities in close corporation with Danish and international companies and research institutes. For more info, visit www.dti.dk or contact project manager Søren Haack at sorh@dti.dk . About Aarhus University Aarhus University is a globally oriented, academically diverse, and research-intensive university. Aarhus University ranks among the top 100 universities in the world on several of the most important international ranking lists, out of over 17,000 universities worldwide. Around 12 per cent of AU’s 40.000 students are international, representing over 120 nationalities. Aarhus University offers state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories having a strong tradition of multidisciplinary research for instance in one of our 42 major research centres. The university’s goal is to contribute towards solving the complex global challenges facing the world. The university therefore strives to combine the high level of academic standards of its researchers with collaboration across disciplinary boundaries to combine research in new ways and solve challenges in close contact with the world around us. For more information please visit: https://www.au.dk/ About the CETEC project The CETEC (Circular Economy for Thermosets Epoxy Composites) initiative established in May 2021 by Aarhus University, Danish Technological Institute, Olin, and Vestas, and partly funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark focuses on advancing the adoption of a circular economy across the wind industry. The CETEC initiative is a three-year project that builds on the DreamWind initiative and addresses the lack of available recycling technology for epoxy resins. The project not only aims to increase the blade recyclability but also strives for full circularity by enabling to feed recycled materials of old blades back into the production of new blades.

The purpose and function of Classification Societies The purpose of a Classification Society ("CS") is to provide classification, statutory certification, and services as a Recognised Organisation acting on behalf of a flag Administration, and assistance to the maritime industry and regulatory bodies as regards maritime safety and pollution prevention, based on the accumulation of maritime knowledge and technology. A ship classification society or ship classification organization is a non-governmental organization that establishes and maintains technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore structures. Classification societies certify that the construction of a vessel complies with relevant standards and carry out regular surveys in service to ensure continuing compliance with the standards. Currently, more than 50 organizations describe their activities as including marine classification, twelve of which are members of the International Association of Classification Societies. A classification certificate issued by a classification society recognized by the proposed ship register is required for a ship's owner to be able to register the ship and to obtain marine insurance on the ship, and may be required to be produced before a ship's entry into some ports or waterways, and may be of interest to charterers and potential buyers. To avoid liability, classification societies explicitly disclaim responsibility for the safety, fitness for purpose, or seaworthiness of the ship, but is a verification only that the vessel is in compliance with the classification standards of the society issuing the classification certificate. What do different Classification Societies share? IACS is a not-for-profit membership organization of classification societies that establish minimum technical standards and requirements that address maritime safety and environmental protection and ensures their consistent application. It carries out this responsibility through its panels, expert groups, and project teams. It provides a Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS) that its Members comply with, as an assurance of professional integrity and maintenance of high professional standards. Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, IACS makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and regulation through technical support, compliance verification, and R&D. More than 90% of the world's cargo carrying tonnage is covered by the classification design, construction, and through-life compliance rules and standards set by the twelve Member Societies of IACS. IACS can trace its origins to the International Load Line Convention of 1930 and its recommendations. The Convention recommended collaboration between Classification Societies to secure “as much uniformity as possible in the application of the standards of strength upon which freeboard is based…”. What does IACS do - Establishes, reviews, promotes, and develops minimum technical requirements in relation to the design, construction, maintenance, and survey of ships and other marine-related facilities. - Acts as a catalyst to assist international regulatory bodies and standard organizations to develop, amend and interpret regulations and industry standards in ship design, construction, and management, with a view to improving safety at sea and the prevention of marine pollution. - Provides a Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS) that its Members shall comply with to ensure professional integrity and maintain high professional standards. IACS has a wide perspective on relevant matters through monitoring the developments in EU legislation related to shipping safety and environmental performance in addition to its technical advisory role to the IMO and its interaction with the industry & flag states. IACS technical representatives can therefore bring cross-cutting knowledge & experience from one forum to another. IACS Members Presently IACS has 11 Classification Societies: ABS: American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) KR: Korean Register BV: Bureau Veritas Group LR: Lloyd's Register CCS: China Classification Society NK: ClassNK - Nippon Kaiji Kyokai CRS: Croatian Register of Shipping PRS: Polski Rejestr Statków S.A. (PRS) DNV GL: Det Norske Veritas RINA: RINA IRS: Indian Register of Shipping

The talk about sustainability is becoming more and more frequent in companies, management teams, and boardrooms. Some find it interesting; some see it as a tool, and some as guidance. The fact remains that we have to focus on sustainability and compliance. The 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) launched in 2015 initially drove the increased focus on the seventeen goals. However, in 2023 the focus has changed slightly for the better as ESG (Environment, Social & Governance). As the ESG is not a statement, but measurable on far more levels dependent on your industry where some have more than 200 MEI (Material ESG Issue) An ESG rating measures a company's exposure to long-term environmental, social, and governance risks. These risks involve energy efficiency, worker safety, and board independence, which have financial implications. But they are often not highlighted during traditional financial reviews. Investors who use ESG ratings to supplement financial analysis can gain a broader view of a company's long-term potential. A good ESG rating means a company is managing its environmental, social, and governance risks well relative to its peers. A poor ESG rating is an opposite — the company has relatively higher unmanaged exposure to ESG risks. In 2022 and recent years, there has been a tendency to focus on the E (Environmental)…. Most ESG key environmental issues fall under climate change, natural capital, pollution and waste, and environmental opportunities. Climate change issues include: · Carbon emissions · Product carbon footprint · Financing environmental impact · Climate change vulnerability Natural capital issues are: · Water sourcing · Biodiversity and land use · Raw material sourcing The pollution and waste category encompasses: · Toxic emissions and waste · Packaging material and waste · Electronic waste Environmental opportunities are: · Clean technology · Green building · Renewable energy Most ESG key social issues fall under four categories: human capital, product liability, stakeholder opposition, and social opportunities. Human capital issues are: · How labor is managed · Health and safety practices and protocols · Worker training · Supply chain labor standards Product liability areas of focus include: · Product safety and quality · Chemical safety · Consumer financial protection · Privacy and data security · Responsible Investing · Ensuring health and demographic risk Stakeholder opposition includes: · Controversial sourcing · Community relations Social opportunities are: · Access to communication · Access to finance · Access to healthcare · Opportunities in nutrition and health Most ESG key governance issues fall under two categories: corporate governance and corporate behavior. Corporate governance includes: · Composition of the board in terms of diversity and independence · Executive compensation · Ownership · Accounting practices Corporate behavior includes: · Business ethics · Tax Transparency An example of emissions measurement: An organization should measure its Scope 3 emissions as there are several benefits associated with measuring Scope 3 emissions. For many companies, most of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cost reduction opportunities lie outside their operations. By measuring Scope 3 emissions, organizations can: · Assess where the emission hotspots are in their supply chain. · Identify resource and energy risks in their supply chain. · Identify which suppliers are leaders and laggards in terms of their sustainability performance. · Identify energy efficiency and cost reduction opportunities in their supply chain. · Engage suppliers and assist them in implementing sustainability initiatives · Improve the energy efficiency of their products · Positively engage with employees to reduce emissions from business travel and employee commuting. Scope 1 Fuel combustion, Company vehicles, Fugitive emissions Scope 2 Purchased electricity, heat, and steam Scope 3 Purchased goods and services, Business travel, Employee commuting, Waste disposal, Use of sold products, Transportation and Distribution (up- and downstream), Investments, Leased assets, and franchises We offer a range of services to help you measure and manage your value and supply chain emissions: · Value and supply chain sustainability (includes building a low-carbon strategy and supplier engagement) · Footprint measurement and analysis (Includes calculation of your organization or product carbon footprint) · Carbon Trust Standard analysis (Certification for organizations that are reducing greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions in their supply chains) ESG is a framework of strategy, tactics, and documented being better than yesterday It is all about documentation and documented improvements. In order to document improvements, you first need to document your baseline. Without a baseline, you cannot document improvements. An ESG officer or employee can help set the direction, but the whole company, organization, or department must be committed to the task and assist with the reporting. The values must be reported in the same way as financial numbers for the monthly and annual reports. Often it is a completely "new" employee who does not have his/her own budget, lacks the right references in the organization, and has difficulty getting through in relation to other and also important agendas. Think strategically If the board really wants sustainability, then there is no way around dealing with it more strategically and on an ongoing basis. Strategic and tactical considerations: Has the company dealt with the SDG sustainable development goals and underlying sub-goals? The goals are an inspiration for where your company can make a real difference - and also a good checklist of areas where you might actually be working towards sustainability. Sustainability is a large and very comprehensive concept. What does that mean for you? Is it something to do with climate, social conditions, decent workplaces, or something else entirely? Do you in the company have plans or a framework for how you want to work with sustainability? What do you want to achieve? Where does the responsibility lie? How often do you on the board or management get reports on work, compliance, and results? Do you have a handle on relevant legislation in the area? Both Danish legislation and legislation originating from the EU? Do you have the right resources? Do you have the necessary knowledge and experience? Where and how is the work anchored, and who takes care of the necessary reporting? Self-assessment – Do you have good finance, sales, and management skills, etc.? But who knows anything about strategic work with sustainability and perhaps even has experience with it? If the answer is no, then perhaps you should look at it the next time new members join the management or board. Do you know what your customers, suppliers, employees, investors, etc., think about you and sustainability? How important is it to them that you meet sustainability requirements? Do you have control of your reporting? In the future, there will increasingly be demands that you have control over climate impact, but also in a number of other areas. Are you compliant with your approach and framework? Have you investigated the possibilities of getting public support for the sustainability work? For example, various sector organizations support with framework and assistance to further develop a sustainability strategy. ESG can be viewed as a threat or an opportunity; regardless of your experience, an increased demand for how you measure and improve on your baseline is inevitable! The ESG train is moving quickly, and new changes are continuously being added. In 2023 the largest listed companies to report on ESG work based on the EU's CSRD directive. Later in October, the EU's reporting standards for sustainability are expected to land for SMEs. The standards are implemented under the adopted CSRD directive, which forms the framework for large, listed companies' reporting in this area. Further, The EU is expected to begin a test phase of the world's first climate tariff, also known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Customs imposes a tax on industrial goods produced with a higher climate impact than regulations in the EU allow.