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EnviroDaq 100 Company News
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Company Case Study - CMR Fuel Cells
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EnviroDaq 100
(as of 20/03/08)
127.08
Today: -1.25
Last 7 days: -1.94
Former British prime minister Tony Blair urged the world's top greenhouse gas emitters to launch a revolution to fight climate change and said he'll work to sell a new global framework to slash carbon emissions.
Tony Blair said to the G20 energy and environment ministers in Chiba, near Tokyo that “we have reached the critical moment of decision on climate change. There are few, if any, genuine doubters left,”
The talks in Chiba are billed as a dialogue, not a
negotiation, and ministers are meeting to discuss ways to curb carbon
emissions, technology transfer, funding schemes for developing nations to
pay for clean energy as well as adaptation.
To read more click here.
US targets transport emissions
The
US Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued tough standards to
significantly cut polluting emissions spewed from new diesel engines that
will power trains and ships.
"As more and more goods flow through our ports and railways, EPA is cutting diesel emissions at their source -- keeping our nation on track toward a clean, healthy, productive tomorrow," EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said.
The new standard slashes permissible emissions from all types of diesel locomotives, including line-haul, switch, and passenger rail, as well as marine engines on ferries, tugboats and Great Lake freighters.
To read more click here.
The Green Budget
Changes to fuel and vehicle taxes, an increase in aviation tax and a possible plastic bag levy were among the green headlines in Alistair Darling's first Budget.
Budget annoucements likely to impact on the environmental industries include:
• Phasing out of the landfill tax exemption from
2012
• Extension of land remediation relief to derelict land and
Japanese knotweed
• Withdrawal of fuel duty incentive for
bioethanol and biodiesel from 2010/11 Doubling of Buyout Price in Year 3
of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation
• Road tax discount
for vans that meet Euro V emissions standards
• New technology
category for Enhanced Capital Allowances for both energy saving and
water-efficient technologies
• A target for all new non-domestic
buildings to be zero carbon from 2019
• 100% auctioning for large
electricity producers' in Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading
Scheme
To read more click here.
Biofuel Jet makes History
A test flight has
seen a Boeing 747 fuelled solely by biofuel cross the North Sea on a
short haul flight from Heathrow to Amsterdam. Virgin Atlantic conducted
the flight and used biofuel derived from Brazilian babassu nuts and
coconuts to drive one engine.
While Virgin would like the flight to be seen as the dawn of a new, more sustainable age for aviation, Greenpeace branded the demonstration flight 'high altitude greenwash' arguing that the cultivation and processing of fuel crops is potentially catastrophic for the climate.
Before the flight Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic, said: "The demonstration flight will give us crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint”.
To read more click here.
AEA, the leading climate change and energy consultancy, has won a major contract from Defra worth £4.7m. The contract, which AEA has held for more than ten years, is for five years duration.
Andrew McCree, Chief Executive Officer, AEA Technology plc said: "AEA is a world-leader in the field of air-quality and emissions analysis and modelling. This contract is at the heart of the Government's drive to manage, monitor and improve UK air quality”.
A team of scientific experts from AEA is responsible for assessment and statutory reporting of the data in order to advise Defra in the context of its policy measures.
To read more click here.
ITM to test hydrogen / diesel bi-fuel
technology
ITM Power plc have announced that the
Company has signed a contract with Bi-Fuels Limited to test and jointly
assess hydrogen/diesel bi-fuel technology.
Under the terms of the contract, Bi-Fuels is committed to develop and test technologies for Hydrogen:Diesel co-combustion in common-rail engines for ITM which are applicable to ITM's proprietary materials and processes.
Jim Heathcote, CEO ITM Power, said: "The collaboration with Bi-Fuels Limited will enable ITM to accelerate its investigation of hydrogen/diesel bi-fuel technology, which is another area of commercial potential for ITM's intellectual property and expertise."
To read more click here.
SIT – New patent for solar roof product
Solar Integrated Technologies has been granted a
United States patent for its BIPV roofing product.
The patent, valid until 2023, covers an integrated photovoltaic roofing system having flexible or rigid photovoltaic modules with a flexible roofing membrane where the wiring is below the roofing membrane. Similar applications have been filed in other key solar markets.
“We continue to see strong market acceptance of our differentiated product and installation approach. We view this key U.S. patent as a confirmation of the unique benefits of our product in our target market.” stated R. Randall MacEwen, President & CEO of Solar Integrated.
To read more click here.
PTX – Success for unmanned aerial
vehicle
Protonex Technology Corporation, has announced
that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and development partner
AeroVironment, Inc. have documented another successful, record flight on a
small, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) utilising a highly advanced fuel cell
system from Protonex.
The 9+ hour duration of the Puma flight using Protonex fuel cell power far surpasses the longest previous Puma flight achieved by AeroVironment using any technology.
“Increased endurance and payload capacity are critical capabilities that are not feasible with current battery technology being used in small unmanned aerial vehicles today,” stated Dr. Paul Osenar, Chief Technology Officer, Protonex.
To read more click here.
Hyder Consulting acquire Holford &
Associates
Hyder Consulting, the
international advisory and design consultancy, has announced an
acquisition of an architectural and interior design consultancy in the
United Arab Emirates and related cash placing of new ordinary
shares.
The Group’s Middle East business has acquired the business and assets of Holford & Associates. Based in Dubai, Holfords is an architectural and interior design consultancy, which has been operating primarily in Dubai for over 20 years, with an order book encompassing projects across the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Tim Wade, Chief Executive of Hyder Consulting commented, “The acquisition reinforces our position in the region as a leading provider of advisory and design services to both property developers and world-renowned concept architects”.
To read more click here.
First Molectra Australia Contract
Awarded
The Directors of Greenhouse have announced
that its tyre recycling subsidiary Molectra Australia Pty Ltd, has been
awarded its first large-scale contract to supply anti-cast products made
from its recycled rebonded crumb rubber to the equine
market.
Molectra was established in 2000 and has developed a sustainable process that re-cycles and recovers materials including crumb rubber, oil and carbon from used vehicle tyres.
Roger Maddock, Non-executive Director commented, "I am delighted that following the hard work that has gone into developing and commercialising Molectra … it is testament to the efficiency of the process that one contract can take an R&D facility into profitability."
To read more click here.
Hansen set up new factory in
China
Belgium-based Hansen Transmissions
International NV, has announced that an agreement has been signed with the
developers of the Beichen Hi-tech Industrial Park in Tianjin, to establish
a production plant for wind turbine drives.
Hansen's factory is expected to reach its full capacity by early 2011. With an output of 3,000 megawatts per annum, the plant will employ over 600 people.
Mr. Ivan Brems, Chief Executive Officer of Hansen Transmissions commented, "We are excited to be entering the fast growing wind turbine market in China which is an essential part of our strategy to build additional capacity and fulfill the high levels of demand in the sector.”
To read more click here.
New Agreement between Questair and Exxon
Mobil Research
QuestAir Technologies Inc. has
signed an agreement valued at $6.3 million with ExxonMobil Research and
Engineering to allow for the further development and commercialization of
QuestAir's rapid-cycle pressure swing adsorption ('PSA')
technology.
Under the agreement, EMRE will pay QuestAir $6.3 million over two years in order to advance the commercialization of the H-6200 hydrogen purifier, and progress development in the field of on-board reforming of liquid hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen for mobile fuel cell applications.
Jonathan Wilkinson, President and CEO of QuestAir said, 'The agreement announced today reflects the success that has been achieved to date and the desire of both parties to pursue broader applications of the rapid cycle technology in the future.'
To read more click here.
ORECon nets $24m
UK wave
energy developer ORECon has netted a $24m first round from an
international syndicate of VCs. London-based Advent Venture Partners led
the deal, joined by pan-European house Wellington Partners, Venrock of the
US, and Nordic tech specialist North Zone.
A spin-out from the University of Plymouth, ORECon is developing a moored wave energy device based on the well-established oscillating water column design. The firm's patent-protected multi-resonant chamber (MRC) technology, which uses a variety of columns of different specifications on a single platform, promises to be more efficient than other configurations. The new funding goes towards deploying a full-scale prototype with a potential power output of 1.5MW.
The firm is also in negotiations for a slot on WaveHub, Cornwall's offshore plug-in socket for wave energy test rigs which secured planning permission in September.
ORECon's early development was funded by a DTI Smart grant and backing from the Carbon Trust.
To read
more click
here.
Venture News provided by Clean
Ventures for EnviroDaq.
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The following case studies of companies in the EnviroDaq index were penned by the companies themselves and have not been edited by the EnviroDaq editor. We therefore accept no liability for the accuracy of the information contained within them and they should not be used as a prospectus for investment purposes.
Company: CMR Fuel Cells
CMR Fuel Cells plc is a UK developer of fuel cell stacks for portable and small stationary power generation applications. The Company plans to become a leading supplier of fuel cell products, based on its simple but revolutionary patented stack architecture which delivers longer run-time and lower costs than conventional fuel cell stacks.
CMR's unique architecture can be applied in a range of fuel cell applications including portable electronics, combined heat and power and automotive to deliver significant improvements in power density performances using a range of chemistries. However, it is the intention of the Board to initially commercialise the Company's technology within the consumer electronics industry where there is sustained and growing demand for smaller, cheaper, longer running power solutions for portable electronics devices based on direct methanol fuel cells. This demand is being driven by the increasing power requirements of portable electronics devices which have outgrown incremental improvements in the performances of traditional battery chemistries. As a result, consumer frustration with short 'run times' is compelling the electronics industry to develop and deploy suitable alternatives for power delivery.
It is widely accepted that direct methanol fuel cells represent an ideal solution to the power requirements of portable devices and are also capable of eliminating the need to recharge devices by having an interchangeable fuel cartridge system equivalent of instant recharging.
The EnviroDaq 100 Index is the first index for UK-listed environmental technology companies. It indexes the 100 largest UK-listed companies which derive at least 60% of their turnover from environmentally-focused goods and services. These include renewable energy; energy efficiency equipment; renewable materials; waste management; water and waste water treatment; air pollution control equipment; environmental monitoring and instrumentation; and cleaner technology processes.
The EnviroDaq 100 website (www.envirodaq.com) provides detailed company information, including key financials, company background, broker recommendations and investment ratios. It includes a graphing feature which allows you to create flexible and customisable share graphs for each of the EnviroDaq component securities.
Gareth Jones, EnviroDaq Manager
UK CEED, Eco Innovation Centre, Peterscourt, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1SA
t: 01733 311644 | f: 01733 808168
g.jones@ukceed.org | www.ukceed.org | www.envirodaq.com