Archive for category: General News

Scientists discover ‘magical’ material that’s stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum — and its potential is dizzying

Galvorn is the result of a more than $20 million investment from the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and others.

Galvorn is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and has the conductivity of copper, according to an article on LinkedIn. While the jury is still out on whether it’s faster than a speeding bullet, experts at Houston-based DexMat suggest their product can revolutionize the green tech landscape.

Galvorn can be an alternative to rare and expensive copper — a crucial metal in electronics, according to a report from GreenBiz. What’s more, the inventors plan to displace dirty materials, contribute to cleaner air, and advance green tech as their “magical” material is rolled out.

Galvorn is the result of a more than $20 million investment from two U.S. Air Force research agencies, the Department of Energy, and NASA, among other tech heavy hitters, GreenBiz reports.

“DexMat’s potential climate impact gets us dizzy,” investor Shomik Dutta, managing partner at Overture Climate VC, told GreenBiz as part of a gushing review.

Galvorn is made as tape, yarn, thread, or mesh, among other forms. Its makers said that J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” was an inspiration in the process, though, at first glance, you wouldn’t think it can stand up to Orc blades.

“[A] skilled elven smith by the name of Eöl creates a new type of metal called galvorn that is described as being thin and flexible, yet also strong enough to serve as armor,” DexMat shared on the company’s blog, describing how the creators came up with the name.

While not made in an elf’s forge, the real-life version of Galvorn comes from an equally impressive process. It’s a high-tech technique that includes splitting hydrocarbons, according to GreenBiz.

The impact for consumers will be felt in the application. Lighter and faster vehicles, lighter wind-turbine blades, and higher conductivity in batteries to improve renewable power storage are all advantages Galvorn is set to realize, GreenBiz reports. It is already being used to help de-ice plane wings.

Dutta noted in the GreenBiz article that putting Galvorn fibers in concrete and other materials could strengthen and provide longer life for buildings and infrastructure. The goal for DexMat is to make carbon-heavy resources like copper “obsolete.”

“The climate crisis, the clean energy transition, and the ‘electrify everything’ movement are driving a massive transformation of industries and infrastructure globally,” the website states.

DexMat touts a clean manufacturing process that uses electricity, which at times is powered by renewables. Since Galvorn is made from carbon, it locks the heat-trapping element “into long-term storage, where it can’t contribute to global warming,” the company claims.

“Of everything we have touched, this has the potential to have the most impact in the most places,” Dutta said to GreenBiz.

Source: TCD

Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive, Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation

Edinburgh, Scotland – Following the Scottish Government’s declaration of a national housing crisis, The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) urgently calls on government and industry leaders to launch a comprehensive national retrofit plan. This strategy would harness the tens of thousands of vacant, sub-standard properties across Scotland, transforming them into energy-efficient homes and significantly alleviating the housing shortage and its environmental impact.

Commenting on the crisis, Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of SNIPEF, said,

“Revitalising these empty properties through a national retrofit strategy is not just about providing more homes; it’s a critical step towards addressing our dual crises of housing and climate change.

“By retrofitting these homes, we improve the energy efficiency of our national housing stock, reducing overall carbon emissions and moving Scotland closer to its net-zero targets.”

SNIPEF calls for a more efficient use of government resources and stresses the importance of leveraging the knowledge and expertise within the construction sector to tackle this crisis effectively.

“We call upon stakeholders from all sectors to unite in support of this initiative, which offers a sustainable and inclusive approach to housing and environmental policy,” Hodgson urges.

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is delighted to see The Arch Company commence work on the transformation of four dilapidated railway arches on America Street, Southwark, into spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars, and other leisure businesses to thrive. As design architect for the scheme, SGP has drawn on both its technical expertise and strong track record working with historic buildings to create contemporary spaces, which nod to the industrial heritage of the arches.

The arches, located under a 19th century railway viaduct in a prime London location between Southwark Bridge Road and Great Guildford Street, will now undergo extensive renovation and revitalisation works that will include the re-lining of all arch spaces, new insulated floor slabs suitable for restaurant use, and glazed front infills. In restoring these arches, a key priority has been to meet relevant energy efficiency standards, with all four arches intended to achieve an EPC ‘B’ rating.

“At Stephen George + Partners we firmly believe that the adaptive re-use of former industrial buildings can play a significant role in the revitalisation of our urban centres and the redevelopment of these railway arches on America Street is a prime example of the transformative potential of these important assets,” says SGP Studio Director Alan Soper. “Located in an area undergoing significant renewal and encompassing the Low Line urban regeneration initiative, the America Street scheme will transform previously unloved arches into contemporary spaces for new leisure, food and drink and retail businesses. Their prime location and Arch Company’s investment will help to create a vibrant destination for the neighbourhood, while also supporting local businesses and the wider community.” 

SGP’s proposals for the alteration of the America Street arches have been carefully considered in a site-specific response, providing contemporary and adaptable arch spaces for prospective tenants. The specification of high-quality façade materials will restore a superior appearance to the elevations; while the design and style of the infills will create an on-brand aesthetic that will enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area and contribute to the Low Line regeneration initiative, which should be attractive to potential occupiers in the current marketplace.

Strategic Account Director, Santosh Patel, from Pick Everard said:

“This unique project will transform America Street’s historic railway arches into a vibrant cultural hub. By converting these once disused spaces into bustling restaurants, cafés, and bars, we are not just revitalising the arches but fostering a community and destination that supports local business and community. Our teams have worked closely with the client and architectural team on investigation works of the existing site, to allow efficient structural and drainage solutions to be designed. Our building services team have also coordinated with local electricity network providers to construct a new substation, to provide sufficient power to the new development, and have designed the necessary ventilation, power and lighting solutions for the new arch fitouts. We eagerly look forward to seeing the completion of this transformative project.”

SGP Principal Architectural Technologist, Josh White, comments:

 “The ultimate aim is for the street to be pedestrianised and so our design incorporates active frontages to increase the connection with the street. We have large glazed frontages along America Street and to firmly anchor the scheme within the local milieu and further enhance the streetscape, bifold doors can open up onto the street, while a space to the front of two of the units can be adapted for outside seating and planting to create an appealing aesthetic to the Low Line.”

Craig McWilliam, Chief Executive at The Arch Company, said:

“We’re investing £2.5m into these spaces to provide much-needed additional commercial space suitable for leisure use. Repurposing these arches is part of our ongoing programme to create fit-for-purpose spaces in which businesses can thrive.”

The America Street project is just one of over ten such projects for which SGP has been commissioned to develop designs. Two schemes have recently achieved planning consent in Manchester, whilst elsewhere in London Crucifix Lane and Witan Street are progressing on site. The latter is already on site and due to complete soon and comprises the refurbishment of six arches into high-specification commercial premises for light industrial use located just 16 minutes away from the City of London.

Alan Soper concludes:

“We are delighted to be working with The Arch Company on their ambitious programme, bringing these derelict arches back to life so that they can boost local employment and help local areas grow and prosper. America Street is perfectly located for leisure and retail businesses to thrive and it’s incredibly gratifying to see work commence on these arches. We very much look forward to seeing them fully renovated and back in productive use.”

Bidding to begin building the world’s first nuclear fusion energy plant in Nottinghamshire will begin within weeks.

The pioneering work at the decommissioned West Burton A power station near Retford will be constructed by 2040, using the same clean energy process which powers the sun.

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) could produce large amounts of clean energy and reduce reliance on oil and gas.

The bidding process to find a company to handle construction and another to handle engineering – collectively worth around £600m – will formally open on May 22.

The initial contracts will be awarded in late 2025 and will last until 2029.

The STEP project is being led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, which is owned by the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

A new government policy issued May 8th also proposes declaring all fusion energy facilities as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

This means they would be given approval by a Secretary of State rather than local authorities, which it says removes the risk for first-of-its-kind facilities.

It is hoped that the STEP project would bring hundreds of highly skilled jobs to the region and significant investment.

Paul Methven, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, said:

“We are looking towards a very significant milestone for STEP in the next two weeks as we are set to launch our search for industrial partners in engineering and construction who will join us in designing and delivering the STEP prototype plant at West Burton.

“This will demonstrate that fusion energy can work, and through that endeavour, we will develop an industry that can deliver commercial fusion for decades beyond.

“The launch of formal consultation on a National Policy Statement for fusion energy is very welcome and an important milestone in the journey towards a new energy source, deployed in the right way.

“It reflects the UK’s proactive leadership in fusion energy by putting in place the critical enablers that all fusion developments will need, and in a way that will bring communities and the public along.”

Minister for Nuclear and Renewables, Andrew Bowie, said:

“Fusion could provide a near limitless source of energy and the UK is leading the way in trying to harness this power and deliver long-term energy independence.

“Building STEP is a major opportunity for the sector and will provide investment and jobs in a former industrial area of Nottinghamshire.”

Source: West Bridgeford Wire

Photo credit: Merlin Entertainments

The London Eye’s long-term future secured

One of the UK’s most iconic visitor attractions – the lastminute.com London Eye – has had its long-term future secured, after Lambeth Council confirmed that it could remain on London’s South Bank.

At the meeting of the Council’s Planning Applications Committee on Tuesday 7th May, Lambeth Councillors voted unanimously to support a recommendation from officers to discharge a condition attached to the 2003 planning permission that required the local planning authority to decide whether the attraction could be retained beyond 2028.

This followed the submission of a report for Merlin Entertainments co-ordinated by Lichfields which assessed the continued acceptability of the Eye in this location. The comprehensive assessment included Further Environmental Information assessing a range of topic areas, with assessments from Lichfields on planning, heritage, townscape and socio-economic impacts.   Lichfields identified the wide ranging benefits of the London Eye, including £143 million GVA per annum within London and over 200 direct jobs, as well as the benefits that elevated views of heritage assets such as the adjacent world Grade II* County Hall and the World Heritage site at The Palace of Westminster has to users of the London Eye.

The Council agreed with the conclusions of the report and that the benefits of the London Eye weighed significantly in their decision. In approving the report the Committee has confirmed that the Eye can remain in place – with current arrangements continuing beyond 2028. This includes a requirement for 1% of the attraction’s annual turnover to be paid towards the maintenance and management of the public area surrounding the site. These monies are invested in partnership with South Bank Employers’ Group and South Bank Business Improvement District.

Last night’s decision builds on the planning and EIA advice Lichfields has provided on the London Eye since 1999 when Lichfields secured the temporary planning permission for the 32 capsule London Eye and subsequently a separate planning permission and listed building consent for its retention in 2003.

Nick Thompson and Hannah Whitney, who led Lichfields’ work, said

“We are very pleased with the decision and having advised on this project for 25 years seen it become such a popular feature providing many benefits for the local area, London and the UK.  We are delighted that it will be in place for future generations to enjoy.”

Speaking following the decision, Merlin’s Chief Executive Officer, Scott O’Neil, said:

“A landmark decision for a landmark attraction. The London Eye is both the centrepiece of Merlin’s central London offering and visitors’ itineraries, drawing millions to the South Bank each year to enjoy unrivalled views of the capital.”

 “It is impossible to imagine the London skyline without the iconic structure of the London Eye, and with its long-term future secure, we will continue to invest and expand Merlin’s presence in this great city, which is one of our key gateway clusters. We will work closely with key partners locally, including the re-elected Mayor Sadiq Khan, to further boost London’s attractiveness to both international and domestic visitors, offering them experiences that bring joy and everlasting memories.”

Merlin’s Divisional Director of Gateway UK, Sunny Jouhal added: “It was clear from the council meeting that there is strong and enthusiastic support for the Eye – and a recognition of the immensely positive contribution it makes to the vibrancy of this part of London and the businesses and communities it works with on a daily basis.

“When the Eye first opened at the turn of the century, no-one could have envisaged it would become synonymous with all that is great about our capital city. Following this decision by Lambeth Council, we can now confirm that this attraction will continue to play its part, long beyond 2028, in attracting visitors to the South Bank. We look forward to continuing to work constructively with others to further boost footfall in the surrounding area – whilst also ensuring that our contributions help make this area a safe, sustainable and welcoming place to visit.”