Hitachi Energy supports huge step in Germany’s energy transition

HVDC Light® transmission system will transfer vast amounts of renewable energy for up to 5 million households and help Germany achieve its 2045 carbon neutrality goal

Zurich, Switzerland, Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it has won a major order from TenneT and TransnetBW, two of Germany’s four transmission system operators, to supply a transmission solution for the SuedLink DC4 high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection between the north and south of the country.

SuedLink DC4 is one of the most important power grid and energy transition projects in Germany. It will play a crucial role in Germany’s energy transition, enabling a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and helping the country achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.*1

Using Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light® technology, SuedLink DC4 will transfer up to 2,000 megawatts of emission-free electricity, enough to power 5 million German households.*2 The link will efficiently transmit electricity for 550 kilometers underground, at ±525 kilovolts, sending wind power from the north to the industrial south, or alternatively solar power from the south to the north when needed.

“We are proud to play a crucial role in this very important investment in Germany’s transition to renewable energy and carbon neutrality,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business. “HVDC Light is the enabling technology for large-scale transfers of renewable energy, both onshore and offshore.”

“SuedLink will form the backbone of the energy transition in Germany. With the award of the DC4 high-voltage direct current system to Hitachi Energy, we are now moving towards the realization of this important power link,” says Tim Meyerjürgens, Chief Operations Officer of TenneT.

Hitachi Energy will supply an HVDC Light converter station at each end of SuedLink DC4 to convert AC power from the transmitting grid to DC for delivery through the link, and back to AC for transfer to the receiving grid. The contract includes three cable section stations to speed up fault detection in the link.

As part of its long-term commitment to Germany’s energy transition, Hitachi Energy has recently won or completed orders for solutions that integrate large-scale renewables*3. These include the converter stations for the NordLink*4 HVDC interconnector between Germany and Norway, the converter stations for the connection of the 900-megawatt DolWin5 offshore wind farm in the German North Sea, the Kriegers Flak Combined Grid Solution which connects the German power grids with two offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea and Denmark, and power quality solutions to enable more renewable energy to flow from north to south Germany.

Note to editors:

Hitachi Energy’s HVDC solution combines world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves; the MACH™ digital control platform*5, which enables renewables integration and manages voltage and frequency disturbances in the grid; converter power transformers and high-voltage switchgear; as well as system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning.

HVDC Light® is a voltage source converter technology developed by Hitachi Energy. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables and “power-from-shore” connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC Light’s defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects.

*1 Generationenvertrag für das Klima
*2 Suedlink – TenneT
*3 Hitachi Energy HVDC projects in Germany
*4 NordLink
*5 Modular Advanced Control for HVDC (MACH™)

HVDC website:
https://www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdc

– End –

About Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

Attachments

Jocelyn Chang
Hitachi Energy Ltd.
+41 79384 7775

International leading scientists issue critical guide for using microbiomes to combat the global issue of biodiversity loss

Beneficial Microorganisms

Beneficial Microorganisms benefit diverse forms of life, including a) marine life, b) corals, c) honeybees, and d) terrestrial land forms. Photo: KAUST

THUWAL, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A group of leading experts have issued a critical framework for using microbiomes to protect wildlife in an ethical and efficient way.

Beneficial Microbes for Marine Organisms (BMMO), an international network of collaborators with expertise in crosscutting areas of probiotic research, have published a paper in Nature Microbiology, Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss, that provides a science-based framework to accelerate the responsible research and development of microbiome solutions.

Dr. Raquel Peixoto, founder and co-chair of BMMO, and associate professor of marine science at KAUST, said, “Key ecosystems, which host many forms of life, are at the brink of ecological collapse, driving enormous biodiversity losses and mass extinctions, and disrupting ecosystems central to supporting livelihoods.”

Contributing authors include professors Gabriele Berg of The Graz University of Technology; Christian Voolstra of the University of Konstanz; Ute Hentschel of GEOMAR; Rodrigo Costa of the University of Lisbon; Carlos Duarte of KAUST; and ethicist Jeantine Lunsh of Harvard, among other distinguished academics.

A guide to accelerate the use of macrobiotics to restore coral

The scientists examine the use of probiotics to “reboot” healthy microbiomes and protect key, and sensitive, symbiotic relationships between hosts and their associated microbes. Probiotics are now conventionally applied in agroecosystems, showing that successful applications in open environments are possible with controlled risks.

The team propose a science-based framework, outlining a path from laboratory bench to pilot and large-scale applications of microbiomes, to save threatened ecosystems.

“We as a network of leading scientists are concerned that the technological development of an urgently-needed tool may be delayed by unclear and undefined risk assessment steps,” said KAUST Distinguished Professor of Marine Science Carlos Duarte, who serves as executive director of the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP).

Lionfish

Lionfish of the genus Pterois is among the many forms of marine life that depend on healthy coral ecosystems. Photo courtesy Morgan Bennett Smith / KAUST

“In addition, no ethical discussions are available to provide guidelines and rules to accelerate the transition from devising to applying environmental probiotics in a practical and safe way. Therefore, we are highlighting the path from concept to real-world solutions, addressing ethical considerations, as well as risks against benefits.”

The paper serves to address this gap. The framework also considers the risk of inaction, and can be adapted to other urgent scientific developments.

Marine scientist Dr. Raquel Peixoto

Marine scientist Dr. Raquel Peixoto uses probiotics to boost the recovery of threatened coral ecosystems, shown here at the world’s first Coral Probiotics Village, located in the Red Sea near King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Photo courtesy Morgan Bennett Smith / KAUST

“Our framework provides a pragmatic regulatory wildlife-adapted tool to guide scientists and stakeholders through the fight against biodiversity loss,” Peixoto said.   “It takes into consideration potential side effects of its application, while also considering the high toll of inaction.”

Additional context:

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00597509-4bef-4735-ab8b-40f55417a96b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30e36740-28d6-40bc-9a9a-cfc9ea0c4531

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf556ef1-0d59-4c8a-959a-3c6aad7a5481

Authentix, Inc. signe un contrat de 10 ans avec le Botswana Unified Revenue Service en vue de fournir un programme de gouvernance du marché pour le marquage numérique et le suivi du tabac et des produits alcoolisés.

ADDISON, Texas et GABORONE, Botswana, 3 août 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Authentix a annoncé aujourd’hui avoir signé un contrat de 10 ans avec le Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) pour une solution de marquage fiscal et de suivi numérique du tabac et des produits alcoolisés vendus dans le pays. Ce programme de timbres fiscaux numériques vise à prévenir le commerce illicite et les contrefaçons tout en veillant à ce que les citoyens bénéficient de produits authentiques et sûrs.

Le nouveau système numérique de suivi et de traçabilité permettra d’augmenter les recettes fiscales perçues auprès des fabricants et des importateurs en renforçant la conformité industrielle, en réduisant le commerce illicite et en empêchant la sous-déclaration des volumes. Ce nouveau contrat porte sur le marquage et le suivi numérique d’environ 500 millions d’unités de produits par an.

Authentix TransAct™, une plateforme de données informatiques sécurisée basée sur le SaaS, sera associée à l’impression directe de codes produits numériques sécurisés et sérialisés pour former la principale solution de suivi et d’application numérique de haute sécurité du secteur. Ce système permettra de réduire et de dissuader les activités frauduleuses, protégeant ainsi la population des effets néfastes de la contrebande et garantissant une concurrence équitable à tous les acteurs légaux du secteur. Ce programme national comprendra la mise en œuvre, la formation, le support technique, l’installation du matériel, la maintenance continue et la gestion du programme assurée par le bureau des opérations d’Authentix au Botswana.

Kevin McKenna, PDG d’Authentix, a déclaré : « Nous sommes ravis que BURS nous ait choisis et fait confiance pour la mise en œuvre et la gestion de la première et très importante solution de suivi numérique de ces produits dans le pays. Nous sommes impatients de travailler avec BURS et de mettre en œuvre ce programme afin que les citoyens du Botswana en retirent rapidement de nombreux avantages. »

En collaborant avec des gouvernements du monde entier, les programmes de gouvernance des marchés d’Authentix ont permis de garantir l’authentification et la traçabilité des produits tout en récupérant des milliards de dollars de recettes fiscales.

À propos d’Authentix :

En tant qu’autorité en matière de solutions d’authentification, Authentix prospère dans la complexité de la chaîne d’approvisionnement. Authentix fournit des solutions d’authentification avancées pour les gouvernements, les banques centrales et les produits commerciaux, assurant la croissance des économies locales et garantissant que la sécurité des billets de banque demeure intacte et que les produits commerciaux bénéficient de meilleures opportunités de marché. L’approche de partenariat d’Authentix et son expertise éprouvée du secteur inspirent l’innovation et aident les clients à atténuer les risques pour augmenter les revenus et acquérir un avantage concurrentiel. Basée à Addison, au Texas (États-Unis), Authentix, Inc. a des bureaux aux États-Unis, au Royaume-Uni, en Arabie saoudite, en Asie et en Afrique. De plus, l’entreprise offre ses services aux clients dans le monde entier. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur le site https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® est une marque déposée d’Authentix, Inc.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/429526/Authentix_Logo.jpg

We Are One, the Largest Youth Volunteer Group, Launches in Korea

Young adults take the lead to practice Jesus’ love for a better future

NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — New Heaven New Earth, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, launched a youth volunteer group called We Are One made up of 70,000 members in South Korea and 20,000 members overseas.

Chairman Lee Man-hee speaks at the We Are One launching ceremony

The launch ceremony took place on July 30th at the K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, South Korea. Over 1,000 representatives attended the event in person and 90,000 volunteers joined through a live broadcast. The ceremony included live performances and a commemorative photo shoot. Covid-19 social distancing guidelines were in place, and participants were required to wear masks and have their temperatures taken before joining.

To commemorate the launch of We Are One, 70,000 youth will donate blood in 17 cities, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Daegu, South Korea. The blood donation campaign will begin on August 27th and continue for three months.

“Congratulations on the launch of the Shincheonji youth volunteer group We Are One,” said Eom Jae-yong, president of the Seoul Southern Blood Center of the Korean Red Cross during a congratulatory speech. “Also, thank you for choosing to participate in the first volunteer activity as a blood donation campaign. It is expected that this will be a great help in dealing with the re-spreading of Covid-19 and the crisis situation.”

In addition to donating blood, We Are One plans to address national challenges and international crises. The group’s core focuses will include support service, creating a sustainable environment, world peace, and education.

“We discussed a lot about the problems that young people are facing today and their solutions,” said We Are One CEO Hong Jun-soo. “There are many members of the We Are One volunteer group with various talents, such as entrepreneurs, planning developers, designers, medical personnel, and social welfare experts. Together with them, we will solve the problems of the younger generation and take the lead in creating a better world.”

Shincheonji Church Chairman Lee Man-hee Lee also attended the launch ceremony. “We are born in this age and have an obligation to illuminate and develop this age,” Chairman Lee said. “If God the Creator is with us, nothing is impossible. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. People come first. Let’s all unite and make a better world.”

Contact:
Gina Del Gigante
6466287365
revelation@scjamericas.org

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1870477/Shincheonji_Church_of_Jesus_Chairman.jpg

We Are One, the Largest Youth Volunteer Group, Launches

Young adults take the lead to practice Jesus’ love for a better future

NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — New Heaven New Earth, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, launched a youth volunteer group called We Are One made up of 70,000 members in South Korea and 20,000 members overseas.

Chairman Lee Man-hee speaks at the We Are One launching ceremony

The launch ceremony took place on July 30th at the K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, South Korea. Over 1,000 representatives attended the event in person and 90,000 volunteers joined through a live broadcast. The ceremony included live performances and a commemorative photo shoot. Covid-19 social distancing guidelines were in place, and participants were required to wear masks and have their temperatures taken before joining.

To commemorate the launch of We Are One, 70,000 youth will donate blood in 17 cities, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Daegu, South Korea. The blood donation campaign will begin on August 27th and continue for three months.

“Congratulations on the launch of the Shincheonji youth volunteer group We Are One,” said Eom Jae-yong, president of the Seoul Southern Blood Center of the Korean Red Cross during a congratulatory speech. “Also, thank you for choosing to participate in the first volunteer activity as a blood donation campaign. It is expected that this will be a great help in dealing with the re-spreading of Covid-19 and the crisis situation.”

In addition to donating blood, We Are One plans to address national challenges and international crises. The group’s core focuses will include support service, creating a sustainable environment, world peace, and education.

“We discussed a lot about the problems that young people are facing today and their solutions,” said We Are One CEO Hong Jun-soo. “There are many members of the We Are One volunteer group with various talents, such as entrepreneurs, planning developers, designers, medical personnel, and social welfare experts. Together with them, we will solve the problems of the younger generation and take the lead in creating a better world.”

Shincheonji Church Chairman Lee Man-hee Lee also attended the launch ceremony. “We are born in this age and have an obligation to illuminate and develop this age,” Chairman Lee said. “If God the Creator is with us, nothing is impossible. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. People come first. Let’s all unite and make a better world.”

Contact:
Gina Del Gigante
6466287365
revelation@scjamericas.org

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1870477/Shincheonji_Church_of_Jesus_Chairman.jpg

Sphera Named a Market Leader for Carbon Management Software in Independent Research Report

Sphera’s ESG software was recognized in inaugural report on enterprise carbon management solutions by independent analyst firm

CHICAGO, Aug. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sphera®, a leading global provider of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance and risk management software, data and consulting services, has been named a leader in the carbon management software market by Verdantix, an independent analyst firm, in its newest Green Quadrant report.

The Green Quadrant Carbon Management Software report aims to help organizations better understand the market evolution of the carbon management software ecosystem by taking a deep dive into the current software platform offerings. The benchmark report, based on the proprietary Verdantix Green Quadrant methodology, assessed 17 capability and 10 market momentum categories. The analysis was also based on a two-hour, live brief and product demonstration, vendor responses to 103 questions and customer interviews.

Sphera was awarded the highest score among vendors for carbon emissions calculation engine, data modelling for both Scope 3 upstream and downstream and carbon disclosure management. Sphera’s strong capabilities in the storage, sourcing, calculation and coverage of emissions factors were noted by Verdantix. Sphera’s Product Sustainability LCA Database (formerly GaBi), which covers over 15,000 datasets and contains LCA models for more than 700 grid mixes across 92 countries, was cited as a key differentiator. According to the Green Quadrant report, “Sphera is particularly well-positioned to serve firms in need of understanding their products’ carbon footprints and identify emissions hotspots within the supply chain,” and that Sphera “offers pre-built data models for upstream and downstream Scope 3 calculations.”

Sphera also received top scores for net-zero strategy development, data acquisition and data management, with automated data capture capabilities and integration with internal IT systems noted as key strengths. Additionally, Sphera received the highest score among vendors for carbon financial management. As noted in the report, “Asset managers and private equity fund managers can leverage Sphera’s financial data aggregation capabilities to collect information from different divisions, funds and portfolio organizations.” Just this year, the Blackstone Group, one of the largest private equity firms in the world and Sphera’s investor, integrated Sphera’s carbon accounting solutions into its emissions reduction program, which seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 15% across a number of Blackstone’s portfolio companies.

“We are very proud to be recognized by Verdantix as a leader in carbon management software,” said Paul Marushka, Sphera’s CEO and president. “Sphera is committed to helping our customers develop robust, science-based net zero targets that are measurable, actionable and auditable. And we’re excited to see the acknowledgement and validation of our solutions that have been adopted by leading companies across industries. Bringing innovative solutions to market that enable organizations to assess their emissions baseline, accelerate their decarbonization efforts and improve corporate sustainability performance is critical to our mission of creating a safer, more sustainable and productive world.”

Carbon accounting is an essential part of any climate strategy. Sphera’s carbon accounting and reporting solution enables companies to easily collect GHG emissions data, automatically calculate their organization’s carbon footprint, address and solve Scope 3 quantification challenges and respond to a multitude of reporting frameworks and stakeholder initiatives. The report also noted that for companies wanting both software and consulting from one firm, “Sphera offers an integrated solution, incorporating software, data and consulting expertise. [Its] sustainability consultants advise clients on defining net zero objectives and strategies that are then tracked in the software.”

About Sphera

Sphera is the leading provider of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance and risk management software, data and consulting services focusing on Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S), Operational Risk Management and Product Stewardship. For more than 30 years, we have served over 6,700 customers and a million-plus users in 80 countries to help companies keep their people safe, their products sustainable and their operations productive. Learn more about Sphera at www.sphera.com. Follow Sphera on LinkedIn.

Contact:
Astrid Dickinson
sphera@aspectusgroup.com

NYI Expands 60 Hudson Street Operations

The acquisition of the Equinix NY8 facility brings additional datacenter capacity and cost-effective access to a broad carrier ecosystem in New York City

60 Hudson Street, New York City

A global interconnection hub

NEW YORK, Aug. 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NYI, a leading provider of hybrid infrastructure solutions and managed services, has expanded its 60 Hudson Street operations through the addition of space formerly occupied by Equinix. The expansion is the result of a joint venture with QTD Systems, who acquired the Equinix space in a transaction that closed on August 1, 2022.

With this integration, NYI doubles its datacenter footprint and immediately expands the carrier ecosystem available to customers. The expansion also includes significant additional conduit infrastructure and access to POE’s which will provide for unmatched capacity and reach in NYC’s most connected building. Together with NYI’s existing in-building capabilities, customers will now have access to unparalleled levels of resilience as they deploy their interconnection strategy.

“With the accelerating pace of digital transformation, the role of 60 Hudson Street as the preeminent home for global carriers in New York City becomes invaluable in terms of meeting the growing connectivity needs of customers,” says Phillip Koblence, NYI Co-Founder and COO. “With this integration, NYI grows in its ability to serve as the premier facilitator of access to this global interconnection gateway while making deployments at 60 Hudson Street simpler and more cost effective.”

“I have a long history at 60 Hudson Street, where I established several long-standing and still operational data center and connectivity businesses over the last twenty years. I look forward to NYI’s continued quality of services and their building upon Equinix’s 60 Hudson NY8 infrastructure in driving the future of interconnection,” adds Peter Feldman, CEO of QTD Systems.

The expansion will benefit multiple parties:

  • Former Equinix customers will enjoy operational continuity and access to NYI’s on-premise expert technical staff, cost-effective interconnection platform and suite of hybrid infrastructure solutions and high-touch managed services.
  • Domestic and international customers will gain access to more space and power, and to an expanded carrier ecosystem.
  • Telecommunication providers and carriers will benefit from seamless and cost-effective access to NYI’s expanded in-building conduit infrastructure and additional points of entry.

With expanded capabilities and a continued commitment to cutting through complexity and providing a seamless customer experience, NYI hopes to level the playing field, making interconnection at 60 Hudson Street simpler and more accessible from both a deployment and cost perspective, for carriers, content providers, and enterprises of all sizes.

About NYI

NYI is a leading provider of hybrid infrastructure, network, and interconnection solutions. The company is known for cutting through the complexity of the IT landscape and facilitating custom solutions to address the critical infrastructure and connectivity needs of clients across industries. NYI is headquartered in New York City and provides enterprise services into key global markets through a trusted ecosystem of partners. To learn more about NYI, visit nyi.net or follow NYI on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Iromie Weeramantry, VP Marketing
marketing@nyi.net

About QTD Systems

Peter Feldman, CEO of QTD Systems, has 25+ years of datacenter development, operations, management, and design experience including the founding of two long-standing businesses at 60 Hudson Street in New York City — Telx (Now Digital Realty Trust) and DataGryd (now Hudson IX). He also co-founded Digital Crossroads in Hammond, Indiana. QTD Systems will be focusing on developing the next generation of Quantum technology in partnership with Novum Industria, an MIT spinoff and member of the Quantum Economic Development Corp (QED-C) in the former NY8 facility.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cab232c-0c8d-4915-9d67-15f658bcef3b