TotalEnergies' Saft to build Fukushima battery storage site
Part of a larger project by Asian renewable developer Gurin Energy, the system will be able to provide over 240 megawatts of power for four hours.
Construction is expected to begin next year, Total said in a statement.
Battery storage systems are designed to stabilize electricity grids that receive volatile power swings from intermittent sources such as solar and wind farms.
Japan plans to install 10 gigawatts worth of energy storage capacity as it seeks to increase the share of renewables in its electricity mix to nearly 40% by the end of the decade, up from around 27% currently.
"Asia is a critical region for the sustained, long-term growth of Saft's Energy Storage System (ESS) business," Vincent Le Quintrec, Saft's ESS sales and marketing director said in a statement.
TotalEnergies itself operates four solar parks in Japan and has bid for tenders in the country's nascent offshore wind market, as part of its strategy to develop an integrated electricity business alongside oil and gas.
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The Herald Scotland
14 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Perthshire restaurant with rooms adopts 'revolutionary' business model
Unbeknownst to her, the business model was based around 80-90% of the revenue generating from voucher deal companies, an unsustainable business model for a rural business. David Racz, Claire Nicol and Laura Muirhead of Achray House (Image: Black Squid Photography) Since then, Laura has transformed her Perthshire restaurant with rooms, saving it with a 'revolutionary' membership subscription she launched just last year. Working for the past six and a half years to turn the establishment around from its pie and chips offering customers had grown to expect to fine dining has been a challenge, but one she and head chef David Racz have relished. With David's decade of experience working in The Ducks Inn and Martin Wishart and Chez Rous at Graywalls, the duo, alongside general manager Claire Nicol are putting Achray House on Scotland's food map. 'I initially wanted a gastro pub feel to the restaurant because, having lived in London, it's what I loved, but we evolved fully to fine dining in 2022,' said Laura. 'Our style is classic French cooking, and I genuinely believe we are very affordable for the quality we produce. Achray is the home away from home everyone craves and those dining with us for the tasting menu experience all end up conversing over their different tables by the end of the night. 'It is just the three of us, an agency chef and a few housekeeping staff, so it's a very personal experience you get here.' Pictured: Monkfish cheek with blood orange bisque and wakame (Image: Black Squid Photography) Laura admits the energy crisis three years ago almost bankrupted her, but she was determined to make Achray a success and launched the membership subscription that she feels may redefine hospitality and food tourism across the country. Introducing the scheme just 10 months ago, guests can sign up for £195 per couple for 12 months, unlocking unlimited free accommodation at the premises for the year. The only catch? Guests must dine at Achray House during their stay, meaning the venue generates its main revenue through food and drink sales, all while guests benefit from visiting multiple times throughout the year for the price of one overnight. The year-long membership commences when members arrive for their visit after purchasing it, ensuring customers feel they are getting bang for their buck. Read more: Laura said: 'My husband, who lives abroad, specialises in subscription models in his line of work. We launched a VIP members club for just 20 people to get some feedback on the initiative initially and they loved it, so we opened it up to everyone. 'I had a goal of 100 memberships within a year. We launched it last October and have generated 172 already. Guests are asking to be signed up when they are dining in the restaurant. I had two people sign up just this morning. 'People are looking for value and at how they can save money, but still have nice experiences.' Pictured: Dark Chocolate Crémeux, milk sorbet and cocoa nib (Image: Black Squid Photography) But it's not just the free, dog-friendly accommodation guests from Inverness to Manchester are flocking back for, it's the food at the two AA Rosette restaurant that has spurred so many to sign up for the membership. With an affordable a la carte offering served in the 30-cover dining room, a five-course tasting menu priced at £75, exclusive themed Saturday lunch events and a Sunday roast experience from £35 per head, there's plenty for customers to get stuck into. Themes to date have included surf and turf, smokehouse barbecue, Sicilian and seafood, and The Achray's a la carte menu shines a light on David's classic French cooking style paired with his passion for seasonal Scottish produce. It usually features three starters, mains and desserts. Pictured: Achray House in Perthshire (Image: Black Squid Photography) The 46-year-old confirms the average stay for most members is two nights, with a whole host of repeat business rolling in because of the membership perks. She added: 'We've had so many guests return as a result, and because we have different menus and change them so often, we keep it fresh for those dining with us. 'Claire will even organise the dining room in such a way that she will seat guests' tables beside those she believes will get on best. She can read people so well, and it creates this brilliant atmosphere. 'Two Michelin-starred chef, Mark Donald, of The Glenturret's Lalique, even recommends us.' Pictured: An affordable a la carte offering is served in the 30-cover dining room (Image: Black Squid Photography) Laura is currently looking to introduce Hospitality Mondays, opening on one of the industry's traditionally quieter days when most venues are closed to give hospitality workers the opportunity to dine out locally on their days off. 'I'm genuinely surprised at how successful it has been, long may it continue.' she adds.
STV News
21 hours ago
- STV News
How Scotland's biggest con man caused the first modern stock market crash
A Scottish adventurer, believed to have caused the first-ever modern stock market crash 200 years ago, created a fictitious country to attract investors. Gregor MacGregor, born in Stirling on Christmas Eve in 1785, was a soldier, explorer and con man who attempted to draw British and French investors and settlers to a made-up nation. Poyais was a fictional Central American republic that McGregor claimed to rule as a sort of tribal chieftain called a Cazique, with hundreds investing in government bonds for the territory. MacGregor issued a £300,000 loan through the London bank of Thomas Jenkins & Company for the bonds and land certificates, which is around £24m in today's money. Hundreds left Leith Dock in 1823 bound for the non-existent country in the Bay of Honduras, only to find a jungle with little food or shelter. The plots of land and government bonds that MacGregor sold, nor Poyais itself, actually existed. His actions are believed to have led to the Panic of 1825 – a stock market crash that originated in the Bank of England. The story of Gregor MacGregor's rise and fall McGregor came from a warrior clan and joined the British Army at 16, perhaps drawing inspiration from his grandfather, who served with the Black Watch, and his father, who captained East India Company ships. A short time later, McGregor returned from duty to Scotland and moved to Edinburgh with his wife Maria. He called himself a colonel before referring to himself as Sir Gregor MacGregor and claimed he was a clan leader. Following his wife's death in 1811, he sold his inheritance and left for Venezuela, a country embroiled in war. Revolutionary General Francisco de Miranda was said to have 'admired' his courage. He married Doña Josefa Antonia Aristeguieta y Lovera, the niece of Simon Bolívar, former President of Peru. McGregor soon found himself with a large stretch of land between Nicaragua and Honduras – the basis of what would become the fictitious Poyais. Following the Napoleonic Wars, he took advantage of investors in London who had 'money to burn'. He took out adverts in newspapers and opened sales offices to attract investment. When ships carrying emigrants from Scotland arrived in 1823, the towns and roads of Poyais didn't exist. They were told by passengers on a previous boat that left London in September the year prior that they had been duped. Due to a lack of available food and shelter, diseases were rife among those who made the journey. As many as two-thirds died by the time a rescue was possible. After his plan was foiled, he continued to scheme in France, managing to earn almost £300,000 thanks to enthusiastic investors. However, he was soon found out and detained and tried for fraud in a French court in 1826. MacGregor managed to escape prosecution while one of his associates was found guilty. In 1838, he retired to Venezuela and passed away peacefully in Caracas at the age of 58, seven years later. It's believed he amassed a wealth of £1.3m, around £3.5bn in today's money through his schemes. A Scottish theatre maker says MacGregor's actions go far beyond the context of the 1800s and reflect modern society. Liam Rees, from Glasgow, took the con man's story and created a performance entitled The Land That Never Was – exploring the 'audacious' details of his life. James Armandary Liam Rees, who made a play about Scotland's biggest con man. 'It was the audacity of it, the fact that he decided to make up a country,' he told STV News. 'It doesn't really get much bigger in terms of the ballsiness it requires. 'Consensus among historians and academics is that this was obviously a scam. But there is part of me that wonders if he thought he was going to fake it until he made it. It's a pretty common tactic. 'I wanted to ask what we are willing to believe? And do you need to believe in something impossible for it to become reality? I was intrigued by that. 'As humans, we need to believe in something, and it's the question of how that gets used or abused. ' He added: 'At the time, I was thinking a lot about Scotland and national identity, especially when it came to things with the independence referendum and Brexit. 'I was thinking, who are we as a country? And there's something in that. He tapped into the very colonial fever that was hitting the UK and Scotland at the time. 'It took me a while to work out why I kept on being drawn to the story, and in a weird way, I found out that the performance was about hope and about why people believe in ridiculous things. 'Those who fell for his scam were desperate and destitute, and so it was in some ways their only option. 'Nowadays, it feels like the world is constantly getting worse. There are more scams than ever with things like crypto and AI. It's some of the worst parts of humanity. 'It's always driven by the fact that people want things to change, to get better.' Liam is developing a new show about the collapse of the Roman Empire called The Empire Is Collapsing and I'm Doing My F****** Laundry with support from the Theatre de la Ville in Luxembourg. He is also an associate artist with Dead Centre, a theatre company based in Dublin, and is collaborating on their new show Deaf Republic at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
China's Communist Party is 'behind spate of takeovers' of British private schools - with more than 30 now in hands of foreign investors
China 's Communist Party is behind a spate of takeovers of British private schools, officials believe - with more than 30 bought by Chinese investors in the past decade. Department of Education and security officials are reportedly concerned by the trend - while sources claim they have been hindered by a failure to recognise China as a country which poses a risk to the UK's national security. A senior government source said China is 'playing the long game' by targeting private schools, adding that the country is 'doing all the things we used to do as an empire'. They told The Times: 'They targeted universities before but have realised it's easier to start younger. It's ideological warfare. These children will grow up and be helpful to the Communist Party.' Labour MP Phil Brickell, who sits on the foreign affairs committee, warned the UK's 'world-leading education system is an obvious target for influence' for China. He claimed previous governments have 'misunderstood' China's strategic threat, adding the current one must ensure British interests are protected. Analysis published in 2024 by Beijing-based company Venture Education said the demand among Chinese families for British education was the main reason behind the purchasing of schools. Labour MP Phil Brickell (pictured), who sits on the foreign affairs committee, warned the UK's 'world-leading education system is an obvious target for influence' for China The schools listed by Venture include Thetford Grammar School, which was founded in 1566 and is now owned by China Financial Services Holdings. Meanwhile, Wisbech Grammar, founded in 1379 and bought by Access Education, is also on the list. Some all girls' schools have begun accepting boys after their acquisition, including Abbots Bromley and Ipswich High School. Malvern St James was purchased in February, and a month later announced it would accept boys so it would appeal to the 'overseas international boarding market'. Venture Education's managing director Julian Fisher previously said: 'Surprisingly the application of VAT has increased interest from Asian investors, especially Chinese who generally see rupture as a time for opportunity. 'But most are wary of the current uncertainty and plan to hold off on any short-term deals; preferring instead to wait and see which are the highest ranked schools that might be available for sale.' He insisted that the only choices these private schools have is 'taking Chinese investment, staying open, giving consistent education to its existing students' or closing. Sir Keir Starmer has resisted pressure from security services to put China on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS). The scheme is set up to track people working for hostile states in the UK. A Government spokesperson said: 'All independent schools must adhere to the Independent School Standards. 'This includes to actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. 'The Department for Education is the regulator of independent schools and can and will take enforcement action where the standards are not being met.'
