Latest news with #HyerinPark
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Alabama School of Math and Science students research ocean acidification's effect on local oysters
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) – Six high school students at the Alabama School of Math and Science are taking science to the sea. They are students from all over the state of Alabama doing college-level research projects that deal with our coastal ecosystems. All of these projects deal with ocean acidification, which occurs when excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reacts with water and creates carbonic acid. Lillian Abernathy, a student researcher at ASMS, explains, 'Carbonic acid takes away the necessary nutrients that oysters need to grow their shells.' Heavy Mobile police presence at Knollwood Apartments Here are the six projects these students are researching: Calcium-binding proteins in Crassostrea virginica as indicators of in situ pH stress (Lillian Abernathy, a senior from Geneva County). Evaluating the impact of phytochemicals on reducing pathogenicity in Crassostrea virginica under ocean acidification (Naria Khristoforova, a senior from Shelby County). Effect of ocean acidification, Perkinsus marinus, submerged aquatic vegetation on apoptosis of hemocytes in Crassostrea virginica (BoKyeong Kim, a junior from Autauga County). Ocean acidification's impact on the susceptibility of Perkinsus marinus in Crassostrea virginica (Hyerin Park, a junior from Autauga County) Effects of ocean acidification on Pif gene expression in Crassostrea virginica (Kayty Phan, a junior from Mobile County). Lower pH levels decrease the productivity of the nitrogen cycle in Crassostrea virginica pallial fluid (Emma Kate South, a junior from Baldwin County) 'I'm looking at gene expression and what's called the extra pallial fluid cavity in the eastern oyster,' said Emma Kate South, another student researcher. Ocean acidification can also affect the oyster's immune system. Hyerin Park notes that this makes oysters more susceptible to Parkinsus marinas, which eats away at the oyster's tissue. 'It's a really common pathogen down here and it really affects a lot of the oysters,' Park said. Protecting oysters is very important for conserving our local habitats and preserving a way of life for many along the Gulf Coast. Abernathy stated, 'Maintaining those populations is something I'm really passionate about because people need to make money.' The Alabama School of Math and Science is able to provide these students with these research opportunities thanks to university level labs. This research helps students decide their future. Pensacola officer injured after impaired driver crashes into patrol car: FHP 'Funding from NOAA from the education grant gives us the ability to do this class…and a skillset that is transferable from high school on to college,' said Dr. Rebecca Domangue. She works alongside Dr. Natalie Ortell as principal investigators from the biology department overseeing the research. Kayty Phan, a student researcher, said, 'We're able to have different research and findings and be able to explore ourselves of what we like to do. If we like research or maybe we like a different path.' This research at the Alabama School of Math and Science is Growing the Gulf Coast while empowering students far into the future. 'Folks that care about climate science, folks that will care about policy, folks that care about their communities and their neighbors,' said Dr. Domangue. The research team would like to thank these organizations for their help in making this research possible: Jackie Wilson, Bama Bay Oysters LLC Valerie Longa, Mobile Baykeeper Dr. Tina Miller-Way and Dr. Jeff Krause, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Dr. Nancy Rice and Dr. Alison Henry, Biomedical Sciences Department, University of South Alabama Dr. Sinead Ni Chadhain, Biology Department, University of South Alabama Dr. Dennis McGillicuddy and Dr. Jennie Rheuban, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Observer
01-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman's HyDuqm GH2 project targets $7-8bn investment
MUSCAT, MARCH 1 Investments in HyDuqm – a major green hydrogen (GH2) project envisaged for implementation in Oman's Al Wusta Governorate – are estimated to total around $7 – 8 billion at full capacity, according to a key executive associated with the mega-scale venture. An international consortium, jointly led by global low-carbon energy developer ENGIE and Korean steel conglomerate POSCO, has secured a 340 km2 concession block in Duqm for the project – one of eight land blocks awarded by Hydrom, the country's GH2 orchestrator, to international developers so far. The project will include up to approximately 5 GW of new wind and solar capacity, and a renewable hydrogen plant with a capacity of up to 200,000 tonnes per annum (tpa). The hydrogen will then be transported by a hydrogen pipeline to an ammonia plant at the Port of Duqm. Green ammonia of around 1.2 million tpa is proposed to be shipped to Korea starting in 2030. Speaking at the Oman Climate Week forum held in Muscat last week, Hyerin Park, Vice President, Hydrogen Business Development, ENGIE AMEA, shared insights into financing and bankability challenges associated with the global green hydrogen industry. Taking part in a panel discussion, Park, who is also Chief Financial Officer, HyDuqm, underlined the complexities involved in funding large-scale hydrogen projects. Duqm alone, with a target to produce 1 million tpa of renewable hydrogen by 2030, will necessitate an estimated $35 billion in investment. HyDuqm, contributing 200,000 tpa of hydrogen to be converted into 1 million tpa of ammonia, carries an approximate cost of $7-8 billion. Given these figures, securing financing is not just a matter of capital availability but also ensuring appropriate risk allocation, she noted. According to the ENGIE executive, project risk is distributed across various stages of the hydrogen value chain, from renewable energy production to hydrogen conversion, transportation, and offtake. Investors are hesitant to fund projects where risks are overly concentrated, making public-private partnerships (PPPs) and policy-driven risk mitigation essential for bankability. Government-backed incentives, such as loan guarantees and subsidies, play a crucial role in bridging the financing gap, she said. Significantly, a project's bankability can also be enhanced by securing offtake agreements, Park stressed. HyDuqm, for its part, aims to supply green ammonia to Korea to decarbonize coal-fired power plants, ensuring a long-term demand base. However, the broader hydrogen market remains in its early stages, with pricing mechanisms still evolving. Greater clarity on hydrogen pricing structures and long-term contracts will enhance financial predictability, making projects more attractive to investors, she explained. Also weighing on a project's bankability is the cost of electrolysis technology. HyDuqm will require 2 GW of electrolyzer capacity, whereas the largest operational projects today operate at only 100-200 MW. This gap necessitates further investment in advancing electrolyzer technology to scale up capacity while reducing costs. Without such advancements, projects remain vulnerable to high capital expenditure (CapEx), affecting financial viability, she warned. Beyond CapEx, operational expenditure (OpEx) subsidies are also critical. Contract-for-difference mechanisms, wherein governments subsidize the cost gap between hydrogen production and market price, can enhance financial feasibility, Park noted Citing HyDuqm's experience thus far in the project's development, the executive underlined the important role of collaboration among stakeholders—governments, financial institutions, and industry players—in addressing financing challenges. Risk-sharing frameworks, innovative funding models, and strategic public-private cooperation will be instrumental in accelerating green hydrogen development in Oman and beyond, she added.
