Latest news with #SEV
Axios
08-05-2025
- Science
- Axios
Harnessing tidal energy to foster a more sustainable power grid
Tapping into the Moon's energy doesn't require a spaceship — just a bold new approach. Annika Ölme, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Technology Development at SKF, discusses the "next space race" and how innovative technologies are already creating opportunities to harness endless energy from the moon's gravitational pull — right here on Earth. 1. The idea: What is the Faroe Islands Space Program? Ölme: The Faroe Islands is a small island nation between Scotland and Iceland in the Northeast Atlantic. There, together with our customer Minesto, we've built a space program unlike any other in the world. The Faroe Islands Space Program competes with global superpowers to harness lunar resources — without ever leaving Earth. Tidal energy, generated by the moon's gravitational pull, offers a renewable and predictable power source. This untapped natural resource holds tremendous potential to support a more sustainable energy future. 2. How it's done: How are you harnessing energy from the moon? Ölme: As the Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth and its oceans, it creates tidal streams. These powerful flows of water generate immense energy. Through innovative technologies and partnerships, we've supported the development of a way to harness this energy — LUNA 12. LUNA 12 transforms the concept of kites. Rather than soaring through the air, it glides through the ocean at speeds up to 16 knots at a depth of ~ 60 meters, driving water through a turbine to generate energy. The wing uses the hydrodynamic lift force created by the underwater current to move the kite. With an onboard control system, the kite is autonomously steered in a predetermined figure-of-eight trajectory, pulling the turbine through the water at a water flow several times higher than the actual stream speed. The turbine shaft turns the generator which outputs electricity to the grid via a power cable in the tether and a seabed umbilical to the shore. 3. The background: Who's behind this innovation? Ölme: The Faroe Islands Space Program is a collaboration between SKF, Minesto, and the Faroe Islands. SKF is the world's largest bearing manufacturer with a commitment to improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2emissions. Minesto is an ocean energy technology developer. The Faroe Islands, along with the inter-municipal community power company SEV, has one of the world's most ambitious energy transition initiatives, aiming to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030. SKF designed the bearing and sealing systems for the rudders and elevators of the kites, and we collaborated closely with Minesto to optimize the LUNA 12 kite for demanding operational environments. The result is a cost-competitive tidal energy technology poised for large-scale deployment. The initiative underscores the critical role of cross-industry collaboration and knowledge-sharing in accelerating innovation, advancing the shift to renewables and shaping a more sustainable energy future. The Faroe Islands Space Program serves as a blueprint for broader cooperation across sectors. 4. The impact: What's the long-term potential here? Ölme: The Faroe Islands, with its strong political will, unique ocean conditions, and supportive infrastructure, provide an ideal setting to test and scale this groundbreaking technology. Today, LUNA 12 is connected to the Faroese power grid, but as the project is in its pilot phase, electricity production is still in humble volumes. LUNA 12 is the first megawatt-scale kite in operation, delivering a tenfold increase in capacity compared to earlier models. With a rated power of 1.2 megawatts, it could supply enough electricity to power around 200 homes for a full year once fully operational. The next goal is to implement a new 200 MW tidal energy facility. This could meet 40% of the Faroe Islands' expected electricity needs in 2030, providing renewable electricity to the nation's 50,000 people and 70,000 sheep. Today, ocean energy is still a small part of the renewable energy mix. But we've identified at least 3,000 other "Faroe Islands" out there with the potential to harness this technology to generate renewable energy. If they were all to join, moon power could replace all coal power capacity currently under development globally. 5. Looking ahead: What's next for this project and SKF's future innovations? This is just one example of how SKF works with customers to advance new approaches and innovations in energy technology development and across other sectors. We recognize the powerful role we can play in reducing friction in projects and applications worldwide. Anywhere bearings are used, there's an opportunity to enhance efficiency and reduce friction, and we're proud of our innovations across the globe — and beyond — in making that a reality.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public asked for views on town's strip club policy
A council is asking people to give their views on possible changes to its licensing policy for sexual entertainment venues (SEVs). Cheltenham Borough Council says while it cannot take a moral stance over licensing SEVs because they are legal, it knows their presence splits opinion in the town. It is proposing to bring in a limit of two SEVs in a designated area of central Cheltenham. The council says it cannot impose a "nil limit" as venues would be able to call on a legal exemption. The nightclub Under the Prom is regularly granted a license to operate a SEV when there is horse racing at Cheltenham Racecourse. The borough council says it is better to have licensed venues operating legally as unlicensed SEVs pose a risk to performers and the public. One of the proposed changes is to extend the designated area within Cheltenham to include a greater section of the Promenade. Another change would be SEVs being confident their licenses would be renewed on application if there is no "significant change" to the character of the local area. However, the borough council also plans to introduce a limit of two SEV licenses for the town centre - there is currently no limit. Councillor Victoria Atherstone, borough council cabinet member for safety and communities said it was important to "ensure safety for all, across all venues in the town centre". She said the council did this by regulating and licensing their activities. "Adopting a nil limit throughout the entire borough would not stop such [SEV] businesses from operating, as they would use an exemption that allows any business to operate a SEV, legally, without needing to inform the council or needing to get a licence. "This is not the safest way to operate and historically our licensing committee has voted to oversee and regulate, rather than allowing such businesses to operate unlicensed and unregulated." The public has six weeks to share its views on the council's policy, which will then be in place for three years. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Strip club granted licence during Cheltenham races Women's groups speak out over strip club licence Include us in lap dancing debate, say performers Cheltenham Borough Council
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Public consulted on Cheltenham sexual entertainment venues
A council is asking people to give their views on possible changes to its licensing policy for sexual entertainment venues (SEVs).Cheltenham Borough Council says while it cannot take a moral stance over licensing SEVs because they are legal, it knows their presence splits opinion in the is proposing to bring in a limit of two SEVs in a designated area of central council says it cannot impose a "nil limit" as venues would be able to call on a legal exemption. The nightclub Under the Prom is regularly granted a license to operate a SEV when there is horse racing at Cheltenham Racecourse. The borough council says it is better to have licensed venues operating legally as unlicensed SEVs pose a risk to performers and the of the proposed changes is to extend the designated area within Cheltenham to include a greater section of the change would be SEVs being confident their licenses would be renewed on application if there is no "significant change" to the character of the local the borough council also plans to introduce a limit of two SEV licenses for the town centre - there is currently no limit. 'Safety for all' Councillor Victoria Atherstone, borough council cabinet member for safety and communities said it was important to "ensure safety for all, across all venues in the town centre".She said the council did this by regulating and licensing their activities."Adopting a nil limit throughout the entire borough would not stop such [SEV] businesses from operating, as they would use an exemption that allows any business to operate a SEV, legally, without needing to inform the council or needing to get a licence."This is not the safest way to operate and historically our licensing committee has voted to oversee and regulate, rather than allowing such businesses to operate unlicensed and unregulated."The public has six weeks to share its views on the council's policy, which will then be in place for three years.
