Latest news with #TES
RTÉ News
9 hours ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
What is CTE and why does it matter for Irish athletes?
Analysis: Brain injuries in sport are a growing public health issue that affects players at all levels, from local community teams to seasoned professionals By Chris Greene, RCSI Whether it's a clash of heads during a rugby tackle, a late hit in Gaelic football, or a crunching collision on the soccer pitch, head impacts in sport are unfortunately part of the game. But what are the long-term consequences? And what should we be doing about them, especially here in Ireland? Brain injuries in sport aren't just a concern for elite athletes or international stars, they're a growing public health issue that affects players at all levels, from local community teams to seasoned professionals. In the United States alone, an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur every year. But not all head knocks result in a full-blown concussion. In fact, many more go under the radar as "sub-concussive" impacts, blows that might not cause obvious symptoms but still impact the brain. There is mounting evidence that it is the cumulative effect of these repeated, lower impact hits; not just the number of concussions, that plays a key role in the development of a serious condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). From RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Ombudsman waiting eight years for children's sport concussion policy What is CTE? CTE is a progressive brain disease linked to repeated head injuries. It's been seen in boxers, American footballers, rugby players, and increasingly in other contact sports like soccer or MMA. At present, it can only be definitively diagnosed after death, during an autopsy. Neuropathologists look for an abnormal build-up of a protein called tau, which clusters around small blood vessels in the brain. This build-up appears to damage nearby brain tissue and over time may lead to memory loss, mood swings, and confusion. Because diagnosing CTE in living individuals remains a challenge, researchers have developed a set of clinical guidelines called Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES). Think of TES as a way to spot red flags like memory problems or changes in behaviour in people with a history of head injuries. These criteria, updated by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in 2021, were developed by studying confirmed CTE cases. While TES does not provide a definitive diagnosis, it indicates the possibility of trauma-related brain injury. Ongoing international projects, like DIAGNOSE CTE, are trying to find ways to detect signs of the disease earlier, but we're not quite there yet. From CNN, Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the causes and symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy What's the role of the blood-brain barrier? One of the most important and least understood players in this story is something called the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It's a kind of security gate that protects the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream. Disruptions to the BBB have been seen in many neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injury. In CTE, researchers have found that the protective barrier may start to leak, allowing toxic proteins or inflammatory molecules to seep into brain tissue. Our research group, alongside others, has found that athletes exposed to repetitive head injury, even without a diagnosed concussion, can show signs of this barrier breaking down. It's not just in American football or boxing; similar patterns are being investigated in Irish rugby and GAA players too. Ireland isn't just watching from the sidelines. A collaborative project between RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, and St James's Hospital is exploring how repeated head trauma affects the blood-brain barrier and how this might contribute to memory issues or cognitive decline in later life. The project, funded by Research Ireland, uses advanced imaging techniques, such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, to measure BBB health in retired athletes. What's striking is that even years after leaving the sport, some former players still show signs of brain changes. The next step is to understand how this relates to things like depression, memory loss, or dementia. Why it matters Traumatic brain injuries have been linked with a higher risk of conditions like dementia, mood disorders, and even suicide. In the US, retired American footballers are five times more likely to develop dementia. But this isn't just an American story. A Scottish study found that former professional soccer players were 3.5 times more likely to die from a neurodegenerative disease. Swedish studies have shown similar findings. While Irish data is still emerging, there are real concerns for former rugby players here at home. Rugby only turned professional in the mid-1990s, so we're just beginning to understand the long-term impacts on those who played at the top level. From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, Consultant Neurologist at the Mater Professor Tim Lynch on concussions in sport A game of balance Sport is a vital part of Irish life. From weekend GAA matches to the roar of the Aviva on a Six Nations Day, it brings people together, builds community, and supports mental and physical health. But with this passion must come responsibility. Protecting brain health isn't about taking the joy out of sport, it's about ensuring that players can enjoy those benefits long after the final whistle. That means better awareness, smarter rules, improved protective equipment, and ongoing research into how to detect and treat brain injuries early. It also means listening to former players, parents, coaches, and medical professionals as we build a safer future for the next generation of Irish athletes.
Globe and Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Brenmiller Energy's Nears Its Transformative TES Market Moment ($BNRG)
HPM has been covering the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) into the global energy mix heavily throughout 2025. The questions we get back aren't asking why —they're asking what. As in, what exactly is TES, and is it another complicated, drawn-out energy market investment proposition? We get it. The term "thermal energy storage" itself often deters readers from continuing. But here's the reality: it's a remarkably simple concept that's being embraced by energy providers in the know—particularly those who know what's coming. The concept's beauty lies in its simplicity—heat up a material, store that heat, and release it when it's needed. That's it. Whether it's crushed rock, sand, or another heat-retaining medium, the idea is straightforward: capture energy when it's abundant, cheap, and renewable, and deploy it when it's valuable. No exotic minerals, no dangerous chemical reactions, no moving parts. Just clever thermal engineering solving a problem batteries weren't built to solve. Of course, delivering that value at a commercial scale is where things get more complex. That's the hard part—and that's the part Brenmiller Energy (NASDAQ: BNRG) has already figured out. Thanks to Brenmiller, TES isn't some future-tech pipedream. It's live. It's real. It's working now. A Distinction Worthy Of Value While other high-valuation private TES startups talk about what they hope to build, Brenmiller is doing it. Right now. And that distinction matters—especially when BNRG is trading at a valuation of roughly $5.6 million, compared to private-sector peers who have valuations in the hundreds of millions despite, for the most part, still being clutched in development mode. To put it directly, investors should consider capitalizing on this massive valuation disconnect before the window closes. And it's starting to. BNRG's trading volume has exploded higher, with recent sessions running more than 10X above average daily volume. It's not hard to see why. Investors are catching on, particularly after a recent capital raise sent shares lower—creating an entry point that's rightfully attracting serious attention. Keep in mind that when you see ADV statistics, they're skewed higher now due to massive volume surges, with shares trading in the tens of millions compared to the tens of thousands just weeks ago. The point is this—the interest in BNRG is well-deserved. With electrification and renewables reshaping the global energy mix, the industry and investors are finally catching up to a reality Brenmiller Energy has been acting on for years: batteries and solar panels alone can't solve industrial heat or grid stability. Especially not at scale and not 24/7/365. That's where TES comes in. TES Can Be Energy's Most-Valued Partner It's cost-effective. It's durable. And unlike lithium-ion systems, it doesn't degrade, overheat, or depend on fragile global supply chains. TES fills the gap that batteries can't reach—replacing fossil-fuel-powered industrial tools, such as boilers, reducing demand charges, providing cost-of-energy certainty, and unlocking the full potential of renewables by absorbing excess generation and dispatching it as heat or steam whenever and wherever it's needed. In other words, it brings order to chaos. Just as important, TES isn't locked into one format. It integrates on the grid—through demand response programs and virtual power plants—and off the grid, where energy independence isn't optional; it's required. The SolWinHy green methanol project in Spain proves the point: entirely disconnected from the national grid, it operates on solar and wind energy. That's a great start. But where things matter most—energy delivery and system stability—SolWinHy will rely on Brenmiller's TES to make it all function. That distinction matters. And it should be valued. The European Hydrogen Bank allocated €7 million of SolWinHy's €25 million grant directly to Brenmiller. That's a sovereign endorsement of BNRG's bGen™ system and its irreplaceable role in the clean energy value chain. The better news for BNRG is that SolWinHy is likely just the first domino to drop in a model expected to be repeated across Europe and beyond. In other words, there is plenty more to appreciate and factor in when appraising BNRG. Supporting The Value Proposition Start with the fundamentals. In a space where being first matters, Brenmiller Energy isn't just early—they're proven. While names like Rondo Energy have achieved $500 million valuations based on future potential, Brenmiller has more than $40 million worth of infrastructure already deployed. Yet its market cap still trades at just $5.6 million on June 2nd. That kind of disparity doesn't last forever, especially with the soon-to-be-funded SolWinHy project in its pocket. It also helps that BNRG remains the only pure-play TES stock available to U.S. investors. There is no ETF or broader basket. If you want exposure to industrial-scale thermal storage, this is it. Need more to justify the value proposition? Check this slew of partnerships. Brenmiller has formed strategic alliances with Entelios in Germany to integrate TES into advanced grid systems, with Viridi Energy and Green Enesys in Spain, and with Rock Energy in the USA to deliver carbon-neutral heating across institutional buildings and campuses. These aren't speculative collaborations. They're revenue-aligned, deployment-driven relationships with a clear commercial roadmap. A Milestone Is Weeks Away But timing may be the most critical part of this story. The company's next major commercial deployment, at the Tempo Beverage plant in Israel, is slated for July 2025. That's not years away; it's weeks away. With that added validation, more than €200 million of European pipeline activity is lining up behind it. And with SolWinHy, potentially another sovereign-funded order at any time. The kicker—beyond the pipeline, Brenmiller Energy is exploring IP monetization to generate near- and long-term shareholder value without dilution. To put it simply, the pieces are in place for BNRG to realize its transformative TES moment. Not years from now, but weeks from now. With real deployments, partnerships, sovereign validation, and a validated TES platform, it's hard to say this in any other way—seize this investment opportunity while the discount window is open. If the adage "volume precedes price" is valid, it's already starting to close. Disclaimers and Disclosures: Hawk Point Media Group, LLC. (HPM) has not been compensated to produce and distribute this content. It should be expressly understood that HPM is not operated by a licensed broker, a dealer, or a registered investment adviser. It should also be expressly understood that under no circumstances does any information published herein represent a recommendation to buy or sell a security. HPM reports/releases are commercial advertisements and are for general information purposes ONLY. The information made available by HPM is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, investment advice or recommendations. The contributors do NOT buy and sell securities covered before or after any particular article, report and/or publication. HPM holds ZERO shares in Brenmiller Energy Ltd. Always do your own due diligence prior to investing in any publicly traded company. While HPM has not been compensated for creating and syndicating this content, HPM discloses having a prior services agreement with the company, and third parties, that expired in April 2025 and 2024, respectively. HPM is a digital marketing and consulting company. Therefore, it is possible that HPM will be retained in the future to create and syndicate digital content for Brenmiller Energy. Accordingly, while fact-based and sourced, our content may portray featured companies in only the most favorable way. A complete disclosure for all services provided and compensated for is linked below. Forward-Looking Statements: This article contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this article are subject to other risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company featured or HPM. Hawk Point Media Group, Llc. undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. For Hawk Point Media Group Llc's full disclaimer and disclosure statement, click HERE.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
VIEWPOINT: Brenmiller Energy's CBO on Why Thermal Energy Storage is Critical to Nuclear's Second Act
TEL AVIV, IL / ACCESS Newswire / May 28, 2025 / Over the last few weeks, it's become increasingly clear that Europe is rethinking its long-held stance on nuclear power. Countries like Denmark, Germany, and Spain are pivoting from prior bans and phase-outs toward the reintegration of nuclear energy into their decarbonization agendas. The May 27th CNBC report confirmed what many of us in the industry have been anticipating: energy independence and long-term grid stability are now taking priority over political resistance to legacy nuclear policies. This isn't just a European trend. In the United States, the nuclear conversation is also heating up. Just last week, the Trump administration issued two executive orders to accelerate the development and deployment of nuclear energy infrastructure. One order clears regulatory red tape for advanced nuclear projects, while the other earmarks new federal support for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in rural and off-grid communities. Taken together, they signal a dramatic shift toward treating nuclear not as an ideological debate but as a national security and resilience imperative. As Chief Business Officer of Brenmiller Energy, I view this shift not just as a reversal of prior sentiment but as a turning point for how the world will design and connect energy systems for the next generation. At the center of this new approach is flexibility - a trait nuclear energy alone doesn't possess. However, it can with thermal energy storage (TES) in its supporting cast. The Flexibility Problem: Why Baseload Isn't Enough Nuclear power excels in providing a consistent baseload of energy. But that strength becomes a liability in today's dynamic energy market. Grids increasingly require responsive assets that can ramp up or down in real time to match volatile demand curves shaped by solar and wind variability. This is where TES, particularly our bGen™ system, comes into play. At Brenmiller Energy, we've long understood the strategic value of decoupling energy generation from energy consumption. Our thermal storage technology enables energy - whether from renewable sources or nuclear reactors - to be stored as heat and dispatched when needed, 24/7/365. This unique service isn't theoretical. Our commercial partnerships and pilot projects, including with ENEL, the largest European energy provider by customer count, Tempo Beverage in Israel, Entelios in Germany, and others, has already proven the reliability and scalability of bGen™ for industrial energy users in a real-world setting. What ENEL saw in the flexible thermal application, and what many utilities are now beginning to understand, is that TES acts as a critical interface between legacy infrastructure and the demands of next-generation systems. As Europe advances its green hydrogen and renewable integration targets, policymakers are finally confronting the hidden costs of intermittency and grid inflexibility. Nuclear offers dependable generation but not agility. That's where TES fills the gap. It manages the mismatches between supply and demand, mitigating the risks of repeating the very same rigidity issues that led to nuclear phase-outs in the first place. From Concept to Commercial Readiness Consider our recent milestone in Spain: the SolWinHy Cádiz project, an off-grid, green methanol production facility, secured €25 million in funding, with €7 million explicitly allocated to Brenmiller's bGen™ thermal storage. Why? Because in an island-mode operation that's disconnected from the national grid, energy flexibility isn't a luxury. It's a requirement. That same logic applies to nuclear. Advanced nuclear reactors are smaller, modular, and more widely deployable. But without a load-following mechanism, they still suffer from the same mismatch between generation capacity and real-time grid needs. TES provides that mechanism. And serving that need isn't a far-off vision. With over $40 million in deployable bGen™ infrastructure and a pipeline of global projects underway, Brenmiller Energy is uniquely positioned and able to meet this moment. We believe that with the right supporting technology, like bGen, the nuclear revival on both sides of the Atlantic doesn't need to clash with the renewable agenda. The two can - and must - work in tandem. However, this will only happen with enabling technologies like TES, which can seamlessly connect these assets into a cohesive, responsive, and resilient energy network. At Brenmiller Energy, we're not just watching the shift - we're helping to power it. As policy evolves, so too must infrastructure. Nuclear energy without flexibility is a missed opportunity. The most excellent news during nuclear's second chance is that legacy rigidity is no longer a concern. With bGen TES technology included to complement, nuclear gets a foundational building block of the new energy economy. And as we've demonstrated with ENEL, SolWinHy, Tempo Beverage, and others, we're not just theorizing; we're putting our innovative assets into practice. We're proud to say that, as of now, we're the only known TES provider who can. By Doron BrenmillerChief Business Officer, Brenmiller Energy (NASDAQ:BNRG) About bGen™ bGen™ ZERO is Brenmiller's TES system, which converts electricity into heat to power sustainable industrial processes at a price that is competitive with natural gas. The bGen™ ZERO charges by capturing low-cost electricity from renewables or the grid and stores it in crushed rocks. It then discharges steam, hot water, or hot air on demand according to customer requirements. The bGen™ ZERO also supports the development of utility-scale renewables by providing critical flexibility and grid-balancing capabilities. bGen™ ZERO was named among TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 in the Green Energy category and won Gold in the Energy Storage and Management category at the 2025 Edison Awards. About Brenmiller Energy Ltd. Brenmiller Energy helps energy-intensive industries and power producers end their reliance on fossil fuel boilers. Brenmiller's patented bGen™ ZERO thermal battery is a modular and scalable energy storage system that turns renewable electricity into zero-emission heat. It charges using low-cost renewable electricity and discharges a continuous supply of heat on demand and according to its customers' needs. The most experienced thermal battery developer on the market, Brenmiller operates the world's only gigafactory for thermal battery production and is trusted by leading multinational energy companies. For more information visit the Company's website at and follow the company on X and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the company is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses: that the Company's bGen™ system installation at Purchase College will reduce 550 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually; that TES modularity enables flexible and efficient deployment across diverse infrastructure; and that as more public entities prioritize net-zero transitions, scalable and proven solutions like our bGen™ can provide a suitable solution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "plan," "project," "potential," "seek," "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate" or "continue" are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that certain crucial factors may affect the company's actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be made in this press release. Factors that may affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to: the company's planned level of revenues and capital expenditures; risks associated with the adequacy of existing cash resources; the demand for and market acceptance of our products; impact of competitive products and prices; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the success or failure of negotiations; trade, legal, social and economic risks; and political, economic and military instability in the Middle East, specifically in Israel. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025, which is available on the SEC's website, The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Contact: investors@ SOURCE: Brenmiller Energy
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
VIEWPOINT: Brenmiller Energy's CBO on Why Thermal Energy Storage is Critical to Nuclear's Second Act
Over the last few weeks, it's become increasingly clear that Europe is rethinking its long-held stance on nuclear power. Countries like Denmark, Germany, and Spain are pivoting from prior bans and phase-outs toward the reintegration of nuclear energy into their decarbonization agendas. The May 27th CNBC report confirmed what many of us in the industry have been anticipating: energy independence and long-term grid stability are now taking priority over political resistance to legacy nuclear policies. This isn't just a European trend. In the United States, the nuclear conversation is also heating up. Just last week, the Trump administration issued two executive orders to accelerate the development and deployment of nuclear energy infrastructure. One order clears regulatory red tape for advanced nuclear projects, while the other earmarks new federal support for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in rural and off-grid communities. Taken together, they signal a dramatic shift toward treating nuclear not as an ideological debate but as a national security and resilience imperative. As Chief Business Officer of Brenmiller Energy, I view this shift not just as a reversal of prior sentiment but as a turning point for how the world will design and connect energy systems for the next generation. At the center of this new approach is flexibility – a trait nuclear energy alone doesn't possess. However, it can with thermal energy storage (TES) in its supporting cast. The Flexibility Problem: Why Baseload Isn't Enough Nuclear power excels in providing a consistent baseload of energy. But that strength becomes a liability in today's dynamic energy market. Grids increasingly require responsive assets that can ramp up or down in real time to match volatile demand curves shaped by solar and wind variability. This is where TES, particularly our bGen™ system, comes into play. At Brenmiller Energy, we've long understood the strategic value of decoupling energy generation from energy consumption. Our thermal storage technology enables energy – whether from renewable sources or nuclear reactors – to be stored as heat and dispatched when needed, 24/7/365. This unique service isn't theoretical. Our commercial partnerships and pilot projects, including with ENEL, the largest European energy provider by customer count, Tempo Beverage in Israel, Entelios in Germany, and others, has already proven the reliability and scalability of bGen™ for industrial energy users in a real-world setting. What ENEL saw in the flexible thermal application, and what many utilities are now beginning to understand, is that TES acts as a critical interface between legacy infrastructure and the demands of next-generation systems. As Europe advances its green hydrogen and renewable integration targets, policymakers are finally confronting the hidden costs of intermittency and grid inflexibility. Nuclear offers dependable generation but not agility. That's where TES fills the gap. It manages the mismatches between supply and demand, mitigating the risks of repeating the very same rigidity issues that led to nuclear phase-outs in the first place. From Concept to Commercial Readiness Consider our recent milestone in Spain: the SolWinHy Cádiz project, an off-grid, green methanol production facility, secured €25 million in funding, with €7 million explicitly allocated to Brenmiller's bGen™ thermal storage. Why? Because in an island-mode operation that's disconnected from the national grid, energy flexibility isn't a luxury. It's a requirement. That same logic applies to nuclear. Advanced nuclear reactors are smaller, modular, and more widely deployable. But without a load-following mechanism, they still suffer from the same mismatch between generation capacity and real-time grid needs. TES provides that mechanism. And serving that need isn't a far-off vision. With over $40 million in deployable bGen™ infrastructure and a pipeline of global projects underway, Brenmiller Energy is uniquely positioned and able to meet this moment. We believe that with the right supporting technology, like bGen, the nuclear revival on both sides of the Atlantic doesn't need to clash with the renewable agenda. The two can – and must – work in tandem. However, this will only happen with enabling technologies like TES, which can seamlessly connect these assets into a cohesive, responsive, and resilient energy network. At Brenmiller Energy, we're not just watching the shift – we're helping to power it. As policy evolves, so too must infrastructure. Nuclear energy without flexibility is a missed opportunity. The most excellent news during nuclear's second chance is that legacy rigidity is no longer a concern. With bGen TES technology included to complement, nuclear gets a foundational building block of the new energy economy. And as we've demonstrated with ENEL, SolWinHy, Tempo Beverage, and others, we're not just theorizing; we're putting our innovative assets into practice. We're proud to say that, as of now, we're the only known TES provider who can. By Doron Brenmiller Chief Business Officer, Brenmiller Energy (NASDAQ:BNRG) About bGen™ bGen™ ZERO is Brenmiller's TES system, which converts electricity into heat to power sustainable industrial processes at a price that is competitive with natural gas. The bGen™ ZERO charges by capturing low-cost electricity from renewables or the grid and stores it in crushed rocks. It then discharges steam, hot water, or hot air on demand according to customer requirements. The bGen™ ZERO also supports the development of utility-scale renewables by providing critical flexibility and grid-balancing capabilities. bGen™ ZERO was named among TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 in the Green Energy category and won Gold in the Energy Storage and Management category at the 2025 Edison Awards. About Brenmiller Energy Ltd. Brenmiller Energy helps energy-intensive industries and power producers end their reliance on fossil fuel boilers. Brenmiller's patented bGen™ ZERO thermal battery is a modular and scalable energy storage system that turns renewable electricity into zero-emission heat. It charges using low-cost renewable electricity and discharges a continuous supply of heat on demand and according to its customers' needs. The most experienced thermal battery developer on the market, Brenmiller operates the world's only gigafactory for thermal battery production and is trusted by leading multinational energy companies. For more information visit the Company's website at and follow the company on X and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the company is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses: that the Company's bGen™ system installation at Purchase College will reduce 550 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually; that TES modularity enables flexible and efficient deployment across diverse infrastructure; and that as more public entities prioritize net-zero transitions, scalable and proven solutions like our bGen™ can provide a suitable solution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as 'plan,' 'project,' 'potential,' 'seek,' 'may,' 'will,' 'expect,' 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'could,' 'estimate' or 'continue' are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that certain crucial factors may affect the company's actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be made in this press release. Factors that may affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to: the company's planned level of revenues and capital expenditures; risks associated with the adequacy of existing cash resources; the demand for and market acceptance of our products; impact of competitive products and prices; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the success or failure of negotiations; trade, legal, social and economic risks; and political, economic and military instability in the Middle East, specifically in Israel. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025, which is available on the SEC's website, The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Contact: investors@ SOURCE: Brenmiller Energy View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland education chief post rejected again – what can be done?
More important is the fact that on the first occasion the role, along with the post of chief executive of Education Scotland, did not attract enough candidates for interviews to be held. In the latest round - as TES magazine reports - interviews were held but no-one appointed. This should be a matter of deep concern to all those who care about how Scotland's pupils are taught. Now some might argue the appointment does not matter. There is an interim chief executive, who is getting on with the job. According to a recent freedom of information request, 46 secondary schools were inspected between 1 August 2023, and 11 October 2024, not including 'all through' schools with both primary and secondary provision. The inspectors keep calling. Others might argue there is no need for a chief inspector, or inspectors. Professionals, in this case heads and teaching staff, should be left to be professional. They know what they are doing, the argument goes. It is not a line of thought most would agree with. In any professional setting, particularly one as important as education, scrutiny is vital for progress and accountability. So, if there should be a Chief Inspector who leads school inspections, what has gone wrong, and what might be done to fix this problem? There are a number of possible reasons, and some possible solutions. First, the failed appointments come at a time when the Scottish government has proposed what it claims are major reforms to the education system. After recent controversies, it is planned to create three 'new' organisations, a qualifications body, a national education agency, and an 'independent' inspectorate. Under the education bill, published in June last year, Qualifications Scotland will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Anyone notice the similarities in the name? HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) will formally be created by removing the inspection function from the national education agency, Education Scotland. However, the process has been delayed by the education secretary Jenny Gilruth, and with uncertainty surrounding the reforms - critics draw parallels with those deck chairs and the Titanic - it is understandable why some might be reluctant to throw their mortarboard into the ring. There could also be an accountability problem. It was a scandal a previous SNP administration made the inspectorate part of Education Scotland, directed by ministers - one part of a public body marking another part's homework. Removing HMIE from Education Scotland is a start, though it will still be accountable to Scottish ministers and the Scottish parliament. Then there is a climate around inspections. Teachers in Scotland have in the past been critical of the process, saying it puts too much stress on them, and if there is notice of an inspection a false picture of a school is created as they spend weeks getting matters in order before the inspectors arrive. There is something in this, though it could be contended the process of preparing for the inspection is in itself beneficial to the schools. And after the inspections if there are problems identified, then good education authorities act upon them, or if the report is positive seek to build on achievements. If there is a criticism of this process, it is that the response to an adverse report is sometimes not robust enough. If a school is failing those it is there to serve - the students - then the people in charge must be held accountable. Ideally supported to improve, but if needs be new bringing new leadership may be the only solution. South of the Border there has been a lot of concern over a head teacher who took her own life while waiting for a report by Ofsted, the school standard's body. The inspectorate in England is changing from one word judgements of schools, to a more detailed system, which exists in Scotland already. However, there is always a danger obfuscation obscures the findings. Explaining negatives and positives clearly and succinctly in a way non-education experts (most people) can understand is important. Lastly, there is money. Yes, £117,000 a year is a lot, but you can be paid roughly the same if you are the top level as a secondary head, and much more for being the director of education in a big local authority, like Glasgow, paid more than £170,000 per annum. So, what might be done to improve the situation? First the Scottish government could be bold rather than timid, making HMIE accountable not to ministers but to the Scottish parliament, in the same way Audit Scotland is. That would give the Chief Inspector scope to be critical, when necessary, of the government of the day. Second, while there is a genuine concern over high levels of public sector pay in 'senior' roles, in some cases a high salary is justified by the high level of responsibility. Were HMIE responsible to Holyrood, there would be an added level of scrutiny on the inspector and their staff. There are many other ideas, but one final suggestion: the Scottish government must stop dithering over what it means by education reform, providing clarity over what it expects, and in particular the role, or otherwise, it sees for traditional exams. With an election ahead, those who aspire to government should do the same. What might these changes, proper radical reforms, achieve? Hopefully one, or more, of our many talented, dedicated, rigorous, committed educators will take up this enormous but rewarding challenge. And step forward to serve. Peter MacMahon is a commentator and writer, specialising in politics and public policy. He stood down recently as Political Editor of ITV Border after more than a decade covering Scottish and UK politics.
