Latest news with #dependence
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Forsee Power to Equip Tramways in the USA with Its PULSE PLUS Battery Systems
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Forsee Power (Paris:FORSE) (FR0014005SB3 – FORSEE – the 'Company'), the expert in battery systems for commercial and industrial electric vehicles, today announces that it was selected by Metcom, the specialist in power electronics systems for rail vehicles, to equip tramways in a large city in the USA. Up to 55 light rail vehicles are expected to be equipped with FORSEE PULSE PLUS battery system to run off-catenary. Up to 55 city trams will soon operate In 2024, a new rolling stock manufacturer was selected to design and manufacture up to 55 new hybrid battery high-floor vehicles to replace their oldest light rail vehicles on the existing network. The new trams with onboard energy storage system (OESS) will combine overhead line operation and battery traction. The new tramway cars will not only improve comfort and efficiency but will also reduce dependence on overhead lines. They make it possible to expand the tramway line where overhead lines are not available, reduce the construction of new infrastructure while preserving the urban landscape. Medcom, the specialist in rail vehicle power electronics will provide the traction system, while Forsee Power supplies Medcom with the battery systems for the OESS energy storage system. The first batteries will be delivered to Medcom in April 2026. PULSE PLUS, a highly durable high-power battery system for heavy vehicles Forsee Power will supply 110 units of PULSE 26 PLUS RAIL batteries (railway version of the PULSE 26 PLUS) to equip the 55 trains in the project (2 batteries per train). Built on Toshiba's latest LTO cells, Forsee Power's PULSE PLUS system offers an exceptional lifespan of 20 years and delivers twice the power of its predecessor, PULSE 15, with a peak output of 400 kW for 10 seconds. Designed with liquid thermal management for extended longevity in extreme temperatures and highly intensive use cases, PULSE PLUS also ensures the highest levels of safety with improved prevention and protection measures (ISO 26262 ASIL-C, IP6K9K). Its design includes an easily maintainable power distribution unit (PDU) without opening the battery, as well as customizable mounting brackets for simplified installation. Compliant with the most stringent industrial standards, the PULSE PLUS solution meets ISO 12405-2, ISO 6469-1, ISO 62619, IEC 60664, UN38.3 certifications, as well as the latest R10-6 and R100-3 approvals and UL and SAE standards, guaranteeing its reliability and safety. About Forsee Power Forsee Power is an industrial group specializing in smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport (light vehicles, off-highway vehicles, buses, trucks, and trains). A major player in Europe, Asia and North America, the Group designs, assembles, and supplies energy management systems based on cells that are among the most robust in the market and provides installation, commissioning, and maintenance on site and remotely. More than 4,500 buses and 145,000 LEV have been equipped with Forsee Power's batteries. The Group also offers financing solutions (battery leasing) and second-life solutions for transport batteries. Forsee Power and its 750 employees are committed to sustainable development and the Group has obtained the Gold medal from leading sustainability rating agency EcoVadis. For more information: | @ForseePower
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Electric cars key to India's energy independence, says IEA chief
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India should prioritize electric vehicle (EV) adoption to reduce its dependence on oil imports and strengthen energy security, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Monday after a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal."India should look at the electrification of mobility very closely because currently we have low oil prices, but the country is definitely at the mercy of some key oil producers," Birol warned. "If India wants to have the upper hand in terms of domestic energy trajectories, electric cars are one of the key solutions."The IEA chief highlighted the rapid global shift toward electric vehicles, noting that electric car sales have surged from just 3 per cent of total car sales four years ago to 25% this year. "One out of four cars sold today is electric," he said. "This is mainly because electric cars are getting cheaper, slowly but surely."In many countries, electric and conventional vehicles now carry similar price tags, while operating costs favour EVs. "In most countries around the world, driving one kilometre costs less with electricity than with oil, unless oil prices fall below $50," Birol predicted that electric vehicles will eventually dominate global transportation. "The world is going to see that sooner or later, electric cars will be dominating the streets."Birol praised India as "one of the drivers of the global clean energy transition," particularly highlighting the country's solar energy achievements. "India has achieved a huge success story, especially on the solar front, and this is good for India's economy and its energy security," he IEA executive director also commended India's LED bulb program, calling Minister Goyal its architect and describing it as "one of the most successful programs in the history of energy transition." The initiative has made India's electrification system more cost-effective and environmentally also praised the Ujjwala program for bringing clean cooking solutions to hundreds of millions of households and for its efforts to provide electricity access to Indian concerns about the energy transition's supply chain, Birol warned of growing concentration in critical mineral mining and processing. "We are seeing major concentration. This is a worry because we at the IEA believe that the best energy security policy is diversification," he concentration of critical minerals--essential for energy transition, defense, and chip manufacturing--poses "serious risk for the years to come," he warned. Birol urged all countries to diversify mining, refining, and processing of key critical minerals to avoid potential supply oil-importing nations like India, Birol recommended government incentives to accelerate electric vehicle adoption. "Countries importing oil should consider giving incentives to electric cars to reduce imports from different parts of the world," he emphasized the importance of supporting consumers in purchasing their first electric vehicles, noting that countries must avoid falling behind in the electric car concerns about potential trade conflicts affecting the energy transition, Birol maintained that diversification remains the best strategy for ensuring energy security in an increasingly electrified world.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor wake-up call, need to be self reliant in digital defence: Cybersecurity executive
A cybersecurity executive has warned that India's heavy reliance on imported cybersecurity products poses a significant risk to the banking, financial services, and insurance sector, especially during potential conflicts with formidable adversaries like China. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A top cybersecurity executive has cautioned about heavy import dependence in securing the banking, financial services and insurance sector, saying it could be vulnerable if India had to engage in a war against a formidable parallels with Operation Sindoor , Dharshan Shanthamurthy, founder and CEO of SISA, a cybersecurity solutions company, said the defence of India's banking and financial services sector was equally important in times of conflict as any attack on the payment ecosystem could have a crippling effect."We did equally good in terms of defending our digital payment ecosystem, like the way we have defended against drone attacks. I'm sure we would have defended against the cyber attacks as well," Shanthamurthy told said Operation Sindoor should serve as a wake up call for achieving self-reliance in defending India's financial services ecosystem."Now it was an inferior armed force. But if such a conflict is against a formidable armed force such as China or any other western power, we should be able to defend our financial ecosystem equally well," Shanthamurthy said that currently less than 10 per cent cyber security products used by various enterprises were of Indian origin."Every medium size enterprise uses 68-80 cybersecurity products, of which only 10 per cent are made in India," Shanthamurthy said, adding that in times of war or a limited conflict there is always a possibility of denial of technology or updates for cyber security products, leaving various enterprises in the country vulnerable to attacks."Operation Sindoor is a really good wake up call for us to increase and level up our cyber defence," he month, SISA and CERT-IN released the Digital Threat Report-2024 for the banking, financial services and insurance sector, highlighting the emerging cyber threats and offering practical strategies for emulating and mitigating these risks.
Euronews
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Why nuclear energy is making a comeback across Europe
Several countries across Europe are pivoting or have made U-turns over the use of nuclear power, as governments seek greater energy security. Belgium was in the spotlight earlier this month when its parliament voted to repeal a 2003 law that stipulated the gradual phaseout of nuclear energy. The motion it adopted on 15 May allows for the possibility of reviving the country's atomic industry in the future, including building new power stations. Belgium's original plan to phase out its seven nuclear reactors by 2025 was pushed back by a decade in 2022 due to energy uncertainty caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The current conservative-led coalition government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, came into power in February, and decided that the shift was necessary to meet its energy challenges. "We know that it's a low-carbon energy source, which means we can meet our European climate targets, but it's also an abundant energy source," said Belgium's Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet. "We have three objectives that are shared by our European partners. They are security of supply, a controlled price and low-carbon energy. And nuclear power meets all three criteria," he added. Belgium is far from alone — other EU member states such as Germany, Denmark, and Italy are reconsidering their stances on nuclear power. "I think it's obviously due to the current situation, with enormous geopolitical uncertainty and dependence on gas, which is still very strong," said Adel El Gammal, professor of energy geopolitics at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). "So, quite naturally, anything we can do to make ourselves more independent of gas, we have to do. Nuclear power is one way," El Gammal, who is also secretary general of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), told Euronews in an interview. The EU has around 100 nuclear reactors in 12 countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden). Almost a quarter of the electricity produced in the EU comes from nuclear power, according to the latest data from Eurostat. Nuclear plants release few pollutants into the air, which have made them an option as nations around the world seek clean energy to meet climate change targets. However, their construction and demolition produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. Opponents have for decades cited the challenges involved with processing long-lived radioactive waste to lobby against new plants. Climate activists also say that relying on nuclear power risks slowing the rollout of renewable energy sources. Germany in 2011 committed to phasing out nuclear power, thereby reinforcing its status as the leading voice of the anti-nuclear movement within the EU. This was achieved in April 2023 with the closure of the country's last three power stations. During the German election campaign at the start of this year, then-candidate and now Chancellor Friedrich Merz, had promised to look into reviving the sector. While Merz said in January that reopening the country's nuclear plants would "most likely not be feasible", his campaign vow marked a significant ideological shift in the German political landscape. Just last week, Merz's government indicated it would stop blocking efforts to treat nuclear power on par with renewables in EU legislation, the Financial Times reported. Italy is also considering reintroducing nuclear power.** At the end of the 1980s, Rome decided to put an end to nuclear power. But Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has set 2030 as the target date for returning to nuclear power, according to the country's energy security minister. The coalition government argues that this resource will help to ensure the country's energy security and achieve the environmental objectives of decarbonisation. For similar reasons, coal-dependent Poland has embarked on a vast nuclear programme. Warsaw decided in 2022 to build its first power station, with the first reactor scheduled to be operational from 2033. Earlier this month, EU renewables darling Denmark said it was considering lifting a 40-year-old ban on nuclear energy, and that it would analyse the potential benefits of a new generation of nuclear power technologies. And just last week, Sweden passed a law to fund a new generation of nuclear reactors. Meanwhile, in Spain, the government is under pressure to reconsider phasing out nuclear power following the giant blackout that hit the country at the end of April. El Gammal of the EERA suggested two strategies for a return to nuclear power, which are not exclusive but very different in their development. "The first is to extend existing facilities as far as possible. And here, I would say that if it can be done under well-established safety conditions, it should be done as far as possible. It's a no-brainer," he explained. "On the other hand, relaunching a new nuclear industry or relaunching the construction of new reactors is much more complicated, because first of all, the budgets involved are extremely large," El Gammal added. "Then there's the time it takes to build a power station. It takes around ten years." "Given the urgent need for strategic autonomy and climate change, this is a major problem", he said. All the more so as "renewable energies are coming on stream much more quickly". Building an atomic energy industry means taking a long-term view, and anticipating the cost of different energy resources over an extended period of time. However, as El Gammal pointed out, renewable energies are based on a logic of decreasing costs and increasing technology, "whereas in mature technologies, such as nuclear power, the costs are highly dependent on raw materials, i.e. cement, steel, in other words, raw materials whose cost is tending to increase." But nuclear and renewables are not contradictory strategies; they can go hand-in-hand, he stressed. To try and bring certainty to the industry, Belgium's energy minister Bihet suggested setting up joint projects and multi-state investments, which he said "will bring down costs and also stabilise investment to give companies confidence".
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Green Shoots: I would not be president for all the tea in China
At the time of writing, the radio stations in Joburg are abuzz with commentary about the meeting of President Ramaphosa and Donald Trump in Washington. Ordinary folk have very strong feelings about this event and have happily spent their airtime waiting for their 30 seconds of fame on the radio. There are views that say Ramaphosa capitulated to the bully boy tactics of the orange demagogue, smiling obsequiously at the torrent of fake news abuse. There are those who say that our president was the paragon of diplomacy in managing a raging nutjob with a loose grasp of reality, calmly refusing to take the bait so inelegantly on offer. Some of Ramaphosa's team members were not the usual allies he would take into battle. There were golfers and billionaires, and a cabinet minister from the former official opposition – all with Afrikaans names. Their contributions in the White House meeting have made people either new fanboys of rich old white men, or bitter critics of how thirty years of democracy has done little to change who holds the power. One person called Johann Rupert '16V', the nickname of legendary Bafana soccer star Doctor Khumalo, for his intervention. Another lamented how top golfer Ernie Els was caught in a time warp when he appreciated US support to South Africa in the war in Angola – this was when PW Botha was president of apartheid. Ernie might have been serving as foot soldier then – he's still enjoying the privileges now. I deliberately didn't watch as I have an aversion to cringeworthy moments – movies, politicians, bad wedding speeches. I know for sure that Trump makes me cringe, and I had no stomach for his theatrics in such settings. It's also difficult to listen to people who exercise disproportionate power in society talk about humanity as if they really care – Trump about farmers, the South Africans quite nonchalantly about our country's crime problem. They reiterated that crime kills a lot of people, not just Afrikaners, as an argument against the genocide claims against South Africa. Our best argument was to parade how callous we've become about violence. But then, the purpose of the visit was about debunking the false narratives and safeguarding trade arrangements. In our current economic model, we are dependent on trade for growth and, theoretically, the jobs that result from that growth. Cyril is a billionaire and leads a country with a capitalist economy. He believes in the model, and so we cannot be surprised that he would do the most to limit antagonising the powerful US in favour of good trade deals. I don't believe there is a right way to deal with Trump. I've heard it said by people who know these things that South Africa must trade with more countries to avoid dependence, certainly on the USA. BRICS is often raised as the alternative, and we seem to be getting cosier with the east. According to our tax man, in March this year we exported R172 billion, 10% of it to China (1st place) and 5.7% to the US (3rd ). We imported R147 billion, again with China (19%) topping the charts and the US getting 7.2% in third place. A sustainable shift no doubt will take time, but I think Trump's bull in a China shop antics will hasten it. It is the leader's responsibility to massage egos and navigate unhinged megalomaniacs so that the country can do what it has to in order to thrive (here I am taking an uncritical stance on the current economic system). And that is why I wouldn't be a president for all the tea in China. Perhaps we should spend our data and airtime focusing on the threat that is Trump's presidency rather than looking for consensus on the performance of the South African delegation. I came across this pithy statement posted on the socials by an old comrade about Trump's Oval office: 'It doesn't need data. It doesn't need logic. It only needs spectacle, certainty, and the confidence of inherited dominance. This is white supremacy in executive form — charismatic, chaotic, and unapologetically irrational.'
