Environment

Germany’s politicians and industry need a ‘totally new way’ of collaborating to go green: BASF’s CEO

Published

3 years ago

September 5, 2021

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In this article

BAS-DE

Wind turbines operated by RWE AG during sunset in Rheinisches Revier, Germany, on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Politicians in Germany need to work with industry leaders if the country wants to succeed in reducing its carbon emissions, according to Martin Brudermüller, chief executive of BASF, one of the world’s largest chemical producers.

“If we want to succeed in the decarbonization plans of Germany, but also the EU, we have to come to a totally new way of collaborating between industry and politics,” he told CNBC’s Annette Weisbach on Wednesday.

“What we currently see is that politics is engaging in one ambition after the other: Can it be 10 years faster? 10% more reduction? So it’s a race about ambition,” he noted. “I ask myself sometimes, whether society and politics needs to [have] a real reality check. It is not lacking an ambition, but we have to engage now in the how … to really say, where do we want to be? What does it take to get there? That’s the effort where politics is not engaged.”

A federal election is fast-approaching in Germany with the vote set for Sept. 26, and there’s a high chance that Germany’s Green Party will be a part of a future coalition government. The Greens are currently seen with 17% of the vote, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative alliance, the CDU/CSU, has 21% of the vote and the Social Democratic Party with 24%, according to Politico’s poll of polls.

The new German government, whichever form it takes, must engage with industry leaders, Brudermüller said, “to create positive regulation framework. It cannot be forbidding, restricting, not allowing anymore — it must be enabling. What do you really need to make this a success, and to stay competitive on this journey?”

While forming a coalition government could take weeks, it’s likely that the Greens, once a fringe party, will enter government and have a strong influence over energy policy, taxes and investment. Given the strong rise in popularity of the Greens this spring and summer, markets are prepared for the party to gain more power and prominence in government.

“It will take time for a new government to emerge, but when it does, we expect an administration more focused on combatting climate change, and one content to keep fiscal policy accommodative to promote economic recovery,” Dean Turner and Maximilian Kunkel from UBS Global Wealth Management said in a note Wednesday.

“We don’t expect much of a market reaction to the election. This is because coalition agreements can take weeks, sometimes months. Therefore, investors will not know the outcome for some time. But over the long term, green investment is set to soar,” they added.

The Green Party has an ambitious spending plan as a central party of its manifesto. It has outlined plans to spend 500 billion euros ($592 billion) on infrastructure and over the next 10 years on Germany’s climate transition. The party wants to restructure the country’s economic model into a “social-ecological system” and aims to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies and exit coal energy by 2030.

It has also called for higher taxes on the wealthy and a relaxation of Germany’s so-called debt brake (which caps the government’s structural net borrowing) which would enable Germany to raise more money on public markets.

Experts expect green investment to rise dramatically in the long-term but there are some concerns among businesses, especially energy-intensive ones like BASF, that this will lead to a rise in taxes. As such, they are concerned that they could become less competitive as a result.

BASF is a multinational company, based in Germany, whose products range from chemicals and plastics to crop protection products.

Brudermüller told CNBC that the new government’s tax policies should be watched closely, and that government needed to help subsidize any transition. “We have to really look on how we see the overall package. I think what is important [is that] if companies should manage the transformation, you have also to ensure that they earn the money to invest.”

“I think if this is a societal demand that you go for the transformation, it is also a societal task to help you at the beginning of that journey to engage. So new innovative technologies, pilot plans, they have to be subsidized and funded … So it’s not only the taxes, it’s also the public funding. And this is this positive framework I’m talking about,” he said.

Environment

YMX Logistics deploys 20 new Orange EV electric yard trucks

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2024

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YMX Logistics deploys 20 new Orange EV electric yard trucks

YMX Logistics and Orange EV Join Forces to Deliver Zero Emission Transportation Solutions to Yard Operations Across North America

Leading yard operation 3PL YMX Logistics has announced plans to deploy fully twenty (20) of Orange EV’s fully electric Class 8 terminal trucks at a number of distribution and manufacturing sites across North America.

As the shipping and logistics industries increasingly move to embrace electrification, yard operations have proven to be an almost ideal use case for EVs, enabling companies like Orange EV, which specialize in yard hostlers or terminal tractors, to drive real, impactful change. To that end, companies like YMX are partnering with Orange EV.

“This relationship between YMX and Orange EV is a significant step forward in transforming yard operations across North America,” said Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics. “Besides the initial benefits of reduction in emissions and carbon footprint, our customers are also seeing improvements in the overall operational efficiency and seeking to expand. Our team members have also been sharing positive feedback about their new equipment and highlighting the positive impact on their health and day-to-day activities.”

This Orange looks good in blue

YMX Logistics electric yard trucks; by Orange EV.

One of the most interesting aspects of this story – beyond the Orange EV HUSK-e XP’s almost unbelievable 180,000 lb. GCWR spec. – is that this isn’t a story about California’s ports, which mandate EVs. Instead, YMX is truly deploying these trucks throughout the country, with at least four currently in Chicago (and more on the way).

“Our collaboration with YMX Logistics represents a powerful stride in delivering sustainable yard solutions at scale for enterprise customers,” explains Wayne Mathisen, CEO of Orange EV. “With rising demand for electric yard trucks, our joint efforts ensure that more companies can access the environmental, financial, and operational benefits of electrification … this is a win for the planet, the workforce, and the bottom line of these organizations.”

We interviewed Orange EV founder Kurt Neutgens on The Heavy Equipment Podcast a few months back, but if you’re not familiar with these purpose-built trucks, it’s worth a listen.

HEP-isode 26

SOURCE | IMAGES: YMX Logistics.

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Environment

Hyundai IONIQ 9 debut, new NACS Kia, solid state batteries from Honda

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2024

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Hyundai IONIQ 9 debut, new NACS Kia, solid state batteries from Honda

On today’s thrilling episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the all-new Hyundai IONIQ 9 and its “a “rolling living room” pivoting captain’s chairs, Kia gets a go-fast 7 passenger SUV and an updated EV6, while Honda announces plans to start producing solid-state batteries at its new facility in just a few weeks.

We’ve also got big news for American workers – a Minnesota power company is ditching coal for solar while ExxonMobil and LG Chem get to work extracting thousands of tons of lithium out of Tennessee’s soil.

Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations sitewide. Learn more by clicking here.

You can watch the episode, below.

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Environment

One of the US’s first solar peaker plants – with Tesla Megapacks – just came online

Published

11 hours ago

November 21, 2024

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One of the US’s first solar peaker plants – with Tesla Megapacks – just came online

Arevon Energy has kicked off operations at Vikings Solar-plus-Storage – one of the US’s first utility-scale solar peaker plants.

The $529 million project in Imperial County, California, near Holtville, features 157 megawatts of solar power paired with 150 megawatts/600 megawatt hours of battery storage.

Vikings Solar-plus-Storage is designed to take cheap daytime solar power and store it for use during more expensive peak demand times, like late afternoons and evenings. The battery storage system can quickly respond to changes in demand, helping tackle critical grid needs.

Vikings leverages provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that support affordable clean energy, strengthen grid resilience, boost US manufacturing, and create good jobs.

The Vikings project has already brought significant benefits to the local area. It employed over 170 people during construction, many local workers, and boosted nearby businesses like restaurants, hotels, and stores. On top of that, Vikings will pay out more than $17 million to local governments over its lifespan.

“Vikings’ advanced design sets the standard for safe and reliable solar-plus-storage configurations,” said Arevon CEO Kevin Smith. “The project incorporates solar panels, trackers, and batteries that showcase the growing strength of US renewable energy manufacturing.”

The project includes Tesla Megapack battery systems made in California, First Solar’s thin-film solar panels, and smart solar trackers from Nextracker. San Diego-based SOLV Energy handled the engineering, procurement, and construction work.

San Diego Community Power (SDCP) will buy the energy from the Vikings project under a long-term deal, helping power nearly 1 million customer accounts. SDCP and Arevon have also signed an agreement for the 200 MW Avocet Energy Storage Project in Carson, California, which will start construction in early 2025.

Vikings is named after the Holtville High School mascot, and Arevon is giving back to the local community by funding scholarships for deserving Holtville High students.

Arevon is a major renewable energy developer across the US and a key player in California, with nearly 2,500 MW in operation and more than 1,250 MW under construction.

If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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