Wind

High levels of PFAS forever chemicals found flowing into River Mersey – new study

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

Huge volumes of toxic and cancer-causing forever chemicals are flowing into the River Mersey in north-west England.

Key Points: 
  • Huge volumes of toxic and cancer-causing forever chemicals are flowing into the River Mersey in north-west England.
  • The recent State of Our Rivers 2024 report from The Rivers Trust found that one of the most concerning groups of synthetic chemicals, per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), contaminates almost every river in England.
  • Known as forever chemicals because they can take thousands of years to break down, PFAS persist in the environment and accumulate in living things.
  • They threaten ecosystems and human health, not just in the Mersey, but in every industrialised river around the world.

Dilute, disperse and detect

  • Most cities, including Liverpool and Manchester, have been built close to rivers and seas, partly to dilute pollution and transport it away.
  • Today, enormous volumes of toxic waste are discharged into rivers and seas because dilution reduces chemical concentrations to extremely low or undetectable levels.
  • These forever chemicals have been detected almost everywhere we look, including in Antarctica, in whales and polar bears and in rainwater.

A state of flux

  • To prevent further PFAS entering our rivers, more needs to be known about how they move into and through river systems.
  • As part of our study, we measured this flux.
  • Instead of measuring a chemical’s concentration, flux is a measure of how much PFAS, for example in kilograms per year, flows off the land and out to sea.


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Patrick Byrne receives funding from the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council.

Pacific Islanders have long drawn wisdom from the Earth, the sky and the waves. Research shows the science is behind them

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

One man mentioned a black-winged storm bird known as “manumanunicagi” that glides above the land only when a cyclone is forming out to sea.

Key Points: 
  • One man mentioned a black-winged storm bird known as “manumanunicagi” that glides above the land only when a cyclone is forming out to sea.
  • As the conversation continued, residents named at least 11 bird species, the odd behaviour of which signalled imminent changes in the weather.
  • We reviewed evidence on traditional knowledge in the Pacific for coping with climate change, and found much of it was scientifically plausible.

A proven, robust system

  • People have inhabited the Pacific Islands for 3,000  years or more and have experienced many climate-driven challenges to their livelihoods and survival.
  • They have coped not by luck but by design – through robust systems of traditional knowledge built by diverse groups of people over time.
  • Traditional knowledge in the Pacific explains the causes and manifestations of natural phenomena, and identifies the best ways to respond.

Reading the ocean and sky

  • In Vanuatu’s Torres Islands, 13 phrases exist to describe the state of the tide, including anomalies that herald uncommon events.
  • Distant storms can drive ocean swells onto coasts long before the winds and rain arrive, changing the usual patterns of waves.
  • Winds that blow from the east (matā ‘upolu) indicate the imminent arrival of heavy rain, possibly a tropical cyclone.
  • Many Pacific Island communities believe a cloudless, dark blue sky signals the arrival of a tropical cyclone.

The wisdom of animals and plants

  • In Tonga, when the frigate bird flies across the land – unusual behaviour for an ocean species – it signals a tropical cyclone is developing.
  • Another study, which included data on frigate birds in the Pacific, found seabirds appeared to circumvent cyclones, probably by sensing wind strength and direction.
  • Traditional knowledge about insect behaviour in the Pacific Islands is also used to predict wet weather.
  • Across the Pacific, common signs of impending wet weather are found in the behaviours of some plants.
  • This can be explained scientifically by a process in which plant leaves close to protect their reproductive organs from extreme weather.

Planning for a warmer future

  • This is true of the Pacific Islands, where in some places, traditional knowledge is all but forgotten.
  • As climate change impacts worsen, optimal planning for island peoples should combine both approaches.


Patrick D. Nunn receives funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) via the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership (APCP), the Australian Research Council, and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research. Roselyn Kumar receives funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) via the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership (APCP)

EQS-News: IBU-tec Advances Development in Sodium-Ion Battery Research Making Further Progress

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

Among other things, IBU-tec is currently making progress in expanding production towards larger volumes and is pushing ahead with research projects.

Key Points: 
  • Among other things, IBU-tec is currently making progress in expanding production towards larger volumes and is pushing ahead with research projects.
  • IBU-tec has already successfully completed the development and production of phase-pure cathode active material made of sodium manganese layer oxide.
  • In the next step of the research project, IBU-tec is testing the cycle stability of the cathode in full cells and further optimizing it.
  • Ulrich Weitz, Managing Director of IBUvolt battery materials: "With the further development of innovative battery materials, we are securing the future viability of IBU-tec.

EQS-News: ENCAVIS acquires two more solar parks in Spain and surpasses the planned expansion of electricity production in 2023 by a total of 33 percent to reach 1 terawatt hour

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

Hamburg, 26 February 2024 – Hamburg-based wind and solar park operator Encavis AG, listed on the MDAX of Deutsche Börse AG (Prime Standard; ISIN: DE0006095003; ticker symbol: ECV) expands its Spanish solar park portfolio with two more solar parks in Andalucia (Spain).

Key Points: 
  • Hamburg, 26 February 2024 – Hamburg-based wind and solar park operator Encavis AG, listed on the MDAX of Deutsche Börse AG (Prime Standard; ISIN: DE0006095003; ticker symbol: ECV) expands its Spanish solar park portfolio with two more solar parks in Andalucia (Spain).
  • In the current mix of acquired wind and solar projects, this corresponds to an annual electricity production of 1,000 GWh or 1 TWh respectively.
  • ENCAVIS thus surpasses its original target of acquiring an additional 750 GWh by a third, or more than 33 percent.
  • Never before in the Company's history has the Group acquired such a large generation portfolio in a financial year as it did in 2023.

EQS-News: Armacell Financial Highlights 2023

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

Luxembourg, 22 February 2024 – Armacell, a global leader in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market and a leading provider of engineered foams, today reported its preliminary unaudited financial results for the year ending 31 December 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Luxembourg, 22 February 2024 – Armacell, a global leader in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market and a leading provider of engineered foams, today reported its preliminary unaudited financial results for the year ending 31 December 2023.
  • In 2023, Armacell realised net sales of EUR 836.1 million, an increase of 3.7% on 2022 (EUR 806.2 million).
  • Growth was partially offset by weaker demand in the wind market and in residential equipment, to which Armacell only has limited exposure.
  • District heating, also an increasingly important market, is being served by Armacell Austria and Armacell Serbia, both acquired in 2022.

EQS-News: Siltronic stand its ground in 2023 despite difficult market environment – Financial year 2024 still characterized by weak demand

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

As planned, the high level of capex led to a significant decrease in cash and cash equivalents and financial investments.

Key Points: 
  • As planned, the high level of capex led to a significant decrease in cash and cash equivalents and financial investments.
  • Outlook for 2024 characterized by weak demand, especially in the first half of the year
    As a result of the continued weak demand for silicon wafers, the Executive Board expects sales in 2024 to be the region of the previous year.
  • The Executive Board expects energy and material cost (before ramp cost) to be lower in 2024 than in the previous year.
  • Due to the high level of capex in recent years, depreciation and amortization will almost double compared to 2023.

EQS-News: SGL Carbon evaluates strategic options for the Business Unit Carbon Fibers 

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Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

SGL Carbon SE is currently evaluating various strategic options for the Business Unit Carbon Fibers (CF).

Key Points: 
  • SGL Carbon SE is currently evaluating various strategic options for the Business Unit Carbon Fibers (CF).
  • We have positioned SGL Carbon in such a way that the four operating business units can be successful independently in their markets.
  • Carbon Fibers manufactures textile, acrylic and carbon fibers as well as composite materials at seven locations in Europe and North America.
  • Against this background, SGL Carbon is reviewing all possibilities to support a positive further development of the Carbon Fibers Business Unit.

RiC TV: New era of TV entertainment on Astra 19.2° East with optimized frequency

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

The channel is now available on a new frequency, 11,302 MHz, on the Astra 19.2° East satellite, while it can be received on the previous frequency until the end of 2024 at the latest.

Key Points: 
  • The channel is now available on a new frequency, 11,302 MHz, on the Astra 19.2° East satellite, while it can be received on the previous frequency until the end of 2024 at the latest.
  • This transition phase offers viewers a unique flexibility to adapt to the new frequency without risking the immediate loss of the familiar signal.
  • RiC TV will be available exclusively on the new frequency from 2025, underlining the ongoing investment in improved and more stable transmission quality.
  • We look forward to continuing to actively support RiC TV."

EQS-News: PALFINGER Achieves Historic Record Year 2023

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

A record year in terms of revenue, EBIT and consolidated net result: PALFINGER AG looks back on 2023 as the most successful fiscal year in the company's history.

Key Points: 
  • A record year in terms of revenue, EBIT and consolidated net result: PALFINGER AG looks back on 2023 as the most successful fiscal year in the company's history.
  • We have proved that in 2023 and we will also tackle the challenges in 2024, which are no less demanding” says Andreas Klauser, CEO of PALFINGER AG.
  • With the opening of its new regional headquarters in Schaumburg (Illinois) in June 2023, PALFINGER once again shows its claim to market leadership in its second-largest region.
  • Here you can find the PALFINGER AG annual report 2023: https://www.palfinger.ag/en/investors/publications/finance-publications
    Here is the magazine “&beyond” that accompanies the PALFINGER AG annual report 2023:

EQS-News: Encavis Asset Management announces start of construction of Germany's second largest solar park: Big, Bigger, Bartow

Retrieved on: 
Mittwoch, März 13, 2024

Encavis Asset Management announces start of construction of Germany's second largest solar park: Big, Bigger, Bartow

Key Points: 
  • Encavis Asset Management announces start of construction of Germany's second largest solar park: Big, Bigger, Bartow
    The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
  • Big, Bigger, Bartow: Encavis Asset Management announces start of construction of Germany's second largest solar park.
  • Neubiberg/Munich, March 6, 2024 – Encavis Asset Management AG (Encavis AM), a leading provider of sustainable energy investments for institutional investors and a subsidiary of the MDAX-listed wind and solar park operator Encavis AG, starts the construction of a superlative solar park for the Encavis Infrastructure Fund IV (EIF IV).
  • Its location in the municipality of Bartow, approximately 150 kilometres north of Berlin, was meticulously selected to maximise solar radiation and efficiency.