Copper

• UCL Swift, a global leader in high-precision fiber optic termination products and connectivity solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Accurate Connections, Inc. (ACI).
• ACI is a leading manufacturer of custom fiber optic and copper cable assemblies for the datacom and telecom industries.
• ACI will now be known as UCL Connections, a subsidiary of UCL Swift, Carrollton, TX.
• “We are excited to welcome Accurate Connections to the UCL Swift family,” said Brad Everette, General Manager for UCL Swift North America.

• US Strategic Metals has entered into a strategic partnership with Glencore AG and Chilean Cobalt Corp.
  On July 8, 2024, C3 announced an LOI with Glencore regarding an offtake agreement for cobalt and copper intermediate products, as well as a strategic partnership, for C3's La Cobaltera project in northern Chile.
• This is expected to strengthen US critical minerals supply chains while providing a sustainable and traceable source of raw materials for the growing domestic lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity and high-performance metal alloy markets.
• This Agreement works to satisfy USSM and C3's own conditions precedent regarding both parties' potential strategic project financing from US EXIM Bank.
• This Agreement will be subject to conditions precedent and contain standard termination rights, which are typical for an agreement and project of this nature.

• But yes, there are times when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.
• We need energy storage to get us through those still nights and dreary days.
• The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) reports investment in storage capacity continues to increase, filling gaps left by retiring coal-fired power stations.

Storage on the grid

• Old-fashioned power stations burning coal tend to run continuously, which helps make the electricity grid stable and reliable.
• In contrast, renewables need to be backed with storage such as batteries to provide a continuous supply of electricity.
• That’s why many renewable generation projects include storage on site or nearby, and why it also makes sense to have batteries in our homes or communities.

Australia has some of the world’s biggest batteries

• The 300 megawatt Victorian Big Battery, near Geelong, is the biggest in Australia and one of the biggest in the world.
• But the title of the nation’s biggest battery will soon be handed to the 850MW Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales.

What’s next?

• For example, new lithium-sulphur batteries deliver more energy per gram and last longer than existing lithium-ion batteries.
• The 2024 National Battery Strategy vision is for Australia is a globally competitive producer of batteries and battery materials by 2035.

Battery booster scheme needed

• But almost half the effort in getting to 82% renewables by 2030 will come from consumers – mainly rooftop solar systems, backed by home and business battery storage.
• We have just passed the point at which the payback period for small-scale batteries falls within the product’s lifetime, making the upfront cost worthwhile.
• But government incentives are still needed to make it more affordable to install small-scale solar batteries.
• Government incentives are also needed here to drive the further uptake of electric vehicles in the domestic, commercial and industry sector.

The energy storage toolkit

• As the penetration of renewables increases, the importance of long duration energy storage technologies will increase.
• In general, these technologies provide more than eight hours of energy storage using various electrochemical, mechanical, thermal and mechanical means.

Get smart about storage

• Infinitum , creator of the sustainable air-core motor, today announced its Aircore EC motor system has won a 2024 Excellence in Product Engineering Award from Engineered Systems in the motors and drives category.
• A panel of independent engineers selected winners based on criteria including energy savings, ease of installation and value.
• Infinitum’s winning product, the Aircore EC motor system, is used in a variety of fans, pumps, and compressors to sustainably cool some of the largest buildings and data center facilities in the world.
• When compared to conventional motors driving these applications, it is more than 20% more efficient, half the weight and uses 66% less copper while being significantly quieter.