Renewable Energy Defining Point Reached As Economies of Scale Kick In And Tesla’s Elon Musk Bets He Can Save South Australia from Power Shortages
Renewable Energy Defining Point Reached As Economies of Scale Kick In And Tesla’s Elon Musk Bets He Can Save South Australia from Power Shortages
Are Cobalt Shortages In The Future?
Image source: WIRED
Tesla billionaire Elon Musk says he can install battery farm within 100 days or it’s free.
There’s more than just a little irony in the air these days. Just as Donald Trump plans to reduce energy efficiency standards for cars in the United States, a defining point in the history of renewable energy has been made in the form of a bet between billionaire Elon Musk and the State of South Australia. It is the moment that economies of scale kick in driving down and making the cost of grid scale renewable energy rollout feasible.
An energy crisis has been brewing for some time in sunny South Australia leading to blackouts and price spikes. As the debate raged on about how to solve it Musk stepped in during early March and offered to solve the problem by installing 100-300 MW hours of renewable energy electric grid scale battery storage within 100 days of signing the contract.
When Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted to ask if Musk was serious Musk replied that if he couldn’t do it within 100 days of signing the agreement it would be free of charge. Cannon-Brookes was interested because he is Australian. He is also the co-founder of Silicon Valley start-up Atlassian which builds software development tools. Being Australian, Cannon-Brookes asked Tesla for a “mates rate.” Although contract figures have not been released Cannon-Brookes told the Australian media that Musk offered to almost halve the cost of the project.
Tesla has just finished building a battery farm in southern California that can provide 80 MW Hours of storage at a cost of $100 million in 90 days. Musk is a high-tech visionary who has made his visions pay. In February 2017 his net worth was calculated at $13.9 billion. He co-founded PayPal, Tesla Motors, Solar City and founded SpaceX, the commercial space transportation business.
Long a renewable energy advocate Tesla has built a second business in residential, commercial and electric grid storage batteries under the Tesla Powerwall banner and SolarCity, which he cofounded with a cousin to provide residential battery storage solutions. Musk has frequently noted that he is in the process of changing Tesla from a car company into a clean energy company. Tesla has also recently launched a roofing product designed to take the ugly out of solar panels by producing solar panel roofing shingles that look like slate, in a variety of attractive colours.
Musk’s ability to fulfill his promise to South Australia lies in the fact that on January 17th, 2017 Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory, located near Reno, started production.
The Gigafactory has already supplied the batteries for a battery farm in southern California. Tesla has grid scale battery farm projects on the go in the UK, Connecticut, North Carolina, Hawaii and New Zealand. Only a third of the 4.9 million square foot Gigafactory which will cost $5 billion and is part of a partnership with Panasonic is up and running but by 2018 it will have doubled global lithium-ion battery production. Two of the most commonly used lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, including Tesla’s, use cobalt as part of the mix.
Large scale rollouts of solar, wind and water energy have been held back by the high cost of storing the electricity generated. Tesla’s Gigafactory and his consequent offer to South Australia are a game changer indicating that although battery storage costs have been falling for years, now they are about to tumble, thanks to economies of scale. It is estimated that Tesla’s lithium-ion batteries which also use nickel and cobalt are about a third less expensive than other batteries. This also means that the cost of electric vehicles and hybrids will begin to drop.
Last year IHS predicted the electric grid scale utility storage battery market to hit US$19 Billion during 2017. Taiyou Research predicts a US$ 30 Billion market in rechargeable Li-ion batteries by 2020.
If you don’t believe that clean energy will become a very viable industry in the near future you should bear in mind that if this year’s game changer is Tesla’s Gigafactory and the economies of scale that will play in strengthening the renewable energy rollout then last year’s may very well have taken place when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, Linkedin founder Reid Hoffman, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Chairman of the Board of trustees, Alwaleweed Philanthropies, Saudi Arabia, among others announced the creation of a clean energy investment group, The Breakthrough Energy Coalition. The coalition is made up of 28 high net-worth entrepreneurs from ten different countries.
Entrepreneurs who have changed the fabric of modern life are already on board. Warren Buffet, through Berkshire Hathaway has invested US$1 Billion and Bill Gates is investing US$1 Billion of his personal money and US$2 Billion through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in renewable energy.
Battery and cobalt demand won’t just be driven by smartphones and Tesla. According to Rockstone Research the Germans are building a battery factory twice as large as Tesla’s, the Chinese are building four that are bigger than the Nevada Gigafactory, the Japanese are building two and the South Koreans are building one.
Savvy retail investors may be wondering how to take part in this emerging market and one perspective may be to look at it as a commodity market. Lithium stocks went through a gold rush period a few years ago propelled by the rechargeable battery market and now thanks to the amount of cobalt in a car battery and in laptops and smart phones it looks as if cobalt is set to takeoff. The battery pack for Tesla Model S, for instance, contains an estimated 22.5 Kg of cobalt.
Another factor that comes into play is secure supply and ethical sourcing. The refined product market is largely controlled by China, which has a history of trade embargoes and tariff walls when it comes to protecting resources and products for itself. The majority of raw cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo where much of the mining is done by child workers.
Nobody wants to drive a car or use a cell-phone powered by child labour and so the hunt is on for ethically sourced, securely supplied cobalt. Elon Musk has said that he is going to source the raw materials for his batteries from North America. At the moment there are no producing cobalt mines in North America. Exploration, however, is being fast tracked. Cruz Cobalt is one of the junior mining companies that may benefit. Commodity research house CRU has predicted cobalt demand to rise by 16{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} annually through 2022.
The LME has predicted that by 2020 the amount of cobalt used in rechargeable batteries could equal the total amount refined in 2015.
In a recent press release announcing the acquisition of the Chicken Hawk Cobalt Prospect in Montana, Cruz Cobalt, (CUZ—TSXV, BKTPF—OTCBB, A2AG5M–FSE), Cruz Cobalt President James Nelson stated:
“This new prospect now makes 9 cobalt prospects within North America that Cruz has secured. Cruz has also secured one of the largest land packages, consisting of 4 separate cobalt prospects, all located in the Cobalt/Silver district of Ontario surrounding the city of Cobalt. Cobalt prices continue to trade to new 5 year highs and have been on a significant uptrend over the past 12 months. Cruz is fully funded to commence operations on all of its 9 cobalt prospects and management expects to be on the ground very shortly.” If Cruz is successful then early investors will benefit accordingly. As of March 17, CUZ traded at $0.205 and has a total of 55,065,386 shares and a market cap of $11,288,404.
Another promising Canadian company exploring for cobalt is Kings Bay, (TSXV: KBG) which over the last year has acquired five prospective cobalt properties, two in Newfoundland Labrador and three in Northern Quebec. Kings Bay was recently reported on in the Financial Post where CEO Kevin Bottomley stated that the company’s Lynx Lake project near Happy Valley Goose Bay had shown initial results with very high cobalt numbers. The company has recently acquired a highly prospective cobalt property on Trump Island in NL. Their three properties in Quebec were worked on by Falconbridge around 2000 and Bottomley describes them as having initial positive results. Bottomley was previously associated with mining incubator Zimtu Resources and as a result has access to a network of European investors eager to invest in Canadian resource projects. Kings Bay traded at $0.18 on March 17, 2017 and has 41 million shares and a market cap of $7 million.
By Noel Meyer
- Published in Blog, Cruz Cobalt, Energy, Green Technology, King's Bay, Mining, Technology
Waste to Energy Market Will Climb Throughout the Year $36.0 Billion Value by 2020
Waste to Energy Market Will Climb Throughout the Year $36 Billion Value by 2020
Waste to Energy (Thermal and Biological Technology) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014 – 2020
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Deerfield Beach, FL — (SBWIRE) — 03/06/2017 — Zion Market Research has published a new report titled “Waste to Energy (Thermal and Biological Technology) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 – 2020” According to the report, the global waste to energy market was valued at approximately USD 24.0 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 36.0 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of around over 7.5{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} between 2015 and 2020.
Request Sample Report: bit.ly/2dXuNuR
Waste to energy (WtE) is a waste treatment process that generates energy in the form of electricity, heat or fuels from both organic and inorganic wastes. Advanced waste to energy technologies can be used to produce biogas, syngas, and liquid biofuels. These fuels can then be converted into electricity. Waste feedstock includes agricultural waste, municipal solid waste and industrial waste. Energy can be recovered from waste by various technologies such as biological and thermal technology. Biological and thermal technologies used to convert waste matter into different forms of fuel that can be used to supply energy.
Based on technology, the global waste to energy market has been segmented into thermal and biological. Thermal technology was the dominant segment in 2014 due to widely used form of energy generation through waste matters. Biological technologies are used for anaerobic digestion of solid waste to produce energy which is biodegradable content and hence are mostly preferred by farmers. This segment is anticipated to witness fastest growth over the forecast period in emerging economies such as Japan and China.
Browse the full “Waste to Energy (Thermal and Biological Technology) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014 – 2020” report at www.marketresearchstore.com/report/waste-to-energy-market…
Europe dominated the global waste to energy market with over 45.0{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} share in total revenue generated in 2014. Europe closely followed by Asia Pacific. However, with increased advance technology penetration in Japan and China, Asia Pacific is expected to witness robust growth during 2015 to 2020. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are also expected to experience significant growth of waste to energy market in the years to come.
Some of the key players in Waste to energy market Foster Wheeler A.G., C&G Environmental Protection Holdings Ltd., Veolia Environment, Suez Environment S.A., KEPPEL SEGHERS, Babcock & Wilcox Co., Xcel Energy, Covanta Energy Corporation, Constructions industrielles de la Mediterranee (CNIM), China Everbright, International Limited and Waste Management Inc.
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This report segments the global waste to energy market as follows:
Global Waste to Energy Market: Technology Segment Analysis
Thermal
Biological
Global Waste to Energy Market: Regional Segment Analysis
North America
U.S.
Europe
UK
France
Germany
Asia Pacific
China
Japan
India
Latin America
Brazil
Middle East and Africa
About Zion Research
Zion Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.
Each Zion Research syndicated research report covers a different sector — such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food and beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve the overall research requirement of clients.
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- Published in Blog, Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home, Technology
IWS Announces Partnership with Prospect Silicon Valley
IWS Announces Partnership with Prospect Silicon Valley
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Feb. 7, 2017) – International Wastewater Systems Inc. (the “Company”) (CSE:IWS)(CSE:IWS.CN)(FRANKFURT:IWI)(OTC PINK:INTWF) is pleased to announce a partnership with Prospect Silicon Valley, a California-based urban technology accelerator (“Prospect Silicon Valley”).
Prospect Silicon Valley focuses on the commercialization of urban technologies for sustainable, smart cities. They bring government, corporations and academia together with pioneering companies to accelerate innovations in transportation, energy and buildings.
Multi-partner projects are developed by Prospect Silicon Valley to bring next-generation approaches to the fore, and to assist early adopters in public sector applications. Prospect Silicon Valley has worked successfully with local governments in California to pilot advanced urban technologies, resulting in over 150 million lbs. of CO2 reductions committed over the next ten years.
Through this partnership, IWS will have access to Prospect Silicon Valley’s network of property owners, trade groups and strategic partners in the California buildings sector. IWS will work jointly with Prospect Silicon Valley in the planning and execution of the Company’s commercialization strategy, targeting early adopters of IWS’s wastewater heat exchange technology in the California market.
Director Resignation
The Company further announces that John Williams has resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors for personal reasons. Mr. Williams will remain an advisor to IWS.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Lynn Mueller, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
About International Wastewater Systems Inc.
International Wastewater Systems Inc. is a world leader in thermal heat recovery. IWS systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water for commercial, residential and industrial buildings. IWS is publicly traded in Canada (CSE:IWS), the United States (OTC PINK:INTWF) and Germany (FRANKFURT:IWI).
The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
CONTACT INFORMATION
-
Yaron Conforti
CFO and Director
(416) 716-8181
yaron.conforti@iws-sharc.com
- Published in Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home, Technology
Wastewater Heat Recovery On the Rise
Wastewater Heat Recovery On the Rise
WASTE-TO-ENERGY is an idea about to hit the big-time.
What used to be a suite of technologies mostly employed by the poor in developing countries is now being eagerly revamped for distribution across North America by waste-to-energy start-ups hoping to capitalize on the fantastic quantities of waste we produce.
We produce food waste that can be used to create compost for agriculture.
We produce solid waste that can be used to create biogas to meet our energy needs.
We even produce wastewater, with a heating potential that – until recently – no one had really contemplated harnessing.
There are two reasons why not:
- It’s hard to filter the raw sewage well enough that it won’t plug the heating pipes.
- Raw sewage is gross.
Lynn Mueller, President of Vancouver-based International Wastewater Systems, has found a solution to the first problem. As for the second, he thinks the return on investment is going to be enough to prevent clients from holding their nose.
With approximately 350 billion kilowatt-hours of heat energy flushed down drains in the United States alone each year, he’s probably right.
Wastewater heat recovery works just like a geothermal heat pump. The heat from water washed down sinks and toilets is captured by a heat pump, which applies the heat to the clean water entering the building.
Wastewater isn’t particularly warm – only about 15.6 degrees – but it’s still much warmer than the cold, clean water that must be heated somehow. The waste heat is able to do a bunch of the heavy lifting. And since there are basically endless quantities of it, serving no other purpose, very high heating efficiencies are possible.
It’s the efficiency that makes waste-to-energy such an appealing financial prospect. By definition, waste is just a burden on the system. So anything useful that comes out of it is a bonus. Mueller claims that his system operates “at 500 per cent efficiency,” which is quite good by any standard.
“Waste recovery seems like such a novel idea,” says Mueller, “but [the waste] is available everywhere.”
Solid waste energy recovery is also making waves across Canada and the USA. More than 80 municipal waste-to-energy facilities are in operation across North America, with more coming online all the time. A typical facility can power over 30,000 homes, which is an appealing economic benefit to go along with the ninety per cent reduction in waste processing. Edmonton’s plant is currently producing 38 million litres of methanol annually.
Like any idea on the rise, waste-to-energy is creating winners and losers. In danger of slipping into the latter category is Plasco Energy, who, at the time of this writing, were expected to miss the final deadline to secure financing for a full-scale waste-to-energy plant in Ottawa.
Although small-scale waste conversion systems do exist, most of our established technologies work best with economies of scale. Thus, municipalities have found themselves taking the lead on implementing waste-to-energy systems.
In Vancouver, Mueller has been working closely with the municipal government to install his wastewater heating systems in everything from apartment buildings to hospitals and prisons. Although cities are typically a little territorial about their infrastructure, the appeal of heat and energy from nothing may be softening that stance around the country: “Their motivation is to make a greener city. Vancouver is now at the forefront of recycled heat.”
With luck, others will soon follow suit.
- Published in Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home
Stakeholder Alignment – A Predictor of Success in Green Technologies
Stakeholder Alignment – A Predictor of Success in Green Technologies
Pundits and prognosticators should take notice. The evidence points to an emerging reality that is leading the so-called green technology revolution. Futurists and visionaries may be looking for some incredible and revolutionary breakthrough, but a variety of compelling new technologies are already being commercialized.
Green energy technologies are those that either harness power from renewable, sustainable sources or aim to reduce adverse human impact on the environment. For new sources of energy to be widely implemented, investors, technologists, and policymakers must understand their potential impact and the path to market that will ensure their commercial viability. Many new technologies can be successful if they are deployed according to sound business principles.
While some allegedly green technologies are struggling to gain traction with businesses and consumers, others are quietly changing the world and addressing the need for responsible and functional solutions to complex environmental challenges.
So, where are these technologies, who is behind them and why are they quietly seizing momentum in the marketplace? The answers are remarkably simple. Like most advances over the course of history, they are conceptually simple, relatively inexpensive and only modestly disruptive.
The automobile is an example of change that occurred at the onset of the 20th century. It harnessed an older technology of propulsion but applied it in a different format. With the advent of mass production, overall costs per unit were reduced and the technology became widely affordable. Additionally, it did not usher in an entirely new mode of transport. It only eliminated the need for an animal to provide propulsion and made travel a modest amount more rapid and marginally more reliable.
As we head towards the conclusion of the first 20 years of the 21st century, the keen observer will be able to identify technologies that have moved from ideas to commercial reality and are quickly going mainstream. Several may be below the radar at the moment, but they won’t stay there for long.
Green technologies are not immune from the ordinary laws that govern business success. The idea that some “better mouse trap” will sell itself is as false as it is comedic. The business success comes from being well capitalized, having a superior value proposition and ensuring that business leadership is equipped and motivated to execute against objectives in a disciplined and systematic manner. If the product or service is ground breaking, wonderful. Who doesn’t love something that is groundbreaking? But does it deliver what I want?
This raises the important principle of stakeholder alignment. If a new technology can align the interests of several disparate interested parties in an industry sector, it has a particularly good chance for success. Stakeholder alignment creates unstoppable momentum for green technologies. In most instances, being more eco-friendly, while desirable, isn’t the primary motivator of change. However, when a number of constituencies all experience a simultaneous benefit that is both measurable and meaningful, change proceeds and the adoption of the new technology is perceived as essential rather than optional.
An example of stakeholder alignment is a fast-growing Hawaiian enterprise called Elevate Structure. It was launched in 2012 by a team of residential engineers in with a dream to develop profitable spaces for living by building eco-friendly structures. The portable spaces are elevated above ground and, therefore, utilize 6-20 times more usable space while minimizing the overall footprint on the ground. This uses less than desirable land, gives consumers the flexibility to expand or relocate their green homes and provides municipalities with new incremental tax revenues without adding infrastructure.
Another good example of stakeholder alignment is International Wastewater Systems of Vancouver, Canada, http://www.sewageheatrecovery.com. Employing a simple idea and proprietary technology, IWS has pioneered the concept of turning the energy contained in warm waste water into heat that is processed, reclaimed and reused. With an ingenious idea and a scalable solution, the company is poised for success internationally as its solutions are increasingly in demand. The success of the endeavour isn’t exclusively due to the green technology. It is because the technology has been able to address diverse needs among a broad group that includes energy providers, builders and building owners. The company’s solutions, green technology and ease of implementation presents and unassailable value proposition to anyone who wants to reduce the heating and cooling costs of buildings. The eco-story is largely secondary. The “green argument” involves saving large amounts of money!
Investors that are considering taking a position in new green technologies are advised to look beyond the excitement of a product or process. A company’s financial state is always a consideration. What have they sold and what projects are well underway? As important as these fundamentals are, it is also critical to examine the “alignment factor” of the product or service to properly evaluate the scope of its potential.
- Published in Blog, Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems
From Grey Water to Green Energy
From Grey Water to Green Energy
On average, 10,000 people in the developed world will generate 1,000,000 gallons of warm waste water per day. That is a lot of warm water. It is typically sent to water treatment plants or discharged into lakes, rivers and oceans. Does this seem reasonable? Or does it sound like an opportunity for improvement?
International Wastewater Systems Ltd. (CNSX:IWS) CEO Lynn Mueller likes to suggest jokingly that people are hesitant to shake his hand when they learn that he is in the sewage business. Nonetheless, when they discover that he can help them save money by recovering energy from waste water that is headed down the drain and transform it into green energy they often change their minds and shake hands with enthusiasm.
The underlying principle is so simple that anyone can grasp it. It takes a lot less energy to heat warm water than it does to heat cold water. When waste water from sinks, showers, toilets or laundry leaves a building, it is usually slightly below the ambient room temperature. In a large production plant, the temperature of the water can be even higher. Ultimately, if the energy from effluent can be captured and reused, then the cost of supplying energy to homes, hospitals, sports complexes, university campuses or large scale plants can be significantly reduced.
A great deal of the green energy movement has focused on reducing consumption. This a noble endeavour that will likely continue. Reduced usage and more efficient usage of energy are always desirable, but conservation alone isn’t a complete answer because, as an economy grows, there will continue to be a need for additional quantities of energy.
That’s why most of the emphasis in the search for a different approach to energy has been directed towards finding clean, alternate sources of energy generation. Up to this point in time, the search for better and greener energy sources has been fraught with problems. Either the cost was prohibitive or the technology suboptimal. In some cases, alternative energy generation like windmills and solar power generation have encountered ancillary environmental issues. Sure, they may not pollute in the classic sense, but not many people want large wind-farms or thousands of solar panels in their backyards.
Mr. Mueller, the founder of IWS, took an entirely different approach to the problem. In essence, assessed the typical assumptions related to the costs and benefits of “greener” energy by framing the challenge in a different way and applying an atypical thought process. Rather than trying to find a unique solution at the input phase, why not consider how to make use of existing heat that might be available, but was being overlooked? An evaluation of the entire cycle of energy usage led directly to considering energy recapture alternatives for the warm water in most sewage discharge. Conventional wisdom was that it would be too costly and too messy to process effluent in an efficient way.
Lynn Mueller’s ingenious solution was to use existing technology, coupled with a proprietary filtration process, to separate waste from grey water and extract the heat from it so that the energy could be recycled. The company, International Wastewater Systems http://www.sewageheatrecovery.com, has successfully developed, commercialized and installed the technology. The products called “Sharc” and “Piranha” are being recognized all over the world.
The company has become a success rather rapidly. Mr. Mueller commented; “We quickly went from being a local, small company to a worldwide operation. We’ve seen markets around the world demanding the product”. Mueller has also disclosed that the firm has over $80 million worth of projects in the works.
Recently, the company was recognized with the AHR Expo 2016 award for innovation. Even CNN deemed the company newsworthy and published coverage of IWS on the network’s financial channel at CNNMoney.com on May 24.
The technology has been proven to be cost-effective and easy to install and maintain. The upfront investment varies depending on the size of the installation. Frequently, grants are available in local jurisdictions to cover capital costs. For example, the $1.1 million system installed at Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority in New Jersey benefited from a clean energy grant that covered more than 90{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} of the cost.
More importantly, the return on investment is easy to calculate. Andy Kricun, the executive director of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, said they’ll recoup their investment in two years. The IWS Sharc technology has a lifespan of approximately 40 years, which means the savings to this utility could ultimately be as much as $2 million.
- Published in Blog, Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems
US$60 Million Financing Commitment for 1,000 IWS Systems in California
US$60 Million Financing Commitment for 1,000 IWS Systems in California
– Momentum Public Relations –
Press Release: August 25, 2016
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (“IWS” or the “Company”) (CSE:IWS)(FRANKFURT:IWI)(OTC PINK:INTWF) is pleased to announce a joint venture (“Joint Venture”) with RENEW Energy Partners LLC (“RENEW“) for the financing and installation of IWS’s world-leading thermal heat recovery equipment in the United States. The Joint Venture will initially build projects in California for which RENEW is committing funding of US$60 million over five years, for the purpose of funding capital expenditures for one thousand (1,000) PIRANHA thermal heat recovery systems (“PIRANHA“) to be built, installed and operated exclusively by IWS.
Background
RENEW is engaged in developing and funding energy and water efficiency retrofits and on-site clean energy projects through the use of innovative structures such as an Energy Services Agreement (ESA) or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Combining RENEW’s project finance expertise with IWS’s capabilities in the manufacturing, installation and servicing of thermal heat recovery equipment, enables the Joint Venture to offer a full suite of services for energy and water conservation projects and on-site clean energy projects. The Joint Venture aims to expand the implementation of energy efficiency and on-site clean energy projects throughout the United States.
The Joint Venture will fund and deploy IWS’s PIRANHA system, a self-contained heat pump that extracts thermal energy from wastewater for hot water production. The PIRANHA has been optimized for residential buildings with 50-200 units as well as stand-alone commercial applications, and was the recipient of the 2016 AHR Expo® Innovation Award for Green Building Innovation. The AHR Expo® is the world’s largest HVACR (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) convention (see news release: http://goo.gl/ACsOZp).
Stephen Pritchard, principal and co-founder of RENEW said: “The combination of IWS’s expertise in the design, manufacture and operation of thermal heat recovery equipment, and RENEW’s project funding, deal structuring and project development expertise offers a new carbon reduction strategy for almost any building in the U.S. We view IWS as a world leader in the thermal energy recovery space, and are pleased to partner with them to accelerate the ‘turn-key’ deployment of their exciting PIRANHA technology in California – and the rest of the country. IWS and RENEW see exponential growth ahead with the commensurate benefit to the building owners and to the planet.”
Joint Venture – Scope and Schedule
The Joint Venture will finance, build, install and operate 1,000 PIRANHA systems, initially in the state of California and later extending to the rest of the U.S. RENEW will provide funding of US$60 million to fund the deployment of the PIRANHA systems over a period of five years (“US$60 MILLION PROGRAM“).
The purpose of the US$60 MILLION PROGRAM is to provide capital to fund turnkey installation and on-going operations and maintenance of PIRANHA systems for qualified residential and commercial buildings under a standardized Thermal Energy Purchase Agreement (“TEPA“) developed by RENEW. Under the terms of the TEPA, customers will enter into long-term supply agreements for low-cost, efficient energy, with no capital investment.
The proposed schedule for the deployment of 1,000 PIRANHA systems in California in the next 5 years is estimated as follows:
- Approx. 50 PIRANHA Systems in the first 12 months of the US$60 MILLION PROGRAM;
- Approx. 120 PIRANHA Systems in the second 12 months of the US$60 MILLION PROGRAM;
- Approx. 240 PIRANHA Systems in the third 12 months of the US$60 MILLION PROGRAM;
- Approx. 300 PIRANHA Systems per year thereafter.
IWS and RENEW will establish a special purpose vehicle (“SPV“) to own the individual PIRANHA projects financed by the US$60 MILLION PROGRAM. The SPV will sign a master agreement with IWS for the exclusive design, build and commissioning of PIRANHA systems and for the operation and maintenance services throughout the life of the systems.
The SPV will be the investing and operating entity for the Joint Venture. RENEW and IWS will jointly participate in the project returns from energy sales through cash flow distributions from the SPV, with the related terms of distribution to be included in a definitive agreement between IWS and RENEW.
Charles Lord, principal and co-founder of RENEW said: “Waiting to implement energy-efficiency projects costs building owners money and wastes precious time in the fight against climate change. So the pivotal question is – why delay? With the PIRANHA Thermal Energy Purchase Agreement, we will deliver building owners lower energy costs with no capital investment and immediate lasting carbon reductions.” “Energy efficiency is one of the great weapons at our disposal to slow global warming. It is imperative that we put it to use immediately, and at scale, to limit the most dramatic effects of global climate change. RENEW is thrilled to be partnering with IWS on a ‘RENEW It Now’ funding program to drive the rapid deployment of IWS’s thermal energy recovery systems throughout California – and ultimately the entire United States.”
Lynn Mueller, CEO of IWS commented: “IWS is privileged to work with RENEW and its Principals; their expertise in the financing of alternative energy projects, and their access to capital, provides IWS with a strong platform to roll out IWS systems in the U.S. market. IWS will earn revenue from the design, build and commissioning of PIRANHA systems as well as recurring revenues for the on-going operation and maintenance services throughout the life of the systems. In addition to these revenue streams, IWS will receive long-term income from its share of cash flow distributions from energy sales.”
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Lynn Mueller, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
About International Wastewater Systems Inc.
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (CSE:IWS)(FRANKFURT:IWI) is a world leader in wastewater heat recovery. IWS systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water for commercial, residential and industrial buildings.
About RENEW Energy Partners LLC
Renew Energy Partners’ management team offers deep expertise in deep energy retrofit analysis and optimization, energy efficiency programs, project management and implementation, and energy finance solutions. We combine our experience with the expertise of a network of best-in-class energy service partners to assess, design, install, and maintain energy efficient systems.
- Published in Business, Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home
IWS Featured on Cable Television
IWS Featured on Cable Television
– Momentum Public Relations – June 14th, 2016
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (“IWS” or the “Company”) (CSE:IWS)(FRANKFURT:IWI) is pleased to announce that the Company was selected to be featured in a television commercial that will air on Canadian cable television channels and online properties.
The commercial will be broadcast in Canada on the Business News Network (BNN) and on CBC’s Documentary Channel, as well as online via Thomson Reuters, Stockhouse and Business TV (B-TV).
The commercial includes a 90-second IWS feature with CEO Lynn Mueller, as well as a 15-second clip that will air on Business News Network starting today and through the end of this month. A link to the condensed clip can be viewed here: http://www.b-tv.com/intl-wastewater-commercial/
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Lynn Mueller, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
About International Wastewater Systems Inc.
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (CSE:IWS)(FRANKFURT:IWI) is a world leader in wastewater heat recovery. IWS systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water for commercial, residential and industrial buildings.
- Published in Blog, Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home, Technology
IWS Provides Update to Shareholders
International Wastewater Systems (IWS:CSE)(IWI:FSE) Provides Update to Shareholders
– Momentum Public Relations – April 19th, 2016
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (“IWS” or the “Company”) (CSE: IWS) (FRANKFURT: IWI) is pleased to provide shareholders with an update on the Company’s business development activity and the expanding pipeline of international opportunities.
The pipeline of projects continues to grow in the UK, Canada and the USA, and with the recent announcement that a SHARC wastewater heat recovery system (“SHARC”) is to be installed at a facility operated by the Australian Wool Testing Authority (“AWTA”) in Melbourne, IWS now has a strategic presence on three continents.
IWS has been working closely with some of the world’s major water utility companies in North America & Europe, many of whom have expressed interest in supporting the deployment of IWS technology across their waste water infrastructure and to contribute to the international carbon reduction programme enshrined at the 2015 United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Paris (COP21).
Commenting on the technology, Alex Mortlock, Strategic Planning Manager-Wastewater Infrastructure for Severn Trent (LON: SVT) (a FTSE 100 Company with wastewater operations in the UK and internationally) said: “having been introduced to SHARC technology during the second half of 2015, we are keen to explore the opportunity that IWS could create for us through their SHARC and PIRANHA technologies. We are currently reviewing the suitability of SHARC for use on one of our own buildings and will be investigating further opportunities to utilise the sewage flow contained in our 91,000km of sewers. We look forward to further developing our working relationship with IWS over the next 6 months.”
Commenting on the business development program Russ Burton, COO of IWS said: “the interest we are developing is significant and tangible, however we can’t underestimate the scale of the challenge that exists to convert the established thinking of combustion based heating engineers. But with the support of a number of UK and EU water companies, we are stimulating significant enquiries from single building adopters as well as developers looking to include low carbon district heating solutions into their project plans.”
The first UK installation for IWS at Borders college in Galashiels, Scotland was launched in December 2015 and has enabled IWS to showcase the credentials of the SHARC technology as a solution for District Heating, by connecting 5 plantrooms via a 1 km underground heat distribution network – a retrofit to older building stock, as well as demonstrating how the system can link into town sewer facilities, significantly increasing the market opportunity to heat buildings with limited water consumption.
At the Borders launch event Alan Scott, Finance Director of Scottish Water (a national water utility providing water and sewerage service across Scotland), said:
“Every day, Scottish Water provides customers with a massive 1.34 billion litres of drinking water, before collecting and treating 847 million litres of waste water. From industrial use to tourism, renewable energy and heating systems, Scotland’s vast water resources offer tremendous opportunities for added economic benefit.
The UK’s first sewage to heat scheme in Galashiels is an excellent example of how water resources can be harnessed and maximised, furthering the development of Scotland’s low carbon economy.
Scottish Water Horizons is delighted to have played a leading role in turning this initiative into reality. With 32,000 miles of sewer pipes throughout Scotland, we’re exploring the potential for this approach to be replicated at other locations, offering further environmental and heating cost benefits.
This initiative builds on our work to use Scotland’s water resources to help generate renewable energy, through the likes of hydro power schemes, helping to reduce costs and build an increasingly sustainable Scotland.”
Lynn Mueller, CEO of IWS commented: “The Carbon Crunch remains the most pressing global challenge of our generation and our ability to form alliances with some of the world’s leading water companies is a testament to the quality of the technology we have developed. We see this as only the beginning of the implementation and growth phase for the world-leading heat recovery technology developed by IWS.”
The Company is working to capitalize on the global opportunities that are available and expand IWS branded technology by creating the strategic relationships necessary for the future success of SHARC, PIRANHA and other products currently under development. The relationships being developed require significant strategic planning and the Company will make further announcements as it progresses.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Lynn Mueller, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
About International Wastewater Systems Inc.
International Wastewater Systems Inc. (CSE: IWS) (FRANKFURT: IWI) is a world leader in wastewater heat recovery. IWS systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water for commercial, residential and industrial buildings.
- Published in Energy, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home, Technology
Update on the Oil Crisis in Canada and Abroad
Update on the Oil Crisis in Canada and Abroad
– Momentum Public Relations –
According to financial prognosticators the recession that recently hit Canada will continue to affect Canadians; particularly those who live in Calgary and Edmonton. For instance, according to the Conference Board of Canada, Edmonton’s economy will contract by an additional 1.3{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} in 2016, while Calgary’s economy is expected to shrink by an additional 1.2{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} this year. The continual decline in the two cities economies can be attributed to the decline in the price of oil, and the impact of the steep drop has trickled into other sectors of the economy as well.
Furthermore, job loss numbers are also expected to increase in 2016, as Calgary will suffer from an additional 2.1{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} loss in employment growth, bringing the overall unemployment rate to 7.5{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} this year. Alarmingly, the 7.5{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} unemployment rate is actually higher than the national average, a figure that Calgary has not hit since 1987. Moreover, the sectors that are expected to get hit the hardest by the steep decline in oil prices are the trade and construction industries respectively.
Residents of Edmonton will also not fare that much better, as unemployment rates are expected to hit 7{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} this year; an almost 2 decade high. It should also be noted that the real estate market will also take a subsequent hit from the massive layoffs, as the excess of office space created by all the layoffs will discourage investments in non-residential construction as well as office buildings. De facto, pundits expect a 33{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} drop in housing starts in Edmonton in 2016, while Calgary can expect a housing start drop of 18{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} this year.
What’s more, on March 3rd, 2016, Canadian National Resources Ltd reported an 89{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} drop in quarterly profit ($131 million), due mainly to the steep decline in oil prices. Canadian National Resource Ltd is Canada’s second largest gas and oil producer, and the enterprise is currently projecting capital expenditures ranging from 3.5 to 3.9 billion dollars, in stark comparison to the 4.5 to 5 billion dollar range that they projected in 2015. Annual production values of oil are also expected to drop by 2{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} this year in comparison to last year, and the Calgary/Alberta based entity’s share prices dropped to 12 cents per share in Q4 2015, compared to $1.09 per share during the same period in 2014. In sum, Canadian National Resources Ltd reported that revenues fell by 36{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} to 2.79 billion dollars.
Moving beyond the dire economic situation currently facing Edmonton and Calgary, airplane manufacturing is also expected to take a severe hit from declining oil prices. For instance, airplane retirements for Boeing and Airbus fell to only 28 in Q1 of 2016, compared to 104 in Q1 of 2015. In other words, the decline in oil prices has led to a reduction in demand for more energy efficient aircrafts, because they are currently not seen as a priority from a cost perspective.
Globally, the latest numbers indicate that over one million barrels are being oversupplied every day. That is, the oversupply is being caused by the fact that there are insufficient storage areas to store oil. In fact, the situation has become so dire that some experts are suggesting that pumped oil be stored in swimming pools due to insufficient storage spaces. In addition, oil tankers are also being sent on longer voyages to help reduce tanker pile up debacles at junction ports, as 50 oil tankers are currently remaining stationary in the port of Rotterdam, which is the highest figure being reported since 2009. A similar situation is currently taking place in the United States’ largest oil hub, which is based in Cushing, Oklahoma.
The marked drop in crude oil prices has also forced ExxonMobil to cut its capital spending to only 23 billion this year; a 25{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} drop from the previous year. Russia has also been hit hard by the oil crisis, as the country is currently trying to recover from its own recession. In fact, automotive sales dropped by 36{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} last year, and massive layoffs in plants like the Avtovaz plant in Tolyatti have forced many workers to leave their homes and move in with their parents to make ends meet.
Unfortunately, the global oil crisis is expected to get worse in the future, as many experts believe that the increase in the adoption rates of electric cars will further reduce the demand for gas guzzling vehicles. To learn more about how electric cars can exacerbate the oil crisis please visit here.
- Published in Blog, Business, Energy, Oil and Gas