EBI News for July 27, 2022 – Dow and Mura Commit to Large-scale Advanced Recycling of Plastics
EBI News for July 27, 2022 – The following news section contains the latest stories for the environmental industry. Including, Dow and Mura commit to large-scale advanced recycling of plastics, acquisitions, and more!
TRC acquires Blue Oak Energy
TRC Companies (Windsor, Conn.) has expanded its renewable energy capabilities with the acquisition of Blue Oak Energy (Sacramento, Calif.), a firm that specializes in engineering for commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic projects. Over the past 17 years, Blue Oak has delivered over 6 gigawatts (GW) of solar projects through permit and construction and supported over 12 GW of solar projects through development. “By acquiring Blue Oak Energy, TRC expands its value to renewable energy developers as a full-service delivery team supporting projects from concept to operation,” said Christopher Vincze, chairman and CEO of TRC. On average, TRC supports more than 1,000 renewable energy projects annually for hundreds of solar, wind, hydro and storage clients.
WSP USA to manage green hydrogen underground storage project
WSP USA (New York, N.Y.) will manage engineering, procurement and construction of an advanced clean energy storage project in Utah for the Magnum Development and Mitsubishi Power Joint Venture. WSP was selected to lead all EPCM phases of the ACES Delta underground storage facility in Utah beginning with Phase I, which consists of developing two large salt caverns capable of holding 11,000 metric tons of hydrogen. “Using salt caverns for seasonal energy storage is a significant opportunity to empower hydrogen as an energy carrier and significantly expand energy storage resources throughout the U.S.,” said Andres Fernandez, national hydrogen market lead for WSP. The ACES Delta project involves converting renewable power into green hydrogen that can be stored in commercial-scale solution mined caverns.
Dow and Mura commit to large-scale advanced recycling of plastics
Dow (Horgen, Switzerland) and Mura Technology (London, UK) plan to construct several 120-kiloton (KT) advanced plastics recycling facilities in the United States and Europe, adding as much as 600 KT of annual capacity. Dow will be a key off-taker of the circular feed produced by Mura from plastic waste currently destined for landfill or incineration. This will enable Dow to produce a recycled plastic feedstock for the development of new, virgin-grade plastics which are in high demand from global brands. The world’s first plant using Mura’s HydroPRS process, located in Teesside, U.K., is expected to be operational in 2023. The hydrothermal recycling process breaks down plastics using supercritical steam, which acts like “molecular scissors” cutting longer-chain hydrocarbon bonds in plastics to produce the chemicals and oils from which the plastic was originally made.
Ecofish joins Trinity Consultants
Trinity Consultants Inc. (Dallas), an international EHS, engineering, and science consulting firm, recently acquired Ecofish Research Ltd. (Vancouver, B.C.), an aquatic environmental consulting firm. Founded in 2001, Ecofish has grown to approximately 160 employees, bringing Trinity’s water ecology and aquatic sciences consulting service teams to approximately 250 professionals, with the ability to deliver a wide range of water ecology related services in Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the United States. The Ecofish team is located in 10 offices across Canada, and the leadership team will remain in place.
Seawalls contract awarded to HDR and Moffatt & Nichol
The National Park Service has selected the joint venture team of HDR (Omaha, Neb.) and Moffatt & Nichol (Long Beach, Calif.) to rehabilitate several failing seawalls in the National Capital Region. The multi-year program will address waterfront improvements in National Parks throughout the Washington, D.C. area. The team will start work under an initial task order of $5.7 million to begin the planning and compliance process. The walls protect many of the nation’s iconic sites, including the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Japanese Pagoda, and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. The rehab is also intended to keep common tidal water levels from inundating the public parks, such as East and West Potomac Parks.
BMO brings in carbon offsets firm
BMO Financial Group is acquiring Radicle Group Inc. (Calgary, Alberta), a company offering sustainability advisory services and emissions measurement and management. Founded in 2008, Radicle develops carbon offsets and has 130 employees and over 4,000 clients globally. The acquisition makes “BMO a leader in carbon credit development capabilities and the environmental commodity market,” said Dan Barclay, CEO of BMO Capital Markets. “These capabilities enhance our commitment to help our clients understand and manage the risks and opportunities of energy transition.”
Perma-Fix picked for nuclear waste contract worth up to £41M
Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc. (Atlanta, Ga.) is one of three suppliers awarded a framework contract by Nuclear Waste Services, part of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Perma-Fix has been selected to compete for firm, fixed-price and cost-reimbursement task orders for the treatment and conditioning of radioactive waste in the UK, with a maximum ceiling of £41 million over four years. “This award underscores our view of the market potential for our services in Europe, as well as the importance of our current technology offering, which has proven valuable in the U.S. for over 30 years,” said Mark Duff, president and CEO.
SNC-Lavalin wins $64M contract for nuclear works in Romania
Candu Energy Inc. (Mississauga, Ontario), a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group (Montreal), has been selected by Nuclearelectrica S.A., operator of the Cernavoda Nuclear Generating Station in Romania, to conduct design and engineering services for the Unit 1 Candu reactor to extend the life of the unit. Works would see the reactor’s operating life extended to 2060. The reactor supplies 10% of Romania’s electricity. “Romania needs renewed nuclear power capacities for producing clean, stable and affordable energy, as a solution for achieving energy security and the protection of consumers,” said Cosmin Ghi??, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.
Jacobs awarded $310M Sellafield asset care framework
Jacobs (Dallas) has been selected to deliver Sellafield Ltd.’s (Risley, UK) new integrated asset care (IAC) framework as a 50-50 partner in the OneAIM joint venture with Mitie (London, UK). The IAC covers core construction and asset care services at Sellafield, the U.K.’s most complex nuclear site, replacing the existing operation site works (OSW) framework that has reached its maximum term. Sellafield has estimated the value of the IAC framework at $310 million over a maximum five-year term, describing it as a key delivery vehicle. “This important win provides continuity for our skilled and dedicated OneAIM team, whose great work on OSW has been recognized by our successful bid for the replacement framework,” said Jacobs Energy, Security and Technology Senior Vice President Karen Wiemelt.
Enercon acquires Ardent Environmental
Enercon Services Inc. (Kennesaw, Ga.), a multidisciplinary engineering and environmental services firm, has acquired Ardent Environmental Group Inc. (Corona, Calif.), an environmental consulting firm serving real estate clients. The company will join Enercon’s Environmental Services Group, which serves customers in the power and energy markets. Enercon is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners. Ardent represents Enercon’s first add-on acquisition since being acquired by AEI in 2021.
Bernhard Capital establishes environmental services platform
Bernhard Capital Partners Management LP has launched a dedicated environmental services platform through the acquisition of KC Harvey Environmental LLC (Bozeman, Mont.), an environmental and natural resources consulting firm. Bernhard Capital says it will leverage its proprietary Blueprint investment approach to build on its thesis around the emerging ESG market and the need for technical, on-site environmental and natural resource restoration services. The KC Harvey team comprises approximately 75 professional and field services personnel. The company will retain its headquarters and existing management team, led by CEO and Chief Scientist Kevin Harvey. Environmental industry veteran Dirk Applegate, who recently joined Bernhard Capital as a senior advisor, will oversee the platform.
Ardurra acquires 300 Engineering
Ardurra Group Inc. (Tampa, Fla.) has acquired and merged with 300 Engineering Group P.A. (Miami, Fla.), a 50-person water/wastewater and public works firm. Ardurra is an ENR Top 500 firm providing consulting and engineering services to public and private entities throughout the United States. With the addition of 300 Engineering, Ardurra further expands its services and presence in the Southeast. Ardurra is a portfolio company of RTC Partners.
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