EBI News for December 11, 2024 – Jacobs to support renewable energy project in the Philippines
EBI News for December 11, 2024 – The following news section contains the latest stories for the environmental industry. Including, Jacobs to support renewable energy project in the Philippines, acquisitions, and more!
Jacobs to support renewable energy project in the Philippines
Jacobs (Dallas) has been selected by Terra Solar Philippines Inc. (Mendez, Philippines), a wholly owned subsidiary of SP New Energy Corporation, to deliver engineering services, technical advice and construction phase services for a 3,500-megawatt solar panel and 4,500-megawatt battery energy storage system. The estimated $3.3-billion Terra Solar project is expected to supply around 12% of the Philippines’ total energy demand. Jacobs will use advanced digital construction management tools and drone technology to manage field tasks, streamline site inspections and track progress across the 11.5-square-mile site located 93 miles north of Manila. Additionally, Jacobs will oversee supply chain and equipment delivery logistics, expediting the manufacture, inspection, shipping and installation of millions of solar panels.
SLB Capturi completes carbon capture plant at cement facility
SLB Capturi (Oslo, Norway) announced mechanical completion of the carbon capture plant at Heidelberg Materials’ cement facility in Brevik, Norway, with the plant now ready for testing and commissioning. Described by SLB Capturi as a world-first, the commercial-scale carbon-capture plant will enable production of net zero cement without compromising strength or quality. “The mechanical completion of the Brevik CCS project is a landmark achievement in the decarbonization journey of the cement industry,” said Giv Brantenberg, general manager Northern Europe, Heidelberg Materials. The Brevik CCS plant is part of The Longship CCS project, Europe’s first complete value chain for the capture, transport, and storage of industrial CO2 emissions.
DOE announces $36M to unlock critical resources from wastewater
The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced $36 million to develop technologies to recover critical metals and high-energy-value materials from wastewater. The agency’s RECOVER program aims to enable the United States to replace imports of valuable materials with domestic sources by tapping into resources commonly found in municipal, agricultural, and industrial waste streams. Program goals include facilitating the replacement of half of conventional ammonia supplies and offsetting some or all critical-metals imports.
SLR acquires mining consultancy
SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. has acquired Robertson GeoConsultants Inc. (RGC, Vancouver, B.C.), a global consulting firm that specializes in mine water characterization, geochemistry and acid rock drainage/metal leaching, hydrology, hydrogeology and groundwater modeling for the mining industry. According to an SLR announcement, “Robertson GeoConsultants has completed over 150 projects in 16 countries at some of the largest and most remote mines in the world,” and the transaction “represents another step forward for SLR in the building of our capability and industry profile, significantly strengthening our integrated mine water services capabilities in Canada and globally.” SLR Consulting is a global environmental and sustainability firm headquartered in the UK.
Hybrid catalyst turns methane into useful polymers
Chemical engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a catalyst that converts methane into useful polymers without the need for high temperature and high pressures. The MIT team designed a hybrid catalyst: a zeolite (iron-modified aluminum silicate) paired with a naturally occurring enzyme (alcohol oxidase). In a two-step reaction, zeolite converts methane to methanol, and the enzyme converts methanol to formaldehyde. The reaction also generates hydrogen peroxide, which is fed back into the zeolite to provide a source of oxygen for the conversion of methane to methanol. This series of reactions can occur at room temperature and doesn’t require high pressure. Once formaldehyde is produced, the researchers showed they could use that molecule to generate polymers by adding urea: Urea-formaldehyde is used in particleboard, textiles and other products.
Surf to Snow acquires Planned Environments
Environmental and construction firm Surf to Snow Environmental Resource Management Inc. (S2S, San Ramon, Calif.) has acquired a majority stake in the construction and landscape design firm Planned Environments Inc. (Concord, Calif.). Planned Environments brings additional contractor and skilled labor to S2S and strengthens S2S’ construction support throughout the West. Founded in 1999, Planned Environments has been involved in erosion and sediment control, landscape construction, and site restoration for both community and commercial clients. According to S2S, Planned Environments has a track record of support for several California utilities, particularly in relation to emergency response requests.
Researchers highlight critical role of mangroves in coastal resilience
Mangroves have been shown to provide $855 billion in flood protection services worldwide, according to a new study from the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz and featured in World Bank’s 2024 edition of The Changing Wealth of Nations. From 1996 to 2010, the value of mangroves for flood-risk reduction increased by $130 billion, and from 2010 to 2020 mangrove long-term benefits rose by an additional $502 billion. The new research underscores the economic value of mangroves as natural capital assets: The $855 billion figure represents the present value of mangroves’ flood protection services, i.e., the benefits of this natural infrastructure over the next 100 years. Countries benefiting most include China, Vietnam, Australia, the United States, and India.
Design-build team completes $271M Piscataway Bioenergy Facility
The design-build team of PC Construction, Stantec, and Hazen and Sawyer announced the completion of construction for WSSC Water’s $271 million Piscataway Bioenergy Facility in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The facility is projected to generate approximately $4 million per year in revenue and save WSSC Water customers approximately $3.4 million per year in operating costs. The facility converts wastewater biosolids into biogas, which is then used by combined heat and power engines to help power the facility, with a portion of the bioenergy generated being sold to Montgomery County to help run a bus fleet. In addition, the facility will produce fewer, cleaner Class A biosolids that can be marketed as a soil amendment. According to Stantec, this is one of only seven facilities in the country to incorporate an advanced thermal hydrolysis process.
U.S. Compliance acquires Hellman & Associates
U.S. Compliance (USC, Excelsior, Minn.), a national provider of environmental, health and safety (EHS) services, announced the acquisition of Hellman & Associates Inc. (Denver, Colo.), a regional EHS consulting firm. The acquisition provides a launchpad for USC’s growth throughout the Rocky Mountain region. U.S. Compliance employs a Compliance-as-a-Service (CaaS) model that combines consulting, cloud-based software, and on-demand support to help clients achieve EHS compliance, reduce risk, and improve overall company performance. USC is a platform company backed by Susquehanna Growth Equity.
Industrial water spend in U.S. and Canada to climb 28% by 2030
New investments in emerging technology sectors and demand in the water-intensive energy industry will drive industrial water management expenditures to $388.5 billion from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report from Bluefield Research. “U.S. & Canada Industrial Water & Wastewater Market: Key Trends and Forecasts, 2024–2030,” predicts that industrial water spend, including capital and operating expenditures, will grow at a 4.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Annual expenditures are projected to increase from $48.4 billion in 2024 to $62 billion in 2030. Data centers and semiconductor manufacturing are forecast to see the fastest growth with CAGRs of 9.3% and 8.8%, respectively. By 2030, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to account for 23% of data center power demand in the United States—a rapid increase from 3% in 2023—and be a key driver of water demand. Providers are leveraging M&A to expand their industrial water portfolios and capitalize on growing demand, with notable recent acquisitions reshaping the competitive landscape, Bluefield reported.
Apex expands engineering capabilities and Florida presence
Apex Companies LLC (Rockville, Md.) announced the acquisition of Weiler Engineering Corporation (Punta Gorda, Fla.), a turnkey engineering firm that operates in municipal and private markets. Founded over 30 years ago, Weiler Engineering employs more than 45 professionals in civil, structural, utilities, engineering design, construction, operations, management, regulatory compliance, planning, and floodplain management services. Apex works nationally in water, environmental, compliance and assurance (including ESG verification and assurance), health and safety, and transportation and civil engineering. Weiler Engineering is the latest to join Apex following Johnson Engineering in September 2024 and Water Science Associates in 2023.
Joint venture to upgrade wastewater treatment plant
AECOM (Dallas) announced that its joint venture with Jacobs Consultancy Canada has been selected by Metro Vancouver to provide preliminary engineering services for the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. Built in 1963, the plant serves approximately 750,000 residents and processes about 200 billion liters of wastewater annually. The joint venture will provide preliminary engineering services, including design and project planning oversight. The project intends to provide significant and sustainable improvements to the treatment facilities whilst minimizing environmental impact and enhancing operational efficiency.
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