June 2025 – Page 46

Duke Energy Foundation Prepares Florida Residents, Agencies for Storm Season With $163,000 in Emergency Preparedness and Resiliency Grants

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Funding will help equip Floridians and first responders with valuable information and supplies ahead of storms and emergency events

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 17, 2025 /3BL/ – As storm season approaches, Duke Energy has activated efforts to help Florida customers and communities prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies.

Duke Energy Foundation, funded by Duke Energy shareholders, recently awarded $163,000 in emergency preparedness and resiliency grants to 12 organizations and agencies in Florida. The grants will help place AEDs in high-traffic areas, provide CPR training to residents, fund community education and outreach materials, fund storm kits for seniors, upgrade weather monitoring technology, procure additional materials for emergency sheltering, among other initiatives led by local emergency management organizations.

“Although we are now entering the official start of storm season, community resilience and preparedness is a year-round effort,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We are grateful for the ongoing collaboration and commitment of our first responders, emergency management officials and community agencies to prepare, plan and engage our communities. Being prepared is our best defense.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

American Heart Association – $50,000
Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office – $5,000
Franklin County Board of County Commissioners – $8,000
Lake County Board of County Commissioners – $5,000
City of Davenport, FL – $5,000
Orange County Office of Emergency Management – $20,000
Seminole County Board of County Commissioners – $10,000
Town of Inglis – $10,000
Hernando County Emergency Management – $10,000
Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Family Services Inc. – $12,500
Suncoast Young People Theatre Inc. – $17,500
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation – $10,000

Community resilience and preparedness are long-standing priorities of Duke Energy Foundation, which has awarded more than $1.8 million to support Florida’s disaster preparedness since 2019.

Duke Energy reminds customers that personal preparedness is key to a more resilient home or business. For more tips on how to prepare for storm season, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips and download the Red Cross Emergency app. Duke Energy Foundation will donate $1 to the Red Cross for every app download through June 30, up to $20,000.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Media contact: Laitin Sterling
Media line: 800.559.3853

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PSE&G Proactively Implements Summer Relief Initiative To Protect Residential Electric Customers From Higher Costs

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published on PSEG NewsRoom

NEWARK, N.J., June 10, 2025 /3BL/ – PSE&G has announced that it is proactively implementing a Summer Relief Initiative to protect qualified residential electric customers from disconnection, while seeking approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to provide New Jerseyans relief on their summer electric bills. To combat the significant electric supply price increase on June 1 that is the result of PJM’s capacity price auction, PSE&G is proactively implementing a Summer Relief Initiative including:

A Summer Moratorium – an expansion of the Winter Termination Program, beginning July 1, 2025, ahead of additional residential customer relief efforts. The program provides utility shut-off protection to low-income and qualified individuals and will continue through the summer months until September 30, 2025.
A suspension of reconnection fees.

The implementation of the Summer Moratorium and reconnection fee suspension comes on the heels of the company’s filing with the BPU where we propose to defer the effects of the June 1 supply increase for residential electric customers over the summer months.

PSE&G first filed for approval of this action on May 7 and added additional support for residential customers on May 15, which is pending BPU review and approval.

“There is now widespread recognition that New Jersey needs more power generation to address the forecasted energy supply-demand imbalance,” said Kim Hanemann, president and COO, PSE&G. “PSE&G is not the cause of the 17% rise in electric rates, but we can support our customers by advancing critical solutions. These actions should help relieve a burden to families and communities just as the weather is getting warmer and electricity usage hits its peak. We encourage our customers to reach out to us if they are struggling to pay their bill so we can help them access the solutions available.”

New Jerseyans’ energy usage is already at its highest during the summer months and the required electric rate increase would only exacerbate the situation. During this summer deferral period, PSE&G will still continue to pay the electricity suppliers, who benefit from the supply increase, the full cost of the generation in the new electric supply rate.

PSE&G is proud of its track record of high customer satisfaction while maintaining customer affordability and award-winning reliable service. PSE&G combined electric and gas bills are nearly equivalent to their 2008 levels when adjusted for inflation.

Understanding the Impact of Summer Heat on Bills

It is important not to confuse increased electric rates with increased electric usage: summer months often coincide with high heat, frequently leading to increased electric usage as customers run their air conditioners more often. The amount of electricity needed to cool your house to 75 degrees when it’s 90 degrees outside is 125% higher than when it’s 85 degrees outside.

Regardless of electric rates, customers can take steps now to understand and manage their energy usage. Customers can find valuable energy efficiency information at pseg.com/energyefficiency and bizsave.pseg.com.

Long-term Solutions Needed

For several years, PSE&G has been warning about the supply and demand imbalance in the region.

We remain committed to working with policymakers regarding long-term solutions to these significant rate increases, including advancing policies that encourage the development of new power generation in New Jersey.

PSE&G Customer Assistance

PSE&G works directly with its customers, and with nonprofits and community organizations who work with utility customers, to inform them about energy assistance options.

PSE&G provides information regarding affordability options that customers may qualify for based on certain criteria like income eligibility (i.e. the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP], or SHARES for customers who may be experiencing a temporary financial crisis).

There are also additional bill payment tools to help customers manage costs, including PSE&G’s Equal Payment Plan and Deferred Payment Arrangements. PSE&G’s Equal Payment Plan estimates annual energy costs, and divides bills into 12 equal monthly payments, which allows customers to levelize their monthly spend expectations. Deferred Payment Arrangements allow customers to pay a portion of past-due balances over an agreed-upon period.

Customers can find valuable energy assistance information at pseg.com/saveenergy.

###

PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation’s largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne® Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 23 consecutive years. For the third consecutive year, PSE&G is the recipient of the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category. In addition, in 2024 J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction with residential electric service and gas service in the east among large utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 17 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).

Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding anticipated or expected energy savings, cost saving and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance. There can be no assurance that such energy and costs savings and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance will be realized in the amounts described and / or in the timeframes anticipated. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management but are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include, without limitation: the ability to implement our energy efficiency business strategy, and customer adoption of our energy efficiency offerings. All forward-looking statements made in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

CONTACT:

Media Relations
Marijke Shugrue
862-465-1445

Swimming Legend Gary Hall Jr Receives 10 Replacement Olympic Medals After Losing Originals in LA Wildfires

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

International Olympic Committee news

His 10 medals from across three Olympic Games editions (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004) were destroyed as fire swept through his neighbourhood in Los Angeles earlier this year. On hearing about his loss, the IOC announced it would provide him with replicas to make up for it.

On this moving occasion, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We really appreciate your presence here. I cannot tell you how much we admire you, not only because of the medals, but because when we were reading your tragic story of losing your house, your possessions and all your worldly properties, this went straight to our heart. But even more so, when we learned how you overcame this tragedy in the style of a true Olympic champion, showing all the resilience, courage and confidence that you were known for as an athlete at the time, but you displayed under very different circumstances once more.”

After receiving the Olympic medals, Hall Jr spoke of what it meant to him to receive these replacements: “I’m emotional, it’s hard for me to put words together in this time. I would like to express my gratitude first and foremost.”

“I cannot thank the Olympic Movement enough for their support through this very difficult time. Their realisations through this process that outweigh the sense of loss and that is this word of solidarity and what it means: the value of friends outweighs the value of objects, and character cannot be taken away, it cannot be burned, it cannot be lost and what is inside of us, our spirit, our being, our soul – that is important. We live in a time of capitalism, consumerism and you realise when you lose everything how little of it you truly need.”

Gary Hall Jr

He also told the audience how much he is looking forward to the Olympic Games LA28: “I was 10 years old when LA hosted the 1984 Olympic Games, and I was old enough to see […] what the Olympic Games was, the scale of it, the importance, the significance of the world stage in the 1984 Olympic Games. This inspired me more than any genetic inheritance or family tradition that propelled me.”

As part of the ceremony, Hall Jr also signed the Olympian Wall in Olympic House.

Blazesoft Employees ‘Carry the Fire Forward’ in support of Princess Margaret’s Annual Cancer Charity Event

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

TORONTO, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Blazesoft, service provider for established entertainment platforms across the U.S. and Canada, is proud to announce its support for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation’s (PMCF) annual Ride to Conquer Cancer. This transformative event raised vital funds for life-saving cancer research at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre—one of the world’s top five cancer research hospitals.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer took place recently on Saturday, June 7, 2025, uniting thousands of cyclists of all different levels. This year’s theme, Carry The Fire, symbolized a shared determination to bring hope to a new generation of cancer patients, fueled by the groundbreaking work being done at Princess Margaret.

Blazesoft is proud to support this incredible initiative, donating a significant contribution and having several of its employees participate in the event. Each rider joined the journey with personal motivation, but all share one powerful mission: together, we Carry the Fire for cancer patients everywhere to create a world free from the fear of cancer.

“I’m honoured to be part of this year’s ride. A dear friend of mine — healthy, young, with no risk factors — was diagnosed with cancer and told she’d have to wait 10 months just for diagnostic testing. I’m riding for her and in support of our local cancer centers like Princess Margaret, which has already raised over $300 million for life-saving research,” said one of Blazesoft’s ride participants. “It wouldn’t be possible without science, without support, and without millions of community members who continue to donate and push us closer to a world free from the fear of cancer.”

At the heart of the charity event was an unwavering commitment to support the two in five Canadians who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and the many more who are affected by it. While significant progress has been made, cancer continues to be a growing challenge, with new diagnoses expected to rise by 77% by 2050.

Every year, PMCF works tirelessly —alongside its passionate community of supporters—to raise the funds needed to drive world-class research, redefine standards of care, and create better outcomes for patients around the globe.

Blazesoft’s involvement in the ride reflects its principle of corporate social responsibility, a core pillar of its business. Not only did the company proudly participate in this year’s event, but it played a key role with its fundraising efforts and rallying its employees and broader network to raise significant contributions in support of cancer research and care.

Blazesoft support for this event is a natural extension of its corporate responsibility mission statement: to invest in the health and well-being of its community members and make a meaningful impact that uplifts its employees and the communities it serves. Whether through donations to local GTA hospitals, employee-led fundraising, or volunteer initiatives, Blazesoft remains dedicated to carrying the fire forward.

About Blazesoft:

Blazesoft has established itself as a prominent service provider worldwide, delivering bespoke services to well-known e-commerce and entertainment companies across North America. Blazesoft’s solutions offer a tailored approach to managing user experience, compliance, and product innovation. Founded on a vision to deliver high-quality solutions as a B2B service provider, Blazesoft is committed to becoming the number one choice for partners by maintaining the highest standard of integrity, embracing modern-age technology, and delivering cutting-edge solutions. Learn more: www.blazesoft.ca

About Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation:

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is Canada’s largest cancer charity. We’re dedicated to raising funds for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world’s leading cancer research and treatment centres, known for its breakthrough discoveries that transform patient outcomes. Together, we Carry the Fire for cancer patients everywhere in our mission to create a world free from the fear of cancer. Through philanthropy, fundraising events, and our world-leading lottery program, we’re changing how the world understands, prevents, diagnoses, and treats cancer, benefitting patients at The Princess Margaret, throughout Canada, and around the world. Learn more: www.thepmcf.ca

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SOURCE Blazesoft Ltd.

Innovating for Impact: Thermal Management System Reduces Energy Consumption for Global Healthcare Company

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

We’re helping solve our customers’ big challenges by innovating and delivering solutions that are better for their business and for the environment. Through our Gigaton Challenge, we aim to reduce 1 gigaton of GHG emissions from our customers’ footprints by 2030.

Project At-a-Glance:

The opportunity:

Help a global pharmaceutical company that specializes in women’s health to meet their decarbonization goals while realizing significant energy savings

The solution:

Transitioned largest production facility in Netherlands to thermal management system with heat recovery

Sustainability outcomes:

Energy savings of 7,700 gigajoules per year, the equivalent of nearly 243,000 cubic meters of gas annually

Organon is a global pharmaceutical company focused on women’s health. In 2024, the company took decisive steps toward their goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. Among them, a sustainable heat pump-based heating and cooling solution. For that job, they called Trane.

A global health company committed to sustainability

Organon, a 10,000-employee company, maintains facilities in some 60 nations and supports customers in more than 140 countries. Their largest production site is located in the city of Oss in the Netherlands. A sprawling multi-building facility, the factory employs more than 1,200 people. Organon’s objective is to transition operations away from natural gas and create a sustainable, climate-neutral installation.

“We’d had a successful relationship with Trane for years,” said Rimko Jansen, Project Engineer HVAC at Organon. “The service is good, and we’d recently experienced their efficient rental capabilities. Moreover, Trane heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient options available on the market.”

Electrification of heat saves energy

Replacing the facility’s fossil fuel boilers is a priority. Trane proposed a thermal management solution based on decentralized heat pumps.

Phase one focused on Organon’s main production building in the Netherlands. Originally, the facility was heated by four boilers with a total capacity of 8,000 kilowatts. Fifteen large Trane RTUD chillers were required for the building’s cooling needs, mainly to cool compressed air for the production process.

Trane expanded the existing infrastructure with two Trane City RTSF 070 water-to-water heat pumps. In addition to meeting the factory’s production needs, the unit would provide year-round cooling and heating (heat was needed in the summer for dehumidification purposes). The RTSF units would also provide reinforcement for the building’s central heating network.

“Traditionally, we’ve used chillers for the cooled compressed air needed in production,” said Jansen.

Expanding electrification

The project’s second phase involved renovating the facility’s heat-cold storage (HCS) unit, located in a separate building on the site. As it happened, Organon needed a temporary heating solution to keep the offices in the HCS building warm that winter. Eager to test the viability of a heat pump as a long-term solution for the HCS, the Organon team decided to rent a CXAF heat pump as a short-term fix.

“We could simply have rented a boiler for our temporary heating needs, but we wanted to demonstrate through a practical test that we could switch to a heat pump,” said Jansen. ”With the rented Trane heat pump, we proved that we could indeed heat the office building in winter with an air-to-water heat pump. This gave us the confidence to invest in a CXAF.”

By winter’s end the CXAF 100 proved its worth, supplying ample heat to the building’s air handling units. Satisfied with the results, Organon placed an order for a larger CXAF model, which was delivered and will be installed in mid-2025.

Sustainable results

The two RTSF water-to-water heat pumps in the production building are saving Organon approximately 4,000 gigajoules (GJ) of electricity per year. The Trane City RTSF 070 water-to-water heat pump at the HCS is further saving roughly 3,680 GJ of energy per year.

“With the three new Trane heat pumps we are saving nearly 7,700 gigajoules, per year,” said Jansen. “That’s equivalent to nearly 243,000 cubic meters of gas per year. These installations represent just the initial steps of our sustainability journey.”

As a next step, Organon is developing a roadmap to help them reduce their reliance on gas. They are also in the process of adjusting their air handling units to better accommodate low-temperature heating.

“We collaborate with Trane and other partners to assess the unique requirements of each building,” said Jansen. “This involves evaluating the specific needs for production, comfort and required temperatures. It is an ongoing endeavor that involves careful analysis and collaboration to ensure optimal solutions for each situation.”

Learn more about this project at the Trane Europe blog.

Explore how we are growing through sustainability and innovation in our 2024 Sustainability Report.

Sunnoo Launches Revolutionary, Fully Renewable EV Charging Station in New Mexico

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Company’s first grid-independent, solar-powered EV charging solution now live after six years of development

LAS CRUCES, N.M., June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sunnoo, a pioneering American clean energy company, today announced it has deployed its first utility-patented, grid-independent EV charging station—a fully renewable, self-contained unit that operates entirely on solar power. After six years of R&D and more than 20,000 hours of component testing, the flagship system is now undergoing real-world validation outside Sunnoo’s Las Cruces, New Mexico manufacturing facility. The launch marks a pivotal milestone in the shift toward sustainable transportation—offering a grid-independent, permit-free, and fast-deploying EV charging solution that can be placed nearly anywhere.

“This is a transformational moment for us,” said Chris Langathianos, Sunnoo’s CEO. “For the first time, our work is moving from concept and development into active, real-world use. The performance so far has met or exceeded expectations, and we are now actively seeking strategic partners to help scale commercialization. The technology is ready—and the market is demanding faster, cleaner, and more flexible charging infrastructure.”

Following four to six weeks of data collection, the station will be relocated to the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, where it will deliver clean, off-grid EV and e-bike charging for students, faculty, and visitors.

Instant Setup, Zero Permitting

Unlike traditional EV infrastructure, which can require 12-24 months of permitting and grid connection, Sunnoo’s system is entirely self-contained and requires no permits, trenching, or electrical utility access. It can be delivered, installed, and operational in minutes — not weeks or months —an industry first that dramatically reduces barriers to EV infrastructure deployment.

Robust Specs and High Performance

Solar Array: 6.5kW bifacial array with patented dual-axis, single-motor tracking turret
Tracking Advantage: Captures 50–62% more energy than fixed solar arrays, with software-driven positioning that adds another 8–12% daily solar gain
Battery Capacity: Configurable between 24–100 kWh; pilot unit currently operating with an 80 kWh pack
Charging Output: Level 2 charging via two NACS connectors, powered by a 60A AC circuit
Range Delivery: 8 kW+ charging rate, delivering up to 42 miles of range per hour of charge – up to 28% more charging power than the closest competitor (10–30 miles/hour)
Trickle Charging: Optional 7.5kW 240VAC outlet for e-bikes or light electric vehicles
Dimensions: Base footprint of 16 ft. x 8 ft., with a 20 ft. x 8 ft. solar canopy and 16 ft. height
Base Weight: Over 9,000 lbs, with <9 psi surface load for versatile site placement
Weather Resilience: Engineered for all-season deployment, including high-wind and remote environments

The modular system can support additional solar turrets, charging connections, and different battery sizes, making it highly adaptable for large-scale deployments.

Strategic Path Forward

With field testing already exceeding performance expectations, Sunnoo is actively seeking commercialization partners in higher education, municipalities, and commercial fleet operations. The team believes their solution offers the fastest and most flexible path to scalable, clean charging infrastructure in the US and beyond.

“Our mission from day one has been to eliminate the infrastructure hurdles that have slowed EV adoption,” said Martin Gero, Sunnoo’s Founder and Chief Technology Officer. “We engineered a solution that delivers fast, sustainable charging with no permitting delays, no construction headaches, and no grid dependency. After years of refinement, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our vision come to life on the ground.”

National Recognition

Sunnoo’s innovation was recently featured on The Blox, the world’s largest entrepreneurship docuseries. Selected from a pool of more than 150,000 applicants, the company competed as one of the top early-stage startups in the U.S. The new season is slated to premiere during Summer 2025.

About Sunnoo
Sunnoo is an American manufacturer of grid-independent electric vehicle charging solutions, microgrid solutions for military field use, and solar optimization technologies. With a mission to simplify and accelerate the transition to renewable transportation, Sunnoo’s patented innovations eliminate permitting and construction delays, reduce costs, and significantly increase solar efficiency. Learn more at www.sunnoo.co.

Contact:
Chris Langathianos
CEO, Sunnoo
chris@sunnoo.co | www.sunnoo.co

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SOURCE Sunnoo

John Crane introduces versatile next-generation Coaxial Seal, engineered for success and efficiency

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

New Type 93AX Coaxial Separation Seal reduces nitrogen consumption by up to 80%
Designed to maintain seal performance even in the event of multiple failure scenarios
Developed to address customers’ pain points across the energy and process industries, including oil and gas, power generation and clean energy

SLOUGH, England, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — John Crane, a global leader in rotating equipment solutions, and a business of Smiths Group plc, today announced the launch of the Type 93AX Coaxial Separation Seal – a next generation dry gas sealing solution engineered to help customers reduce emissions, improve equipment reliability, and lower operational costs.

The Type 93AX builds on John Crane’s legacy of industrial sealing expertise with a robust, fail-safe design that remains operational even in the event of multiple failure scenarios. Designed based on direct customer feedback, test data indicates the mechanical seal reduces nitrogen consumption by up to 80%, compared to conventional radial separation seals – offering significant efficiency and sustainability benefits.

Addressing real industry challenges

Research has shown that contamination is a significant contributor to dry gas seal failures, making it one of the leading causes of unscheduled maintenance and equipment downtime. The Type 93AX is engineered to prevent oil ingress from the compressor bearing chamber, minimising this risk and supporting more reliable, continuous operation.

According to Deloitte, unplanned downtime costs the global process industries an estimated $50 billion annually, with equipment failure responsible for 42% of that unplanned downtime. In energy and process applications, this can result in losses of up to $42 million per facility per year, on average.

The Type 93AX is designed to mitigate both performance and financial risks by extending the reliability of the dry gas seal system and reducing demand on supporting infrastructure such as nitrogen (N₂) generators and air compressors.

Three operating scenarios for added resilience

The seal supports three operating modes and automatically adapts in failure situations to minimise disruption and contain gas or oil migration:

Scenario 1: Standard operation: Non-contacting operation provides positive oil ingress mitigation.
Scenario 2: Separation gas loss: Maintains non-contacting operation and oil control even without separation gas.
Scenario 3: Dry gas seal failure: Restricts process gas leakage during compressor shutdown (up to 35 bar), while maintaining seal integrity up to 70 bar.

Supporting operational and sustainability goals

The Type 93AX helps contribute to sustainability goals through reduced emissions and lower energy usage. By cutting nitrogen use by up to 80%, it decreases demand on N₂ generation systems – a source of both energy consumption and cost. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), improving industrial efficiency could cut global energy use by 12% by 2040, further underlining the importance of solutions like the Type 93AX.

Mike Eason, Chief Technology Officer at John Crane, said: “Our customers told us they wanted a separation seal that increases safety, efficiency, and reliability. The Type 93AX delivers on these priorities. It’s designed to keep working in real-world failure conditions to protect their most critical assets, and reduce environmental impact, while driving down OPEX and CAPEX.

Eason continued: “The new seal is compatible with John Crane’s dry gas seal portfolio and is supported by a global network of over 200 facilities, including manufacturing, sales and services, and 13 global turbo service centres in more than 50 countries. It can be sold as part of a bundled first-fit order or compressor upgrade, or supplied as a stand-alone product to meet customer-specific requirements.

More information can be found here: https://www.johncrane.com/coaxial-separation-seal

About John Crane

John Crane is a global leader in mission-critical technologies for the energy and process industries and an innovator in rotating equipment, encompassing mechanical seals, couplings, filtration systems, cutting-edge asset management, and digital diagnostics solutions. Blending a rich legacy of innovation with a commitment to service excellence, we have enabled our customers to operate reliably and sustainably for over a century. While recognising the role of traditional energy, we are pioneering solutions that enable cleaner alternatives, crafting a vision for a sustainable energy future. Our extensive global presence underscores our promise to customers, with over 200 facilities, including manufacturing, sales and service, in more than 50 countries across the globe. With over £1.1 billion in revenue in Fiscal Year 2024, we are an integral pillar of Smiths Group plc, a FTSE 100 listed industrial technology company dedicated to engineering a better future. Visit Smiths.com for more.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-crane-introduces-versatile-next-generation-coaxial-seal-engineered-for-success-and-efficiency-302482775.html

SOURCE John Crane

VTT has developed a degradable solar cell module to be attached to a plant leaf – agriculture needs green electronics

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Globally, the digitalisation of agriculture requires the increasing use of measurement electronics in farming. However, power supply and electronic waste pose problems. VTT has now developed a biodegradable solar cell module power source in an international green electronics research project.

ESPOO, Finland , June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The solar cell module developed by VTT is so small and light that it can be attached directly to, for example, the stem of a cultivated plant or a large leaf. The cell is approximately the size of a credit card, very flexible and extremely thin. After the growing season, the cell decomposes along with the rechargeable power supply that the cell charges.

“When a solar cell is used in an agricultural application, biodegradability is essential. In this case, there is no real harm caused if the cell cannot be removed from the field, even if it is in close contact with the soil. And, there are no harmful substances to leach into the environment or exacerbate the microplastics problem,” says Maria Smolander, Research Team Leader at VTT.

“Right now, sensors still aren’t being used a great deal in agriculture, but this biodegradable solution makes it possible to more effectively implement them in agricultural applications,” says Smolander.

Compostable device developed in cooperation with six research institutes

The aim of the three-year international research project is to create degradable cultivation sensors. In addition to VTT, Tampere University, University of Glasgow, Lukasiewicz Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics (Łukasiewicz-IMIF), Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique S.A. (CSEM) and McGill University contributed to the project, which was funded by the CHIST-ERA and national funding agencies (e.g. Research Council of Finland).

“Although agriculture has served as a practical test platform for this green electronics project, the main idea is to explore how electronics can be made more environmentally friendly,” says Liisa Hakola, Senior Scientist at VTT.

In the project, VTT developed the solar cell and Tampere University developed a battery-like supercapacitor that stores energy. The project has also developed compostable sensors and modules that transmit collected data wirelessly.

“The aim here is not to collect a large amount of energy – it’s about low energy consumption sensors that can be used to monitor the state of the environment. The degradable solar cell is not intended to match the performance of conventional cells, and there is no need for a long service life”, says Marja Välimäki, Senior Scientist at VTT.

Development of a biodegradable cell set new requirements

VTT has years of comprehensive experience in the manufacture of state-of-the-art solar cells. However, development of a biodegradable cell set new requirements. The structural components must not prematurely decompose or accelerate the decomposition of other components.

“The biodegradable material is less resistant to environmental conditions, such as heat and moisture stress. It must also be ensured that the sensors are extremely light if they are going to be attached to a plant,” says Liisa Hakola.

Depending on the conditions, a biodegradable solar cell will decompose within weeks or months. Solar cell protection can be used to regulate its service life.

The cell developed by VTT is made of a bio-based thin film substrate and has a partly inorganic structure. The manufactured solar cell is less than 35 micrometres thick and, even with protection added, the total thickness remains only tenths of a millimetre.

Regulation requires more measurement technology for farms

Measurement technologies employed on farms serve the growing needs of agricultural data collection, which is used to improve yields, combat plant diseases and reduce agricultural emissions. Regulation also requires increasingly accurate measurement data.

“For example, EU regulations require that nutrient loads be studied regularly in soil samples. The new biodegradable solar cell offers a widely applicable way to collect energy, and sensoring enables more real-time data collection and environmental monitoring,” explains Välimäki.

VTT is also developing environmentally friendly electronics and solar cells as part of a EU funded IoT research project, whose objectives include combining sensor technology with a sustainable circular economy and clean solutions.

Further information:

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Maria Smolander, Research Team Leader, tel. +358 (0)40 702 9933, maria.smolander@vtt.fi
Marja Välimäki, Senior Scientist, tel. +358 (0)40 578 9014, marja.valimaki@vtt.fi
Liisa Hakola, Senior Scientist, tel. +358 (0)40 841 5978, liisa.hakola@vtt.fi

Further information on VTT:
Paula Bergqvist, Communications Manager
+358 20 722 5161, paula.bergqvist@vtt.fi
www.vttresearch.com

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FORTUNE UNVEILS 2025 SOUTHEAST ASIA 500

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

2^nd annual Fortune list has Singapore’s Trafigura at No. 1, as the energy sector dominates; Malaysia’s NationGate claims fastest growing by revenue

Ranks of female CEOs at Southeast Asia 500 companies increases to nearly 40, up 28% from last year

Indonesia has the most companies, 109, on the Southeast Asia 500 but Singapore companies lead in revenue, profits, and assets

SINGAPORE, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fortune today unveils the 2025 Southeast Asia 500 rankings, the second annual list of the largest companies in the region, ranked by revenue for the 2024 fiscal year. Fortune’s focus on Southeast Asia comes as the region emerges as a resilient growth engine for the global economy, playing an increasingly important role in global supply chains, capturing manufacturing capacity shifting from China due to heightened tariffs and trade tensions.

The seven countries in last year’s inaugural Southeast Asia 500 list—Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia—return in 2025, and continue to make their mark on the region’s economy. Indonesia leads with 109 companies, while Thailand follows with 100. Malaysia has 92 companies on the list, surpassing Singapore’s 81. Vietnam’s presence on the list has grown to 76, while the Philippines contributes 40 and Cambodia rounds out the list with two.

Singapore-headquartered commodities trader Trafigura earned the No. 1 spot on the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 for a second year, generating more than $243 billion in revenue in 2024, followed by Thailand’s PTT (No. 2), Indonesia’s Pertamina (No. 3) and Singapore’s food and agribusiness powerhouses—Wilmar (No. 4) and Olam (No. 5). The top five companies generated nearly $516 billion in revenue, or 28% of all 500 companies combined.

Together, the top 10 generated $660 billion—36% of the list’s total revenue—while the top 20 accounted for $836 billion, nearly half the combined revenue of all 500 companies. Notably, Singapore-based companies generated $637 billion in 2024, underscoring the city-state’s role as a regional business hub and accounting for just over a third of the Southeast Asia 500’s total revenue. Collectively, companies on the 2025 list generated $1.82 trillion in revenue in 2024, up from $1.79 trillion the year before. The minimum revenue threshold to be included on the 2025 list was $349.4 million.

“Fortune’s interest in the region reflects Southeast Asia’s growing importance as an engine of global growth,” says Clay Chandler, Executive Editor, Asia. “The region has become a crucial manufacturing and export hub, which is drawing significant capital flows. This momentum has been further fueled by Trump-era tariffs, which have reshaped global trade dynamics and driven a shift towards Southeast Asia.”

Energy – whether resource extraction, power generation, or electrical transmission—is the dominant sector on the 2025 list, accounting for almost a third of its total revenue. Thai oil refiner and energy company, Bangchak, breaks into this year’s top 20 with a 47% jump in revenue. Financial firms represent Southeast Asia’s second-largest sector. Significantly, thirteen banks and financial firms are among the top 20 most profitable companies with Singapore’s DBS leading—both in terms of revenue and earnings—for a second year.

In his introduction to the new list in the June/July issue of Fortune Asia magazine, editor, Asia, Nick Gordon notes, the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 provides “a snapshot of a region ready to take advantage of global supply chain shifts and booming industries like mining, EVs, and AI—even as U.S. tariff policy threatens to roll back some of last year’s gains.”

Fast-growers in revenue terms included newcomers to the list—Malaysian precision manufacturing company NationGate, Indonesian mining and energy firm, Petrindo Jaya Kreasi and Vietnam’s transport infrastructure and automotive services company, Tasco JSC, as well as returning companies such as the Philippines’ online gaming firm, Digiplus Interactive, and travel and transportation companies like Singapore aviation catering and logistics firm SATS, Changi Airport Group and Airports of Thailand. In 2024, the top 20 fast-growers captured strong tailwinds from rebounding tourism, resource demand (coal, nickel, energy), digital transformation, and industrial growth in Southeast Asia.

In a positive sign for female leadership in the region, Fortune’s analysts noted there are 37 female CEOs leading Southeast Asia 500 companies, up from 29 reported last year. There are also 37 women holding the position of chairman. This growth in diversity, alongside the ten CEOs in their 30s, underscores the region’s evolving leadership landscape. The average age of the chief executives leading the 500 companies is 58. In total, the 2025 Southeast Asia 500 companies employ more than 6.3 million people.

The 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list and stories are available internationally on Fortune.com/asia and on newsstands across Asia starting today, June 17. The list and rankings can be viewed at https://fortune.com/asia/ranking/southeast-asia-500/2025/.

About Fortune

Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-winning reporting and information for those who want to make business better. Independently owned, Fortune tells the stories of the world’s biggest companies and their leaders as well as a new generation of innovators who are moving business forward. Digitally and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable, in regions around the world. Its iconic rankings include Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World’s Most Admired Companies. Fortune builds world-class communities by convening industry thought leaders for exclusive summits and conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum and Brainstorm Tech. For more information, visit fortune.com.

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Global Momentum Surges for LEED + WELL Streamlined Certification Process, Reaching Nearly 250 Million Square Feet of Project Space

Posted on June 17, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Total project space using the LEED+WELL pathway has tripled in less than two years

Announced at IWBI’s Climate + Health Summit in Tokyo, the milestone reflects rising global demand for the streamlined process designed to advance both planetary health and human health

TOKYO and NEW YORK June 16, 2025 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority for advancing healthy buildings, organizations and communities, today announced rapid uptake of the streamlined pathway for projects that pursue both LEED and WELL certification. In less than two years, total project space using the pathway has more than tripled—from 80 million to nearly 250 million square feet—while the number of projects has more than doubled, growing from 300 to over 750 across 47 countries. In addition, more than 100 projects, spanning 15 million square feet, have already achieved LEED and WELL certification using the pathway. The accelerated growth reflects a strong rise in global demand for the streamlined certification process.

In April 2023, IWBI and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) deepened their strategic partnership by releasing a streamlined process for projects to pursue certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The process streamlines documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time or that have already earned one certification and are looking to add the other.

“It’s exciting to see the continued global adoption of the LEED + WELL pathway, signaling strong momentum in the market,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “The growing demand to pursue the world’s leading standards for green buildings and healthy buildings together reflects a deepening recognition that human health and planetary health are inextricably linked. By using WELL and LEED together, market leaders are embracing a future-forward approach to prioritize people and planet.”

The news was announced at the WELL 2025 Climate and Health Summit in Tokyo, Japan, an IWBI flagship event, hosted in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council and Green Building Japan, highlighting solutions for advancing human health and planetary well-being.

“Better alignment between rating systems is critical to enabling building owners and project teams to pursue ambitious goals and demonstrate exceptional commitment and leadership in the built environment,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO, USGBC. “We are pleased to see the growth in global demand for this streamlined LEED and WELL certification pathway, which has helped leaders more easily deliver projects that enhance human and environmental health in communities around the world.”

“This is exactly the kind of leadership we need—market leaders stepping up to adopt the process for LEED and WELL,” said Yasushi Kinoshita, Representative Member, Eminence Partners G.K.; Chair, Green Building Japan; and IWBI Governance Council Member. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see the industry embrace this integrated approach to enhancing human health and the world around us—an approach that’s poised to shape the future of the built environment.”

The rapid adoption of the LEED+WELL process underscores a rising priority among market leaders to capture the health and well-being benefits from WELL’s dedicated and comprehensive focus on human health in combination with the tremendous environmental gains driven by LEED’s holistic approach to a built environment that is better for both people and the planet.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) accelerates and scales the transformation of the built environment to minimize climate impacts and enhance the well-being of people, the environment, and communities worldwide. USGBC leads market transformation through LEED and other green building certification and enablement programs, robust educational offerings, an international network of industry leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram,  Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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Media contact: media@wellcertified.com