AEROSPACE
Southern Company | December 15, 2022
Southern Company's Aerial Services and Mississippi State University's Raspet Flight Research Lab recently reached a milestone on a joint research project that will help expand Southern Company's use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to map critical infrastructure, assess weather-related damage and conduct routine utility inspections. At a proof-of-concept demonstration in Bay Minette, Ala., the team showcased the capabilities of a large UAS with integrated sensors to gather data that will contribute to the research project, flying 28 miles of transmission assets that included approximately 400 structures. The team also used a helicopter with a high-resolution camera to capture footage and evaluate its sensor technology and to look at potentially transferring the technology to the large drone in the future.
"This research work is a game-changer, The data and knowledge we gain through this partnership will help improve safety and reliability, reduce costs and enable us to respond quicker should incidents in our system occur."
Mississippi Power President and CEO Anthony Wilson, who chairs the Mississippi State University Foundation.
The collaboration between Southern Company and MSU will enable the use of larger, more sophisticated drones in pursuing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Southern Company system's inspection and mapping efforts. We are proud of the continued research partnership with Southern Company," said MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan. "Through investment in this technology, Southern Company is leading the way for broadscale industry adoption. This flight operation and remote sensing research illustrates the profound safety benefits UAS offer to the utility industry and supports not only Southern Company but the industries and citizens that rely on their services. Next steps for the team are to determine on-board sensor systems that would enable drones to detect and avoid other aircrafts in surrounding airspace and enhance capabilities for communicating with drones from further distance. Waiver enables remote inspection and mapping Southern Company's UAS team also recently announced that the FAA has granted Southern Company approval to remotely launch and operate drones at Alabama Power's Plant Barry.
The waiver, the first of its kind obtained by the company, allows advanced BVLOS operations. Operators will use drones to map and inspect stacks, transmission lines and basins at Plant Barry. Compared to traditional manual inspection methods, remotely operated dock-based drones will help perform safer, more efficient recurring inspections of critical infrastructure.
About Southern Company
Southern Company is a leading energy provider serving 9 million residential and commercial customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet our customers' and communities' needs while advancing our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into social, economic, financial and environmental progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Fortune and the Human Rights Campaign.
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AEROSPACE
Raytheon Technologies | December 21, 2022
Raytheon Technologies announced today the successful first engine run of the company's regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator, marking a key milestone towards flight testing, targeted to begin in 2024. The propulsion system's initial run took place at Pratt & Whitney's innovation facility in Longueuil, Quebec and performed as expected. The system fully integrates a 1 MW electric motor developed by Collins Aerospace with a highly efficient Pratt & Whitney fuel-burning engine, specially adapted for hybrid-electric operation. This powerplant technology will enable more efficient engine performance during the different phases of flight, such as take-off, climb and cruise, reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions by up to 30% compared to today's most advanced regional turboprop aircraft.
"Hybrid-electric propulsion technology offers significant potential to optimize efficiency across a range of different aircraft applications, helping our industry meet its ambitious goal for achieving net zero CO2 emissions,With our ground test program now well underway, planned flight testing will enable us to accelerate the demonstration of this next generation sustainable propulsion technology as we continue to expand our collaboration within Canada's aerospace ecosystem and beyond."
Jean Thomassin, executive director new products and services, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Flight Test Centre of Excellence (Cert Center Canada - 3C), will modify and operate the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 aircraft, serving as the platform for future flight demonstrations. We are honoured that Raytheon Technologies has chosen our Design Approval Organization to lead the flight test program for this historic demonstrator project," said John Maris, 3C president and chief test pilot for the project. "3C has assembled a trusted Quebec team that includes Chrono Aviation, WAAS Aerospace, and Elisen & associés to integrate the hybrid-electric powertrain, battery system, and high voltage electrical harness into 3C's Dash 8 research aircraft. I am confident that 3C's extensive flight test experience and historical relationship with Transport Canada will complement Raytheon Technologies' outstanding team to safely demonstrate this important technological advance. Since Raytheon Technologies launched the demonstrator project via its Pratt & Whitney Canada and Collins Aerospace businesses in July 2021, supported by the Governments of Canada and Quebec, numerous organizations in Canada and around the world have joined the initiative. H55 S.A., recently the subject of a minority investment by Raytheon Technologies' venture capital arm, RTX Ventures, will supply battery systems. The development of battery component designs and associated electrical control systems will also be supported by the National Research Council of Canada and the Innovative Vehicle Institute. Ricardo PLC is also supporting the project with component design, system integration, and testing. De Havilland Canada is supporting integration of the propulsion system on the experimental aircraft. Raytheon Technologies is leading the development of hybrid-electric propulsion technologies across multiple demonstrator programs, including STEP-Tech and SWITCH, spanning a wide range of potential future aircraft applications.. Alongside continually advancing the efficiency of aircraft propulsion systems, the company is also developing technologies to support greater use of cleaner, alternative fuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and hydrogen, each of which will benefit from the increased efficiencies enabled by hybrid-electric propulsion technology.
About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
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AIR TRANSPORT
Johnson Matthey | December 19, 2022
Honeywell and Johnson Matthey (JM), today announced they will work together to deploy low carbon1 hydrogen solutions. The companies will offer JM's innovative LCH™ technology, coupled with Honeywell's leading carbon capture technology to produce lower carbon intensity hydrogen (blue hydrogen) at scale. Ready to be deployed today, this offering will provide project developers a new option for producing clean hydrogen. The demand for hydrogen solutions is on the rise with public policies and funding mechanisms being put in place to encourage investment. An example is the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which commits billions in production tax incentives for clean hydrogen producers. With the evolving legislative environment, an integrated solution was identified with low process carbon intensity as a key target. According to JM- Honeywell UOP calculations, the result is a solution which will enable direct process emissions to be less than 0.1 kgCO2/kgH2 by capturing carbon rates above 99%2. This provides eligibility for production tax credits within the IRA, meaning projects can access the support they need to be deployed rapidly. This relationship also builds on the collaboration recently announced at the European Refining Technology Conference in Berlin, where JM is integrating differentiated Honeywell UOP technologies into its CLEANPACE™ offering for decarbonising existing synthesis (syngas) gas plants. Honeywell's advanced solvent carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and hydrogen solutions allow for CO2 to be captured, transported, and stored at a lower cost through greater efficiency, while allowing for smaller equipment and lower capital operational expenses needed to run the plant compared to existing technologies3. Alberto Giovanzana, Chief Commerical Officer of Catalyst Technologies at Johnson Matthey said: "By joining complementary technology elements, we will provide customers with a cost-effective approach that will enable meaningful reductions in emissions compared to conventional technology. As we mentioned in our Strategy Review earlier in the year, Catalyst Technologies aim to expand our offering through new strategic partnerships, integrating them with adjacent technologies. This is an exciting first step and we look forward to working with Honeywell on expanding our offering to include other sustainable technologies in the fuel and chemical spaces."
"Industries need to quicken their pace to reduce their emissions in order to meet their carbon reduction targets,This is accelerating the demand for clean hydrogen, which is expected to grow up to sevenfold by 2050. Collaborations like the one between Honeywell and Johnson Matthey across the clean hydrogen value chain are essential to accelerating the energy transition and helping to meet global emissions goals."
Barry Glickman, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions.
Today, 15 million tons per year of CO2 is being captured and used in storage/utilization applications through Honeywell's CO2 solutions process expertise. Honeywell currently has the capacity to capture 40 million tons per year through its installed projects worldwide4.
About Honeywell
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable .Honeywell is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. This commitment builds on the company's track record of sharply reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of its operations and facilities as well as its decades-long history of innovation to help its customers meet their environmental and social goals. About 60% of Honeywell's new product introduction research and development investment is directed toward products that improve environmental and social outcomes for customers.
About Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies, catalysing the net zero transition. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers' products. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, energy, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet's natural resources. Today, about 13,000 Johnson Matthey professionals collaborate with our network of customers and partners to make a real difference to the world around us.
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