Israeli renewable energy company Phinergy has set out to reduce the amount of air pollution emitted by cars – among the world's heaviest polluters – with their innovative vehicles.

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According to CEO Avi Tzidon, Phinergy's cars use aluminum – one of the most common metals – to create energy, and as such, involve no pollution.

They are said to match the driving range of non-electric vehicles, reload to full energy capacity in less than 5 minutes, and are compatible with existing service networks.

"Phinergy's metal-air systems produce energy by combining metal, oxygen, and water. Oxygen is a key reactant releasing energy from metal," the company's website says.

The vehicles are set to be the most environmentally friendly on the market, as other electric alternatives are fueled with electricity provided by a polluting plant.

"Unlike conventional batteries that carry oxygen within a heavy electrode, metal-air energy systems freely breathe oxygen from ambient air, making the systems significantly lighter," Phinergy's website says.

Ahead of the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow in November, Phinergy presented their product to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, "including metal-air technologies and range extenders for electric cars."

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Water electrolysis is an easy way of producing hydrogen gas. While hydrogen is considered a clean, renewable fuel, efficient electrolysis requires high electric potential, high pH and in most cases, catalysts based on ruthenium and other expensive metals.

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As detailed in an article in The Journal of the American Chemical Society and reported on the university's website, Technion researchers have developed a unique system for producing hydrogen from water using little energy and inexpensive materials. Led by Professor Galia Maayan, head of the Biomimetic Chemistry Laboratory at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, along with doctoral student Guilin Ruan, this is the fastest system of its kind reported to date that uses available copper catalysts.

Maayan and Ruan designed and developed a system in which the catalyst is soluble in water. The system is based on three elements: copper ions; a peptide-like oligomer (small molecule) that binds the copper and maintains its stability; and a compound called borate whose function is to maintain the pH in a limited range.

The major innovation in this work is the researchers' discovery that the borate compound helps stabilize the metallic center and helps catalyze it.

Maayan explained that the inspiration for the new system came from enzymes (biological catalysts) that use the protein's peptide chain to stabilize the metallic center and by natural energetic processes such as photosynthesis, which are driven by units that use solar energy to transport electrons and protons.

The research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) and the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program.

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A wave energy conversion unit from onshore wave energy technology company Eco Wave Power has arrived at Jaffa Port, and preparations are underway for its installation, EWP announced Monday.

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The erection of the wave power conversion unit is part of a collaboration with executed in collaboration with EDF Renewables IL with co-funding from the Energy Ministry.

The EWP-EDF One conversion unit is located on land, just like a regular power station, enabling an easy access for operation and maintenance, one of the major advantages of the EWP onshore technology.

"We are delighted with the progress the team has made so far. The conversion unit has arrived at site and everything is now in place for the installation work that will begin shortly," Eco Wave Power CEO Inna Braverman said Monday.

"We are on track towards project finalization and look forward to seeing our solution up and running in the port. This has been a large effort from multiple teams from Eco Wave Power and EDF Renewables IL, and we are pleased with how the project is looking at the moment," Braverman added.

The Energy Ministry has recognized EWP as a "Pioneering Technology." The Solar Impulse Foundation has named it an "Efficient Solution." Eco Wave Power's project in Gibraltar has received funding from the European Union Regional Development Fund and from the European Commission's HORIZON2020 framework program. The company is also recognized by the United Nations in receiving the "Global Climate Action Award."

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Swedish-Israeli wave energy developer Eco Wave Power has won the public voting for the Global Innovation Award in the "Life Under Water" category at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week for its solution to generate clean electricity from ocean and sea waves, the company announced Monday.

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EWP is recognized as a "Pioneering Technology" by Israel's Energy Ministry and has been designated an "Efficient Solution" by the Solar Impulse Foundation. An Eco Wave Power project in Gibraltar received funding from the European Union Regional Development Fund and from the European Commission's HORIZON2020 framework program. The company has also been given the United Nations' Climate Action Award.

Sponsored by the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the award is designed to attract innovations from around the world to the UAE. The UAE established its Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in February 2006 as the Ministry of Environment and Water. Under its redefined scope, the ministry has taken on a dual mandate, aiming to both strengthen the UAE's efforts in preserving the environment and promoting food diversity and to take part in combating climate change on the global level.

A record number of entrants applied for the 2021 award – over 1,200 candidates from 65 countries. This year, the scope of the award was expanded to include three new categories, each dedicated to a different sustainable development goal: Sustainable Cities, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Life Below Water, which Eco Wave Power won.

A total of 113 applicants from 23 countries have been chosen to proceed to the next round based on the companies' ability to present innovate solutions to pressing sustainability challenges; their alignment with the sustainability objectives of the UAE Vision 2021; and how relevant the solutions are for the UAE. Six entries have been shortlisted for the main award.

Emirati Climate Change and Environment Minister Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi said: "The UAE is firmly committed to innovation and sustainability. Innovation plays a vital role in delivering on the eight pillars of the UAE Environmental Policy. Therefore, we welcome innovators and entrepreneurs whose creativity and experience can go a long way in advancing the country's sustainable development, and the Global Innovation Award provides an ideal platform to highlight this approach."

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Israeli startup StoreDot, which develops fast-charging (XFC) battery technology, has unveiled its first-generation five-minute charge battery engineering samples, the company announced Tuesday.

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This represents a significant milestone for the company, which has made it its mission to eliminate the range and charging anxiety of electric vehicles (EVs) by demonstrating the commercial viability of XFC batteries via a small form-factor battery cell.

StoreDot is releasing the first production batch of sample cells, which is targeted at showcasing the technology to potential EV and industry partners. This first-generation battery was used to demonstrate the full charge of a two-wheeled EV in just five minutes for the first time and can offer ultra-fast charging to a number of other industries, such as commercial drones and consumer electronics.

The first-generation engineering samples demonstrate to EV OEMs and battery manufacturers the successful replacement of graphite in the cell's anode using metalloid nano-particles – a key breakthrough in overcoming major issues in safety, battery cycle life and swelling.

StoreDot CEO Dr. Doron Myersdorf said, "StoreDot continues to go from strength to strength as we get one step closer to making our vision of five-minute charging of EVs a commercial reality."

"Our team of top scientists has overcome inherent challenges of XFC such as safety, cycle life and swelling by harnessing innovative materials and cell design. Today's announcement marks an important milestone, moving XFC for the first time beyond innovation in the lab to a commercially-viable product that is scalable for mass production. This paves the way for the launch of our second-generation, silicon-dominant anode prototype battery for electric vehicles later this year," Myersdorf said.

"We founded StoreDot to achieve what many said could never be done – develop batteries capable of delivering a full charge in just five minutes. We have shown that this level of XFC charging is possible – first in 2019 with an electric scooter and again six months ago with a commercial drone. We are proud to make these samples available, but today's milestone is just the beginning. We're on the cusp of achieving a revolution in the EV charging experience that will remove the critical barrier to mass adoption of EVs," Myersdorf declared.

The sample cells were produced by StoreDot's strategic partner in China – EVE Energy Co., Ltd. Crucially, unlike competing technologies which require significant capital expenditure in bespoke manufacturing equipment, StoreDot XFC batteries are designed to be produced on existing Li-ion production lines at EVE Energy. The samples are compliant with UN 38.3, which ensures the safety of Li-ion batteries during shipping.

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But Saudi Aramco plans to boost its production capacity so it can pump as much of Saudi Arabia's vast oil reserves when demand picks up – before a shift to cleaner energy makes crude all but worthless, industry sources and analysts told Reuters.

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With almost 20% of the world's proven reserves and production costs of just $4 a barrel, Aramco believes it can undercut competitors and carry on making money even when lower oil prices make it unprofitable for rivals, the sources said.

Riyadh now plans to follow through on its apparent threat in March during an oil price war with Russia to raise its capacity to 13 million barrels a day (bpd) from 12 million bpd, officials and sources have said.

Aramco's approach is in stark contrast to Western rivals such as BP and Shell which plan to curb spending on oil production so they can invest in renewable and green energy as they prepare for a low-carbon world.

With a renewed focus on oil, the state-run oil giant is also revising ambitious downstream expansion plans and now aims to grab assets in established projects in key markets such as India and China, rather than building expensive mega plants from scratch, the sources said.

"We expect oil demand growth to continue in the long term, driven by rising populations and economic growth. Fuels and petrochemicals will support demand growth ... speculation about an imminent peak in oil demand is simply not consistent with the realities of oil consumption," Aramco said in a statement to Reuters.

The possibility that demand for crude has peaked makes it more pressing for the world's top oil exporter to exploit its reserves while it can to generate cash to fund Saudi Arabia's economic reforms, sources familiar with Saudi policymaking say.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to develop new industries to reduce the kingdom's dependency on oil under his ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy.

But for the plan to succeed, Prince Mohammed needs lots of cash – and Aramco's oil sales are his main source of revenue.

"The crown prince said he will diversify but he didn't say he will kill the oil industry. As long as it can make more money why not? Take the money and invest it somewhere else," one of the sources told Reuters.

"Let's agree that given the global economic situation, full diversification won't happen by 2030," he said. "To completely wean a giant economy like Saudi off oil, it will require at least 50 years more. So as long as oil is with us, make more money out of it if you can."

Aramco is also focused on how to pump more, cleaner fuel while cutting greenhouse gas emissions to give it a better chance to compete as governments tighten carbon regulations, analysts and sources briefed on the company's plans said.

Aramco's oil production already has a so-called carbon intensity of 10.1 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) for each barrel produced (CO2e/boe) – the lowest among its rivals – and it wants to push that down even further by the end of this year.

"Our priorities are to sustain our low carbon intensity and low cost of production, while delivering the energy supplies the world needs," Aramco told Reuters.

"(Aramco) is researching ways to reduce emissions through technology, such as making engines more efficient, better fuel formulations, carbon capture and sequestration, and turning CO2 and hydrocarbons into useful products," the company said.

One example of the potential for hydrocarbon in hydrogen supply was a recent shipment of blue ammonia to Japan for use in zero-emissions power generation, Aramco said, saying it was the first in the world.

"In this example, 50 tons of CO2 captured during the process was reused in methanol production and enhanced oil recovery," the company said.

Aramco will also continue to develop its gas resources due to both rising domestic needs and the kingdom's ambitions to become a gas exporter, and plans to sell stakes in some of its assets such as its domestic pipeline business, the sources said.

"There is always going to be space for oil and the lowest carbon emitter will win," said Amrita Sen, co-founder of the think-tank, Energy Aspects. "OPEC market power will return, especially for those who can produce oil in the cleanest way possible, and Saudi Aramco fits that bill."

Aramco's plan to boost its capacity to 13 million barrels a day is central to its strategy as it wants to be ready to grab a bigger market share when demand recovers, sources briefed on Saudi Arabia's oil thinking said.

Saudi Arabia, also needs to be ready for the uncertainty in oil prices expected post COVID-19 to ensure it can keep spending plans and economic reforms largely unaffected with crude priced at $40 a barrel, or $60, sources and analysts said.

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The thinking within Saudi Arabia is that as oil prices are expected to stay depressed – and may hover around $50-$60 for several years – shutdowns in places such as the United States, where shale oil is costly to produce, should support prices.

"Saudi Arabia, being the lowest cost producer, could see an increase in volumes and market share in the years to come even if global oil demand and prices do not recover as a lack of investment naturally leads to production declines elsewhere," said Krisjanis Krustins, a director in the Middle East and Africa team at Fitch Ratings.

The passing of peak oil demand may also lead to a new price war and an end to efforts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) and its allies to curb supply – so  Riyadh wants to be armed and ready for battle, sources said.

All oil producers will face a similar need to monetize their reserves and energy assets before they lose value. Besides Saudi Arabia, the economies of OPEC members such as Russia, Venezuela, Iraq and Iran all depend heavily on oil and gas.

"If peak oil demand surprises consensus by occurring much later, Aramco will benefit from higher market share and more spare capacity to mitigate another unwelcome price boom," said Bob McNally, founder of Rapidan Energy Group.

"Even if peak demand happens fast, the call on Saudi crude is still likely to grow as output in higher cost, non-OPEC+ countries will fall faster, while the kingdom's interest in managing supply to stabilize prices will continue," he said.

Another central part of Aramco's strategy is a review by the corporate development organization the company set up in August of its costly acquisition plans for downstream assets. Aramco has made big bets on petrochemicals and oil refining as a way to mitigate against a slowdown in oil demand growth.

But in an industry that may be on the cusp of a long-term decline, Aramco is now looking to buy assets investors want to offload, rather than building them from scratch, sources said.

For example, Aramco has deferred plans to build a $10 billion refining and petrochemicals complex with Chinese defense conglomerate Norinco in China, the sources told Reuters, confirming earlier reports.

The Saudi company is, however, interested in investing in another project in China, where it would buy a stake in the Zhejiang refinery and petrochemicals complex south of Shanghai and get its hands on an oil storage facility, the sources said.

Officials at Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co Ltd could not immediately be reached for comment.

Aramco is also keen to invest in India and is in talks with Reliance Industries to buy a 20% stake in its oil-to-chemical business although negotiations have been dragging the sale price.

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The US Department of Energy, Israel's Energy Ministry, and the Israel Innovation Authority chose the projects as part of the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program.

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The projects are valued at $15.4 million, which includes $9 million of cost-share funding from the companies selected for funding, BIRD said in a statement.

The BIRD Energy program was launched in 2009. Since then and including the projects announced Sunday, it has funded 49 projects with a total joint government investment of $38 million.

Some $49 million in matching funds come from the private sector.

Selected projects address energy challenges and opportunities that are of interest to both Israel and the US and focus on commercializing clean energy technologies that create jobs and support innovative companies, the statement said.

Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said that the US-Israel collaboration within BIRD "enables both countries to promote joint development of technologies in diversified areas, and bringing them to commercialization in a short time."

"The joint projects that have won this round of financing presented promising technological innovations that address clean energy challenges in both countries and worldwide," Israel Innovation Authority Director Aharon Aharon said in the statement.

A statement by US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said: "The BIRD Energy program continues to deliver results, to the benefit of both the United States and Israel. The innovative clean energy companies awarded to date have commercialized seven new energy technologies and attracted more than $450 million in follow-on investment, creating jobs in both countries."

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"[The exports] will begin in the middle of next month and perhaps even earlier," he said.

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Israeli gas exports to Egypt will gradually reach 7 billion cubic meters, a senior industry source, who earlier in the day disclosed a mid-January starting date, said on condition of anonymity.

Steinitz said Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla had spoken to him two days ago and congratulated him on signing export permits for the gas.

Egyptian company Dolphinus Holdings reached a landmark deal last year with the Israeli companies operating the Israeli fields Leviathan and Tamar.

In October, the Israeli companies said they were increasing the amount of natural gas they plan to export to Egypt. One source in the Israeli energy industry estimated the value of gas was now $19.5 billion – $14 billion coming from Leviathan, and $5.5 billion from Tamar.

The Energy Ministry gave its final approval for the start of production at the giant Leviathan field three days ago after a court lifted a temporary injunction granted over environmental concerns.

A spokesman for Egypt's Petroleum Ministry said he could not provide any information on the matter.

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Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz called the permit a "historic landmark" for Israel. He said it's the most significant economic cooperation project between the neighboring countries since they signed a peace deal in 1979.

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The European Union, seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, has encouraged the formation of new delivery routes, including through the eastern Mediterranean. These routes could also curtail Iranian ambitions to use Syria as a gateway to the Mediterranean.

"The natural gas revolution turns us into an energy power and affords us not just huge income for the country but also a dramatic decrease in air pollution," Steinitz said. Israel is planning to wean itself off coal, thanks to the expected gas boon.

But Israel's focus on its newfound gas reserves over the past decade has faced stiff domestic criticism from environmental and social welfare activists. They say the government has been too generous toward the gas tycoons behind the exploration, and that the massive investment has steered resources away from focusing on renewable energy sources.

More recently, local activists have been urging Delek Drilling and its US partner, Noble Energy, to move a proposed shoreline treatment gas rig farther out to sea. The activists fear what they call the catastrophic consequences of spreading toxic water and air pollution toward their homes.

Delek, Noble, and the Israeli government insist that the most stringent safety measures have been put in place, and accuse their critics of waging an irresponsible scare campaign.

Aside from the economic benefits, the promise of gas appears to have helped Israel grow closer to Arab governments and other Mediterranean countries.

Israel signed a $15 billion deal last year to provide Egypt with 64 billion cubic meters of gas over a 10-year period that will help transform both into regional energy players.

In January, Egypt hosted its first-ever regional gas forum. The Israeli energy minister attended alongside several regional delegations, the first such visit by an Israeli cabinet member since Egypt's 2011 Arab Spring uprising.

Although past economic agreements with Israel have been controversial in Egypt, where support for the Palestinians runs high, relations have been steadily warming.

Israel already delivers small quantities of gas to the Palestinians and to Jordan, with whom Delek and Noble signed their first export agreement in 2016.

The Leviathan reservoir was discovered in 2010 some 125 kilometers (78 miles) off the Israeli coast, and together with the discovery of the smaller Tamar field, ushered in a wave of optimism for a country that used to take an almost perverse pride in thriving with very few natural resources.

The Zohr gas field – discovered off the coast of Egypt in 2015 – has been touted as the largest ever in the Mediterranean.

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The aircraft is around 50% cheaper to produce than airplanes of traditional size, as well as quieter. The plane is able to transport two pilots and up to nine passengers. As for the tech specs, the plane is made up of lightweight materials and have a low drag coefficient that allows the craft to simultaneously operate at top speeds while using less fuel. Alice features three MagniX engines at the end of each wing, as well as a main engine at the rear to propel it to higher speeds. The cabin has ample space and includes an area to charge mobile phones and rotating seats.

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Measuring 12 meters long (39 feet), with its wings at 16 meters (53 feet) long, its total weight is around 6.4 tons (5,800 kg) and the craft holds a 900-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery. Around 1.25 tons (1,100 kg) of the plane's total weight is devoted to the passengers, pilots, and baggage.

Although incapable of long-haul international flights, Alice can fly shorter distances, such as from Israel to Cyprus or from Paris to Toulouse. Eviation expects its main customers to be American aviation companies, which can service short-haul lines within the continental US like the New York-Boston route.

At the Paris Air Show, Eviation CEO Omer Bar-Yohai noted that fuel costs for Alice would be significantly lower and flight costs would amount to some $200, half that of a traditional passenger aircraft. Most of the savings comes due to reduced fuel costs.

Alice is expected to undergo test flights in the US in the following months and be approved by the US Aviation Administration by 2022. Production for Alice will take place in Prescott, Arizona.

Eviation is also planning to present an unmanned cargo aircraft, the Orca. Currently, the company has taken several orders for its new aircraft, which carry a price tag of around $4 million each.

Eviation is run by Chairman Aviv Tzidon and CEO Omer Bar-Yohai and based in the Kadima-Zoran Industrial zone. The startup has so far raised $200 million.

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