Flashbacks from 2020
As we come to the end of this calendar year, it is a good time to look back on our achievements and the major happenings of 2020.
Fast-forward into fall
I feel that I wrote my last newsletter intro just recently. Still, it seems to be already more than 3 months ago. I must say time is flying fast! But then again while looking back, I can see that a lot has happened since July.
Carlo Cecchi: East goes West
Attention: Chinese wind power manufacturers! We know that you are eyeing the West. Speaking last week to a house full of Chinese business and trade journalists at The Switch media business luncheon in Beijing, Celia Sun from MAKE consulting company listed a few approaches and risks you may want to consider when entering new markets.
According to MAKE’s Chief Representative in China, regulatory and technical barriers in mature markets may become a hindrance to the overseas business development plans of Chinese companies. To a large extent, this is true. However, as we at The Switch know very well, some of the Chinese wind turbines are already ‘powered by’ Western technologies, such as The Switch’s permanent-magnet generators and full-power converters.
Taking action on green shipping
Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch is one of four companies in Norway to push green shipping forward by taking action in the Norwegian Catapult’s program to develop test centers.
The savings, reliability and compactness of PM machines
Low CapEx/OpEx, high reliability and compactness. These are the three most important criteria our clients think of when considering adding electric machines to a new or upgraded vessel. But is it possible? Yes, with increasingly popular permanent magnet technology.
PM shaft generators optimize electrical output
To remain competitive, shipowners are always looking to increase efficiency while lowering operating costs. Ship designers can help by optimizing electrical generation.
Carbon taxes can help the sea turn green
Hege Økland, CEO of NCE Maritime CleanTech, urges for more concrete actions to make the green shift forward.
Driving energy efficiency for newbuild Donsötank tankers
Swedish shipowner Rederi AB Donsötank has chosen the WE Drive™ variable frequency drive and The Switch PM shaft generators for significant efficiency gains, lower emissions and decreased costs for its two advanced ice-class 1A tankers.
Are you IMO 2020 compliant?
On January 1, the IMO 2020 rule went into effect, reducing the amount of sulfur allowed in marine fuels to 0.5%. With over 170 countries on board, the benefits should add up quickly. But if you’re not compliant already, what’s the best way to adapt?
The Switch wins Finnish President award
Today, The Switch has been awarded with The Internationalization Award by Tarja Halonen, President of Finland.
The company’s growth has been based on the growing renewable energy markets globally and successful technology. For 2011, the company has received orders worth tens of millions of Euros.
Powering superyachts at the “speed of light”
What if it were possible to have all the comforts of power on a superyacht while going green?
It’s a challenging endeavor, yet one that’s more and more feasible these days.
Panu Kurronen: On China’s rare earth cuts
China announced last week that it would restrict its rare earth export quota and the news came unwelcome for the Western renewable energy industry. In Beijing, a representative of a Chinese Ministry of Commerce think tank commented: “Foreign nations do not make sense when they blame China for reducing exports. Some of them can produce rare earth themselves. Nations that own rare earth resources should take the responsibility of producing and help supply global demand.”
