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IDE adapts desalination technology for osmotic power generation
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Technology news Filtration+Separation March/April 2013
FibeRio secures capital investment FibeRio, the developer and manufacturer of Forcespinning® nanofibre production systems, has raised $13 million in capital from two global strategic investors. The investors are SABIC Ventures B.V., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation’s corporate venture capital arm, and Aster Capital Partners, sponsored by Solvay, Schneider Electric, Alstom and the European investment fund. The funding will be used to accelerate the company’s commercial growth, introduce larger scale production systems to the market and execute on a growing pipeline of orders and global opportunities with industry leading customers. “The support of two of the leading, knowledgeable strategic investors in this space, SABIC and Aster Capital, is a strong validation of the uniqueness of our Forcespinning technology and will help the company accelerate our growth, open new markets and enable new applications for all of our customers” commented Ellery Buchanan,
chief executive officer of FibeRio. “This collaboration will greatly accelerate our vision of the Forcespinning process becoming the world’s leading, cost effective process to produce nanofibres at scale never before achieved.” FibeRio says that Forcespinning is a disruptive, platform technology which enables leading manufacturers to produce nanofibres on a commercial scale in a cost effective way using a wide range of polymers and an environmentally sensitive process. Forcespinning is the only fine fibre production system capable of both melt and solution spinning from lab scale to full industrial scale production. Unlike electrospinning, Forcespinning does not require materials to contain certain dielectric properties for processing which limits the materials that can be produced into fibre. Nanofibre applications are used in a variety of markets including filtration. Hans Kolnaar of SABIC Ventures commented: “FibeRio’s unique processing technology not only
increases our market reach, but offers SABIC an opportunity to move further down the value chain with innovative fibres for our customers.” “We view the cost effective production of nanofibres at scale as a key technological focus for the nonwovens marketplace for a wide variety of applications in the filtration, energy, medical, hygiene and textiles markets. Thanks to our sponsor, Solvay, we
were able to validate that FibeRio has a unique breakthrough technology to accelerate nanofibre growth for all levels of production. We are excited to partner with a company that will be driving the deployment of nanofibres for the foreseeable future” commented Pascal Siegwart and Todd Dauphinais, partners at Aster Capital in a joint statement. www.fiberiotech.com
The FibeRio Forcespinning® nanofibre production system.
IDE adapts desalination technology for osmotic power generation IDE Technologies Ltd. has entered into an agreement with Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy company, for the development of an Osmotic Power Generation pilot plant in Norway. The project is first of its kind to generate clean, green energy by mixing seawater and fresh water. IDE will design the 2 mega-watt pilot facility in Sunndalsøra, Norway. The plant, which will be capable of 24/7 operation in any weather, is scheduled for construction within a few years. Under the agreement, IDE will design and later purchase and construct the pilot plant in
close cooperation with Statkraft. Most of the plant will be based on existing technology used in desalination and other industries. However, IDE will design innovative solutions in several areas of the pilot plant, such as the energy recovery system and the fresh water and seawater pretreatment. “We are honoured to team up with Statkraft for this breakthrough pilot that will demonstrate the feasibility of producing energy by means of a PRO process,” said Dr. Boris Liberman, VP & CTO Membrane Technology of IDE. “We have been researching Osmotic Energy production for some time now,
and intend to bring our R&D findings, our solid engineering solutions and our water expertise to this project. This will result in driving costs down while increasing net energy output.” Osmotic Energy is a method for producing energy from the mix of fresh water and seawater. This technology enables clean power production at any place where rivers and lakes meet the seashore. Mastering this technology represents great potential for renewable, zero carbon-dioxide footprint, seafront power plants worldwide. “Statkraft pioneered the field of Osmotic Power by developing
knowledge and experience in the PRO technology, and later by constructing a prototype facility in Tofte, Norway,” said Stein Erik Skilhagen, Head of Osmotic Power, Statkraft. “The Tofte facility has been operating since 2009, and is in use for testing components, processes and membranes. We have selected IDE to design this pilot plant as we are certain that IDE’s pioneering R&D and solid engineering practices, coupled with Statkraft’s experience and capabilities, represent the best team to handle the technological and economic barrier to osmotic power generation.” www.ide-tech.com
Technology news Filtration+Separation March/April 2013
FibeRio secures capital investment FibeRio, the developer and manufacturer of Forcespinning® nanofibre production systems, has raised $13 million in capital from two global strategic investors. The investors are SABIC Ventures B.V., Saudi Basic Industries Corporation’s corporate venture capital arm, and Aster Capital Partners, sponsored by Solvay, Schneider Electric, Alstom and the European investment fund. The funding will be used to accelerate the company’s commercial growth, introduce larger scale production systems to the market and execute on a growing pipeline of orders and global opportunities with industry leading customers. “The support of two of the leading, knowledgeable strategic investors in this space, SABIC and Aster Capital, is a strong validation of the uniqueness of our Forcespinning technology and will help the company accelerate our growth, open new markets and enable new applications for all of our customers” commented Ellery Buchanan,
chief executive officer of FibeRio. “This collaboration will greatly accelerate our vision of the Forcespinning process becoming the world’s leading, cost effective process to produce nanofibres at scale never before achieved.” FibeRio says that Forcespinning is a disruptive, platform technology which enables leading manufacturers to produce nanofibres on a commercial scale in a cost effective way using a wide range of polymers and an environmentally sensitive process. Forcespinning is the only fine fibre production system capable of both melt and solution spinning from lab scale to full industrial scale production. Unlike electrospinning, Forcespinning does not require materials to contain certain dielectric properties for processing which limits the materials that can be produced into fibre. Nanofibre applications are used in a variety of markets including filtration. Hans Kolnaar of SABIC Ventures commented: “FibeRio’s unique processing technology not only
increases our market reach, but offers SABIC an opportunity to move further down the value chain with innovative fibres for our customers.” “We view the cost effective production of nanofibres at scale as a key technological focus for the nonwovens marketplace for a wide variety of applications in the filtration, energy, medical, hygiene and textiles markets. Thanks to our sponsor, Solvay, we
were able to validate that FibeRio has a unique breakthrough technology to accelerate nanofibre growth for all levels of production. We are excited to partner with a company that will be driving the deployment of nanofibres for the foreseeable future” commented Pascal Siegwart and Todd Dauphinais, partners at Aster Capital in a joint statement. www.fiberiotech.com
The FibeRio Forcespinning® nanofibre production system.
IDE adapts desalination technology for osmotic power generation IDE Technologies Ltd. has entered into an agreement with Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy company, for the development of an Osmotic Power Generation pilot plant in Norway. The project is first of its kind to generate clean, green energy by mixing seawater and fresh water. IDE will design the 2 mega-watt pilot facility in Sunndalsøra, Norway. The plant, which will be capable of 24/7 operation in any weather, is scheduled for construction within a few years. Under the agreement, IDE will design and later purchase and construct the pilot plant in
close cooperation with Statkraft. Most of the plant will be based on existing technology used in desalination and other industries. However, IDE will design innovative solutions in several areas of the pilot plant, such as the energy recovery system and the fresh water and seawater pretreatment. “We are honoured to team up with Statkraft for this breakthrough pilot that will demonstrate the feasibility of producing energy by means of a PRO process,” said Dr. Boris Liberman, VP & CTO Membrane Technology of IDE. “We have been researching Osmotic Energy production for some time now,
and intend to bring our R&D findings, our solid engineering solutions and our water expertise to this project. This will result in driving costs down while increasing net energy output.” Osmotic Energy is a method for producing energy from the mix of fresh water and seawater. This technology enables clean power production at any place where rivers and lakes meet the seashore. Mastering this technology represents great potential for renewable, zero carbon-dioxide footprint, seafront power plants worldwide. “Statkraft pioneered the field of Osmotic Power by developing
knowledge and experience in the PRO technology, and later by constructing a prototype facility in Tofte, Norway,” said Stein Erik Skilhagen, Head of Osmotic Power, Statkraft. “The Tofte facility has been operating since 2009, and is in use for testing components, processes and membranes. We have selected IDE to design this pilot plant as we are certain that IDE’s pioneering R&D and solid engineering practices, coupled with Statkraft’s experience and capabilities, represent the best team to handle the technological and economic barrier to osmotic power generation.” www.ide-tech.com