Industry News

Dstl: The next generation battery technology company, OXIS Energy Ltd has delivered the second phase of a research programme that it’s working on in collaboration with Lincad Ltd to improve its Lithium Sulfur batteries.  

The project is part of a wider Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) research programme which is looking to develop significantly lighter & safer batteries for UK armed forces.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially opened the £15.6m, four-turbine Neilston Community Wind Farm last week. The people of Neilston bought a 28% share in the wind farm with their partners Carbon Free Developments. They raised £950,000 in cash to buy their stake, which was loaned in part to them by the Scottish Government and other organisations.
 
The arrangement will give the village of Neilston around £10m of income over the life-time of the wind farm, supporting the village’s sustainable development & empowering residents to make improvements locally.
Press release & links ~ Neilston Community Wind Farm ~ Carbon Free Developments
 
STFC: Nuclear physicists at the ISOLDE radioactive-beam facility at CERN, including a number from the universities of York and Manchester, have for the first time measured the radioactive properties of astatine, the rarest element on earth.
 
This new study fills a long-standing gap in the periodic table; astatine, atomic number 85, is the last element present in nature for which this fundamental property remained unknown. The element is of particular interest because isotopes of astatine are candidates for the creation of radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment by targeted alpha therapy.
 
This research, co-funded by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) could help chemists to develop applications for astatine in radiotherapy, as well as developing theories that predict the structure of super-heavy elements.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: First Minister Alex Salmond recently opened Europe’s first world-class electricity grid research centre.  The centre will examine how advanced technologies can shape the low-carbon power industry of the future. 

The £12.5m Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) in Cumbernauld has been established in response to growing demand for secure, reliable & environmentally-friendly power, and uses a mini electricity grid system, not connected to the national network to test new technology. 
Press release & links
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