Green Tech – Digital IT News https://digitalitnews.com IT news, trends and viewpoints for a digital world Tue, 11 Jun 2024 22:55:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.15 Step Into Spectacular at LG’s InfoComm 2024 Showcase https://digitalitnews.com/step-into-spectacular-at-lgs-infocomm-2024-showcase/ Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:00:46 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=11052 LG Business Solutions USA is showcasing a stunning lineup of commercial digital displays, ad-enabled EV chargers, laptops, projectors, system management software, and more at InfoComm 2024. Attendees will discover how these innovations can enhance business communications, streamline daily operations, improve user experiences, and generate new opportunities for differentiation and recurring revenue in nearly any commercial [...]

The post Step Into Spectacular at LG’s InfoComm 2024 Showcase appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
LG Business Solutions USA is showcasing a stunning lineup of commercial digital displays, ad-enabled EV chargers, laptops, projectors, system management software, and more at InfoComm 2024. Attendees will discover how these innovations can enhance business communications, streamline daily operations, improve user experiences, and generate new opportunities for differentiation and recurring revenue in nearly any commercial setting.

According to LG Business Solutions USA’s Head of Marketing Dave Bacher, with more than 40 innovative LG products on display, booth visitors can “Step Into Spectacular” and experience cutting-edge solutions to suit a wide array of commercial projects.

“LG is leading the way forward at InfoComm 2024 with groundbreaking displays, business tools and control capabilities, empowering integrators and business owners to deploy easy-to-use systems that deliver consistently excellent experiences for business owners, employees and customers,” Bacher said. “From retail stores and drive-thrus to offices and schools, integration pros are using LG’s vast selection of displays, laptops, EV chargers and intuitive software solutions to help commercial customers outfit virtually any size property with impressive visual experiences and real-time content control.”

As they approach the LG booth (W2125), they will be wowed by the giant new 1.9mm fine-pitch “Kinetic LED” designed for diverse settings such as shopping malls and airports. The striking installation presents a 20-foot-wide by 12-foot-tall kinetic screen consisting of several LED fine pitch (model LSBC019) panels that move in sync with atmospheric music to display vibrant digital art. The display offers high-dynamic range capability with a wide color gamut and high contrast ratio that make it ideal for presenting eye-catching imagery, including generative content. Installation and panel alignment are simplified through a click-and-lock system, even when used on a 90-degree corner to create a seamless multi-side visual experience.

Once inside the booth, visitors can browse through multiple zones that exhibit various technologies and solutions suited to distinct commercial sectors.

MicroLED displays can be found throughout LG’s booth, including the new 136-inch Next Generation MicroLED and 118-inch All-in-One with a 0.6mm pixel pitch that can instantly turn any space into a captivating media experience. The MAGNIT MicroLED with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) will also be on display. This model delivers excellent low-grayscale performance, ensuring superior image clarity and enabling users to see exactly what’s happening during the darkest scenes. The MAGNIT MicroLED display is also certified for color consistency over a wide viewing angle.

In the Luxury Retail Zone, attendees can preview the impact of LG’s double-sided display that features an 86-inch LED for window viewing and a 75-inch LCD for customer messaging indoors, a retail concept display that leverages a 30-inch Transparent OLED display, a 55-inch Transparent OLED that offers unique content opportunities and a 37-inch Ultrawide Stretch display that enables banner or column messaging to maximize space utilization.

The tech immersion continues in the Café and Bakery Zone, where the brand shows additional applications for its Transparent OLED displays including a touch-capable model. Another highlight is the upcoming 79-inch Stretch display that offers a 1.5mm, 1.8mm or 2.5mm pixel pitch and 32:9 aspect ratio. This zone also features signage displays from 32 inches to 110 inches, as well as a 27-inch touchscreen kiosk for ordering and a 16-inch LG gram laptop ideal for backend employee needs including content control for displays.

In the Drive-Thru Zone, integrators can experience the sun-defying performance and resilience of LG’s high brightness outdoor displays that range from 22 inches to a bold new 86-inch model that offers 4K Ultra HD resolution and 3,300 nits of brightness, enabling a wide range of drive-thru ordering configurations.

The Education Zone shows how LG signage can be deployed for campus messaging alongside in-class learning technologies such as LG gram laptops and the popular 75-inch LG CreateBoard, a multi-touch digital whiteboard that offers educators enhanced content sharing capabilities and deeper student engagement.

Demonstrating solutions for office, campus or hospitality projects, the Meeting Room Zone presents a variety of large screen solutions including a 105-inch LCD model and a 171-inch LED All-in-One with stereo speakers, which each feature a 21:9 aspect ratio optimized for Microsoft Front Row. This is also where booth visitors can experience the amazing picture quality, color and impact of LG’s MAGNIT technology through a 136-inch All-in-One MicroLED model with a 0.7mm pixel pitch and a build-to-size model with a 0.9mm pixel pitch. An additional marine-grade DVLED display shows that LG is also addressing outdoor spaces, making it an ideal partner for even the most unique projects and needs.

In the Sports Bar Zone, LG shows how various digital displays can be implemented for messaging, entertainment and interactive experiences with its new high-brightness window facing 75-inch display, a 55-inch transparent OLED display, a touch-enabled 30-inch transparent OLED display, and a 65-inch UHD display.

The LG SHIELD Zone showcases LG’s new security platform for webOS™ 6.0 devices, a powerful cybersecurity system with five layers of protection, including Connected Service, Application, OS, System and Hardware. LG’s security platform is invaluable for any business utilizing digital signage, offering protection against a range of cyber threats including hacking, malicious software, ransomware, and more. This software is particularly crucial for businesses that share confidential data and information, as it helps safeguard against intellectual property infringement as well. This zone also highlights a sampling of LG’s latest commercial projection solutions.

Showing that LG has solutions that go beyond traditional display functions, the booth also highlights two versions of the new LG Level 2 EV Charger featuring enclosures by Melitron. One is outfitted with a 22-inch LG display, and the other with a 55-inch LG display, each offering owners messaging opportunities and the ability to develop new revenue streams through paid advertising.

Integrators familiar with LG know that the company’s platforms are a major part of its value and performance proposition, and visitors to the Software Solutions Zone can learn about the new LG Business Cloud, a multi-service SaaS cloud platform that provides integrators and business owners simple access to the powerful capabilities of LG ConnectedCare, LG Pro:Centric Cloud, LG Pro:Centric Stay and LG SuperSign Cloud.

Finally, LG’s 97-inch OLED and a 37-inch stretch displays highlights the “Better Life for All,” program, the company’s robust ESG (environment-social-governance) commitments to people and the planet. The program’s six key focus areas – carbon neutrality, circularity, clean technology, decent workplace, diversity & inclusion and design for all – align with ESG goals of major customers.

Learn more about what LG products to expect at the Step Into Spectacular InfoComm 2024 display booth here.

Related News:

IGEL Advances in OT and IoT by Integrating LG’s Large-Screen Digital Displays

LG CreateBoard and IGEL Spearhead a Digital Signage Revolution

The post Step Into Spectacular at LG’s InfoComm 2024 Showcase appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
The Vital Role of EV Charging Infrastructure in Electric Vehicle Growth and Acceptance https://digitalitnews.com/the-vital-role-of-ev-charging-infrastructure-in-electric-vehicle-growth-and-acceptance/ Fri, 31 May 2024 14:00:26 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10959 In the global race towards net zero emissions and overall sustainability, electrical vehicles (EVs) play a critical role. The rise in EV interest and use in the past decade has been encouraging. EV sales had a record-breaking year in 2023, with the United States alone seeing 1.6 million in EV sales. All signs point to [...]

The post The Vital Role of EV Charging Infrastructure in Electric Vehicle Growth and Acceptance appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
In the global race towards net zero emissions and overall sustainability, electrical vehicles (EVs) play a critical role. The rise in EV interest and use in the past decade has been encouraging. EV sales had a record-breaking year in 2023, with the United States alone seeing 1.6 million in EV sales. All signs point to people wanting to adopt more sustainable transportation practices. However, for this shift to move the needle toward global sustainability, the EV charging infrastructure will need to be robust enough to support expanded EV use.

The current EV charging infrastructure

To support the over 2 million EVs on US roads today, over 175,000 EV charging stations have been built and installed. This number is on par with the number of gas stations in the US. However, research has revealed acute issues with the current EV charging infrastructure.

A recent study from JD Power showed that EV drivers reported that upwards of 20% of EV charging stations were inoperable at any time. The unreliable nature of the EV charging infrastructure has led to what is being deemed “charging anxiety” on the part of EV drivers. Where once drivers were concerned about the range of their fully-charged EVs, now they are experiencing anxiety about their ability to charge their vehicles once they reach a charging station.

As there has been a greater push to embrace EVs, the problems with the EV charging station infrastructure have become more crucial to examine. Recently, the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has pledged to increase uptime to 97%, a lofty goal in the face of obvious issues. This goal has come at the same time as the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Plan, which includes funds for expanded EV charging stations.

It has become apparent that for the EV Revolution to thrive, the charging infrastructure must be better supported.

Support for charging, support for EV growth

To buoy the current charging infrastructure and lay a strong foundation for future charging stations, the focus must not only be on building more stations but also on having a workforce that is trained and ready to support them.

Currently, traditional electricians and IT support technicians are being relied upon to support and maintain this new infrastructure. However, as with all new technologies and industries, a new workforce of specifically trained technicians will be required if the goals of NEVI, state and federal governments, and the EV industry itself are to be met. EV charging stations are complex networks. While traditional electricians may have the know-how to address electrical interruptions or issues with the infrastructure, they may not have the EV-specific knowledge to keep the network operational. Likewise, while IT workers may have the computer hardware or networking knowledge useful for supporting the technology that EV charging stations are built around, they may not have the specific skills to support electrical equipment.

A new component in the EV Revolution is specifically trained, certified electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) technicians. This latest addition to the workforce is poised to make a significant difference in the nation’s race to bolster its EV charging infrastructure — and thereby support greater EV use. A well-supported charging infrastructure, maintained by specially trained professionals, will lead to greater uptime, a reduction in “charging anxiety,” and greater overall adoption of EVs.

The expanded workforce

With an expanded EV charging infrastructure comes more jobs, which is another way the EV Revolution appeals to so many in the United States. From those tasked with installing the new charging systems to those trained to maintain them, studies show that between 2021 and 2023, there has been a 21% increase in employment demand for EV and EV-adjacent jobs. Thousands of professionals will be needed in the coming years if the country is to meet the growing demand for EV use. These professionals will serve as frontline supporters of the EV Revolution, keeping it moving forward and allowing for more innovative expansion of the EV industry in the near future.

It is clear that the success of the EV Revolution greatly hinges on the support of the EV charging infrastructure. The automotive industry is on the fast track toward electrification, the benefits of which are already being felt. A single EV produces 60-68% fewer greenhouse gasses than a fuel-based vehicle over its lifetime. The more EVs on the road, the better our chances become to fight climate change. As global demand for EVs continues on an upward trajectory, a strong focus on training specialized technicians to support the planned expanded charging infrastructure will be critical. A well-planned and supported EV charging infrastructure not only supports EV use but also strengthens the economy through job creation. By prioritizing the health and expansion of the EV charging network, we can improve our defenses against climate change and pave the way for a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone on the planet.

Learn more about SkillFusion’s EV Charging Infrastructure at the website here.

Related News:

2024 US OEM EV App Report Released by JD Power

MaxiCharger Megawatt Charging System Released by Autel Energy

The post The Vital Role of EV Charging Infrastructure in Electric Vehicle Growth and Acceptance appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
2024 US OEM EV App Report Released by JD Power https://digitalitnews.com/2024-us-oem-ev-app-report-released-by-jd-power/ Wed, 29 May 2024 17:00:22 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10944 The use of mobile apps from auto manufacturers is on the rise, with 90% of electric vehicle (EV) owners reporting usage, up from 88% in 2023 and 81% in 2022, according to the J.D. Power 2024 US OEM EV App Report. Significantly, 67% of EV owners use their brand’s app at least half of the [...]

The post 2024 US OEM EV App Report Released by JD Power appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
The use of mobile apps from auto manufacturers is on the rise, with 90% of electric vehicle (EV) owners reporting usage, up from 88% in 2023 and 81% in 2022, according to the J.D. Power 2024 US OEM EV App Report. Significantly, 67% of EV owners use their brand’s app at least half of the time they drive, emphasizing the importance of a well-designed EV mobile app that addresses primary needs such as charging capability, vehicle status, and remote control functionality.

The following are some key findings of the 2024 US OEM EV App Report:

  • App connectivity focused: Although the percentage of EV owners who experienced a connection problem (38%) is flat year over year, the experience between non-Tesla and Tesla owners is more revealing. While 40% of non-Tesla EV owners say they experienced a connection problem—down from 44% a year ago—35% of Tesla owners say they experienced a connection-related problem—up from 30% in 2023 and 20% in 2022. This problematic trend may suggest that increasing app usage is straining Tesla’s app network capacity.
  • Feature driven: The report shows that top-performing brands are addressing the needs and features desired by owners, such as the ability to accurately monitor an active charge; set charging preferences (e.g., maximum state of charge, charging schedules, departure timers); and plug and charge integration for an enhanced public charging experience. Of the 25 most common app features, 20 are cited as desirable by more than 70% of EV owners, with all but one charging-related feature having higher desirability than in previous years.
  • Continuing effect on EV shoppers: Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Tesla owners say availability of a smartphone app had at least a moderate effect on their purchase decision, up from 59% in 2023. Among non-Tesla owners, only 34% say a smartphone app had at least a moderate effect on their purchase decision. Furthermore, 21% of Tesla owners say it had a major effect vs. just 8% among non-Tesla EV owners. This suggests that OEMs must do a better job of communicating the availability and feature content of their smartphone apps to help attract interested EV shoppers.
  • Dealership effect on satisfaction: Nearly three-fourths (72%) of EV owners say they received some type of assistance from the dealership with the app, an increase of 2 percentage points from 2023. Nearly 88% of premium brand owners (excluding Tesla) say they received dealership support vs. 74% of mass market EV owners. Owners who received assistance from their dealership are more likely to use the app and to be satisfied with it than those who did not.

“The overall experience and performance of electric vehicle mobile apps has improved year over year, as manufacturers continue to identify areas of opportunity, including feature contenting, usability and overall connectivity,” said Jason Norton, director of benchmark consulting at J.D. Power. “However, a continued focus on the specific needs of EV owners is needed to further improve the user experience and trust.”

Report Rankings

Tesla ranks highest overall and highest in the premium brand segment of EV mobile apps, with a score of 847 (on a 1,000-point scale). Mercedes me connect(843) ranks second and My BMW (834) ranks third.

MyHyundai with Bluelink ranks highest in the mass market segment of EV mobile apps, with a score of 835. Kia Access(829) ranks second and FordPass (810) ranks third.

The 2024 US OEM EV App Report, now in its fourth year, gauges EV owners’ experience with their brand’s mobile app. Insights are derived from surveying EV owners and an assessment of the most relevant EV mobile apps. Results are based on a standardized assessment approach relying on more than 350 best practices for vehicle apps that include more than 70 EV-specific attributes.

The report includes apps from the top 25 award-eligible brands that sell EVs in the United States; 10 profiled EV brands in China; and nine profiled EV brands in Europe. Additionally, almost 1,300 EV owners in the United States were surveyed in April-May 2024 to gather insights on app usage; feature desirability; and app overall execution for the 2024 report.

For more information about the 2024 US OEM EV App Report, visit the website here.

Related News:

MaxiCharger Megawatt Charging System Released by Autel Energy

EV Range Collaborating with LG as a Value Added Reseller of the LG Charger

The post 2024 US OEM EV App Report Released by JD Power appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
BIC, LG’s Latest Business Innovation Center has Opened in New Jersey https://digitalitnews.com/bic-lgs-latest-business-innovation-center-has-opened-in-new-jersey/ Tue, 21 May 2024 14:00:35 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10884 LG Business Solutions USA has opened its newest Business Innovation Center (BIC), a remarkable 3,600-square-foot showroom located at LG Electronics’ North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The new BIC center provides resellers, partners and customers with a one-stop technology showcase that demonstrates LG’s full portfolio of innovative commercial technologies and wide-ranging business solutions. [...]

The post BIC, LG’s Latest Business Innovation Center has Opened in New Jersey appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
LG Business Solutions USA has opened its newest Business Innovation Center (BIC), a remarkable 3,600-square-foot showroom located at LG Electronics’ North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

The new BIC center provides resellers, partners and customers with a one-stop technology showcase that demonstrates LG’s full portfolio of innovative commercial technologies and wide-ranging business solutions. This newest location joins LG Business Innovation Centers in Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles.

According to David Bacher, head of marketing at LG Business Solutions USA, the latest LG BIC assists business-to-business (B2B) partners and customers as they research and plan for the future of their workspaces, customer environments and commercial establishments.

“Our new LG BIC offers integrators and commercial customers a gallery-like experience where each awe-inspiring exhibit evokes new opportunities made possible by the latest LG innovations,” Bacher said, highlighting digital signage displays, DVLED solutions, projectors, gram laptops, edge computing products, IT solutions, EV chargers, CLOi autonomous mobile robots, medical displays and more. “We want this showroom to be a reference for technology professionals and businesses across the northeast as they consider new tech-enabled solutions and experiences for every location from hospitals and retail stores to restaurants and entertainment venues.”

Designed as a walk-through experience, BIC visitors are welcomed by LG’s full line of CLOi autonomous mobile robots including CarryBot, GuideBot and ServeBot, alongside an impressive wall-sized LG DVLED (direct-view light-emitting diode) display.

Continuing through the entrance, the next area houses numerous large-scale LG DVLED displays demonstrating a variety of sophistication and use cases including a 217-inch UHD-quality MAGNIT display that leverages a colorful mosaic of Micro LED chips to deliver stunning images with vivid colors, breathtaking contrast, and ultra-fine detail. A number of All-in-One DVLED models up to 163 inches in size show how easy it can be to add a large, dramatic canvas to any space with built-in processing and stereo speakers that simplify design and installation.

Visitors then proceed to the EV charger section to learn how multiple models of LG’s recently-launched electric vehicle charging stations suit commercial charging needs for various B2B customers from hotels and restaurants to hospitals and schools to stadiums and offices.

The nearby computing area offers hands-on experience with LG gram laptops ranging from 11 inches to 17 inches and a large variety of IT and desktop solutions including monitors up to 49 inches with 4K and ultrawide options, thin client all-in-ones and thin client boxes for flexible edge computing.

LG’s commercial line of ProBeam and CineBeam projectors is the next visible display, which sits directly across from a dedicated room for digital signage that demonstrates how LG’s catalog has something for every need and every location. The digital signage exhibit includes LCD displays up to 110 inches, LG Ultrastretch displays with aspect ratios up to 58:9 to bring unused and leftover space to life, a 4K Gallery OLED display, outdoor-rated displays and the amazing LG Transparent OLED display that opens up new worlds of creativity.

The next stop shows off LG’s growing family of medical solutions. It features a variety of digital displays including diagnostic monitors, radiology monitors, surgical monitors and computer monitors with special features such as unique aspect ratios for optimized viewing of medical images and documents. This space also highlights LG’s line of portable DXD X-ray detectors that deliver clear images and enhanced convenience through a long-lasting battery and durable design.

The BIC’s final section demonstrates why LG is the leading television provider to the U.S. lodging and hospitality industry, showing off a variety of commercial-grade Smart Hotel TVs in 55- and 75-inch sizes with up to 4K Ultra HD resolution. Each model includes the powerful LG Pro:Centric Smart platform that enables use of modern solutions including content streaming and interface customization. Plus, LG hotel TVs are now equipped with Alexa for Hospitality and Apple Airplay capabilities to bring the comfort and convenience of home to the hotel experience.

“The NJ BIC is a technological playground for integrators to show clients the vast possibilities offered by implementing LG commercial technologies, and to experience how they truly look, feel and operate to aid their decisions and generate excitement about making new investments,” Bacher said. “We’re excited to build on the success of our Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta BICs to give northeast businesses all the information and experience they need to outfit their next forward-looking school, store, attraction, restaurant, transit hub, hospital ward or any other public location with class-leading technologies.”

The new BIC is a centerpiece of the LG North American Headquarters Innovation Campus, which is a showcase for environmentally friendly design, having achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest-level rating that distinguishes buildings that promote employee well-being, are energy and water efficient, and preserve open space and ecosystems. The campus is one of only 10 new construction buildings in New Jersey to earn the LEED Platinum distinction.

The 350,000-square-foot building’s design has been applauded by conservation groups for protecting the iconic vistas and integrity of the nearby Palisades Park, a national natural and historic landmark. For the new corporate campus, which had a pandemic opening in 2020, LG created 50 percent more green space on the 27-acre site, maintained woodlands and wetlands and planted more than 1,500 new trees native to New Jersey.

For more information about the NJ BIC and the other sites, visit the website here.

Related News:

LG CreateBoard and IGEL Spearhead a Digital Signage Revolution

Healthcare Technologies Improve Staff and Patient Experiences with LG

The post BIC, LG’s Latest Business Innovation Center has Opened in New Jersey appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
The Solutions Brief, The Role of Markets in Reaching Net Zero Issued https://digitalitnews.com/the-solutions-brief-the-role-of-markets-in-reaching-net-zero-issued/ Thu, 16 May 2024 16:01:16 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10842 The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, has released the Solutions Brief titled “The Role of Markets in Achieving Net Zero.” This document provides recommendations for reaching net zero emissions by 2050 as seamlessly as possible, while also ensuring consistent, affordable energy access to support economic advancement. The [...]

The post The Solutions Brief, The Role of Markets in Reaching Net Zero Issued appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, has released the Solutions Brief titled “The Role of Markets in Achieving Net Zero.” This document provides recommendations for reaching net zero emissions by 2050 as seamlessly as possible, while also ensuring consistent, affordable energy access to support economic advancement.

The Solutions Brief —the latest in CED’s Sustaining Capitalism series—comes as the world struggles to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. Even if all countries fully comply with their current emissions reductions plans, emissions will rise 9% above 2010 levels by 2030.

As the Solutions Brief emphasizes, market mechanisms and innovation play an essential role in driving adoption of new technologies and promoting the ultimate goal: to shift the energy mix while driving growth and human prosperity.

“Only through greater reliance on and sensitivity to the workings of markets will the US be able to reach net zero, accelerate innovation, stimulate markets eager for that innovation, and maintain US competitiveness,” said John Gardner, Vice President, Public Policy at CED.

Key Recommendations

Policymakers and the business community will need to work together to ensure that the energy transition succeeds in a way that spurs global and US economic growth while recognizing the social costs of the transition. CED’s recommendations include:

The power of markets and using federal funding wisely

  • Generous tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) cannot (and should not) remain part of the tax code forever. The best use of the credits is to incentivize companies to make further innovations to bring new technologies to scale and develop compelling options that the market will eagerly take up—making net-zero options truly economically sustainable.
  • Determining whether these credits spur further development of technologies at scale and at lower cost will require expanded research and investment, continuous oversight of projects funded and credits given through the IRA, and transparency of rules for credit use.
  • Regulations should be based on sound science; promote competition; and propose practical, actionable steps clear to regulated entities. Regulations should be as technology neutral as possible to avoid skewing market incentives, focus on intended outcomes rather than favored choices, and encourage all options for decarbonization.

Fossil fuels and methane

  • Natural gas is a highly effective fuel for the transition. Simply switching from unabated coal (in which carbon is not captured) to gas brings about at least a 30% reduction in emissions.
  • The current review of natural gas exports should permit the US to increase exports of liquefied natural gas to promote both global energy security and emissions reductions.
  • Methane emissions in both the oil and gas and agri-food sectors should be addressed through actions in both the public and private sectors, such as by reducing leaks in wellheads and related systems, and greater adoption of regenerative agriculture.

Carbon markets

  • While there are many ways to design carbon markets, the basic principles of a system for the US should include revenue neutrality so that the system becomes self-funding; promoting net-zero carbon; a bias for simplicity; and ensuring fairness, which includes concepts such as a carbon border adjustment mechanism to maintain US competitiveness.
  • Other factors that will need to be considered include regional coordination to account for differences between states that rely heavily on energy production and those that do not, and pricing mechanisms with sensitivity to those most impacted by higher costs from higher prices on carbon, including the poorest and most disadvantaged Americans.
  • Policymakers should develop such a plan in coordination with the private sector.
  • Voluntary carbon markets offer an important way for business to participate in emissions reductions. As these markets grow, it will be essential to ensure that carbon credits are of high quality and deliver the promised emissions reductions.

Technologies for emissions reductions

  • Despite challenges, carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers great potential—if it can be scaled—in both natural and engineered solutions. Both public and private research efforts should continue, including for direct air capture and for energy storage.
  • The US should support international efforts through the Carbon Management Challenge.
  • While maintaining its focus on safety, the US should remain at the forefront of the global nuclear renaissance, promoting nuclear power through permitting reforms and finding a solution for the long-term storage of nuclear waste.
  • Permitting reform will speed adoption of renewables by reducing the backlog of requests for interconnection awaiting approval and facilitating faster expansion of the power grid.

The role of business leaders

  • Businesses of all sizes can take significant steps to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency in operations and invest in research and development (R&D) related to the energy transition; most can recognize achieving net zero as a business imperative.

To review the Solutions Brief issued by The Conference Board,  The Role of Markets in Reaching Net Zero, click here.

Related News:

Silicon Valley’s Largest Fuel Cell-Powered Intel HPC Data Center

Delta Unveils Solutions for Smart Factory Automation and e-Mobility

The post The Solutions Brief, The Role of Markets in Reaching Net Zero Issued appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Silicon Valley’s Largest Fuel Cell-Powered Intel HPC Data Center https://digitalitnews.com/silicon-valleys-largest-fuel-cell-powered-intel-hpc-data-center/ Fri, 10 May 2024 17:00:10 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10776 Bloom Energy has announced a power capacity arrangement with Intel Corporation, paving the way for Silicon Valley’s largest data center for high-performance computing powered by fuel cells. The agreement calls for the installation of additional megawatts (MW) of Bloom Energy’s fuel cell-based Energy Server at Intel’s existing high-performance computing data center in Santa Clara, CA. [...]

The post Silicon Valley’s Largest Fuel Cell-Powered Intel HPC Data Center appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Bloom Energy has announced a power capacity arrangement with Intel Corporation, paving the way for Silicon Valley’s largest data center for high-performance computing powered by fuel cells.

The agreement calls for the installation of additional megawatts (MW) of Bloom Energy’s fuel cell-based Energy Server at Intel’s existing high-performance computing data center in Santa Clara, CA. The additional capacity expands an existing Bloom Energy fuel cell installation already deployed at the tech giant’s location since 2014. The resulting installation will be the single largest fuel cell-powered high-performance computing data center in Silicon Valley.

Bloom’s fuel cell technology offers an ideal power solution for energy-intensive data centers that demand reliable electricity generation. Bloom’s offerings can be deployed as Grid Parallel in conjunction with utility power to meet dual source energy needs of a Data Center or as Grid Independent by completely avoiding transmission infrastructure. With the ability to operate in a fully islanded microgrid mode, Grid Independent configurations circumvent delays, costs, and constraints associated with grid-based power and can be deployed in weeks on a skid mounted, moveable platform.

“Bloom Energy is proud to be a long-term supplier to Intel and to support the company’s data center capacity building at a time when the grid is severely constrained,” said Ravi Prasher, Bloom Energy’s Chief Technology Officer. “Bloom Energy technology is compatible with hydrogen fuel in addition to natural gas. We are working with governments and industries to adopt hydrogen as a primary fuel when it becomes economically viable. Intel’s confidence in our fuel cell technology is a testament to Bloom’s ability to reliably meet the energy needs of cutting edge and high-performance IT infrastructure.”

“Intel is leading the industry in extreme energy-efficient high-performance computing data centers with existing hyperscale Intel Santa Clara Data Center operating at 1.06 PUE, enabling the HPC scale needed for complex Intel chip design and technology development,” said Shesha Krishnapura, Intel Fellow, and Intel IT Chief Technology Officer. “Intel HPC Data Center infrastructure currently powers 400,000+ Intel® Xeon® based servers (5+ million highest clock cores), 700+ petabytes of storage, and 800,000+ network ports. To meet additional HPC scale needed for Intel Products and Intel Foundry, Intel is leveraging Bloom Energy technology to power the next Data Center expansion.”

As the energy demands of data centers surge across the globe, Bloom Energy’s fuel cells offer a proven solution. Rapidly deployable, on-site energy generation provides operators with the ability to scale to meet the future needs of ever-changing businesses.

To learn more about Bloom Energy’s fuel cell powered technology, visit the website here.

Related News:

The post Silicon Valley’s Largest Fuel Cell-Powered Intel HPC Data Center appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Delta Unveils Solutions for Smart Factory Automation and e-Mobility https://digitalitnews.com/delta-unveils-solutions-for-smart-factory-automation-and-e-mobility/ Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:00:08 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10665 At Hannover Messe 2024, Delta is unveiling its unique capabilities aimed at promoting smart manufacturing and sustainable cities under the theme “Realizing an Intelligent, Sustainable, and Connected World.” The exhibition highlights a new generation of collaborative robots (cobots) tailored for smart factory automation applications, along with a new 500kW DC ultra-fast charger suitable for both [...]

The post Delta Unveils Solutions for Smart Factory Automation and e-Mobility appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
At Hannover Messe 2024, Delta is unveiling its unique capabilities aimed at promoting smart manufacturing and sustainable cities under the theme “Realizing an Intelligent, Sustainable, and Connected World.” The exhibition highlights a new generation of collaborative robots (cobots) tailored for smart factory automation applications, along with a new 500kW DC ultra-fast charger suitable for both conventional and heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs).

At today’s press conference, Dalip Sharma, President and General Manager of Delta Electronics EMEA Region, said, “Delta’s dedication to sustainability is intricately woven into our innovative solutions and business model, mirroring Europe’s net-zero endeavors. Moreover, our proactive sustainability measures, such as our Internal Carbon Pricing system, have been crucial for Delta’s factories, R&D centers, and offices in EMEA to achieve RE100 in 2023. We are also proud to demonstrate our new factory digital twin, developed on the NVIDIA  OmniverseTM platform, for our smart production demo lines.”

Across the approximately 400-square-meter Delta booth, visitors will engage on a journey into the world of intelligent infrastructure across three sectors: Intelligent Industry, Smart Energy Infrastructure, and ICT Infrastructure.

Transformation to Smart Factory

Michael Mayer-Rosa, Senior Director, Industrial Automation Business Group at Delta Electronics EMEA Region, said, “Leveraging our deep-rooted expertise in machine, process, and factory automation, we’re honored to unveil Delta’s D-Bot series cobots at Hannover Messe 2024.” Delta’s cobots are engineered for swift deployment and straightforward operation, offering plug-and-play functionality alongside intuitive programming. This innovation significantly bolsters Delta’s capabilities in smart factory automation, directly catering to the industry’s urgent requirements for adaptability and efficiency. Furthermore, the cobot portfolio boasts payload capacities up to 30 kg, reach spans as long as 1800 mm, and compatibility with EtherCAT, CODESYS, and Modbus to ensure optimal levels of precision, in applications such as pick & place, palletizing, and welding.

Just last month, Delta joined NVIDIA GTC, a global AI conference. With a digital twin developed on NVIDIA Omniverse, Delta simplified the simulation process of tray and object detection on a demo robotic line by consolidating the 3D data of diverse equipment. The result on the demo line was an increase in the synthetic data generation capabilities. The solution saves time to plan and optimize factory operations before actual production starts.

Energy Transition for Grid Challenges

Delta supports the world’s current energy transition with its comprehensive Smart Energy Infrastructure solutions, including PV inverters, energy storage systems, a variety of AC and DC EV chargers, and an advanced EV Charging Management System. At Hannover Messe, the Company is demonstrating a fast-charging station application, including the brand new 500kW DC heavy-duty EV charger, the UFC 500, designed for fleet and public charging, and the DeltaGrid® EVM. This integration, complemented by Delta’s smart energy solutions, illustrates the Company’s commitment to alleviating grid stress from the fast-growing demand for fast EV charging.

Strong Information & Communications Infrastructure in the Age of Digital Transformation

At Hannover, Delta is also showcasing its readiness to be the partner in establishing a solid information & communications infrastructure, featuring complete ICT solutions, from prefabricated to edge data centers, and 5G telecommunication infrastructure, all designed for optimal efficiency, reliability, and scalability. These solutions are enabling higher energy efficiency and productivity in critical applications in the era of IIoT and digital transformation.

Discover Delta’s innovations at Hannover Messe 2024

Delta invites visitors to explore its latest technologies and solutions from 22 to 26 April in Hall 11, Stand C05. Media representatives unable to attend the press conference this afternoon can still arrange interviews with Delta during the trade fair. For more information about Delta’s participation in Hannover Messe 2024 and its smart innovative solutions, visit the website here.

Related News:

Digital Twins Poised To Change the Way Enterprise Networks are Managed

Cisco Hypershield Reimagines Data Centers and Cloud Security

The post Delta Unveils Solutions for Smart Factory Automation and e-Mobility appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service Announced https://digitalitnews.com/oracle-climate-change-analytics-cloud-service-announced/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:00:48 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10634 Financial institutions face mounting regulatory demands to understand their environmental footprint and that of the companies they finance or invest in, termed financed emissions. To aid banks in assessing climate risk more effectively, Oracle has unveiled Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service. This innovative reporting and analytics platform, equipped with AI capabilities, aims to assist [...]

The post Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service Announced appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Financial institutions face mounting regulatory demands to understand their environmental footprint and that of the companies they finance or invest in, termed financed emissions. To aid banks in assessing climate risk more effectively, Oracle has unveiled Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service. This innovative reporting and analytics platform, equipped with AI capabilities, aims to assist financial institutions in comprehending financed emissions, addressing statutory compliance, and mitigating risks associated with climate change.

“While banks work on climate-related financial risks that could affect them directly through their operations, they also need to be cognizant of their effect on climate indirectly through the businesses they finance. This dual responsibility requires the critical management of both risk and their own Net Zero commitments, which demands a significant effort from banks,” said Jason Wynne, global vice president for finance, risk, and compliance product development, Oracle Financial Services. “Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service enables financial institutions to calculate, and analyze the impact of their carbon emissions, as well as climate targets on current and planned investments to get a full picture of the bank’s resiliency and risk around climate change.”

According to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report, the global average atmospheric carbon dioxide in 2023 set a new record high at 419.3 parts per million. The Financial Stability Board (FSB) adds that “These risks are global in nature, and will have effects across all entities, sectors, and economies….the breadth of climate-related risks – including their possible simultaneous occurrence across multiple jurisdictions and sectors – also has implications for the resilience of the financial system.”

With climate-related risks on the rise, it’s imperative that banks can better understand and account for the impact of their holistic portfolio of assets from both a regulatory and business strategy perspective. With pre-built calculation models and dashboards, the service can help save banks time and effort, address global climate change reporting requirements, and incorporate climate risk into their future risk and investment decisions.

‘Climate Risk’ assessment made easier 
Banks are challenged to comply with multiple frameworks across several jurisdictions, and collecting and storing the data necessary to meet these requirements can be daunting. This is especially true when dealing with large and complex global customers. With built-in AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools Climate Change Analytics can scour the internet for publicly available information about climate change initiatives by companies that the bank has invested in, which can aid in their overall assessment of climate risk.

Also according to CDP, a leader in aggregating global climate disclosures on banks’ portfolios, portfolio emissions are over 700x larger than direct emissions – and the risks of inaction are huge. Financial institutions must urgently decarbonize their portfolios, by disclosing the impact of their financing activities, setting science-based targets, and aligning all financing activity with the Paris Agreement.

Oracle’s new cloud service enables financial institutions to calculate emissions across various asset classes and jurisdictions. This encompasses not only greenhouse gas emissions across an organization’s operations and value chain but also financed and facilitated emissions from its customers. This allows for the computation of a climate rating at a counterparty level across the bank’s customer portfolio and incorporates climate change risk into other risk-management functions, such as project planning and risk audits and analysis.

Key feature capabilities of Oracle’s Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service include:

  • Performing carbon accounting by calculating greenhouse gas emissions based on The GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.
  • Calculating and disclosing emission numbers for financed, facilitated, and avoided emissions and emissions removal based on the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials guidelines.
  • Integrating climate risk into overall enterprise risk and investment decision-making with an in-house Climate Scorecard framework, probability of default (PD) and loss given default (LGD) models, and heatmaps.
  • Accessing more than 100 prebuilt, cross-jurisdictional climate change reporting disclosures, analytics, and visualizations to address requirements for standards boards and regulators.
  • Using advanced analysis to source, configure, store, and analyze customer climate change data with rich data models for analytics.
  • Helping to reduce IT investment with cloud-native technology that can meet the ever-changing climate change reporting requirements.

 

Learn more about Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service, visit the website here.

Related News: 

What Will Drive Mobile Financial Services’ Growth? Report Released

Kubecost 2.2 Launches with Extended Cloud Cost Insights and Carbon Monitoring

The post Oracle Climate Change Analytics Cloud Service Announced appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Solar Energy Pilot Project to Power Collaboration and Meeting Spaces https://digitalitnews.com/solar-energy-pilot-project-to-power-collaboration-and-meeting-spaces/ Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:00:04 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10637 Cisco and Morgan Solar have unveiled a pilot initiative aimed at utilizing solar energy to power collaboration and meeting areas. The first pilot project is currently deployed at Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre with plans to include two additional customer sites. The concept leverages Morgan Solar’s Energy Blinds, capturing clean, solar energy in a direct current [...]

The post Solar Energy Pilot Project to Power Collaboration and Meeting Spaces appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
Cisco and Morgan Solar have unveiled a pilot initiative aimed at utilizing solar energy to power collaboration and meeting areas.

The first pilot project is currently deployed at Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre with plans to include two additional customer sites. The concept leverages Morgan Solar’s Energy Blinds, capturing clean, solar energy in a direct current (DC) microgrid, and Cisco’s Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switch, which helps to distribute energy within the room. Cisco’s Webex platform is also integrated and detects when the room is not in use to help maximize energy generation and minimize energy consumption.

“To take meaningful steps towards a sustainable future, businesses need to think creatively about how to get there,” said Wayne Cuervo, Director of Cisco Canada’s Digital Impact Office. “Collaborating with forward-thinking companies like Morgan Solar, we’re driving the development of smart solutions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional energy generation technologies and giving businesses new pathways towards sustainability.”

The initial results show production of up to 50W of renewable energy per window, enough to effectively run the pilot room’s required equipment and devices. When the room is not occupied, the system stores excess solar energy to use later when needed or for use during peak times when energy from the grid may be more expensive. If expanded across office spaces, the solution could enable greater energy efficiency and on-site energy generation than rooftop solar alone.

Beyond sustainability considerations, the pilot project intends to support tangible business value, including cost savings and enhanced productivity. It may also help lower the cost path towards U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in older buildings.

Canada, like many nations, has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The Cisco-Morgan Solar concept represents new thinking on how innovative technology solutions can contribute to national sustainability goals. As stakeholders look for pragmatic solutions to address climate change, technology can unlock new opportunities for growth and environmental stewardship in Canada and around the world.

“We’re committed to creating solutions that make solar energy more accessible to organizations and are working with Cisco to make that happen,” said John Paul Morgan, President and Chief Technology Officer at Morgan Solar. “Energy flow through windows is the main driver of a building’s energy use. Actively managing and capturing sunlight at the window paves the way for offices to become more self-powered and sustainable, while also being more comfortable spaces for people to work in.”

This initiative was born from Morgan Solar’s winning submission in Cisco’s Fast Future Innovation Awards in 2022 and funded through Cisco Canada’s Country Digital Acceleration Program. Grounded in the understanding that innovation cannot thrive on its own, through this awards program, Cisco dedicates its resources, expertise and scale to help solve challenges faced by Canadian businesses.

Cisco’s Net Zero Goals

Cisco has been reporting on its environmental impact since 2005. In 2021, Cisco set a goal to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 2040. Our goal includes all scopes of emissions and is approved by the Science Based Targets initiative under its Corporate Net-Zero Standard, the world’s only framework for corporate net zero target setting in line with climate science. In Cisco´s fiscal year 2023, Cisco consumed more than 1.3 million MWh of renewable electricity, making up approximately 91 per cent of its total global electricity demand, including sourcing 100 per cent of the electricity used at Cisco facilities in Canada from renewable sources.

To learn more about the Cisco and Morgan Solar’s collaboration to pilot sustainable solar energy blinds, visit the website here.

Related News:

GSatSolar Added by Globalstar to Industrial IoT Asset Tracking Portfolio

DPO and Partner Schneider Electric Develop Wind-Powered Modular AI Data Center

The post Solar Energy Pilot Project to Power Collaboration and Meeting Spaces appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
DataBank Establishes Support for the Next Phase of Expansion https://digitalitnews.com/databank-establishes-support-for-the-next-phase-of-expansion/ Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:30:36 +0000 https://digitalitnews.com/?p=10553 DataBank has announced the establishment of a new $725 million credit facility to fund its current and upcoming data center construction initiatives. The new capital will fund ongoing expansion in existing markets including on its campuses in New York, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Dallas. The facility is supported by a strong bank group [...]

The post DataBank Establishes Support for the Next Phase of Expansion appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>
DataBank has announced the establishment of a new $725 million credit facility to fund its current and upcoming data center construction initiatives.

The new capital will fund ongoing expansion in existing markets including on its campuses in New York, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Dallas. The facility is supported by a strong bank group of 14 leading digital infrastructure banks including TD Securities engaged as the Administrative Agent and Joint Lead Arranger. The financing provides an attractively priced source of capital that is a long-term and scalable solution to meet accelerating demand for capacity within DataBank’s footprint.

This also will represent DataBank’s second green financing, following closely on the heels of the February 2024 Green Bond. In order to qualify as a green loan, the facilities being financed will meet specific sustainability criteria for water conservation, carbon emissions reduction, and a low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). These projects, as well as others underway across DataBank’s portfolio, are all contributing to its goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.

“New and emerging AI applications have created unprecedented demand for DataBank’s data center capacity,” said Kevin Ooley, DataBank’s President and Chief Financial Officer. “This new credit facility will allow us to meet that demand more quickly by shortening financing and construction timelines across all our campuses, but especially as we ramp up activity in the new ones we’ve announced in Northern Virginia and Atlanta.”

In November 2023, DataBank announced the acquisition of an 85-acre campus in Culpeper, VA that will support up to 192MW and 1.4M gross square feet of data center space. Just one month before that, it had announced the acquisition of a 95-acre campus in Atlanta capable of supporting another 120MW and 1M gross square feet of data center space. Once fully deployed, the expansion of the facilities on those two campuses would nearly double the current 375MW and 2.7M square feet across DataBank’s portfolio of 65+ facilities in 27 metros today.

TD Securities was the Administrative Agent, Joint Lead Arranger, and Joint Bookrunner in the transaction. Citizens Bank, CoBank, Deustche Bank, First Citizens, and Société Générale were Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners for the transaction with JP Morgan, Nomura Securities, RBC Capital Markets and Regions Bank joining as Joint Lead Arrangers. Bank of America and Goldman Sachs were Co-Documentation Agents. Cadence Bank and Preferred Bank supported the transaction as well. Jones Day was DataBank’s legal advisor for the transaction.

Learn more about DataBank’s Data Center on-going expansion here.

Related News:

MSI’s Liquid-Cooled Server Platforms for Data Centers Showcased

Two Data Centers Under Construction in the Dallas Metro Area

The post DataBank Establishes Support for the Next Phase of Expansion appeared first on Digital IT News.

]]>