SCI's Daily Digest: your one-stop shop for all of the day's news in science based industry
In today's Daily Digest, the UK government has launched the UK battery taskforce, chemical production across the EU 27 continues to decline, and more.
Energy
The US government is providing funding of $264 million for 29 projects to develop solutions for its Energy Earthshots Initiative aimed at advancing clean energy technologies within the decade. The Earthshots are focused on six different areas including industrial decarbonisation and offshore wind.
Scotland-based energy infrastructure company, Kellas Midstream, has started the Front-End Engineering and Design for the H2Northeast hydrogen project located in Teesside, UK. Johnson Matthey's technology has been selected for the project. Once complete the project could contribute up to 10% of the UK's target hydrogen capacity.
The UK government has launched the UK Battery Taskforce, comprising experts from industry and academia. The taskforce had its first meeting on 2 October. Members include Professor Patrick Grant, Oxford University and Carole Rose Burke, Unipart Manufacturing.
Agriscience
Research from Rothamstead Research indicates that a sugar molecule common in many plants biochemical pathways may be critical in determining when plant roots branch. The work gives a better understanding of how lateral root growth occurs, which is vital for crop yield and resilience.
Other News
According to data from CEFIC, chemical production across the EU 27 continues to decline. The September Chemicals Trends Report showed that consumers had lower confidence, while chemical industry confidence held up slightly after four months of decline.
Evotec has opened a new laboratory in Oxfordshire UK. The so-called Building 95 houses biology laboratories and workspaces. The company said that the new building will help it to grow sustainably.