Honeywell Technology Helping To Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel With Lower Cost And Waste
    25Apr, 2024
    Honeywell Technology Helping To Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel With Lower Cost And Waste

    Honeywell today announced its hydrocracking technology can be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from biomass, helping to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that is 90% less carbon intensive than traditional fossil-based jet fuels . The new technology produces 3-5% more SAF ,3 enables a cost reduction of up to 20% , and reduces by-product waste streams as compared to other commonly used hydroprocessing technologies.

    Honeywell’s Fischer-Tropsch (FT) UnicrackingTM technology takes liquids and waxes from processed biomass – including leftovers from crops, wood waste or food scraps – and can be used to produce SAF that complies with the strict standards of the aviation industry and with a lower environmental impact. This innovation demonstrates Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio with three compelling megatrends, including the energy transition.

    “As demand for SAF continues to grow, the aviation industry is challenged by limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste oils,” said Ken West, president and CEO of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions. “When combined with the existing Fischer-Tropsch process, our new technology will expand the feedstock options available in the industry to sources that are more plentiful, ultimately helping improve our customers’ ability to produce SAF.”

    Recently, DG Fuels selected Honeywell’s FT Unicracking technology for its biofuels manufacturing facility in Louisiana – the largest in the world for making SAF from the FT process – that will produce 13,000 barrels of SAF each day when it begins operations in 2028.

    “Using Honeywell’s advanced technology, DG Fuels will supply enough fuel for more than 30,000 transatlantic flights every year, contributing significantly to reducing the carbon emissions of global air travel,” said Michael Darcy, CEO of DG Fuels. “This is a big leap forward in supporting the airline industry’s goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050.”

    Honeywell helped pioneer SAF production with its EcofiningTM process, which has been used to produce the fuel commercially since 2016. The company now offers solutions across a range of feedstocks to meet the rapidly growing demand for renewable fuels, including SAF.

    In addition to Honeywell Unicracking and Ecofining, Honeywell’s renewable fuels portfolio includes Ethanol to Jet technology and eFining™, which converts green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into e-fuels. More than 50 sites globally have licensed Honeywell’s SAF technologies, with refineries projected to exceed a combined capacity of more than 500,000 barrels of SAF per day when fully operational.

    Godrej & Boyce contributes to India's Energy Transition Initiatives undertake orders worth 1000 Cr plus in FY' 24
    25Apr, 2024
    Godrej & Boyce contributes to India’s Energy Transition Initiatives undertake orders worth 1000 Cr plus in FY’ 24

    Godrej Electricals & Electronics, a business unit of Godrej & Boyce announces the acquisition of orders worth Rs. 1000 Cr plus in FY24 for their Power Infrastructure business. These orders predominantly entail both Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) and Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substations across India, with certain projects of up to 765kV capacity. Each of these projects ranges from 100 crores to 400 crores in value.

    PIRE has made significant contributions in the domains of Power Transmission, Railways, and Solar Projects, aligning seamlessly with the government’s vision of a developed nation. These projects demonstrate a robust trajectory of growth and expansion for the business and showcase how Godrej & Boyce plays a pivotal role in advancing India’s journey towards sustainable energy.

    Raghavendra Mirji, Executive Vice President & Business Head, Godrej Electricals & Electronics said, “We are delighted with our recent order acquisitions, which further solidify our presence in the segment of over 400kV and reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and nation building. Securing our inaugural 765kV GIS order for execution in Khavda marks yet another significant milestone for us, symbolizing our dedication to pushing the boundaries of technological advancement.

    India has set an ambitious target at the COP26 of transitioning to 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030, which is one of the world’s largest expansion plans in renewable energy. Majority of our orders secured in FY’24 pertaining to renewable energy evacuation not only underscores our industry leadership but also resonates with the country’s commitment, echoing our collective vision for a greener and more resilient future.”

    These substations play a pivotal role in augmenting the capacity of the existing grid infrastructure, facilitating seamless integration and evacuation of renewable energy sources. By bolstering the grid network, Godrej & Boyce contributes significantly to the nation’s energy goals while ensuring uninterrupted power supply for industries and communities.

    As the business expands its footprint in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, a majority of future orders are anticipated to be around renewable energy evacuation.

    Employing cutting-edge technologies such as Gas Insulated Switchgears (GIS), Substation Automation Systems (SAS), SCADA, RTUs, and Digital Substations, the business remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

    Through the execution of various substation projects, the business continues to play a vital role in advancing the nation’s economic development while facilitating access to renewable energy.

    Elections 2024: Everything you need to know
    25Apr, 2024
    Elections 2024: Everything You Need to Know

    A formal group decision-making process known as an election is used by the populace to select one or more candidates for public office.

    Since the 17th century, elections have been the standard method used by contemporary representative democracies to conduct their business. Elections may be held to fill positions in the legislature, occasionally in the judicial system, executive branch, and local and regional government. Numerous other private and commercial organizations, including clubs, corporations, and voluntary associations, also employ this procedure.

    In contrast to the practice in the democratic archetype, ancient Athens, where elections were viewed as an oligarchic institution and the majority of political offices were filled through sortition, also known as allotment, in which officeholders were chosen by lot, modern representative democracies use elections as a tool for choosing representatives on a global scale.

    The process of implementing fair electoral systems in places where they are not currently in place or enhancing the efficacy or fairness of those that are is known as electoral reform. Psephology is the study of election outcomes and related statistics, particularly with the goal of forecasting future outcomes. The act of electing or being elected is called an election.
    Other types of ballots are occasionally used because the word elect means “to select or make a decision”.

    History & Rules

    Elections were used to choose leaders like the pope and the Holy Roman Emperor as early in history as ancient Greece and Rome. They were also used during the Middle Ages. Under the mixed government of the Spartan Constitution, the Ephors of Sparta held the first known popular elections of public officials by majority vote in 754 BC. At that time, all citizens were eligible to vote and hold public office.

    There are many different political, corporate, and organizational contexts for elections. Elections are held by many nations to choose members of their governments, but elections are also held by other kinds of organizations.Elections held within corporations and other organizations frequently follow the same protocols and regulations as elections held in government.

    One of the main concerns during elections is who is allowed to vote. The population as a whole is typically not included in the electorate; for instance, voting is illegal for people under the majority age in many nations. Every jurisdiction has a minimum voting age. In certain nations, voting is mandated by law. Punitive actions, like fines, could be imposed on eligible voters for not casting a ballot. In Western Australia, a first-time offender facing a fine of $20.00 for not casting their ballot will be fined $50.00 if they have previously refused to cast their ballot.
    A nomination process for political office must be governed by a procedure in a representative democracy. Presidency nominations are frequently mediated by organized political party preselection procedures.

    Voting Procedure

    The intricate voting procedures and constitutional frameworks that transform a vote into a political decision are known as electoral systems. Voters must first cast their ballots. Simple single-choice ballots or more complex ones, like multiple choice or ranked ballots, may be used. Growing electoral reform movements around the world support systems like instant runoff voting, approval voting, single transferable vote, and the Condorcet method; these are also becoming more and more popular for smaller-scale elections in some countries where larger-scale elections still use more conventional counting techniques.

    It is advised that first-time voters make sure they are listed on the electoral roll. This means filling out a simple registration form and sending in the necessary identity documents. If someone is unsure of their status, they can check it online or get help from their local Election Commission offices.

    It is crucial to understand one’s constituency. It is advised that first-time voters familiarize themselves with the issues, backgrounds, and agendas of the local candidates running for office. Having access to information makes it easier for voters to make educated decisions and choose candidates who share their goals and values.

    The voter ID card is the entry point for the process. This important document should be sent to first-time voters right away. If it hasn’t arrived, getting in touch with Election Commission officials directly is advised. While having a valid voter ID card is preferred, other forms of identification may be accepted.
    Voters are required to bring their voter ID card or other valid forms of identification on election day. This makes it easier to verify information before casting a ballot, guaranteeing a quick and easy experience at the polls.

    Advice is waiting for you at the voting booth. First-time voters are advised to carefully follow the directions given by poll workers. They wait patiently in line to approach the Ballot Unit or Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and press the button that corresponds to the symbol of the candidate they have selected.

    After the vote, examination is crucial. Voters are required to confirm that the chosen candidate’s symbol is displayed on the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine. By adding this verification step, the electoral process becomes more transparent and trustworthy.

    Elections In India

    Conducting elections is the Election Commission of India (ECI), an independent constitutional body. The Indian Constitution’s Article 324 lays out the guidelines for organizing and conducting parliamentary elections. Additionally, it grants the ECI, which will be supervised by the Supreme Court, the authority to conduct the elections. Article 324 outlines the constitutional commission’s exceptional authority to hold general elections for the Lok Sabha, state legislatures, and the prime minister, president, and speaker’s offices.

    The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), a current member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), is in charge of the Election Commission of India. The election commission consists of several Election Commissioners in addition to a Chief Election Commissioner. The current three election commissioners are appointed by the President, who periodically determines the number of commission members. A portion of the commission’s members are state or union representatives. On the Union Cabinet’s recommendation, the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner of India as well as other election commissioners.

    On April 19, India, a country with a population of over 1.4 billion, will start its massive election. The nation takes great pride in the size of its parliamentary elections, which guarantee voting rights to people living in the most remote and mountainous areas of the enormous nation. Polling booths are reachable only by boat for some people, but voting machines in such inaccessible areas are carried by horses and elephants.

    Voting is divided into seven phases throughout the various states, lasting almost six weeks altogether, due to the state’s enormous geography, which prevents voting from taking place on a single day. More than a million polling places will use electronic voting machines, and the Election Commission of India will send out 15 million workers to supervise the process. The polls will close on June 1st, and the results will be tallied and announced on June 4th.

    The cost of Indian elections is among the highest globally. India will have 969 million eligible voters this time around, which is more than 10% of the global population. There will be 18 million first-time voters among them, making them the largest electorate anywhere.

    The slogan of the current government is ‘Ab ki baar 400 paar’. We cannot be certain which giverment will arrive. Yes, we do want a good government that can address the concerns of the people and instill a sense of pride in them for being citizens of this nation.

    Thus, India, keep casting your votes!

    KPMG in India and Arkieva announce an alliance to drive digital supply chain solutions
    25Apr, 2024
    KPMG in India and Arkieva announce an alliance to drive digital supply chain solutions

    KPMG in India, one of India’s leading professional services firms, and Arkieva, a global leader in supply chain planning solutions, today announced a strategic alliance to deliver successful supply chain transformation projects. The alliance will look to help businesses unlock the complete potential of their supply chains and enable smarter, resilient, and future-ready supply chain ecosystems.

    From planning to delivering, Arkieva’s technology and advanced analytics enabled supply chain planning solutions combined with KPMG in India’s strength in Business Consulting, the alliance will help businesses plan more proactively and enable them to have a clear single view over the entire supply chain which includes [Demand, Supply and S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning visibility)]. Also, it will help optimize assets to lower costs, enable faster decision-making and capitalize more quickly on market opportunities.

    In line with the above, supply chain leaders are now recognizing the increasing need for intelligent supply chain platforms which could be a game changer, with all that they bring to the table. With insights and the full power of data, intelligent supply chains enable strategic decision making, with the key being to combine resilience and agility to mitigate disruptions, while remaining customer centric.

    Powered by deep functional and technical knowledge, this combined offering of KPMG in India and Arkieva will enable businesses to take huge strides not just in planning, but also drive collaboration through aligned decision making with access to a wide pool of resources.

    Sharing his views on the announcement, Akshat Bal Dikshit, Associate Partner, Business Consulting, KPMG in India said “The supply chain landscape is on the cusp of profound transformation today. AI and other advanced technologies are quickly reshaping the very core of supply chain management. Businesses that embrace technology will be much better positioned to build agile and resilient supply chains. The combination of the KPMG in India- Arkieva alliance, is rooted in our complementary capabilities, the closely aligned organization values, and in-depth knowledge of the core industries we both focus on. We believe, this will allow us to serve and deliver successful Supply Chain programmes at scale.”

    Ashith B. Hegde, Managing Director, Arkieva Asia Pacific said “For the last 30 years Arkieva has been helping global manufacturing companies in their supply chain planning. With the current growth in industries in the Indian market, this alliance with KPMG in India will enable companies to evolve into the next level of optimized supply chain planning by leveraging KPMG in India’s consulting and implementation expertise and Arkieva’s strong best-in-class platform.”

    IPL 2024: Yuzvendra Chahal makes history to reach 200 wickets
    23Apr, 2024
    IPL 2024: Yuzvendra Chahal makes history to reach 200 wickets

    In Monday’s Match 38 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, star bowler Yuzvendra Chahal of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) made history by becoming the first bowler in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to claim 200 wickets against the Mumbai Indians.The 33-year-old has an unrivalled record of taking wickets in the lucrative league; no bowler who is currently in action poses a threat to overthrow him anytime soon.

    To reach the 200-wick mark, Chahal took the wicket of Mohammad Nabi for 23 runs. In his 153rd game, Chahal—who made his IPL debut in 2013—reached the feature. In addition to being the highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, Chahal has taken 13 wickets this IPL season, sharing the record.

    Let’s look into the top ten players in IPL history in terms of wickets taken.

    1. Yuzvendra Chahal – 200 wickets from 153 games

    2. Dwayne Bravo – 183 wickets from 161 games

    3. Piyush Chawla – 182 wickets from 186 games

    4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 174 wickets from 167 matches

    5. Amit Mishra – 173 wickets from 161 matches

    6. Sunil Narine – 172 wickets from 169 matches

    7. Ravichandran Ashwin – 172 wickets from 201 games

    8. Lasith Malinga – 170 wickets from 122 games

    9. Jasprit Bumrah – 158 wickets from 128 games

    10. Ravindra Jadeja – 156 wickets from 233 matches

    Microsoft and Cognizant collaborate to increase the use of GenAI in enterprise
    23Apr, 2024
    Microsoft and Cognizant collaborate to increase the use of GenAI in enterprise

    On Monday, Cognizant and Microsoft announced a broader alliance aimed at enabling millions of users to access the tech giants’ Copilots and generative AI (GenAI) to revolutionize enterprise business operations, improve employee experiences, and spur cross-industry innovation.

    In order to increase productivity, optimize workflows, and improve customer experiences, Cognizant bought 25,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot seats for its employees, in addition to 500 seats for sales and 500 seats for services.

    “Generative AI can be a game-changer for virtually every business in every industry, opening up new possibilities for innovation, efficiency and growth,” Ravi Kumar S., CEO, Cognizant, said in a statement.

    “That’s why we are investing $1 billion in GenAI over the next three years and leading the development of new research to explore its potential for our clients, their employees and end customers,” he added.

    Furthermore, Cognizant announced that it will endeavor to roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot to a million users throughout its global clientele of 2,000 and in 11 different industries.

    “We will help drive AI adoption and innovation for millions of users across its network by combining Cognizant’s industry expertise with Microsoft’s Copilot capabilities, including Copilot for Microsoft 365 and GitHub Copilot,” stated Judson Althoff, executive VP and chief commercial officer at Microsoft.

    The company claims that this collaboration could greatly speed up AI innovation and adoption in India.

    According to the company, AI is predicted to increase India’s GDP by $450 billion to $500 billion by 2025, or 10% of the country’s $5 trillion GDP target.