French renewables startup to leverage extensive domain
expertise and global presence to help scale its osmotic power
generation technology for the first time
PARIS, May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation,
Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to
industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced
that it will support the automation of Sweetch Energy's unique
power generation technology through the deployment of a process
control system and remote operations visualization.
Sweetch Energy's first osmotic demonstrator plant is currently
under construction and will soon be operational at the Barcarin
lock in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône,
France. The company plans to
deploy several osmotic stations at the mouth of the Rhône to
harness natural osmotic energy. These stations will represent up to
500 MW of carbon-free electricity production capacity, capable of
supplying more than 1.5 million people – the equivalent to the
population of cities such as Marseille and its surrounding areas,
Barcelona, Amsterdam or Montreal.
"Sweetch Energy mirrors our own deep commitment to
sustainability and the development of enabling technologies," said
Eric Chalengeas, regional vice president, south region, Rockwell
Automation. "We are delighted that our process solutions,
visualization technology and domain expertise are being deployed in
such a fascinating project. As well as helping Sweetch Energy scale
and enhance its technology, our global presence will also help it
expand into other regions, where we can continue to offer
comprehensive global service and support."
Osmotic energy is naturally generated by the difference in
salinity between freshwater and seawater. The INOD®
(Ionic Nano Osmotic Diffusion) technology developed by Sweetch
Energy is the first technology of its kind to be marketed on an
industrial scale.
Manufactured using environmentally friendly bio-sourced
materials, the osmotic generators using the technology can be
located at any estuary or delta. Water is the only input and in the
process and is fully returned to the river mouth, with no chemical
waste or pollutants created. And, unlike other renewables, it is
not dependent on weather conditions and can produce clean
electricity continuously. The technology can also be incorporated
into locally sympathetic structures, hidden away, or even installed
underground.
Rockwell's technologies will be used to automate, control, and
monitor the system as well as optimize the process and
power-generation efficiency. The technology to be deployed at the
pilot plant is also highly scalable, allowing Sweetch Energy to
create standardized, modular installations, with worldwide support,
of any size anywhere.
Nicolas Heuzé, co-founder and CEO of Sweetch Energy, explains:
"Our INODâ technology is addressing the challenge of producing
clean, competitively priced electricity that's available 24/7.
Thanks to INODâ, osmotic energy will become a main component of the
global energy mix. Rockwell's expertise in process control,
sustainability, and its global reach makes it an excellent partner
for Sweetch Energy as we initiate the international rollout of our
operations, starting with the U.S. this summer."
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in
industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the
imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand
what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more
sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 29,000
problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100
countries. To learn more about how we are bringing Connected
Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit
www.rockwellautomation.com.
About Sweetch Energy
Founded in 2015 and based in Rennes with around 50 employees,
Sweetch Energy is a renewable energy player specializing in osmotic
energy, committed to a carbon-neutral world. Its INOD® technology
enables the production of clean, competitive electricity from salt
water, a permanent and abundant source of energy, untapped to date.
Driven by a determination to push back the frontiers of renewable
energy, its highly qualified, multicultural team combines
scientific expertise with industrial vision. Sweetch Energy enjoys
the support of multiple renowned European and French institutions.
It is financially backed by industrial, deeptech and cleantech
investors (Crédit Mutuel Impact, EDF, Compagnie Nationale du Rhône,
Go Capital, Demeter Investment Managers, Future Positive Capital)
as well as by BPI, Ademe, and the European Innovation Council. It
also works closely with French research institutions, especially
with Professor Lydéric Bocquet's teams (CNRS, ENS). Sweetch Energy
received numerous awards in 2023, including the international Grand
Prix of the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge.
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