Chronickels

Nickel news, views, commentary and insights

MARCH 14 - 2024

What does the outcome of China’s “Two Sessions 2024” mean for the nickel value chain?

China’s annual “two sessions” gives an indication of China’s broad policy direction for the year, covering topics from the economy to industrial strategy to environmental protection. David Chen explains the highlights, and the implications for the nickel value chain.

CHINA REGULATION
JANUARY 31 - 2024

Why should policy makers care about nickel?

As much of the world heads to the polls this year, Veronique Steukers explains why newly elected lawmakers should care about nickel and why they should consider three policy asks.

SUSTAINABILITY EU POLICY REGULATION
JANUARY 24 - 2024

Charging ahead: navigating the transforming landscape of the EV Market in the US

With global EV sales approaching 14 million cars in 2023 with a year-on-year growth rate of 35% it is clear that EVs are gaining acceptance rapidly.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES REGULATION
DECEMBER 19 - 2023

Why nickel in your batteries?

Nickel can be found in many forms from nanowires to stainless steel alloys. But what are the properties of nickel that make it an essential element in batteries?

BATTERIES
DECEMBER 06 - 2023

Battery Chat with Parri #5: Dr. Stanley Whittingham

Dr. Stanley Whittingham is a SUNY distinguished professor of chemistry and the 2019 Chemistry Nobel Laureate for pioneering research leading to the development of the lithium-ion batteries. The Nickel Institute’s battery specialist, Dr. Parvin Adeli caught up with him to talk about his long career in battery research and what’s next.

BATTERY CHAT BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
NOVEMBER 16 - 2023

Full spead ahead - Nickel in India's rapidly expanding rail networks

The ambitious future of India’s rail infrastructure requires prudent investments that ensure its long-term viability. This is where nickel-containing steels play a vital role.

STAINLESS STEEL NICKEL MAGAZINE TRANSPORTATION
OCTOBER 26 - 2023

Nickel catalysts - the many routes to decarbonising transport

Nickel-based catalysts are key to supplying energy to power our transportation of goods and people, whether by land, sea, or air.

NICKEL MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 06 - 2023

How to critically assess nickel carbon footprint data

Eight tips on what to consider when assessing nickel carbon footprint data.

SUSTAINABILITY REGULATION
SEPTEMBER 08 - 2023

Ferronickel and NPI importers to the EU: get ready for the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and its data collection and submission requirements

After several years of negotiation between EU institutions, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation was adopted in 2023.

STAINLESS STEEL NICKEL ALLOYS EU POLICY REGULATION
AUGUST 25 - 2023

Battery state of health, giving consumers confidence in used EVs for an affordable electric transition

In the drive towards a net-zero emission scenario, the market for Electric Vehicles has boomed over recent years. And this has resulted in a burgeoning used electric vehicle market.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
AUGUST 08 - 2023

The EU Battery regulation: what does it mean for nickel producers?

The new EU Battery regulation has implications for nickel producers both inside and outside Europe. If they are supplying material to the EU battery chain destined for the European market all producers need to comply with the new rules.

BATTERIES EU POLICY SUPPLY CHAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES REGULATION
JULY 12 - 2023

Impact of high temperature on EV batteries and options for users

This is the second article in a series on the impact of temperature on electric vehicles. Given the delivery waiting time for electric vehicles, you may be expecting to receive your EV in summer or next winter. This series has been developed to help you understand the implications of temperature.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
JUNE 27 - 2023

Renewable diesel, a promising nickel catalyst turns fat into oil

According to the International Energy Agency, renewable fuel demand is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years. Steve Deutsch from The Catalyst Group explains the role of nickel catalysts and the potential of renewable fuels.

JUNE 06 - 2023

How food standards save lives

World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2023 draws attention to food standards. Foodborne diseases affect 1 in 10 people worldwide each year, and food standards help us to ensure what we eat is safe.

STAINLESS STEEL HEALTH FOOD SAFETY
MAY 10 - 2023

Nickel – a VIP solution…

Vacuum insulated piping (VIP) makes it possible to transport liquefied gases at temperatures well below 0 °C to facilitate the energy transition

STAINLESS STEEL RENEWABLE ENERGY
MAY 10 - 2023

Electrifying the future: adapting the EV experience for developing nations

According to International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, globally, road transport is responsible for about 16% of man-made CO2 emissions. Electrification of road transport is seen as a multipronged tool to deal with some of the world’s pressing issues such as air pollution and climate change. But for real impact, developing countries need to be part of the evolution to EVs .

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
APRIL 10 - 2023

The power of green hydrogen, using nickel-containing stainless steel

Green hydrogen has almost unlimited potential as a replacement for fossil fuels and will be an essential contributor to getting to net-zero. Nickel-containing stainless steel is a sustainable companion on the path to a climate neutral future.

MARCH 22 - 2023

How can the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act reach its full potential?

Mark Mistry and Marco Vallini argue that for the EU Critical Raw Materials Act to fulfil its promise to address the energy transition, industry needs planning security for both ‘critical’ and ‘strategic’ raw materials.

SUSTAINABILITY EU POLICY REGULATION
MARCH 08 - 2023

How nickel makes electric vehicle batteries better!

Electric vehicles are quickly becoming more commonplace as automakers introduce new models designed to appeal to a wider range of consumers. One thing they all have in common is a battery, most of which use nickel. Here’s the scoop on why nickel is used in EV batteries and what it’s like driving with one in an electric vehicle.

FEBRUARY 24 - 2023

Carbon capture and storage - Why nickel alloys are capturing attention

As industries around the globe work to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, there is also effort to prevent its escape into the atmosphere by sequestering it. These technologies are known as carbon, capture and storage.

JANUARY 30 - 2023

Measuring nickel's carbon footprint

Because the first step in reducing emissions is to measure them, the Nickel Institute has produced guidance to help nickel metal producers calculate their GHG emissions.

NICKEL MAGAZINE SUSTAINABILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
JANUARY 12 - 2023

Stainless Steel Mix and Match – Some Do’s and Don’ts

Can you mix stainless alloys in the same construction? What guidelines are there for mixing and matching alloys for success? Let’s look at a few cases.

DECEMBER 22 - 2022

What implications for nickel from the CPC 20th Congress?

The elite members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened in Beijing, in October 2022 for their 20th Congress. Since the congress there has been a frenzy of media coverage and in-depth analysis of the implications of the resulting Congressional Work Report. David Chen unravels what it means for nickel.

DECEMBER 08 - 2022

Energy Crisis: can electric vehicles be game changers?

Just as the EV revolution was gearing up to become consumer driven, there was an increase in raw material prices, semi-conductor shortages and recently a steep rise in electricity prices. At a time of energy crisis, are EVs still a game changer?

SUSTAINABILITY BATTERIES RENEWABLE ENERGY
NOVEMBER 30 - 2022

Product passport legislation and the growing role of secondary legislation

The European Commission published its proposed EU battery regulation in December 2020. After almost two years of discussion, the EU institutions are now in the final stages of negotiating the details. It could be adopted in December 2022, with entry into force to follow in 2023.

BATTERIES EU POLICY REGULATION
NOVEMBER 09 - 2022

Renewable energy shines with concentrated solar power

Reducing energy-related CO2 emissions is pivotal to limiting climate change, with the main drivers to bring about the required carbon reductions being renewable energy and energy efficiency. Concentrated solar power is one such renewable energy technology set to increase dramatically in the foreseeable future. It will need to provide energy at a competitive cost to outshine the competition.

SUSTAINABILITY RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT NICKEL MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 20 - 2022

Electric vehicles in winters: range related concerns and considerations

Given the delivery waiting time for electric vehicles, you may be expecting to receive your EV in winter or next summer. What are the implications of temperature on your vehicle?

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
SEPTEMBER 28 - 2022

Weathering steel’s moment in the sun

Solar farms are blooming in fields across the globe and producing a new crop: solar energy. Photovoltaic (PV) systems made up of solar panels, are fast becoming the most recognisable of renewable energy technologies.

NICKEL STEEL SUSTAINABILITY RENEWABLE ENERGY
SEPTEMBER 06 - 2022

300 series austenitic alloys – Checking all the boxes

Materials selection for any piece of equipment or a process system is rarely a simple task, unless you are exactly replicating something successful. Often engineers will have a checklist to help them narrow down the choices, eliminating groups of materials that are not suitable for various reasons. Austenitic 300 series stainless steels containing 7-35% nickel will have most if not all of the boxes checked for being suitable where a stainless steel is desired.

STAINLESS STEEL NICKEL ALLOYS TOOL STEEL NICKEL STEEL TECHNICAL HELP
JULY 28 - 2022

Building codes - Setting high standards for structural stainless steel

The sudden failure of a building or bridge is mercifully a rare event, thanks largely to international or national standards: structures are designed in accordance with a design standard, using products conforming to a product standard and manufactured using techniques and to a quality level defined in a construction standard.

ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION REGULATION
JULY 06 - 2022

Will the EU’s Sustainable Products Initiative get the balance right?

What is a “sustainable product”? Is it more sustainable to continue using my old washing machine or to buy a new, more energy efficient one? Are single use products always unsustainable? What criteria should I use to judge whether a product is sustainable or not? What measures can we take to promote sustainability in products?

SUSTAINABILITY EU POLICY RECYCLING REGULATION
JUNE 10 - 2022

300 series vs. ferritic stainless steel – Which one should I choose?

Each family of stainless steels has its strengths and weaknesses. Ferritic stainless steels have useful properties – a lower rate of thermal expansion, higher thermal conductivity, strong ferromagnetism and very high resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking (SCC). When looking at selecting any alloys, it is important to consider all the factors for successful usage.

NICKEL ALLOYS STAINLESS STEEL NICKEL STEEL
JUNE 01 - 2022

The new San Giorgio bridge: stronger and more durable

Awareness about robustness and durability of bridge design has grown since Morandi’s time. The new San Giorgio Bridge (its successor) in Genoa was designed by Renzo Piano and inaugurated in 2020.

NICKEL MAGAZINE NICKEL STEEL STAINLESS STEEL ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
MAY 17 - 2022

300 series vs. duplex stainless steel – Which one should I choose?

The duplex alloys are “problem-solving alloys” for good reason, they have been successfully used in many places where carbon steels and standard austenitic alloys have failed. Just like with the austenitic family, there are many different duplex alloys to choose from, with corrosion resistance varying from moderate with the lean duplex alloys to very high with the superduplex alloys.

NICKEL ALLOYS STAINLESS STEEL NICKEL STEEL
MAY 04 - 2022

How to calculate GHG emissions from nickel production

The Nickel Institute has published specific guidance for nickel producers to help them calculate their greenhouse gas emissions. This guidance takes into account the complexity of nickel production and will contribute to scientifically robust and reliable data that is comparable throughout the entire industry. The author of the Guidelines, Dr. Mark Mistry explains.

SUSTAINABILITY REGULATION
APRIL 28 - 2022

World Day for Safety and Health at Work - 2022

Steven Verpaele, the Nickel Institute’s Industrial Hygienist explains how a new workplace exposure collection tool and database system will help prevent occupational diseases and contribute to creating a health and safety culture at the workplace.

HEALTH RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
APRIL 06 - 2022

300 vs 200 series stainless steels - Which alternative suits?

The selection of an alloy should be guided by careful examination of the needs of the application. Before making a switch, it’s important to fully investigate an alloy’s strengths, weaknesses and applicability to your structure.

NICKEL ALLOYS NICKEL STEEL STAINLESS STEEL
APRIL 04 - 2022

What differentiates China’s EV market from the others?

In 2021, China recorded the strongest growth in the EV market with around 3.2 million EVs sold. This was an increase of 2 million EV units compared to 2020 which was more than the combined increase of all other regions taken together.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES CHINA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
MARCH 30 - 2022

Four-million-mile battery is now a reality

A team of researchers, led by Professor Jeff Dahn at Dalhousie University, have developed and demonstrated batteries that can last four million miles (almost six million km).

BATTERIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
MARCH 10 - 2022

Will the EU’s proposed battery regulation drive the global ESG agenda for battery raw materials?

Batteries, notably those used in electric vehicles, play an essential role in the plans of the European Commission to deliver the EU Green Deal. They are considered as a critical and strategic technology to achieve Europe´s ambitious climate change mitigation targets and to move towards green and sustainable mobility.

SUSTAINABILITY BATTERIES EU POLICY SUPPLY CHAIN REGULATION
FEBRUARY 23 - 2022

Safe in the knowledge: Guide for the protection of nickel workers updated

The 4th update of the Nickel Institute’s Safe use of Nickel in the Workplace has been published. It has been revised to help companies using nickel keep up with the latest health and environment knowledge of this resource element which is important for a wide range of applications.

FEBRUARY 03 - 2022

EU Batteries Regulation: Where do we stand?

The proposed Regulation will introduce a wide range of sustainability requirements and promote the recycling of key battery raw materials like nickel. EU legislative work is entering a crucial phase.

REGULATION BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES EU POLICY
JANUARY 27 - 2022

Mining electronics waste

Think of the largest cruise ship. Then imagine how much it weighs – just over 100,000 tonnes, in fact. Now think about 500 of those ships, and what they weigh. That is the staggering amount of new electronic waste that we generate every year.

SUSTAINABILITY BATTERIES RESOURCES AND RESERVES RECYCLING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT RAW MATERIALS
JANUARY 11 - 2022

Why China’s nickel carbon footprint assessment will advance global carbon neutrality

Major economies across the globe are setting climate neutrality targets. But proper measurement and methodologies are needed to provide transparency and common benchmarks when assessing carbon footprint. At a recent event in China, there was general consensus on the importance of adopting a harmonized approach to carbon footprint calculation and disclosure.

CHINA SUSTAINABILITY BATTERIES SUPPLY CHAIN
DECEMBER 17 - 2021

A decade of REACH - Five things we’ve learned about managing REACH dossier updates

More than ten years on from the implementation of the EU’s REACH regulation, NiPERA’s Tara Lyons-Darden looks back and shares some of the learnings and the challenges of maintaining REACH dossiers from the perspective of the Nickel REACH Consortia.

EU POLICY REGULATION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
DECEMBER 07 - 2021

Electric trucks and buses – no longer second fiddle to electric cars

Electrification of light-duty vehicles is trending in many parts of the world and is on track to become a consumer driven phenomenon but let’s not forget the heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
NOVEMBER 16 - 2021

Stainless steel: a lifetime of savings

While it may require an initial higher investment when compared with other materials, stainless steel’s unique properties deliver long-term performance and economic benefits including minimum downtime, reduced maintenance costs and reduced environmental impacts.

LIFE CYCLE COSTING STAINLESS STEEL ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SUSTAINABILITY RECYCLING
OCTOBER 28 - 2021

Nickel and net-zero

As delegates to the UN COP26 Climate Change conference in Glasgow grapple with the climate crisis, clean energy solutions will be in focus. Although clean energy technologies rely on metals and minerals that are unavoidably energy intensive to produce, the IEA says that the climate advantages of these technologies remain clear.

SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS RENEWABLE ENERGY
OCTOBER 14 - 2021

How EV markets differ: The curious case of Japan

While Japan has been a pioneer in manufacturing gasoline-hybrid cars, it has shown a sort of ambivalence towards the transformative trend brought about by EVs.

SEPTEMBER 23 - 2021

Wind and water - Nickel in clean energy

Even small quantities of nickel in an application can make a big difference to successful deployment.

NICKEL ALLOYS STAINLESS STEEL WATER SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BATTERIES RENEWABLE ENERGY
SEPTEMBER 09 - 2021

The amazing role of high-temperature nickel alloys and stainless steels for Concentrated Solar Power

Nickel-based alloys and nickel-containing stainless are playing key roles in an emerging source of renewable energy known as thermal solar plants or concentrated solar power (CSP). Their use has enabled the industry to overcome challenges in heat transfer and thermal storage technology.

NICKEL MAGAZINE STAINLESS STEEL SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BATTERIES RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
AUGUST 26 - 2021

Would you drink the water coming out of a municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility ?

“There’s a mental hurdle to get over of how inherently gross this could be, but we know that this water is safe, and we stand by our process.”

WATER
AUGUST 03 - 2021

Hot rocks - Geothermal and the role of nickel

Geothermal energy for electric power production has a low profile yet is significant in the current and potential energy mix for a number of countries. It has also been described as the most reliable of the renewable energy sources, above weather-dependent wind, solar and hydropower.

NICKEL ALLOYS STAINLESS STEEL RENEWABLE ENERGY NICKEL MAGAZINE
JULY 13 - 2021

Leading the charge

Charging Infrastructure is the backbone of the EV revolution. Parul Chhabra explains how the transformation in road transportation brought about by a shift towards E-mobility is causing pathbreaking changes along the value chain.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
JUNE 22 - 2021

Corrosion resistant alloys in pipelines

The upstream and midstream oil and gas industries rely on nickel-containing corrosion resistant alloys for flowlines and risers. Rodrigo Signorelli, Outokumpu’s lead technical manager for marine and energy, explains how alloys reach the market.

NICKEL ALLOYS
JUNE 08 - 2021

What does China’s 14th Five-year Plan mean for nickel?

In 2021, China instigated its 14th Five-year Plan. Under the Plan, the country aims to move from an era of rapid economic growth towards improving its economic structure and the standard of living of the Chinese people.

MAY 21 - 2021

“What gets measured gets done”: the importance of life cycle data

We all know that climate change is the biggest global challenge. We all need to work towards a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – and ideally become carbon neutral by 2050.

MAY 10 - 2021

Producing green hydrogen

The many new and innovative applications of hydrogen as fuel show great promise for a greener future.

NICKEL MAGAZINE SUSTAINABILITY BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
APRIL 28 - 2021

World Day for Safety and Health at Work - 2021

Steven Verpaele, the Nickel Institute’s Industrial Hygienist explains the different ways that the work he leads is helping to contributing to the culture of occupational safety and health that respects the right to a safe and healthy working environment at all levels.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS HEALTH
APRIL 15 - 2021

Battery Chat with Parri #4: Prof. Stefano Passerini

Professor Stefano Passerini is the Director of the Helmholtz Institute Ulm. In this Battery Chat, he talks to Parri Adeli regarding their work on high-voltage LNMO cathodes and electrolyte additives, among other topics.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT BATTERY CHAT
MARCH 23 - 2021

Historic Monel: the alloy that time forgot

James E. Churchill believes that telling the history of Monel and renewing the scientific data will empower conservators to educate and preserve key metallurgical heritage.

MARCH 05 - 2021

Electric vehicle safety : concerns and considerations

As electric vehicles (EVs) trend from being niche to mass scale and the lines between EVs and their combustion engine (ICE) counterparts get blurred in terms of usability, consumers, automakers, governments and fire departments continue to have some apprehensions.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
FEBRUARY 24 - 2021

Battery Chat with Parri #3: Dr. Ilias Belharouak

Dr. Ilias Belharouak is the head of electrification and energy storage at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this Battery Chat, he talks to Parri Adeli about the various energy storage topics his group are investigating including a new class of cathodes that they developed recently and its scale-up path.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT RENEWABLE ENERGY BATTERIES SUSTAINABILITY BATTERY CHAT
JANUARY 26 - 2021

A wealth of knowledge

A new generation of designers, materials specifiers, architects and engineers is being introduced to the wealth of technical information curated by the Nickel Institute. An archive of technical guides and know-how for working with nickel-containing materials, including stainless steel, that has been built over thirty years is now being updated and made freely available.

NICKEL ALLOYS NICKEL STEEL STAINLESS STEEL TECHNICAL HELP ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
JANUARY 13 - 2021

Single crystal Ni-containing cathodes - A conversation with Prof. Jeff Dahn

Professor Jeff Dahn, at the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada explains how single crystal technology is proving to be a promising solution to the challenge of overcoming range anxiety which is high on the agenda of electric vehicle manufacturers and battery developers.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
DECEMBER 11 - 2020

The shift from pump to plug - Consumer readiness and EVs

Parul Chhabra argues that attaining mass scale potential of electric vehicles will be determined by satisfying consumer concerns which go beyond pro-environment government policies.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
DECEMBER 03 - 2020

Battery Chat with Parri #2: Prof. Feng Lin

Dr. Feng Lin is an assistant professor in the chemistry department of Virginia Tech. In this Battery Chat, he talks to Parri Adeli about his scientific journey and his research into cathodes and catalysts.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT BATTERY CHAT
NOVEMBER 24 - 2020

Customising the future – The next industrial revolution

If you’re like me and predictive text has led to some awkward if not amusing moments, you might be sceptical about Artificial Intelligence (AI). But its achievements are already overwhelming and changing, even protecting, our lives in many sectors.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE NICKEL ALLOYS STAINLESS STEEL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
NOVEMBER 13 - 2020

The Metals Gateway - the 'one stop shop' for anything you ever wanted to know about metals

Everyone is confronted with metals on a daily basis. Just look around you in the kitchen where appliances and cutlery are often made out of nickel-containing stainless steel. Your car or bicycle, whether electrical or not, won’t exist if it weren’t for all the metals that build the frame or the battery to make it faster, cleaner, safer.

OCTOBER 15 - 2020

Battery Chat with Parri #1: Prof. Arumugam Manthiram

Prof. Arumugam Manthiram, a renowned professor at the University of Texas at Austin, has contributed substantially to the field of energy storage with his research having great impact on the scientific community. In this chat, Prof. Manthiram shares his research path briefly, his perspective on current research performed on high-nickel cathodes, and a glimpse of his future research directions.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT BATTERY CHAT
OCTOBER 12 - 2020

Really green ethanol enabled by nickel-containing alloys

The use of food crops for the production of fuel is somewhat controversial. But cellulosic ethanol production facilities increase the utilization of plant waste, reduce competition for food crops and provide a substitution for fossil fuels. And nickel-containing alloys are central to this game-changing revolution.

SEPTEMBER 25 - 2020

Investment strategy of automakers and auto-battery alliances

The present-day principal driver in the Li-ion industry is the large batteries required for electric vehicles. Due to the size of these batteries and the relative growth of electric vehicles it is predicted that the total Li-ion energy capacity will exceed one tera watt-hour by 2030. This anticipation for a dramatically rapidly expanding industry has stakeholders all along the value chain very motivated to be ready.

BATTERIES SUPPLY CHAIN
SEPTEMBER 23 - 2020

Does Artificial Intelligence promote the use of nickel?

New advances in the use of Artificial Intelligence have the potential to speed up the process of alloy development.

NICKEL ALLOYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
AUGUST 21 - 2020

Headwinds and tailwinds facing EVs

Although market analysts believe that low oil prices will not derail the shift that has started towards clean mobility, the automobile sector including EVs has not been immune to the impact of Covid-19.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
JULY 27 - 2020

Is nickel sustainable in electric vehicle batteries?

The short answer is: yes, nickel can be a sustainable material throughout the entire value chain, from mining, manufacturing, to use and end of life – if all actors throughout the value chain step up and take their responsibility. Now let's look at the longer answer...

SUSTAINABILITY BATTERIES EU POLICY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
JUNE 29 - 2020

'Use once and destroy'

When Courtney Love wrote this she was not thinking about rockets. It is, however, a perfect description of the history of rocketry. Until the Elon Musk revolution.

SPACE ROCKETS SPACEX NICKEL ALLOYS
JUNE 10 - 2020

Battle of the batteries - Cost versus Performance

The last three months have been unprecedented. But amidst the chaos and despite the drop in global GDP, there has still been a considerable amount of activity in the electric vehicle (EV) and battery world.

CHINA ELECTRIC VEHICLES BATTERIES
JUNE 05 - 2020

China's regulatory agenda for energy: current developments leading to future opportunities for nickel

New energy legislation is set to optimize China’s energy structure and boost the use of non-fossil energy. Aligning with China’s regulatory agenda, nickel will play a vital role in tomorrow’s world powered by cleaner energy.

CHINA REGULATION RENEWABLE ENERGY
MAY 26 - 2020

Back in the Game

Space is hard but nickel makes it possible. The United States of America, through the private company SpaceX, imminently expects to regain its independent way into space.

NICKEL ALLOYS STAINLESS STEEL SPACE ROCKETS SPACEX
MAY 06 - 2020

Food safety: why stainless steel is a vital ingredient

Food safety starts with rigorous hygiene, and nickel-containing stainless steels are the superior, reliable standard at every link of the food chain.

STAINLESS STEEL SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS FOOD SAFETY HEALTH
APRIL 21 - 2020

Functional façades help tackle building emissions

Around two-thirds of today’s buildings will still be around in 2050, and by 2060, the world is projected to add 230 billion m² of buildings - an area equivalent to the entire current global building stock. What can the building and construction sector do to reduce the environmental burden of buildings?

CURTAIN WALLS SUSTAINABILITY ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
MARCH 24 - 2020

Onboard with marine scrubbers - resilient solutions for lower emissions

Ever-tightening sulphur oxide (SOx) emission regulations are increasing the use of marine scrubbers globally. Scrubbers operate in a highly corrosive environment and require the resilience of nickel-containing alloys to prevent failure.

NICKEL ALLOYS MARINE SCRUBBERS TECHNICAL HELP
FEBRUARY 29 - 2020

Why Europe’s battery value chain needs regulatory certainty – now

European nickel producers need a consistent regulatory framework. There must be coherence between different EU policy objectives with rules based on principles of sound science, risk-based approaches, full life-cycle thinking and impact assessments.

BATTERIES EU POLICY RAW MATERIALS SUSTAINABILITY
FEBRUARY 21 - 2020

Competitive technologies to high nickel Li-ion batteries – The pros and cons

The electric vehicle market is expected to be by far the largest and most dominant market for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Despite the strong desire to increase EV sales by all involved in the value chain, proliferation has been curbed due to the high cost to the consumer and the perceived disadvantages of owning an EV. Range anxiety, a lack of charging stations and fire safety worries, are among the top concerns.

BATTERIES ELECTRIC VEHICLES
FEBRUARY 19 - 2020

Opportunity knocks for nickel

Nickel’s role in enabling technologies is not always common knowledge. Yet its versatile properties present great opportunity for the nickel industry.

TECHNICAL HELP MARINE SCRUBBERS WATER DISTRIBUTION
JANUARY 31 - 2020

Strong, hard and tough: the many ways nickel-containing alloy steels deliver

Most nickel production is destined for stainless steel. But a significant 8% is used in the production of alloy steels which are needed to deliver specific characteristics for specialised and often critical applications.

NICKEL ALLOYS MARAGING STEEL TOOL STEEL NICKEL STEEL TECHNICAL HELP
JANUARY 30 - 2020

Lose the leaks

Partially corrugated stainless steel service pipes have reduced water leakage rates drastically in Tokyo where they were introduced in the 1980s. Now other innovative water authorities faced with the urgent need to reduce water loss are also examining the nickel-containing stainless steel solution.

WATER WATER PIPES WATER LOSS STAINLESS STEEL
JANUARY 06 - 2020

Is there enough nickel? Reserves, resources and recycling

Should we be worried about there being enough nickel to supply the transition to electric vehicles and cleaner energy sources? Given its wide range of uses in important existing and emerging technologies, this is a frequently asked question.

SUSTAINABILITY RAW MATERIALS RESOURCES AND RESERVES SUPPLY CHAIN RECYCLING