Ron's Life Blog

Book Edit format and connect information

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:26:50 -0500

Fluid Pipeline Manufacture and Mainteness

Book for China Machine Press

Size: 240mm x 185mm

Page Magin : L 1.5 R1.5 U2.0 D 2.0

Book Content : 10.5pt , Image : 18pt Fangsong

Image Size : Width 872pixle 72 （Book 50%,155mm）

Chapter 1 : Image : 1-15 Index: 25 Excel : 1-4

Chapter 2 : Image : 2-59 Index: 57 Excel : 2-4

Chapter 3 : Image : 3-33 Index: 92 Excel : 3-7

Chapter 4 : Image : 4-59 Index: 130 Excel : 4-31

Metal Tube

Chapter 5 : Image : 5-27 Index: 177 Excel : 5-16

Chapter 6 : Image : 6-57 Index: 187 Excel : 6-2

Chapter 7 : Image : 7-26 Index: 204 Excel : 7-29

Chapter 8 : Image : 8-7 Index: 216 Excel : 8-6

Chapter 9 : Image : 9-36 Index: 235 Excel : -

Chapter 10 : Image : 10-17 Index: 275 Excel : 10-20

Winter Storm | icy Hudson River views as arctic freeze grips New York

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:11:02 -0500

The Midtown Manhattan skyline of New York City is seen as ice floats on the Hudson River on January 28, 2026. A life-threatening freeze is gripping large swaths of the United States after a monster storm caused at least 38 deaths from the Deep South to the Northeast, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and sent air travel into chaos. Another Arctic blast expected this weekend could deliver fresh misery for more than 100 million Americans, with record low temperatures and another major storm threatening -- even as municipalities are digging out from deep piles of snow and ice. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP Via Getty Images

TOPSHOT - A view of the Lower Manhattan skyline of New York City is seen as ice floats on the Upper Bay at the mouth of the Hudson River on January 28, 2026. A life-threatening freeze is gripping large swaths of the United States after a monster storm caused at least 38 deaths from the Deep South to the Northeast, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and sent air travel into chaos. Another Arctic blast expected this weekend could deliver fresh misery for more than 100 million Americans, with record low temperatures and another major storm threatening -- even as municipalities are digging out from deep piles of snow and ice.

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP Via Getty Images

An aerial view of the Hudson River as a barge makes it way through the icy river during freezing temperatures, seen from the Edge observation deck in New York City on January 28, 2026. A life-threatening freeze is gripping large swaths of the United States after a monster storm caused at least 38 deaths from the Deep South to the Northeast, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and sent air travel into chaos. Another Arctic blast expected this weekend could deliver fresh misery for more than 100 million Americans, with record low temperatures and another major storm threatening -- even as municipalities are digging out from deep piles of snow and ice.

Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

People visit the Edge observation deck during freezing temperatures in New York City on January 28, 2026. A life-threatening freeze is gripping large swaths of the United States after a monster storm caused at least 38 deaths from the Deep South to the Northeast, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and sent air travel into chaos. Another Arctic blast expected this weekend could deliver fresh misery for more than 100 million Americans, with record low temperatures and another major storm threatening -- even as municipalities are digging out from deep piles of snow and ice. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

ANGELA WEISS, AFP Via Getty Images

Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

The Statue of Liberty (R) and the Verrazzano Bridge (L) are seen in the distance as ice floats in the Hudson River on January 28, 2026. A life-threatening freeze is gripping large swaths of the United States after a monster storm caused at least 38 deaths from the Deep South to the Northeast, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and sent air travel into chaos. Another Arctic blast expected this weekend could deliver fresh misery for more than 100 million Americans, with record low temperatures and another major storm threatening -- even as municipalities are digging out from deep piles of snow and ice.

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP Via Getty Images

ANGELA WEISS, AFP Via Getty Images

NEW YORK, -JANUARY 27: A ferry maneuvers through ice floats covering part of the Hudson River along the Manhattan shoreline as New York City experiences frigid temperatures following a winter storm over the weekend on January 27, 2026, in New York City. New York received up to a foot of snow in a winter storm that swept through large parts of the country, resulting in numerous deaths, power outages, and accidents.

The Hudson River, photographed from Irvington, N.Y. is seen partially frozen over Jan. 26, 2026 after over one foot of snow fell on the New York City and Lower Hudson Valley region in yesterday's winter storm. The Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge is in the background.

Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Icy river conditions caused service disruptions on the Haverstraw-to-Ossining ferry service. Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Haverstraw-to-Ossining ferry supplements Metro-North's west-of-Hudson commuter service, In place of the ferry service. Metro-North pis providing bus between Haverstraw and the Tarrytown train station.

Bridges in North America Are in Worse Shape Than Anywhere Else on Earth

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:58:43 -0500

A new study finds that bridges in North America and Africa face the highest risk of failure, and researchers suggest using satellite monitoring to help detect problems early and prevent collapses.

A scientist at the University of Houston is helping identify the world’s most vulnerable bridges and pointing to ways they could be repaired before failures occur.

In a global analysis of 744 bridges published in Nature Communications, Pietro Milillo and an international group of researchers found that bridges in North America are, on average, in the worst condition, with African bridges close behind. The team proposes a new approach to infrastructure protection that could reshape how risks are managed worldwide by tracking bridge stability from space and spotting early warning signs long before collapse becomes likely.

Aging infrastructure drives global risk

The elevated risk is closely linked to the age of many bridges, particularly in North America, where construction peaked during the 1960s. As a result, a large number of structures are now approaching or exceeding their original design lifespans. To address this challenge, the researchers point to space-based monitoring using Synthetic Aperture Radar, which can deliver frequent, high-resolution observations across the globe and draw on extensive historical data.

“Our research shows that spaceborne radar monitoring could provide regular oversight for more than 60 percent of the world’s long-span bridges,” said Milillo, co-author of the study and an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UH. “By integrating satellite data into risk frameworks, we can significantly lower the number of bridges classified as high-risk, especially in regions where installing traditional sensors is too costly.”

The international team, which included Dominika Malinowska from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the University of Bath, Cormac Reale and Chris Blenkinsopp from the University of Bath, and Giorgia Giardina from TU Delft, relied on a remote sensing method known as Multi-Temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT InSAR). Their results show that this technique can strengthen traditional inspection methods by detecting millimeter-scale ground or structural movement linked to slow processes such as landslides or subsidence, as well as by identifying unusual patterns across large areas that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Bridges are among the most vulnerable parts of the transportation networks, yet traditional monitoring has limitations. In-person visual inspections can be subjective and expensive, while inspectors may miss signs of early deterioration between typical bi-yearly inspection cycles. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) sensors offer a more cost-effective solution, but their implementation remains limited primarily to newer bridges and specific concern cases, with the study confirming that they are installed on fewer than 20% of the world’s long-span bridges. This leaves a significant gap in the understanding of the structural condition of bridges.

A solution from the skies

“Remote sensing offers a complement to SHM sensors, can reduce maintenance costs, and can support visual inspections, particularly when direct access to a structure is challenging,” said Millilo. “For bridges specifically, MT-InSAR allows for more frequent deformation measurements across the entire infrastructure network, unlike traditional inspections, which typically occur only a few times per year and require personnel on the ground”

Said Malinowska. “While using MT-InSAR to monitor bridges is well-established in academic circles, it has yet to be routinely adopted by the authorities and engineers responsible for them. Our work provides the global-scale evidence showing this is a viable and effective tool that can be deployed now.

Researchers found that incorporating data from MT-InSAR, particularly pixels with stable scattering properties known as persistent scatterers (PS), into risk assessments provides more accurate risk registers through uncertainty reduction, enabling better risk prioritization and maintenance planning.

The method proposed by this international research team integrates the availability of monitoring from both SHM sensors and satellites like the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 or the recently launched NASA NISAR into a bridge’s structural vulnerability score. By providing more frequent updates than typical visual inspections, this combined monitoring approach reduces uncertainty about a bridge’s current condition, leading to more accurate risk classification.

Reference: “Global geo-hazard risk assessment of long-span bridges enhanced with InSAR availability” by Dominika Malinowska, Pietro Milillo, Cormac Reale, Chris Blenkinsopp and Giorgia Giardina, 13 October 2025, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64260-x

Disclosure: Part of this work was performed at the University of Houston under a contract with the Commercial Smallsat Data Scientific Analysis Program of NASA (NNH22ZDA001N-CSDSA) and the NASA Decadal Survey Incubation Program: Science and Technology (NNH21ZDA001N-DSI) (PM).

Predictions for 2026: what's next for robotics

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:16:40 -0500

Robotics in 2025 was full of excitement, with record VC investment, rapid progress in embodied AI, and new hardware innovations. Yet the industrial robot market continued to stagnate, with installations showing no meaningful growth since 2021 and China continuing to dominate with >50% of global deployments.

From humanoids and Robots-as-a-Service to nearshoring and lights-out operations, here are my top predictions for what is coming next in 2026.

1. Manufacturing becomes the main driver of automation

The shift toward rebuilding domestic manufacturing in the United States is accelerating, driven by persistent supply chain fragility, geopolitical uncertainty, and tariffs. To remain competitive with lower-cost economies in Asia, manufacturers are increasingly turning to automation to boost output per worker.

While sectors such as retail or warehousing are delaying heavy capital investment in automation due to economic uncertainty and weak consumer sentiment, manufacturers designing new plants have no such flexibility. High costs and persistent labor shortages, with more than one million open manufacturing jobs in the U.S., make automation the only reliable way to achieve the productivity needed for domestic production.

2. Robotics supply chains start to split

Geopolitics will shape robotics as much as technology in 2026. With roughly 90 percent of key components still sourced from China, Western manufacturers are under growing pressure to localize production. A gradual divide between US-aligned and China-aligned robotics ecosystems is emerging, which will raise short-term costs but improve long-term resilience.

More companies now demand dual sourcing to protect against shocks, even if the initial expense is higher. Rising U.S. and European funding for domestic manufacturing will support this transition, yet rebuilding the robotics supply chain will be a decade-long effort rather than a quick shift.

3. Robots-as-a-Service gains traction

RaaS is gaining momentum as companies rethink how they finance and scale automation. Instead of committing to large upfront capital purchases, more companies are opting for monthly fees that bundle hardware, software, and maintenance. This lowers financial risk, improves payback speed, and makes automation accessible to buyers who are cautious about heavy capex during uncertain economic periods.

Adoption is accelerating fastest among smaller manufacturers, 3PLs, and firms with constrained capital budgets. As robotics innovation speeds up and pilot deployments increase, RaaS is becoming a practical way to deploy unproven solutions early and validate their performance without exposing the buyer to financial risk.

4. Lights-out warehouses are finally here (sort of)

The dream of fully automated, human-free warehouses is finally within reach. True 24/7 lights-out operations are still a few steps away, but early signs show the shift is underway. Some operators are already running lights-out night shifts where robots handle all core workflows without on-site human supervision.

A clear example is The Feed, a U.S. ecommerce retailer that uses Brightpick robots to run a fully autonomous night shift. Robots pick and buffer orders overnight so they are ready for immediate packing when staff arrive, which increases throughput and shortens delivery times.

This hybrid model, with robots running lights-out for part of the day and supervised during peak hours, is set to expand rapidly in 2026 as operators lay the groundwork for fully automated sites in the future.

5. Humanoids stay in the spotlight, but real deployments remain limited

Humanoid robots will continue dominating headlines in 2026, yet activity will remain focused on demonstrations, pilot tests, and data collection rather than production-grade deployments. Companies are still identifying practical roles for them, and high costs combined with limited capabilities and reliability make ROI difficult to achieve.

With valuations running ahead of technical progress, at least one high-profile humanoid startup is likely to face major setbacks or shut down. In parallel, emerging ISO and ASTM safety standards will add needed structure and predictability to future deployments.

Testing humanoids now is healthy for the sector, but they remain several years away from addressing real operational needs at scale.

6. Micro-fulfillment centers make a comeback

After a period of stagnation post-Covid, e-grocery is booming again with 30-50% year-over-year growth in the United States. As volumes rise, companies such as Amazon are revisiting small, local fulfillment sites to cut last-mile costs and accelerate delivery. At the same time, newer robotics systems with lower costs and higher throughput are finally making compact micro-fulfillment centers economically viable.

E-grocery MFCs were ahead of their time. Now both the technology and the business model have aligned with customer expectations, creating conditions for a new wave of profitable, automated micro-fulfillment centers.

In summary

Taken together, these trends point to a more pragmatic era for robotics in which economics, resilience, and real-world performance drive adoption. The winners in 2026 and beyond will be the operators who start deploying automation now, learn from it, and scale what actually works.

About Brightpick

Brightpick is a leader in AI-powered robotic solutions for warehouses. The company’s multi-purpose AI robots enable warehouses of any size to fully automate order picking, buffering, consolidation, dispatch, and stock replenishment. The award-winning Brightpick solution takes just weeks to deploy and allows companies to keep their warehouse labor to a minimum. With offices in the US and Europe, Brightpick has more than 250 employees and hundreds of AI robots deployed with customers.

Scientists Think They Found a Way to Boost Your Immune System—and Slow Down Your Aging

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:47:01 -0500

While the fabled fountain of youth may not actually exist, a new type of therapy now does.

Everything seems to break down as we age. Besides the almost inevitable creaking joints and random aches, there are a number of things not even a few aspirin can fix. The immune system, unfortunately, is one of those. Immune function declines over time because the production of T-cells decreases, but there might soon be a way to reverse that dropoff.

T-cells are produced by the thymus gland, and promote homeostasis in the immune system, adapting to fight everything from allergens to pathogens and tumors. As thymus function declines with age, the gland shrinks and releases fewer T-cells, which are prone to dysfunction and not as capable of quickly reacting to pathogens and other threats. Now, an MIT research team led by neuroscientist Feng Zhang has found a way to reboot the immune system by recreating the thymus signals that stimulate T-cells.

“We found that [our] approach significantly improved immune response in aging mice in both vaccination and cancer immunotherapy models with no adverse side effects or evidence of increased autoimmunity,” Zhang said in a study recently published in the journal Nature. “These results highlight the potential of this approach to improve immune function and, more broadly, to use the liver as a transient ‘factory’ for replenishing factors that decline with age.”

Previous attempts at creating an immune fountain of youth have been unreliable, either falling short of being effective enough, not being clinically viable, or even turning out to be toxic. So, Zhang decided to flip a few genetic switches. He and his team worked with older mice whose immune systems were not what they used to be, and after identifying which proteins act as signaling pathways that help T-cells mature and differentiate, they injected the mice with messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes those three pathways.

The target for the mRNA was protein synthesis in the liver, as it continues at high levels even with advanced age. The mRNA was carried there by lipid nanoparticles, and once these particles accumulated in the liver, hepatocytes (liver cells) began to create them. This allowed Zhang’s team to essentially use the liver as a temporary manufacturing plant for T-cells. Treatments in mice increased both the amount and frequency of new T-cells that were ready to be activated, and with about a month of treatment, there were only minimal side effects.

Magilan7 Layer-Guard Robot Debuts at IPPE 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:22:42 -0500

Atlanta, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2026) - Magilan, a provider of smart robotics and automation solutions for egg production, today unveiled its latest Magilan7 layer-guard robot at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) at Booth #B2007 in Hall B.

At the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Magilan showcased its new-generation robot, Magilan7, designed to improve efficiency in large-scale poultry house management, strengthen biosecurity, and reduce feed waste through advanced automation technologies.

AI-Powered Vision for Precise Poultry Asset Management

Addressing the growing demand for refined and data-driven operations in modern poultry houses, Magilan highlighted its proprietary AI-based vision recognition technology. Deployed on an autonomous mobile platform equipped with a multi-sensor array, the system enables real-time monitoring of laying flock health:

-- Anomaly Detection and Localization:The system autonomously identifies and locates dead birds, weak birds, diseased or injured birds, and non-laying hens. Detection accuracy for dead or weak birds reaches >=95%, with a recall rate of >=99%, significantly reducing manual labor requirements. -- Reduction of Operational Losses:By enabling timely identification and removal of non-productive birds, the system helps reduce unnecessary feed consumption and effectively limits potential disease transmission within the poultry house. -- Egg Production Performance Monitoring:The system can identify hens with an egg-laying rate of <=50%, providing precise data to support informed flock management decisions.

Magilan7 operating in the poultry house

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

24/7 Patrol and Environmental Data Collection

Beyond visual inspection, the Magilan robot integrates multidimensional environmental sensing capabilities:

-- Remote Visual Management:Managers can conduct remote inspections through a pan-tilt camera offering 350deg horizontal and 90deg vertical rotation, enabling real-time observation of individual cage positions. -- Environmental Monitoring:Integrated sensors measure temperature, humidity, light intensity, and carbon dioxide (CO ) levels. During patrols, the robot generates comprehensive environmental maps covering the entire poultry house, supplying empirical data to support environmental control systems. -- Routine Facility Inspections:The robot performs regular inspections of critical infrastructure, including water lines, feed troughs, and ventilation fans.

Industrial-Grade Performance for Demanding Environments

To meet the challenges of large-scale poultry farming environments, Magilan has optimized the robot's mechanical design and navigation performance:

-- Multi-Level and Cross-Building Mobility:Combined with automated lifting devices and ladder control systems, the robot can autonomously transition between multi-tier cage platforms and conduct inspections across multiple buildings, including coordinated control of automatic doors. -- Terrain Adaptability:Utilizing laser navigation technology, patrol speeds are adjustable between 0-30 cm/s. The chassis is capable of traversing steps up to 3 cm in height and gaps up to 10 cm in width. -- Extended Operational Endurance:A single charge supports >=12 hours of continuous operation, ensuring reliability during high-frequency inspection cycles. -- Autonomous Obstacle Avoidance:When encountering obstacles, the robot autonomously detects and issues alerts, then resumes tasks once the obstruction is cleared.

About Magilan

Founded in 2019, Magilan Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in the in-house development of Magilan layer-guard robot.

Since the launch of the world's first commercial Magilan layer-guard robot, "Magilan4," at Guangyang Egg Industry on June 1, 2021, the product line has evolved to the latest "Magilan7." Today, more than 200 Magilan robots are deployed across over 100 large-scale egg production enterprises worldwide. As of 2025, Magilan solutions had been implemented in markets including China, Japan, and Malaysia.

Magilan is committed to delivering efficient and intelligent solutions for the global poultry industry. By leveraging AI vision and automation robotics, the company helps poultry enterprises improve productivity, enhance biosecurity, and reduce operational costs.

Media Contact: Liao Xinwei General Manager liaoxw@magilan.com.cn

ENGINEAI Robotics Technology Introduces the T800 Humanoid Robot at CES 2026

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:22:35 -0500

Supporting industrial transformation through embodied intelligence

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ENGINEAI Robotics Technology, a developer of embodied intelligence systems, showcased two flagship products at CES 2026. These included the PM01, a lightweight and highly mobile general-purpose embodied agent, and the ENGINEAI T800, a full-scale, high-efficiency universal humanoid robot making its global debut. The demonstration highlighted the performance capabilities of both platforms, while offering industry observers a practical, application-oriented perspective on the emerging potential of human-robot collaboration.

As one of the world's largest and most influential consumer technology exhibitions, CES serves as both a global stage for introducing cutting-edge products and a benchmark for technological trends. This year, embodied intelligence moved to the forefront, shifting from a largely conceptual framework to deployable systems and signaling the industry's rapid progression toward a more autonomous, intelligently collaborative future.

The ENGINEAI booth attracted steady visitor interest through live demonstrations of the T800 and PM01, highlighting full-body coordination and fine motor control capabilities. The demonstrations prompted in-depth technical exchanges with industry partners, developers, and media representatives, who discussed practical deployment scenarios and potential collaboration opportunities. Overall engagement reflected ongoing industry attention to embodied intelligence applications and the evolving role of human--robot collaboration across multiple sectors.

Building on its proven adaptability to real-world settings, the PM01 is advancing toward scaled deployment in multiple application areas, including public transportation, guided tours and retail services, and automated patrols and inspection tasks. With practicality and use-case-driven design as its core strengths, the PM01 effectively addresses concrete operational needs in intelligent transformation initiatives across industries, reinforcing the practical role of embodied intelligence in supporting industrial advancement. Its stable, repeatable performance was widely acknowledged by event attendees.

The ENGINEAI T800 generated significant interest across the robotics community and prompted extensive discussion. This humanoid robot illustrates ENGINEAI's capabilities in key robotics subsystems and system-level integration. As a next-generation intelligent platform designed for real-world deployment, the T800 is equipped with a fully-integrated, high-torque joint module architecture capable of delivering up to 450 N--m of peak torque and 14,000 W of instantaneous joint peak power. Combined with high-degree-of-freedom joint structures in key areas such as the neck, waist, and hands, the robot achieves a high level of anthropomorphic mobility. In high-dynamic scenarios like martial arts and running, it delivers industry-leading dynamic output and load-handling capability.

Looking ahead to 2026, ENGINEAI will continue to focus on core technology development and long-term product strategy, with the objective of driving iterative advancement and expanding real-world application scenarios, guided by a focus on building solid foundations for impact-driven innovation. While further strengthening its existing product portfolio, ENGINEAI plans to align more closely with global market requirements to accelerate product refinement. Through an open and scalable approach to embodied intelligence, the company aims to leverage its technical capabilities to help shape the next phase of human-robot collaboration.

HNO International Secures Hydrogen Fueling MOU with US Based Drone Manufacturer

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:22:29 -0500

International, Inc. (OTCQB:HNOI), a leader in decentralized hydrogen energy solutions, today announced the signing of an MOU pilot program for hydrogen tank delivery and return system with US based drone manufacturer Cellen, Inc.

HNO International's hydrogen production facilities enable a streamlined production and delivery of hydrogen filled tanks, to 350 bar, providing for a direct delivery and replacement of Cellen's hydrogen-powered drone fuel, circumventing a long and multi-faceted source and delivery system that Cellen is currently using.

Some of the key points of the MOU:

Hydrogen produced at HNO International Partner facility in Katy, TX location
Delivery to main Cellen's Colorado facility along with Texas facility as warranted
Closed-loop reuse model
Pilot program to serve as a foundation for scaling the system to support higher volumes and broader geographic distribution

Cellen is a US-based manufacturer of long-endurance hydrogen-powered drones for use across a multitude of industries, including energy, oil & gas, telecom, mapping & surveying and more. Using hydrogen as the fuel source provides for up to 150 mins flight times and a 10 lb payload capability for the very best data collection systems. The use of hydrogen provides for zero emissions, easily swapable hydrogen cylinders for rapid refueling and continuous operations, minimizing operational efficiency losses compared to traditional drone systems.

Website: www.cellenh2.com
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cellen/

"Demand for hydrogen fuel is growing rapidly, our MOU with Cellen is indicative of the exploding demand for longer drone flights. Our team is excited to work with Cellen on this pilot program, providing for a new, consistent, sales pipeline for our hydrogen," stated Don Owens, CEO of HNO International, Inc.

About HNO International

HNO International (OTC:HNOI) is an advanced hydrogen technology company developing intelligent, modular energy systems that deliver clean power anywhere in the world. With more than 15 years of R&D in the hydrogen electrolyzer space, HNOI's suite of innovations - including the HyGrid™ Intelligent Hydrogen Microgrid, SHEP™ Scalable Hydrogen Energy Platform, and CHRS™ Compact Hydrogen Refueling System - is powering the transition to decentralized, zero-emission energy infrastructure.

HNO International, Inc. press@hnointl.com

The Hydrogen Stream: EU Commission invites offtakers under Hydrogen Mechanism

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:22:15 -0500

The European Commission is advancing market matching for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen by inviting European offtakers to signal supply interest under the Hydrogen Mechanism, while Germany’s electrolysis rollout continues to lag official targets despite new EU-backed funding schemes.

The European Commission said it is inviting European offtakers to express interest in supply offers under the Hydrogen Mechanism, adding that the current phase runs until March 20, 2026, under the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform that links buyers with suppliers of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and derivatives including ammonia, methanol, eMethane and electro-sustainable aviation fuel, after companies submitted supply offers from more than 260 projects from Nov. 12, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026, with the European Commission set to outline further details at an online webinar on Jan. 27. Separately, the European Commission has also approved a €200 million ($234.9 million) German plan to support the production of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives in Canada. “The scheme will support the construction of up to 300 MW of electrolysis capacity. The aid will be awarded through a competitive bidding process, planned to be concluded in 2027,” wrote the European executive body.

The Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI) said Germany’s rollout of electrolysis capacity is progressing far more slowly than planned. The institute said installed electrolyser capacity currently stands at 181 MW, with a further 1.3 GW having reached a final investment decision (FID) or being under construction. On that basis, EWI said total operating capacity could reach up to 1.5 GW by the end of 2027, leaving Germany on course to fall well short of its target of 10 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030.

BKW plans to take a 40%stake in the planned hydrogen-ready (H2-ready) gas-fired power plant at the Hamm site (North Rhine-Westphalia), Germany. “BKW is developing the project together with the German municipal utility cooperation Trianel,” said the German company. “The location offers ideal conditions: sufficient space, existing grid and gas connections, and a well-developed infrastructure.”

Lhyfe said it expects to increase by 70% its installed renewable hydrogen production capacity in 2026. The French company currently has four renewable hydrogen production sites installed in France and Germany (21 MW). “Lhyfe has been supplying France’s first motorway hydrogen station accessible to heavy goods vehicles, operated by TEAL Mobility, since November 2025”, said the company this week, underlining that the four sites received RFNBO certifications in May and September 2025.

Honda Motor said it has decided to discontinue production, before the end of 2026, of the current model of fuel cell system now produced at Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, a joint venture between Honda and General Motors (GM). “After the discontinuation, Honda will utilize the next-generation fuel-cell system being developed independently by Honda”, said the Japanese company, referring to the joint venture established in January 2017 in Brownstown, Michigan.

Jan 23,2026 SERGIO MATALUCCI

Florida business groups caution not to overregulate AI

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:22:02 -0500

It passed unanimously through the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Jan. 21, but there was a clear difference between business groups who urged caution in overregulating AI and consumer groups who wanted the bill to give more teeth to the enforcement measures if AI platforms violate the law.

Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause of Florida, urged the panel to add regular audits and disclosure requirements for AI platforms to ensure compliance so consumers aren’t victimized.

“Floridians deserve to know when AI decides when they’re getting a job, when AI decides whether or not they’re getting a loan, when AI decides whether or not they’re getting an apartment to live in the middle of our housing crisis,” Keith said.

But Adam Basford, vice president of governmental affairs for Associated Industries of Florida, a large business lobby, noted many major sectors are using AI — transportation, energy, agriculture, retail and health care.

“Obviously there guidelines, boundaries that need to be set and put into place but also we don’t need to stifle the potential innovation that it holds for the business community to help consumers to help businesses and help Florida move forward,” said Basford, who added AIF isn’t opposed to the bill but wants to see changes as it advances.

Leek said he’s open to amendments but won’t weaken protections for parents or children in the bill. He added that he doesn’t think the bill conflicts with the executive order from President Donald Trump that attempts to nullify all state-level AI laws, and doesn’t think Congress will act to impose federal regulations any time soon.

“If we don’t act and Congress doesn’t act those protections wont exist for Florida’s children,” Leek said.