ISQ has been improving their skills in the assessment of safe and sustainable advanced materials, processes, and products, based on their participation in several EU funded projects. On May 11^th and 12^th of 2023, ISQ participated in the 1^st Int. Conf. on Lightweight Materials in Politecnico di Milano to discuss the safe and sustainable by design strategies for lightweight metal alloys with a nanocomponent implemented in the LightMe project (https://www.lightme-ecosystem.eu/). The use of nanomaterials across industries is expected to continue to increase due to their high socio-economic impact, increasing the number of workers potentially exposed to nanomaterials, if safe-by-design strategies are not implemented at the early stages of innovative process.

Stakeholders operating in the field of lightweight metal alloys and/or metal alloys composites eager to develop novel concepts within the lightweight metal producst value chain are invited to apply to the open access innovation environment promoted by LightMe project to proceed in technological innovation in a fast and low-cost way. Selected application will:

• Have free of charge access to all services of the ecosystem
• Have the opportunity to innovate and develop their business in a one-stop shop
• Receive mentoring and support of industry experts for their concept
• Be part of a wide network establishing long-term relationships with key industry players.

Apply here: https://www.lightme-oie.eu/en/normal/Open_Call

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“This contract will last for three years and will manage the training plans of more than 600 ITER and F4E technicians in the most diverse areas, aiming at the permanent updating of technical skills (materials, tests, trials, inspections, quality), soft skills and management (management, project management, accounting, leadership, communication, coaching), in digital formats, on line live training and face to face, with a practical and hands on component”, explains Margarida Segard, Director of the ISQ Academy.

This is yet another achievement for Portugal, through the ISQ group, with a committed ISQ Academy team capable of designing, managing, and delivering training in the most diverse points of the globe, in several languages, and with a level of excellence recognized by the client and partner: F4E.

ISQ had already been the winner of the first contest launched in 2018, having demonstrated that there is know-how of excellence in Portugal in the training area, which is quite competitive globally at this level.

ISQ in ITER:

It is the largest scientific investment of today and in which ISQ participates within the scope of its areas of competence. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor aims to build the first experimental nuclear fusion reactor, capable of generating a positive energy return, demonstrating the scientific and technical feasibility of nuclear fusion as a clean energy source. ISQ collaborates with ITER and F4E by providing services in areas as varied as: training, inspection, testing, development of non-destructive control technology, process engineering, liaison engineering and support services to basic engineering (design and analysis). In the area of quality assurance and manufacturing control, ISQ is the F4E reference partner in the form of a framework contract which assigns responsibility for monitoring the manufacture of components supplied by the EU.

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This time, it follows global market trends by investing in audits that promote the transparency of the use of proceeds statement in the acquisition of debt instruments to finance green projects: the so-called green bonds, or green loans.

In fact, changing times lead to changing mentalities and, with them, lifestyles that reflect a greater awareness and sense of action on the socio-environmental conjuncture. This (pro)activity and commitment to environmental and social goals (KPI’s) have been exponentially adopted by organizations determined to assume their corporate social responsibility, attributing shared social value to their economic activity.

In this sense, organizations tend to invest in projects that, in the course of their development, meet environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria (ESG) in the most sustainable way possible.

However, the requirements for the admission of ESG bonds, or of green loans, by investors are not governed by an universal regulation, but rather by self-regulations defined by the various entities that issue those bonds, making the process of project suitability for green financing more intricate.

Therefore, who can guarantee that the service provided correctly meets all the requirements? Well, the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) – a global organization of relevance in the self-regulation of capital markets – suggests that investing organizations hire an external review for the impartial validation of the categories of green eligibility to which projects are proposed.

“In response to this market need, the Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (ISQ) – as Portugal’s largest Technological Interface Centre in Engineering, Consulting, Inspection, Testing, I&D and Innovation services – presents itself as a second-party opinion (SPO) that provides both Financial Institutions and Investors with the assurance that their funds are aligned with the main sustainable finance frameworks and with their own goals”, explains João Safara, ISQ Administrator.

In a methodology that contemplates all green principles already regulated – namely, the Green Bond Principles (GBP), Social Bonds (SBP), Sustainability Bond Guidelines (SBG), Climate Bonds Standard (CBS) of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and the Green Loan Principles (GLP) of the Loan Market Association (LMA) – and taking into account the compliance with policies and objectives of sustainable development (SDG) and environmental responsibility, social and corporate governance (ESG), “ISQ is committed to guiding investors throughout the cycle of their green projects and to make informed decisions”, adds João Safara.

ISQ is particularly dedicated to the reputable and independent verification of the implementation of the four components of the GBP/GLP – i.e., revenue management, the project selection and evaluation process, and the transparent communication of its implementation (report) – by means of meetings, interviews, consultations with the client, document analysis, on-site observation, completion of a checklist, and finally the preparation of a technical opinion.

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The project is called Easy Platform and will make the process of inspection and repair of wind turbines more consistent and cost-effective. At stake is the development of a work platform that is more flexible in its use and installation, through more advanced and optimized fastening techniques. At the same time, the platform will be equipped with advanced protection systems that allow it to be used in bad weather. It will now be possible to perform safer interventions for the workers involved as well as for the equipment required for the same, increasing the number of days per year in which they can be performed.

ISQ participates in the development and performance of a series of tests on materials, components, and metallic structures such as: magnetic anchoring force; limit force of active suction cups; characterization of ropes and evaluation of metallic structures; characterization of the mechanical resistance of materials used in the project. The process was developed in the Special Tests Laboratory of ISQ (located in Castelo Branco) and in LABMAT-Mechanical Tests Unit (UEM).

Easy Platform is, therefore, an answer to the issues inherent to the (expensive) maintenance of wind turbine components and their respective repairs, often caused, for example, by damage resulting from bird impacts, lightning strikes or breakdowns in their mechanical or electrical systems. Besides the fact that their maintenance is usually carried out using ropes or suspended aluminum platforms, jeopardizing the technicians’ active safety principle; this activity is only feasible if weather conditions allow it, which can lead to a 40 to 70% reduction in the time available for these operations throughout the year. Consequently, these limitations not only increase maintenance costs but also generate significant losses in energy production.

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“With the creation of a green hydrogen cluster in Sines, ISQ will contribute significantly to the sustainability goals of Portugal and the Sines region in particular, giving its contribution to the fulfillment of the energy transition roadmap that the most advanced countries are doing, in this strategic project for Portugal,” says the president of ISQ, Pedro Matias.

The GreenH2Atlantic, was one of three projects selected under the research and development program Horizon 2020 – European Green Deal, designed to demonstrate the viability of renewable hydrogen on a scale of production and technological application unprecedented.

The innovation of the project involves the development and implementation of a 100 MW electrolyzer, composed of scalable 8 MW modules with high capacity to achieve maximum efficiency, size, lifetime and flexibility; but also the interface system composed of advanced management technologies that will allow the direct connection of the electrolyzer to local hybrid renewable energy (solar and wind).

“ISQ will contribute in areas of innovation such as the requirements and design review in the development phase of the electrolyzer; the study of relevant certification standards and methodologies for electrolysis systems; the study of ways to valorize the oxygen and heat (resulting from the electrolysis process); as well as the training of human resources in Portugal to operate in the new production process of green H2 in Sines”, adds the president of ISQ.

Green hydrogen is pointed as one of the pillars of economic growth, being a decisive energy vector in the decarbonization process of the main sectors of the economy. GreenH2Atlantic will materialize the transition from an old coal-fired power plant to an innovative renewable hydrogen production unit, in line with the European strategy and objectives towards carbon neutrality.

HYDROGEN

ISQ IN THE CONSORTIUM H2 CoLAB GREEN HYDROGEN

COMPOSED OF ACADEMIC, SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AND GREAT TECHNOLOGICAL PLAYERS, THIS CONSORTIUM IS AIMED TO BE A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL REFERENCE CENTER

ISQ is part of the H2 CoLAB Green Hydrogen consortium, which aims to develop solutions with relevant scientific and technological content, as well as the promotion of the hydrogen economy, allowing its dissemination and widespread use, in safety and at efficient costs. The H2 CoLAB Green Hydrogen consortium is made up of academic and scientific institutions and major technological players that, globally, bring together in an articulated way the most relevant and transversal skills in the H2 value chain. In this way, it will be possible to ensure the success of the H2 CoLAB Green Hydrogen and make it a scientific and technological reference center to develop the most suitable solutions today, and guarantee its technological leadership

The green hydrogen injection pilot project

GGND is preparing a project for the distribution of a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas in a distribution network operated by Setgás, whose distribution point is located in the Seixal Industrial Park, in Setúbal.

The injection of green hydrogen (H2) into the natural gas (NG) network is the subject of a pilot project, prepared by GGND, for the distribution of a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas in a distribution network operated by Setgás (operator distribution network managed by GGND itself).
The point of production of H2 is located at the headquarters of the company Gestene, in the Industrial Park of Seixal, Setúbal. This company, a partner in this pilot, currently has an electrolyser and a photovoltaic park at its headquarters, with a view to producing, on an experimental basis, 10 m³/h of green hydrogen.
Given the proximity between the production unit and the Setgás network, and given the local configuration of the distribution network, the development of this project will cover around 80 usage facilities, with essentially residential characteristics. To connect the production point and the injection point, a new network section (1,400 m.) will be built, along which 100% H2 will circulate. In a first phase of the pilot, the ratio of the H2/NG mixture will increase up to 5%, reaching, in a second phase, the maximum percentage of 20%, using H2 produced from green energy purchased from a supplier, if necessary .
Various controls will also be carried out on the behavior of the equipment involved, largely entrusted to specialized entities, namely through the participation of a gas inspector, an entity certifying domestic gas equipment and also involving the participation of manufacturers of this equipment.

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ISQ will join the European Erasmus+ Encrypt 4.0 Project, a joint initiative to create a taskforce for cybersecurity in the European industry, where it is leading the development of the Cybersecurity Risk Matrix for companies in the manufacturing sector, within the framework of Industry 4.0.

Cyber-attacks are among the top five global risks, according to the World Economic Forum.  Cybersecurity Ventures, a leading global cyber-economy company predicts that, globally, cybercrime-related impacts in 2021 will be greater than all natural disasters in one year.

In this context, cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure are ranked as the fifth highest risk in 2020 by the World Economic Forum’s network of experts and have become the new standard in sectors such as energy, healthcare and transportation. However, manufacturing is experiencing increasing cyber-attacks. Organized cybercrime is on the rise with the increasing sophistication of darkweb tools that makes their services cheaper and more easily accessible.

“But the defense capacity of SMEs is generally weaker compared to large companies and figures suggest that only 14% of affected SMEs recover without external assistance,” adds Pedro Matias.

The National Cyber Security Alliance shows, for example, that 60% of PMEs that suffer a cyber-attack lose their business within 6 months and that they are much more vulnerable due to connectivity in Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems, a result of the Industry digitization.

Manufacturing companies, in an attempt to maintain a competitive edge by adapting to Industry 4.0 practices, sporadically invest in control systems and external consultants, but lack an integrated approach to cyber risk management. These efforts fail when trying to effectively address rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats, because most manufacturing systems have traditionally been developed to focus on workers safety and high performance, not cybersecurity. Historically companies were primarily concerned with protecting their OT environment often neglecting IT security.

In this context, Andreia Morgado, project manager, explains that “the Cybersecurity Risk Matrix will outline key risk indicators that will be easily applied to real-time data. The matrix will allow companies to not only design a long-term cybersecurity strategy, but also quickly run daily reports that will show the actual risk levels for processes at a given point in time. This is of utmost importance in the manufacturing environment as it keeps production running which would otherwise represent an irreparable impact with huge financial losses.”

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“ISQ, through its presence at ESQS (Europe Spatial Qualité Sécurité) is involved in the Webb Space Telescope’s mission to monitor the safety of operations, by verifying – from the point of view of safeguarding and protecting the environment – the compliance of the (including operational procedures) with regulations, safety studies and operating licenses, also providing support for the conduct of final preparation operations before launch”

Pedro Matias, president of ISQ

ISQ is in charge of verifying the compliance of the electrical and radiofrequency tests (antennas), filling the fuel tank and the respective pressurization operations, as well as the final integration in the launcher.

“Our experience in this area goes back a long time. We have been providing Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) services at the European Space Center (CSG), in French Guiana, for almost two decades, with a magnificent team of excellent Employees that is permanently at the aerospace base in Kouru. We also work on the operational quality (quality on board and quality on the ground) of the  Ariane  5, Soyuz and Vega launch systems ”, completes Pedro Matias .

With the new James Webb telescope we take another giant step forward in terms of observing the cosmos. Hubble revolutionized astrophysics and allowed a new look at our solar system and ancient galaxies. Webb goes further in the study of the origins of the universe and should observe the formation of the first galaxies, study their evolution, see the production of elements by the stars and follow the processes of formation of stars and planets. That is, it will focus on four main areas: the first light in the universe (light from the first stars), the formation of galaxies in the early universe, the birth of stars and protoplanetary systems and planets (including the origins of life) .

This giant telescope has a mirror six times the size of Hubble’s and a tennis court-sized sunscreen.

“Portugal has been increasingly focusing on the Aerospace industry and fortunately today we have several important companies working in this area that are internationally recognized. Also at the Government level, it has been very interesting to see that the Portuguese Government has been considering this area as an area of ​​the future, so we have all the conditions for, in the medium term, Portugal to assert itself as a reference in certain components of the Aerospace cluster. We hope that within the framework of Portugal 2030 it will be considered a strategic sector” , concludes Pedro Matias.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

James Webb will detect light from the first generation of stars and galaxies that formed in the early Universe and study the atmosphere of habitable exoplanets.

Next year, the James Webb will be folded into its launch configuration for shipment to the launch site and mounted inside the fairing of the Ariane 5 launcher (about 5 m wide). On its journey into space, James Webb’s first mission will be to perform a series of complex and technically challenging deployments – a critical part of Webb’s journey to its orbit about a million and a half kilometers from Earth. James Webb will unfold its delicate five-layer sunshield to the size of a tennis court (+/-22×12 meters). It then assembles its 6.5-meter diameter primary mirror composed of 18 1.3-meter hexagonal segments, which will detect the faint light from distant stars and galaxies. The entire assembly weighs 6,500kg.

The James Webb Space Telescope will not orbit the Earth like the Hubble Space Telescope – it will orbit the Sun, 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2. What’s special about this orbit is that it allows the telescope to stay in line with the Earth as it moves around the sun. This allows the satellite’s large sunshield to protect the telescope from the light and heat of the Sun and Earth (and the Moon), keeping the equipment and mirror at -225°C, operating temperature).

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“In the current context of energy transition, companies face challenges of great complexity, whose response requires innovative approaches such as those based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the partnership now established with DCBrain, it will be possible to provide the market with more complete and integrated solutions. This solution represents a qualitative leap of the highest relevance that may be a very valuable asset for gas transportation networks in Portugal,” stresses Pedro Matias, President of ISQ.

The goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 requires that existing systems and infrastructures are able to manage the influx of increasing amounts of biogas and hydrogen. Future challenges include the mixing of gases with varying calorific value, the traceability of their source origin, and the dynamic nature of the mixtures. “At the same time, the interconnectivity between gas and electricity networks and the trend towards market decentralization, significantly increase the scope and complexity of decision making for TSO (Transmission System Operator) and DSO (Distribution System Operator), all in a changing regulatory environment,” adds Pedro Matias.

The complexity of operation and management of these networks therefore requires new approaches, where digitalization combined with mechanisms based on Artificial Intelligence play a key role.

“ISQ already has, for several years, a set of solutions for improving the efficiency and safety of facilities, equipment and support for conversion to renewable energy. With the INeS platform (DCBrain), it becomes possible to transform gas networks into intelligent systems and support operational and strategic decision-making,” concludes the President of ISQ.

It should be noted that the main problems associated with the injection of Hydrogen (H2) in the network are related to the integrity of the network and fair billing (since the mixture of natural gas and hydrogen has a lower calorific value than pure natural gas).

With the INeS platform it is possible to perform a digital simulation of the different injection points of H2 or Biomethane as well as to identify the different consumption points. This solution allows you to model and know the concentration of H2 or Biomethane in the different regions of the gas network.

The green hydrogen injection pilot project

GGND is preparing a project for the distribution of a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas in a distribution network operated by Setgás, whose distribution point is located in the Seixal Industrial Park, in Setúbal.

The injection of green hydrogen (H2) into the natural gas (NG) network is the subject of a pilot project, prepared by GGND, for the distribution of a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas in a distribution network operated by Setgás (operator distribution network managed by GGND itself).
The point of production of H2 is located at the headquarters of the company Gestene, in the Industrial Park of Seixal, Setúbal. This company, a partner in this pilot, currently has an electrolyser and a photovoltaic park at its headquarters, with a view to producing, on an experimental basis, 10 m³/h of green hydrogen.
Given the proximity between the production unit and the Setgás network, and given the local configuration of the distribution network, the development of this project will cover around 80 usage facilities, with essentially residential characteristics. To connect the production point and the injection point, a new network section (1,400 m.) will be built, along which 100% H2 will circulate. In a first phase of the pilot, the ratio of the H2/NG mixture will increase up to 5%, reaching, in a second phase, the maximum percentage of 20%, using H2 produced from green energy purchased from a supplier, if necessary .
Various controls will also be carried out on the behavior of the equipment involved, largely entrusted to specialized entities, namely through the participation of a gas inspector, an entity certifying domestic gas equipment and also involving the participation of manufacturers of this equipment.

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With an overall budget of 8.8 M€, the project involves 26 partners from 11 countries and will last four years, as part of the European strategy of the Green Deal and the New Action Plan for the Circular Economy in Europe.

In the context of Resource Efficiency, one of the recent stakes is the bioeconomy, which aims to boost the circular economy through the principles “reduce, reuse and recycle”, with the production, use and conservation of biological resources towards a more sustainable economy. In order to leverage new skills and market solutions in this area, it is urgent to find solutions that help overcome the challenges related to food production, climate change, and waste reuse.

SEA2LAND responds to these challenges by improving and adapting nutrient recovery technologies for large-scale bio-based fertilizer production in the European Union, transforming by-products into crop nutrients. “Through the valorization of these surpluses, the project will contribute to the widespread implementation of industrial symbiosis synergies, to reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers and also to reduce European dependence on third countries regarding the supply of nutrients to the agricultural sector,” says Pedro Matias, president of ISQ.

“ISQ will develop a decision support system to support local/regional valuation of by-products from fisheries and aquaculture; perform life cycle assessment of the technological solutions to be demonstrated; develop support activities for future incorporation into the market of these solutions, namely, evaluation of compliance of the new biofertilizers with EU regulations and support the development of business models,”.

The project will work based on pilot units in which nine technologies will be tested in six geographic areas representative of the fisheries and aquaculture sector (North, Baltic, Atlantic, Cantabrian, Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea). The technologies to be applied range from more conventional and low-cost processes (bokashi, composting) to more advanced processes (enzymatic hydrolysis, thermo-mechanical fractionation).

SEA2LAND is a venture in which Portugal, via ISQ, Chile, Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Switzerland, Norway and Estonia are involved.

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In this scope ISQ will contribute with its skills and know-how to the study of new composite materials and their manufacturing processes, with benefits in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for the aeronautical sector. The focus of the study will be the cylindrical section of the fuselage of a regional transport aircraft.

This challenge follows the success of the work developed over four years in another project called PASSARO, which contributed to the development of multifunctional and intelligent aerostructures and the automation of production processes and technologies associated with aeronautical maintenance in an i4.0 approach.

“We are proud to be once again side by side with AIRBUS Defence and Space, with whom we have established a five-year Research, Development and Innovation program aimed at developing new manufacturing processes of composite and metallic materials as a response to the challenges of the aeronautical sector, and in which the GAVIÃO project is the first phase of this ambitious program”, highlights Pedro Matias, President of the ISQ Group.

ISQ will conduct the environmental sustainability analysis of composite materials and their manufacturing processes, which may result in the introduction of new materials and more efficient production processes in the market, making this type of material more competitive, with clear advantages for aeronautical material manufacturers.

“With the introduction of these new structures, air transport will benefit in terms of aircraft weight reduction and, consequently, savings in terms of fuel consumption, moving towards compliance with the targets imposed by the EU on pollutant emissions.

It is estimated that a fuselage section, composed mostly of composite materials, is 20% lighter than the current market situation and can represent a 30% reduction in energy costs of manufacturing”, concludes Pedro Matias.

Through the use of new materials and new composite manufacturing techniques, it is intended to obtain an improvement of the whole process in the order of 10%.

In order to validate the developments mentioned above, ISQ will carry out tests on both materials and fuselage structures at full scale, involving mechanical characterization and electromagnetic compatibility (i.e. analysis of the structure’s shielding to external magnetic radiation), high speed impacts, non-destructive testing, virtual testing (simulation) and structural and thermodynamic testing.

With a duration of 30 months, the Gavião project will be developed by ISQ in partnership with OPTIMAL Structural Solutions, INEGI and Stratosphere.

PASSARO: Innovation of functional and structural tests of aerial structures

The PASSARO project aims to work in several areas related to functional and structural tests, as well as advanced structures.

PASSARO contributes to the development of intelligent and multifunctional structures, to the automation of productive processes and technologies associated with maintenance in the Industry 4.0 approach, applied to two full-scale demonstrators (two cockpits and specific wing demonstrators for the innovative development platform of Regional Aircraft’s (IADP) aircraft.

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