Extrusion International 2-2023-USA

30 Extrusion International 2/2023 30 INDUSTRY NEWS First of its Kind Floating Solar System at the Manufacturing Site in the United States Installed As part of its sustainability goal of achieving net zero CO 2 emissions (More information on BASF's cli- mate protection goal) by 2050, BASF has installed an innovative proof-of-concept floating solar system at its McIntosh, Alabama manufacturing site. Noria Energy’s first of its kind floating solar system uses renewable energy to power three aerators used to improve the water quality of a scenic pond at the pro - duction facility. Floating solar energy capture offers several ad- vantages beyond those of regular land-based solar systems including better operating efficiency due to cooler, more consistent temperatures from the sur- rounding water. However, the additional design and construction variables of floating solar systems typically come with a higher capital cost. Previous at- tempts to lower installation costs have reduced the reliability of the system when exposed to the environ - ment. In particular, exposure to intense sunlight leads to degradation and unpredictable failure of tradition- al pontoons over time. BASF’s plastic additives business is collaborating with Noria Energy to address these challenges by de- veloping a highly reliable, innovative pontoon design at a lower cost. The final product leverages BASF’s broad portfolio of light stabilizers – which include UV absorbers and Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers (HALS) – that protect the polymer against degradation of harmful UV light. “The additives and antioxidants used for the pontoons and produced at our McIntosh site improve durability and extend the lifetime of the systems,” said Marcus Pezent, McIntosh Site Director, BASF. “We set out to develop an innovative float- ing solar system to drastically reduce capital require- ments, including logistical costs. Working with BASF was instrumental in getting the system from concept to pilot installation in under a year, and a true testa- ment to BASF’s commitment to their carbon-neutral goals,” said Alex Mayer, Chief Technology Officer at Noria Energy. The pilot unit was installed with the support of the BASF North America Energy Management team who is already exploring additional locations for large scale floating installations at different BASF manufac- turing sites. “These types of game-changing renew- able energy initiatives reinforce our commitment to a sustainable future,” added Tejuana Edmond, Vice President, Plastic Additives Americas, BASF. “We will continue to work with our customers to help address their needs and challenges through innovation and sustainable solutions.” BASF Plastic Additives www.plasticadditives.basf.com www.performancechemicals.basf.com Noria Energy www.noriaenergy.com New President for North America Billerud announced the appointment of Deputy President and General Counsel for Billerud North America, Kevin Kuznicki (Image), as the new Presi- dent for Billerud North America. Kevin has been with Billerud since 2021 and is already a member of the company's group management team. "I am confident that Kevin Kuznicki, with his experi- ence from a variety of positions and industries, is the right person to lead Billerud's journey in the US go- ing forward," says Christoph Michalski, President and CEO at Billerud. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as President for Billerud North America and am optimistic about our future. I am honored to work with such a talented team across the company and look forward to continuing our journey and accom- plishing great success together,” says Kevin Kuznicki, incoming President of North America at Billerud. Kevin Kuznicki succeeds Robert Kreizenbeck, who left the company in March this year. Billerud www.billerud.com