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Solar EV Charging to Bypass the Grid: A US$2.5 Billion Market by 2034, Says IDTechEx

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Unreliable and fossil fuel-intense electrical grids
BOSTON, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Electrification of cars, buses, and trucks drastically reduces CO2 emissions at the point of use compared to a diesel or petrol alternative. The adoption of EVs across all sectors, with IDTechEx predicting over 180 million electric vehicles to be sold annually by 2044. This will contribute to a drastic reduction in tailpipe emissions. However, the overall emissions are usually highly dependent on the energy mix that goes into grid electricity production. In many economies, this contains significant amounts of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Beyond CO2 emissions, some grids are already at capacity, and the increased load of an electric transport sector risks blackouts and power supply issues. South Africa is an EV market with both of these issues, and several innovations have been made using distributed power generation to tackle these challenges. IDTechEx’s research report, “Off-Grid Charging For Electric Vehicles 2024-2034: Technologies, Benchmarking, Players and Forecasts”, explores the challenges and solutions associated with charging EVs in the context of constrained electricity grids.

The South African utility grid is subject to frequent load-shedding, periods when demand exceeds supply, and utility operators are forced to impose rolling black or brownouts of up to 50% capacity. This is a problem for all forms of domestic and industrial electrical use but becomes an especially pronounced problem for commercial EV operators. Fleet operators often must charge at predesignated times to maximize uptime and complete all planned routes. If the grid fails during a charging spot, the entire schedule may be adversely affected by factors beyond an operator’s control. This is an unusual grid situation; however, it presents a possible worst-case scenario for grid-congested and EV-saturated regions. In 2022, a heatwave in California prompted the state government to ask EV owners not to charge to conserve energy. The growth in electric vehicle sales will only make such problems more widespread.
South Africa also has a very carbon-intensive energy mix, with approximately 70% of power generation being from coal. This directly translates into higher lifecycle CO2 emissions from EVs powered by the electrical grid. Whilst South Africa has a particularly fossil fuel energy mix, the source of electricity plays a critical role in the lifecycle emissions of an electric vehicle.  
Disturbed generation gives renewable and grid-independent electricity
One possible solution being trialed in South Africa, amongst other places, is harnessing distributed renewable microgrids to form the backbone of charging networks. By integrating a solar farm, large-scale energy storage (ES), and high-powered charging outlets, Vrendal-based Zero Carbon Charge plans to build an etruck charging network. Not only does this decouple charging from an unreliable grid, it also avoids placing excess electrical demand on utilities, avoids the need for costly grid expansions, and provides free and 100% renewable energy for the trucks to operate on. This is not limited to South Africa; the USA, in particular, has also seen a boom in companies offering grid-free solar-powered charging. In the US, many of the products are smaller scale and transportable, allowing easy setup for EV users who want quick access to EV charging.
Easy setup, no grid connection, but slow charging rates
The main challenge with distributed solar generation for EV charging is the low power output of photovoltaic panels. Most produce around 250 Watts per square meter, which is relatively low. In fact, to charge at 22kW (generally considered Level 2 fast charging), a solar canopy would need to be at least 10 x 10 meters, a considerable footprint, especially in an urban environment. The other challenge is storing energy, as charging will not always be required constantly, so an on-site battery is required to store the generated electricity. Without an integrated on-site battery, charging is impossible when there is no sunlight, such as inclement weather or overnight. On-site battery storage can combat this intermittency.
 
 
Larger solar farms with integrated energy storage can become islanded microgrids, and with enough on-site storage and photovoltaic production, potential grid-independent fast charging is possible. This is the approach proposed for the South African etruck charging network. It is important to note that purely solar solutions are likely to be geographically restricted to areas with high photovoltaic potential. Thus, it is no surprise that the leading regions are Western regions of the US and places like South Africa. Beam Global, a supplier of EV canopy chargers, recently announced its first sales in the European market to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense. However, the chargers will not be deployed in the mainland of the UK; they will be deployed on a military base in Cyprus, one of the sunniest regions on the continent.
Despite technical challenges, the aging and fossil fuel-heavy nature of grids combined with high EV uptake call for new charging solutions, and IDTechEx predicts that solar charging systems will make up a sizeable portion of the overall US$16 billion off-grid charging infrastructure hardware market by 2034. IDTechEx research also indicates several other technologies likely to be adopted for off-grid EV charging. Hydrogen fuel cell charging is likely to emerge as a key solution for use cases requiring much greater power per area, with a particular expected focus on electrified construction sites. More niche technologies include AWE (airborne wind energy), which harnesses high altitude winds for distributed power generation. For an in-depth look at solar EV charging, as well as alternative technology options such as AWE and hydrogen see IDTechEx’s latest research on the topic, “Off-Grid Charging For Electric Vehicles 2024-2034: Technologies, Benchmarking, Players and Forecasts”.
To find out more about this IDTechEx report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/OffGridEV.
For the full portfolio of electric vehicle market research from IDTechEx, please see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/EV.
About IDTechEx:
IDTechEx provides trusted independent research on emerging technologies and their markets. Since 1999, we have been helping our clients to understand new technologies, their supply chains, market requirements, opportunities and forecasts. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com. 
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Media Contact:
Lucy RogersSales and Marketing [email protected] +44(0)1223 812300
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Slovenian Tourist Board Unveils Innovative Projects to Enhance Tourism and Sports Visibility: Audio Stories, AI-Powered Virtual Assistant, and “Slovenia – Sports Destination” Website

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LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Slovenia is a land of countless natural beauties, cultural treasures, top health and wellness resorts and superb gastronomy, which the Slovenian Tourist Board aims to showcase to visitors in an innovative and attractive way. To achieve this, the Board continually analyzes current marketing trends and develops projects designed to excite tourists, spark their curiosity and inspire them to explore further.

By staying at the forefront of marketing strategies, the Slovenian Tourist Board ensures that the country’s unique attractions are presented in the most engaging and appealing manner possible. The most recent projects to boost Slovenia’s visibility include three new projects: Sounds Like Slovenia, a series of audio stories, an AI-powered virtual assistant named Alma on slovenia.info and the “Slovenia – Sports Destination” website.
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Meet Alma, an AI-powered virtual assistant
Alma, named after the adventurous traveller and writer Alma M. Karlin, operates using advanced AI technology, filtering content to suit user interests. She sources reliable information from the slovenia.info database and over 50 verified websites of Slovenian tourist destinations and providers. As one of the first AI assistants in Slovenian tourism, and among the few AI assistants integrated in national tourism organizations’ websites in Europe, Alma positions slovenia.info as a reliable source of information and inspiration for international visitors.
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Slovenia – Sports Destination Website
The Slovenia–Sports Destination website serves as a comprehensive resource for organizing sports activities and events, conferences, rehabilitation and inspiration, available in both Slovenian and English. Sports agencies, clubs, and event organizers can use the portal to connect directly with relevant partners in Slovenia. The website also provides direct contacts for specialized sports agencies and federations, assisting with the organization of preparatory matches and other logistical needs. Information on sports accommodations is also available.
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Sounds Like Slovenia 
Thematic playlists on Spotify and sound stories on slovenia.info provide an immersive audio experience of Slovenia’s landscapes and cultural offerings. Themes are categorized into five categories: the Sounds of Nature, Thrilling Outdoor Adventures, Cities and Culture, Health and Well-Being, and Gastronomy. Crafted for the global digital campaign, the audio list aims to captivate travelers worldwide.
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Together, these projects demonstrate Slovenia’s dedication to innovation and sustainability in tourism, offering visitors unforgettable experiences in this vibrant European destination with a green heart.
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Winners of Huawei ICT Competition 2023-2024 Global Final Announced

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SHENZHEN, China, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On May 26, the closing and awards ceremony of the Huawei ICT Competition 2023–2024 Global Final was held in Shenzhen. This year’s competition attracted more than 170,000 students from over 2,000 universities and colleges across more than 80 countries and regions, making it the largest offline competition since its launch. More than 160 teams, adding up to a total of 470 contestants from 49 different countries and regions, made it through national and regional competitions to reach this year’s global final, held in Shenzhen May 23-26.

After fierce competition, 19 teams from nine countries (Algeria, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, the Philippines, Tanzania, Türkiye, and Uganda) won the Grand Prizes of the Practice and Innovation Competitions. The Best Social Media Popularity Award was won by a team from Pakistan. The Green Development Award was won by two teams from China and Morocco. The Women in Tech Award was granted to four teams from Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, and Uganda. And the TECH4ALL Digital Inclusion Award was won by two teams from China and the Philippines.
Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, said: “To make sure everyone can truly enjoy the benefits of digitalization while such technologies are making radical progress, Huawei believes it is crucial to guarantee that digital technologies are accessible to all.”
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, said in a video message:,”UNESCO works to uphold the basic rights and agency of every learner and teacher when using digital technology and AI, and promote an inclusive, equitable, open, and secure digital future for all. Many thanks to our partners like Huawei for their longstanding support.”
Ritchie Peng, President of Huawei’s ICT Strategy and Business Development Department, stated: “ICT is the cornerstone of the intelligent world. Through the Huawei ICT Competition, we aim to provide students with a global platform to compete and exchange ideas.”
On the same day, Huawei also held the ICT Accelerating Education Transformation Summit. At the summit Huawei awarded 24 instructors the title “Huawei ICT Academy Global Most Valuable Instructor.” The awards, given out for the first time this year, aims to show gratitude for the important contributions the instructors have made to talent development, and mark them as role models showing how the brightest minds can grow even brighter. These role models will help drive sustainable development of the ICT talent ecosystem.
The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual contest held by Huawei for global university and college students. Through the competition, Huawei aims to provide students with an international platform for healthy competition and exchange of ideas. Since its launch in 2015, the competition has helped students enhance their ICT knowledge and practical skills, while also increasing their ability to innovate by using new technologies and platforms. The ultimate goal is to advance technological development and facilitate digital inclusion around the world.
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NEXCOM, CTOne, and Vertex Join Forces to Enhance Private Network Security

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TAIPEI, May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network solutions, CTOne, a global cybersecurity leader in communication technology, and Vertex, a professional system integrator of 5G private network, join forces for groundbreaking POC targeted to advance 5G private network security within semiconductor manufacturing site framework. Designed to address the specific cybersecurity challenges common in OT networks, collaborative solution offers unparalleled protection, and seamless integration into existing network architectures with minimal disruption to operations during deployment.

Improved Network Security
NEXCOM’s 1U Edge server, the TCA 5170, delivers scalable performance and advanced cybersecurity features, empowering manufacturers with robust OT network protection. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the TCA 5170 accelerate encryption and decryption processes, ensures authentication and real-time threat detection, safeguarding private networks against evolving cyber threats. Its scalability makes it ideal for deployments of all sizes, from smaller production lines to semiconductor giants, providing comprehensive security solutions for diverse industrial needs.
More Visibility, Easier Management
The integrated solution simplifies the management of complex OT networks, enabling IT teams to efficiently monitor and manage network security while optimizing resource utilization. CTOne’s virtualized private 5G security software, installed on TCA 5170 and deployed at strategic points at the semiconductor manufacturing site, integrates seamlessly across IT and CT networks to deliver full visibility with real-time monitoring of data traffic. Combined with CTOne’s built-in 5G protection capabilities, the solution enable immediate interception and isolation of threats while supporting a Zero Trust strategy.
“This collaboration has been pivotal in delivering a comprehensive cybersecurity solution for semiconductor manufacturing sites,” said Ming-Yang, Yi, senior manager of AMEA business development group of CTOne. “By integrating our advanced 5G visibility and security capabilities with NEXCOM’s TCA 5170, we’ve created a robust solution that enhances data protection and optimizes operational efficiency of private 5G networks.”
“Working alongside NEXCOM and CTOne has allowed us to deliver a truly comprehensive cybersecurity solution for private 5G network,” said Willis Fu, Technical Director at Vertex. “Bringing together NEXCOM’s TCA 5170 and CTOne’s Mobile Network Security solution ensures seamless protection of the private 5G network, providing our end customer with peace of mind and confidence in their operations.”
“The TCA 5170 is a compact 1U server that offers different configurations and scalable performance, allowing our ecosystem partners to easily adapt and run their applications for deployments of all scales,” said Jennifer Lan, Sales & Marketing Director of Network & Communication Solutions at NEXCOM. “Our successful collaboration with CTOne and Vertex underscores our commitment to providing top-tier security and operational efficiency for our clients.”
Read full Case Study: Security-Solution-to-Protect-Private-Networks-at-Semiconductor-Facilities.pdf (nexcom.com)
This joint solution can be experienced firsthand at upcoming exhibitions:
May 29 – May 31, 2024, CommunicAsia 2024, Singapore, Singapore EXPO, Hall 4, booth 4E3-14June 26  – June 28, 2024, COMNEXT, Japan, Tokyo, Tokyo Big Sight, South Hall, Booth 9-14About NEXCOM
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, NEXCOM integrates its diverse capabilities and operates six global businesses, including the Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit. NCS focuses on the latest network technology and helps to build reliable network infrastructure, by delivering professional design and manufacturing services for customers all over the world. NCS’s network application platform is widely adopted in Cyber Security, Load Balancing, 5G uCPE, SD-WAN, SASE, Edge Computing, OT Security, Storage, NVR, and other network applications for businesses of all sizes.
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