In a unique landscape shaped by decades of mining, BuroLandschap has designed a floating pontoon bridge that provides cyclists and pedestrians with an extraordinary crossing experience the bridge brings users remarkably close to the water’s surface Located on the border between Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen in Belgium the bridge traverses a pond formed by gravel extraction nestled between the remnants of mine spoils (terrils) from the 20th-century coal mining era While the extraction of raw materials has long ceased the mining history continues to define the area’s unique topography this transformed landscape has become a hub for relaxation and recreation all images by Pieter Rabijns Studio BuroLandschap integrates the pontoon bridge into the landscape and physically connects the two mining spoils Inspired by natural forms and the Fibonacci sequence (Golden Ratio) organic shape rather than a straight connection across the water This design choice slows the pace of cyclists and walkers encouraging them to pause and enjoy a sequence of spectacular views integrating the structure into its surroundings the bridge stands as the longest floating bicycle bridge in Belgium and a unique landmark Its 30 hinged modular elements allow it to flexibly adapt to changing water levels rising or falling by up to 130 centimeters This combination of engineering and design creates a symbiotic relationship between the landscape located on the border of Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen the bridge crosses a gravel-extraction pond the bridge’s curved design is inspired by natural forms and the Fibonacci sequence the floating pontoon bridge brings cyclists and walkers closer to nature’s surface the bridge adapts to the pond’s fluctuating water levels the organic shape encourages visitors to slow down and take in the views it is Belgium’s longest floating bicycle bridge and a remarkable landmark the bridge features 30 hinged modular elements allowing it to move with changing water levels the bridge adapts to the environment effortlessly BuroLandschap’s design connects the two mining spoils this floating bridge transforms a once-industrial site into a serene space for exploration and connection name: Cycling between Terrils architect: BuroLandschap | @burolandschap photographer: Pieter Rabijns | @pieterrabijns designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style CTIF International Association of Fire Services works to collect Lessons Learned and to promote learning from fires, accidents and natural disasters. Please contact us with your Lessons Learned paper or story to share here on CTIF.org.    READ more LESSONS LEARNED on CTIF.org The times when vehicles were only fuelled by diesel petrol - or in some exceptional cases LPG - are gone Alternative energy vehicles are entering the scene at a rapid pace and the operational deployment for hybrid & electric vehicles requires a different approach then what we were used to The presence of high-voltage batteries comes with a different risk and requires specific handling The following article is based on a real intervention on a Plug-in Hybrid Please refer to the case study at the end of this article if you are interested in this particular incident By Tom Van Esbroeck and Kurt Vollmacher / CTIF Commission for Extrication & New technology In general one can definitely say that many firemen still feel uncertain about alternative energy vehicles and that every commander always acts with the knowledge experience and information available at that moment the time pressure is high: it is an emergency extrication On the side of the vehicle it is clearly mentioned: ‘Plug-In Hybrid EV’ the English abbreviation of 'Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle’ These mentions let us know that we are dealing with a hybrid electric vehicle that can be recharged by means of a plug The manufacturers provide additional specific information on how to act in case of an accident:              In close cooperation with different international instances one strives to actively respond to the always changing technologies we are confronted with (Oct/2017 – CTIF Commission For Extrication & New Technology) Important remark: this is a general guideline the guidelines of the manufacturer always need to be followed there are different specific methods: cut through cable(s) provided these are deliberately not further explained At this moment different information sources exist, for free or paying, for instance Rescue Code: this app can be downloaded for free. It´s in English and is very user-friendly.   IMMOBILISATION (a few actions if possible)                                                                            during and after the technical intervention a fire may start in the high-voltage battery An indication of this might be: bubbling sounds in the battery pack or (hot) smoke Be aware that at that moment very toxic/corrosive gasses may be released (amongst other things hydrogen fluoride) the towing service ATR and the Mitsubishi Belgium distributor Tom Van Esbroeck: tom.vanesbroeck@brandweerzonecentrum.be                 Kurt Vollmacher: kurt.vollmacher@brandweerzonecentrum.be CTIF Commission For Extrication & New Technology On 13 May 2017 at 8.53 pm team 3 of the Emergency rescue zone Oost-Limburg post Maasmechelen receives a call for a technical intervention The additional information added to the call: “car against tree At 8.58 pm the intervention members leave for the accident Simultaneously the officer leaves from home When the officer and the first intervention vehicle - a multifunctional fire engine - are almost at the location that there is smoke near the vehicle and that the vehicle is possibly on fire.  the commander decides that 2 persons need to prepare preventively with breathing protection Upon arrival at 9.03 pm the situation becomes clear A vehicle missed a turn and collided with a tree After the reconnaissance it becomes clear that it is a hybrid vehicle The commander believes that the vehicle is not under tension because the airbags are activated.  In the accident a person in the car is critically injured there is also smoke from the motor compartment and there are starting flames below it Paramedics of the emergency rescue zone have already arrived on the spot The medical urgency team needs to travel over a longer distance and is still on its way The protector gets the fire under control and protects the motor compartment by means of a high pressure beam from the fire engine The technical team starts an emergency liberation the technical team starts the liberation by removing the 'B' pillar of the vehicle This way the victim can be put on a backboard from aside.  After removing the constriction of the lower limbs and feet the victim is transferred to the medical team In this respect one proceeds cautiously as there is a hybrid vehicle involved The victim is transported critically injured to the local hospital but unfortunately succumbs to his injuries During the aftercare the intervening firemen disconnect the 12 V battery and cool the motor compartment abundantly the car is checked by means of a thermal imaging camera When the vehicle is towed onto a breakdown van this fire was preceded by a loud bang and a bright blue jet of flame The fire department gets a new call and tries to extinguish the fire in the vehicle with foam The vehicle is put on its side in order to be able to reach the burning high volt battery Only after a long time of searching the service plug and removing it with the necessary PPE the fire in the vehicle can be extinguished The vehicle is accompanied by the firemen to a safe stand The commander has organized a debriefing after the deployment and informed the posts of his emergency rescue zone For this the course ‘Hybride & Elektrische voertuigen’ (hybrid and electric vehicles) of the Centre of Expertise for civil security (KCCE) has served as a source of inspiration CTIF Belgium has contacted all instances involved and the manufacturer to learn from this accident and to provide a few recommendations Edited for the Web & Published by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF Communications & Media Group Tom Van Esbroeck: tom.vanesbroeck@brandweerzonecentrum.be Kurt Vollmacher: kurt.vollmacher@brandweerzonecentrum.be Click here for CTIF Hours of Operation: Click here to Contact Communications & Website Maintenance © 2017 International Association of Fire and Rescue Services
 Tweets by ctif_org Netherlands-based BESS developer Giga Storage has unveiled a 600MW/2,400MWh project it is developing in neighbouring Belgium one of the largest planned projects in Europe it would be located in Dilsen-Stokkem adjacent to a new 380kV high-voltage substation run by transmission system operator (TSO) Elia The location is along a high-voltage line from Van Eyck to Gramme while also being connected to the grid of the Netherlands said: “This project is being developed on an industrial site where there was a previous initiative to develop a battery and we expect to commence construction in 2024 GIGA Storage aims to achieve the realisation of 3GW of battery storage in Belgium by 2030.” The project is among the largest being developed in Europe that Energy-Storage.news is aware of and would go a long way to helping Elia integrate more intermittent renewable generation onto the grid in Belgium The location appears very similar to a previously announced 300MW/1,200MWh project from Giga Storage however a spokesperson told Energy-Storage.news they are different projects Belgium has regularly been praised for its facilitation of the grid-scale energy storage market – including handing out capacity market contracts to large-scale BESS – while major challenges to getting the Netherlands’ one off the ground have also been cited numerous times The largest project in progress in the Netherlands that we are aware of is a 250MW/1,000MWh BESS but, as reported by Energy-Storage.news the local municipality is having to amend its local zoning regulations to help it progress Concurrent to Giga’s announcement of its project in Belgium another developer S4 Energy announced a deal with Telsa for 12 Megapacks for a 11MW/44MWh project in the Netherlands The project will be a hybrid installation combining batteries and a flywheel Energy-Storage.news’ publisher Solar Media will host the 9th annual Energy Storage Summit EU in London, 20-21 February 2024. This year it is moving to a larger venue, bringing together Europe’s leading investors, policymakers, developers, utilities, energy buyers and service providers all in one place. Visit the official site for more info. You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Netherlands-based developer Giga Storage has obtained the irrevocable permit for the construction of a 600 MW/2,400 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Belgium GIGA Storage plans the construction of a 600 MW battery park on an industrial estate in eastern Belgium Netherlands-based Giga Storage has obtained the irrevocable permit for the construction of a 600 MW/2,400 MWh BESS project in Belgium called the GIGA Green Turtle This milestone ensures that financing for the project The project will be located in Dilsen-Stokkem in eastern Belgium and is positioned adjacent to a new 380 kV high-voltage station run by transmission system operator Elia The site is located on the high-voltage line from Van Eyck to Gramme The battery park will be built on an industrial estate that was previously home to a zinc factory there were already plans for the realization of a battery park at this location by another energy company before Giga Storage acquired the land from the zinc factory owners GIGA Green Turtle will store the average energy consumption of 330,000 families annually and feed it back into the electricity grid the system will play a key role in Belgium and Europe's energy transition “By developing utility-scale energy storage at strategic locations and we will become less dependent on the import of (fossil) energy,” Ruud Nijs CEO of GIGA Storage said in January when the project was first announced “While this project will be the largest battery in Europe much more storage capacity will be needed in the coming years.” Giga Storage said it aims to deliver 5 GW of BESS projects in Europe by 2030 Projects such as the 300 MW/1,200 MWh BESS in the Delfzijl region in the Netherlands are already under development and the company expects to announce several more projects in various European countries in the coming years The Dutch developer has previously delivered a 12 MW/7.5 MWh battery in the Netherlands in 2020, followed by another 25 MW/48 MWh system in 2022 Giga Storage has another project in its pipeline a 300 MW battery park located near the Van Eyck high-voltage station in Kinrooi only 15 kilometers away from the GIGA Green Turtle location More articles from Marija Maisch Please be mindful of our community standards and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. 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We will look into this. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERAL, ECONOMYBattery capacity in Belgium to increase fivefold by 202410 March 2023 Battery capacity in Belgium will increase more than fivefold in the coming years according to Federal Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen Applications for production licences have been submitted for seven battery parks The parks are expected to increase capacity from the current 100 MW to around 550 MW in the coming years Batteries are a vital link in the energy grid of the future charging at times when there is an abundance of cheap green energy such as when the wind is strong or the sun is shining A battery park was inaugurated on Friday in the village of Ruien in the province of East Flanders Energy company RWE wants to build Europe's largest battery farm with 250 MW in Dilsen-Stokkem Total Renewables SAS Antwerp and Total Renewables SAS Feluy are working on a battery capacity of 24.9 MW The Coo-Trois-Ponts hydropower plant will also be equipped with conventional batteries with a capacity of 74 MW the plant will be able to store the equivalent of 99 MW Eneco will install 50 MW of batteries at Le Roeulx in Hainaut and French company Corsica Sole will install 50 MW of batteries at the Deux-Acren power plant in Lessen Belgium has a favourable investment regime for battery storage to attract investment Battery farms are exempted from transmission tariffs for 10 years and do not have to pay excise duties on the part they feed back into the grid Investments are also financially supported through the federal government's Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM) A battery park openend on 10 March 2023 in Ruien Copy linkGet updates in your mailboxYour email addressSubscribeBy clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media not to mention entertainment and lifestyle our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language businesses and various organisations that need reliable information Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs www.belganewsagency.eu ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishMOBILITY, INNOVATIONTerhills tourist site launches self-driving shuttles29 May 2024 Visitors to the Terhills tourist site in Maasmechelen can now use five self-driving shuttles the first fully autonomous transport system in Belgium the shuttles will be able to carry more than 200 passengers per hour A pilot project with two self-driving shuttles was launched at the site in 2022 The vehicles followed a trajectory of 4.5km and stopped at all major tourist attractions have decided to officially launch the project five self-driving shuttles will transport visitors around the site without a steward Terhills covers an area of ​​approximately 356 hectares in Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen on the edge of the Hoge Kempen national park optimisations have been made to the trajectory of the shuttles and a depot has been built where they can be maintained and charged The shuttles can carry 12 passengers at a time and are accessible for wheelchair users All visitors will be able to use them free of charge Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters tried one of the shuttles on Wednesday “Innovation and sustainability are the keywords for the future and innovative applications in mobility boost the economy and prosperity,” she said #FlandersNewsService | A self-driving shuttle at Terhills © BELGA PHOTO MARC DIRIX Netherlands-based Giga Storage is advancing its massive Green Turtle battery energy storage project in Belgium having increased its capacity and assembled the construction team From ESS News GIGA Storage Belgium is gearing to build the largest battery energy storage system in continental Europe The Green Turtle battery park on the Rotem industrial estate in the town of Dilsen-Stokkem will also be even larger than previously announced Initially, GIGA Storage Belgium announced that it would build a battery with a power output of 600 MW and a storage capacity of 2,400 MWh. It obtained an irrevocable permit for the construction mid April the project proponents have expanded the project to 700 MW/2,800 MWh which is equivalent to the average daily energy consumption of 385,000 households To continue reading, please visit our ESS News website More articles from Marija Maisch Private equity firm Gimv acquires a majority stake in the Alro Group a Dilsen-Stokkem – Belgium-based specialist in industrial coating of car and truck parts Gimv takes over the majority stake from the founding Thijs family Current management remains on board and reinvests to further support the company’s growth Gimv’s investment is intended to allow the company to realize its growth ambitions and to support management in the further professionalization of the group including approval by the competition authorities The installation of an 18 MW battery storage system shows the Belgium region of Flanders’ pioneering work in integrating innovative storage systems to its electricity grid Belgium is clearly back as a leading European market for renewable energy and storage deployments While the country is still not within reach of its peak of 1 GW PV capacity added in 2011 Of the 3.8 GW of cumulative  installed capacity by the end of 2017 one of three regions in Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region being the other two) At today’s official inauguration of a 18 MW battery storage project in Dilsen-Stokkem Flanders is also showing its pioneering work in integrating innovative storage systems to its electricity grid The 140 large Tesla-supplied batteries have been integrated into the primary reserve of Elia the national grid administrator in Belgium As Dirk Rosenstock of REstore Deutschland GmbH explains to pv magazine during the inauguration Antwerp-headquartered REstore worked with Tesla and the regional investor LRM to install a virtual power plant of between 30 to 40 MW to provide grid stabilization services Tesla’s 140 batteries form the backbone of this plant and according to Evan Rice are able to charge and discharge one hundred times faster than conventional fossil fuel power plants the other 12 to 22 MW of power are provided by a range of industrial energy users attracted by the revenue opportunity offered by providing grid stabilization services these industrial users could not easily participate in this market But with REstore acting as the smart aggregator this revenue opportunity is made available to this customer group And with Tesla’s 140 batteries providing a highly responsive backbone this €11 million investment represents a cutting-edge green solution to help stabilize Europe’s grid “From black to green” is how Jan-Willem Rombouts describes the transition in the Terhills SME park in Dilsen-Stokkem where this facility was built in just five weeks Back in the 1920s this area had become an important coal mining area in Flanders and its hills and lakes are now at the cusp of becoming a model green micro-grid The 18.2 MW battery storage facility marks the beginning of this transformation explains: “The batteries’ function will be twofold: chiefly they’ll be used for Elia’s primary reserve and to help balance out the power grid they fit in with the well-thought energy strategy for the planned holiday resort on the site The Terhills resort will be the first vacation park to run on direct current.” will provide clean power to this DC micro-grid So if Tesla’s 140 batteries can save 67,000 tons of CO2 per year this will be a good deal more once solar PV is added to the distributed energy mix at a later stage given the modularity of Tesla’s battery solution its range of benefits and deployment speed it would not be surprising to see a battery capacity ramp-up as this micro-grid unfolds The transition from black to green promises to be an exciting one and pv magazine plans to return to Limburg and Flanders to report on the next chapters of this rollout More articles from Eckhart Gouras Please be mindful of our community standards By subscribing to our newsletter you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on magazine subscriptions pv magazine Australia offers bi-weekly updates of the latest photovoltaics news We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide up to date information delivered straight to your inbox Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. To find out more, please see our Data Protection Policy. × Police stepped up their manhunt Wednesday for a Belgian soldier with suspected extreme-right views and access to rocket launchers who went missing after threatening public figures -- including a renowned coronavirus expert Special police units deployed overnight near 46-year-old serviceman Jurgen Conings hometown of Dilsen-Stokkem in the northeast of the country The suspect's abandoned car was found nearby with "four anti-tank rocket launchers and some munition" the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said.  whose Twitter profile describes himself as a "Belgian Air Force soldier who likes fitness already figured on a list of extremists monitored by Belgium's anti-terrorist agency He was one "around 30" Belgian military personnel with known extremist sympathies but he nevertheless remained on active duty training Belgian troops ahead of deployment on overseas missions -- with access to weapons Asked about the situation by Flemish broadcaster VTM Prime Minister Alexander de Croo admitted that it was "unacceptable" that the fugitive had been allowed to access the weapons and Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder said an inquiry would be launched.  Conings' police wanted notice shows a thick set man with a shaved head and in his Twitter profile he appears stripped to the waist and showing off an imposing physique.  told AFP that the solider was "well trained but seems to have ideas associated with the extreme right" and had left behind a letter containing "worrying elements" including threats to the state and public figures Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne told VRT television: "There are signs that he is violent and evidence has emerged that shows this man presents an acute threat." Dutch police said that they were monitoring the situation but that they had no reason to believe Conings had crossed the border Among the people Conings has threatened is Marc Van Ranst a leading academic who has become a public figure in Belgium during the coronavirus crisis He is an active social media user and his views have made him a target of conspiracy theorists Covid-sceptics and with the Flemish far-right Van Ranst said he had fallen foul of the nationalists and received death threats after speaking out against racism and xenophobia "I couldn't stay silent about that and the right wing parties hate me," he said he and his family have been moved to a place of safety.  Belgium's civilian security and intelligence agency expressed concern about a growing right-wing extremist threat in the country it noted that these groups are increasingly seeking weapons in order to prepare for violent action.  But it added that: "The main threat comes from those individuals known as 'lone actors' who become radicalised and plan violent actions on their own."                  please register for free or log in to your account Here is a list of matters listed at Geelong Magistrates' Court on Tuesday Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? 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