Ultima Networks Share Discussion Threads

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 11:31

Good to see some blue again - 100K buy on ISDX.

17/09/2014 10:57 100,000 @ 0.955

[greengrass3] 17/9/2014 10:54

The timing of the Desert Solar conference in Saudi could not have worked out better for UTN. With the results for the Hybrid solar solution exceeding expectations, what better advert for your product to people who want to buy; its on the up.

[greengrass3] 17/9/2014 09:07

Saudi is looking favourite out of Mexico and South Africa; they are all still in the mix.

[fido] 17/9/2014 09:07

"At least $1 billion is spent every month on diesel imports to the Kingdom, in addition to the cost and emissions from transporting the fuel to remote areas, he noted"

It is not just about cost savings and co2 pollution but it`s also about opening up remote area`s and installing infrastructure that would previously not have been possible were it not for the advances in solar.
UTN have demonstrated to the Saudi`s that they can exceeed their expectations and now we wait for contracts. Those contracts should completly transform UTN`s earnings and shareprice.

[flexton] 17/9/2014 09:03

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, September 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --





Solar-diesel hybrid solutions may hold the answer to reducing fuel costs and increasing energy security for Saudi Arabia's agricultural sector. The poultry industry, in particular, could benefit from hybridizing diesel generators with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, as attendees discussed at a recently held roundtable in Riyadh.

(Logo: hxxp://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140908/705433 )


"Hybrid solar-diesel systems are a viable solution to provide power to Saudi Arabia's poultry producers, many of which are not connected to the national electric grid. Such solutions can help reduce the industry's heavy reliance on diesel fuel," highlighted Abdulmohsen Al Shoaibi, managing partner of DarSolar.

Al Shoaibi was addressing the "Sustainable Agriculture: A Solar Solution" roundtable, which was organized by the Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Association (SASIA) this week.

As a result of the heavy dependence on diesel fuel, Saudi poultry companies are incurring notably higher energy costs than Brazilian producers, who accounted for nearly 79% of the Kingdom's poultry import in 2012.

"At present, domestic poultry production accounts for only 40-45% of the Saudi market. However, the share is expected to increase to 60-65% in the next 5-10 years, due to massive investments in additional production capacities planned by the top Saudi producers. These expansions will drive further pressure on the demand for diesel fuel," noted Browning Rockwell, executive director of SASIA.

"Hybrid solar-diesel systems can help local poultry producers remain competitive against imports, by ensuring an affordable and reliable source of power to cool their poultry houses," he added.

Dar Solar, a Saudi-owned company that assists solar engineering companies to become established in the Kingdom and the MENA region, is currently examining a solar-hybrid solution for a hatchery that consumes 900,000 litres of diesel annually through four generators.

"Given the intermittent nature of solar PV, the existing onsite generation, and the need for continuous power, Dar Solar is evaluating a solar hybrid solution that will likely include the combination of existing generators and PV panels - and potentially, battery storage if needed," highlighted Al Shoaibi.

According to Imtiaz Mahtab, executive vice president of Air Liquide MENA Electronics and board member of SASIA, diesel fuel in Saudi Arabia is heavily subsidized and is sold at 10-15% of the current market rates, thus, it would be uneconomic to run diesel generators as the prime source of electricity for the site.

"It's not just fuel savings that would matter going forward; it will also have to deal with the reliability of supply chain. As diesel supply in Saudi Arabia is drying up, hatcheries and poultry firms may not have much choice but to rely on alternative energy sources such as solar PV for their off grid locations," said Mahtab.

"Thus, the choice of economics going forward are expected to shift from just fuel savings towards more reliable operation of poultry firms. It is imperative that poultry producers consider this crucial aspect in their business plan and integrate hybrid designs at their current or future firms," he added.

Meanwhile, Juan Carrasco, president of GPTech, presented his company's PV-diesel hybrid solutions, highlighting the Energy Management System that manages and stabilizes output performance.

"So far, industrial facilities work with diesel solutions. Although they are a stable source of energy, they present limitations in the signal quality as well as higher generation costs. The combination of diesel and solar would provide larger stability and autonomy to such facilities, both for isolated solutions and those connected to the grid".

The roundtable saw attendants from a number of local and foreign establishments, including environmental technical consultancy Altermia Asesores Técnicos, as well as Al Fakieh Poultry, Al Watania Poultry, National Centre of Palm and Dates, and IYA Investment.

SASIA and international solar conference organizer Solarplaza are now gearing up to host the second edition of the Desert Solar Saudi Arabia conference, set to take place at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers from 17-18 September, 2014.

The event will bring together more than 150 stakeholders and decision makers from across the Saudi Arabian solar industry and beyond, including executives from Air Liquide MENA, E.ON, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Tokyo Electron Taiwan, as well as Solairedirect and First Solar.

About the Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Association

Abundant solar potential gives the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) a unique opportunity to become one of the most energy-advantaged countries in the world. The Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Association (SASIA) is a non-governmental association that strives to make this vision a reality by helping Saudi Arabia and the Middle East realize the full economic and environmental potential of solar energy. The goal is to bring the national and regional solar industry together, transforming the vast solar potential of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East into a commercially- and environmentally-viable solution for our growing demand for electricity. For more information, please visit: hxxp://www.saudi-sia.com.

[flexton] 17/9/2014 09:00

"Saudi Arabia is looking to offset diesel with off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) applications and hybrid solutions, offering major opportunities to local developers and suppliers to power remote residential and industrial areas, said an industry expert. Nearly a quarter of the Saudi energy grid is currently powered by diesel, which is used extensively as a fuel for transportation and electricity generation despite the high cost of importing it, added Sabri Asfour, general manager of FAS Energy, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Fawaz Alhokair Group with 2,400 MW of GCC-based solar projects in the pipeline.

At least $1 billion is spent every month on diesel imports to the Kingdom, in addition to the cost and emissions from transporting the fuel to remote areas, he noted.

"In Saudi Arabia, there are weaknesses in electricity grid connection; the demand is huge and the load as well," said Asfour.

As a result, the idea of using PV-generated electricity to offset diesel usage - or to replace it altogether as energy storage costs decline - is becoming increasingly appealing for utilities and industrial corporations, especially those keen on eliminating the uncertainty of future energy costs, he added.

"There are many business areas without electricity and they are waiting for their turn to be connected to the grid, but unfortunately, the queue is long. At FAS Energy, we build small, medium and large-scale hybrid power plants. It is well known that Saudi Arabia's solar irradiation is the best in the region so we have to use it," highlighted Asfour.


According to a report by K A CARE on Saudi Arabia's solar energy deployment roadmap, locations such as border posts, highway family rests, remotely located mosques and small-sized villages all represent excellent potential for micro-generation through hybrid designs, including solar-powered desalination and cooling.

The daily electricity needs of such isolated areas are usually met via diesel generators that are transported periodically to these bases. Not only is the solution expensive and unreliable but the generators struggle to function during the hottest times of the day and often break down.

The Nofa Equestrian Resort, located 85 km west of Riyadh, is already benefitting from the hybrid concept through its recently-commissioned 1 MW CPV plant, which is offsetting the resort's 14 MW diesel generator. Most significantly, Saudi Aramco and Saudi Electricity Company are discussing plans to replace as much as 300 MW of diesel generation in off-grid locations with solar PV.

Companies like FAS Energy are now preparing to supply the local market with hybrid solutions, as Asfour noted.

"We will start providing electricity to our own affiliates from our hybrid system, the solar GenSet and this will be very soon. We can build this kind of solution in shopping malls, farms, hotels, schools and universities, on rooftops, ground-mounted or in car parks,” he said.

Solar energy, however, will not make the transition on its own, as Michael Sterner, professor of energy storage at the Technical University of Regensburg points out. "We need flexibility - flexible power generation, power networks, demand side management, and of course storage."
ifpinfo
5 September"

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 08:59

The board stated years ago when they were spending so much on R&D that they were hoping for "significant revenues" in the future. IMO the time has come.

[fido] 17/9/2014 08:57

Treacle32,

"We also know imo that any contract from the Saudi will be worth millions - they wouldn't be spending pennies"

Yes that is exactly the point. Saudi and all the other countries that UTN are talking to are throwing their weight and money behind solar so any contract is expected to be worth millions.
Imagine what one contract worth millions would do for a company with a market cap of only £2m and yet UTN are in talks with numerous countries. Not only that but any contracts gained would most likely be added to by those countries in future.
I cannot stress enough the magnitude of the turnaround that would be for UTN and that is the gamble while we wait for signatures.

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 08:48

Even now still paying premiums to any sellers of 0.91p.

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 08:44

We also know from the twitter feed in June 2014 that GTEK demonstrated other products at the last exhibition. Good idea - why not showcase the full range.

We also know imo that any contract from the Saudi will be worth millions - they wouldn't be spending pennies. And we have built up a good reputation with them already with how the Oasis pilot project exceeded expectations.

[fido] 17/9/2014 08:40

Treacle32,
Yes it is at high profile events such as that that contract news is often released because it sends out a message about Saudi`s green credentials but we will see.

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 08:34

The current exhibition may allow for those signatures.

[fido] 17/9/2014 08:31

OK thanks,
Certainly if there was to be any Saudi news, it would not be the done thing to release it prior the Saudi`s releasing it first.

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 08:27

No just a hunch on my part.

When I spoke to them last time they said it would be around same time as last year. That hasn't happened and in the meantime we find out there is another Saudi exhibition taking place I believe today, tomorrow and over Friday this week.

[fido] 17/9/2014 08:25

Treacle32,

"It seems the Interims will come out after the current Saudi exhibition that is going on"

Do you know this for certain by contacting the company because if true it would imply that Saudi related news is due for release which would obviously be a positive.

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 07:59

Chart & ta always gets positioned ahead of news.

All superb with rising 50 and 200 day ma's now.

[the stigologist] 17/9/2014 07:52

or suspension

[treacle32] 17/9/2014 07:39

It seems the Interims will come out after the current Saudi exhibition that is going on. IMO because could allow even more bumper news to be included. Interims have to be out by end of the month.

[123trev] 16/9/2014 11:44

Any bets on a buy at £944 or will it be 2~£10 trades?

[treacle32] 16/9/2014 11:15

Saudi Arabia Smart Grid Conference
14- 17 December 2014

[treacle32] 16/9/2014 09:29

Trying to get more stock back imo - still offering big premiums on bid and LIBC alone moved down on offer imo to get a few more to sell.