Forget breaking the internet.Ratan Tata, in amonth of being on Instagram, has won thegame and the hearts of his700K followers. Afterwowingusall by posting rare pictures offeringa sneak peek into his personal life,the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and Chairman of the Tata Trusts has something else in storethistime for the entrepreneursofIndia's fast-growing startup ecosystem.

Turns out,Ratan Tatahasput together a startup pitch deck for entrepreneurs on his Instagramprofile.In a16-slide PowerPoint presentation, watermarked Office of Ratan Tata,thebusinessman has spelled out themost important aspects that should be covered in any pitch by a first-time entrepreneur.

Foodtech 2019

Foodtech remains a firm favourite with entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers. The bloodbath of 2016 may have led to the death of many foodtech startups, but the sector has bounced back.Foodtech continued to draw attention in 2019 as Tier II and III India started placing more orders, supply became the key focus, and Amazon announced its entry into the Indian market.

Kiran Dham is the CEO and Managing Director of Globus Infocom, an edtech company that is at the forefront of providing innovative technological solutions to schools in India.

Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R); Source : theguradian

Google's iconic co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are exiting their active roles at parent company Alphabet. Larry and Sergey, who're often touted as the fathers of the modern internet, are relinquishing management control of the company to Google's current CEO Sundar Pichai.

Simarpreet Singh, Founder, Hartek Solar Pvt Ltd.

Forbes 30 Under 30 finalist Simarpreet Singh founded his startup to foster a culture of community-driven clean energy through its customised residential rooftop solar kits.

Startup Bharat Trends

Apart from increased consumption patterns and growth, 2020 for startups in Bharat will be about focussed growth and mentorships. But will there be an increase in the all-important investments as well?

Around the year, SMBStory covers the inspiring stories of SME entrepreneurs who have not only contributed to the Indian business ecosystem but have also seen growth by implementing a sustainable business model. These entrepreneurs have surely set an example for current and future generations by showing just how essential it is to build businesses that last.

Rajdeep Ghosh (right), Head, COE, Dr Reddy's Labs, is seen with Chandra Balani, Head Geographic Incubation, India and Saarc, at AWS.

On the sidelines of AWS re:Invent 2019, Rajdeep Ghosh, the head of Dr Reddys Labs digital centre of excellence, speaks about how digital transformation can help drive learning, growth, and scale.

Now get the Daily Capsule in your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter today!

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Ratan Tata puts startup pitch deck template on Instagram (and other top stories of the day) - YourStory

Friday, Dec. 13

Next Friday, the "Ultimate Holiday Tradition" comes to Erie in the form of Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas tour. With 35 years of Christmas magic under their collective belt, the Omaha, Nebraska-based neoclassical new age group is bringing their annual holiday tour to The Warner Theatre this season. For this special performance, Mannheim Steamroller billed as "the number one Christmas artist of all time" will be performing the album that started it all, 1984's Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, in its entirety.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas features a number of contemporary holiday classics, including their renditions of "Deck the Halls" and "We Three Kings." The album helped launch Mannheim Steamroller into mass popularity, landing them a number 50 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart; it has since been certified platinum six times over by the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold over 3.5 million physical copies in the U S. alone. To further cement the album's legacy, a special 35th anniversary vinyl pressing of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will also be available. For Mannheim Steamroller, the holiday is more than a tradition; it's a festive celebration that they would be more than happy to have the Erie community join them in. Aaron Mook

7:30 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St. // Tickets start at $44 // mannheimsteamroller.com

Excerpt from:
Deck the Halls with a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at The Warner Theatre - Erie Reader

Below Deck has become one of the hottest franchises on Bravo. People love to watch the glamorous yacht life and the drama between the crew. Captain Lee Rosbach is somewhat of a pop culture icon at this point. Unlike Captain Sandy Yawn, Captain Lee rules his crew with an iron fish. There is no room for BS, and you need to get your work done. It takes a strong person to work under someone like him.

Before Below Deck, the ruling franchise on Bravo was The Real Housewives. Think for a second and imagine what a crossover might look like. Imagine if Captain Lee hired one of the Housewives to work on his yacht. There is no shortage of Housewives to choose from, but some may lack the work ethic required. Luckily for inquisitive fans, Captain Lee is FINALLY revealing which Housewife hed want to work with.

In an interview with HollywoodLife Captain Lee revealed which RHONJ has what it takes to work with him. He said,I think Melissa might. I like her attitude.

Melissa Gorga is usually down for anything on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, so that could be really fun. Imagine Melissa on display for all of Thailand on a superyacht?

However, Captain Lees ideal position for her isnt the glitzy spot wed imagine for Melissa. He says, If she can handle it, probably second stew. Melissa answers to Teresa Giudice all the time on Housewives, so why not do the same with Kate Chastain. Sprinkle cookies for everyone!

I couldnt imagine any of the Housewives doing the menial tasks given to second stew. Some of them have glam squads and a million nannies. How many of them would be realistically up to the task?

If Melissa thinks she has a shot at Chief Stew, she should think twice. Why is that? Captain Lee said, Because nobody can replace Kate. I MEAN TRUE. Kate actually puts a lot of effort into each and every charter. Not all Chief Stews are up for that. Isnt that right,Hannah Ferrier?

Melissa probably has some things she could offer to the guests though. Perhaps she can give them a live singing performance (please dont). If that doesnt work, how about some pole dancing lessons? Wait, she wasnever a dancer. Scratch that.

As hilarious as it would be watching Melissa be a second stew, theres someone else thatd be funnier. Imagine the Chanel Queen with 17 thrones Jennifer Aydin doing those tasks?

I just cannot picture Jennifer doing any kind of real-life chores like that. She complained over roughing it in Oklahoma. Maybe Melissa is the Jersey girl best suited for this after all. We need to see this at some point!

A crossover between Real Housewives of New Jersey and Below Deck is not something I ever thought of. However, now that its been discussed, I NEED IT. Even if none of them are working on the boat, they could vacation! Teresa could table flip someone overboard. Now that would be iconic.

TELL US WOULD MELISSA MAKE A GOOD SECOND STEW? WHICH HOUSEWIFE WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE ON BELOW DECK? WILL CAPTAIN LEE EVER REPLACE KATE?

[Photo Credit:Charles Sykes/Bravo]

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Below Deck Star Captain Lee Rosbach Names Real Housewives Of New Jersey Star Hed Want To Work With - Reality Tea

Yes, I am one of those people.

About thirty minutes after Labor Day has officially ended, I feel a strange compulsion to binge on my mothers iced sugar cookies shaped like snowmen while listening to Nat King Cole croon about chestnuts. I usually resist breaking out my collection of international Santa figurines including Las Vegas Santa indulging his gambling addiction on the slots until after Halloween. But once Ive polished off my kids trick-or-treat candy, I go into full-out Christmas-prep beast mode.

I realize that my premature Yuletide activities irritate some folks, and I place the blame partly on the retail economy, which starts celebrating HallowThanksMas around the time when we East Texans are suffering from acute Eskimo envy in the sweltering month of September. And I must admit that its a little disconcerting to go to Walmart for a new giant unicorn pool float and walk past a tempting display of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. Thankfully, I can usually limit myself to five or six family-size packs.

Another reason for my pre-season holly-jolly spaz attack is the sheer magnitude of our Christmas swag. I spend most of the year expecting our ceiling to collapse under the mass of nativity sets, Christmas villages, and countless other seasonal dust magnets stockpiled in our attic. In fact, Im resigned to the probability that Ill eventually be taken out by a Rubbermaid tub full of decorative nutcrackers. Seriously, though, I figure if I dont start dragging out the dcor soon enough, Ill still be stringing up lights when its time to overdose on Velveeta dip and chicken wings during the Super Bowl.

As an example of our fanatical festooning, we dont allow Santa to squeeze out of our gas-log fireplace until weve erected not one, but two Christmas trees in our living room. One serves as our fashionable tree, adorned with ornaments accumulated from several trips my wife and I took overseas before we had our three daughters and started hemorrhaging wads of cash on dance lessons, cell phones, and salted-caramel iced mochas.

The other tree features mostly homemade ornaments, many of which include photos of our daughters at various ages. This tree is a favorite of my wife and me, and when the girls arent vociferously expressing their unmitigated disgust at the pictures of themselves with toddler bangs or missing baby teeth, they secretly compete to see who can maneuver their own photo ornaments to the highest and most visible branches.

Eventually the tree develops a distinct top-heavy list, threatening to topple over and impale our full-figured Siamese cat, who spends most of the holiday lounging at the trees base and wistfully gazing upwards, wondering what it might be like to muster the energy to climb it or even paw at a low-hanging baby Jesus made of Styrofoam and pipe cleaners.

The pinnacle of our home decorating frenzy involves the death defying installation of exterior lighting. Each year, I entertain the neighbors and risk permanent paralysis by hanging several strings of C-9 bulbs from the unnecessarily steep eves of our house. This process inevitably requires that I actually climb onto our roof for a public performance of uncoordinated acrophobia.

Taking the advice of my dad a veritable Rembrandt of domestic holiday displays I stay as low as possible while Im scuttling around up there and trying to avoid hurling on the housetop. And Im usually able to pick all of the shingle grit out of my ears and teeth by the new year.

Once all of the decorating is done and Im in my easy chair nursing a pulled groin and a mug of hot cocoa with extra mini marshmallows, I look around at the twinkling lights, the radiant poinsettias, and the stockings hung by the chimney-insert with care, and I realize that its worth all of the trouble.

And if I start packing all of this away shortly, I can re-decorate the house in time for Valentines Day.

More:
Deck the halls and hit the deck - San Marcos Daily Record

RENTON -- The injury report for the Seattle Seahawks is far less populated than its been in recent weeks.

Only nine players in total appeared on the report for Wednesday's walkthrough practice for Seattle. By contrast, nine players sat out practice completely on Saturday with a total of 24 names being listed with various injuries and ailments ahead of Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Additionally, all six players that had been dealing with illnesses last week from a flu wave that swept through the locker room were not listed on Wednesday's practice report.

"My stomach will hurt a little bit but I just have that after cough now," said wide receiver David Moore, one of the six players to fall sick last week.

"It came right after practice on Wednesday. Thursday was probably my worst day, was for sure the worst day. Friday wasn't much better. Thursday for sure took the cake."

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett, cornerback Tre Flowers, defensive tackle Poona Ford, linebacker Shaquem Griffin and center Jordan Roos also were afflicted by the illness last week.

"It was pretty crazy," Flowers said. "They tried to send me home, I wasnt taking that for an answer, I had to put on the doctor mask. Then I looked I was going to die out here. Im glad all of that is over with, were trying to get back to normal.

Tight end Luke Willson (hamstring), fullback Nick Bellore (quadriceps) and cornerback Neiko Thorpe (core/groin) were the three players to miss the Vikings game with their injuries. All three remained sidelined on Wednesday. Additionally, linebacker Mychal Kendricks and left tackle Duane Brown sat out practice on Wednesday.

Kendricks played just 26 snaps against the Vikings due to a hamstring strain. Cody Barton filled in with 11 snaps on defense when Kendricks was unable to be on the field.

Meanwhile, Brown continues to get time off from practice due to biceps and knee injuries that he manages throughout the season.

On a positive note, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney did not appear to have his core muscle injury worsen following the win over Minnesota. Clowney was able to take part in practice on Wednesday and appears ready to go again this week against the Los Angeles Rams.

"Pretty good," head coach Pete Carroll said of Clowney's status. "He's practicing today and that's a really good sign. A really good sign."

Fellow defensive end Ziggy Ansah was also limited after sustaining a stinger late in the fourth quarter of the game against the Vikings. Carroll said it will take until later in the week to know for sure if he'll be able to play or not.

"He looks like he's doing OK so far," Carroll said. "We won't know for a couple days if he's clear and all that. He had a stinger in the game. Just got to make sure he's OK."

Ansah is coming off his best stretch of the season. He had 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the team's win over the Philadelphia Eagles, including a second full sack that was negated due to a defensive penalty. Ansah produced three quarterback hits against the Vikings as well, which led the team in the victory.

Tight end Jacob Hollister was limited due to a quadriceps injury, presumably sustained when running back Chris Carson collided with in five plays into the Vikings game. Guard Mike Iupati was also limited due to a neck injury.

Injury Report:

Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 02: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings is hit by Ziggy Ansah #94 and Jarran Reed #91 of the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter during their game at CenturyLink Field on December 02, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

More:
Seahawks bouncing back from injuries, illness with Rams matchup on deck - Fox Sports Radio

By Margaret Button, The Berkshire Eagle

On Monday, with the snow steadily piling up outside, I was a little perturbed to discover the laptop I had brought home with me from The Eagle on Friday wouldn't connect with the mother ship. After quite a few choice and unprintable words I decided to make the best of the situation.

When life and the gods of cyberspace give you an unexpected snow day right after Thanksgiving, it's time to decorate for Christmas. Fortunately, when my son and his fiancee were home for the holiday, he had brought all the decorations and the tree down from the attic. I put on some Christmas music and went to work.

I love taking out the ornaments each year. It's like seeing old friends. There are ornaments that belonged to my grandparents, some that belonged to my parents. There are ornaments I've carried back from trips to Jamaica, Mexico, Germany, Penn Dutch country and many other places. My mother's crocheted and tatted lace ornaments vie for space alongside the beaded ornaments made by my mother-in-law and fabric ornaments made by my aunt. There are ornaments made by my son at various ages and many moose ornaments given to me by family members and friends.

I didn't quite finish decorating the tree, as I also had some laundry to do, but it's looking good. I sat in the dark living room last night basking in the glow from the Christmas lights and the fire in the fireplace. While I sat there, I remembered a recipe for puff candy handed down from my grandmother and made a note to make some for the holidays.

IDA KEAN'S PUFF CANDY

Boil together until a few drops are very brittle when tried in cold water:

1 cup sugar

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1 cup molasses

3 tablespoons vinegar

1 large tablespoon butter

Remove from heat and add:

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Blend together and immediately pour into a greased pan. Do NOT jar or disturb until the candy is cold. Break into pieces.

If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.

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Margaret Button: Deck the halls with memories, puff candy - Bennington Banner

Posted: Dec 2, 2019 / 07:19 PM EST / Updated: Dec 2, 2019 / 07:19 PM EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WIVB) A Springville couple is spreading holiday cheer in The White House right now. Theyre part of the group of volunteers responsible for decking the halls on Pennsylvania Avenue this Christmas.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the White House.

One tree by the residential staircase that we did took us all day to do, said Jason Saramak.

For Jason Saramak from Springville, its an honor to play a role in decorating many of the rooms.

And it is a patriotic duty because its the peoples house, said Saramak.

Saramak, a deputy sheriff with the Erie County Sheriffs Office, and his husband Nicholas are just two of the 120 volunteers picked to decorate the White House this year.

The first lady wanted a patriotic feel throughout all the rooms in The White House and let me tell you, that definitely captured all the feel, said Saramak.

Volunteers from across the world travelled all the way to 1600 Pennyslvania Avenue. Saramak says a woman drove from Montana to help.

We have people from Italy that are here, said Saramak.

Saramak says they arrived in Washington D.C. Thursday to help execute the vision of First Lady Melania Trump.

She was impressed with what she saw, said Saramak.

He says they were assigned to the tree in the grand foyer which had a gold theme.

To see everything after its done, takes your breath away. You get to walk through every room, you get to enjoy everybodys company. You make new friends, we almost become a family, said Nicholas Saramak.

Saramak says being a gay couple decorating in the White House makes a statement. He says volunteers leave their politics at the door because in here theyre working together.

There is no hatred, there is no division. We have people here that are decorating that came during the Obama administration, during the Bush, all the way back to Reagan and Nixon, theres a gentleman here whos 92 years old whos been coming for 40 years, said Saramak.

Saramak says theres a Gold Star Family Christmas tree near the Rose Garden. He says he put an ornament on that tree in honor of his cousin, who was a Buffalo firefighter who has passed away.

He says they plan on going back next year to decorate.

See the article here:
Springville couple helps deck the halls at the White House - WIVB.com - News 4

By Elizabeth Spencer

As the snow flew recently on Main Street, local residents continued to deck the halls for the holiday season, and Upshur Arts Alliance members responded to the need for holiday dcor by setting up shop at the local Convention and Visitors Bureau for the groups 10th Annual Tree and Wreath Sale.

This years sale will run Dec. 3 Dec. 7 at the Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau on Main Street in Buckhannon.

Sandra Presar, event initiator and UAA founding member, said she got the idea for the tree and wreath sale after attending a similar event held by a public library in Chardon, Ohio.

She attributes the events longevity to the fact that the sale has undergone some changes over the years in response to community feedback, making it more tailored to the way locals want to experience the event.

We have tried to evolve over the years to meet the needs of the community, so that the tree and wreath sale is something that works for everyone, said Presar.

For a number of years, First Community Bank of Main Street kindly served as the venue, but due to banklimited hours for visitors and shoppers, UAA elected to move the event to another location where it would be more accessible, according to Presar.

The arts alliance wanted to keep the tree and wreath sale downtown in the heart of Buckhannon, while providing availability to evening and weekend event traffic, and The Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau offered to answer this call a few years ago by housing the sale, allowing UAA to better serve the public by offering the desired extended hours.

This year, the eventsformat is evolving from the typical weeklong silent auction to a cash and carry event, as manypeople want to take items with them after one visit, rather than returning for additional bids or itempickups. Despite changes, thespirit of the annual tradition remains the same, as sale profits help to increase arts opportunities and enhance artsexperiences in Upshur County.

Nearly 50 pieces of original handcrafted holiday dcor, created and donated by various artists and community groups, will be available for sale in the name of the arts at the weeklong sale.

The hours for the sale at the CVB office are:

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10 Years of Helping Buckhannon Deck The Halls: Upshur Arts Alliance Celebrates 10th Annual Holiday Tree & Wreath Sale - My Buckhannon

All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation has been a local staple since 1979

By Ashley Schafer, Ashley.Schafer@hearstnp.com

A thank you note hangs on a corkboard inside All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 1819 E. Airport Road in Midland. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

A thank you note hangs on a corkboard inside All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 1819 E. Airport Road in Midland. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

A thank you note hangs on a corkboard inside All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 1819 E. Airport Road in Midland. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

A thank you note hangs on a corkboard inside All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 1819 E. Airport Road in Midland. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Midland business celebrates 40 years

When a homeowner wakes up to an uncomfortable atmosphere too hot or too cold they might find themselves calling in outside help to fix their furnace or repair their A/C unit.

Already in a sour mood, the homeowner is put at ease after a call to All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation, where the dispatcher assures them someone will be on their way soon.

Upon arrival, the technician makes sure to update the homeowner throughout the process in clear, understandable terms, alleviating any concerns they might have.

Once the technician finishes his or her work and has left, the homeowner thinks of several more questions, but is easily able to call the dispatcher and have them answered, or have any other follow-up problems fixed right away.

Even then, they are reassured by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

According to All Seasons co-owners Paul and Mark Kohtz, this is the routine they strive for within their HVAC services business, which is celebrating 40 years.

Founded by their father, Jeff Kohtz, All Seasons has been a staple in Midland since 1979. Jeff started the business out of his home, where he and his wife ran the operation, eventually adding a couple employees.

When we were still at home, after about the second year in business, (my wife) went down to the tax guy to have help setting up the books the guy says it really dont matter; youre not going to make it here anyway. Most businesses fail within the first five years. That was real encouraging for us, Jeff said jokingly, and noted they switched accountants after that.

However, the Kohtz's operated All Seasons with a certain philosophy, which has proved to keep the business going.

We always wanted to take care of the customer. You know, when a customer lets you in their house theyre really trusting you to be in their home so theyve got to trust you, what youre going to do to their home, how youre going to treat it, he said. So, obviously, being in business, if youre going to keep growing, youve got to treat the people right. If you havent, youre going to lose that customer and theyre going to tell their friends.

Then, in the late 90s, All Seasons moved outside of the Kohtzs home to 1819 Airport Road, where it is still located today. In 2011, Jeffs sons, Mark and Paul, took over, making it a generational, family business.

We did not necessarily plan to take over I went to school in business and ventured out into the world a little bit and a few years later, I came back to rejoin up with the family and the business, Paul said. Mark had some other plans when he was younger as well, but we both found our way back here. We both just really enjoyed the atmosphere of a family business.

Since taking over, Paul and Mark have focused on becoming an expert in servicing homeowners in their residences. They said theyve dabbled in construction work, but have since strayed away from doing anything other than home visits.

We havent really expanded our territory at all, were just real focused on doing real good at what we do here locally in Midland, Paul said. Our focus is just always keep our employees busy so we dont have to dabble into things that were not experts on.

In addition, Paul said they treat all of their customers like family giving every person the same recommendations they would give their own grandmother.

The family-like treatment doesnt end with the customers, however. Paul and Mark said they strive to make All Seasons a desirable place to work for all their employees, which has grown to 17 people since they took over.

Each of our customers we have is very important and every person that works with us is very important too because theyve got families and dreams and aspirations, and we just want to be able to help them grow too, Mark said. So, thats part of us growing, is them growing with us.

Looking to the future of All Seasons Heating, Cooling and Insulation, the Kohtzs said they want to continue growing the business but want to keep their services local. They will also continue to give back to the community, which they do by donating to Toys for Tots, American Legion and the Reese Endeavor of Midland.

Its nice to give back to the community thats been good to you too, Jeff said.

To learn more about All Seasons, visit https://www.allseasonsheatingmidland.com/

Originally posted here:
Midland business celebrates 40 years - Midland Daily News

Investments in climate protection and energy efficiency are worthwhile, even from an economic point of view a verdict that appears amply demonstrated by the winners of the four categories of this years Energy Efficiency Award, an annual prize presented by the German Energy Agency (Deutsche Energie-Agentur, or dena) to companies that pursue innovative and highly successful ways of reducing energy consumption and harmful emissions. The award endows a total of EUR 30,000 in prizes.

The following have been recognised for their achievements:

Energy efficiency and climate protection do not come for free. But those who invest intelligently create advantages for their company and their environment, said Andreas Kuhlmann, Chief Executive of dena, at the award ceremony during the dena Energy Efficiency Congress in Berlin. Climate-friendly business models work and also contribute to an integrated energy transition, added Andreas Kuhlmann.

The successful projects that received the Energy Efficiency Award show that companies are taking responsibility for a carbon-neutral future. Climate protection and economic activity are not mutually exclusive, said Andreas Feicht, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, at the award ceremony.

In all, 142 projects were entered for the Energy Efficiency Award this year: 108 entries came from Germany and a further 34 from European or international regions. The award is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and supported by premium partners, Danfoss and KfW.

Complete information on the competition can be found at http://www.EnergyEfficiencyAward.de. Further information about the dena Energy Efficiency Congress is available at http://www.dena-kongress.de

Further details about the winners in specific categories are included below:

Competition category: Energy Transition 2.0

Adolf Gottfried Tonwerke GmbH and Orcan Energy AGThe family firm, Adolf Gottfried Tonwerke GmbH, extracts and refines clay and other raw materials for the ceramic and clay processing industry in Groheirath (Bavaria). After successfully implementing its initial energy efficiency measures, the company then pursued the objective of extending the waste heat usage already achieved, but limited to production, to its firing processes. It focused on two rotary kilns used for firing clay. The aim was to harness waste heat from the resulting high exhaust temperatures, with as few changes as possible to the existing process.

Its collaboration with Orcan Energy AG provided a suitable solution. This company, specialising in ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) equipment, planned and implemented the ORC module. Due to its flexible behaviour, the module can react to fluctuating amounts of heat within seconds and is also highly efficient when converting heat into electricity at part load. The ORC module also features a second high temperature circuit, thereby enabling it to generate higher temperatures in the waste heat flow.

Integrating the ORC equipment into the existing rotary kiln system posed a technical challenge for the project. As a result, an additional exhaust gas heat exchanger (EGHE) had to be used for the exhaust gas flow from kilns 1 and 2. High dust content in the exhaust gas exacerbated the situation. The final solution involved an exhaust gas heat exchanger specially designed for this application. Its operation facilitated the ORC solution and reduced the utilisation factor of the suction fan, saving a further 15 kW of energy. The savings achieved are verified by an integrated control unit that continuously measures the generated electrical output.

Energy efficiency measures

ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) equipment to convert waste heat into electricity.Installation of a special heat exchanger for exhaust gas with high dust contentDust/ash separation and pipeline construction

Successful savings:

Reduction in electricity consumption: 304,000 kWh/yearReduction in CO2: 181 t/year

Energy efficiency competition category: from clever to digital

Ostsee-Zeitung GmbH & Co. KG and Energieberatung MV / consultant engineers for physical process engineering

Ostsee-Zeitung GmbH & Co. KG is part of the Madsack Media Group and publishes its eponymous regional daily paper in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In early 2017, the printing plant experienced technical problems with the cold water circuit for its printing press, prompting it to take a detailed look at the entire cooling process. Ostsee-Zeitung relied on external support from Energieberatung MV. The consultant engineers who specialise in physical process engineering, had already successfully implemented systematic optimisation and heat transfer measures for the publishing house in the past.

An analysis of the thermal and electrical load measurements concluded that the cooling process was clearly over-dimensioned, so that the equipment could not be meaningfully operated, either in terms of demand or energy efficiency. It became clear that the existing supply pressure and water volume flow were not actually needed. The necessary cold water parameters, relatively high at around 22 C, also revealed considerable potential for using free cooling. The cooling process for the printing press was subsequently redesigned and optimised, to allow free cooling to be retrofitted. For this purpose, a new, external dry cooler and water-glycol circuit were connected to the water circuit of the existing process cooling via a plate heat exchanger.

The new cooling circuit, consisting of free and mechanical cooling, is integrated and regulated in such a way that the printer is cooled using minimal electric power for fans and pumps whilst simultaneously improving the process reliability. By adjusting the working temperature of the cooling water to around 23 C, free cooling can perform the entire cooling process up to an outside temperature of around 19 C. Free cooling is used for around 7,500 operating hours per year. If the outside temperature exceeds a specified value (cooling limit), free cooling is disabled. Cooling then takes place as a combination of free cooling and a mechanical cooling unit. The success of this measure has been verified via the building management system. Ostsee-Zeitung therefore saves 105,000 kWh of electricity and 59 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Energy efficiency measures

Optimisation of cooling during the printing processRetrofitting free cooling in addition to the existing cooling unit

Successful savings:

Reduction in electricity consumption: 105,000 kWh/yearReduction in CO2: 59 t/year

Competition category: energy services and energy management

EnergieDienstleistungsGesellschaft Rheinhessen-Nahe GmbH

In 2018, EnergieDienstleistungsGesellschaft Rheinhessen-Nahe mbH (EDG) took over an outdated, over-sized heating plant at Hahn Airport, which also supplied the Rhineland-Palatinate Police Academy and other buildings. The dilapidated infrastructure required extensive refurbishment, which is why EDG planned and independently implemented comprehensive modernisation measures. The heating plant responsible for energy production, with its outdated, oversized equipment, was refurbished while reducing heat generation performance by 60%. The associated, equally oversized and dilapidated district heating network was also completely renewed, taking account of energy efficiency aspects with regard to network parameters (reducing system temperatures, halving the volume flow in favour of lower return flow temperatures, optimising the differential pressure). Waste heat from a neighbouring biogas plant was integrated into the new local heating network via a CHP station.

All the heat generation and distribution equipment was remotely interlinked via an energy management system and can now be continually monitored and controlled via EDGs central remote monitoring. All the consumption and efficiency-relevant data is digitally measured, recorded as 1/4-hourly values and graphically displayed, thereby enabling constantly optimised plant operation in line with efficiency and commercial criteria.

The owners of all the buildings connected to the local heating network were also involved. Efficiency measures were therefore discussed and implemented, thereby facilitating an energy efficiency network. These include the conversion of injection-type ventilation systems to mixing-type systems, installation of appropriate thermostats, optimised, energy-efficient hot water supply using intelligent control technology, taking account of hygienic aspects, and the hydraulic balancing of heat consumers. This local heating network is a practical, transferable example of the optimisation of district heating networks in combination with the optimisation of consumers heating needs. As well as the traditional modernisation of heating networks, it also focuses on optimising consumers heating needs, in particular.

Energy efficiency measures

Modernisation and energy-efficient optimisation of the local heating networkFeed-in of renewable heat from a biogas plant with CHPReturn flow temperature-limiting measures at consumers properties to reduce the network temperatureCentral remote monitoring

Successful savings:

Reduction in heat consumption: 3,000 MWh/yearReduction in CO2: 2,440 t/year

Audience Award concepts for improving energy efficiency

GETEC heat & power GmbH and Clariant AG

The Swiss chemical group, Clariant, is currently building a bioethanol plant at its Romanian factory in Podari. In future, bioethanol will be produced here from residual agricultural materials such as wheat straw, for example.

The energy service provider, GETEC, developed a CO2-neutral energy supply concept for the factory. This uses lignin, the residual material arising from the bioethanol production process, as an energy source. This lignin is combusted in a fluidised bed boiler, turning it into an energy source. The use of a back-pressure steam turbine (8.5 MWel) provides the plant with a CO2-neutral supply of steam and electricity.

GETEC is therefore providing all the services, from concept development, through planning, funding and construction, to operation, maintenance and repair. According to the latest plans, the project will be fully implemented by the end of 2021.

Continue reading here:
Waste heat reuse and CO2-neutral energy supply concept among winners of German energy efficiency awards - Envirotec