#electricity through a mid-term agreement

[nepalenergyforum]

Approval for Exporting 110 MW of Power to India via Interim Agreement

522 MW can now be sold in the competitive market and 110 MW through a mid-term agreement in India  Kathmandu – India has given permission to sell electricity to Nepal through a mid-term agreement. India, which is allowed only in the competitive market, has also allowed the sale of 110 megawatts of electricity for two projects for five years. Along with this, monsoon electricity will be sold…

[eccentricallygothic]

|| Triumph Of The Beast ||

Description: Captain Syverson learnt that the only way to have her was to ask her hand in marriage. So he did just that. And she was all his now, both to hold and to possess.

Pairing: Soft-Dark!Captain Syverson | Sheikha!Reader.

Disclaimer: I (sadly) do not own Captain Syverson. This is a mature story with dark undertones so kindly browse at your own discretion. Please note that this piece is only a work of fiction that in no way aims to reinforce or propose any stereotypes to any ethnicity or race. Minors do not interact. 

Warning(s): Soft-Dark!Syverson, he is lowkey messed up, smut with plot (I am sorry), possessive behavior, his obsession with her chastity, naive!reader, size kink, biting (it's Henry and his canines ffs), boob play, manhandling, power imbalance, arranged marriage, fingering, handjob, dirty talk, m!dom, f!sub, he's a man, misogyny, age gap (reader is 20's, Sy is early 40's fight me), he's lowkey intimidating, slight spanking, allusion to bondage, manipulation, slow burn-ish, maybe more dialogue than necessary, p-in-v penetration, corruption kink, no use of 'Y/n'. 

Note: Her father is not the mean Sheikh from the movie lmfao. Reader doesn't even have to be Iraqi, just Eastern that you can TOTALLY imagine yourself as because it's a frickin' story for God's sake! Ps, This blocked me so hard mid-write I nearly abandoned it lmfao, I need a break! 

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Captain Syverson had always thought the notion of the first touch buzz to be foolish. To quote him in his own words, the electric touch that people claimed their beloved aroused within them was nothing more than a steaming pile of horseshit. 

Until now. 

As his thick and coarse battle hardened hands cupped the side of the tender face of his dear wife, the Captain's thumb darted out to quickly glide across the perfect arch of her cheekbone before it moved down to the bow of her lips, his body combusting into a thousand flames of raw desire. 

Her skin was so tender he feared it may come off if he pressed on it too hard. The structure of her body that adorned her traditional wedding attire seemed so fragile in this moment next to him and in his big old bed that the thought of ever manhandling a thing as delicate as her terrified him. The contrast of her usually confident and intelligent countenance was striking in quality to the humility with which she now offered her submission to him. 

His suspicions against his body and strength increased by the passing minute; he felt petrified to even breathe too easily near her. The fear that it may damage her in some way haunted him and filled his lungs with dread. It was not that she was the most petite thing that he had ever seen or she held resemblance to an adolescent in terms of size or any of that weird shit, no. 

It was instead the way in which her head bowed in just the perfect way so it indicated respect and submission; not so high that it would seem that she was trying to deny him his station but not so low that it became off-putting. It was an acknowledgement to his power in their dynamic; an agreement of a lifetime. 

The man could swear he was going crazy. 

There was simply no way he was going to make it through the night with his sanity intact. 

It was just the effect she had on him. 

If there was anyone to blame it was her. 

Because even though he wanted to hide this girl so safely in his arms for the rest of his days that not even a harsh breeze would be allowed to touch her, the erratic way in which his boiling blood sizzled its way through his veins, The Captain wanted nothing more than to just turn her around, press her breathtaking face into the mattress and take her over and over until she was swell with his litter. 

Or press his bigger body against hers and take her deep and raw until her mind gave up on consciousness  

Perhaps place her between his own legs and feel her mouth around him until his seed spilled from her nose. 

Maybe make her mount him and slap her ass that he just knew would be perfect over and over to keep her going even when she didn't want to. 

The possibilities were endless from where Syverson was standing. 

And he was determined to try his hand at all of them, and more. 

His eyebrows furrowed just a little when she awkwardly pecked his lips for the fifth time in a straight row and refused to give him more, cringing away when he attempted to deepen the kiss. The girl that giggled and covered her mouth on which her red lipstick had already smudged was a dead leaf echo of the confident and liberal sheikha -prized daughter of the sheikh supreme- that critically watched the foreign Captain everytime he was around with her bright and vigilant brown eyes so full of scrutiny that it made him, a grown man, blush. It wasn't his fault, really. Her eyes had the most attractive gleam of intelligence to them and the black khol that lined them only accentuated their beauty more. 

She had always been so elegant Syverson knew he was a goner the first time his eyes had been granted the pleasure of looking at her. Sat aside her father basking in her confidence, silk scarf draped around her head and body in the most perfect way, a form he could only describe as agreeable always clad in decent clothes, fingers adorning rings with colorful stones and modesty dripping off of every single mannerism of hers. 

How could a man not look twice?

And then not consider looking away utterly blasphemous on account of being unappreciative of such godly beauty?

"I- I do not know how to…" Her accent turned his gears just right. "K- Kiss, Captain" oh. 

Of course. 

Blood rushed to his cock that hadn't throbbed like this in a long time. That was, if it ever had. 

And then his sweet, chaste wife just had to call him Captain.

Fuck. 

He was going to tear her apart. 

And she had no idea.

The obedient daughter, who was never afraid to voice her thoughts and outsmart every man who dared stand against her with inadequate knowledge of the debate at hand, had happily bowed down to her father's wish that she marry the charming and noble Captain -to them a warrior who was not afraid to fight for his country; a man truly admirable- after said Captain had asked for her hand in marriage when he had realized that that was the only way to have her. 

Mind, body, soul… heart. 

Sure, it had taken Syverson and his rather daft attempts at impressing her some quick-witted answers and astute responses by a rather critical her to realize it.

But she was his bride now.

And that was all that mattered. 

"Well, ain't that just dandy?" Syverson realizes just how heavy his breathing really is when his words come out gravelly and almost forced. She is unable to hold his eyes for very long so she stares at his chest instead, a most remarkable coy smile across her lips. The fact that she looks every other man with a taught unaffected sternness but has blushed everytime their eyes have met after the wedding just drives him all the more insane. 

Her dark eyebrows furrow as she lightly tilts her head to the side. He has noticed that she has some trouble understanding his dialect. So he caresses her cheek again, this time in a reassuring manner;

"I know you'll figure it out soon. You're a clever lil' thing, ain'tcha?" She looks up just long enough to nod with a meeting of their eyes. 

"Yes, Captain" god, even her way of speaking has softened.

The knowledge that he was the only man in this whole wide world whom she treated like this made him want to worship her with his love and devotion in every way possible. 

Because The Captain was naturally a very possessive man who did not appreciate ran through goods.  

"Alright now, just trust your husband and sit back like a good lil' bride, alright?" It was taking him all of his focus to not just push her back and have his depraved ways with her all night long.

"Y- Yes, Captain." 

"Atta girl," before he leaned back in and brushed his lips against hers just long enough to whisper, "now hush and don'tcha try to keep them pretty lips shut on me" he felt her going breathless against him when his mouth fit against the slot of her parted one perfectly; as though it had been created just for him. 

She did her best to keep up with as much obedience as her modesty would allow her to muster but the sensation of his mouth against hers, the scratch of his coarse beard across her delicate skin, the wetness of his tongue that took its time swiping against her bottom lip and the way that he didn't have to break the kiss to know that she had extended her had in his direction to take a hold of him to deal with the intensity of it all, the sheer desperation with which he reached out his fingers and clutched hers in an affectionate way that also had a territorial tinge to it was all too much for her to handle.

An unfamiliar thrill that she had been a stranger to until this moment began to patter through her bloodstream. Her heart pounded, her sweat glands soaked, her face burnt and her stomach fluttered. 

"Captain" was all she was allowed to whisper in the two second interval the man allowed them to recover their breathing. 

"Well, I'll be damned, darlin'" Syverson husked through rushed kisses as he hurriedly helped her lay down with her attire still intact, both too desperate to strip her and wanting to take her as she was, for tonight she looked the most stunning he had ever seen her. "You're so dang pretty I can't even fathom stayin' off ya now that you're mine" a hush of cold breath rushed past her flush lips as her thick eyebrows drooped upwards in reaction to him dipping his face in the curve of her neck.

"I am all yours to do with whatever you please, my C- Captain" her soft hands flew to grab at his shirt as the foreign sensation of a man's body against her skin sent an electric bolt down her spine. 

His body was heavy above hers as he groaned at her response and grinded his bulge against her covered sex, peppering kisses all over her skin. "God damn, baby. Your mama sure raised you up right, didn't she?" A loud squeak resonated in the air when the new husband simply could not hold back his passion anymore and bit down on the inviting flesh of her shoulder, letting out a stomach churning moan at her taste and squeezing her sides as the smell of her fragrance oils hit his nose. 

"Fuck, baby" it took him all of his willpower and the promise that he could go back for more only easier to part from her. "I can't–" sitting up to kneel over her, Syverson pulled his shirt over his head before tossing it somewhere in the room. "I can't hold back no more" as he leaned back down and placed one hand beside her head to keep himself from suffocating her, the way she looked up at him with wonder, timidity, need, sent a pang of pain to his cock. "Talk to me, darlin'" he gathered her wrists in one hand before placing them above her head, now reaching for the clothed bump on her chest. "You feelin' anything?" A soundless breath left her and she shuddered in such a way that her boobs trembled feverishly. 

"S- Strange… a- and… oh my God!" She had to shut her eyes and turn her head to the side when he suddenly manhandled one of her breasts out of the deep neckline of her wedding night dress. Her hands rushed to cover her chest by instinct but her husband's authoritative swat was much quicker and stronger. 

Syverson chuckled at the defensive gasp she let out, a crazed darkness floating in his eyes as he pinnned her feverish hands out of his way, coarse palm now feeling up her other breast that was freed as he spoke. "Ain't no God 'round these parts tonight, baby. Just me…" His lips enveloped hers in a right and hungry kiss. "'N you" the way she nervously gulped when he pulled back to stare into her eyes only added to the fire in his body. "Say, baby" he trailed gentle kisses down her chin, along her throat and then down to the fluffy cushions of soft flesh dotted with flush, erect nipples in the middle. A surprised cry jutted out of her mouth and her fingernails tried to claw at his hand that confined them above her when he pressed one wet kiss on each nub. "Ain't this just somethin' else?" 

The girl had no idea what possessed her to say what she did, but her hips moved faster than her brain could catch on and her lips worked before reticence could hinder her communication. "I- It is, Captain. T- Thank you" of course she had felt arousal before. Of course she had been wet before. Some of those times she had a certain handsome American Captain to thank for, not that she would ever willingly admit it. But she had never known how to relieve herself of it other than a cold shower. 

Her mother had warned her that not every feeling that transpires in one in times of idleness should be chased and she had listened.

But this was not solitary boredom, this was not a devilish lure, her mother wasn't here and it was her wedding night with a man she was slowly becoming sure she would be able to call her dear husband one day. 

If her husband was kind enough to be considerate about what made her feel what she could only identify as exciting, she deemed it a stupidity to refuse the treatment. 

"Aw, baby" Syverson's hands only part from her breasts so his mouth can greedily latch onto them, his bearded lips pressing all over them before his hand nearly snatches her skirts out of his way since the layers seem to be never ending. "To think that I ain't even begun with ya and you're already thankin' me like a sweet little lady" now his mouth traveled to her stomach and the only word he had for its appearance was perfect. A shudder set in her shoulders when his beard scratched her navel before his teeth softly nibbled away on her skin. 

"W- Would you like me to get up and t- take my clothes off, dear?" God damn.

He really had hit the fucking jackpot. 

"Hold on now, darlin'" he husked as his fingers caressed her nubs, his hot mouth littering its kisses over her skin further down south. "I wanna take you like this first" the readied rise in the middle of her shoulder blades smoothed out and she settled back into the mattress again wordlessly. "Well now, are you gonna be good and keep them arms up high like a good lil' thing or am I gonna have to tie 'em up?" A drawn out moan sounded from deep within her throat when his chin deliberately brushed against her clothed sex, coarse fingers twirling her nipple between them.

Syverson felt an unconscious clench in the muscles of her thighs upon his words finally registering in her clouded mind. "N- No, I- I'll be good, husband. I promise." 

"Atta girl" he praised in a satisfied tone before letting go of her wrists. 

It was after that that his hands roamed free and wild all over her form. The Captain kissed, sucked, nibbled, pinched, groped, licked and bit all to his desire, the growing moans of his bride only encouraging him further. 

"God damn, if these ain't the sweetest damn legs I've ever seen" Syverson licked away the thread of spit that previously connected his mouth to her now bruised hiphone that he had successfully marked as his territory. The fact that no man had ever seen them and the plan that he made to never let anyone do so either was making his ears hot. His sides were becoming sore with need like he was the virgin. 

"And this– fuck, c'mere" he couldn't hold it back anymore. The Captain had always been an ass man and the fact that he was yet to see his wife's backside was making him mad now. Her yelp morphed into a confused giggle when he bundled her ankles in one of his rough hands, having already rid her of her panties, and easily raised both her legs up until her lower half dangling by his hold on her. "Hmmm, I just knew you had a perfect lil' rump stashed in there" his free hand felt her soft cheeks up before he traced his index finger down her crack, cursing at the way they clenched in defense. Then his depravity got the best of him and he wound his hand back and gave a handful of strong blows to her poor behind that started blushing in an instant. 

"Oh– ouch!" Her next nervous giggle made him raise an eyebrow as he divided an ankle between each hand and parted her legs to look down at her. 

"Think this is funny, do you?" The girl quickly stopped herself nervously. "You know who that's for?" He didn't even mind the giggles, if anything they were rather endearing to him. But the timidity in her eyes was way too sweet for him to pass up. She shook her head no. "Bad little girls who make fun of their fellas, that's who." It was the cock hardening way in which her bottom lip wobbled sensitively that dried his throat. 

A young woman once so strong, all commanding and authorative now exposed in such a submissive manner and completely at his mercy. 

"S- Sorry, dear" he hummed, reaching for the mound between her legs to roughly feel her pussy up in blunt gropes. 

"You can consider those as payback for all them times you thought you could get slick with me in front of my boys just 'cause you were the Sheikh's daughter" her eyes widened and she blushed harder than before. 

"I- I–"

"Yes, you" though Syverson's words were crisp, his kiss on her nether lips was tender and perhaps that was the sole reason why she didn't tear up from being reprimanded when she was so vulnerable and hypersensitive like this. "Thought I'd just forget all that brattin' of yours?" 

She had to hurriedly sit up for that one and reach for his hands affectionately. "Oh, no" the pure care in her eyes made his melting heart feel as though it had risen into the sky. "It was only that you were not my husband back then, dear," she tried to make him understand, aware that there were cultural differences that needed overcoming, "mother said good girls owe it to their husbands to treat every other man with a serious attitude and indifference!" 

She was breaking his fucking heart. 

It was officially official. 

Abel Ford Syverson was in love. 

Soul crushing, earth shattering, sky tearing love. 

With a woman who was not only intelligent and gorgeous way past his league but one that respected herself with an unwavering devotion towards her spouse. 

"Well, I'll be damned!" He exclaimed with faux surprise that she did not catch up on, much to his expectation. "So that's what it was all about?" Of course he knew. 

He just liked her to say it.

It boosted his depraved ego just right. 

She apologetically nodded with sincerity. "I swear, my heart." The translation of the endearment caused for his blood to pump through his ears only harder. 

Syverson gave her a small smile before sighing a little. "Well, you see, darlin', it did still hurt my feelings a tad" her eyebrows furrowed in regret so he added just to rub it in that much more; "got me a bit of pride to keep up, y'know?" 

Now she pouted. "I am sorry, love…" Before a bulb went off in her head and she jumped a little to express her excitement, the action causing her naked boobs to jiggle. "Is there a way I can make it up to you?" There. 

"Why, of course!" Fuck, he sounded more eager than a middle schooler. "You gonna have to show that you can make a good little wife" her cheeks flushed as she bit her bottom lip in embarrassment. He continued, aware she was as clueless as a virgin.

Because she was one. 

Syverson loved the thought.

He wished there was a way to preserve it -her- all as it was.  

"Anything you want, my dear" she replied sincerely as she earnestly pressed his hand that she held to her chest. 

The man swallowed the bile that had risen in his throat as his eyes flickered down to where their fingers were intertwined; the valley of her perfect breasts. 

"Good girl" his voice came out much deeper than usual. "Go on 'n' take it out, then" the bride's eyebrows raised to express her confusion as she tilted her head to the side. 

His dick whimpered and spilled a thick drop.

"U- Um…"

Syverson was getting impatient. "That means my pants, darlin'." He chuckled to lighten the effect of the edge that his tone had held. "I mean, can't exactly make love to ya with 'em on, now can I?" Something pulled taught in her chest and she went to avoid his eyes out of embarrassment. 

"Oh… yes" she was breathless as she reached for his fly, face angled downwards. 

"Yeah…?" He drew it out on purpose teasingly, dipping his own head earthwards to try and meet her gaze cockily. "Yeah, yeah?" The man kept going unrelentlessly until she had no choice but to respond. 

"Y- Yes…" Her nervous fingers slipped over the button of his pants many times but she managed to free him at last. 

"Go on ahead now, sugar" he coaxed sweetly, tone in stark contrast to his intentions. "Take it out and let them pretty lil' hands get a feel" her legs instinctively tried to close due to the shame she felt but her husband's huge body hindered her attempt to somehow cover herself. "Well?"

Her eyes darted up to him from where her fingers gingerly rested against the waistband of his boxers and Syverson suspected that she was about to decline because of the way her mouth moved to let out some phantom words. But when he raised a questioning eyebrow in response, she seemed as though it had reminded her of her place against him and she quickly dipped her digits inside the undergarment to reach for his thumping cock. 

The first feel of her fingertips connecting with his hard skin was… indescribable. It was as though time ceased, stilling everything else with it and he was enveloped into a cocoon of pure sensation. She was everywhere and inside. Her heat filled him to the brim. Each brush of her delicate skin against his rougher one felt like the stroke of the flesh of an outworldly nymph. Shivers of ecstacy cascaded down his lower back and he was floating already. 

The girl nearly jumped out of her skin at the unfamiliar feeling, the moan that he let out along a whispered praise pulling her back in the moment and away from her recoil. The bride's mind reminded her of her duty to her husband and she used her other hand to hold his clothes away so she could uncover his impaler. 

"Just like that, darlin'. Just like that" one of his hands went to tangle in her hair. "Go on and rub it for me, baby. You're doin' real good" his free hand reached for her own sex that had secreted its natural moisture in reaction to the sensations she was being subjected to. He groaned at the feeling of her warm pussy and squished his finger through her plump nether lips. "Tell me what you see" her own body was getting feverish by the second, hips and cunt trying to shrink in on themselves due to how violating his sense tingling touch was.

"I- It's…" She raked her mind for an appropriate answer. But it was all too much for her to handle; the pressure to impress her new husband, touching him the way he wanted properly, obeying him, submitting to his handling and then dealing with his intense gaze. "V- Very pretty, husband. Thank you" so she played it the safest she knew. 

And the girl could swear she felt him twitch in her palm at that, a pang of pain rising in her wrist as she awkwardly pumped him in a vertical manner. 

"Pretty, huh?" A cunning grin spread across his handsome features as he slipped one finger deep within her folds and being the retired playboy that he was, the Captain easily found her pure entrance. "'N' what about the size?" He could not help but moan at the feeling of her balmy walls clinging to his finger. "Ever seen anythin' like it?" Her thighs quivered as his thumb glided over her folds. 

"N- No, husband" she answered timidly, afraid to bruise his pride with an inappropriate or unsatisfactory answer that may pose a threat to her chasteness.

"That's right" now he began to speed up his intrusion of her insides. "'Cause you're all mine, ain'tcha?"  She quickly nodded, letting out a whine as her eyebrows furrowed at the ache his twisting of one of her nipples caused. "Now tell me," he leaned forward to reach for one of her nubs with his teeth, "did ya ever think you'd land yourself a fella with a cock this big?" He spoke through a mouthful before sinking down on her tender boobs, the tips of his sharp canines digging into the soft cushions of her flesh. 

"N- No…" The girl was gasping as she struggled to keep up with his leaking and twitching cock. "T- Thank you, dear!" She added for good measure despite how overwhelmed she was becoming. 

"Tell me, baby" the man loved how his naive wife's features scrunched in discomfort but she still sped up her fist that was wrapped around his cock because he prompted her to, hoisting himself further up next to capture her lips against his. "Do you think yourself lucky that you get to have this here cock all to yourself for the rest of your days?" He could not help but fuck into her hand at the sight of the spit string dangling by a corner of her bottom lip as it connected to the wad of spit that she had just released on his cock after being ordered to do so. He felt her cringe at the feeling of her fingers touching her own saliva as she spread it over his cock. But her resolve to obey him did not falter even once regardless of how shy or uneasy she felt.

And that was how Syverson knew he had found himself his perfect little homemaker.

"I- I do, husband" her voice nearly broke. "Thank you so much" the fact that all of this was visibly strange and even uncomfortable to her because she was not familiar with any of this… 

The Captain could swear that alone was enough to finish him off.

She was his sacred lamb; a temple undefiled. 

Nobody's leftovers; whole in every sense for the beast to take. 

What could he say? Colonel Syverson's prized son always won, no matter what. 

There was a brighter way of looking at his promiscuous dating history that was in stark contrast to his wife's nonexistent one; it could easily be considered as his physical sacrifice in order to realize and reach his full potential as a man for his future lady's well being as well as pleasure. 

A lady that he had found at last. 

"Say it" his command was heavy and the rough skin of his finger was like gravel against the buttery tissue of her slick walls. "Say that you're the luckiest lil' bride for landin' yourself the best damn dick you could have ever hoped for" she began to subconsciously move her thumb out of sync with the rest of her digits to swipe it over his tip each time her hand rose to his apex and he couldn't believe just how close he was already. 

The Captain was usually a man of stamina and endurance.

But then again it was impossible for the beast to resist his tempting lamb for very long, wasn't it?

"I- I am the luckiest…" She licked her parched lips needily. "L- Little bride for l- landing myself the best d- dick…" Embarrassment burnt her cheeks but pleasing him was more important a priority to her. "T- That I could've ever hoped for…"

He deeply moaned in satisfaction. "My good girl" a quick peck was given to the tip of her nose. "Now tell me, baby. How ya feelin'?" As if on cue, she clenched around his finger with a moan.  

Fuck, Syverson had never really preferred a clueless woman until now.

He could literally demand whatever he wanted from her and she would believe him out of her naivety. 

His perfect pretzel Princess that he could twist into whatever shape that he pleased. 

Or make her do as he desired, for that matter. 

With no one, not even his wife herself, to question him or his ways.

He loved the thought. 

"... S- Strange… P- Pain… but– hnnn!" Her back arched as she suddenly writhed, nearly going white at the feeling of getting her special spot getting tickled for the first time. It was an ability her husband took a lot of pride in; the  renown that he had held in college for being able to find gspots with his fingers alone. 

"Feels real good too, don't it?" The Captain snickered heavily as he began to rock his hips into her hand, feeling himself nearing the brink. 

"Mmh!" She did her best to respond despite the sensory overload, groaning softly when he forces her band of muscles to expand further by adding another finger to her pussy and repeatedly jabbing her sensitive nerves with their blunt tips, the sound of his skin fucking in and out of her liquids getting louder by the minute. "W- Weird… but…" A drop of sweat trickled down the side of her face as she gasped, eyes widening when her spine jolted at a particular wave of pleasure. "M- More, please." 

In the blink of an eye, Syverson had pushed her on her back before crawling up her body like a predator. Before her body could process his fingers leaving her into an orgasm denial, his eager cock was pushing into her. The pained moan that escaped her as her body twisted under his was muffled by his mouth clamping over hers. The Captain grunted as his cock struggled to push its way inside her virgin entrance despite the preparation that he had done. The girl's bottom lip pulled away from the rest of her mouth due to the way he bit down on it to withstand the overwhelming pleasure that sparked everywhere within him.  

"Your wish is my command, my darlin' sheikha." 

Syverson found himself praying for the first time to any god, deity or entity that may be listening; to freeze time right here in this very moment and never set it free again.

For he could stay like this for eternities and beyond; buried inside his dear wife and protectively enveloped in her loving arms that had never held another like she did him and never would whilst she moaned below him in a pained ecstasy, clenching and nearly knocking out as she experienced her first ever orgasm.

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Reblogs and feedback are much appreciated <3

[blockchainxtech]

What is Smart contract development? and How does it Work?

A smart contract is a self executing contract with terms of agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code.

Introduction:

The idea of Smart contracts was first proposed by computer scientist and legal pupil Nick Szabo in the mid-Nineties. Szabo envisioned a gadget wherein contracts will be self-executing, using pc code to implement the terms of the agreement.

However, it wasn’t till Bitcoin and the enormous use of allotted ledger generation for cryptocurrencies that the idea of smart contracts started to gain people’s hobby, specifically in sectors which include finance and supply chain management.

What is Smart contract development

A smart contract is a self executing contract with terms of agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code.

Smart contract development is use distributed ledgers together with blockchain to report and validate contractual transactions securely and transparently, without the want for oversight through a central authority.

One of the main benefits of Smart contracts over traditional contracts is their capacity to automate each step of a settlement’s execution whilst predetermined conditions are met . In the business discipline, Smart contracts are used to:

Automate financial transactions.

Track the movement of goods and verify their authenticity and ownership at every step of a supply chain.

Create and manipulate decentralized identification and get admission to control structures.

Verify ownership of a digital or physical asset.

Support applications running in a decentralized blockchain environment (DApps).

How does smart contract works

Let’s imagine that Michael wants to buy something from John. To secure their agreement, he proposes that John enter into a smart contract. It would say: “When Michael pays John such an amount in such a currency for such an item, he will receive the item in such-and-such manner.” The smart contract cannot be modified once it is launched. Michael transfers the money to John’s checking account as specified in the smart contract, and this action alone means that the contract is considered fulfilled. The product is sent to Michael. Both parties to the transaction dispensed with banks, lawyers, or notaries: they simply signed the contract on the blockchain. This smart contract example perfectly illustrates the essence of the technology.

A smart contract on a blockchain is decentralized. This means that no one controls it, and no one can close or cancel it. Smart contract platforms secure their contracts: they are virtually impossible to hack because they are based on blockchain. Sometimes a really stupid digital smart contract bug can occur on untested networks — this was the case with blockchain startup MonoX Finance, for example, where hackers were able to find a small error in the code. This allowed them to artificially inflate the value of MONO coins, which they were then able to cash out. Smart contract auditing helps prevent such situations.

Smart contract Process:

Agreement on Terms

Coding the Contracts

Deploying in Blockchain

Waiting for Conditions

Automatic Execution

Immutable and Transparent

Self-Managed

Smart Contract Service Providers

It can be tough to discover a developers who’ve the necessary skill to expand and install Smart contracts,

Blockchainxtech — offers reliable smart contract development service with suitable, ensuring secure, automated and tamper-proof of digital agreement on the blockchain platform.

Security of smart contracts

Although smart contracts finished on a allotted ledger offer many protection benefits, there are nonetheless safety risks related to their use, consisting of,

Bugs and vulnerabilities

Oracle Attacks

Code Execution Vulnerabilities

Network-level attacks

Conclusion:

Smart contracts represent a huge advancement in the manner agreements are made and done within the digital international. By leveraging the electricity of blockchain generation, they offer a secure, transparent, and efficient alternative to standard contracts.

[libraryofcirclaria]

1108

Library of Circlaria

Remikra Timeline

Combria: A Modern Society

The Great Northern inhabitants in the region considered themselves to be of a new nationality: Combrian. Such would have a profound impact on Remikran history in the years to come.

Mostly speaking Edoran and following the faith of Alconism, Combrians were open to the arts, welcoming orchestras and theatre groups from the Great North, as similar organizations of their own came into being. Combria had a compulsory school system with twelve grade-years, and developed its own public university system, especially with the establishment of the University of Combria in 1097.

Jeson's economic polices led to the emergence of a large middle class by the turn of the century. With a hydraulic fracturing sector and a facility dedicated to energy extraction, built by 1101, the hubstone shale industry flourished, serving as a viable energy source domestically and abroad. Such an industry supported manufacturing, as coastal ports began to boom. Combria's primary trade was in the production of hubstone batteries, holding electricity produced by hubstone extraction, as well as generators and electric infrastructure. The first automobile was produced here in the year 1091, and the first powered airplane in 1101. Along with airplanes came compound aerovehicles floated by hubstone vacuum chambers rather than hydrogen or helium. Such vessels are also referred to as first-generation airships, as the first of them took flight in the year 1099. Rail lines and road networks sprung up throughout Combrian territories, as all industry and infrastructure functioned with a new currency: the Combrian "Quantity-of-Revenue," or "qor" for short.

The first telephone was used in Combria in the year 1103. As part of a national postal system supported by hierarchical district and county sectors, telephones served to spread communication in a reliable fashion. Meanwhile, news was spread through both government and independent publications.

The Army of Combria, with tanks and modern resources, had bases stationed in each Combrian district, while the Navy of Combria had Navy ports along the East Coast, the latter of which also held the Coast Guard. Both the Army and Navy had first-generation airships mounted with bomb hatches and turrets for rifles and cannons, while they also had balloons holding cannon-shells and rifle stands. They were on peaceful terms with both the Great North and Wannonia, as part of the agreement signed in the mid-1080s, and were neutral with the Republic of Chemko. This was a time of peace; although hostile sea merchants did pose concern to Circlarian ports from time to time.

It was the hubstone industry of Combria that created the first system of true integration between spellcrafting and non-spellcrafting societies. Also resulting from the emergence of Combria as the world's first modern society was an explosion in the demand for spellcrafter talismans, which were made of grey clay in Western counties by independent proprietors.

The Great North: Economic Stabilization and Change in Leadership

The Combrian coastal sector, spearheaded by the establishment of South Masonia, spread to Terredon and up along the Great Northern Circlarian Coast to Cales. By the early 1100s, electric trains were running along Great Northern rail lines, as modern industry created new jobs, lifting most Great Northerners in the region out of poverty.

In 1101, Queen Sarah died, and, on 1 November of that year, was succeeded by the double-coronation of King Andrew and Queen Rebecca.

The Rise and Fall of Chemko

In the 970s, trade deals with Wannonia and the sea guilds, as well as the careful usage of fiat paper currency, led to economic progress in the Republic of Chemko.

Then, in 1057, "mountain oil" was discovered. Useful with lighting and engine fuel, "mountain oil" was sold initially to Wannonians and Wannonian protectorate Kingdoms to the South. Between 1077 and 1090, the loss of access to blue-diamond coal sand reserves left the Great North to demand large amounts of "mountain oil" as part of its attempt to float its energy needs. Chemkan vendors of the precious material took advantage of this and raised prices. As a result, an economic boom ensued for the Republic, as its standard of living rose higher than ever before. Before long, however, greed from the Chemkan wealthy class led to the beginning of economic inequality. To resolve the issues related to such growing economic inequality, Chemkan banks began a massive lending program, in which most patrons borrowed to spend on merchant ships to sell "mountain oil" overseas. Along with this, many Chemkans engaged in massive financial spending, leading to an economic bubble.

The emergence of the hubstone industry in Combria and the North led to a disastrous fall in the demand for "mountain oil," thus leading to a fall in its prices. The worst of this happened in 1098, as Combria signed a special deal to sell off massive amounts of hubstone battery surpluses, leading sea merchants and Canticulan nations to turn to this and modernize. In 1099, Chemkan borrowers, suffering the resulting loss of business, defaulted, leading to the collapse of the Chemkan banks, as well as the collapse of the Chemkan economy and society.

Extreme hardship endured in the years to follow, so that, in the year 1106, Ugo Kasults, a radical populist candidate, ran for election to the office of Head Consul, carrying an agenda that blamed economic woes on corrupt bureaucracy and "oil boons" and supported a willingness to sacrifice Chemkan democratic principles to restore Chemko to greatness. Despite his popularity, however, Kasults lost to the incumbent Head Consul, Turan Masa. In January 1107, Kasults staged a coup, which succeeded in overthrowing Masa and the Chemkan Senate, and installed an authoritarian regime. In March, Masa gathered enough forces and attempted a counter-coup against Kasults, leading to a brutal civil war.

Great Northern Intervention and Establishment of Mikant

During this time, Masa formed a deal with a Great Northern firm and arranged to meet with them on Elsa Island. On 6 June 1107, as they met here, they were shot dead by hidden agents loyal to Kasults as a mass-shooting ensued. The Great Northern Crown declared this an act of war and proceeded to invade Chemko. By 1 September 1107, Kasults was dead, and his regime toppled, as Chemkan territories were brought under Great Northern control. On 15 September, a Land Partitioning Deal was made in Sorto, as indigenous groups had formed a peaceful coalition to have sovereignty over Chemkan coastal regions, forming it into the short-lived nation of South Chemko, which would fall apart two weeks later. The Great North retained control over the Northern portion that surrounded Sorto, which they renamed Mikant while Great Northern armed forces kept order. Near the end of the year, this land was purchased by the Nicolson family, who wanted to establish it as a protectorate nation under a government structure similar to Combria.

On 3 January 1108, the nation of Mikant was formally established in adherence to the Queen's Mandate, as Simon Korrel was named its President, and Peter Nicolson its Head Treasurer. Later that month, Mikant entered with the Great North and Combria into what became known as the Remikran Union, which established universal Remikran Credit, and the leasing of Remikran property and the holding of its value.

<- 1086 <- || -> 1149 ->

[marketresearchreportsandanalysis]

Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement: Trends Shaping the Future with SpendEdge

As the world accelerates its shift towards sustainable energy, mid-to-large size companies are redefining their energy procurement strategies. This transformation is not only a response to rising energy costs but also a critical move to meet sustainability goals and comply with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. In navigating this complex landscape, SpendEdge emerges as a key partner, providing expertise and insights into efficient renewable energy procurement. Let’s explore the trends driving this change and how SpendEdge can support your organization in this journey.

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Stability in an Unstable Market

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are at the forefront of corporate renewable energy procurement strategies. By committing to buy electricity from renewable projects at a fixed price over the long term, companies like Google and Amazon can achieve price stability and protect themselves from energy market fluctuations. SpendEdge helps businesses navigate the complexities of PPAs, ensuring they secure advantageous terms and maximize economic benefits while aligning with their sustainability objectives.

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs): Flexibility in Achieving Sustainability

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) offer a versatile solution for companies aiming to support renewable energy without direct consumption. Each REC represents the generation of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy. By purchasing RECs, businesses can offset their carbon footprint and contribute to the renewable energy market. SpendEdge provides detailed analysis and strategic guidance on REC procurement, helping companies select the right credits to enhance their sustainability credentials and meet regulatory requirements effectively.

On-Site Clean Energy Generation: Harnessing Power Directly

Directly generating renewable energy on-site, such as through solar panel installations, allows companies to consume clean energy and reduce dependence on the electric grid. This strategy boosts energy resilience and can significantly lower operational costs. Retail giants like Walmart and Target have demonstrated the benefits of on-site solar power. SpendEdge assists organizations in evaluating the feasibility of on-site generation projects, offering insights into cost savings, system performance, and potential regulatory incentives.

Economic and Environmental Payoffs: A Win-Win Scenario

The economic and environmental benefits of transitioning to renewable energy are substantial. Research from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) showcases numerous instances where businesses have realized significant cost savings while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. SpendEdge leverages its market intelligence to identify opportunities for cost-effective renewable energy investments, ensuring companies can achieve their financial and environmental goals.

Navigating Legal and Regulatory Complexities with SpendEdge

Successfully procuring renewable energy requires a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape. Each state and municipality may have unique regulations and incentives impacting renewable projects. SpendEdge provides comprehensive support, guiding companies through these complexities and helping them stay compliant with state-specific and federal policies. Our expertise ensures that you maximize benefits and navigate the regulatory framework with confidence.

Partnering with Experts: Key to Successful Implementation

Choosing the right renewable energy developer is crucial for the successful implementation and operation of projects. These partners bring invaluable expertise in deal structuring, system monitoring, and maintenance. SpendEdge connects businesses with top-tier developers, facilitating partnerships that align with corporate sustainability targets and ensure optimal system performance. We emphasize transparent processes and customized solutions to meet your organization's unique needs.

Case Study: SpendEdge and a Leading Renewable Developer's Innovative Solutions

SpendEdge has partnered with leading renewable energy developers to support numerous corporations in achieving their sustainability goals. A significant part of this support involves offering flexible financial arrangements, like operating leases, which reduce upfront costs and spread investments over time. This approach makes renewable energy procurement more accessible and manageable. SpendEdge also emphasizes the importance of system monitoring and regular maintenance to ensure continuous high performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Strategic Steps for Effective Renewable Energy Procurement with SpendEdge

Assessing Corporate Energy Needs Understanding your company’s energy consumption patterns, facility locations, and long-term sustainability goals is critical. SpendEdge helps assess these factors to determine the most suitable procurement strategy, whether it's PPAs, on-site generation, or RECs.

Analyzing Costs and Savings Potential Comparing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) for renewable projects against current energy expenses helps in evaluating financial viability. SpendEdge provides detailed cost analysis and insights into potential savings from reduced operational costs and stabilized energy pricing.

Ensuring Quality and Long-Term Performance Maintaining high-quality renewable energy systems is essential for sustained success. SpendEdge partners with experienced developers who offer robust system monitoring and maintenance services, ensuring you get the most from your renewable energy investments.

Navigating the Renewable Energy Credit Market SpendEdge offers expert guidance in understanding the intricacies of the REC market. Our insights help companies effectively procure RECs, ensuring they make informed decisions that bolster their sustainability efforts and meet regulatory standards.

Overcoming Upfront Financial Barriers Financing options, such as operating leases, can alleviate the challenge of upfront costs. SpendEdge helps businesses explore these options, providing clarity on terms and facilitating arrangements that spread costs over time, allowing for manageable investments in renewable energy.

The Road Ahead for Corporate Renewable Energy with SpendEdge

The future of corporate renewable energy procurement is promising and dynamic. As companies increasingly commit to ESG standards and decarbonization, innovative procurement methods and strategic partnerships will continue to evolve. SpendEdge is at the forefront of this transformation, guiding businesses through the intricacies of renewable energy procurement.

By leveraging a mix of PPAs, RECs, and on-site generation, companies can achieve significant cost savings, reduce emissions, and enhance energy resilience. With SpendEdge as your partner, you can navigate the regulatory landscape, select the right partners, and ensure the quality performance of your energy systems. As we move towards a sustainable future, SpendEdge is committed to helping businesses succeed in their renewable energy endeavors, driving both economic and environmental success.

Contact us for more.

[smartviewtechnology23]

City of San Marcos Selects Northstar Utilities Solutions' Metersense MDM

1888PressRelease)NorthStar Utilities Solutions' MeterSense MDM is selected by the City of San Marcos, TX. MeterSense will manage the information from the City's smart meters, filling gaps and elevating data quality before presenting energy usage information for customers to view via web portal. MeterSense is now the fastest growing MDM in the mid-size utility market.

OTTAWA - NorthStar Utilities Solutions, a division of Harris Computer Systems, is pleased to announce that the City of San Marcos has signed an agreement to acquire their MeterSense Meter Data Management (MDM) solution, to further advance the City's smart metering project.

"We evaluated several Meter Data Management solutions and MeterSense came out on top," said Tom Taggart, Director of Public Services. "MeterSense gives us strong and flexible validation plus configurable workflows to automate manual tasks. We're confident that it will allow us to streamline our processes and get the maximum benefit out of our AMI system - in terms of both customer service and cost control."

MeterSense will manage the information from the City's smart meters, filling gaps and elevating data quality before presenting energy usage information for customers to view via web portal. With intuitive reports showing hourly usage online, the customers will be able to visualize their energy patterns and have the ability to control their costs. Ultimately, customers will have the opportunity to save money through Time-of-Use (TOU) rates. MeterSense ties together utility information systems such as the Geographic Information System (GIS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Outage Management System (OMS), allowing the City to easily analyze operations and monitor their vital electric and water distribution infrastructure.

"We expect tremendous value from tying together multiple systems. It'll help us understand our operations without spending hours tracking down all the data," explained Ernest Cavazos, Utility Billing Business Office Manager. "That will allow us to focus on serving our customers better, with streamlined processes so we can do it more efficiently."

If you need any kind of information on this article related topic click here: Utilities Management

[cryptotechnews24]

Bitcoin Halving 2024: How Miners Are Preparing for the Event

As the Bitcoin halving date of April 16, 2024, draws near, miners are leaving no stone unturned in their extensive research and planning. Learning from the past halvings' effects on the Bitcoin network and analyzing the market's reaction during those times, they are gearing up to tackle potential challenges and seize opportunities in the cryptocurrency world.

Efficient Mining Fleet: Upgrading Hardware and Software

One of the foremost areas miners are focusing on is upgrading their mining fleet. Many North American Bitcoin miners have made substantial investments in acquiring the most efficient machines available on the market, gearing up for the forthcoming halving. - Marathon Digital's Acquisition: In a significant move, Marathon Digital (MARA) acquired 78,000 units of Antminer S19 XP mining machines, known for their exceptional efficiency, delivering close to 11 EH/s in hash rate. Most of these machines were successfully installed and energized in 2022, with a plan to achieve an operational hash rate of 23 EH/s in North America by mid-2023. - CleanSpark's Expansion: In April 2023, CleanSpark (CLSK) announced the purchase of 45,000 Antminer S19 XP mining machines, which will provide an additional 6.3 EH/s of hash rate upon deployment in Q3 2022. This expansion will increase their total hash rate to 16 EH/s by the end of the year. - Riot Platforms' Growth: In June 2023, Riot Platforms (RIOT) revealed its acquisition of 33,280 next-generation Bitcoin miners from MicroBT, adding an impressive 7.6 EH/s miners to their self-mining capacity. This move will boost their mining capacity to 20.1 EH/s upon full deployment in 2024. Moreover, maintaining control over the sites where these mining machines are installed is crucial, as it allows miners to have better control over when machines need to be switched on or off.

Cheap Sustainable Renewable Energy: Lowering Energy Costs

Energy costs constitute a significant expense in Bitcoin mining. As these costs continuously rise after each halving, it is crucial for miners to find ways to utilize the cheapest sustainable and renewable energy options available. Having access to fixed-price energy contracts or the flexibility to curtail energy usage during price spikes becomes essential to maintaining profitability in mining operations. - CleanSpark's Automation: CleanSpark (CLSK) is actively developing automation systems that maximize uptime and firmware enabling them to underclock and overclock their machines based on the situation. Additionally, they are strategically managing their power consumption in Georgia (GA), positioning themselves favorably for the upcoming halving. - Texas-based Miners' Strategies: Several Texas-based miners have been implementing innovative energy strategies to boost their revenues. Riot Platforms, for instance, actively participates in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market. By supplying power when needed and strategically switching off their systems to help balance the grid, they have secured long-term power purchase agreements, effectively reducing the cost of mining Bitcoin. In June 2023 alone, Riot Platforms generated $8.4 million in power sales and $1.6 million in demand response revenue through these initiatives.

Build Cash Reserves: Preparing for Price Volatility

History has shown that after each halving, there is a period of increased scarcity of Bitcoin, but the immediate price surge may not occur as anticipated. For miners, this means it is crucial to build cash reserves and have sufficient funds ready to cover immediate revenue losses.

Diversification: Incorporating Additional Revenue Streams

In light of the potential price volatility post-halving, some Bitcoin miners have been diversifying their businesses to include additional revenue streams. - Hut 8's Expansion: Hut 8 (HUT) made a significant move by acquiring the cloud and colocation data center business from TeraGo Inc., establishing itself as a leading high-performance computing platform. This strategic positioning within the digital asset ecosystem enhances Hut 8's resilience in the face of market fluctuations. - Partnership with Interior Health Authority: In June 2023, Hut 8 also announced a five-year partnership with Interior Health Authority, British Columbia. This partnership enables Hut 8 to provide safe, secure, and reliable colocation services from their flagship Kelowna data center. - Hive Digital Technologies and Iris Energy: Other players, such as Hive Digital Technologies (HIVE) and Iris Energy (IREN), are also diversifying into high-performance computing, cloud, and artificial intelligence services, further expanding their revenue streams.

Hedging Techniques: Minimizing Risk Exposure

With the halving event approaching, specialized companies now offer services to help mining companies hedge their risk, particularly in terms of electricity costs and hash rate fluctuations. Miners are actively considering these hedging options to protect themselves from potential financial risks associated with mining operations. As Bitcoin's halving draws nearer, miners are taking proactive steps to optimize their mining operations, making strategic investments in efficient hardware, securing cost-effective energy sources, diversifying revenue streams, and hedging their risks. By employing these tactics, miners are positioning themselves for success amidst the evolving dynamics of the cryptocurrency market.

Conclusion

In conclusion, miners are diligently preparing for Bitcoin's fourth halving by optimizing efficiency, securing sustainable energy, building cash reserves, diversifying revenue streams, and employing hedging techniques. Their proactive approach ensures they are well-positioned to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the evolving cryptocurrency market. As the halving date approaches, the mining community stands united and ready to embrace the potential that lies ahead. For more articles visit: Cryptotechnews24 Source: coindesk.com

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[hiranandaniindustrialparks]

How the last decade (2010-2020) redefined the evolution of the warehousing industry in India?

India has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the past decade. This growth has been fuelled by several factors, including increased foreign investment, rapid urbanisation, and rising disposable incomes. One of the sectors that have significantly benefited from this economic growth is the warehousing industry. Let's navigate through the last decade that redefined the evolution of the warehousing industry in India.

Transforming godowns to efficient warehouses

Earlier, a storage facility was a haphazard space called a "godown". They were only used to reserve raw materials for manufacturing or supplying products. Moreover, the shortage of space wouldn't allow movable machinery, thus relying entirely on manual labour for operations. Also, there were no safety protocols followed in these confined spaces. 

As the manufacturing/production demands started increasing, the storage and handling of materials in automated and organised form became necessary. 

One of the most significant changes has been the introduction of automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). These systems have significantly increased the efficiency of warehouses by reducing the time it takes to find and retrieve items. Additionally, they have helped to improve safety by reducing the need for workers to climb on high shelves.

Another major change has been the use of RFID tags to track inventory. RFID tags allow warehouse managers to quickly and easily see what items are in stock and where they are located. This has helped to reduce lost or misplaced inventory and has made it easier to keep track of fast-moving items.

The other crucial aspect of this evolution was state-regulated policies that imposed a few safety regulations on warehouses to reduce occupational hazards. The hygiene regulations also helped with the longevity of perishable items. By the mid-20th century, warehouses were all-encompassing spaces that could accommodate storage for large-scale production. Chennai is one such city that emerged during this period as an industrial zone. Subsequently, warehousing companies in Chennai leveraged this opportunity and introduced industrial parks to enhance the manufacturing/production sector. 

Industrial revolution leading the demand

The industrial revolution throughout the world transitioned from three main phases– the water/steam engine for production, electricity for mass manufacturing, and electronics and information technology to automate the processes. Throughout these revolutions, the warehousing industry remained a constant link for the suitable storage solution. 

With the changing phases, warehouses were adapted according to the progressing requirements and the specific industry. Thus began the evolution of customised spaces using the Built-to-suit method. Warehouses were designed considering the business goals. In this arrangement, there is a pre-lease agreement between the developer and the client, where they are given warehouse rights even before the construction begins. They can customise the floor plates, height, and other attributes according to their long-term goals. 

Grade-A warehouses have become a norm for ideal spaces for businesses, where asset management facilities are provided with your leased area. 

On the other hand, ready spaces are preferred by small business owners for short to mid-term needs. They have the flexibility to choose their leasing period. With the emergence of E-Commerce, these spaces are in high demand, considering they are easier to manage, and most warehousing companies are located in industrial zones that allow better business opportunities. 

Hiranandani Industrial Parks in Chennai is a prominent project in Red Hills that is strategically located for easy access to key consumption zones and other industrial hubs. 

New trends in warehousing construction

The fourth industrial revolution is the digitisation of processes that demands high-speed services and end-to-end cycle management with customer requirements as the focus. Hence, the warehouses are designed to incorporate these services for an edge in the competitive market. Some of the prominent new trends in warehousing construction are as follows–

Modular buildings are created using prefabricated components that can be quickly assembled on-site. This type of construction is becoming increasingly popular due to its flexibility and affordability.

Mezzanine floors are an efficient way to add extra storage space without increasing the footprint of the warehouse. They are also less expensive to build than traditional multi-story warehouses.

More warehouses are now being built with energy-efficient features. This includes solar panels, LED lighting, and insulation. These features help reduce the warehouse's operating costs and improve its environmental footprint. Several warehouse developers in Chennai have integrated sustainable and eco-friendly features. 

Conclusion

To keep up with the new-age trends in warehousing, choosing a reputed warehouse company in India that understands global standards is crucial. Hiranandani Industrial Parks—the new venture in industrial warehousing services by the well-known House of Hiranandani, guarantees long-term spacing solutions for companies. They have integrated modern amenities within the warehousing facility in Chennai to enhance the efficiency of your services. Browse their website to find a perfect space for your business. 

FAQs

1) How has warehousing changed over the last few years?

Ans: Warehousing has become an industry in itself. These storage spaces are now the epicentre of the end-to-end cycle of business operations. 

 The new-age warehouses are customised according to the business goals with provisions for scalability. In this way, a company can be associated with warehousing services for a more extended period.

E-Commerce and 3PL are the leading industries that require warehouses, considering the modern entrepreneurial landscape in India. 

2) What are the emerging trends in warehousing?

Ans: Warehousing has evolved with the integration of mechanical and digital systems. Some of the emerging global trends in warehousing are as follows–

Advanced warehouse management system using cloud technology

Robotic automation

Proper data management

Sustainable features

Artificial Intelligence and machine learning for data analysis and management.

[thesevillereport]

In Focus: Oil to $100

Almost a year ago I advised investors to avoid this trade. My warning came during Wall Street's celebration of Warren Buffett's deal to purchase Dominion Energy's (D) natural gas and transmission assets. Wall Street was happy to see a deal taking place during the pandemic and also ecstatic that Buffett was spending some of the $36 billion sitting on Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A) balance sheet at the time.

Several months before my advice and Buffett's purchase, oil prices had turned negative making me question the future of oil. Others however only saw really cheap oil prices. At the time of my advice to avoid the oil trade the U.S. Oil Fund (USO) was trading for just under $30 per share, a year prior, in July 2019 it was trading for ~$93 per share. Investors who ignored me and invested in USO are up more than 60% after taking advantage of cheap oil prices in 2020. That's a very nice win for a 12 month hold.

My instinct to avoid oil trades wasn't because I disliked oil or oil companies, it's because I saw alternative energy stock prices rising. I also saw electric car manufacturer Tesla (TSLA) growing in popularity, and several new electric vehicle companies ready to break into the market. I also expected the work-from-home phase to continue for the foreseeable future, prompting less demand for gas. 

Increasing Oil Prices

In 2021 gasoline producers in the United States have wisened up, they no longer drill all day and stockpile oil all night. Instead, they've taken a wait and see approach by watching the national demand for gas and oil and waiting to drill. This has translated into higher prices at the pump for consumers and a higher price per barrel of oil for investors, because there's no longer an oversupply of oil and gas.

This time last year Crude Oil WTI (CL=F) was trading between $40 and $41 per barrel. Oil supplies were high and demand was low with many parts of the U.S. and the world still in lockdown. Now, crude oil is trading at $74.63 per barrel as of this writing and supplies are dwindling as demand ramps up.

The question for investors now is can oil hit $100 per barrel again? Analysts at Bank of America seem to think so. Analysts for BofA believe oil prices could hit $100 per barrel by mid 2022. Crude oil WTI hasn't seen $100 a barrel since July of 2014.

Bank of America believes that the work-from-home trend is also a work-from-car trend, and that people who are working from home also have errands to run, and then there's the pent up demand for travel. Both cases create an increase in demand for oil.

The post pandemic reopening has seen Americans as well as others around the world take road trips and flock to the airports for much needed getaways and reconnection with family and friends. This need to get away has caused gas prices to jump from $2.19 per gallon a year ago to $3.22 per gallon for the week ending July 5, 2021 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

For investors playing the markets for the $100 barrel of oil there are a lot of balls in the air that they need to keep an eye on like OPEC+ and Saudia Arabia. 

OPEC's proposal to add 400,000 barrels per day to the oil supply through the end of this year was rebuffed by the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is seeking an updated production quota for itself, and isn't willing to agree to an OPEC increase without securing a favorable production increase of its own. Assuming all OPEC+ players stay in line with the current agreement, global oil supplies could remain below demand, keeping oil prices high.

Last year, OPEC and Russia failed to come to an agreement on a production cut, which was intended to level out inventories created by the shrinking demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. When Russia refused to cut production Saudi Arabia flooded the markets with cheap oil. Saudi Arabia's move last year displayed that OPEC members are willing to take matters into their own hands if necessary.

Investors also have to keep an eye on the weather. In the summer of 2007, Hurricane Humberto caused refineries in the Port Arthur, Texas region to shut down which created supply issues that sent oil to over $80 a barrel, a 31% increase from where it started the year in 2007.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted 13 to 20 named storms and three to five hurricanes in 2021. So far we've seen five tropical storms according to the Palm Beach Post.

A major tropical storm or hurricane could add to the oil supply issues and push oil prices to the triple digits once again. Not that I'm advocating for a hurricane or even triple digit oil prices, but the reality is, with a bit of bad luck, we could get back to the $100 per barrel price soon.

What's in the way of the $100 Target

There's the coronavirus, the Delta variant has been another headache for some countries in addition to the headache already created by the original strain of the coronavirus. Delayed re-openings and more lockdowns could impact global oil demand. While the United States is on its way to a full reopening, places like the U.K. and Australia are still having to lockdown to contain the spread of the Delta variant.

Another round of major lockdowns could bring us back to where we were in 2020 with a large supply and little demand for gas and oil.

Going back to the OPEC / UAE issue, former U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette  says we could see a collapse in oil prices from current levels if countries were to go off and "do their own thing, or do their own production."

Brouillette, did also state that oil could easily hit the $100 per barrel mark or even higher in the aftermath of the failed OPEC+ talks.

While oil investors would love to see another 30% plus gains in oil prices this year, the $100 barrel of oil comes with some downside for oil producers. At $100 a barrel, governments could be motivated to increase their investments into electric cars and alternative energy. Higher gas prices could force traditional combustion engine car drivers to start shopping electric.

Being a long term investor my instinct is still to avoid the oil trade. I don't see American refiners maintaining a wait and see approach for a sustained period of time. I believe their instincts will kick in and they'll start pumping out oil and in turn create more supply than demand. I also think after the initial wave of what I call reopening travel - travel to make up for not traveling in 2020 -  has subsided, oil will find its way back to around $50 - $60 per barrel.

I'm still on the train of thought that alternative energy is the future, maybe not this year, or the end of next year, but it is the future. I have a fear of being stuck in an oil trade when the first functional electric plane rolls out or being in an oil trade on the day EVs outsell gas powered cars. For those reasons and reasons similar to those I will miss out on oil's possible run to $100.

[merryfortune]

Day 10 / Electric

Clover and Violets 2021

Ship: not applicable | Kyoko/Hayami

Universe: Vrains

Word Count: 1,580

Rating: T

Tags: Post Canon, Meet Cute, Fluff, Implied Redemption Arc

   Hayami wasn’t good at meeting new co-workers. Not for lack of trying though, more like because of trying too much. She wanted to make a good impression. Even if it was a good impression on people who really got into the nitty-gritty of Sol Tech’s shadier dealings.

   So, she put on a big smile and she did what she did best: played the gopher.

   Not to brag or anything but she had gotten really good at making coffee these days. She made a mean dirty chai, in her opinion. She brought out five throwaway cups on a cluttered, wooden tray into the office chambers where they were having their meeting, as well as milk, cream, sugar, any topping they could really want: Hayami was doing her best to make their guests feel at home. Maybe even so much at home that they would drop the facade and use their real names. Akira told her not to be so hopeful but Hayami thought that a little bit of hospitality would go a long way.

   Regardless, she was the last one to walk into the room and Akira closed the door behind her, completing the soundproofing of the room. She smiled, big and gawky, as she set down the tray. And as she did so, she did a head count: their boss wasn’t here but the main entourage of this upper echelon on were, the only one missing aside from Revolver was his little assistant who had duelled Blue Angel.

   “Help yourselves.” Hayami said.

   “Don’t mind if I do.” nattered the man closed to her, he was about mid-thirties to early forties, glasses, and green hair.

   Hayami smiled. She then flicked her gaze to the other two, the other man and the only other woman aside from her,  made sure they were welcome to have some coffee as well. In the meantime, she took her own drink and sugared it to oblivion and beyond. The woman - with sharp cheekbones and devilish red hair - hid a giggle as she did that.

   “Are we all comfortable yet?” Akira asked.

   He sounded a little testy so Hayami made sure that he got his coffee promptly as well: he took it almost black, one sugar and a teaspoon of milk. He thanked Hayami with just his eyebrows before he took stock of the rest of the situation. It seemed so and thus, Akira began the meeting.

   And what a dull meeting it was, Hayami thought. It was dark inside the room and Akira’s voice droned; Hayami could have gone straight to sleep in her chair. Thank goodness she had the coffee. She wouldn’t have been able to keep her eyes open through it, and her mouth closed, too. It was all hypotheticals on top of hypotheticals; action plans for future action plans. Very ambiguous and open ended, she mostly just nodded and hummed in agreement whenever Akira said something she thought made sense or sounded good or if he just needed someone in his corner to back him up. 

   So yes, the meeting couldn’t end quick enough but when it did, there was time to linger. To get up, stand around, stretch their legs. The Knights of Hanoi mostly kept to themselves so Hayami took the chance to clean afterwards. She collected up the mostly empty throwaway cups and all the foodstuffs she had brought over in the first place but that Baira woman couldn’t let fine enough be. 

   Hayami was perfectly capable of doing it all by herself but she insisted. She glared, with pursed lips, and she tried to help Hayami when she did not want the help. The outcome was about what was expected. Hayami attempted to trod off with all of it in her arms; Baira tried to cut in and take some of her burden but Hayami refused with a smile and a mildly annoyed, furrowed brow.

   The two ladies engaged in an exceedingly polite warfare of push and pull and it ended with milk and cream going everywhere. Though, mostly it went all over Baira and that nice white jacket of hers.

   Hayami was stunned with her error and it was, mostly, her error. “I am so sorry.” she said. “I can pay for dry cleaning for you, if you like.”

   Baira laughed. “It's fine, I’ve been covered in worse.” Her laughter was coarse, barky, but jolly and good natured. “How about you just show me to the nearest restroom, huh, sweetie?”

   “Oh, yeah, totally.” Hayami chirped, stiffening up, she loved pet names and didn’t mind if they were used by near or virtual strangers.

   Hayami gathered up what was dropped and with Baira, they dawdled off. The nearest restroom was on the corner of the floor and they got cleaned up there. Hayami helped dab off stains on Baira’s coat, both thankful that it hadn’t been actual coffee that they had dropped on her.

   It felt odd for Hayami to pick up and bundle Baira’s coat but she seemed content to watch, observing Hayami with a sharp eye. Hayami blushed. She didn’t actually think she was that interesting but maybe she was.

   “There we go,” Hayami said, “all done.”

   “You’re good at this.” Baira said and she shrugged. “I’ll be the first to admit, cleaning, housekeeping, cooking: never been my forte, you?”

   “Love all of the above.” Hayami admitted, a little bit embarrassed.

   “You’d be a cute housewife, feeding the OL to wife pipeline, it's an important job.” Baira teased her.

   “Oh shut up.” Hayami playfully replied with a giggle but she toyed with her hair. “Its always been my dream to be a June bride, a bit old fashioned nowadays but I can’t help it.”

   “Better than my dream.” Baira shrugged. “But, like, no, really, if you go and get hitched, I think I’d miss you. Gets so dull being around men all the time. Like they just go on and on, like get to the point, mister or you're as bad as us misses.” 

   “I was thinking the same thing the entire time - and I like Akira.” Hayami laughed.

   Baira smirked. She was really taking a liking to this little lady - and not just because it felt good to be tall around one someone shorter than her.

   The two ladies finished up shortly after. And Hayami had to admit, she had really taken a liking to Baira as well. As mean as a woman Queen was, Hayami did miss having another woman about the office, especially one with sharp wit and the like. She was so socially awkward, having someone more extraverted and graceful about, whilst anxiety inducing, was the good sort.

   And the connection didn’t just stop there, oh no, it started and Hayami was having a hard time puzzling out Baira’s intentions. They seemed a little bit more than just friendly. She was a gift giver, it seemed. Only small things here and there and Hayami was making the point to return the tiny favours but some of the things Baira couldn’t help but unload were a bit odd. And none of them were her actual, literal name and whilst that information was out there on the big, bad internet, Hayami wanted to be entrusted with it on Baira’s terms and consent so she would wait.

   Wait whilst holding onto all those bits and bobs that Baira told Hayami reminded her of Hayami.

   Like hand sanitiser in a pink bottle. Cute, cleanly, and convenient. Hayami liked it but she thought it was a little strange. But not as strange as the extravagantly handled coffee mug that Baira had gotten her. The squirrel motif was a bit too on the nose for Hayami, she thought and the pun wasn’t all that great either. And then when Baira handed her the electric toothbrush, Hayami thought she had gotten the picture. 

   Hayami stared at the offending implement rather than the beautiful cityscape view in front of them, “You know,” she said, “if I didn’t know any better, I would say this was an invitation to move in with you. Or at the very least come over.”

   “I was wondering when you would get the picture.” Baira said with a laugh, happily gazing out to said cityscape in front of them but her eyes kept wandering back to Hayami. She was too cute and a lot more fun than the soiree they were both ignoring.

   “Oh.” Hayami murmured.

   “Oh, indeed.” Baira said. “But, well?”

   “Well, what?” Hayami said.

   “I have a key to an apartment I used to own, would you be interested in visiting?” Baira asked.

   “A little, yeah…” Hayami replied, a bit embarrassed and trying to play it coy.

   “Here, another gift then.” Baira said.

   Hayami looked up at Baira, still holding that darn electric toothbrush with one hand and extending out the other, and Baira dropped something in her palm. Her fingers swirled against the skin of Hayami’s palm flirtatiously and Baira gifted her a key complete with a keyring: one of those cow tag-like keyrings and it had writing on it.

   “Thank you.” Hayami mumbled.

   Baira smirked and Hayami had a closer look at the keyring. She blinked. Taki Kyoko. 103, 3F. Hayami’s heart fluttered.

   “I should give you directions there, yeah?” Kyoko asked. “So you don’t get lost, I mean, this party’s pretty boring and I was the bookworm in uni who never went anywhere but even this shindig’s boring me.”

   “I’d like that, thank you.” Hayami replied with a blush in her cheeks.

[sciencespies]

Fragmented nature means wildlife can't survive in the long term, scientists warn

https://sciencespies.com/nature/fragmented-nature-means-wildlife-cant-survive-in-the-long-term-scientists-warn/

Fragmented nature means wildlife can't survive in the long term, scientists warn

​Protected areas will only help species migrating to escape a warming climate if enough of them, strategically located, allow for reproduction, a study of the English countryside showed Wednesday.

​With humanity’s numbers set to pass 9 billion by mid-century, many animals and plants on our crowded planet are severely threatened by shrinking habitat.

​Carving out nature preserves is essential for their long-term survival, experts say.

​But a new study (link not yet live) published by the Royal Society concludes that species in Britain seeking to adapt to climate change through migration could fail because some strategically located breeding habitats across the country remain unprotected.

​From butterflies to birds, study co-lead author Tom Travers says the findings apply to thousands of species of plants, animals, and even bacteria.

​”There’s so much evidence that this movement is happening with so many species,” he told AFP.

​”It’s likely that more species are needing to move than aren’t.”

​Researchers led by Travers measured which habitats across the British countryside – even if they are not joined up – could provide crucial links for populations on the move.

​”Patches [of land] our method identifies as being important to connectivity are not currently protected,” Travers said.

​”This leaves species that use those habitats vulnerable under climate change.” 

Movement over generations

As the climate warms, animals and plants are likely to adapt by migrating northward over generations.

​To determine which areas were crucial for that movement, the scientists imagined a map as if it showed electric current flowing from south to north.

​Habitats were only considered to provide “connectivity” if they consist of lands that a species’ offspring could reach and settle on long enough to reproduce.

​”Where would offspring produced from those patches be able to reach in the next generation?”, explained Travers.

​Researchers modeled networks for 16 types of habitats, including deciduous woodlands, mudflats, and lowland meadows.

​Some habitats – like maritime cliffs and coastal sand dunes – were too broken up or spread out to be included.

​Some key areas for facilitating south-north movement, the researchers found, were not adequately protected under current standards.

​But the study says if done strategically, expanding protected areas by only 10 percent would enhance functional “connectivity” by more than 40 percent.

​In some cases, these critical “stepping stone” habitats were less than one square kilometer (0.4 square miles).

​Increasing both the size and quality of nature preserves has moved up the global agenda amid signs of a biodiversity crisis.

​Nearly 30 percent of species cataloged on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are threatened with extinction.

​A draft agreement under negotiation ahead of a UN biodiversity summit in China next spring has called for designating 30 percent of land and ocean surface as protected within a decade.

​”Our research is quite timely, because it highlights that long-distance connectivity hasn’t been properly considered in past protection decisions,” said Travers.

© Agence France-Presse

#Nature

[justheretobreakthings]

Kings Over Aces - Chapter 2

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Word Count: 3,114 (Total Word Count: 6,290) Read on AO3

Story Summary:

The Voltron Coalition has an alliance in the works with the resource-rich planet of Yuipra, and it’s the paladins’ job to keep on the king’s good side while the deal is made. That shouldn’t shouldn’t be too great a challenge; after all, they’ve courted plenty of planets before for the sake of alliances.

Unfortunately, things are made much more complicated when the king takes a special interest in Keith.

Fic content warnings for attempted rape/non-con.

“I’m telling you, he wants me,” Lance said, for what was probably the dozenth time since breakfast.

Pidge rolled her eyes, stretching her leg out along the couch to kick Lance where he was seated on the opposite cushion without moving from where she’d comfortably settled with her tablet. The paladins were spending their downtime after training this morning in the lounge, all having claimed their usual spots to relax, but Lance harping on about last night’s dinner was making it even more difficult than usual - which was saying something, as the weirdly translated Altean books Keith tried to pass time with were hard enough to focus on anyway. “He does not ‘want’ you,” she said. “You think every person we ever meet at these coalition things ‘wants’ you, and how many times has that been the case?”

“Plenty of times,” Lance answered. “I’m not gonna be able to keep track exactly.”

“It’s sort of a numbers game by this point, isn’t it?” Hunk asked, tilting his head back from where he was seated cross-legged on the floor in front of the other two to join the conversation. “You flirt with basically every single person you find attractive - ”

“ - And your standards for that aren’t exactly sky-high,” said Pidge, “So you’ve probably hit on like five hundred people since we got shot out into space. Which would make your success rate - ”

“All right, I see where this math is going,” Lance groaned. “For your information, I do not flirt with nearly that many people.”

“Good point,” Pidge said. “Just winking and making finger guns probably doesn’t count. Or at least only counts as, like, half a flirt.”

“It’s not - you know what, whatever. We’re not talking about my overall track record, just last night. And that king was totally into me. Basically talked just to me the entire night. You saw, right, Keith?” He turned to Keith, who silently cursed his inability to turn invisible. “Back me up here.”

“Um,” Keith said. “Well, you certainly talked to him a lot.”

“I was replying to him, that’s how conversations work. But he was totally flirting with me, right?”

“Uh…”

Lance huffed and crossed his arms. “Okay, that doesn’t count for anything. Keith probably wouldn’t recognize flirting if his life depended on it.” Keith let out a little harrumph of indignation. Sure, that was true, but there was no need to just announce it like that.

“Nah, I’m gonna go ahead and take his testimony as gospel,” Pidge said. “Sorry, Lance. You bombed.”

“Need me to get Kaltenecker to make you some ice cream?” Hunk asked, reaching up to pat Lance on the leg.

“I’m like two seconds away from slapping all of you.”

“The bitter sting of rejection is such an ugly look on you,” Pidge said drily. A small beep sounded from her tablet, and a moment later, she sat up. “Allura just messaged. They’re getting an incoming signal from Yuipra, we’re probably gonna solidify alliance terms. Gotta go join ‘em in the bridge.”

Lance groaned. “Why do we all have to go? Shiro and Allura are in charge of all of that.”

“I dunno, to make a good impression?” Pidge stretched as she stood from the couch. “Besides, you should be excited. Get another chance to talk to the love of your life.”

“At no point did I ever say anything about him being the ‘love of my life’,” Lance said as he and Hunk reluctantly stood too. “All I said was that he wants me. Which I still maintain is one hundred percent true.”

“If you say so. You coming, Keith?”

“Yeah, I’m coming,” Keith said. He shut off his electric reader and dropped it onto the seat to come back to later before joining the others, shuffling in behind them for the short walk to the bridge.

When they arrived, joining Allura and Shiro on the deck, the holoscreen was already on and tuned to an image of King Olren, the arms of two of his ever-present guards just on the edges of the frame. The discussion was already in motion, but Olren paused mid-sentence as the door to the bridge slid open.

“Ah, the rest of your paladins have arrived, I see,” he said, smiling down at them as they took their places on the bridge. “It is a delight to see you all again.”

“You too, your majesty,” Hunk said.

Allura smiled as she looked back over her shoulder at the others. “King Olren was just telling us that he was quite impressed by our performance yesterday, as well as our engagement with his people at the banquet.”

“Quite so,” Olren said with a nod. “Your presence went over very well amongst my nobility. And, of course, I was just as enamored by Voltron as anyone in my court. Your knowledge and passion are obvious. Now, I’ve spent the morning reviewing the terms of our potential alliance with my advisors. Yuipra’s stance on interplanetary relations is perfectly in line with your current mission statement of resistance against the Galra empire and liberation of those under its control. However, I must confess slight apprehension over how the citizenry would respond to engaging in a conflict in which we are currently not directly involved. As your proposed terms are outlined right now, the use of our resources versus the coalition benefits that you would grant us in return seem rather unbalanced.”

“That’s only in the short term,” Shiro spoke up. “We may currently be thin on benefits, but that’s entirely due to past Galra occupation that we are working to wipe out. Already we’re seeing the signs of environmental improvements and economic growth from planets that have been liberated and are being helped by the Coalition now. The trade agreements and political relations we build now will yield positive growth over time, and in the long run it’ll more than offset the costs of your involvement.”

“And you have evidence to back your claims of long-term benefits?”

“I would be more than happy to send you any details about the Coalition’s fiscal plans and projections of resource growth that you need,” said Allura. “You will find that we have been nothing but meticulous.”

Olren nodded. “That would do nicely, Princess, if you would be so kind. I must admit, your confidence alone is quite the sales pitch.” Allura lifted her chin, a proud smile on her lips, and Olren grinned back. “The rapid creation and propagation of the Voltron coalition makes ever more sense. It’s certainly likely that Yuipra will have its part in it as you make history.”

“We thank you, your majesty,” Allura said.

“I am still not, however, quite ready yet to solidify an alliance with your coalition,” Olren continued, and Allura deflated. “Not due to problems with any stipulations we’ve laid out as yet, but because I like to know those with whom I ally on a more… personal level, you see. It is one thing to be able to ally with someone politically, but such bonds are far more meaningful, not to mention harder to break, when they are personalized to a nigh emotional level. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Allura paused a moment before answering, “Well - well, yes, of course. I completely understand where you are coming from.”

“Excellent. Now, I’ve gotten a bit of a chance to gain some familiarity during our banquet, but if Voltron would be so willing to indulge me, I really prefer to do so more privately. One-on-one, actually.”

“All right,” Allura said slowly. “So, erm, what, exactly, are you proposing?”

“Suppose I’ll get right down to it,” Olren said through a little breath of a laugh. “I wish to host an intimate dinner in my private dining room tomorrow evening. And I would like your red paladin to accompany me as my date.”

Lance cast the others a grin - a smirk that seemed to say, I told you so - before he stepped forward and bowed grandly. “Your majesty,” he said as he straightened up, “It would be an honor to - ”

“No, no, not him,” Olren said, waving a hand dismissively. “The red paladin.”

“I am the red - ” Lance started, before his face fell and his eyes widened. “Wait, do you mean - are you - are you talking about Keith?!” he spluttered, gesturing with his thumb toward Keith, who stood in stunned silence as all the eyes in the room spun toward him.

“Yes. Keith,” Olren said with a smile. “I do hope you will accept my invitation?”

“Uh - I - I - ” Keith stammered out.

“Is, ah, is that really necessary?” Shiro asked. “Voltron functions as a unit, you see, and there’s no need to have only one of us to dinner rather than the whole group.”

“If you function as a unit, then your red paladin’s character should reflect that of all of you,” Olren said. “You need not worry, really, over the effect on our potential alliance. I must admit, I’ve found myself quite taken with his disposition already. But you do understand why I may want to take the time to personally assure myself that we will be a good match, yes?”

“Understandable, yes,” Allura said. “I’m sure that we can arrange - ” She paused as she glanced back over her shoulder at Keith, whose knees were growing shaky and who had long since felt his face heating into a bright red.

Allura furrowed her brow and turned back toward Olren. “Could you please grant us a few doboshes to discuss our availability?” she asked. “We will be happy to resume this conversation shortly.”

“Of course,” Olren said. “I look forward to a call. And I must admit, I do expect to like what I hear. I’m not in the habit of taking ‘no’ for an answer.” He cast them all one last smile before his holoscreen went dark and then disappeared.

Allura let out a breath before turning around toward Keith. “Keith,” she said. “Are you ill?”

Keith blinked at her. “Am I… what?”

“You look ill.”

Slowly he shook his head. “No, I’m - I’m not sick.”

“Because if you have any sort of bug that the king might catch, that would certainly not reflect well, nor be ideal for you and your state of mind during a dinner. Or if something in their meal disagreed with you - ”

“It’s just, um - this is - he said.” Keith took a deep breath. “He said - he said he wanted me to be his date.”

“Yes?” Allura said. “And?”

“And, well, I, uh - I don’t - I don’t really have - ” Allura tilted her head, and Keith took a deep breath before finishing, “I don’t date.”

“Oh for the love of - ” Lance groaned. “Of course. Of course Mullet’s never been on a date before. We should’ve known.”

“Is that all?” Allura asked. “Keith, I’m sure it won’t be much of a problem. Everyone gets nervous the first time they go on a date. We could always go through some etiquette with you, some conversation starters. We’ll no doubt have to brief you on a number of courting customs anyway, seeing as nobility is rather more particular in how they go about it, but I’m certain that - ”

“No, look, that’s not it,” Keith interrupted. “It’s - it’s not that I haven’t dated. I mean, I, um, I haven’t, but it isn’t - it’s just that, I don’t date.”

“I’m… not sure I follow,” Allura said.

With a grunt of frustration, Keith brought a hand up to card his fingers through his hair as he searched for the words to explain it in a way she’d understand. “I just - I don’t do that, I - I don’t feel the things that people are supposed to feel when - when they’re on dates, like, the romance and all, they - they don’t - ”

“Hang on,” Pidge interrupted, lifting a hand and peering at him with narrowed eyes through her glasses. “Keith, are you aro?”

Keith felt his voice halt in his throat, and he crossed his arms and took a step back, ducking his head a little as he closed in on himself and avoided looking at his teammates’ faces. It wasn’t that he thought they’d react badly to it, or judge him for it - at least, he sure hoped they wouldn’t. It was just that this was personal, and he much would’ve preferred to come out when he was actually ready to, not just… like this.

But, of course, now that it was out there, it was out there. Not like there was any point in denying it. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Um, aroace, to be specific, but, uh, yeah. Yeah.”

He dared a glance up beneath his lashes. Pidge was nodding slowly in understanding, and Shiro was more or less expressionless - he’d already known, after all. The others all just appeared to be confused.

“I’m sorry, arrow?” Allura said. “Pidge, what is that?”

“Aro. Short for aromantic,” Pidge answered. “Means he doesn’t feel romantic attraction.”

“Wait, for real?” Lance said, his brow wrinkling and his eyes scanning Keith up and down as if looking for some sort of clue on his clothes to verify it.

“Yes, for real,” Keith snapped. “Why the fuck would I lie about something like that?”

Lance lifted his hands innocently. “Shit, man, I wasn’t accusing you of lying. Just, you know, processing the new information. Guess that kinda clears up some of the rumors that were going around the Garrison…”

For a moment Keith was about to demand some follow-up about these rumors, but decided to let it go for now. He’d overheard plenty of gossip about himself as a student on every other subject - whether he cheated on the sims and how he did it, how he got into the Garrison, his juvie history, his relationship to Shiro, his family. A couple rumors about his sexuality were a mere drop in the bucket. It wasn’t important now.

What was important was the matter at hand: the dinner date with King Olren. “Look, the point is, I don’t do the whole ‘dating’ thing. It’s - it’s not my thing. I wouldn’t be able to pull it off.”

Allura crossed her arms, tapping her finger pensively against her elbow. “Well, what if we trained you on it?”

Keith frowned at her. “What?”

“On dating. I’m sure we’d be able to give you sufficient instruction to handle a single dinner date. If we trained you, do you think you’d be able to manage?”

Keith took a step back. “Allura, I told you, I don’t feel - ”

“I know, I understand. I’m not asking you to be attracted to him. I know you can’t control that. But I also know that this could be a very advantageous alliance for Voltron, and a date with you seems to be the deciding factor. Would it be at all possible for you to, er… fake it?”

“Fake it?” Keith repeated incredulously.

“Yeah, yeah, that could work,” Lance said, nodding. “I mean, that’s not exactly hard to pull off, right? I’ve faked my way through dates before. You know, I meet someone online, but when I show up to the restaurant for a date it turns out they’re a total weirdo, so I smile through the dinner and make small talk and just sorta, like, humor them. Let them have a nice evening then get the fuck outta there.”

“What, you can’t just be up front about not liking them?”

“It’s called manners, Mullet.”

“Look, I’m not going to - ”

“They do kind of have a point, Keith,” Shiro interrupted.

Keith turned to him, taken aback. If anyone knew how uncomfortable Keith was over the concept of dating, it would be Shiro. Keith had only even learned about aromanticism and asexuality because Shiro had explained them to him, back in their Galaxy Garrison days, and his surrogate brother had held his hand tightly through the process of coming out for the first time. So him saying that Allura and Lance ‘had a point’ about sending him on a date… it was unexpected, to say the very least. “Shiro?” he said. “You - you think I should…”

“Keith, I’m not saying you need to, uh, take it very far,” Shiro said slowly. “I know you’ve got your boundaries, and I respect them. It’s just, well, it isn’t as though Olren is asking for your hand in marriage or anything. All he’s requested is a dinner date. I realize that it wouldn’t be a comfortable experience, but one awkward evening in exchange for all the resources Yuipra can offer… It would be a shame to have to pass it up.”

“Exactly,” said Allura, giving Shiro a grateful nod. “There’s no need to make it a bigger deal than it is. One dinner date. That’s all.”

“I mean, Olren’s certainly not my type either,” Shiro said with a shrug. “But if it was me he’d asked after, well, I wouldn’t love it, but I’d take one for the team, you know?”

Something rolled in Keith’s stomach and he swallowed down a lump in his throat. That was true. Shiro would do this without hesitation. Hell, even if it had been a woman asking, which would definitely leave Shiro uncomfortable to all get out, he would take the fall. Because that’s what he does - he makes sacrifices for his team. That’s what a leader does. And Keith was the leader now.

One date, he repeated mentally. He could handle just one date, surely. For Voltron’s sake.

“All right,” he said, his voice coming out sounding quieter and dryer than he would have liked. “All right, I’ll, uh, I’ll do it. You can let him know.”

Allura let out a breath of relief and smiled at him. “Thank you, Keith. I’ll get a missive off to him at once, and we can start training.”

“You know what I still don’t understand?” Lance said as Allura turned away toward her podium.

“What?” asked Keith.

“This guy had a dinner with our whole team,” Lance said. “He was sitting at the same table as Shiro and Allura and, well, me… and he goes for Keith. I just don’t get it.”

“Lance,” Shiro said with a frown.

“Look, I’m just saying what we’re all thinking. It’s not like he didn’t have options. He actually chose to thirst after the mullet. Out of everyone there. This was a conscious decision on his part.”

“Everyone has their own tastes.”

“It’s like if he’d gone to an art museum and decided that his favorite exhibit was the bathroom door.”

“That’s enough, Lance,” Shiro scolded.

Lance shook his head. “I dunno, man. Just doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Keith could only shrug in reply. It didn’t make any sense to him either.

[techsciresearch]

Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services Market to Surpass USD37904.30 Million by 2030

Increasing sales of electric vehicle to drive the demand for the Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services market for the forecast period.

According to TechSci Research report, “Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services Market By Country, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2016- 2030”, the Europe EV powertrain testing services market stood at USD5605.88 million in 2020, and it is expected to grow at a double-digit CAGR of 22.02% to reach USD37904.30 million by 2030. Initiatives taken in the form of subsidies on the purchase of electric vehicles to promote its adoption and norms for reducing greenhouse emissions are driving the sales of electric vehicles in the region. Surging sales of electric vehicles are contributing to the increasing demand for the powertrain testing services market through 2030.

European Union laws set an emission target of 10g/km by mid-century, representing the Paris agreement goal of a maximum increase of two degrees Celsius of global earth temperature. In order to comply with the regulations, private and public transportation is witnessing increased automotive scrappage. Also, 26 out of 27 EU members have some form of incentives for EV manufacturers. For instance, countries like France and Germany have made electric cars production an important criterion for their industry stimulus programs in their efforts to promote EV adoption. All these developments have led to the rising demand for the EV powertrain testing services market in Europe.

Browse 70 market Figures and 1 Table spread through 154 Pages and an in-depth TOC on "Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services Market”.

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/europe-ev-powertrain-testing-services-market/8151.html

Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services market is segmented into vehicle type, propulsion, sourcing, country, and company. On the basis of vehicle type, the market can be segmented into light duty, medium duty, and heavy duty. There has been an increasing demand for light duty vehicles in the EU region, where the industrial sector is expanding gradually, and the need to transport raw materials and finished products efficiently and cost effectively is increasing. The running cost incurred on transporting raw materials and finished products in small pickup trucks or vans that run on battery power is lower than gasoline vehicles. The high number of electric light duty vehicles is contributing to the increased share of the EV powertrain testing services market.

Leading players operating in Europe EV powertrain testing services market include:

Applus+ IDIADA

Ricardo Plc

TÜV SÜD

AVL List GmbH

CTAG Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia

Intertek Group Plc

ATESTEO GmbH & Co. KG

HORIBA MIRA Ltd

Element Materials Technology

FEV Group GmbH

EV powertrain testing services market is fragmented, and manufacturers are focusing on research and development processes to fuel higher growth in the market. For instance, TÜV SÜD is the leading player in the Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services Market, accounting for market share of 9.85% in 2020 in terms of total electric vehicles tested. The company has a robust portfolio of testing services for EVs. The company recently invested over USD30 million to open the largest independent center for mobility and powertrains testing at Heimsheim in Germany. The company also has a strong testing center network ranging across various countries in Europe, which further allows it to enjoy a competitive edge over other companies.

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“Most of the leading global electric car manufacturing companies have their sales operations or headquarters in Germany. To meet the climate targets, the Germany government is offering incentives to purchase electric vehicles and plans to abolish tax on pure electric vehicles by 2030. Previously, the EVs market in Germany offered a limited range of electric cars. However, in recent years, new product offering and diversification of companies in EVs have increased sharply, attracting the attention of more domestic customers towards electric cars. Increasing sales of electric vehicles in the country, in turn is driving the electric vehicle powertrain testing services market and contributing to the dominant share of the country in the region.” said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

“Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services Market By Vehicle Type (Light Duty, Medium Duty, Heavy Duty), By Propulsion (BEV, HEV, PHEV & FCEV), By Sourcing (Outsourcing, In-House), By Country, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2016- 2030” has evaluated the future growth potential of Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services market and provided statistics & information on market size, shares, structure and future market growth. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Europe EV Powertrain Testing Services market.

Press Release : https://www.techsciresearch.com/news/6749-europe-ev-powertrain-testing-services-market.html

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[solarliving]

Building out renewables in India could cost $26.5b through 2030, report says

A new study from the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that deploying 307 GW of solar and 142 GW of wind capacity in India by 2030 would need around a $26.5 billion annual investment. That spend would be around 20% lower than what was invested across all of the country’s generation resources between 2015 and 2019. 

The renewable capacity deployment was forecast to use about 1.25% of land that is labeled as barren or waste. Because solar resources are good across large parts of India, the solar energy buildout—and thus the land use—potentially could be spread out.  

India has a target ofd 500 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-26) in Glasgow in November. Current nuclear and large hydropower capacity add up to around 50 GW.

Installing 450 GW of renewables by 2030 could help meet Modi’s target, the report said. India hit 100 GW of renewable energy capacity in August with another 80 GW in the pipeline. 

The nation added 2,835 MW of solar in the third quarter of 2021, up 14% compared to 2,488 MW installed in the second quarter. Year-over-year installations rose 547%, according to a new report by Mercom India Research.

In the first nine months of 2021, India added more than 7.4 GW of solar, a 335% increase compared to the 1.73 GW installed in the same period in 2020.

Increased raw materials costs, “severe volatility” in module availability and price, curtailment of power in several Indian states, and high freight charges all added to difficulties for project developers, the report said.

According to the Berkeley Lab researchers, India would need about 280 GW of new transmission capacity by 2030, a little over double the transmission expansion already planned through 2025. Most of the new transmission buildout is projected to be driven by a near doubling of electricity demand between 2020 and 2030. 

The researchers said that using domestically manufactured solar panels instead of imported panels may increase solar power purchase agreement (PPA) prices by about 10%–15% in the mid-term. Even so, solar power would still be a cost-effective way to meet growing demand instead of building new fossil fuel-based power plants, the report said. That’s because the price of electricity from solar plants has fallen below the variable cost of most existing coal units.  

To reach renewable energy capacity targets, India would need to build about 35–40 GW of solar and wind capacity every year this decade, the report said. India’s power sector added about 22 GW per year in the previous decade (including thermal and renewable). Policy and regulatory measures would be needed to increase the pace of deployment. 

An earlier Berkeley Lab report found that the least-cost resource mix to meet India’s load in 2030 would consist primarily of a combination of renewable energy and flexible resources as follows: 307 GW of solar, 142 GW wind, and 15 GW other renewables; 63 GW (252 GWh) of battery storage; 60 GW of load shifting to solar hours (including 50 GW agricultural and 10 GW industrial); and flexible operation of the existing natural gas fleet of 25 GW. A coal power plant capacity of 229 GW (23 GW net addition over 2020) also was found to be cost-effective. 

from Renewable Energy World https://ift.tt/3EKQuZU via Solar Energy Marketing Blog

[nuadox]

More companies pledge ‘net-zero’ emissions to fight climate change, but what does that really mean?

- By Amrou Awaysheh , Indiana University , The Conversation -

You’ll probably hear the term “net-zero emissions” a lot over the coming weeks as government leaders and CEOs, under pressure, talk about how they’ll reduce their countries’ or businesses’ impact on climate change. 

Amazon, for example, just announced that more than 200 companies have now joined its Climate Pledge, committing to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.

But what does net-zero emissions actually mean?

“Zero emissions” – without the “net” caveat – means emitting no greenhouse gases.

“Net-zero emissions” has more wiggle room. It’s like balancing a checkbook. The country or company cuts most of its emissions through efficiency and clean energy, then offsets the rest by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or eliminating emissions elsewhere.

For example, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air, so they’re often considered “negative emissions.” The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan can claim net-zero emissions because almost all of its electricity comes from hydropower, and its forests sequester about three times more carbon than its vehicles, factories and other human activities emit.

Companies have another way to claim net-zero emissions – they can take advantage of carbon reductions elsewhere by buying carbon credits. For example, a U.S. company might pay to protect forests in South America and then subtract those trees’ negative emissions from its own emissions to say that its operations are “net-zero.” Other carbon credits support sustainable development projects, such as installing wind or solar power in poorer countries.

But counting on carbon credits also draws criticism, because it allows those companies to keep generating greenhouse gases. Other concerns are that some projects would happen anyway, the emissions reductions might not be permanent or even verifiable, or they might get double-counted by more than one entity. Some projects, like tree planting, can take years to pay off in emissions reductions while the companies buying forest offsets continue emitting greenhouse gases.

Why does net-zero emissions matter?

Greenhouse gases trap heat near Earth’s surface. When their concentrations get too high, they fuel global warming.

In 2015, countries around the world agreed to limit global warming to well under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) compared with preindustrial times, with a goal of 1.5 C (2.7 F). To keep warming under 1.5 C with the least disruption, the United Nations says the world needs to be on a path to reach net-zero emissions by about 2050. To put those temperatures into perspective, global warming today is just over 1 C (1.8 F) above preindustrial levels, and rising seas and extreme weather are already a problem.

Several countries, including the United States, have pledged to meet the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. But when the U.N. analyzed each country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement in mid-September, it found they still fall short by so much that even if every pledge is met, temperatures will rise about 2.7 C (4.86 F) this century.

Keeping global warming to 1.5 C will require negative greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute

How a company gets to net-zero emissions

To see how a company might get to net-zero emissions, let’s imagine a hypothetical company, ChipCo, that makes, packages and distributes potato chips. ChipCo purchases electricity from a local utility to run machinery at its factory. It also has boilers to generate steam to heat the building and for some production processes. And it uses delivery trucks to transport its products to customers. Each step generates greenhouse gas emissions.

To achieve net-zero emissions, ChipCo’s first step is to ramp up energy efficiency. Improvements in insulation and equipment can reduce the amount of energy needed or wasted. A simple example is switching out incandescent light bulbs that use 60 watts of energy with LED bulbs that give off the same brightness, yet consume only 8 watts.

The second step is to switch from fossil fuels – the leading source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions – to renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, that doesn’t produce greenhouse gas emissions. Once the company’s electricity is renewable, using electric delivery vehicles further cuts emissions.

Homes and office buildings can also be built to net-zero, or carbon-neutral, standards. In that case, the focus is on making them extremely energy-efficient and relying on heating and electricity from clean energy sources.

ChipCo’s third step is finding negative emissions. It might be too expensive or not yet technologically possible for it to replace its steam boiler with a carbon-neutral product. Instead, ChipCo might purchase carbon credits that would remove the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere that would be generated by the boiler.

Companies are increasingly under pressure from governments, activists and their customers, as well as some powerful investors, to cut their emissions.

To tell if a company is taking its responsibilities seriously, look for its action plan and performance so far. A company that announces a net-zero target of 2030 can’t wait until 2029 to take action. There needs to be a consistent trajectory of improvements in energy efficiency and clean energy, not just promises and carbon offsets.

Amrou Awaysheh, Assistant Professor of Operations Management and Executive Director, Business Sustainability Lab, Indiana University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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