The COMET Centers, which are coordinated by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), have approved the Austrian Blockchain Center (ABC) in Vienna, according to a Nov. 29 press release. ABC involves 21 scientific institutions, 54 companies, 17 associated participants, and 16 international institutions and companies. According to the release, the research center will be multidisciplinary and focus on Internet of Things (IoT), finance, energy, logistics, and applications in public administration. Alfred Taudes, academic director and coordinator of the center, and head of the Research Institute for Cryptoeconomics at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, said that a multidisciplinary approach …

Post trade management platform VAKT has launched its blockchain-based processing tool to an initial group of crude oil industry clients, a press release reports Nov. 29. VAKT, which uses JPMorgan’s Quorum blockchain technology to run, has rolled out to BFOET crude participants. The press release reports that energy giants BP, Equinor, Shell, Gunvor and Mercuria are participating as the platform’s first users. The companies will use the blockchain tool in tandem with their existing systems, VAKT planning a larger rollout in January next year. In future, the company aims to expand from oil to “all physically traded energy commodities.” “We’ve …

This article has corrected misinformation about the claim filing procedure for investors in Envion in the case of liquidation. Our editorial team would like to apologize for the error. The cantonal court of Zug, Switzerland has shut down cryptocurrency mining firm Envion AG for an alleged unauthorized Initial Coin Offering (ICO), German news outlet Handelsblatt Global reported Nov. 28. Envion was established in Switzerland by Michael Luckow and Matthias Woestmann as an off-grid mining company that claims to use decentralized, clean energy like hydroelectric and solar to power its mobile mining units. Envion reportedly raised around $100 million through an …

Norway has acted to end electricity subsidies for Bitcoin (BTC) mining facilities, Norway’s largest printed newspaper Aftenposten reported Nov. 21. Until now, mining farms — in keeping with other power-intensive industries — paid a low rate of 0.48 øre ($0.05) per kilowatt. This will now rise to 16.58 øre per kilowatt as of January 2019, following an amended to the state budget agreement. One vocal parliamentary representative for the Socialist Left Party (SV) Lars Haltbrekken is quoted as strongly advocating the action, arguing: "Norway can not continue to provide huge tax incentives for the most dirty form of cryptocurrency output …

Two energy divisions of German tech giant Siemens have joined a blockchain-driven energy platform to promote the use of decentralized technologies in the sector, according to a press release published Wednesday, Nov. 21. According to Siemens, its Energy Management and Power Generation Services departments are partnering with open-source, scalable blockchain platform Energy Web Foundation (EWF), founded in 2017 to elaborate regulatory, operational, and market solutions for the energy sector. Siemens officials believe that blockchain technology will help increase interoperability in the area, linking consumers with energy producers and network operators, the press release writes. Moreover, the technology could help increase …

Korea’s largest power provider KEPCO says it will use blockchain and other innovative energy solutions to develop its next-generation micro grid (MG), according to an official press release Nov. 19. KEPCO is a $15.9 billion market cap corporation in which the South Korean government and state-controlled bank hold a majority stake; it has a “virtual monopoly” over power generation and distribution in the country, according to Asia-focused publication Nikkei. KEPCO’s new “Open MG” will reportedly harness blockchain and other technologies to improve energy infrastructure, particularly for the local hydrogen economy. To this end, it will focus on decentralization, decarbonization and …

Major oil companies BP, Shell, and Equinor have united with large banks and trading houses to launch a blockchain-driven platform Vakt for energy commodity trading. The partnership was reported by independent news agency covering energy and commodities markets S&P Global Platts Monday, Nov. 12. Apart from the three oil companies mentioned above, Vakt includes banks ABN Amro, ING, and Societe Generale, along with trading houses Gunvor, Koch Supply & Trading, and Mercuria. The blockchain solution, first announced in November 2017, will enable major industry players to move from “cumbersome” paperwork to smart contracts, thereby helping to reduce time spent on …

Canadian blockchain and cryptocurrency company DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. has energized its new crypto mining facility, according to an announcement published Nov. 8. DMG states that the facility will start at 60 megawatts, and can expand its capacity up to 85 megawatts. DMG Blockchain Solutions initially revealed its plans to launch the station in July, stating that their crypto mining operation will be implemented on an industrial scale with direct support from the local government and electricity providers. The station will purportedly increase DMG’s hosting capability by more than 20 times. Per the recent statement, the 27,000 square foot crypto …

A recent study by scientific journal Nature Sustainability published Nov. 5, reveals that crypto mining consumes more energy than mineral mining to produce the same market value. Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education conducted a study to evaluate how much energy is consumed by mining cryptocurrencies in comparison to aluminium, copper, gold, platinum and rare earth oxides. The scientists reviewed the period from Jan.1, 2016, to June 30, 2018, and found that the mining of Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Monero (XMR) consumed an average of 17, 7, 7 and …

A new report from climate change scientists has raised the alarm over Bitcoin (BTC)’s carbon footprint and its potential future impact on global warming, published on Nature.com Oct. 29. The report extrapolates existing data for Bitcoin’s electricity consumption together with various projections for the cryptocurrency’s adoption in coming years. According to the report, in 2017, out of a rough total of 314.2 billion cashless transactions, Bitcoin’s share is estimated to have been around 0.033 percent. While acknowledging that “accelerated growth” is common at the early adoption stage of new technologies, the report nonetheless claims that even if Bitcoin follows a …

SP Group, a major corporation providing electricity and gas transmission in Singapore, has launched a blockchain-powered renewable energy certificate (REC) marketplace, the company reveals in a press release Monday, Oct. 29. The platform was unveiled at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum held in Singapore this week. The press release notes that SP Group plans to use blockchain to help the company increase transparency and efficiency. Samuel Tan, chief digital officer of the corporation, further explained: “Through blockchain technology, we enable companies to trade in renewable energy certificates conveniently, seamlessly and securely, helping them achieve greener business operations and meet their …

Many startups, major conglomerates, supply chain operators, and distributors have attempted to integrate blockchain technology over the past two years, to increase transparency and reduce the power of central entities in data processing. With billions of dollars being invested annually by major corporations in blockchain development, the emerging technology has become the focal point of the long-term vision of many companies internationally. The exponential increase in demand and interest in blockchain technology has enabled multi-billion dollar markets for the blockchain in major sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, retail, supply chain, IoT, and payments. Blockchain in manufacturing to be $566 million by …