INDUSTRY COMMENT TACKLING FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS: WHAT BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW


Major energy users still have work to do when it comes to addressing their future energy needs. In this article, Ulf Nahrath, vice president


Energy Transition & Infrastructure at Shell UK, looks at the short, medium and longer-term options and examines the factors that will both influence their strategies and unlock their plans. Recent research from Shell Energy shows that


ambition is beginning to translate into action, as major energy users accelerate their efforts to drive down costs and emissions. The same research study suggests that many businesses have already set emissions reduction targets for 2030, with the immediate focus on achieving quick wins. Typically, this has seen the emphasis on maximising efficiencies, purchasing renewable energy (including biomethane) and electrifying their vehicle fleet.


THE OUTLOOK Over the next five years, businesses will need to start looking at measures beyond efficiency. These include electrification of sites with increasing use of heat pumps, power purchase agreements (PPAs), increased use of biofuels and renewable natural gas contracts. Over the next 20 years, we will see greater deployment of carbon capture and storage, where filter technologies can reduce flue


CO2 emissions by as much as 99%. Most scenarios set out by the National Grid


give hydrogen an important role in the future decarbonised energy system. Decisions taken on pipeline and production infrastructure development in the next five years will determine its availability for industry. Costs will need to go down in order to achieve


mass deployment. And they are likely to, as a result of innovation, scale and/or subsidies. With


increased support for wind power, the Government is aiming to attract continued investment in the UK and further cement its position as leader in clean energy.


THE ROLE OF HYDROGEN IN DECARBONISING INDUSTRIAL HEAT In terms of hydrogen, the government is nurturing innovation via the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and revenue support from the Hydrogen Production Business Model. In its Hydrogen Production Delivery Roadmap


published in December, the government set the objective of achieving 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. In addition, it aims to have 1GW of electrolytic hydrogen (the most common way of producing green hydrogen) and up to 1GW of carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) enabled hydrogen in construction or operation by 2025. The government is developing certification for hydrogen use, while big turbine manufacturers, such as GE, are already starting to utilise hydrogen to decarbonise power generation in Europe.


to create up to 50,000 jobs and is looking to store 20-30 megatonnes per annum (Mtpa)


of CO2 by 2030 – the equivalent of taking six million cars off the road. It has already identified partners to establish


clusters, provisionally targeting deployment from 2028-2029. This brings the total number of carbon capture clusters to four – HyNet in North-West England, East Coast Cluster in Teesside and the Humber, Acorn in Scotland and Viking in the Humber. Shell is a partner in both the Scottish Acorn Cluster and in the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC).


LOOKING AHEAD Both CCS and hydrogen will provide opportunities for major energy users in the longer term. Several sectors, including power generators and waste to energy, already have active CCS projects. Shell Cansolv Carbon Capture Technology plays a key role in many capture projects in the UK and globally as it allows the capture of up to 99% of


CO2 from flue gas with cutting-edge performance, low energy consumption and low volatility.


CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE (CCS) In December, the government set out plans for a new competitive UK carbon capture, usage and storage market. Called CCUS Vision, it aims


INFORMED PLANNING With so many options in development, businesses will need to compare alternatives over a longer timeline, taking account of the economics, policies and mandates, local infrastructure characteristics, risks and different capital profiles to see which decarbonisation paths are most suitable for them. Across the world, Shell is helping to deliver the energy customers need. Alongside oil and gas, Shell is investing in blue and green hydrogen, wind, solar and carbon capture and storage technologies, as well as biofuels, biogas and EV charging networks. This experience and knowledge enables us to provide valuable insights to customers as they plan the next steps on their decarbonisation journey in a dynamic energy landscape.


www.uk.shellenergy.com


AZTEC SOLAR DESIGNS AND INSTALLS HUGE PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM FOR NEW LOGISTICS HUB IN THE WEST MIDLANDS


Aztec Solar has designed and installed a huge photovoltaic system of over 3000 PV modules and ten inverters for a new £230m logistics hub located in the West Midlands. This, the company explains, will save almost 550 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is the same as planting almost 21,500 trees. The logistics hub is due to open in the summer. The company designed the system to meet the hub’s kWh peak of 1260 kWp within the available


roof space. The power will generate electricity for the operation’s internal and office spaces. Such will be the demand for electricity from the new unit that it will need its own substation,


and the company wants to provide most of this from renewable self-generation. With a roof space of 36,000m2


on the larger of the two buildings, Aztec Solar designed the


PV system to provide maximum output while avoiding skylights; and providing safe passage for future operations and maintenance and in case of an emergency. Aztec Solar specified ten Solis three phase inverters, which provide high precision intelligent


string monitoring to reduce future fault location time. For safety the system is integrated into the main fire alarm systems with a manual stop button for firefighter safety in case of an emergency.


www.aztecsolarenergy.co.uk www.essmag.co.uk ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2024 5


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