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RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES


THE ENERGY TRANSITION: WHY SAFETY MATTERS


Megan Hine, energy transition safety lead, Draeger Safety UK, examines five key safety areas that need to be addressed as the energy transition accelerates


W


hen the Government announced its ambitious energy transition programme to deliver a


decarbonised electricity system by 2030, this brought the energy transition into renewed focus, with plans to accelerate investment in the industry. However, the practical reality behind the


headlines is that to meet ambitious timeframes, safety must be prioritised. Without comprehensive safety procedures in place, there is a very real risk of setbacks, particularly in the area of investment, which may impact the ability to meet the Government’s 2030 goal. So, we’ve identified five key safety areas to be addressed as the energy transition accelerates:


1. Challenge perceptions – Unlike the oil and gas sector, many people view green energy as ‘clean, green and safe’, while in reality the safety risks involved in energy transition industries are not vastly dissimilar to those faced in the oil and gas sector. Understanding and accepting the safety realities


is a vital priority for those operating in the clean energy sector, and every opportunity should be taken to encourage the transfer of safety knowledge from other, related industries such as oil and gas. It’s vital that the move away from a carbon-based


economy doesn’t come at the expense of safety. To do so risks setbacks which have the potential to harm the overall end goal of protecting the planet for future generations.


2. Put safety first – The safety industry has a key role to play in communicating the need for rigorous safety standards across renewable energy industries, in line with the well-established safety standards in the oil and gas industry. Indeed, research has found that injury rates in


the offshore wind sector are up to four times higher than in the offshore oil and gas industry, a trend which it is anticipated will increase because of the growth and implementation of new technologies creating additional challenges. However, the success of renewable energy


will depend on confidence and trust in these newer industries. Having comprehensive safety measures in place is a vital component to building and maintaining public trust in the new energy industry, and to ensure that it secures the required level of investment.


3. Boost research & development (R&D) collaboration – With a growing emphasis on the need for innovation to help reduce the global reliance on fossil-fuels, many of the current advances being seen in the energy transition are new to market and, in some cases, not yet widely tested. Partnerships with academia, R&D and industry


experts as well as those with working experience of new safety risks, are vital for the innovation to move forward in a safe and optimum way. The very nature of R&D is to encourage blue-sky


thinking, often through highly interdisciplinary and disruptive solutions – something that is not necessarily as easy to do, or indeed possible to do, in an industry setting.


4. Embrace the potential of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) – Technology and AI offer significant potential for safety in the transition. While advances in technology involved in remote satellite observation and remote monitoring of safety systems offer further potential. At a more fundamental level, better and more connected technology as well as improved user interfaces offer scope to make safety easier. Easier for managers or those with overall safety responsibility to monitor colleagues and more quickly identify potential issues; and easier for colleagues to be alerted to hazards in the vicinity in which they are working.


Megan Hine


5. Safety must keep pace and respond to new intelligence – As mentioned earlier we need to know and understand the safety risks involved, but currently there is a very limited track record. With new technology and techniques being constantly developed, there is an element of the unknown when it comes to safety. This means that the safety sector must be


nimble and ready to keep pace in order to address constantly evolving safety requirements and to put in place comprehensive safety training for employees in areas such as EV batteries and storage of carbon dioxide. The bottom line is that if the energy transition does not get safety right now, incidents such as the recent spate of highly publicised battery related fires are likely to lead to difficulty getting planning permission, insurance, investment and public backing. Safety does not need to hinder progress nor speed of deployment. Instead, getting safety right will ultimately speed things up both now and in the long term.


Draeger Safety UK https://www.draeger.com/en_uk/Safety/Clean- Energy-Solutions


www.essmag.co.uk ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2024 17


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