Energy
Energy storage is one of the sustainable energy challenges as it rapidly dissipates as heat if not used promptly. Current storage solution, lithium-ion batteries, is not optimal, as it is expensive and ecologically degrading. During the last few years, multiple research is being made in metal-air (iron-air, zinc-air, aluminum-air) batteries as a next-generation solution for grid energy storage. Read more on the limits, potential and recent breakthroughs at Popsci, Online 2022.
Last year Europe experienced skyrocketing energy prices and a threat of power shortages. The need to transition to low-carbon energy systems further adds the pressure to the European energy infrastructure. Experts are discussing the opportunities and challenges of energy infrastructure resilience in different zones of Europe in the foreseeable future. Read more at Free Network, Online 2023
Chemical, steel and long-distance transport industries (which modern society depends heavily upon) are producing a great deal of CO2 emissions. Electrification alone cannot decarbonise these industries, so other low-carbon solutions are critical for the green transition in these sectors. Here is where Power-to-X comes into play. Steel production needs heat. Green hydrogen can replace coal and natural gas to generate heat for the production of ‘green steel’. Read more at Worley, Online 2023.
Australia is looking into Power-to-X and Green Hydrogen as a potential replacement for the country’s energy export. Furthermore, green hydrogen is being considered for domestic production of green steel, alumina and critical minerals. Being relatively new in the field of the green transition, Australia is eager to learn about green solutions from Denmark. Read more about the opportunity at Danskindustri, Online 2023.
The current economic, geopolitical and financial factors are triggering a readjustment in the energy market. Three pillars of a balanced energy equation (energy security, supply diversification and low-carbon transition) are facing a “trilemma” of concerns. Experts explore five trends that can help shape the path forward for oil and gas companies. Read more at Deloitte Online, 2023.
Net-zero transition is a hot topic and it makes sense to take a look at the “greenest” country – Sweden (Denmark being in 6th place). In Sweden 56% of the energy comes from renewable sources. Moreover within a few decades, the country has revolutionised waste management, drastically increasing its recycling rate and investing in technologies to turn its waste into energy. How do they do it? Read more at Earth.Org, Online 2022.
During the resent years energy and natural resources companies have experienced a great deal of disruptions: pandemic, blockage of the Suez Canal, and now the war in Ukraine. Until now there have been two reactions. Some believed that the challenge is temporal. Some hoped they were structurally protected from the disruption. But the reality shows that the current energy crisis is not short-lived and no company is immune. Just the shipping costs have doubled since March 2021. How can companies best protect their margins without upsetting customers? A range of trial-and-error actions during the last year have outlined suggestions to a new pricing approach. Read more at Bain & Company, Online 2022.
Most of 2 billion tons of solid municipal waste, produced annually on the global scale, is taking up space in landfills. World Bank predicts the worsening of the problem by 70 % by 2050. Luckily there are technologies turning this liability into an energy asset. Currently Asia-Pacific is dominating the market of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies. European region is also on the rise. Turkish largest egg producer converts chicken manure into electricity and hot water. Italian steel plant captures residual heat from the manufacturing processes and provides power and heat to the local city. Interesting what other innovative projects can come out of the alternative waste management? Read more at Forbes, Online 2019.
Energy production methods do not longer rely on fossil fuels. Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, even nuclear are already in use and they generate electricity. Electricity has been discovered in faraway 1700s, but it is yet again our future. We all have heard about electricity storage challenges. Experts suggest that Power-to-X could provide the sector an extra agility. Check out the article to see what that “X” could be and what role the “Power-to-X” could play in the future of the electric utility companies. Read more at Forbes, Online 2018.
