Offshore wind would not completely fill the energy gap

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Rachel Anderson, Assistant Director of Policy, latest column for the journal

I’m going to start this column by looking at the events of the past week.  It’s hard to avoid phrases like blow hard, hot air, pressurised, blades and nuclear option.  Now I know there are several things I could be talking about, but I can assure you none of what follows will relate to anyone’s current tax affairs, party investigations or the sound of knives sharpening in Westminster.

What I am talking about is the long-awaited Energy Security Strategy announced by the Prime Minister.  We’ve been waiting for decisions from Government for a long time and it feels as though “events” elsewhere have forced action.  Leaving aside the debates about where the fuel for our energy generation comes from, we have a looming energy gap in 2024 as old nuclear stations decommission and fossils phase out.  Whilst we’ve made real progress on renewables, there is still a gap & a cold, calm, cloudy day pushes us very close to demand outstripping supply.

So, what does the document say and how might it affect the North East? The main focus is on the Nuclear option and 8 new power stations built on existing sites. Building new reactors adjacent to existing means, the skills, a ready and experienced workforce and much of the tertiary equipment is already there. A small nuclear station like Hartlepool contributes approximately £50 million a year to the local economy.

The strategy skirts around onshore wind. It’s obvious that offshore wind would not completely fill the energy gap – it is very important and can be done at scale (with huge benefits to Tees and Tyne) but it is just not enough. Onshore wind is potentially the most egalitarian, everyone has it so has the potential to see a turbine from their kitchen window (I can see one from mine). That doesn’t go down well with very planning sensitive backbenchers.

There is an opportunity for a policy reset if onshore does return but it will be a heck of a political fight 2 years out from an election. There is also a boost here for the manufacturers and we have more capacity in the UK than previously so there is a dividend there.

Hydrogen has real potential both in terms of transport and retrofitting domestic and commercial as well as industrial uses. We have an expanding hydrogen manufacturing capability on Teesside with the potential to significantly scale up.

What is lacking is any indication of solid funding for this energy list, it’s a solid investment and it is not a quick fix.

Maybe buy a few more candles just in case.

Opportunities in the renewables sector

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Following on from COP26 this webinar will be looking at the North East’s renewables sector and opportunities for businesses both in the region and abroad.

Len Taylor, Northern Powerhouse Sector Specialist: in Offshore Wind and Renewables Energy at the Department for International Trade will gave an update on the sector in the North East and opportunities for businesses in meeting the sector needs within the region. Len then discussed exporting and global opportunities, and the emerging future direction.

Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager at Equinor gave an update on their supply chain in the North East and opportunities available to local businesses

Seeking smart solutions for your business? Try a smart meter

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Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters. Businesses across Great Britain are already reaping the rewards by gaining better control of their energy bills. Are you ready to join them?

A smart meter can be an invaluable asset for firms in Legal services, Accounting and bookkeeping, Marketing consultancy, Architecture, IT services, and more.

Your company is innovative, trusted, responsible, and engaged so you need business solutions which are the same. The key to greater productivity is to work smarter, not harder. Estimated bills can be inaccurate and inefficient which means that you might be overpaying for the services you are using.

With a smart meter, you can continue to do what you do best, while your smart meter provides accurate bills without needing to provide manual meter readings. This saves precious time and energy to focus on your business priorities.

Firms with 10 employees or less could be eligible and installations can be arranged at a convenient time to ensure minimal interruption to your business and your clients. 

Click here to find out more about what a smart meter can do for your business – https://bit.ly/3CoYPkm

Contact your energy supplier or broker today and see if you are eligible.  

A day in the life of a carbon free future

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In line with the Government’s ongoing commitment to the environment and pledge at the recent G7 summit to ‘step up’ action on climate change, Siemens Energy looks at the work being done today to shape a more sustainable tomorrow.

Our world is changing.

It must if we are to meet the ambitious targets set by the Government to be carbon neutral by 2050. Recent headlines across the globe and discussions at the G7 summit echo the very urgent need to be decisive this decade to tackle climate change and carbon emissions. Something that can only be readily achieved through a collective global effort and ongoing commitment to drive through change.


At Siemens Energy, we welcome these ambitious targets and look forward to playing our part in the journey to net zero with pioneering work underway today to pave a more sustainable tomorrow.

Net zero refers to cutting greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and balancing any further releases by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

It will also bring wider societal benefits, for instance to human health through improved air quality and a better protected natural environment.


And if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s the importance of our local community, the value of green, open spaces and the air we breathe. Ultimately, the changes we deliver today will help sustain those areas for generations to come.

But when it comes to energy transition and the environment, what are those changes and what role will Siemens Energy play? And more specifically, how will they enhance and improve our everyday lives, both today and tomorrow?


Hydrogen power


More than 50 years ago, hydrogen fuel cells helped put Neil Armstrong on the moon, but mainstream usage of the technology has remained elusive since.

Fast forward to today, and the recent announcement of funding in the North East for a number of decarbonisation hubs to accelerate carbon capture and hydrogen infrastructure will accelerate this progress further still.

After all, hydrogen is the sustainable green fuel of the future, aiming to replace fossil fuels and forming a key role in the energy transition and the goal to net zero.

In fact, green hydrogen – produced through renewable energy – is likely to play a critical role in decarbonisation strategies in several industries and could also be used to fuel large turbines in the power stations of the future.

An example of this in action is highlighted through our work with Siemens Gamesa to develop electrolyser technology for offshore wind turbines as a way to store the energy generated from wind as hydrogen.

Here in the North East, we’re building hydrogen power units with our partner GeoPura as a cleaner alternative to using a diesel generator. These could be used at a festival, or on a construction site – anywhere where you need power, but don’t have a grid connection.

Steve Scrimshaw, Siemens Energy vice president, says: “The ambitious climate change commitments recently issued by the Government gives further clarity on how we need to adapt to meet the net zero challenge.

“Having a clean, secure and stable electricity system will drive decarbonisation in many other sectors and it is right to use a mix of technologies to achieve this.

“As we move away from fossil fuels, innovation and investment in new technology, such as hydrogen and carbon capture, will be vital to securing jobs and economic growth through the creation of new roles, as well as re-skilling the current workforce.”

Energy transition and the future

Twenty years ago, electric cars, virtual meetings, Alexa and iPads all seemed like something out of a movie!

But here we are in 2021, and they’re a key part of our lives. Fast forward to 2030 and who knows how the energy transition and role of innovation may impact and change our day-to-day lives further still.

We often take for granted the day-to-day things, such as filling our car up with petrol and driving away.

But if we are going to achieve a net zero future, how might life need to adapt and what might the future look like? How will it affect the way we work, travel and even heat our homes?

Green transportation


It has been well documented that the Government is phasing out petrol and diesel-powered cars by 2030.

This will mean a move to electric vehicles, which have been growing in popularity for the last decade and are now at a price point to cater for the mass market.

Charging hubs are popping up all over the place and new builds, whether commercial or domestic, have to incorporate these into build specifications.


This electricity will come from renewables or have power that uses carbon capture technology, so that the carbon emitted can be stored deep underground.

This inevitably will have an impact on the infrastructure in all walks of life. At Siemens Energy, we’re installing EV chargers across our sites and in Newcastle, we’ll power them using the hydrogen power units we’re building. Small steps making a big difference!

Trains


The sounds and smells of your local commuter rail line will be changing over the next decade too. While the majority of mainline train networks are predominantly electrified, many of our local lines, including several that leave from Newcastle Central, still use diesel-powered trains.


Siemens Energy and Siemens Mobility are working together to develop holistic solutions for a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure that will be used to power Siemens Mobility’s hydrogen trains. The goal being to enable clean and emission free mass transit and regional transport.

Trucks and buses


Trucks and buses are some of the most persistent offenders for carbon emissions, flooding our roads with toxic gases. The recent tragic case of the London schoolgirl whose death was linked to air pollution shows there is no time to waste in making the change.

There are many bus companies investing in hydrogen bus fleets up and down the country. The challenge will be creating enough clean hydrogen to power them.

Our homes


It’s estimated our homes are responsible for around one third of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. The UK aims to reduce direct CO2 emissions from homes by 24 per cent by 2030.

There are several ways this goal will be achieved, such as home insulation, the installation of heat pumps and the use of renewable energy, including solar panels.

It’s likely that gas boilers and ovens will be phased out too and replaced with heat pumps, or hydrogen alternatives. Cue the hydrogen hob!

And it’s with these small transitional steps that big change can really happen. Without doubt our lives will slowly, but surely, propel into the next decade towards a more sustainable tomorrow.

Self-driving cars could be a distinct possibility come 2030, but it remains to be seen whether the increase of hydrogen will mean we’ll be able to transport ourselves to Mars.

That said, with even just a sprinkling of Mr Armstrong’s stardust and ambition, the impossible really is possible.

At Siemens Energy, we are proud to be playing our part, but it’s up to each and every one of us to be the change we want to see in either this world…or indeed the next.

Sustainability and business

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Chamber document showcases business case studies around sustainability and a new series of events around a green recovery are released for members.

The Chamber have released this document highlighting positive case studies of businesses of different sizes and sectors across the North East who are involved in innovative work around sustainability.

The North East is already a leader in sustainability with many key assets around renewable energy and innovation in green technology. Investment to build on the North East’s green infrastructure as we come out of the coronavirus crisis will be essential in reaching our net zero targets as well as creating new jobs and allowing the North East to contribute to the UK’s economic recovery.

We are also launching a series of events for members discussing the role of businesses in a green recovery.

  • Our first event is on the 12th of October . This webinar will cover support for businesses to help them to become more sustainable and opportunities available to businesses in the region. Register here.
  • Our second event is on the 20th of October. This webinar will focus on opportunities in energy sector for the North East, Tees Valley Combined Authority and the North East LEP will be speaking. Register here.
  • Our final event is on the 2nd of November – with Professor Hayley Fowler from Newcastle University and Sarah Longlands from IPPR North discussing what is needed to reach our 2050 net zero targets and what a transition to a greener economy should look like. Register for this event here.

As we look ahead to creating a green recovery the Chamber are supporting the North East England Climate Change Coalition in their work in the region bringing different sectors in the region together to tackle climate emergency- more information here https://www.neecco.org.uk/