NEWS & INSIGHTS | Opinion
Scotland’s 882MW Offshore Wind Farm Goes Live
Luca Corradi
Luca works to bring “the outside in”, connecting innovators and academics across sectors and disciplines, to explore the latest technologies that could be adopted to address oil and gas industry challenges. Leading The Net Zero Technology Centre’s horizon scanning activity, he identifies emerging technology trends, cutting through the hype to identify potential areas of impact and application. With a background in business and organisational change leadership, Luca has developed a strong network and is passionate about harnessing this to deliver the next generation of the net zero energy industry.
Outside work Luca loves reading, music and travel. He is married with two young daughters and a dog. He enjoys the rare motorbike ride in Scotland and even rarer ski trip on the Alps.
This week’s net zero news: Climate Paradox; UK CCS Merchant Model; Moray West Offshore Wind Farm
Chief Technology Officer at NZTC, Luca Corradi, and his team closely monitor the global net zero landscape. They follow the trends, policies, investments, and technological innovations that, together, bring the world closer to its shared climate goals. Learn more about our horizon scanning service. This week, Luca and his team review a new paper on climate action, a self-sustaining UK CO2 market, and a Scottish wind farm powering half of Scotland’s households.
Latest paper by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change highlights the importance of climate action but urges for updated policies that are pragmatic
While awareness of the climate crisis has never been higher, the momentum is decreasing. Developed countries are reluctant to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when their impact will be minimal, whilst developing countries believe they have a right to develop in the most effective way possible. Until emerging technologies can compete in cost with fossil fuels, the world will continue to choose the cheapest option.
Activists have shifted the political landscape of climate change, yet their voice is often ideological and alarmist. Any strategy based on phasing out fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail. The report says present policy solutions are inadequate and are distorting the debate into a quest for a climate platform that is unrealistic. Political strategy needs to shift towards being pragmatic, solutions-driven and outcome-oriented.
Innovation and cooperation between countries are needed to limit climate change. Carbon capture technologies should be deployed at scale and speed, and we need to back nature-based solutions for capture carbon. Technology innovations should be harnessed to decarbonise smarter and faster, including AI and new generation nuclear. Policies should prioritise adaption and ensure finances flow to where they can make the most difference. New high-impact agreements co-designed by China and India are needed due to their large role in global emissions and driving technological solutions.
Figure: There is a continued reliance on fossil fuels to meet energy demand
Source: ‘The Climate Paradox: Why We Need to Reset Action on Climate Change’ by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
ARUP identifies nine steps to achieve a self-sustaining and competitive UK CO2 market without the need for taxpayer funding
The UK has the largest offshore CO2 storage capacity in Europe and the potential to become a leading provider of CO2 storage services in the region. ARUP identifies an urgent requirement for the ETS carbon price to be aligned to the EU such that EU emitters can easily store their CO2 in the UK, agreements under the London Protocol to enable movement of CO2 across boundaries, and co-ordinated action on CO2 standards and infrastructure.
A range of capture technologies must be supported to mature and scale. The UK should support scaling the least environmentally damaging and the most readily scalable of all capture technologies. The UK should look to receive landing of the first CO2 trunkline from mainland Europe and there should be the development of a UK-wide network for CO2 transport.
Projects in Track-1 and Track-2 have different challenges. Track 1 projects have limited flexibility and considerable cost, whilst Track 2 projects lack clarity, information and commitment from the government. The government needs to support these projects to the maximum possible extent. Agreements need to be concluded, and the support given needs to be delivered transparently.
Figure: UK Government CCS Roll Out Range of Ambitions.
Source: OEUK Carbon Capture & Storage in the UK: Accelerating Towards the Merchant Model
Nine steps to unleash a commercially self-sustaining CCS industry in the UK
A Scottish wind farm capable of generating enough power for half of Scotland’s households has been switched on
Ocean Winds’ Moray West offshore wind farm has been switched on. It is one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms with a capacity of 882MW – enough to power 1.3 million homes equivalent to half of Scotland’s households. The project is about 13 miles from the coast and involves 60 Siemens Gamesa turbines 257m high. According to Ocean Winds these are the tallest turbines to be installed in UK waters. The project will bring the UK government a step closer to achieving its target of 43-50GW of offshore wind by 2030.
Moray West is the second offshore wind farm to be developed and delivered by Ocean Winds in the Moray firth with the other being the 950MW Moray East project. Their next project will be their 2GW Caledonia offshore wind farm which is currently in planning. Also in the area is the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm which became fully operational in June 2019.
Moray West Offshore Wind Farm
Image source: www.moraywest.com
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