FINNING UK & Ireland is calling for ‘wide-scale’ integration of renewable energy sources to meet targets laid out at the recent COP28 climate conference.
Over 100 countries pledged to expand global renewable energy capacity from 3,400 gigawatts (GW) in 2022 up to 11,000 GW by 2030.
The UK Government recently committed to investing £960 million into the country’s power network. However, Finning said the scaling up of renewable energy sources must be integrated effectively to ensure the industry can maximise energy efficiency.
Kelly Cole, general manager for electric power at Finning UK & Ireland, said, “Sustainability is now a primary consideration in the selection and specification of electric power systems and is significantly influencing decision-making processes. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower, must be integrated effectively to drive the availability of clean fuels, to meet net-zero demands and the expectations of COP28.
“Power systems are increasingly designed to incorporate these clean and sustainable sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Power systems that also prioritise low-emission technologies play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of energy generation.
“This includes the adoption of cleaner-burning fuels, advanced combustion, and energy-efficient technologies – such as combined heat and power units – as well as the implementation of advanced emission monitoring and control systems. Microgrid technology is another route for efficient energy distribution and the integration of distributed energy sources.”
The UK Government’s investment is tipped to speed up connections and increase grid capacity to boost energy security.
Kelly Cole added, “This will help address the lack of availability of electro fuels – otherwise known as e-fuels – which are synthetic fuels produced through the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen – often via renewable energy sources. The COP28 summit’s demand for more clean fuels highlights a trending industry challenge around the availability of e-fuels, such as e-diesel, which has the potential to address environmental and energy security concerns.
“E-diesel, however, does have its own associated challenges, including energy efficiency as its production involves multiple energy conversion steps, including the production of hydrogen and the synthesis of hydrocarbons. E-diesel production is also an expensive process due to the costs associated with renewable energy sources.
“As technology advances and economies of scale are achieved, costs may decrease, but initially, it can be a barrier to widespread adoption. Despite the challenges, ongoing research and development in the field of synthetic fuels aims to overcome these obstacles and improve the viability and sustainability of alternative fuels.”
Finning supports customers with microgrid solutions that enable companies to capture and store renewable energy, which can be utilised when there are low periods of energy produced through renewable energy.
