Driving new energy technologies
Scotland continues to lead the technological drive to find energy solutions for the 21st Century as demonstrated by two recent events covering the full width of the energy spectrum.
The Industry’s Technology Facilitator (ITF) held an event in Aberdeen last month which explored collaborative cross-sector opportunities for the oil and gas industry. It is looking to utilise technologies developed for other sectors to help meet forthcoming challenges. Innovative companies interested in technology transfer to the sector were invited to share their expertise.
According to ITF technology manager David Liddle the sector needs to “think outside the box” to develop next generation technology which will meet future energy demands.
The strain on energy supplies, coupled with the fact that many fields are nearing the end of their life as the era of peak oil looms, means companies may have to seek reserves in places that, until now, they have avoided due to technological difficulties.
“Simple re-application of traditional incremental changes will not unlock the future requirements,” Liddle added. “The industry needs to take a focused approach to technology cross-fertilisation from other industry sectors to deliver game-changing technologies.”
Representatives from the defence, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries appeared at the event. The ITF, which is a champion for technology innovation in the oil and gas industry, will use output from the day to develop and issue a ‘Global Call for Proposals’ – with up to 100 per cent funding available to successful applicants.
The ITF includes 21 major operator and service companies and has a history of building relationships and drawing on technologies outwith its own sector.
Meanwhile, St Andrews University has been awarded a grant to develop technology for a low-carbon hydrogen economy. The Research Council’s SUPERGEN programme gave £5 million to the Delivery of Sustainable Hydrogen Consortia (H-Delivery), which includes both St Andrews and Strathclyde Universities.
As part of this initiative, the Scottish team, led by Professor John Irvine, will focus on developing ways to produce hydrogen from clean, renewable and decentralised energy systems. Although hydrogen energy could already have a major role to play in achieving energy security and lowering carbon emissions, it is currently much more expensive to produce than fossil-fuel based alternatives.
According to Professor Irvine, his project will “seek to deliver new lower cost and improved efficiency methods for the production of sustainable hydrogen”.
As well as producing energy, hydrogen can also be a storage vector for excess energy from intermittent sources such as wind and tidal. In a decentralised energy system, electricity is produced closer to the usage point, improving efficiency.
Professor Irvine’s team will seek to develop technology which will allow any excess energy to be placed in a hydrogen store – and used at a later date. Efficient storage of hydrogen is a major stumbling block in efforts to create a low-cost hydrogen economy and the development of such technology would mark a significant breakthrough.
“Hydrogen is a carbon free energy vector, whose oxidation yields only water,” explains Professor Irvine. “It is likely to be an important vector for the future transport industry and transport accounts for around one third of energy usage in the developed world.”
A number of industrial firms from across the UK are also partners in the consortia as the potential to be at the vanguard of a new economy beckons.
For more information visit the Industry’s Technology Facilitator website or St Andrews University