
The Most Important 8 Energy News This Week
UK Decarbonization Receives Boost with 13 New Research Projects

The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) has announced £1.2 million in funding for 13 new research projects targeted at expediting the decarbonisation of important industrial clusters in the UK, which will be supported by the UKRI’s Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge. The initiatives will address a variety of issues, including carbon capture and storage, green hydrogen production, and waste carbon dioxide transformation.
IDRIC’s flexible financing initiative has already given £16.8 million to over 60 research projects across the UK, ensuring vital decarbonisation technologies are developed and customised for industry applications, resulting in increased efficiencies, cost reductions, and new green business prospects.
Source: idric
Gebrüder Weiss Takes Visionary Solar Car Down Under

Gebrüder Weiss is carrying a unique solar car to Australia for the World Solar Challenge on behalf of the ETH Zurich aCentauri Solar Racing Team. To ensure that the high-tech vehicle reaches on schedule, the logistics company provides a customised mix of logistics that includes land transport, marine freight, and air freight.
The solar car represents a future in which the environment is prioritised, and Gebrüder Weiss is assisting the crew on their voyage to Australia to demonstrate that solar-powered cars and sustainable mobility are feasible.
Source: gw-world
Hydropower’s Window of Opportunity in Africa is Closing Fast

Africa’s terrain contains all of the factors required to generate energy from river flow, and many African countries have relied on hydropower for electricity generation. A new analysis, however, suggests that planning for hundreds of additional hydro dams across Africa may not be a good idea. According to the report, up to 67% of potential future hydropower plants in Africa may not be worth the investment because hydropower would soon become economically uncompetitive with solar and wind power.
In the short future, some new hydropower projects could still provide affordable power to developing countries and aid in the integration of solar and wind generation. In the long run, solar power will be the preferred technology in the majority of African countries.
Source: iiasa.ac
Germany’s Augustus to Establish $500M Green Hydrogen Plant in Indonesia

Augustus Global Investment is to invest $500 million in the construction of a green hydrogen plant in Indonesia’s Aceh province. Using renewable energy sources, the plant will produce 35,000 metric tonnes of green hydrogen per year.
To develop a suitable building site and power supply, the business has inked a preliminary agreement with Indonesian state-owned enterprises and utility providers. The created hydrogen will be shipped to Germany, Japan, and other Southeast Asian countries. The factory will be located in an industrial area owned by PT Pupuk Iskandar Muda.
New CSIRO Company Pursues Hydrogen Game Changer for Heavy Industry

Hadean Energy, a new firm co-founded by CSIRO and RFC Ambrian, to commercialise SOE technology that can create hydrogen with 30% less electricity and assist decarbonize heavy industry. The method integrates industrial waste heat back into industrial processes, reducing the electrical energy required to manufacture hydrogen or syn-gas by up to 30%.
The hydrogen product can be utilised as a feedstock for the production of chemicals such as ammonia, petrochemicals, methanol, and sustainable fuels, as well as in low-emission steelmaking and heavy transport. The experiment will commence at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks in April 2024.
Source: csiro
Tata Steel and ACME Group Unite for India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Venture

TSSEZL and the ACME Group are collaborating to build a green hydrogen and green ammonia plant in Odisha, India. Using renewable energy sources, this initiative intends to build the country’s largest green hydrogen manufacturing facility. The collaboration emphasises the significance of strict emission requirements for hydrogen production in order to be termed “green.”
Tata Steel is also experimenting with introducing hydrogen gas into their steel production process in order to reduce carbon emissions. These projects help India achieve its objective of being a global leader in green hydrogen and ammonia generation, and they represent substantial progress towards decarbonizing industry and implementing sustainable energy practises.
MIT’s J-PAL Launches Clean Air and Water Labs to Improve Access to Safe Water and Air

J-PAL is establishing Clean Air and Water Labs to develop evidence-based solutions to improve access to clean air and water. The labs will collaborate with government agencies to bring together researchers and policymakers in places where effective clean air and water solutions are most needed.
The labs strive to increase access to clean air and water by informing the scaling of evidence-based policies and decisions made by city, state, and national governments that serve a total of approximately 260 million people.
Source: https://web.mit.edu/
New Carbon Capture System Requires Less Energy and Equipment
A new carbon capture technology based on an electrochemical cell that can readily catch and release CO2 has been created. When compared to typical amine-based carbon-capture devices, the system operates at room temperature and consumes less energy.
This method provides a more effective and sustainable way to carbon capture by utilising electrochemical cells powered by renewable energy sources. The system has showed good results in terms of CO2 capture and release, as well as long-term stability. This advancement may aid in the actual implementation of continuous CO2 capture-release technologies in a variety of industrial applications.
Source: acs