HK Electric co-hosted an opening ceremony for the city’s first offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with its project partner, CLP Power. The supply of low-carbon LNG to Hong Kong’s electricity generation and distribution companies will help the city in its transition to carbon neutrality by 2050.
The project was the collective success of business partners, marine experts, engineers, technicians, construction workers and other colleagues from the two power companies. The city has also benefited from the Hong Kong SAR Government’s environmental policies that have facilitated the construction of this complex but important infrastructure.
Hydrogen is the future of Queensland, and Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) is building that future. Construction has started on Hydrogen Park (HyP) Gladstone, located on Australia’s northeast coast. The plant will enable AGIG to introduce a 10% blend of renewable hydrogen into the natural gas currently used by homes and businesses. The renewable hydrogen burns clean with no carbon emissions and can be increased as a percentage of the flow over time. Around 770 homes and businesses will be online by early 2024 – and as the project reaches its full potential, it will save over 57 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere each year.
HK Electric has introduced a powerful, mobile electricity-generating unit that can step in to provide a green supply in case of an emergency. It is a two-truck system that could also be deployed as a backup power source for major events. It can provide up to two hours of continuous power supply for more than 650 households. In Hong Kong, it debuted at the FIA World Rallycross Championship in autumn 2023.
The innovative system’s dual-pronged approach features an energy storage truck and a power changeover truck that allows an uninterrupted power supply. Batteries are replacing traditional diesel systems – they are quieter and greener in operation.
Global sustainable energy producer EDL and key project stakeholders Republic Services, NW Natural Renewables and Pennant Midwest have commenced operations at the Limestone Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility near Youngstown, Ohio, USA.
EDL has upgraded an existing landfill gas-to-energy power plant to an RNG facility near Republic Services’ Carbon Limestone Landfill.
This new facility is helping to tackle the issue of carbon-heavy landfill gas (LFG) that typically escapes into the atmosphere due to the decomposition of rubbish. The LFG is processed and conditioned into pipeline-quality RNG – reducing harmful emissions and providing a reliable source of green energy for local residents and businesses.
The Limestone RNG facility is designed to produce 1.7 million MMBtu (million British thermal units) of RNG in 2024 – comparable to removing the emissions from 13,170 passenger vehicles from roads each year.
Wales & West Utilities have partnered with ARUP, a global engineering consultant, to produce a report to explore how hydrogen could transform the aviation sector across their region. Hydrogen in Aviation explores how hydrogen could be used at airports in Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Newquay.
The report also helps potential users and suppliers to make practical plans to incorporate hydrogen into their operations. Pipeline builders can use the report to plan infrastructure changes and support the advancement of the hydrogen economy. This is an exciting first step in decarbonising our air travel.
Enerven is taking on its biggest project to date after winning a landmark contract to construct a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for Origin Energy at their Eraring Power Station in New South Wales. Enerven’s expertise in high-voltage and renewable energy was crucial in securing the right to build the 460MW battery – among the largest in Australia. The A$600 million investment will enable renewable energy to be stored and dispatched during peak demand, supporting grid stability and energy security as well as creating up to 128 construction jobs and 10 operational jobs.
HK Electric and its partner, CLP Power, have opened their liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to receive LNG for power generation. This offshore terminal features the world’s largest Floating Storage and Regasification Unit vessel, the Bauhinia Spirit, with an LNG storage capacity of 263,000m3. The LNG is stored onboard the Bauhinia Spirit until it is regasified and sent on to the two power stations including HK Electric’s, contributing to the green energy transition in Hong Kong.
Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA) has ramped up the supply of hydrogen to customers in South Australia. In May 2023, the current 700 customers ballooned to 4,000 homes and businesses in Mitchell Park, Clovelly Park and parts of Marion. Happy customers over the past two years of HyP SA’s operation merit the expansion of the platform that produces hydrogen and then adds it to natural gas flows to customers. HyP SA currently has Australia’s biggest electrolyser to create stored hydrogen power and will hold that title until the next wave of projects come online, including Australian Gas Infrastructure Group’s 10MW HyP Murray Valley project, in mid-2025.
Hutchison Ports KICT is installing solar panel energy systems to harness the power of the sun. KICT will expand its solar energy generation in the future, but the first iteration will save over 110 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere and generate 140,000KWh a year of energy.
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group is rolling out hydrogen production facilities in the HyPs: Hydrogen Parks. The next to come is Murray Valley. Construction is commencing soon on HyP Murray Valley and it’s expected to start producing in mid-2025. The HyP will create hydrogen that will be mixed into the existing natural gas supply to the homes of 40,000 customers in the Albury-Wodonga region. The 10MW electrolyser will have eight times the capacity of Australia’s current biggest operational electrolyser, eclipsing its production.
Northern Gas Networks is about more than gas. It has secured support to conduct a 12-week study into the integration of offshore wind generation and electrolysis, especially the optimal placement of infrastructure, such as electrolysers and energy storage, to minimise the cost and maximise the resilience. The Hydrogen Cost Reduction (HyCoRe) programme is supported by the national energy regulator and development agency, OFGEM, through their Strategic Innovation Fund and has the participation of other energy companies including UK Power Networks.
SA Power Networks is expanding its world-leading Flexible Exports programme, allowing customers to export more solar energy into the grid. Solar customers are able to export (i.e. sell) up to 10kW per phase from their rooftop solar panel systems, depending on network capacity. Successful trials have proven that customers could export the maximum 10kW allotment 98% of the time. Customers getting on board with the Flexible Exports programme not only earn a return on their rooftop solar investment but also contribute to a more sustainable and stable energy grid overall.
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is commonly used as an insulator to protect against shock for high-voltage electrical systems – and has over 22,800 times the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide. UK Power Networks is installing its first SF6-free Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), which uses a combination of dehumidified oxygen and nitrogen that have a zero GWP. The company aims to reduce the use of SF6 for new switchgear across all voltage ranges where alternatives are available on the market. This will deliver operational efficiency, as SF6 management, training, reporting and disposal is costly and onerous, whereas the GIS is a safer, simpler platform.
Northumbrian Water (NWG) has a zero-carbon target to hit in 2027 – and they just hit another important milestone on the way there. Carbon emissions have fallen more than 90% since 2008, when they stood at 303,000 tonnes. In 2021, NWG improved further, reducing carbon output by more than 50% year-on-year to their current level of 22,000 tonnes.
All of NWG’s 1,886 sites are now powered with renewable energy. The popular “Power from Poo” programme sees NWG transform 100% of wastewater sludge into power. Advanced Anaerobic Digestion plants on Tyneside and Teesside process around 2 million cubic metres of sludge to generate 10MW of energy – enough to power around 20,000 homes. Every little bit helps as NWG moves to net-zero Carbon.
The Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) has won the 2022 Energy Community Engagement Award at the South Australian 2022 Premier’s Awards in Energy and Mining. The accolade was given for the success of the engagement programme surrounding its Hydrogen Park South Australia project. AGIG co-designed the programme with the community, as the residents of Mitchell Park became the first in Australia to receive a hydrogen–natural gas blend into their homes. Schools and businesses in nearby suburbs will be the next to benefit from a blended solution when the project expands later in 2023.
Hutchison Ports Yantian is LNG bunkering to clean the air.
Port of Yantian has become only the fourth port in the world to offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering. LNG bunkering refers to the practice of providing LNG to specially designed ships so that they power themselves with this much cleaner fossil fuel instead of dirtier traditional alternatives such as heavy fuel oil, marine diesel fuel and marine gas oil. The port launched its service by hosting the 23,000-TEU M/V CMA CGM SORBONNE, the world’s largest LNG-powered container ship.
A.S. Watson Benelux has opened a new 14,000 sqm distribution centre. The facility is powered by 14,000 solar panels, generating energy equivalent to that normally consumed by 2,000 households. This facility, the third in the region, reduces carbon consumption by placing the distribution centre closer to Kruidvat’s retail outlets. The centre’s new home in Oosterhout, the Netherlands, will provide employment for the surrounding communities, a win for all concerned.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), carbon-neutral hydrogen heating boilers, low-pressure hydrogen storage innovations and other solutions are coming together as H2GO Power (“H2GO”) at Northern Gas Networks’ Low Thornley Test Facility in the UK to bring cleaner energy to the people. H2GO will be powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels using an AI-enabled optimisation software platform to ensure the most efficient use of renewable energy to distribute gas. The project is funded through the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s £26 million Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator Programme to advance an end-to-end industrial fuel switch from natural gas to hydrogen.
3 Denmark has signed up with a local startup, the 0-Mission, to replace the energy it consumes from the power grid with solar-generated electricity. It supports the 0-Mission’s privately funded solar park through a subscription that reduces its carbon footprint from electricity usage. Normally companies would have to undertake to build their own renewable energy capacity, a time-consuming process. Through this initiative, 3 Denmark can start to offset its environmental impact immediately, doing good now rather than later.
Jabiru (Northern Territory, Australia) is home to EDL’s award-winning Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Project. This project has enabled the town to significantly reduce diesel use, with 100% solar energy produced during the day. Excess solar energy is stored for use after dark, enabling over 50% of total energy consumption to come from renewables. It also promotes equity by ensuring 99.9% energy reliability for all of Jabiru’s residents. Preventing 6,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and promoting equity won the project the 2022 Asian Power Awards’ Solar Power Project of the Year – Australia!
HK Electric won the Sustainable Business Award at the BOCHK Corporate Environmental Leadership Awards 2021. It also took the Gold Award – the top spot – in the “Manufacturing” category. This was in recognition of HK Electric’s outstanding work utilising green energy, promoting decarbonisation and assisting Hong Kong to achieve its carbon neutrality target, namely being totally carbon neutral by 2050.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is at the forefront of the extensive research, planning and testing needed to ensure that hydrogen can be used safely and efficiently in the UK gas network. The pilot HyDeploy project saw 668 homes in Winlaton, Gateshead receive an 80:20 gas–hydrogen blend to heat their homes and for use in their appliances, in a 10-month demonstration that concluded in June.
NGN has also received permission from the regulator Ofgem to plan for a two-year hydrogen test-run of home hydrogen use in Redcar, Teesside. If investment and the final green light are forthcoming, up to 2,000 homes and businesses will receive locally produced green hydrogen. It will see boilers designed for 100% hydrogen used as part of the attempt to create a complete “hydrogen village”.
The British energy regulator, Ofgem, has bestowed £500,000 on Northern Gas Networks (NGN) for five projects that will help the UK on their journey to building a net-zero economy. Projects range from supporting a rail decarbonisation strategy to the use of hydrogen in heavy duty transport. In another project, robots using thermal imagery can assess pressure conditions in pipes to reduce methane leakage. Residential energy efficiency and generating power from gas flow round out the five fabulous projects.
There is plenty of sun in Oman and Hutchison Ports Sohar is harnessing its power for its new Solar Powered Integrated Inspection Facility Project. The US$30 million project will enhance inspection services and support Oman Customs with safe and efficient security measures as part of the Sultanate’s Oman Logistics Strategy. The inspection facilities will be spread across the 37,000 sqm of Terminal C and are expected to come online mid-2023. The use of solar power will reduce energy usage by about 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Northern Gas Networks is running a world-leading, first-of-its-kind, closed test to replace natural gas with 100% clean burning hydrogen. A disused area with a pipe network that previously supplied homes with gas will be closed off for the experiment. Similar to natural gas, an odourising agent will be added for extra safety. Hydrogen burns with zero emissions, making it a leading contender for helping the UK achieve its net-zero carbon emission targets for the nation.
The Port of Felixstowe is leading the hydrogen revolution building in the UK. It aims to transform not only its own operations but the regional eco-economy too. First, the Port – then trains, trucks and homes will follow.
The UK aims to decarbonise the entire rail network. Eversholt Rail, a UK rail company, is leading the way in providing zero-emission hydrogen-powered trains for the UK. Trainspotting is about to get a whole lot greener.
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group is proving itself a public ally by greening the gas supply of Australian homes and taking the first steps to deliver 100% emission-free hydrogen to replace gas.
EDL opened Australia’s largest-ever hybrid microgrid power project, which now provides up to 85% of renewable energy in good weather conditions. The microgrid integrates wind, solar and thermal generation along with batteries to supply the Agnew Gold Mine with 99.99% reliable energy with, on average, 50–60% coming from renewable sources. It is the first in Australia to power a mine mostly with wind-generated electricity. But this is just the start; EDL plans to continue the hybrid renewable journey on this landmark project with the goal being to power the mine with 100% renewable energy.
SA Power Networks’ sunny plans bear powerful fruit
South Australia is a world leader in the adoption of rooftop solar energy. On the sunniest days, home owners now put more energy back into the grid than they take out. In late December, a new record was set with the distribution network operated by SA Power Networks exporting 185MW to the national grid. SA Power Networks’ active support of rooftop solar has resulted in it receiving the South Australian Premier’s Award for Innovation and Collaboration in Energy for its Enhanced Voltage Management Project. This project has improved substation voltage management and local network solar capacity for 80% of SA Power Networks’ customers.
Northern Gas Networks has launched its East Coast Hydrogen Programme in partnership with Cadent and National Grid with an event at the House of Commons. East Coast Hydrogen aims to connect over 7GW of hydrogen production to supply up to 39,000 commercial and industrial sites along with up to 4.4 million homes. This could mark a huge improvement in the carbon impact incurred through heating homes, powering transport and meeting the needs of industries.
Enerven wins with rapid roll-out of solar and battery solutions for water utility
Enerven, an SA Power Networks company, has won the Australian Construction Achievement Award. Their Zero Cost Energy Future project for SA Water saw Enerven design and build over 242GWh of solar photovoltaic (PV) and 34MWh of energy storage across 33 South Australia water sites in less than 24 months. This storage enables SA Water to manage their excess energy production and feed it back into the grid to achieve a zero-net outcome.
Citroën’s new 100% electric-powered quadricycle is targeted at the environmentally conscious youth market. It now comes with an exclusive “GIGAMI” package developed by Wind Tre. The package includes unlimited minutes and gigabytes in 5G and 200 SMS messages. Green, connected and mobile: it’s the new Italian style for the 21st century!
£1 million to connect renewable energy to the grid
UK Power Networks will commit almost £1 million to upgrading the electricity grid to allow for renewable energy to be connected to the power grid for households in Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Wind and solar farms will be able to feed energy into the power system, reducing reliance on non-renewable sources. The ‘load blinding relays’ are like safety valves that help to monitor electricity.
UK Power Networks investing in the UK’s net zero future
UK citizens aiming to support the country to hit net zero carbon emissions are benefiting from extra funding to help the United Kingdom get there by 2050. UK Power Networks is carrying out 86 low-carbon energy projects worth £66 million that will help transition the economy to one that has a lower environmental footprint. ‘Shovel-ready’ plans were targeted for immediate impact, including installing rapid electric vehicle charging stations in local communities, energy generators looking to connect more renewable energy to the electricity network, and community energy projects.
Northern Gas Networks Finance raised
£1 million through the sale of a green bond to local investors that will allow them to realise returns of 1.6% a year over 10 years. The funds will be used to upgrade the current network of gas pipes to make them hydrogen ready as Northern Gas Networks builds the zero-emission network of the future. Offering the bond to the public gives people a chance to participate in greening their future.
HK Electric is helping construction sites to reduce their noise and air pollution on site while also decarbonising construction work. In crowded Hong Kong, construction sites are often hemmed in by thousands of pedestrians and neighbours just metres away from noisy diesel generators used to power their reach for the sky. By providing a timely, reliable and adequate grid electricity supply during construction, builders can switch from diesel power on site to quieter, greener electricity. Neighbours and workers will love getting a break from the din of diesel during construction, and carbon emissions can also be reduced by 60%.
Northern Gas Networks has been actively involved in funding and directing projects aimed at using zero-emission hydrogen to reduce the use of fossil fuels across the economy. Partnering with gas distribution company Cadent and the UK government, it has built two homes that are equipped with hydrogen-powered appliances. The semi-detached houses, built near Gateshead, were officially opened in July by the former Energy Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The houses will be models for hydrogen-heated homes, providing the least invasive and most cost-effective route to zero carbon home heating for a large proportion of UK homes in the future.
Northern Gas Networks is partnering with National Grid and others to create a £12.7 million closed-loop experimental system to test the use of hydrogen in support of the UK’s goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions. The multi-firm collaboration will receive an award of £9.07 million from Ofgem (the UK energy regulator) via their Network Innovation Competition.
A first-of-its-kind energy microgrid that takes its supply from wind, solar, and thermal generation, and manages distribution using battery solutions, has won big in 2020. EDL’s Agnew Hybrid Renewable Project in Western Australia has won Engineering Solution of the Year at the 2020 Global Energy Awards. The project has also won at the 2020 Asian Power Awards (Innovative Power Technology of the Year – Australia) and the 2020 Australian Engineering Excellence Awards (WA Division).
