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The different colours of hydrogen
24
Jan

The Different Colours of Hydrogen

The Different Colours of Hydrogen Hydrogen will be key in helping the UK reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050. What is meant by the different colours of hydrogen? Hydrogen is currently the only practical option for the decarbonisation of steel production, shipping and long-haul air travel. Hydrogen will be necessary for long distance transport of goods and passengers by road. All the major truck manufacturers are developing hydrogen powered…

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Five reasons why global shipping is bad for the planet
12
Apr

Five reasons why global shipping is bad for the planet: yet it does not seem to care

A recent report in The Maritime Executive, describes the “World first zero emissions wind and hydrogen power cargo ship." Stories about low emission ships have been appearing for some time. A rather optimistic article on the Mongabay Website provides a potted history of the type. However, all this optimism could well be misplaced, given five reasons why global shipping is bad for the planet. The five reasons why global shipping…

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25
Mar

Bottom Trawling is a climate change disaster.

A recent study published in the journal Nature, demonstrates some unpleasant facts about bottom trawling for fish.  Namely that it results in carbon emissions higher than that of pre-pandemic global aviation (around 2%).  Unlike aviation, bottom trawling could be eliminated completely.  All the more so because it is unprofitable without the current substantial government subsidies. Bottom Trawling is a climate change disaster and uneconomic. Why is Bottom Trawling a climate change…

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Why Direct Air Capture might just work
15
Dec

Why Direct Air Capture might just work

Why Direct Air Capture might just work Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a method of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.  The process works by passing atmospheric air through either a liquid, usually an aqueous alkaline solvent, or a solid sorbent filter (imagine a molecular sieve) that removes the CO2 whilst allowing the other chemicals to pass through the filter unaffected. The CO2 is then stored in underground reservoirs…

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Top Ten Carbon Capture options
03
Dec

Top Ten Carbon Capture options – Part Two

Top Ten Carbon Capture options - Part Two In the first article I discussed what are probably the more practical of the Top Ten Carbon Capture options.  The following five options are scientifically possible, but converting theory of these five of the Top Ten Carbon Capture options into practice, may not be easy. 6. Biochar Biochar is charcoal that, instead of being burnt as a fuel, is added to soil.…

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Top Ten Carbon Capture options Part 1
02
Dec

Top Ten Carbon Capture options Part One

Top Ten Carbon Capture Options - Part One Global energy-related CO2 emissions flattened in 2019 at around 33 gigatonnes (Gt) (33 billion tonnes).  This figure will be reduced substantially as hydrocarbon fuels are phased out and greater energy efficiency achieved. However, CO2 emissions will not be eliminated completely.  Carbon capture technologies (also known as negative emissions technologies) will be required to remove or sequester the emissions that remain.  This is…

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Why Hydrogen is the future
19
Oct

Why Hydrogen is the future energy source

Why Hydrogen is the future energy source When Elon Musk tells you that hydrogen powered cars are “mind-bogglingly stupid,” you know that they must have a future.  Admittedly, he has been saying that since at least 2013. I presume, because he wants to promote his battery electric Tesla cars.  That’s not to say that battery electric power is not an important medium-term solution to limit emissions from cars.  However, when…

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Is Hydrogen the route to Net Zero?
11
Oct

Is Hydrogen the route to Net Zero

Is hydrogen the route to Net Zero? Hydrogen is not an energy source like natural gas, rather it is a carrier of energy, somewhat like a battery.  It does not occur naturally in usable quantities, but has to be manufactured.  There are seen to be four main applications for hydrogen: Transport - road, rail, and shipping Heating Electricity generation Industrial processes Transport Cars and Vans By 2035 at the latest…

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Heat Pumps the low emissions Solution
05
Oct

Heat Pumps the low emissions Solution

Heat Pumps the low emissions Solution Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) and Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) are seen by many as the low emissions solution and the future for the heating and cooling of buildings, both domestic and commercial. In the same way a refrigerator extracts heat from its contents and expels it into the room, heat pumps use the same principle to take heat from the air or…

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Afforestation and Net Zero
22
Sep

Planting Trees and Net Zero

Planting Trees and Net Zero - a Carbon Capture solution? It is generally accepted that it will be impossible to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions.  Therefore, in order to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it is essential that these residual emissions are removed from the atmosphere through some form of Carbon sequestration. This means the physical removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; by trapping and storing…

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