Fuel cells

DEFINITION: A device that converts chemical energy into electricity through a chemical reaction. Fuel cells can produce electricity for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied, and produce very small amount of nitrogen dioxide or other emissions. The technology can be used to power commercial, industrial and residential buildings, in addition to fuel cell vehicles.

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Asia remains the largest market for fuel cells, accounting for 680 MW

Decade of ascendency: New hydrogen fuel cell capacity surpassed 1GW in 2019

More than 1GW of global hydrogen fuel capacity was added in 2019, marking the first time the sector has surpassed the gigawatt milestone, with experts claiming that this could be a decade of "ascendency" for the technology.
The energy sector is currently the second-highest emitter in the UK, behind transport

Carbon pricing, flexibility and scaling-up hydrogen: UK energy sector unveils net-zero innovation plans

The body representing the UK's electricity and gas transmission and distribution sector has set out its plans for reaching net-zero by 2050, concluding that this ambition will only be achieved if a "whole-systems" approach to transformation is adopted.
Hydrogen is widely regarded as a key part of the net-zero puzzle - but renewable generation technologies remain in their relative infancy on a global basis. 

BNEF: Green hydrogen could slash energy, transport and industry emissions by one-third

Large-scale, global deployment of renewable hydrogen across the energy, transport and industrial sectors could reduce their annual emissions by up to 34% by 2050 - at a "manageable cost".
Each week, edie rounds up some of the best sustainability stories across five key pillars

Green freebies for coronavirus heroes and California's clean energy boost: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
The North West cluster could deliver 33,000 jobs. Image:Manchester Metropolitan University

Upskilling roadmap set up to decarbonise North West industrial cluster

An energy and hydrogen cluster set to be developed in the North West has pledged to create a roadmap to combat existing skills gaps for the low-carbon transition, as part of wider government plans to fully decarbonise industrial clusters in the UK.
Forestry growth and rapid deployment of renewables could put the UK on course for its net-zero target

UK's net-zero target possible with 'unprecedented' low-carbon innovation

Reaching net-zero emissions in the UK by 2050 is possible but would require "unprecedented innovation across the economy" that could see electricity generation triple, hydrogen generation grow exponentially and land use to be radically overhauled across the country.
To date there have been three transition bond issuances

Cadent Gas launches UK's first 'transition bond' to spur decarbonisation

The UK's largest gas distribution network, Cadent, has agreed to the UK's first 'transition bond' which has been issued to enable heavy-carbon emitters to access funds to decarbonise.
CLG Europe is calling for clarity and direction on a plethora of low-carbon innovations

Corporate leaders want decarbonisation as central focus for Europe's Industrial Strategy

Business giants including Unilever, Interface, and Coca-Cola have called for the new European Industrial Strategy to focus heavily on decarbonisation in a way that sets out clear strategies for investment into low-carbon solutions and provides price incentives for new goods and services.
Major efforts are taking place to ensure that decarbonisation occurs in both transport and heat

E10 petrol, hydrogen and biomethane: Is the UK on the cusp of low-carbon heat and transport?

As the UK Government consults on a low-carbon fuel mix for petrol stations, two industry associations have called for refined government policy to enable the uptake of hydrogen and biomethane use to help decarbonise heat and transport.
An artist's impression of how the wind farm and hydrogen facility (right) could look in 2030. Image: Shell Nederland

Shell proposes 'Europe's largest' green hydrogen project

Energy major Shell has unveiled plans to develop what it claims will be Europe's largest 'green' hydrogen generation project, powered by wind energy, in The Netherlands.
The funds will explore and trial technologies that can switch industrial production from fossil fuels to renewables

Government focuses on hydrogen in £90m industrial decarbonisation funding

The UK Government has announced £90m in funding to help cut emissions from industrial processes and the built environment, including the backing of two low-carbon hydrogen production plants.
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Cabinet reshuffle: Is the promised 'green budget' in doubt?

Earlier this week Chancellor Sajid Javid was said to be reviewing a string of new subsidies to assist with the UK's net-zero transition. With Javid today (13 February) resigning from the position, doubts have been caused as to whether the UK Government can prioritise the green economy in the March Budget.
Power generation capacity may have to grow by 75% to account for additional demand

Sector coupling: Electrification of transport and buildings could slash emissions by 60%

Mass-Scale electrification of the transport, buildings and industrial sectors could enable Europe to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% over the next 30 years, according to a new report published today by research company BloombergNEF (BNEF).
The ACEA represents carmakers including Ferrari, Groupe Renault and Volkswagen 

Carmakers renew calls for low-carbon revolution as grim sales figures loom

Some of the EU's largest auto players have called once for a mass rollout of electric vehicle (EV) recharging points and refuelling stations for fuels like hydrogen, as the industry offered up more clues as to how it intends to lessen its climate impact.
The UK will be required to build 9-12GW of energy generation capacity annually to reach the net-zero target

Urgent boost to offshore wind and CCS required for UK's net-zero target, report finds

The UK will need to facilitate a four-fold increase in low-carbon energy, including expanding offshore wind capacity by up to 75GW, in order to reach its net-zero emissions commitment for 2050.
To finance a pan-European recharging infrastructure, T&E estimates €20bn will be needed over the next 11 years, or €1.8bn a year on average

Massive rise in EV charging points needed to reach EU climate goals, analysis finds

Europe needs a fifteen-fold increase in electric vehicle public charging points by 2030 to support the EU's goal of becoming "climate neutral" by mid-century, according to new research published Wednesday (8 January).
Tristar's vessel was originally built in 2008 and has been retrofitted for its new purpose as an LNG transporter. Image: Tristar

Shipping giants debut LNG and hydrogen vessels

Multinational fuel giant Tristar has added a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker to its international shipping fleet for the first time, in the same week that Kawasaki Heavy Industries debuted the world's first ship capable of transporting large volumes of liquid hydrogen.
Pictured: An engineer tests boilers running on the hydrogen gas blend. Image: Cadent

UK's first grid-injected hydrogen trials begin in Staffordshire

A pilot project injecting zero-carbon hydrogen into an existing gas network is now fully operational, the consortium of organisations behind the initiative have announced.
Shipping currently accounts for 2-3% of global annual emissions

Shipping fuel regulation to cut sulphur levels comes into force

Sulphur will be cut drastically from global shipping transport fuels in 2020, in a move that should reduce some forms of air pollution, and may help towards tackling the climate emergency - but which could also lead to a rise in the price of flights.
The EIB says it shares the Hydrogen Council's "common goal" to further investment in decarbonising industry, energy and transport

EIB unveils plans to boost hydrogen investment

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has partnered with a coalition of C-suite executives from the transport, heavy industry and energy sectors in a bid to accelerate financing for hydrogen solutions.
Pictured: The two vehicles used to make the delivery, outside AB InBev's St Louis brewery

AB InBev completes its first zero-emission beer delivery

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has announced the completion of its first zero-emission beer delivery, 18 months after placing an order for 800 hydrogen-electric semi-trucks.
Heat currently accounts for 15% of the UK's annual greenhouse gas emissions

ENA calls for mandatory hydrogen boilers as CBI outlines new sustainability vision

Replacing existing gas boilers with hydrogen-ready devices should be mandatory when they reach the end of their life, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) has urged in its general election manifesto.
Drax believes the project could capture 15% of the UK's current annual carbon emissions

Plans for zero-carbon industrial hub fleshed out in new roadmap

Drax, Equinor and National Grid have published a new roadmap fleshing out their plans to create the world's first zero-carbon industrial hub in the Humber region by 2040.
The newly created corporate will employ more than 30,000 people and have manufacturing operations in 10 nations. Image: Liberty House

Liberty House pledges carbon-neutral steel operations by 2030

Global metals and engineering group Liberty House has announced plans to roll all of its steel plants into a single company, largely in order to target carbon-neutral operations by 2030.
Kathryn has been at Taylors of Harrogate since 2013, where she's gradually added more sustainability related responsibilities to her role

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Total will be able to reduce the overall cost of the integration process. Image: Total

Total signs cleantech deal to produce hydrogen at refineries

French energy giant Total has signed a cooperation agreement with the Sunfire cleantech company to integrate capture waste heat and CO2 at a German refinery to create synthetic methanol and hydrogen to be used to reduce energy and transport emissions.
A new report by Vivid Economics estimates that up to £20bn a year could be required for the UK to reach its net-zero target for 2050

Billions wanted: Report sets net-zero price as Siemens aims for £100bn green project pipeline

Technology firm Siemens has signed an agreement with a coalition of 94 local authority political leaders across the UK to help unlock green investment towards clean energy projects, as a new report warns that up to £20bn may be required annually to deliver the UK's net-zero commitment.
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This week's innovations could deliver significant resource efficiency and carbon reduction benefits 

Shellfish 'plastics' and hydrogen-powered gin: The best green innovations of the week

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In the Blueprint, the industry has committed to keeping production above one million barrels of oil equivalent per day

Oil and gas industry's net-zero blueprint branded 'overt lobbying'

Green groups have criticised the UK's offshore oil and gas industry's blueprint to contribute to net-zero emissions by 2035, claiming that the accompanying evidence fails to "leave fossil fuels in the ground".
BEIS has also announced £350m of new funding alongside the grants – £100 million for a competition to boost hydrogen production and £250m for a new Clean Steel Fund

Government sets aside funds to explore low-carbon hydrogen

The government has awarded 20 projects a share of £7 million to explore innovative ways of making and using low-carbon hydrogen.
This week's group of innovations could improve sustainability for transport, electronic products and smart buildings 

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The 10 clean growth policy 'shortfalls' and how to address them, according to MPs

The Science and Technology Committee has published a new report warning that the UK isn't remotely close to reaching upcoming carbon budgets up to 2032, outlining 10 key policy areas that need to be addressed if the UK is to deliver on its net-zero ambitions.
With Barker leading the way, the EN+ Group has embarked on a new era of sustainability

The Barker Plan: How a former UK Energy Minister used sustainability to transform a sanctioned Russian aluminium firm

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Thyssenkrupp is one of just four German firms to achieve SBTi approval

Thyssenkrupp targets 'climate-neutrality' after setting new science-based targets

German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp has had its new emissions goals approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), shortly after pledging to become climate-neutral by 2050
A group of energy managers were shown 'the elephant in the room' at the Design Sprint in Birmingham

Energy management design sprint (Part Two): Using green ju-jitsu for behaviour change

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(L-R) Presenter Azhar Zaman, head of direct sales, CTRL Print, innocent team and compere Michaela Strachan

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A number of eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations aimed at tackling dirty air have emerged since Clean Air Day 2018 

Bio-solar 'leaves' and electric ice cream vans: The best green innovations for Clean Air Day

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An artist's impression of what the CCS and hydrogen infrastructure could look like

Drax confirms plans to create UK's first zero-carbon cluster in Humber

Energy giant Drax has unveiled plans to build a large-scale zero-carbon industrial cluster, featuring carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology, during the mid-2020s.

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<p>This week's innovations could drive significant positive change across the agri-food, plastics and energy storage sectors </p>

Hydrogen storage 'sponges' and 'infinitely' recyclable plastic: The best green innovations of the week

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The UK's first hydrogen trains, called Breeze, are due to be launched in 2021. Image: Alstom / Eversholt Rail

Transport 'best place to start' for hydrogen economy

Efforts to create a hydrogen economy in the UK should initially focus on delivering "quick wins" in the transport sector, a new report has argued.
The VPP will be hosted across Shoreham-by-Sea (pictured) and Worthing

West Sussex virtual power plant 'could save UK £32bn' if replicated nationally

The developers of a new virtual power plant (VPP) system set to come online across West Sussex in stages from autumn have claimed that the model could cut the UK's energy costs by 10% if it is rolled out nationally.
An artist's impression of the plant. Image: Peel Environmental

Plans to build UK's first plastic-to-hydrogen recycling plant unveiled

Energy-from-waste firm Waste2Tricity has revealed plans to develop the UK's first industrial-scale facility capable of converting waste plastics into hydrogen in Cheshire.