Latest Industry News: Edition 30

Solar PV Surpasses Decade’s Net Zero Goals?

As reported by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the current global manufacturing capacity for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels has already surpassed the requirements for achieving net zero emissions by the end of this decade.??

The report, “Advancing Clean Technology Manufacturing”, highlights a significant 70% increase in worldwide investment in the manufacturing of crucial clean technologies, reaching $200 billion (￡159bn) in 2023, compared to 2022. This investment included the production of five essential clean energy technologies consisting of solar PV, wind, batteries, electrolysers and heat pumps. This represented around 4% of the overall global growth in GDP.?

Spending on solar PV rose by more than 50% in 2023. Battery capacity is also close to meeting net zero demand with substantial progress made through announced projects, bringing the manufacturing capacity to 90% of what is required by 2030.?

Currently, clean energy manufacturing is heavily concentrated in certain regions, with China dominating over 80% of global solar PV manufacturing. However, the report suggests that battery cell manufacturing could become more geographically dispersed by 2030.?

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Sustainable Dining – ExCeL London Set to Release Carbon Labelling for Food Menus?

London’s largest international exhibition and convention centre, ExCeL London, and their catering partner, Levy UK & Ireland, are collaborating with the food data and impact analyst, Foodsteps, to drive decarbonisation.?

Foodsteps will provide comprehensive information regarding the environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of produce and additional ingredients will be shared with both the venue and Levy. This data will support the development of recipes with reduced carbon footprints, aligning with the company’s net zero ambitions.?

A straightforward carbon labelling system will also be implemented to inform visitors about the environmental impact of the dishes on offer. Foodsteps will assign a grade to each dish using colour-coded labels, ranging from ‘A’, which represents very low carbon, to ‘E’ which highlights high carbon.?

This initiative will enable visitors to make climate-conscious and more informed food choices, resulting in increased carbon footprint awareness and a collective effort towards reducing environmental impact.?

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Microsoft and Stockholm Exergi Sign World’s Largest BECCS Agreement?

On the 6th of May 2024, Microsoft disclosed its partnership with Stockholm Exergi, for the world’s largest bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) contract.??

Microsoft’s agreement with Stockholm’s energy provider marks the largest permanent removal arrangement in history. Over a ten-year period, starting in 2028, 3.33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is set to be removed, through the innovative BECCS technology deployed at the V?rtan plant.?

The site has already obtained the necessary environmental licences, legal approvals, and planning permission, with a final investment decision scheduled for the last quarter of 2024.?

The project’s progress will be reliant on support from state aid and additional agreements with private sector partners.??

This will be Stockholm Exergi’s second biomass plant, with operations expected to begin in early 2027, following the successful operation of the initial plant, which has been running since 2016.?

Currently, clean energy manufacturing is heavily concentrated in certain regions, with China dominating over 80% of global solar PV manufacturing. However, the report suggests that battery cell manufacturing could become more geographically dispersed by 2030.?

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2024 EV Charging Stats?

Due to the increasing demand for EVs (electric vehicles), the UK’s EV charging infrastructure has significantly developed and continues to do so.??

Data collected from Zapmap, a platform that provides information on the whereabouts of EV charging stations in the UK, has released statistics regarding the availability of charging points nationwide.?

At the end of April 2024, Zapmap recorded a total of 61,232 EV charging points over 32,697 locations in the UK. This represents a substantial increase of 45% compared to April last year.?

These charging points consist of a range of options including slow, fast and ultra-rapid charging devices, which provide different levels of power and charging speeds to accommodate EV users to choose the most suitable option depending on their charging needs and time constraints.?

These figures do not include charging points installed at home or workplace settings, which are estimated to account for over 700,000.?

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PepsiCo Pave the Way to Sustainability with First Net Zero Plant?

PepsiCo, the multination food and beverage corporation, has disclosed plans for its beverage plant situated in Spain to become a net zero emissions operation by 2025, marking it as the company’s first site to achieve this sustainability goal.?

Located in álava Basque Country, the plant will eliminate approximately 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year by transitioning all its heating to green electricity sources. Since 2015, this production plant has adopted renewable electricity and a new €5 million electrification project will replace natural gas with electricity, ensuring that the plant operates entirely on electric power.?

PepsiCo has ambitions for the plant to transform into a net zero site and over the past five years has already invested €27 million on improvement projects. These initiatives include upgrading packaging equipment for efficiency, closing warehousing to minimise transport emissions and streamlining production processes.?

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Swift Surge in Used Electric Car Sales?

New research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has highlighted the growing trend of used electric cars, with alternatives beginning to decline in popularity.?

The sale of used electric cars in the UK has remarkably accelerated, with a 71% increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a significant increase in demand and a shift towards sustainable transportation alternatives.?

At the same time, the sale of diesel cars decreased by 1.3%, reflecting a positive trend towards reducing air pollution and mitigating negative environmental effects.?

These trends, as explained by the industry body, were influenced by several factors, such as the expanding market for used electric and hybrid vehicles, drivers’ commitments to reducing their environmental impact, and the potential cost savings associated with higher petrol and diesel prices.?

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