Researchers Including Dr. Steve Griffiths Propose 25% Decrease in Global Industrial Emissions by 2030

 

Carbon-intensive industrial sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals contribute to over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and therefore it is imperative that the global industrial sector moves towards rapid decarbonization. according to an article published in The Conversation, an online network of not-for-profit media outlets that publishes trustworthy and informative articles written by academic experts for the general public.

 

The article titled ‘The path to net-zero emissions runs through industry’ is authored by Dr. Steve Griffiths, Khalifa University’s Senior Vice-President, Research and Development, and Professor of Practice, along with authors Morgan Bazilian, Professor, Public Policy and Director, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines, and Benjamin K. Sovacool, Professor, Energy Policy, University of Sussex.

 

The authors note that global industrial emissions must decrease by 25% by 2030 to be on track for net-zero emissions by 2050, a target embraced by major economies worldwide. This requires an annual decline of 3%, which necessitates substantial financial investments, technology advancements, and political commitment. The publication of this article comes at a critical time, as government leaders and climate negotiators gather in Dubai for COP28 UAE, which aims to address the pressing issue of decarbonizing the global industrial sector.

 

Promising technologies and innovations, according to the authors, can drive decarbonization in the industry. These include green hydrogen fuel made from clean electricity and water, energy efficiency measures across supply chains, and carbon capture, use and storage.

 

The article is based on the author’s journal paper titled ‘Six bold steps towards net-zero industry’, which was published in the Energy Research & Social Science, one of the leading global journals in the energy field. The article explores the challenges and solutions for cutting industrial emissions in fast-growing countries lays out a plan of action.

 

In their journal paper, the authors, along with Dr. Jinsoo Kim, Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Republic of Korea, propose six bold steps for accelerating progress towards net-zero industrial carbon emissions. These steps include ‘scaling up finance’, ‘more technology transfer,’ ‘improved job training’ ‘ensuring a just transition’ and ‘establishing a global treaty’.

 

They emphasize that these actions should be pursued simultaneously and in an integrated manner, with consideration for the unique context of developing and fast-growing countries, particularly those in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s  Research and Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D) and the Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technologies (CMAT) and France’s Grapheal today announced the first step of a strategic partnership to industrialize and commercialize graphene-based biosensors in the UAE, and have officially presented the first Minimal Viable Product (MVP) resulting from this cooperation.

 

This partnership, based on a successful technology developed within Khalifa University’s CMAT labs, and its integration in Grapheal’s proprietary technologies, sets the foundation for joining forces at the point-of-care in consumer environments.

 

E. Homaid Al Shimmari, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Khalifa University, said: “We are sincerely proud of the progress, and support the collaboration brought forth by RIC2D, serving as a beacon to ignite innovation and highlight our profound scientific and deep-tech advancements. Our commitment to nurturing high-caliber deep-tech start-ups is unwavering, aiming to foster a burgeoning new industry in the UAE and make a substantial contribution to our nation’s economic growth in the years ahead.” 

 

Dr. Vincent Bouchiat, CEO & Cofounder at Grapheal, said: “Grapheal is delighted to have successfully combined its award-winning wireless reading technology with the biosensor platform developed by Khalifa University. We hope that this is the seed of a much broader cooperation aimed at developing a UAE-based biotech industry at the forefront of global innovation.”  

 

Dr. Shadi W. Hassan, Director, CMAT said: “Khalifa University is pleased to announce the successful integration of its biosensor platform with Grapheal’s acclaimed wireless reading technology. This collaboration marks the beginning of a potentially extensive partnership focused on nurturing a biotechnology sector based in the UAE, poised to lead global innovation efforts.” 

 

RIC2D has played an instrumental role in identifying and nurturing the opportunity between Khalifa University’s CMAT and Grapheal, facilitating the necessary groundwork and investments to accelerate the building of synergies and commercialization of graphene-based biosensors to proliferate the adaptation of the superior performance of graphene-enhanced products and materials. 

 

Fahad Mohamed Rashed Alabsi, Director, Commercialization and Special Projects, RIC2D, said: “Khalifa University stands at the forefront of technological innovation, bolstering medical care and enhancing quality of life with our state-of-the-art technologies. At RIC2D, our conviction in the transformative power of 2D Materials across various sectors propels us to transcend boundaries.”

The search for sustainable refrigerants is a delicate balancing act between environmental imperatives and the pragmatics of safety, performance and cost.

 

A team of researchers from Khalifa University and Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Spain, has developed a novel integrated approach to evaluate new potential refrigerant blends using a machine-learning algorithm. The team’s approach presents a pathway to identify viable, low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant blends that can meet the stringent demands of the world’s cooling needs. 

 

Prof. Lourdes Vega, Director of the KU Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH), and Dr. Ismail Alkhatib, postdoctoral fellow at the RICH center, collaborated with Carlos Alba and Dr. Felix Llovell to develop the model, with their results published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews..

 

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are non-ozone depleting refrigerants and were introduced as alternatives to the chlorofluorocarbons that were banned in the 1990s for their harmful environmental impacts. However, HFCs come with their own problems. 

 

The climate impact of a substance is known as its global warming potential (GWP): The lower the GWP, the more climate-friendly the substance is. HFCs have a GWP thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide, making them a significant climate concern despite their low atmospheric concentration. Targeted by rigorous environmental mandates, hydrofluorocarbons are now being phased out and the race is on to find sustainable refrigerants to replace them without compromising efficiency or safety. 

 

Blended refrigerants have emerged as a compelling solution, offering the flexibility to fine-tune properties to meet the required criteria. 

 

By judiciously choosing the constituents and their proportions, researchers aim to replicate the performance of widely used HFCs while aligning with strict environmental regulations. Rather than individually test each option, systematic screening using computational simulations can be an efficient way to determine which refrigerant blends have the best potential. 

 

“Due to global warming and a boost of wealth in tropical regions, the demand for refrigeration and air-conditioning is likely to increase in the coming years,” explained Prof. Vega. “Any new refrigerant must be environmentally friendly, meet safety requirements and offer sufficient technical performance, while being economically affordable.”

 

Using their model, the team identified 12 potential blends for further technical evaluation. Using their proposed blends could promise a reduction of up to 15 percent in environmental impact, with their GWP up to 1,000 times lower than existing HFCs. 

 

The research team now plans to experimentally test the validity of their proposed blends for selected application and their scale up for widespread use.

Jade Sterling

Science Writer

29 November 2023

New research examines how thermal energy storage solutions can be applied to the traditional power grid to revolutionize decarbonization efforts using renewable energy sources

The surge in variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar photovoltaics is revolutionizing the power generation landscape. Critical to the decarbonization of electrical power systems, variable renewables are also challenging the traditional ways of balancing energy supply and demand due to their weather-dependent variability. This shift necessitates a robust solution for energy storage: a solution that can not only store excess electricity during periods of low demand but also stabilize the grid against unpredictable fluctuations.

 

A team of researchers including Khalifa University’s Prof. Matteo Chiesa, head of the Laboratory for Energy and Nano Science (LENS), modeled a real-world electricity system coupled with an existing thermal energy storage concept to show how adding photovoltaic storage systems to existing grids can contribute to the efficient stepwise decarbonization of electric power systems. Their model showed that power availability increases with increasing storage size and vastly increases in carbon dioxide reduction scenarios as the storage unit is used differently. When carbon dioxide emissions are reduced, the power system must be less dependent on the fossil fuel technologies that currently serve the grid and rely more on the power generated by the photovoltaic storage unit.

 

Prof. Chiesa collaborated with researchers from MIT and the Arctic University of Norway. Their results were published in Applied Energy, a top 1% journal in engineering and environmental science.
“Usually, studies modelling the integration of energy storage into power systems start from a hypothetical clean slate or ‘greenfield’ scenario, which doesn’t always translate effectively into real-world applications,” Prof. Chiesa said. “Our study pragmatically considers the transformation potential of existing electricity infrastructures towards decarbonization.”

 

By absorbing surplus electricity and dispatching it during demand peaks or production downtimes, energy storage systems ensure a continuous and balanced power supply. They also enable a greater share of cost-effective renewable energy technologies in the energy mix, mitigating the need to curtail renewable generation when it outstrips immediate demand.

While technologies like pumped hydropower storage and compressed air energy storage have been the bulwarks of large-scale energy storage, their geographical locations prompt the need for more universally applicable solutions. Hydrogen storage offers promise for long-term needs but grapples with high capital costs, making it most suitable for seasonal storage. Lithium-ion batteries are perfect for short-term storage but remain prohibitively expensive for multi-day storage, which is critical for full grid decarbonization.

 

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a promising alternative, showing potential to achieve the low capital costs required for long-term storage. The TES concept differs fundamentally from traditional batteries by storing electricity as heat using materials like graphite blocks. The stored heat is later converted by to electricity using thermophotovoltaics on demand. Despite efficiency losses during this conversion, the overall cost benefits of TES could offer a compelling tradeoff.

 

“The thermal energy grid storage (TEGS) concept builds on the TES principle but with the complete decoupling of charge and discharge capacities,” Prof. Chiesa said. “This design allows TEGS to store large amounts of energy quickly and discharge steadily over time, ideal for matching the intermittent supply of variable renewable energy sources with consistent demand.”

 

The research team’s work presents a framework for evaluating the value of integrating TEGS into an existing grid and explores how different storage sizes linked to a photovoltaic plant can enhance power availability and how emission constraints may influence this dynamic. By focusing on a TES unit already operational — albeit at a lab scale — this research suggests a way forward that includes the systematic incorporation of emerging technologies into existing infrastructures, a move that promises a more resilient and sustainable energy future.

 

While the current model does not account for all grid complexities or the unpredictability of variable renewable energy generation, the team says future research could refine these models to better assist power system planners and policymakers in managing grids and optimizing renewable energy use.

 

Jade Sterling

Science Write 

28 November 2023

 

How mid- and low-rise areas of the city are shaping the future of sustainable energy 

 

Accounting for a significant proportion of global electricity usage, the buildings sector is a pivotal player in urban sustainability. With the rise of distributed and renewable energy resources, the concept of buildings not just consuming but also producing energy is a palpable shift toward a greener urban landscape, where buildings are not just static consumers but dynamic “prosumers” of energy. 

 

New research from Khalifa University, in collaboration with Carleton University, Canada, highlights the performance of different urban areas within the matrix of consumption, self-sufficiency and energy surplus. Dr. Ahmad Mayyas, Assistant Professor of Management Science and Engineering, and PhD students Osama Mussawar and Rahul Rajeevkumar Urs studied urban energy performance under different configuration of prosumer buildings, where they acted communally and individually. Published in Sustainable Cities and Society, a top 1% journal in civil and structural engineering and geography, planning and development, their work reveals that when these areas adopt a community energy model, they not only boost self-consumption rates but also inch closer to a self-sustaining energy profile. 

 

A community energy model refers to a system in which local energy consumers — a neighborhood, group of buildings, or an entire district — collectively participate in energy generation, distribution, and consumption, rather than relying on large, centralized power plants and consumer roles. It represents a decentralized approach to energy production and management and could be as simple as installing solar panels on the roofs of all buildings within a community.

 

“We investigated the characteristic impact of built form and function on the performance potential of urban energy communities towards achieving sustainability goals such as net-zero and self-sufficiency,” Dr. Mayyas said. “We used an agent-based model that couples the energy demand and supply of buildings with the urban built context and considers both the community and individual modes of energy supply and demand in an urban area.”

 

Research is shifting from focusing on individual energy-efficient buildings to ambitious urban-scale sustainability goals like net-zero energy communities and positive energy districts. These concepts pivot around the understanding that the entire built environment is an intricate composition of building form and function that dictates the energy narrative of an urban area. 

 

“In urban areas with prosumer buildings, the manner in which energy supply and demand are matched – through aggregation or collaborative sharing – is just as influential as the built environment in determining energy outcomes,” Dr. Mayyas said. “The concept of energy communities encapsulates a collaborative spirit, one underpinned by social responsibility and ecological innovation, where the urban populace and utilities unite to optimize local renewable energy use and minimize environmental impact.”

 

The research team’s case study focused on urban areas in the United States, exploring the potential of these vertical landscapes to meet their energy needs sustainably. Using real urban contexts, contrasting climates, and a view of the form and function of high-rise buildings, the study delves into the energy dynamics of these areas, considering both the community and individual configurations of prosumer buildings, and assesses their performance across a range of metrics.

 

A community configuration does more than just enhance energy self-consumption, it also reduces dependency on central grids. The economic implications are substantial, with energy cost savings in mid-rise communities outstripping those in high-rise communities. These savings are underpinned by the lower costs of local energy supplies and diminished energy purchases from the grid. 

 

Low-rise urban areas follow a similar trajectory. Here, community energy configurations offer even more potential but the challenge for these areas remains in managing surplus energy. However, the economic upside is significant as community models help avoid steep energy costs associated with individual operations, especially in predominantly residential settings. 

 

The climate adds another layer to this complex energy puzzle: A hot climate boosts the performance of all urban areas, amplifying self-sufficiency while also escalating the surplus energy challenge, suggesting a regional dimension to sustainable energy planning. 

 

“In a warmer climate, energy communities are not just environmentally prudent but economically advantageous,” Dr. Mayyas said. “The built environment’s form and function profoundly influence urban energy sustainability. High-rise areas, with their dense commercial composition, glean minimal benefit from community modes due to their already high energy demand. Conversely, the potential for improved self-sufficiency blossoms in the less dense mid- and low-rise configurations, with their diverse mix of residential and commercial buildings.”

 

The transition to a community energy model is not without its challenges. Technical and commercial hurdles, including the need for micro-grid integration and the complex interplay of interests between prosumers and grid operators, must be navigated carefully. However, as urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders ponder the shift towards more sustainable, community-focused energy models, this study offers a glimpse into the promise and challenges of reimagining high-rise urban areas as frontrunners in the energy revolution.

Jade Sterling

Science Writer

27 November 2023

The consortium, Air-CRAFT, is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, and comprises eight founding entities: ADNOC, Boeing, Emirates, ENOC Group, Etihad, Honeywell, Khalifa University, Masdar. 

 

In the UAE Year of Sustainability, and at the 3rd ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) was held in Dubai, eight founding entities announced the launch of the “Air-CRAFT” initiative – a UAE based research consortium focused on developing, producing, and scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies.

 

Air-CRAFT, or the UAE Centre for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation, is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring together entities across the value chain – industrial policy makers, aviation regulators, fuel producers, academia and researchers, aircraft and powerplant manufacturers, and airline operators. While based in the UAE, the consortium will also engage with, and welcome the participation of relevant international entities as it progresses. The new initiative was announced on the sidelines of CAAF/3 today and ahead of COP28.

 

Air-CRAFT is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. “The aviation sector holds great importance as a key contributor to the GDP and as a target sector for our robust decarbonization drive,” said His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “The UAE has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, and this goal can only be achieved by slashing the emissions across the board. Air-CRAFT will go a long way in supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector, helping to make it resilient and sustainable well into the future.”

 

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the UAE and Chairman of the GCAA said: Introducing ‘Air-CRAFT’ at CAAF3 in Dubai emphasizes the UAE’s commitment to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, uniting government, private sector, and academia for a collective push toward sustainable aviation practice”. Bin Touq adds, “Aligned with the net-zero emissions goal by 2050, this consortium, the largest and most unique in the SAF industry, represents a substantial stride towards greener aviation future, and we look forward to making a significant positive impact through it”.

 

The collaboration is in support of the UAE’s National SAF Roadmap principles and the commercial aviation industry’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. At CAAF/3 today, senior representatives from the eight consortium entities signed a strategic collaboration agreement to kickstart the Air-CRAFT initiative.

 

Potential research topics at Air-CRAFT include environmental impact assessments, feedstock and process optimization, and techno-economic assessments. Air-CRAFT will also establish relevant links with other academic and research institutions in the UAE and internationally.

 

The U.S. government supports Air-CRAFT being linked to the intergovernmental US-UAE ‘Partnership to Accelerate Transition to Clean Energy’ (PACE) agreement.

 

The consortium’s industrial and institutional partners will provide market demand, expertise, and technology to support research into the production of alternative fuels for the aviation sector, and extends an open invitation to UAE and international entities to join the consortium. Air-CRAFT is already in advanced discussions with key and strategic global players to be announced in due course.

 

Hanan Balalaa, Senior Vice President, New Energies, ADNOC, said: “The world needs to accelerate the pace of progress towards net zero and this requires us to decarbonize core sectors such as aviation. Collaboration and innovation will be key to addressing all emissions and ADNOC is already working with our customers to help them transition to new energies. The launch of Air-CRAFT supports this objective and we look forward to working with our partners to unlock sustainable aviation fuel technologies that can decarbonize the sector faster.”

 

Brian Moran, vice president, Global Sustainability Policy and Partnerships at Boeing, said: “Scaling SAF is central to aviation achieving its net zero commitment by the middle of the century. Building a thriving local SAF economy requires collaboration across the value chain and we are honoured to have helped catalyse and now work with this esteemed group on Air-CRAFT to further spark SAF innovation in the UAE and beyond.”

 

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior VP for International Affairs, Emirates Airline, said: “Emirates supports initiatives that contribute to the deployment of SAF. We’ve contributed to the development of the UAE’s National SAF Roadmap and power-to-liquids fuel roadmaps, and believe the UAE is uniquely placed to lead in this space with its policies, technology and infrastructure capabilities. We see Air-CRAFT as a solid platform to progress the National SAF roadmap into reality, and we are proud to be one of the launch entities.”

 

His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO at ENOC, said: “We are proud to join hands with key industry leaders in launching Air-CRAFT, a ground-breaking initiative that underscores our commitment to advancing sustainable aviation fuels. Through collaborative research and innovation, we aim to propel the aviation industry towards a greener future, aligning with the UAE’s vision and unwavering pursuit of sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

 

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad applauds the development and assembly of the Air-CRAFT MoU and stands proudly alongside our partners for this announcement. For more than a decade, Etihad has committed to pioneering the development of SAF supply chains in the UAE and beyond, and since 2019, with the deployment of the Etihad Boeing Greenliner Programme, has driven an industry-leading sustainability initiative which targets all areas of our value chain. With Air-CRAFT, the Etihad ethos of partnerships and collaboration, and pursuit of the million little things continues strongly, under the banner of sustainability and the UAE.”

 

Mohammed Mohaisen, President and CEO Middle East and North Africa, Honeywell, said: “Honeywell is a trusted technology partner to the aviation and energy sectors, sharing the common goal of decarbonizing the future of air travel. Our suite of technologies enables SAF producers to capitalize on a range of non-competing feedstocks, including waste fats, used oils and greases, biomass, ethanol, methanol and captured carbon dioxide, and we are fully committed to accelerating the local production and deployment of SAF in the UAE. Underscoring this commitment, we are proud to form Air-CRAFT alongside our valued partners to support the UAE’s National SAF roadmap and advance its leadership in this critical innovation.”

 

Dr. Steven Griffiths, Senior Vice-President, Research and Development, and Professor of Practice, Khalifa University, said: “Khalifa University places the UAE’s energy transition at the core of its strategy. Given the critical importance of aviation to the UAE economy, the Air-CRAFT initiative therefore aligns seamlessly with our research agenda. Khalifa University looks forward to serving as the cornerstone of Air-CRAFT’s research, technology development and human capital development activities.”

 

Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, Chief Green Hydrogen Officer for Masdar, said: “As the UAE’s clean energy champion, Masdar is delighted to support this initiative to accelerate innovation in and adoption of SAFs. Sustainable fuels have enormous potential to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. Masdar looks forward to working in collaboration and partnership with Air-CRAFT members to advance research and scale to deliver against the National SAF Roadmap, as well as continuing to drive our green hydrogen business which will be fundamental to the wider commercial production of SAFs and a key element of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.”

 

More about the UAE’s decarbonisation efforts

The UAE is a global energy leader actively pursuing the decarbonization of its economy. It was the first country in the Gulf region to sign the Paris Agreement and the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to commit to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. It is also the host of COP28, and has declared 2023 as the Year of Sustainability in the country.

 

The biggest decarbonization lever available to the aviation industry is the adoption of SAF. For long-haul commercial flights in particular, no other technology platform is expected to significantly contribute to carbon neutrality goals in the next three decades at least, due to cost, technical or regulatory barriers.

 

Despite its critical role in decarbonization pathways for the aviation sector, SAF is supply-constrained and needs to be scaled rapidly.

 

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has published the National SAF Roadmap which has five principles to guide the industry in accelerating the decarbonization of the sector and transform it into a regional hub for alternative aviation fuels. The five principles are:

1. Establishing the Ambition: 700 million liters of SAF by 2030

2. Accelerating SAF Technology Deployment and Innovation

3. Developing the National Regulatory Environment for SAF

4. Building Local Capacity to Boost In-Country Value

5. Leading International Collaboration

The Center for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation (Air-CRAFT) will pursue the industrialization of SAF production and create an ecosystem to address the five principles of the National SAF Roadmap.