With G7 meetings being increasingly dominated by environmental discourse, energy companies must meet growing demands. In search for greener processes, this article explores four key methods for energy companies to become more environmentally friendly.
1. Advanced gas scrubbing technologies
There have been many recent advancements in gas scrubbing technologies. These are created to remove pollutants from gases produces during fuel processes, which then purifies the emissions too.
Syngas wet scrubbing, for example, is one method that effectively removes sulphur and other matter from gas. It involves using a liquid solution to capture and remove contaminants from gas. This process reduces harmful emissions and produces cleaner fuel.
Therefore, using a gas scrubber does not only produce cleaner gas, but also helps energy companies comply with environmental regulations better and reduce their overall impact on our planet.
2. Hydrogen energy storage and fuel cells
Hydrogen energy storage is a promising solution for balancing energy supply and demand. It essentially aims to store excess energy in the form of hydrogen gas, which is not currently done in many markets. This hydrogen can then be converted back into electricity using fuel cells.
Fuel cells work like batteries, that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, only needing water as a by-product. This technology makes energy creation particularly clean and efficient, making it ideal for energy organisations trying to reduce their environmental impact.
Japan is currently setting a great example of how hydrogen fuel cells can be successfully integrated into a country’s grid system. They are planning to use it in order to provide clean backup power and storage for renewable energy, reducing Japan’s reliance on fossil fuels.
3. Smart grid technology
Smart grid technology optimises electricity distribution and integrates renewable energy sources. They use advanced sensors and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to manage energy flow, which helps improve efficiency and reduce overall waste.
Additionally, a smart grid system monitors and adjusts the flow of electricity in real-time, responding to any spikes or lows in demand to adjust the supply. This technology allows for electricity to be distributed better, making power supply more reliable too.
Denmark’s grid system is a prime example of this technology in action. The country uses smart grids to support their integration of renewable energy, primarily wind energy. As a result, Denmark is able to use a significant portion of green energy and has reduced energy waste by large numbers.
4. Waste-to-energy conversion
One of the best ways to minimise waste is to turn it into energy, and the latest technologies allow doing it more effectively. For example, landfill waste can be produced into electricity or heat, providing a sustainable energy source.
This is typically done by introducing waste to high temperature, which generates heat that can then produce electricity. This method not only helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, but is also a reliable type of renewable energy.
An example that companies can look up to is Singapore’s waste-to-energy system. They use this technology to process thousands of tons of waste every single day, generating a large amount of electricity for the country. This initiative has significantly lowered Singapore’s carbon footprint as well as minimised the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Conclusion
All in all, there are numerous different technologies that can be used to reduce environmental impact. The mentioned countries that are already adapting them lead a great example for the energy companies.
