Decarb Connect

Alex is joined by Damian Beauchamp, President of 8 Rivers, and a leader in the deployment of innovations that decarbonise the toughest to abate sectors. With experience of major projects internationally, Damian talks about what it means to create conditions for success for innovative tech at-scale and how to approach innovation for hard to abate sectors in general. We also discuss what the new US administration could do to impact the decarbonisation agenda. Links:www.8rivers.comhttps://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/reaching-net-zero-by-2050-is-attainable/www.decarbconnect.com

With hydrogen in the news and gaining a lot of interest, we look at whether its environmental impact affects its positioning as a clean tech. We also examine Regnan's recent report on the issue and what it means for those investing in this technology and sector in order to decarbonise.  Links:www.regnan.com/investingwww.decarbconnect.com       

Alex is joined by Paul Bodnar, who brings extensive experience of climate finance and policy from his early career in investment through to his role in the Obama administration and his more recent work at the Rocky Mountain Institute.Amongst the many projects he has led and influenced, Paul took a principal role in formulating the U.S. strategy for the Paris Climate Conference. He is also a senior associate (non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and serves on the Board of the Carbon Tracker Initiative.We talk about the Mission Possible Partnership, the mechanisms that can be developed to link finance and investment to improving co2 per tonne of product - and about the how the nation-based approach developed in the Paris agreement can be augmented by platforms and policy that support the major emitters (which work across borders) in delivering net zero. Links: RMI Mission Possible Partnershipwww.decarbconnect.com  

The legacy of CCS is typically rooted in North American projects allied to EOR; in contrast the new wave of proposed European CCS projects are taking the technology in a new direction that is purely focussed on CO2 storage and where this storage will occur offshore. But to achieve net zero 2050, thousands of projects of this type may be needed. Join Nick Cooper, CEO of Storegga, to explore this emerging investment class and the value chain that is building up to deliver it. This is an ideal podcast for industrials wanting to understand whether they can leverage offshore CCS (whether in a cluster or not) - also for investors seeking to place capital in a way that delivers great returns along with decarbonisation.  Links: https://pale-blu.com/acorn/https://www.decarbconnect.com       

This episode is for you if you're interested in the role that innovation and systems/industry design could play in getting to net zero. Episode Links: https://www.celsagroup.com/en/sustainability/circular-economy-and-recycling/www.decarbconnect.com Thanks to Matt Wallace at Janno Media for his support with production and editing: www.jannomedia.com 

Alex is joined by Nick Molho of the Aldersgate Group who represent UK corporates and advocate the business case for decarbonising the UK economy. At the time of recording, the UK Government's 10 Point plan is still fresh in the minds of anyone pursuing decarbonisation. Nick reviews the plan for us and gives a clear assessment of the good, the bad and the absent. We talk about market mechanisms, getting value for tax payer investments and we look at trade policy as a lever for decarbonisation. Nick brings a background in environmental law to the discussion - plenty to learn from this (plus he's a really engaging podcastee). Links: https://www.aldersgategroup.org.uk/our-aimswww.decarbconnect.com

Successful companies in all kinds of sectors are developing strategies that can not only decarbonise, but also positively regenerate the environment. But how can long-established industries make this change? How can you both manage the revenue, profitability and workforce of the traditional industry whilst innovating and transitioning to a cleaner industrial models. This is an essential discussion for anyone involved in decarbonisation of the hard to abate sector - listen in and think about how the Three Horizons model could support you in the complex work of systemic change, business model or product change & innovation - and how you can ensure that you bring your organisation with you at each stage. If you're involved in driving change in a traditional industry, or if you work with incumbants in the hard to abate sectors, you'll find this particularly useful and thought-provoking. After all, decarbonisation is about the system of change - not just the technologies you'll choose to apply. Key links: www.futurestewards.com/regenerative-pathways/www.linkedin.com/in/bill-sharpe-6689/www.decarbconnect.com

How can we ensure that investment drives at-scale decarbonisation? The sheer size of investment needed and the complexity of projects emerging in decarbonisation and energy transition require project structures that deliver the highest levels of project performance whilst being realistic and investable for both industrials and investors. This week's episode draws on the experience of James Barrett-Miles from Greenmiles Consulting. James works with both disruptor tech companies and industrials, companies looking for holistic approaches to project development and investment. We talk about the volume of capital needed to fuel the right activity, the different structures and models for project investment - and also examine what the early renewables projects might teach us about getting the market for project investment moving. 

Tim Harwood, H21 Programme Director at Northern Gas Networks, and Alex discuss the status of both the H21 and HyDeploy pilot projects testing the route to large scale domestic distribution of hydrogen. We talk about the progress of these pilot projects, what is to be tested next in 2021 and the roadmap to industrial use of a hydrogen network. We also explore what will be needed to make this economically viable at scale and the need for a future system with new forms of collaboration that allow us to balance electrification, hydrogen and other renewables. Key links: www.h21.greenwww.decarbconnect.com

Andrew Purvis, Director of Safety, Environment and Technology at worldsteel talks with Alex about the work that is underway in the steel sector to start to make the shift to real, sustainable low emissions steel. Topics up for discussion include the types of next gen tech being tested in the sector, the potential for scrap and circularity - but also the real need to see government procurement and major buyers showing there is a market for low carbon/low emissions steel. With 1.8b tonnes of steel produced in 2019, and a high potential for the sector to produce products that would drive the transition to decarbonisation - there's both massive potential for the sector while also the need to tackle their major co2 bill. Find out how the sector is moving forward and where some of the blocks and opportunities lie. Key links: https://circulareconomy.worldsteel.org/Andrew will be speaking on day 2 of Decarb Connect Digital Festival: https://decarbconnect.com/digital-festival/