Geothermal energy is still in its infancy in Canada, supplying zero electricity to the grid as of 2024. However, according to the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), the country’s geothermal potential is vast, with enough technically recoverable heat to meet Canada’s electricity demand over 1 million times. Recent advancements in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and closed-loop technologies have opened new possibilities, particularly in western provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

Canada’s Top Geothermal Projects

While Canada’s geothermal industry is still growing, several promising projects are paving the way for large-scale development. These projects highlight the innovation and leadership driving this sector forward.

1. Razor Energy Swan Hills Geothermal Project (Alberta)
   • CEO: Doug Bailey
   • Website: razor-energy.com
     This project repurposes abandoned oil and gas wells in Alberta to generate geothermal power. With an expected output of 21 MW, enough to power 7,000 homes, it represents Canada’s first commercial geothermal project of its kind.
2. DEEP Earth Energy Production Project (Saskatchewan)
   • CEO: Kirsten Marcia
   • Website: deepcorp.ca
     Located in southern Saskatchewan, DEEP’s geothermal project is set to produce 5 MW of electricity and provide direct heating for nearby communities. As the first large-scale geothermal power project in Canada, it has drawn significant attention.
3. Eavor-Loop Demonstration Facility (Alberta)
   • CEO: John Redfern
   • Website: eavor.com
     Eavor Technologies is pioneering closed-loop geothermal systems, which require no water reservoirs. Their demonstration facility in Alberta has gained international recognition for its scalability and minimal environmental impact.
4. Meager Creek Development Project (British Columbia)
   • CEO: Craig Dunn
   • Website: saberenergy.ca
     This project explores volcanic geothermal resources in British Columbia’s Meager Creek area. Once operational, it could become one of Canada’s largest geothermal facilities, contributing significant renewable energy to the province.
5. Terrapin Geothermics – Greenview Geothermal Power Plant (Alberta)
   • CEO: Sean Collins
   • Website: terrapingeo.com
     This innovative project is developing a geothermal power plant in Greenview, Alberta, repurposing energy from an industrial landfill site. It’s designed to be a model for sustainable geothermal power in remote locations.
6. Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project (British Columbia)
   • CEO: Kekinusuqs Judith Sayers (for Kanaka Bar Indian Band)
   • Website: kanakabarband.ca
     The Kanaka Bar Indian Band leads this project, leveraging geothermal energy for community heating and potential electricity generation. It represents an important Indigenous-led initiative in Canada’s geothermal space.
7. Alberta No. 1 Geothermal Project (Alberta)
   • CEO: Catherine Hickson
   • Website: canadaalb.no1.com
     This project, developed by Terrapin Geothermics and partners, focuses on generating clean energy from deep sedimentary basins in Alberta.
8. Clark Lake Geothermal Project (British Columbia)
   • CEO: Meike Goetze
   • Website: fortisbc.com
     FortisBC leads this project, targeting geothermal resources at Clark Lake in B.C. for large-scale energy generation and heating.
9. GeoEnergy Systems Closed-Loop Project (Ontario)
   • CEO: Peter McFarlane
   • Website: geoenergysystems.ca
     Focused on implementing closed-loop technology in Ontario, this project is part of Canada’s efforts to expand geothermal beyond western provinces.
10. Kitselas Geothermal Project (British Columbia)
    • CEO: Corinne McKay (for Kitselas Development Corporation)
    • Website: kitselasgeothermal.ca
      Led by the Kitselas First Nation, this project combines renewable energy development with Indigenous community benefits, showcasing the potential for geothermal in empowering local economies.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

Investing in geothermal energy could bring significant economic and environmental advantages for Canada:

• Reliable, 24/7 Power: Unlike solar and wind, geothermal energy provides consistent, baseload electricity regardless of weather conditions.
• Job Creation: Geothermal projects can create jobs in drilling, engineering, and construction, particularly for workers transitioning from the oil and gas sector.
• Low Emissions: Geothermal energy is nearly emissions-free, making it an excellent complement to Canada’s clean energy mix.
• Efficient Land Use: Geothermal plants require less land than wind and solar farms, minimizing environmental disruption.
• Decarbonized Heating: Beyond electricity, geothermal heat can replace fossil fuels in district heating systems, a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions in colder climates.

The Path Forward

As Canada develops its geothermal sector, these projects and companies are paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. With the right policy support and continued innovation, geothermal energy could become a critical pillar of Canada’s net-zero transition.

The Bottom Line

By unlocking the Earth’s heat, Canada has the opportunity to not only reduce its carbon footprint but also create jobs, enhance energy security, and strengthen Indigenous-led clean energy projects. Geothermal energy is poised to become an essential component of Canada’s clean energy mix.

Geothermal energy currently supplies less than 1% of the world’s electricity, but next-generation technologies could revolutionize this sector. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), geothermal energy capacity in the U.S. could grow from 4 gigawatts (GW) today to 90 GW by 2050—and potentially even 300 GW under high-end projections. These advancements could expand geothermal’s reach from just seven states to at least 18 across the U.S., offering a critical tool in achieving a zero-carbon energy grid.

The Promise of Next-Generation Geothermal

Traditional geothermal energy has been used for over a century but has remained geographically limited. It relies on tapping into natural underground reservoirs of hot water, which are only available in specific locations like Kenya, Iceland, Indonesia, and parts of the western U.S.

Next-generation geothermal technologies, however, aim to harness Earth’s heat without needing natural reservoirs. This breakthrough could unlock vast amounts of clean energy worldwide.

According to DOE estimates, by 2050, geothermal energy could provide roughly a quarter of the U.S.’s total electricity capacity. The advancements are not merely theoretical—several projects are already underway. Companies like Fervo Energy are developing commercial Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in Nevada and Utah, while others like Eavor are testing closed-loop geothermal systems in Canada and Germany.

How Next-Generation Geothermal Works

Three types of next-generation geothermal technologies are leading the charge:

1. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
   EGS creates artificial underground reservoirs by drilling into hot rock and using hydraulic fracturing to create cracks. Water is injected into one well, heated as it flows through the rock, and pumped up another well to generate power. DOE-funded projects like the FORGE initiative in Utah have been instrumental in advancing EGS technology.
2. Closed-Loop Systems
   Unlike EGS, closed-loop systems don’t rely on creating underground reservoirs. Instead, they use sealed wells to circulate fluids that never come into direct contact with surrounding rocks. The company Eavor has demonstrated this technology successfully in Canada and is now developing its first commercial project in Germany.
3. Superhot Geothermal Systems
   These systems aim to tap into extremely hot rock environments exceeding 374°C, where water becomes “supercritical” and holds far more energy. Companies like Quaise Energy and GA Drilling are exploring technologies to access these extreme conditions, which could theoretically meet global electricity demand if successful.

Environmental Benefits of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a clean, low-emission power source with several environmental advantages:

• Minimal Greenhouse Gas Emissions: On par with solar and wind, geothermal energy is a reliable, carbon-free option to supplement intermittent renewables.
• Low Land and Water Use: Geothermal plants require less land than other energy sources like wind and solar and use less water than coal, nuclear, or hydropower.
• Fewer Critical Mineral Dependencies: Unlike battery technologies, geothermal energy requires fewer critical minerals like lithium or zinc.

Additionally, geothermal plants produce little to no conventional air pollutants, avoiding health risks like lung and heart disease often associated with fossil fuel plants.

Addressing Risks

Concerns about seismic activity and water contamination have been raised, particularly in relation to EGS projects, which use hydraulic fracturing. However, the DOE’s Induced Seismicity Protocol has successfully prevented earthquake-related issues in geothermal projects for over a decade. Moreover, unlike oil and gas fracking, EGS uses little to no chemical additives, and underground systems are sealed to prevent groundwater contamination.

Despite these safeguards, risks remain, especially near natural fault lines. Incidents in France, Switzerland, and South Korea highlight the importance of robust monitoring and site selection.

Geothermal’s Cost Competitiveness

The cost of geothermal energy is falling rapidly. At the DOE FORGE site, drilling costs have dropped by 500% since 2017, and Fervo Energy reduced drilling costs from $1,000 per foot to $400 per foot between projects. According to the DOE, EGS projects could cost $64 per megawatt-hour (MWh), making them competitive with solar-plus-battery systems.

The Future of Geothermal

With advancements in EGS, closed-loop systems, and the potential for superhot geothermal, this energy source could become a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. Major tech companies and utilities are already investing in geothermal projects, signaling a bright future for this next-generation technology.

Geothermal energy offers an opportunity to scale up clean, firm power worldwide. With continued innovation, it could provide a critical bridge to a 100% clean, reliable power grid.

Source and Images: WRI.Org

Advancing Energy Sovereignty in Fort Liard

The ADK Geothermal Energy Development Project, spearheaded by ADK Holdings Ltd.—the economic development arm of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation—marks a significant stride toward energy independence. The initiative is designed to:

• Engage the local community of Echaot’l Koe (Fort Liard) in exploring geothermal energy’s potential.
• Identify viable geothermal resource opportunities across the First Nation’s traditional territory.
• Facilitate the community’s transition from diesel to renewable energy sources, fostering job creation and economic growth.

By reducing dependence on diesel for heating, this project not only addresses environmental concerns but also empowers Indigenous communities to chart their path toward sustainability.

A Vision for Indigenous-Led Clean Energy

The Government of Canada’s investment highlights a broader commitment to supporting Indigenous communities in leading the clean energy revolution. Speaking on the significance of this collaboration, The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, emphasized:

“Clean energy is not just an environmental imperative; it’s an economic opportunity that can transform lives. The ADK Geothermal Development Project exemplifies how Indigenous communities can drive solutions that reduce emissions while creating jobs and fostering prosperity.”

Echoing this sentiment, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, remarked:

“This project reduces diesel dependency and demonstrates Indigenous leadership in addressing climate change. It’s a powerful step in reconciliation and environmental stewardship.”

A Track Record of Impact: The CERRC Program

The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program, launched in 2018, has been instrumental in reducing fossil fuel dependency across Canada’s Indigenous and remote regions. With an expanded budget of $233 million allocated in 2021, the program has already supported 111 projects nationwide. These include capacity-building initiatives, bioheat solutions, and large-scale renewable energy ventures.

Key milestones of the CERRC program include:

• Promoting community-led clean energy projects to achieve energy security.
• Advancing reconciliation by recognizing Indigenous expertise in climate solutions.
• Driving the transition to renewable energy, making homes warmer and healthier while reducing costs.

Paving the Way for Geothermal Leadership

The investment in geothermal energy development aligns with Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, a blueprint for achieving clean air and a robust economy. The recent release of the Kinship and Prosperity Report by the Indigenous Council provides actionable insights to further accelerate clean energy transitions in Indigenous, rural, and remote areas.

Geothermal energy holds immense promise, offering a stable and sustainable power source. For the Acho Dene Koe First Nation, this project is more than an energy initiative—it is a testament to their leadership in building resilient, self-sufficient communities.

Transforming Fort Liard, One Kilowatt at a Time

The ADK Geothermal Energy Development Project represents more than funding; it’s a partnership. It’s an acknowledgment of Indigenous communities’ expertise and their vital role in shaping Canada’s clean energy future.

As this initiative unfolds, it is expected to create lasting economic, environmental, and social benefits, proving that reconciliation and innovation go hand in hand.

Source: Natural Resources Canada

Geothermal Conversion: Breathing New Life into Aging Oil Wells

The world hosts over 20 million oil and gas wells—many of which are ripe for transformation. Primeval Energy estimates that at least 10 percent of these wells could be converted into geothermal energy powerhouses. Imagine millions of aging wells, once used for fossil fuels, generating renewable heat and electricity, offsetting carbon emissions, and providing reliable energy storage. Primeval’s geothermal transformation model provides a tailored, engineered approach, assessing each well’s unique characteristics and potential. For wells that cannot be converted, the company offers cost-effective abandonment programs, ensuring responsible environmental stewardship.

Flexible Solutions Tailored for Optimal Performance

Primeval Energy’s philosophy of flexibility sets it apart. The company is technology-agnostic, meaning it’s not bound to any single geothermal technology or model. This adaptability allows Primeval’s team to provide bespoke solutions tailored to each project’s unique geographic, technological, and financial needs. It’s not just about geothermal—Primeval Energy can design hybrid systems that incorporate solar, wind, and energy storage, ensuring that each project meets its full energy potential.

This approach opens doors across various geographies, providing sustainable energy solutions in diverse regions, each with specific regulatory, geological, and infrastructural requirements. By adapting to local needs, Primeval optimizes the energy potential of each project while ensuring compliance and sustainability.

Strategic Project Partnerships: From Feasibility to Full Operation

Primeval Energy offers a range of engagement models, making it a comprehensive partner in geothermal project development. Their services span from feasibility studies to design, project execution, and facility operation. This flexibility accommodates everything from short-term consulting to long-term operational partnerships. Whether guiding the project design or managing the facilities post-launch, Primeval supports its partners at every step, effectively minimizing risk and maximizing success rates. This model also opens financing opportunities for clients, enabling more accessible paths to renewable energy.

Primeval’s Mission: 1,000 Megawatts of Clean Energy

Ambitiously aiming to install 1,000 megawatts of renewable heat and power across existing oil and gas sites, Primeval Energy is gearing up for a transformation that could redefine the geothermal industry. This goal not only signifies an impressive scale of energy capacity but also highlights the potential of geothermal energy to become a cornerstone of the global energy mix. By capitalizing on existing infrastructure, Primeval is bringing renewable energy to areas once dominated by fossil fuels, proving that oil and gas assets can become allies in the fight for a cleaner planet.

The Future of Geothermal Energy: Beyond a Single Solution

Primeval Energy’s hybrid energy model underscores that geothermal isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The company strategically integrates complementary energy sources, like solar and wind, to optimize each site’s output. This commitment to efficiency and sustainability makes Primeval a leader in crafting holistic renewable energy systems, maximizing the benefits of every available resource. By focusing on the specific needs of each project, Primeval’s hybrid solutions ensure that energy production is both sustainable and efficient, offering a model that could set a standard in the renewable energy sector.

Redefining Geothermal for a Greener Tomorrow

Primeval Energy’s approach to repurposing oil and gas wells represents a revolutionary shift in how we view energy assets. By transforming defunct wells into geothermal power sources, they are giving oil and gas infrastructure a second, cleaner life. This strategy not only advances renewable energy but also leverages decades of energy infrastructure for a sustainable future.

Primeval’s pioneering spirit exemplifies the innovation needed to reshape our global energy system. With a flexible, forward-thinking approach and ambitious goals, Primeval Energy is leading the way toward a geothermal revolution. Oil and gas assets may no longer be just remnants of the past; under Primeval Energy’s transformative vision, they become cornerstones of a renewable tomorrow.

Source: Primeval Energy – www.primeval-energy.com

Embrace Renewable Energy Sources:
Make the switch to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

Energy Efficiency Improvements:
Implement energy-efficient technologies and practices throughout operations to minimize energy wastage and lower carbon footprint.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):
Invest in CCS technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and store them underground, preventing their release into the atmosphere.

Electrification of Transportation:
Support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and invest in EV charging infrastructure to decrease reliance on fossil fuels in the transportation sector.

Sustainable Bioenergy:
Explore the use of sustainable biomass and biofuels as viable alternatives to fossil fuels, ensuring responsible sourcing practices to mitigate environmental impact. Energy

Storage Solutions:
Invest in energy storage technologies like batteries and pumped hydro storage to facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the grid.

Smart Grid Technologies:
Deploy smart grid technologies to optimize energy distribution, minimize energy losses, and support the seamless integration of renewable energy sources.

Energy Conservation Programs:
Implement energy conservation programs to incentivize consumers and businesses to reduce energy consumption through education and incentives.

Green Building Practices:
Adopt green building practices in construction and renovation projects to enhance energy efficiency and decrease emissions from buildings.

Carbon Offsetting:
Invest in carbon offset projects, such as reforestation and renewable energy initiatives, to counterbalance your company’s carbon emissions.

Circular Economy Initiatives:
Embrace circular economy principles by minimizing waste generation, promoting recycling, and designing products for longevity and recyclability.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management:
Collaborate with suppliers to ensure the sustainability of raw materials and decrease emissions across the supply chain.

Carbon Pricing:
Advocate for carbon pricing mechanisms that internalize the cost of carbon emissions and encourage emission reductions.

Research and Development:
Allocate resources to research and development efforts aimed at developing innovative decarbonization technologies and solutions.

Collaboration and Advocacy:
Collaborate with industry peers, policymakers, and stakeholders to advocate for policies and initiatives that support decarbonization efforts on a broader scale.

By implementing these strategies, energy companies can play a pivotal role in leading the charge toward a low-carbon future while simultaneously creating value for shareholders, customers, and society as a whole. It’s time to take action, drive change, and pave the way for a cleaner, greener energy landscape. Together, we can make a meaningful impact!

This is Tina Olivero signing off for Our Great Minds. Stay tuned for more insights on the latest trends and developments in the energy industry here at TheOGM.com. Let’s continue to create boundaries and shape a sustainable future for generations to come.

Oil and Gas Companies:

1. Invest in Renewable Energy: Diversify your energy portfolio by investing in renewable energy projects such as solar, wind, and bioenergy. This not only reduces carbon emissions but also future-proofs your business against the transition to a low-carbon economy.
2. Optimize Operations: Implement advanced technologies and best practices to optimize oil and gas extraction processes, minimize methane leaks, and reduce energy consumption in operations.
3. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Explore opportunities for CCS technologies to capture and store carbon emissions from your operations, thereby mitigating your environmental impact.
4. Transition to Cleaner Fuels: Gradually transition towards cleaner fuels such as natural gas, which emits fewer greenhouse gases compared to coal and oil.
5. Enhance Energy Efficiency: Continuously improve energy efficiency across operations, including refineries and petrochemical plants, through upgrades and process optimizations.

Major Contractors:

1. Promote Green Technologies: Advocate for the adoption of green technologies and practices in oil and gas projects, such as energy-efficient equipment and low-emission processes.
2. Supply Chain Collaboration: Collaborate with oil and gas companies to develop and implement sustainable supply chain practices, including responsible sourcing of materials and reduced emissions in transportation.
3. Innovative Solutions: Invest in research and development to develop innovative solutions that reduce emissions during project execution, such as advanced drilling techniques and emissions-reducing technologies.
4. Efficient Project Management: Implement efficient project management practices that prioritize sustainability, including minimizing waste generation and optimizing resource utilization.
5. Education and Training: Provide education and training programs for employees to increase awareness of sustainability issues and promote the adoption of eco-friendly practices.

Suppliers:

1. Sustainable Sourcing: Adopt sustainable sourcing practices by prioritizing suppliers that adhere to environmental standards and certifications, and promote responsible extraction and production methods.
2. Energy-Efficient Products: Offer energy-efficient products and services to oil and gas companies, major contractors, and other clients to help them reduce their carbon footprint.
3. Carbon Footprint Reduction: Implement measures to reduce your own carbon footprint, such as optimizing transportation routes and reducing energy consumption in manufacturing processes.
4. Circular Economy Initiatives: Embrace circular economy principles by promoting product reuse, recycling, and waste reduction throughout the supply chain.
5. Collaborative Innovation: Collaborate with oil and gas companies and major contractors to develop and implement innovative solutions that reduce emissions across the entire value chain.

By implementing these tailored strategies, oil and gas companies, major contractors, and suppliers can play a pivotal role in driving decarbonization efforts within the industry. Rather than wait to be mandated to do “the right thing” adopt a culture of corporate responsibility that is self-governed and proactive in the quest to reach net zero. Together, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future while ensuring continued growth and prosperity for all stakeholders involved.

This is Tina Olivero signing off for TheOGM.com. Let’s continue to lead the way towards a greener, more sustainable energy industry!

ECO Canada is a non-profit organization that provides workforce solutions for environmental employers. They offer various funding programs to help employers attract new talent, save initial wage and training costs, and stimulate environmental career pathways, skill development, business growth, and workforce advancement. 

For over 30 years, ECO Canada has been connecting environmental employers and skilled junior talent through wage and training funding programs to drive valuable on-the-job work experience and essential skills development.

Thanks to the support of funders:
Natural Resources Canada,
Climate Change Canada,
Social Development Canada, and
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada

ECO Canada offers wage dollars to increase funding capacity and support your business participation in the green economy. In helping your team with wage and training costs, Eco Canada makes hiring new talent more attractive.

Benefits for Employers:

• Increase work capacity
• Access talented youth with new ideas & skills
• Increase employee retention
• Reduce staff training costs
• Strengthen overall business operations
• Support the growth of new qualified environmental workers

The funding programs offered by ECO Canada are varied and provide many options for companies and new employees in the climate-conscious realm. Some of the programs include:

Environmental Jobs Growth Program:

This program is designed to help employers create new environmental jobs. Eligible employers can receive 75% of the candidate’s wages covered up to a maximum of $18,750 for placements of up to 12 months.

Environmental Foreign Talent Development Program:

This program is designed to help employers hire foreign talent for environmental jobs. Eligible employers can receive 75% wage coverage up to $15,000 of a participant’s salary for full-time placements of 3 to 6 months.

Nature-Based Climate Solutions Program:

• This program is designed to help employers create jobs related to nature-based climate solutions. Eligible employers can receive a $4,500 wage subsidy for a 3-month full-time or part-time placement. To qualify for these funding programs, employers must meet the following criteria:
• Be a Canadian employer
• Offer a full-time or part-time environmental job
• Provide a safe and healthy work environment
• Provide a fair and equitable work environment
• Provide a job that is not part of a labor dispute
• Provide a job that is not a self-employment opportunity

Discover a selection of wage funding programs offered by ECO Canada at ECO.ca. Explore the programs that can help your company attract new talent, and reduce initial wage and training expenses, while promoting the growth of environmental career paths, skill development, business growth, and workforce advancement.

RESPONDING TO THE ENERGY INDUSTRY – In an Eco-Friendly Way

ECO Canada has partnerships, programs, and research to support employers, professionals, educators, and students in the environmental sector. Visit eco.ca to learn about the various resources and programs that fit your organization.

These funding programs help employers create new environmental jobs, hire foreign talent, and create jobs related to nature-based climate solutions. To apply for these funding programs, employers must meet eligibility criteria and fill out an application form on ECO.ca.

For those looking to work in the new sustainable energy world, don’t miss out on this opportunity to kickstart your environmental career journey and gain meaningful work experience. 

Find out more at: www.ECO.ca

The scientific consensus is that human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels, has warmed Earth’s surface and ocean basins, causing havoc in the world’s delicate environmental system.

Our energy appetite, which currently utilizes fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, is the primary contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air, which traps heat in our atmosphere and causes global warming. As a result, the average global temperature has already increased by 1°C, and warming above 1.5°C risks further sea level rise, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and species extinction, as well as food scarcity, worsening health, and poverty for millions of people worldwide.

The impact of climate change also includes changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, changes in flower and plant blooming times, and wildfires.

To combat climate change, we need to reduce our carbon footprint and support sustainable new energy initiatives. This means a dramatic change in the world’s top polluting industries such as fossil fuels, agriculture, fashion, transport, and construction. As well, we need to ensure the world’s top pollutant emitters are coming on board with responsible low emissions solutions. Not all countries are equal when it comes to carbon emissions. The top ten carbon-emitting countries include China, the United States, India, Russia, Japan, Iran, Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

SHOULD WE STOP USING FOSSIL FUELS?

Knowing the threat of climate change, we have an immediate and fearful reaction from the world’s people to, “stop using fossil fuels right now”. What the general public doesn’t realize is the big energy picture. Eliminating the immediate use of fossil fuels has a corresponding negative impact on the world that is as bad or worse than climate change.

REMEMBERING HOW WE GOT HERE

Fossil fuels are responsible for increased economic prosperity, education, food supply, social services, health care, a revitalized manufacturing sector, the improvement of millions of lives through direct and indirect employment and lower energy costs, new sources of government revenues, and strengthened energy security for all nations.

Fossil fuels have been responsible for a higher standard of living for all. So unless we give up our cars, live in the woods, live off the land, and give up all of the amenities we enjoy today like cell phones, computers, abundant food sources, etc., then we must accept that the progress of mankind is deeply dependent on fossil fuels for at least 20-30 years.

THE IMPACT OF NOT USING FOSSIL FUELS RIGHT NOW

Not using oil and gas would have an immediate and significant global impact on poverty, food supply, global products, machinery, plastics, and other aspects of the economy.

There has to be a responsible transition from fossil fuels to renewables to mitigate further risks, which takes time.

It took 100 years for oil and gas to be integrated into society, it will take at least 25 years to remove it responsibly, to ensure there are no dire global consequences, incurred by moving too fast.

WHY DO WE USE FOSSIL FUELS?

We need fossil fuels to literally fuel our existence. According to the UN, the largest carbon-emitting systems and processes that utilize fossil fuels include:
generating power
manufacturing goods
cutting down forests
utilizing transportation
making things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods
mining and other industrial processes
operating machinery
manufacturing
utilizing plastic
transportation such as cars, trucks, ships, and planes
producing food
powering buildings
building and energizing cities and communities
clearing land for agriculture
deforestation
powering buildings
utilizing electricity and power

What would the world look like if we cut out oil and gas and then cut out these carbon-emitting processes? My guess is, the world would come to a halt, much like that of Covid 19.

Is that really where we want to go?

HOW DO WE COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND STILL USE FOSSIL FUELS?

That’s a question the world’s greatest minds work on every day.

In essence, oil and gas are essential to a sustainable future. Oil and gas companies, operators, major contractors, and suppliers consider this question daily. That’s precisely why they are so effective and answering it. If you want to know how to responsibly transition from fossil fuels to renewable, watch what the oil companies are competently doing. Study their energy transition plans. Understand their vision and goals and you will find a very strategic, well-thought-out development plan for the new energy-sustainable world.

Oil and gas companies are working to transition into the renewable energy space by taking direct an decisive action to succeed in the energy transition in the following ways:

Energy Security
Oil and gas companies provide a reliable source of energy that is essential for world energy demand, economic growth, and development. Oil work to ensure we have the energy to power transportation, heat homes/buildings, and generate electricity.

Without oil and gas, many countries would be unable to meet their energy needs, leading to economic instability, social unrest, hunger, poverty, illness, homelessness, and more.

Transition Fuel
Oil and gas can serve as a transition fuel as we move towards a more sustainable future.

Oil and gas are the fuels used to generate electricity while renewable energy sources are developed and responsibly integrated into the new energy mix.

Innovation
The oil and gas industry has a successful history of implementing innovation and technological solutions to sustain our progress.

Oil and gas companies’ expertise can be leveraged to develop new technologies and solutions that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.

Carbon Capture & Storage
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is used by oil and gas companies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities and store them underground, thereby reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Carbon capture and storage will be critical in the new energy transition equation.

Economic Benefits
The oil and gas industry provides significant economic benefits, including royalties, job creation, tax revenue, and investment in local communities. and more.

Research
Oil and gas companies are world leaders in funding research into new technologies and solutions that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.

Environmental Stewardship
The oil and gas industry is committed to environmental stewardship and reducing its environmental impact. Many companies have implemented policies and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy efficiency, and protect the environment.

Many oil and gas companies have set stringent targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, invest in renewable energy, and promote sustainable transportation.

Integrating Renewable Energy
Oil and gas companies are integrating renewable energy into their operations to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, they use solar or wind power to generate electricity.

The Use of Biogas & Geothermal
Biogas, which is produced from organic waste, is being used as a fuel source to reduce the carbon footprint of oil and gas operations.

Geothermal energy is used to power oil and gas operations, reducing the need for fossil fuels.

Energy Efficiency:
Oil and gas companies are using energy efficiency measures, such as improving leak detection and repair, installing vapor-recovery units, or using combined heat and power, can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Decreasing Freshwater Usage:
Oil and gas companies are reducing their carbon footprint by decreasing freshwater usage. For example, they use recycled water for hydraulic fracturing. These recycling efforts reduce their carbon footprint.

Used Oil Recycling
More companies are utilizing small-scale, waste-oil,micro-refinery units that transform used oil into diesel fuel. This approach yields fuel for ongoing operations and is a relatively inexpensive alternative to more traditional oil disposal methods.

Streamlining and Improving Processes
IIOT, analytics, automation, reserve replacement and enhancement capabilities, and emerging artificial intelligence programs all assist in finding and eliminating operational inefficiencies.

Improving the efficiency of ongoing operational processes, oil and gas companies produce the same amount but with reduced costs and energy expenditure, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

These and many other emerging emissions-reducing technologies are emerging. Every company is on the hunt for carbon-reducing innovations that will save the day. Here lies the $trillion opportunity for you and your company.

For countries like Canada, which are natural resources rich, the new energy evolution, means prosperity ahead. Canada is well positioned to supply its own nation with energy and supply those less fortunate in terms of land, water, and natural resources, with their much-needed energy.

THE NEW ENERGY MIX

What we know for sure is that oil and gas will fuel the incoming renewable energy economy.

Pitting one fuel source against another only divides us and deflects from the critical development of the new energy mix.

This new energy mix is imperative to meet world energy demand, mitigate energy security threats and ensure our world is fed, cared for, and prosperous.

Success looks like this:
A dramatic reduction in carbon emissions
A powerful new energy mix
Countries working together for a global renewable energy economy

ONE WORLD, ONE PEOPLE

As we venture forward into the new energy world, we must remember:
Emissions know no boundaries. We are one world.
Energy use and energy security are basic human rights.
Climate change calls for global unity, and responsibly working together.
Energy transition means responsible utilization of oil and gas to bring in renewable energy.
The new world order is a new-energy mix that means opportunity and prosperity for everyone.

Sources & Images:
natural-resources.canada.ca
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate – NDP
CNBC
Climate Trade
Earth.org
UN.org
Climate Trade
Ace Space
World Population Review

Climate change – Canada has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Paris Agreement, and new energy innovations can help to achieve this goal by providing cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. 

Energy security – New energy innovations can diversify Canada’s energy mix and reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, which can be subject to price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

Economic opportunities – The development and deployment of new energy technologies can create jobs and economic growth, particularly in the manufacturing and services sectors.

Energy affordability – New energy innovations can help to make energy more affordable for Canadians, particularly for those living in remote or rural areas.

Energy self-sufficiency – New energy innovations can help Canada to become more energy self-sufficient and reduce its dependence on imported energy sources.

Energy export – Canada has significant potential for energy export, particularly for hydroelectricity and clean energy technologies, and new energy innovations can help to expand these opportunities.

Overall, new energy innovations can help Canada to meet its climate and energy goals while also driving economic growth and creating new opportunities for the country. The top 10 most powerful renewable energy innovations emerging include:

1. Solar power: Canada has a large potential for solar energy due to its high solar insolation, and various projects have been developed in different provinces.
2. Wind power: Canada has abundant wind resources, particularly in the Prairie provinces and on the east and west coasts, and has significant installed capacity for wind power generation.
3. Biomass: Canada has a large number of sustainable biomass resources, such as wood waste, agricultural waste, and sewage, which can be used for heat, electricity, and transportation fuel production.
4. Hydropower: Canada has significant potential for hydropower development, particularly in Quebec and British Columbia, which already have large hydroelectric power generation capacities.
5. Geothermal: Canada has a potential for geothermal energy production, particularly in western Canada and in the Canadian Shield.
6. Tidal Power: Tidal power is a type of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into electricity. Canada has large tidal power potential, particularly in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia
7. Wave Power: Wave power is another form of hydropower that converts the energy of ocean surface waves into electricity. Canada has a large potential for wave power development, particularly on the west coast.
8. Nuclear energy: Canada has a long history of nuclear power generation and has developed advanced nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors, which are considered to be more sustainable than traditional nuclear power plants.
9. Carbon capture and storage: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities and store them underground, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Canada has several CCS demonstration projects underway.
10. Energy storage: Energy storage technologies such as batteries and pumped hydro storage can help to balance supply and demand, making renewable energy more reliable and cost-effective. Canada has several energy storage projects being developed, particularly in Ontario and Quebec.

Polar Night Energy and Vatajankoski, an energy utility based in Western Finland, have together constructed sand-based thermal energy storage. It is the world’s first commercial solution to store electricity in the sand as heat to be used in a district heating network.

The storage, with Polar Night Energy’s patented heat storage system inside, is placed on Vatajankoski’s power plant area, and it provides heat for Vatajankoski’s district heating network in Kankaanpää.

– The construction of the storage went well, especially considering that the solution is completely new. We managed to get everything in order despite some challenges and a short delay. Now the sand is already hot, says Polar Night Energy’s CTO Markku Ylönen and continues:

– We have already learned that our system has even more potential than we initially calculated. It’s been a positive surprise.

The actual heat storage is about 4 meters wide and 7 meters high steel container that has an automated heat storage system and a hundred tons of sand inside. As a material, and is durable and inexpensive and can store a lot of heat in a small volume at a temperature of about 500–600 degrees Celsius.

The heat storage has 100 kW of heating power and 8 MWh of energy capacity.

– This innovation is a part of the smart and green energy transition. Heat storage can significantly help to increase intermittent renewables in the electrical grid. At the same time, we can prime the waste heat to a usable level to heat a city. This is a logical step towards combustion-free heat production, says Ylönen.

Vatajankoski uses the heat provided by the storage to prime the waste heat recovered from their data servers which are intended for high-performance computing. Depending on the season, the temperature of the 60-degree waste heat from the servers must be raised to 75–100 degrees before it is fed into the district heating network.

Vatajankoski provides district heating and cooling services as well as electricity distribution services to its clients in the Kankaanpää region in Western Finland and aims to produce its energy as sustainably as possible. / www.vatajankoski.fi

Polar Night Energy designs and builds high temperature & low emission heat storages. / www.polarnightenergy.fi

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘UAE Power Market Size, Trends, Regulations, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2022-2035’, reveals that the UAE is working to introduce pumped hydro into the country’s power mix. This is expected to start with the Al Hattawi pumped storage plant when it begins commercial operations in 2026.

The project is designed to use and store water from the existing Hatta dam for generating electricity during peak demand periods. The project was launched as part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims for three-quarters of the UAE’s total power output to be from clean energy sources by 2050.

Attaurrahman Ojindaram Saibasan, Senior Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The largest source of clean energy opportunities are expected to emerge from the renewables sector, especially solar. Conditions in the UAE are ideal for solar power generation, and the government is assigning large swathes of barren land for solar parks (both photovoltaic [PV] and Concentrated Solar Power [CSP]), which will help satisfy local demand as well as meet export requirements.”

If the planned solar parks go ahead, critical challenges for the solar technology could include excessive heat impacting module efficiency, as well as the damage that could be inflicted upon the solar panels and mirrors due to the dust and sand. This would increase the cost of maintenance of the solar PV plants.

Saibasan adds: “The country has several support mechanisms such as smart Dubai initiatives, net metering, and auctions. The UAE aims to generate 50% of its electricity from carbon-free sources, driven mainly by solar PV, by 2050. Abu Dhabi plans to install 5.6 GW of solar PV capacity by 2026 and Dubai aims to source 75% of its electricity generation from renewables by 2050. These targets are expected to aid the rapid deployment of renewable power plants in the country.”

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across various industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology, and professional services sectors.

“How you use a technology is usually more important than what technology you use,” said Dupriest. “It’s not just the geothermal industry that benefits from this. The petroleum industry could have an enormous opportunity here.”

 Dupriest and Noynaert, professors of practice in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering, presented their results in March during the International Association of Drilling Contractors and the Society of Petroleum Engineers conference and exhibition.

Both geothermal and oil industry drillers have access to the same equipment and face similar challenges. The difference is that petroleum wells are drilled in vast numbers compared to geothermal wells, so those companies have more experience cutting costs and drilling times. Yet oil companies often lack time to question unusual bit wear or understand all the fundamentals behind drilling processes, so problems are usually met with quick fixes based on guesswork.

The DOE project proves that basic knowledge of physical principles, when coupled with communication and teamwork to document drilling issues or limiters, reduces costs and improves the ability to address and fix problems with the information, not guesses.

Over the course of three geothermal wells completed by different teams over the last two years, Noynaert and Dupriest trained the managers and workers on two of the wells before field operations began. The training created a fundamental, physics-based understanding of exactly what happens downhole, in both the rock cutting process and how the equipment functions. After training, the researchers continued to help the teams identify and redesign performance limiters and dysfunctions each day, as well as implement a more effective workflow to support real-time practices.

All three teams drilled at the DOE Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), which features a nearly mile-deep formation of hard granite similar to kitchen countertops. Previous wells drilled through that rock at a rate of 15-20 feet per hour, but these three teams started at 250 feet per hour and maintained 100 feet-per-hour speeds while drilling through the stubborn material.

The first well, with a trained team, was a highly angled directional well. It was finished in about half the time expected and under budget.

The second team was not trained but copied what they could from the first team’s efforts while maintaining the same speeds. Their good completion time was less than the first well, mostly because it was vertical rather than directional.

The third team was trained and also drilled vertically. This team cut the untrained team’s completion time in half by drilling much faster and cutting costs further by using bits for far longer.

“We had a huge gain with the first well,” said Dupriest. “But, directional drilling aside, we’ve cut everything in half again with the third well. Plus, we made advances to fundamental drilling science.”

The trained teams changed their work methods to include scientifically documenting equipment changes as drilling progressed. This required taking specific pictures of bit wear from standard angles. The types of damage noted identified the causes of dysfunction, and drilling parameters were quickly adjusted to prevent the same damage on the next run. The photos were immediately shared with the bit vendor, who could improve bit designs based on the evidence.

Since the training instilled better physical knowledge of drilling vertically in hard rock, the third team tested the equipment to its limits. During operations, they safely increased the amount of weight they put on the bit far beyond normal expectations because they understood how to identify and reduce the dysfunction that previously prevented this. The additional weight improved drilling times and surprisingly extended bit longevity.

The third team also used dysfunction evidence to come up with a novel solution to a common but little-understood problem: ductile strengthening of the rock. When the bit didn’t respond to increased weight and failed to move forward even with tremendous energy use, they reasoned that the drilling mud created the limitation and came up with a simple experiment to prove it. A 100-gallon water “pill” was circulated down through the bit to alter the rock-progress situation. The bit’s energy consumption was reduced by half, and the drilling rate doubled.

“Water would not have been used before,” said Noynaert. “It would have been a ‘that’s just the way granite works, so better change the bit’ moment. By understanding the physics, they could get the solution to the problem right the first time.”

Geothermal companies initially thought the training was a “petroleum thing,” but the first team quickly realized its value. After seeing the results, the second team asked for the training, but scheduling conflicts prevented this. The third team fully embraced the project goals and made great strides in improving performance.

Dupriest and Noynaert now say they must prove the education and processes work in all drilling applications to dispel a growing petroleum belief that the successes are a “geothermal thing” or only work in granite. The future goal of the project will involve finding geothermal drilling teams to learn and test the methods in a variety of geologic regions, ideally common to both energy industries.

About the Texas A&M University College of Engineering

With 725 faculty members and more than 22,500 students, the Texas A&M University College of Engineering is the second-largest engineering school in the country. In U.S. News & World Report rankings, the college is ranked sixth in graduate programs (2023 rankings) and eighth in undergraduate programs (in 2022 rankings) among public institutions.

MPS will not only provide its MeOH-To-Go® (Methanol-To-Go®) modular plant for the project, but it will also project manage the engineering and technology partners for the entire plant, from procurement and construction to operation. MPS’ modularization process and patent-pending ISO frame-based modular design for the plant will streamline the transportation of plant components, making it easier to assemble and minimizing construction issues.

“Being part of the production of this innovative modular green gasoline plant is a pivotal moment for the future of renewable fuel in the U.S. and for our company, especially as world events are putting a spotlight on fuel supplies,” said Russell Hillenburg, president, and co-founder of MPS. “The way we’ve designed our Methanol-To-Go® modular plant allows customers to modify the feedstock for methanol production based on the resources they have on hand.”

The Arbor Renewable Gas plant components include front-end gasification technology using woody biomass as a feedstock, followed by MPS’ MeOH-To-Go® plant to convert syngas to methanol using Haldor Topsoe’s methanol synthesis technology. The last stage of production employs Haldor Topsoe’s TIGAS™ gasoline synthesis technology, resulting in an output of “drop-in” renewable biofuel that meets the stringent quality specifications for California fuels, as well as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, adopted by states such as California, with Oregon, the European Union and British Columbia following similar standards.

“We are excited to be working with the team at MPS to bring our vision to life: producing cost-effective, safe, and reliably sourced woody biomass-to-renewable gasoline,” said Timothy Vail, President, and CEO of Arbor Renewable Gas. “In the future, MPS’ plants, expertise, and modularization design approach will allow Arbor to expand our operations and bring more renewable gasoline plants online on a cost and schedule effective basis.”

Because MeOH-To-Go® was designed to allow for a variety of front-end feedstock options and technology processes, as well as back-end add-on technology processes, customers can change inputs and outputs to achieve various goals depending on their needs. The plant for Arbor Renewable Gas’ Spindletop project will use woody biomass as feedstock, converted via gasification to synthesis gas. Other feedstock options for MeOH-To-Go® plants include various compositions of syngas or natural gas that are converted to AA grade methanol, a basic building block in the production of several chemical derivatives.

MPS has two other plant options in the design phase: DME-To-Go®, an add-on option for MeOH-To-Go® plants to produce Dimethyl Ether (DME), a clean-burning alternative diesel fuel, as well as Gasoline-To-Go™, a small-scale modular plant to produce 88 Octane gasoline.

About Modular Plant Solutions

Modular Plant Solutions (MPS) is a global engineering firm specializing in process modularization and project implementation based in Friendswood, Texas, outside Houston. The company’s patent-pending modularized structural system is designed for customers seeking cost-effective, easily transportable, scalable solutions for plant design — that can be shipped and assembled anywhere in the world. The company’s flagship product, MeOH-To-Go® (Methanol-To-Go®), enables users to produce their own methanol output from various natural gas sources and/or syngas. Customers can also customize inputs and outputs of MeOH-To-Go® depending on what they have or need with a variety of front-end and back-end technology and process options. MPS’ highly-skilled team has nearly 550 years of combined experience in construction, engineering, fabrication, and operations, and brings hands-on experience to deliver best-in-class plant solutions. Find out more at modularplantsolutions.com and on LinkedIn.

About Arbor Renewable Gas, LLC

Arbor Gas’ mission is to build and own a portfolio of cost-effective, safe, and reliably sourced woody biomass for renewable gasoline and green hydrogen plants around the world. With an initial focus on the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast, Arbor Gas brings a unique blend of intellectual capital, technology, financing, and project execution skills to successfully advance its vision of a clean, low carbon transportation fuel utilizing existing infrastructure and vehicles.

About Haldor Topsoe

Haldor Topsoe is a global leader in the supply of catalysts, technology, and services to the chemical and refining industries. Topsoe aims to be the global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024. By perfecting chemistry for a better world, we enable our customers to succeed in the transition toward renewable energy. Topsoe is headquartered in Denmark and serves customers around the globe. In 2020, our revenue was approximately DKK 6.2 billion, and we employ around 2,200 employees. www.topsoe.com

Source and Image: modularplantsolutions.com and www.arborgas.com

Although hydropower accounted for the largest share of the global total renewable generation capacity with 1 230 GW, IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2022 shows that solar and wind continued to dominate new generating capacity. Together, both technologies contributed 88 percent to the share of all new renewable capacity in 2021. Solar capacity led with a 19 percent increase, followed by wind energy, which increased its generating capacity by 13 percent.

“This continued progress is another testament to renewable energy’s resilience. Its strong performance last year represents more opportunities for countries to reap renewables’ multiple socio-economic benefits. However, despite the encouraging global trend, our new World Energy Transitions Outlook shows that the energy transition is far from being fast or widespread enough to avert the dire consequences of climate change,” says IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera.

“Our current energy crisis also adds to the evidence that the world can no longer rely on fossil fuels to meet its energy demand. Money directed to fossil fuel power plants yields unrewarding results, both for the survival of a nation and the planet. Renewable power should become the norm across the globe. We must mobilize the political will to accelerate the 1.5°C pathway.”

To achieve climate goals, renewables must grow at a faster pace than energy demand. However, many countries have not reached this point yet, despite significantly increasing the use of renewables for electricity generation.

Sixty percent of the new capacity in 2021 was added in Asia, resulting in a total of 1.46 Terawatt (TW) of renewable capacity by 2021. China was the biggest contributor, adding 121 GW to the continent’s new capacity. Europe and North America—led by the USA—took second and third places respectively, with the former adding 39 GW and the latter 38 GW. Renewable energy capacity grew by 3.9 percent in Africa and 3.3 percent in Central America and the Caribbean. Despite representing steady growth, the pace in both regions is much slower than the global average, indicating the need for stronger international cooperation to optimize electricity markets and drive massive investments in those regions.

 Highlights by technology:

• Hydropower: Growth in hydro increased steadily in 2021 with the commissioning of several large projects delayed through 2021.
• Wind energy: Wind expansion continued at a lower rate in 2021 compared to 2020

(+93 GW compared to +111 GW last year).

• Solar energy: With an increase in new capacity in all major world regions in previous years, total global solar capacity has now outgrown wind energy capacity.
• Bioenergy: Net capacity expansion increased in 2021 (+10.3 GW compared to +9.1 GW in 2020).
• Geothermal energy: Geothermal capacity had exceptional growth in 2021, with 1.6 GW added.
• Off-grid electricity: Off-grid capacity grew by 466 MW in 2021 (+4%) to reach 11.2 GW.

About the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

IRENA is the lead intergovernmental agency for the global energy transformation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a center of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial knowledge on renewable energy. With 167 Members (166 States and the European Union) and 17 additional countries in the accession process and actively engaged, IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security, and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief

Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonization by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel-enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage, and optimization technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world.
https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasize innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shapes the decarbonization transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totaled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

The result was a whole new E-World that ultimately will make us more versatile, globalized, and resilient.

When people stopped flying planes and the world pretty much shut down, people had to implement new business models for marketing, sales, hiring, investor relations, PR, supply/vendors and processes, partnerships, and more.

This new E-world means harnessing zoom and teams platforms and ensuring online meetings are connected and professional even if you were meeting from your bedroom.

While we now start to get back to a ‘new normal’ and travel becomes more available, the power of E-business will forever play a role in how we expand and grow from here forward.

See it as an opportunity rather than a problem.

Six E-Sales Opportunities To Grow Your Company In The New Digital World

If you want to sell a product or position your company for an important bid, how are you going to accomplish your goals in Covid times?  

When we are working from home, using zoom, or dealing with outside distractions, how can we succeed? Those are the challenges of the day. It is a new challenge, to find ways to keep ourselves and our clients connected, online.

Believe it or not, with creativity and engagement, we can have an effective E-Work environment that can out-perform old sales models.

1. Think about it, less travel, more meetings, less cost, more communication. It adds up. Business is nothing more than a network of conversations. People who organize meetings effectively, stack meetings, and create an E-Flow work environment will win the game of the E-work world.
   
2. Building great relationships that create trust and rapport is still the foundation of any relationship. Having clients get to know, like, and trust you is key; so, the rules have not changed. Building rapport still means a professional appearance online and an appropriate zoom background. It means good communication, understanding your client, finding common ground, discovering needs, sharing experiences, matching mannerisms and speech, future pacing, and finding solutions. 
   
3. Quickly adapting to this new E-World means recreating the outside world inside the computer world. It means finding new ways to connect and get personal with relationships so that there is a strong foundation of trust established online.
   
4. Computer advances and algorithms have taken over the laborious job of research and client acquisition. Business development costs came down, workflows became more efficient, and sales grow from there. 
   
5. The E-world will expedite globalization, and before we know it, doing business anywhere in the world at any time will be an affordable proposition. Global commerce is emerging, and the opportunities are truly endless.
   
6. We must look into the future and see where nations will unite in common goals. Languages will merge, and borders and boundaries will fall away. Free markets will be the foundation of the global playing field of business as we grow exponentially with E-Business automation and processes.

PAAS – PUBLISHING AS A SERVICE

As publishers of a global energy magazine, The OGM served clients around the globe ensuring suppliers and energy companies got their message to the right market.

Publisher Tina Olivero says, “During the pandemic it became apparent that tradeshows and flying to meetings was not an option for us or our clients. E-meetings became the norm and suddenly, the world got much smaller. Client contact became easier, faster, and automated. Computer advances and algorithms took over the laborious job of research and client acquisition. Business development costs came down, workflows became more efficient, and sales took off for us. That would not have happened, except for the pandemic. Long story short, there’s a silver lining in everything, when we are willing to embrace the challenges, we then reap the rewards.”

PaaS is a client solution that searches out potential clients, matches content with buyer and seller and creates an automated lead generation system. Where traditional advertising could be hit and miss at times, PaaS connects those interested, with those selling and the computer algorithm does all the work of bringing them together. As a result, expanding into new markets is now affordable. Finding your exact right client is now easier. All of this is because of the new E-Work environment and computer AI.

Visionary Tina Olivero says, “The E-world will expedite globalization and before we know it, doing business anywhere in the world at any time, will be an affordable proposition. Global commerce is emerging, and the opportunities are truly endless.”

WHAT INDUSTRY SAYS

Ryan Burrowes, CEO of Warehouse Transport Group and head of Canada/Guyna operations said, “As a CEO of a growing logistics and investment company, I was in dire need of new digital technology to take my business online. We needed a marketing and sales enhancement solution and a way to scale. I found everything and more with Tina and TheOGM Agency team. Having lived all over the world, Tina is a visionary who sees things from a global perspective.

Our operations have a foothold in Guyana, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. So Tina and her team are a perfect fit for us. The OGM’s new digital business development solutions are strategic and sustainable for the new world order where everyone is doing business on Zoom.

The OGM digital tools come with algorithms and automation that provide us with a flow of never-ending, high-level opportunities to quote on new work. Not just any work but leads with key decision-makers for our business. That is invaluable. The OGM is a platform with new digital tools that we all need in a business in this day and age. This new digital game is entirely different and capitalizing on that makes for really exciting times. Tina and her team have gone over and above our contractual agreement and, honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s the people we want to work with. Already, I consider her a part of our family, for now, and for the future.”

Ryan Burrowes CEO, Warehouse Transport Group Canada-Guyana – WarehouseTransport.ca

PICK THE RIGHT PARTNERS

There are many companies out there that are trying to adapt online. For energy companies choosing the right partners who have extensive experience in the energy industry is key.

Tina Olivero says, “The most important part of outreach and communication right now is content. You have to partner with key marketing and sales people who speak “energy”. Otherwise you are trying to bring your clients into your world, with someone who does not understand your business and most importantly, doesn’t understand what your clients need. That’s a one way ticket to no success.

Aligining with The OGM as 30-year publishers of energy content, coupled with our digital media agency, makes The OGM a premium choice. When you have that level of business competence, communication is easy. Adapting with new digital processes and creating automations has to be routed in powerful words, which create powerful actions, which create powerful results. It’s that simple. These are truly incredible times. Reach out and lets what we can create.

www.TheOGM.com

About the Author Tina Olivero

Tina Olivero is a conscious entrepreneur, managing a publishing company – TheOGM.com, a digital media firm – DigitalCollateral.ca and a new Sales Engine company – TheOGM.ca. She has 30 years in the marketing and sales business in the energy sector. She is committed to energy and sustainable development with her Our Great Minds. This innovative magazine shares the great minds and collective intelligence that are combating climate change and eradicating carbon emissions. 

There is no renewable energy on the planet that has been built without the use of oil and gas.

Think construction of a wind farm ….and how that energy product requires trucks, cars, transport and clearly gas in tanks to build it.

Think aviation and how it requires oil and gas to make planes, choppers and other carriers as well as fuel them!

Think products and plastics and how they are required in the building of renewable structures like solar panels. Many components are made of… Petroleum.

Even basic office tools like the plastics used in computers require petroleum.
The phone in your hand is made from many types of petroleum plastics!

There is no renewable energy without the use of some type of oil and gas and it’s related products.

Oil and gas is the number one commodity on the planet…Why? Because it is in just about everything we make and in every project we are involved in.

This is not the time of renewable energy. This is the time where oil and gas bridge us to the development of new energy. It is NOT an either-or situation! Both are critical and essential to the other.

Oil and gas is the bridge to solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal and every other type of renewable energy source. None of them would exist nor could they be constructed and developed without oil and gas fuel and products.

Next time someone argues about oil and gas vs renewables realize it’s a non-issue! These are the facts. There is no renewable energy without oil and gas.

If Canada doesn’t get its priorities straight and focus on its position as being one the most powerful oil and gas producers in the world, we are going to be in really bad shape. Because if we are not supplying the world with oil and gas someone else will take our place and we will no longer hold the ticket to new energy at the levels we could!

Canada is ranked number three in the world of oil-producing nations. We must do everything in our power to maintain that position and to elevate it….which includes pipeline progress.

We must have pipelines that extend to the west and the east of Canada to get our oil to buying markets beyond the US! We can’t rely on the US anymore as our primary buying partner because as we have seen, the US has developed their own resources with their success in the Gulf and the incoming fracking industry. The reality is, they are becoming more energy independent and they need our oil less and less.

Selling oil and gas around the world means that we can diversify our portfolio! We can capitalize on globalization and the selling of oil and gas to the rest of the world from both sides of Canada. This would ensure that oil-producing provinces like Newfoundland are in a primary and powerful position for world oil demand. This would, in turn, create a further exploration and production offshore Newfoundland because more infrastructure, builds more infrastructure … that’s how it works!

We must realize that gas is a cleaner fuel and where there is gas there is oil and all of that must be cumulatively developed in order to sustain our current standard of living in Canada! If we don’t, our standard of living will drop dramatically. It already has the price of oil drop.

We all feel the pinch of a low oil price in Canada. It has affected every single one of us in some way shape or form. Let the drop of oil price be our strongest lesson and our strongest teacher ….in realizing that a nation without oil and gas is crippling to our economy, our livelihood and affects every single one of us.

Think about a nation without oil and gas and how that will stifle every other industry sector that we hope to develop, from renewables to new technology and other incoming industry sectors. Every one of them requires oil and gas to fuel them into existence. Every one of them requires strong financial companies to invest to build and to scale.

We must not throw away our strengths and try to replace it with a new and renewable powered world. It won’t work that way because that’s like trying to win the Olympics in hockey if the players don’t have hockey sticks. It’s like trying to write the number one hit song, without a voice to sing it. It’s like trying to create the best business plan with no financial backing to bring it to life. Get the picture?

We must build on our strengths and that’s how we will bring in the future of new energy! Anything less…. and we will have limited financial resources, tools and funds to elevate ourselves into new methodologies like renewables!

If there’s one smart thing we could do right now, it is to educate our nation about what life would be like if we developed our oil and gas industry to its highest capacity and brought in new energy.

And comparatively we need to educate our people on what life would be like without Canada’s oil and gas production and where Canada would be without it….so we have time to get it right. We would then understand that the outcome would be devastating!

The smartest thing we could do right now is using our PUBLICALLY-funded media channels like CBC to report and educate on these nationally impactful topics rather than write stories that diverts us from the important matters of the day!

The most important and pressing topic of the day is Canada’s oil and gas position and the development of Alberta’s oil and gas which allows us to hold our position as number three in the world of oil-producing nations!

Are we really going to allow environmentalists to stop oil and gas progress at the expense of bringing in our renewable energy? Is that a logical proposition?

In order to ‘really’ understand what’s going on in Canada, we have to look at the big picture and the big impacts and how they link to the future of the prosperity of this nation and the future for our kids.

Like it or not it’s oil and gas that will elevate us to the highest possible level of success.

Oil and gas is the pavement on the road to sustainable energy. It is the necessary fuel that will bring us to a clean energy future. It is the resource that will provide us with a global competitive advantage to sell into world markets and bring us the financial foundation we need in order to bring in emerging sectors like renewables and tech.

As for environmental concerns. EVERY SINGLE INDUSTRY has an environmental footprint, including renewables. Just building those projects impacts the environment in many and varied ways.

The reason why the oil and gas industry is the number one strongest sector on the planet in terms of safety and environmental stewardship is that of its income level.

The fact that the oil and gas industry is lucrative is the exact reason that it has allowed that sector to be environmentally conscious and proactively compliant. Even renewables won’t have that level of income to be that compliant environmentally. Wait until we get the results of renewable energy impacts in terms of their green footprint. They will be right up there with oil and gas and without the resources to be compliant at the level that oil and gas is.

Let’s get educated people. Let’s utilize the media in all it’s various channels to do so.

Let’s be assertive with our resources and don’t let minority voices who are paid with self-interested agendas sway us from our goals. Those minority groups advocating new energy should keep those funds for when their new energy projects come in to play. They are going to need them to be environmentally compliant themselves. It’s a costly business

The Government of Canada is taking strong steps to protect the environment and grow the economy while creating good, middle-class jobs and more opportunities for Canadians.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced support for a new geothermal power facility near Estevan in Southeastern Saskatchewan. The energy project, led by DEEP Earth Energy Production Corporation, is the first of its kind in Canada and taps into a new renewable energy resource.

Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the earth’s crust and transforms it into electricity to power our homes and businesses year round. DEEP’s geothermal facility will build on Saskatchewan’s leadership in the energy sector, using familiar drilling technologies from the oil, gas, and mining industries to tap into this reliable energy source.

The Government of Canada will provide $25.6 million in funding for the five Megawatt (MWe) facility, which will produce enough energy to power approximately 5,000 homes all while taking the equivalent of the yearly emissions of 7,400 cars out of the atmosphere. The project will create 100 jobs during construction, provide the provincial power grid with clean, renewable energy, and create new business opportunities for local communities.

The Government of Canada will continue to make smart investments in research and innovation to develop new clean energy technology, and meet our climate goals and create economic growth that benefits everyone.

Quick Facts

• Funding for this project is being provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Emerging Renewable Power Program. In 2014, Natural Resources Canada contributed $1 million through its ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative for a pre-feasibility study for this project. Natural Resource Canada’s Clean Energy Innovation Program and Innovation Saskatchewan also contributed $350,000 and $175,000, respectively, towards test drilling. The total cost of the project is $51.3 million.
• The local community will channel excess heat from the facility to a 45-acre greenhouse for commercial use. Sustainable, affordable clean heating for major commercial greenhouses present new opportunities for the Saskatchewan agricultural sector.
• The project will pave the way for additional investment in the Williston Basin, which has the capacity to support several hundred MWe of power generating capacity.
• Canada is a world leader in the production and use of energy from renewable resources. In Canada, 66 per cent of electricity production is from renewable sources, such as hydroelectricity.
• On January 9, 2019, Canada officially became a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency, joining 159 countries in an intergovernmental organization devoted to providing clean, sustainable energy for the world’s growing population.

Associated Links

• DEEP Earth Energy Production
• Emerging Renewable Power Program

Gas alert, gas alert! Those are words you hope you never hear. Hazards left unchecked put people in danger. Your best chain of defence against unimaginable outcomes and explosions is to ensure that gas detection and monitoring is well thought out and executed in your organization.

Are you prepared?

Poisonous gas puts people at risk. Are you prepared?

WHO USES GAS DETECTORS?

At an industrial facility, on oil rigs, in manufacturing facilities, processing units, and throughout the firefighting sector, gas detection has become common place as a foundation of safety! And with good reason, our team’s safety depends on a working environment gas monitoring is a priority and sensors that alert you to the presence of gas leaks are readily available. 

Gas detection and monitoring devices can be found in industrial plants, refineries, manufacturing plants, fumigation facilities, paper pulp mills, aircraft and shipbuilding facilities, hazmat operations, waste-water treatment facilities, vehicles manufacturers, distilleries, indoor air testing and even in our homes.  Applications are varied and wide.

PORTABLE GAS DETECTORS

Portable detectors are used to monitor the atmosphere around workers on the job and are either hand-held or worn on clothing or on a belt/harness for convenience sake. These gas detectors transmit warnings via audible and visible signals, such as alarms and flashing lights, when dangerous levels of gas vapours are detected and they may be monitored at another location especially in the case of remote gas monitoring.

FIXED GAS DETECTORS

Fixed type gas detectors may be used for detection of one or more gas types and are generally mounted near the process area of a plant or control room, or an area to be protected, such as a residential bedroom. Industrial sensors are usually installed on fixed type mild steel structure and a cable connects the detectors to a SCADA system for continuous monitoring.

HOW DO GAS DETECTORS WORK?

Gas detection equipment is used to detect a gas leak or other emissions and can interface with a control system so a process can be automatically shut down. A gas detector can sound an alarm to operators in the area where the leak is occurring, giving workers the opportunity to leave safely. There are many gases that can be harmful and it’s your job to understand those hazards and mitigate them if you play a role in your companies safety regime.

HOW DO GAS DETECTORS WORK?

Gas leak detection is the process of identifying potentially hazardous gas leaks by sensors and alarms that alert people when a dangerous gas has been detected. Exposure to toxic gases can also occur in operations such as painting, fumigation, fuel filling, construction, excavation of contaminated soils, landfill operations, entering confined spaces, so it is important to ensure the right type of gas detectors are used with the right application.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GAS DETECTORS?

Common sensors include combustible gas sensors, photoionization detectors, infrared point sensors, ultrasonic sensors, electrochemical gas sensors, and semiconductor sensors. More recently, infrared imaging sensors have come into use.

CEO, Lee Parmiter of EnviroMed Detection Services in St. John’s, Newfoundland says, “At the end of the day, we want to ensure people to come home safe to their families. Gas monitoring is essential, and gas leaks must be detected so that hazardous environments are eliminated.  Gas detectors can be used to detect combustible, flammable and toxic gases, and oxygen depletion so they are essential in the infrastructure of most industrial companies and any business really that has processing facilities.”

WHAT IS GAS LEAK DETECTION ALL ABOUT?

Gas leak detection is the process of identifying potentially hazardous gas leaks by sensors. These sensors usually employ an audible alarm to alert people when a dangerous gas has been detected.  Today technology is so advanced that systems not only alert to a gas leak but also alert incidences and failures in systems.  We have vastly advanced the gas detection world with the advancement of new tracking and monitoring devices.

Gas leak detection is essential in your facility.

HOW TO SELECT YOUR GAS DETECTOR

How to select the gas detector primarily depends on your operation, and it’s functions. You will want to consider what systems will ensure the safety of workers and help your company save time and money.

Lee Parimeter says, “There are several models with constantly evolving technologies are available on the market. It is therefore essential to understand the available features and options to make an informed decision.  Understanding the systems that are out there and ensuring your system is right for your facility is key.”

SELECTING THE RIGHT SYSTEM
5 KEY POINTS FOR GAS DETECTION & MONITORING THAT YOU MUST KNOW

According to Don Galman of Honeywell Analytics, selecting the right gas detection considers the following, “There are many gas detection products on the market that might appear to be the same, but a closer inspection of specification, functionality, and features reveals major differences in what products can do and the potential value they can offer. Similarly, individual applications are also unique in their respective designs, needs and processes undertaken.

1. DO A RISK ASSESSMENT

Before beginning to consider gas detection equipment, a risk assessment needs to be conducted. Any company employing staff should conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards, and these can include potential gas, vapour or Oxygen deficiency risks. If gas hazards are identified, gas detection is applicable as a risk reduction method.

2. IDENTIFY YOUR PRIME OBJECTIVE

Depending on the processes being undertaken and the gases being detected, remote or off-site alarm notification plus event data logging/reporting may also be required for Health and Safety management records. Another factor impacting on the need for enhanced reporting functions might be regulatory compliance or a condition of insurance.

3. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Having identified the primary objective, the suitable equipment is selected by asking a number of key questions. These fall into three broad categories:

• The gases to be detected and where they may come from

• The location and environmental conditions where detection is to take place

• The ease of use for operators and routine servicing personnel

Identify the gases to be detected and where they may come from

The risk assessment should identify the gases to be detected; however, experienced gas detection equipment manufacturers and their approved distributors are often able to help in this process, based on their experience of similar applications. However, it is important to remember that it is the end user’s responsibility to identify all potential hazards.

It is also essential to identify the potential source of a gas release as this helps determine the number and location of detectors required for a fixed gas detection system.

4. CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT

The performance, accuracy, and reliability of any gas detection equipment will be affected by the environmental conditions it is subjected to. Temperature, humidity and pressure levels at the location all have a direct bearing on the type of equipment that should be selected. Additional factors such as potential variations resulting from a production process itself, diurnal/nocturnal fluctuations and seasonal changes may also affect the type of device which is suitable.

5. UNDERSTAND THE PRODUCT

The next area of consideration relates to additional product functionality. Aspects like wiring configuration are important, especially when retrofitting into an existing application. If the apparatus is being integrated into a separate safety system, certain communication protocols may also be required such as HART®, Lonworks or Modbus®.

Consideration will also need to be given regarding the requirement for local displays on transmitter units, and local configuration of the unit and gas displays may also be a useful addition.

MEASURE EASE OF USE AND MAINTAINABILITY

Routine maintenance is another important consideration. Some gases and vapours can be detected with a number of different sensing technologies, e.g., Hydrocarbon gases with catalytic beads or Non-dispersive Infrared NDIR. Catalytic beads do not provide fail-to-safety operation and therefore can require a high frequency of routine maintenance; however, NDIR based solutions tend to have a higher initial purchase price but may require less routine maintenance. In-house resource to undertake such routine maintenance needs to be identified, and in the absence of such a resource, budgeting for third-party maintenance is an important factor in selecting the right equipment.”

ENVIROMED DETECTION SYSTEMS

EnviroMed Detection Services, located in St. John’s Newfoundland has been serving the industrial based businesses in the region for 30 + years. EnivroMed is a safety/environmental instrumentation company specializing in the sale, installation, and servicing of life-saving detection instrumentation. As an ISO 9001:2008-certified, a full-service laboratory, EnviroMed offers repairs, N.I.S.T. traceable calibrations, maintenance, service and training on most of the equipment it provides today.

In addition to its specialization in gas detection equipment, EnviroMed also sells, rents and leases a wide variety of products in the areas of Gas Detectors, Water, Soil & Noise Monitors, Ambient Air, Indoor Air Quality, Meteorology, and other specialty areas related to safety/environmental instrumentation.

EnviroMed’s expertise and instrumentation inventory assist in providing an additional three-month labor warranty on most equipment purchased, refurbished, or calibrated at its facility. All installations, stationary or portable, must meet our quality assurance/quality control program, verified by a preventative maintenance schedule. Working closely with our clients, EnviroMed continues meeting today’s environmental challenges while understanding industry’s regional and economic requirements.

CEO, Lee Parmiter says, “The complexities of choosing, installing and maintaining gas detectors can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created a full-service detection and monitoring company that ensures we support our customers in the best possible way.  We work every day to ensure that people onsite, in confined spaces and requiring a high level of protection, get what they need.

The Blackline G7 Gas Detection Safety Monitor reports back to your head monitoring office. The Blackline G7 is state-of-the-art technology and is Ideal for remote location monitoring.

DON’T FEEL UP TO THE JOB OF SELECTING YOUR GAS DETECTOR?

For many people not directly involved in the gas detection and monitoring sector of their industry, the whole process can be overwhelming. Lee Parmiter says, “EnviroMed Detection Systems, with their gas detection consulting specialization, take the headache out of assessing and implementing your safety worksite systems. Are you bump testing? Did everything calibrate and is it up to date? Know who’s safe and not safe on site? Does your team know how your systems work and are they compliant right now, in the field today? Can I locate a person in the field in real time if something goes wrong? These are the safety questions that EnviroMed will take care of you.”

With the EnviroMed locally serviced and supported wireless real-time monitoring system, sensor deterioration and other unit shortfalls are relayed in real-time through the customer’s choice of media and with an established protocol to its operators and supervisors for appropriate recall and the avoidance of false alarms creating unnecessary downtime expense in operations.  Lee says, Our products are new state-of-the-art systems that are fit for the times, for example, EnviroMed G7 Gas Detection Tracking and Monitoring System covers all the bases of your situation. In my 35+ years of using, servicing and promoting safety in gas detection applications, this system hits a ‘grand slam home run’!

For more information go to www.EnviroMed.ca

YES, I WOULD LIKE A FREE CONSULT WITH ENVIROMED ABOUT MY GAS DETECTION AND MONITORING SYSTEM

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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and organized by Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) and World Green Economy Organisation, WGES will highlight this year the Climate Innovations Exchange (CLIX) initiative launched by the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE) to provide a platform for young international green entrepreneurs to pitch ideas to investors.

This specialized session at WGES will discuss how CLIX model has managed to attract hundreds of innovators and discuss the most appealing aspects of the winning ideas.

CLIX conducts a global search for breakthrough innovations, attracting hundreds of applications from all over the world ahead of the official launch of the forum. At last year’s CLIX, 27 finalists exhibited their inventions and met with investors, resulting in nearly half the finalists receiving funding pledges from investors, totalling more than USD 17.5 million.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy in Dubai, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, and Chairman of WGES.

“We relentlessly work to achieve the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai which prioritise the importance of empowering youth to ensure further progress to the society in the UAE. This stems from the fact that ‘The youth are present and the future hope. They are the UAE’s most valuable asset’. WGES and CLIX offer an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to support youth and underscore their role in achieving comprehensive sustainable development. WGES will also be an interactive platform to communicate with youth and know their opinions and views, build their capacities, unleash their creativity and engage them in building a better future for our country and the world ,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of WGES. 

Fahed Al Hammadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Green Development & Climate Change Sector at MOCCAE, said: “The forum is an opportunity to interact with young entrepreneurs about clean tech opportunities and innovations in air pollution, clean mobility, and agriculture.  It is for this reason that we invited shortlisted applicants to directly pitch their ideas to investors, successful entrepreneurs, and high-level government officials.”

“WGES through CLIX serves as an ideal venue to encourage brilliant minds to come forward with their innovations and accelerate the global movement to a green economy. Inspired by its success this year, CLIX has become an annual search. CLIX will accept ideas in three new fields for the 2019 edition, namely sustainability in space, the future of energy, and innovation in agriculture and water. We are confident that we will receive a bigger number of entries next year,” Al Hammadi added.

Set to take place from October 24 to 25 under the theme ‘Driving Innovation, Leading Change,’ WGES 2018 will provide opportunities for knowledge sharing focusing on new technologies that drive the growth for a green economy, including improvements in energy efficiency, energy conservation and waste reduction.

WGES 2018 will focus on three main pillars, green capital, digital transformation, and leadership and social engagement. It will gather financial executives, investment professionals, and thought leaders to discuss ways to increase green capital flows into regional and global environment-friendly projects and how to de-risk those investments.

“It is time to reimagine the traditional trade show and focus on education and training for the energy industry,” says Wes Scott, President and CEO of EventWorx Corporation, which purchased the Show from dmg events in 2017.

Scott says exhibitors want to see more of the right people attending, and the right attendees want access to more education, training, live demonstrations and networking options.  “We have spent a lot of time talking to exhibitors and attendees, to help us shape a new focus to a more grass-roots approach,” says Scott.

“A lot of business still needs to be done face-face – large contracts in the energy sector are built on relationships and fostered by face-face interactions. We look forward to generating a refreshed platform for both companies and individuals to get together to find innovative supply chain solutions.”

Like the industry it supports, the upcoming Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show is evolving to include clean technologies, renewables and environmental technologies.  For the first time in the Show’s history, for example, the Newfoundland & Labrador Environmental Industry Association will be hosting a new clean technology pavilion.

Kieran Hanley, Executive Director of the Newfoundland & Labrador Environmental Industry Association, (NEIA), says the association’s new clean technology pavilion will include members with environmental, clean and renewable technologies. NEIA is celebrating its 25th year in 2018.

 “What we want to do through participation in the Show is to start telling the story about the connection between cleantech and oil and gas, and continue to build that story and encourage others to really get involved and explore opportunities in that space,” says Hanley.

 The pavilion is important as it begins to shift the Show from primarily an offshore oil and gas event, towards becoming Canada’s east coast premier all-energy event.

 “We’re a not-for-profit association of businesses that are involved in the development of cleantech and the growth of the green economy here in Newfoundland & Labrador,” says Hanley.  “The Government of Canada is now aggressively supporting clean technology, environmental sustainability. Newer studies have shown that if Canada is to gain a competitive advantage in the clean technology business it’s likely going to be related to our natural resource sectors,” says Hanley.  “NEIA sees a real opportunity for Atlantic Canada to leverage its expertise in ocean industries and ocean technology to really become competitive globally in the clean technology space. And of course, from a Newfoundland & Labrador perspective…we see a great opportunity to really become leaders on a global scale in terms of how clean technology can apply to oil and gas.”

Curtis Jerrom, President of DHVI (Downhole Video & Intervention), is a long-time supporter of Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show. DHVI, a Calgary-based company supplies the oil and gas sector in Canada with downhole video camera and calliper inspection services for leak detection, fishing assistance, fluid entry surveys and mechanical failures.

Jerrom has been exhibiting at the show for 12 years.   “One of the things I like about Newfoundland it’s a different type of oilfield environment. They’re down-to-earth people. They’re easy to talk to. They still do business the old way. They like to do meetings face-to-face,” says Jerrom, adding the Show is a great place for him to get exposure for his company. “We’re bringing new technology. By the time we get to that Show, we’ll have our latest and greatest camera sitting in that Show for the first time.”

The Show is proudly held in conjunction with the Newfoundland & Labrador Oil & Gas Industries Association’s (Noia) annual conference.

“People don’t want to just come and walk the aisles – they don’t have time for that,” says Scott. “They need solutions to their challenges and have questions answered.  Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show will allow for that real connection and collaboration.”

Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show will attract 125 exhibiting companies and over 2,000 attendees. Fresh content on the Show floor includes the “Meet the Experts” Series – a parade of experts on a variety of different topics across the supply chain, which allows attendees to get questions answered during scheduled meet-ups. Live, interactive demonstrations and ample networking events will add more value to the Show experience. Networking experiences include the VIP Industry Reception with live entertainment, food and refreshing cocktails from the Martini Ice Bar; The Fish and Chips Day on the Show Floor on June 21, and Craft Beer Tasting to close out the last two hours of the Show on June 21.

Carbon Neutral

What’s all the buzz about Carbon footprints and why are we in pursuit of a carbon neutral goal?

The answer is simple. We are no longer willing to sit around and watch the planet die of pollution. People are becoming conscious about the earth like never before. Climate Change is the catalyst but so is our own desire to do and be better. A fundamental commitment to create a sustainable future for our kids. We are moving into the era or environmental responsibility and ensuring a sustainable future. It’s simple – we give a damn!

Calculate your companies carbon footprint and offset what you emit! Turn emissions into trees!

The Post-Carbon Economy

In an effort to reduce carbon emissions the global consensus believes that we can do two things to make it happen. Reduce carbon emissions and if you can’ fully reduce them, purchase carbon credits to offset carbon emissions. The combination of both allows us to fulfil the goal of being a carbon neutral, company, organization, town or city.

Said in another way, Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount to offset it or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference. Best practice for organizations and individuals seeking carbon neutral status entails reducing and/or avoiding carbon emissions first so that only unavoidable emissions are offset.

Carbon offsetting is the process of paying others to remove carbon dioxide emitted from the atmosphere by methods such as planting trees or funding ‘carbon projects’ that lead to the prevention of future greenhouse gas emissions, or by buying carbon credits to remove them through carbon trading. These practices are often used in parallel, together with energy conservation measures to minimize energy use overall.

Masdar City, Abu Dhabi

I lived in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East for three years. Abu Dhabi is progressively well known as one of the worlds great oil and gas developing nations. What’s not as commonly known is how progressive they are in renewable energy. My home was situated just outside Abu Dhabi in a place called Khalifa City. Out my front window, I overlooked what is touted as one of the most progressive Carbon reduction projects in the world – Masdar City.

Masdar is a testament to how fresh innovative ideas and collaboration can create eco-friendly outcomes. Masdar is home to some of the greatest minds on the planet when it comes to sustainable energy and it is now the Middle East’s largest exporter of renewable energy.

Masdar City was hooked into the public system and by 2016 it achieved incredibly advanced renewable energy solutions. The home of IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) is housed in Masdar, along with a major graduate research university – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. A visit to Masdar City takes approximately 60-90 minutes, including the driverless vehicle experience in our personal rapid transit system and a comfortable walk through the city.

Today, Masdar is powered by 54 acres of solar panels with additional panels on the roofs. There are now light switches or water taps in the city; movement sensors control lighting and water to cut electricity consumption by over 50%. Approximately 80% of the water used will be recycled and wastewater will be reused as grey water for crop irrigation.

You get the picture. Not only companies, but entire cities are emerging with the goal of becoming net zero, and it’s happening fast.

Greener Buildings In Canada

Today, LEED v4 is the most rigorous green building rating system in the world. From improving energy performance to emphasizing human health and integrative building design, LEED is encouraging project teams to operate beyond the status quo and create new and innovative green building solutions.

Canadians are stepping up, with over 350 registered projects to date and the early adopters have proven their abilities and helped drive change in the industry including greater manufacturer transparency and disclosure.
From buildings to operational efficiencies, to our overall green footprint, the game of energy efficiency and carbon reduction is changing at exponential rates. It’s proving to be a place of job creation, economic savings and environmental sustainability. That’s the good news.

For more information on LEED:
LEED video

Eaight Avenue Place, Calgary, Alberta has earned LEED Platinum Status: Featuring a winter garden, green roof, thermal monitoring and control. Source: Flickr

A Greener Oil and Gas Industry: Sharp Management + Aker Solutions

Offshore Newfoundland, Aker Solutions is breaking ground by progressively committing to a carbon neutral goal. Aker Solutions is the first company operating in Newfoundland’s oil and gas sector to purchase carbon credits from Sharp Management, that are generated from wastewater treatment facilities in Appleton-Glenwood and Stephenville.

“We don’t have to wait for someone to tell us what to do. Carbon neutrality is the right thing to do”, said Dave Billard, Newfoundland’s Aker vice-president and general manager. Aker of St. John’s is currently assessing operations and predicts they will purchase between 100 and 200 equivalent offsets along with other green goals that will allow them to achieve a carbon neutral status.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s First Carbon Offset Project

Glenn Sharp, President of Sharp Management is planning information sessions for companies interested in environmentally conscious action. The goal of Sharp Management is to assess companies and allow them to purchase credits if need be. Working with the oil and gas industry, municipalities and construction, Sharp Management is poised to offer carbon reduction solutions before it is even mandated in the province.

Glenn Sharp says, “For the first three months, the carbon credits are selling for $25 per tonne and are offered exclusively to Newfoundland and Labradorian companies. After that three month period, we will be offering carbon credits internationally. I’m excited that Aker has taken the first step and has become a leader in environmental initiatives such as this carbon reduction program. We’re looking to work with other companies like Aker Solutions that wish to follow suit and make a difference in the environment. We predict many companies will be interested in doing the right thing before it is legislated.”

Glenn Sharp (left) presents an official Newfoundland Climate and Ecosystems Conservancy Project carbon credit to Aker Solutions Canada HSE manager Melissa English-Barbour and vice-president and general manager Dave Billard. Credit: The Telegram/SaltWire Network

The Newfoundland Climate and Ecosystems Conservancy Project (NCECP) is publicly listed on the CSA Clean Projects Registry and has been 3rd party verified under the ISO-14064-2 by Fournier Toupin CPA Inc. The project mitigates greenhouse gas by engineering wetland systems for wastewater treatment, thereby offsetting carbon. Treating wastewater and sludge from municipalities eliminates environmental impacts of discharging raw wastewater and produces fewer greenhouse gases (GHG). A first for the province.
You can calculate your carbon footprint at www.carbonzero.ca/projects/ncecp and you can also contact Sharp Management for an assessment.

It takes a provincial commitment to ensure a sustainable energy future and working together in our own unique ways will achieve that goal. An expression of unity and collaboration, the goal of carbon zero is an objective that we can all get behind and be proud of. It is our future after all.

Tracking and Responding

Technology has allowed our workplaces, remote locations and hazardous environments to be much safer. New detection, tracking and responding devices are taking over the scene and allowing us to feel much better about our workspaces and goals of zero incidences on the job. Technology is now working where it matters most – safety. With safety alerts, monitoring, tracking and full transparent communication, workplaces are now connected and much safer.  Knowing who’s on your site, where people are, how they are, where evacuation needs to take place, real-time response, remote area access, real-time incidence response, and following leading indicators of “near misses”, are all possible with the new state-of-the-art G7 Blackline system.

Lee Parmiter, CEO of EnviroMed Detection Services says, “Technology mitigates risk. It’s that simple. New advances in detection and response are so effective these days that we reduce human error dramatically. For example, the Blackline G7, which is a real-time, state-of-the-art, electronic gas detection unit is far outperforming what humans can do in much less time. Detection and reporting are replacing human reporting. Extensive gas detection training is no longer necessary. These day’s people have full access and communication in difficult places, remote locations and hazardous regions. This is the future of safety”

The G7 tracks workers and their performance and positioning. For example, if a worker trips, falls and goes down a G7 alert is triggered, transmitted and help is on the way within seconds. It’s all automated and immediate.

The G7 is breaking new ground through no motion detection, fall detection, missed check in’s, gas detection and just about anything you can think of on the job. It provides operator tracking, real-time tracking and communication, remote communication, third-party communication, in-house monitoring with two-way voice communications and on-the-spot Reporting. The system itself takes care of data logging so that follow-up and paperwork becomes a thing of the past.

Think Ahead

The G7 excels in proactive safety protocols. It provides an SOS Pull-Station Emergency feature for on the job emergency situations. It also allows for gas detection monitoring and “PREDETERMINED” maintenance execution which mitigates the possibility of accidents in the future.

Lee says, “offshore or on land this G7 devise works via satellite or cellular, allowing a full scope and range of communication, tracking and detection. We are extremely proud to be supplying such an advanced system to the industry because at the end of the day, our goal is the same goal as our clients – zero incidence.  We sleep at night knowing that the technology we provide keeps people safe.”

Would you like to know about the upcoming Blackline G7 device for your company?

Let us know how to reach you and we will have an ENVIROMED representative contact you.

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Publisher & Content Strategist

Tina Olivero is the Publisher and Content Strategist for clients around the globe through TheOGM.com and The OGM magazine.

With a passion for progress and a sustainable high tech future, tina combines digital strategies into a conversation that builds your business.

SPEAK TO TINA:  
To gain more insight into how content can support your business goals please contact:
tinaolivero@theogm.com

ADFD concessional loans will fund transformative renewable energy projects in developing countries

November 2017

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), is inviting applications for renewable energy projects in developing countries.

Within the framework of the ADFD-funded US$350 million (AED1.285 billion) IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, the current funding round of US$50 million in concessional loans marks the sixth of seven annual cycles.

“In just the last few years, renewable energy has emerged as one of the most economical choices for new power generation in countries around the globe. Accelerated renewable energy deployment in developing countries expands access to energy, improves health and welfare, creates jobs and drives economic growth,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “This new funding cycle provides greater opportunity for developing countries to access low-cost capital for renewable energy projects to drive the energy transformation and achieve sustainable development. The continued partnership between ADFD and IRENA connects a stable and reputable source of funding to places where it can have the most impact and where financing is one of the greatest challenges.”

For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: “Since the announcement of the first funding cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility back in 2014, this unique partnership has continued to support replicable, scalable and economically feasible renewable energy projects in developing countries.”

He added: “The five previous cycles have attracted a host of impressive, innovative and sustainable projects that go a long way in enhancing energy security worldwide. Following their contribution to advancing the global sustainability mandate, we are delighted to open funding for the sixth cycle and continue our journey of socio-economic growth.”

Funding from ADFD, provided through the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, offers sustainable and affordable energy to millions of people with limited or no access to electricity. In the first four cycles, the Facility allocated US$189 million to 19 renewable energy ventures across the globe, covering up to 50 percent of the project costs. The loan approval process saw ADFD and IRENA conduct a thorough assessment of entries in close collaboration to select projects that best fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

The ventures funded in the first four cycles will bring online more than 100 megawatts of renewable energy capacity and improve the livelihoods of over a million people through providing better access to energy. Spanning Asia, Africa, Latin America and Small Island Developing States, the projects span the complete spectrum of alternative energy sources – wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass – and utilize a wide range of systems, such as hybrid, off-grid, mini-grid and on-grid including backup storage.

The projects selected for the fifth funding cycle will be announced in January 2018.

Applications for the sixth cycle will be accepted until 17:00 GST on February 15, 2018.

For more information, please visit www.irena.org/adfd

About the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

IRENA is mandated to be the global hub for renewable energy cooperation and information exchange by 153 Members (152 States and the European Union). 27 additional countries are in the accession process and actively engaged. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org

About Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD)

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is a national organisation owned by the Abu Dhabi government. Established in 1971, its purpose is to help emerging countries by providing concessionary loans to finance sustainable development projects alongside other long-term investments and direct contributions. In addition, the Fund manages government grants offered by the Abu Dhabi government and monitors the course of the relevant projects. To date, it has invested around AED80 billion in development projects across 84 countries.

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The petroleum industry is at a crossroads. A perfect storm of declining reserves, aging oilfields, increasing costs for exploration, operating, and decommissioning, volatile oil prices, and the uptick trending of “green” energy … it has never been more important to make the most out of existing reserves, assets and infrastructure.

Geothermal energy is an emerging worldwide energy market. Geothermal often gets overlooked in a world of PV, CSP, wind and hydro; however, geothermal offers more reliability (average 95 per cent capacity factor), lower carbon emissions and lower maintenance costs compared to these more “glamorous” renewable energy sources.

Geothermal has some major barriers to entry to the mainstream energy market. The largest barriers include the high-initial capital costs related to drilling and constructing new geothermal wells, long payback periods, and the risk associated with unknown formation performance when drilling in a new area.

Using proven technology, expertise and reservoir data from the petroleum industry, this unlikely partnership can provide a springboard for the geothermal industry to enter the mainstream renewable energy market, while at the same time benefiting the petroleum industry. If the initial capital costs for drilling geothermal wells could be reduced by utilizing existing oil field infrastructure, while also minimizing risk by using existing oilfield data, the barriers to entry for geothermal suddenly come tumbling down.

Recent advancements in energy conversion technologies and Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) technology have made incorporating geothermal in the oil field a viable and exciting emerging-energy market. In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded several projects demonstrating electricity generation from geothermal fluids, produced from active, abandoned, or marginal oil and gas wells. Federal tax incentives, the Department of Treasury Cash Grant and the DOE Loan Guarantee program combined with aggressive state renewable portfolio goals are expected to drive growth in the geothermal industry in the near term.

Because geothermal wells use many of the products and expertise developed by and for the oil and gas industry, this investment in a clean-energy future could create a new revenue stream for fossil- fuel-based companies. By leveraging both expertise and the infrastructure already in place, the oil and gas industry players can be part of the global clean- energy solution.

Geothermal in the Oil field – How?

Geothermal can be incorporated into the oilfield in three key ways: First, generate electricity from the hot, co-produced brine from active wells. Second, convert abandoned wells to geothermal wells for electricity production, thereby utilizing an existing asset, reducing carbon footprint, and generating renewable energy revenue. Third, employ existing oil field technologies to engineer reservoirs for EGS.

The United States alone produces about seven million barrels of co-produced fluid every day. Much of this co-produced fluid is hot enough to generate electricity. New developments in low-enthalpy turbines, such as the Organic Rankine Cycle units, produced by Ormat Technologies, Inc., Pratt & Whitney Power Systems and others have made it possible to generate electricity from water temperatures as low as 90°C, as successfully demonstrated at the Rocky Mountain Oil Test Center located in Casper, Wyoming.

Revitalizing abandoned wells with geothermal energy requires the well logs, performance data and workover history to evaluate if the well can survive the extended life and the geothermal extraction process. Ongoing research indicates the most economical ways to retrofit these wells, include running a full liner inside of the old well and cementing it in with slurry, using an expandable casing/liner or a swellable packer which can target specific zones that may need rehabilitation. Abandoned wells that are already plugged can be drilled out.

EGS is the most challenging of the geothermal resources in terms of up-front capital costs and well completions; however, it can benefit greatly from proven technology and practices of the oil and gas industry. EGS involves hydraulically fracturing the rock to allow injected water to flow through the rock formation, heat up, and then be pumped to the surface in a production well. EGS has high-drilling costs because of the need for two wells (injection and production), and the hydraulic fracturing needed for the system requires the casings to withstand very high pressures and temperatures.

Benefits to Oil and Gas

Incorporating geothermal in the oil field maximizes return on investment by using existing infrastructure longer and more efficiently, by reducing dependency on the electricity grid, by lowering oilfield electricity costs, by minimizing decommissioning costs, and by reducing carbon emissions.

A single megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity generated from geothermal water (rather than diesel) will reduce carbon dioxide emission by 760 kg. Over the course of a single year, assuming 90 per cent capacity factor (and geothermal is usually more on the order of 95 per cent), a typical 1MW plant reduces annual carbon dioxide emissions by 6,000 metric tons. As of 2011, the U.S. has about 3,100 MW of installed geothermal electricity, which translates into about 18.6 million metric tons of mitigated CO2 emissions.

Learn About the Geothermal Solution in June

The SMU Geothermal Laboratory will host its fifth international conference dedicated to Geothermal Energy Utilization Associated with Oil & Gas Development June14-15 on the SMU campus in Dallas. Leaders in technology, resource development and finance from geothermal and oil and gas industries attend this conference for the networking opportunities necessary for successful project development. This year the SMU Geothermal Laboratory is also offering a half-day Geothermal 101 short-course on June 13th.

This focused two-day conference brings together leaders from both business and research to discuss specific issues relevant to expanding geothermal electrical production in oil and gas fields. It is a remarkable opportunity for oil and gas companies to have a new stream of revenue for low-yield producers or initial high-water volumes. Participants can learn how to take these wells and instead of abandoning them, energize them with geothermal power.

Online registration is available at http://smu.edu/geothermal and early registration rates are available through May 20, 2011. For more information about the conference, contact Cathy Chickering at 214.768.1510 or catherine@smu.edu.