United Arab Emirates

This is the CCC’s eighth annual report on the UK’s progress in meeting carbon budgets.

The report shows that greenhouse gas emissions have fallen rapidly in the UK power sector but that progress has stalled in other sectors such as:

• heating in buildings
• transport
• industry
• agriculture

The report also outlines the Committee’s view of key criteria for the government’s ’emissions reduction plan’ published later in 2017

Hydrogen has emerged as an important part of the clean energy mix needed to ensure a sustainable future. Falling costs for hydrogen produced with renewable energy combined with the urgency of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions has given clean hydrogen unprecedented political and business momentum.



This paper from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) examines the potential of hydrogen fuel for hard-to-decarbonise energy uses including energy-intensive industries trucks aviation shipping and heating applications. But the decarbonisation impact depends on how hydrogen is produced. Current and future sourcing options can be divided into grey (fossil fuel-based) blue (fossil fuel-based production with carbon capture utilisation and storage) and green (renewables-based) hydrogen. Green hydrogen produced through renewable-powered electrolysis is projected to grow rapidly in the coming years.



Among other findings:



Important synergies exist between hydrogen and renewable energy. Hydrogen can boost renewable electricity market growth and broaden the reach of renewable solutions.

• Electrolysers can add demand-side flexibility. In advanced European energy markets electrolysers are growing from megawatt to gigawatt scale.
• Blue hydrogen is not inherently carbon free. This type of production requires carbon-dioxide (CO2) monitoring verification and certification.
• Synergies may exist between green and blue hydrogen deployment given the chance for economies of scale in hydrogen use or logistics.
• A hydrogen-based energy transition will not happen overnight. Hydrogen use is likely to catch on for specific target applications. The need for new supply infrastructure could limit hydrogen use to countries adopting this strategy.
• Dedicated hydrogen pipelines have existed for decades and could be refurbished along with existing gas pipelines. The implications of replacing gas abruptly or changing mixtures gradually should be further explored.

Trade of energy-intensive commodities produced with hydrogen including “e-fuels” could spur faster uptake or renewables and bring wider economic benefits.

Hydrogen could be used as a ‘cleaner’ cooking fuel particularly in communities that rely on biomass and fossil fuels to reduce local pollution and related health effects. However hydrogen must be produced using sustainable feedstocks and energy sources to ensure that local impacts are not reduced at the expense of other impacts generated elsewhere in the life cycle. To this end this paper evaluates life cycle environmental impacts of renewable hydrogen produced in a proton-exchange membrane electrolyser using solar energy. The aim of the study is to find out if hydrogen produced in this system and used as a cooking fuel is environmentally sustainable in comparison with conventional cooking fuels typically used in developing countries such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) charcoal and firewood. The results suggest that hydrogen would reduce the climate change impact by 2.5–14 times to 0.04 kg CO₂ eq./MJ compared to firewood (0.10 kg CO2 eq./MJ) and LPG (0.57 kg CO₂ eq./MJ). Some other impacts would also be lower by 6%–35 times including depletion of fossil fuels summer smog and health effects from emissions of particulates both locally and across the rest of the life cycle. However some other impacts would increase by 6%–6.7 times such as depletion of metals and freshwater and marine ecotoxicity. These are mainly due to the solar photovoltaic panels used to generate power for the electrolyser. In terms of the local impacts the study suggests that hydrogen would reduce local pollution and related health impacts by 8%–35 times. However LPG is still environmentally a better option than hydrogen for most of the impacts both at the point of use and on a life cycle basis.

The rapid increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations in the last several decades means that the effects of climate change are fast becoming the familiar horsemen of a planetary apocalypse. Catalysis one of the pillars of the chemical and petrochemical industries will play a critical role in the effort to reduce the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This Special Issue is timely as it provides a collection of high-quality manuscripts in a diverse range of topics which include the production of green hydrogen via water electrolysis the steam reforming of ethanol propane or glycerol the dry reforming of methane and the autothermal reforming of diesel surrogate fuel. The topic of the transformation of biomass waste to chemicals is also well represented as is the tackling of CO₂ emissions via novel utilization technologies. The Editors are grateful to all authors for their valuable contributions and confident that this Special Issue will prove valuable to scholars university professors and students alike.

Hydrogen produced with renewable energy sources – or “green” hydrogen – has emerged as a key element to achieve net-zero emissions from heavy industry and transport. Along with net-zero commitments by growing numbers of governments green hydrogen has started gaining momentum based on low-cost renewable electricity ongoing technological improvements and the benefits of greater power-system flexibility.



Hydrogen-based fuels previously attracted interest mainly as an alternative to shore up oil supply. However green hydrogen as opposed to the “grey” (fossil-based) or “blue” (hybrid) varieties also help to boost renewables in the energy mix and decarbonise energy-intensive industries.



This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) outlines the main barriers that inhibiting green hydrogen uptake and the policies needed to address these. It also offers insights on how to kickstart the green hydrogen sector as a key enabler of the energy transition at the national or regional level.



Key pillars of green hydrogen policy making include:

• National hydrogen strategy. Each country needs to define its level of ambition for hydrogen outline the amount of support required and provide a reference on hydrogen development for private investment and finance.
• Setting policy priorities. Green hydrogen can support a wide range of end-uses. Policy makers should identify and focus on applications that provide the highest value.
• Guarantees of origin. Carbon emissions should be reflected over the whole lifecycle of hydrogen. Origin schemes need to include clear labels for hydrogen and hydrogen products to increase consumer awareness and facilitate claims of incentives.
• Governance system and enabling policies. As green hydrogen becomes mainstream policies should cover its integration into the broader energy system. Civil society and industry must be involved to maximise the benefits.
• Subsequent briefs will explore the entire hydrogen value chain providing sector-by-sector guidance on the design and implementation of green hydrogen policies.

The World Energy Transitions Outlook preview outlines a pathway for the world to achieve the Paris Agreement goals and halt the pace of climate change by transforming the global energy landscape. This preview presents options to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and bring CO₂ emissions closer to net zero by mid-century offering high-level insights on technology choices investment needs and the socio-economic contexts of achieving a sustainable resilient and inclusive energy future.



Meeting CO₂ reduction targets by 2050 will require a combination of: technology and innovation to advance the energy transition and improve carbon management; supportive and proactive policies; associated job creation and socio-economic improvements; and international co-operation to guarantee energy availability and access.



Among key findings:

• Proven technologies for a net-zero energy system already largely exist today. Renewable power green hydrogen and modern bioenergy will dominate the world of energy of the future.
• A combination of technologies is needed to keep us on a 1.5°C climate pathway. These include increasingly efficient energy production to ensure economic growth; decarbonised power systems that are dominated by renewables; increased use of electricity in buildings industry and transport to support decarbonisation; expanded production and use of green hydrogen synthetic fuels and feedstocks; and targeted use of sustainably sourced biomass.
• In anticipation of the coming energy transition financial markets and investors are already directing capital away from fossil fuels and towards other energy technologies including renewables.
• Energy transition investment will have to increase by 30% over planned investment to a total of USD 131 trillion between now and 2050 corresponding to USD 4.4 trillion on average every year.
• National social and economic policies will play fundamental roles in delivering the energy transition at the speed required to restrict global warming to 1.5°C.

This preview identifies opportunities to support informed policy and decision making to establish a new global energy system. Following this preview and aligned with the UN High-Level Dialogue process the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will release the full report which will provide a comprehensive vision and accompanying policy measures for the transition.

As the world strives to cut carbon emissions electric power from renewables has emerged as a vital energy source. Yet transport and industry will still require combustible fuels for many purposes. Such needs could be met with hydrogen which itself can be produced using renewable power.



Hydrogen provides high-grade heat helping to meet a range of energy needs that would be difficult to address through direct electrification. This could make hydrogen the missing link in the transformation of the global energy system.  



Key sectors for renewable-based hydrogen uptake include:  

• Industry where it could replace fossil-based feedstocks including natural gas in high-emission applications.
• Buildings and power where it could be mixed with natural gas or combined with industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to produce syngas.
• Transport where it can provide low-carbon mobility through fuel-cell electric vehicles.  

Electrolysers – which split hydrogen and oxygen – can make power systems more flexible helping to integrate high shares of variable renewables. Power consumption for electrolysis can be adjusted to follow actual solar and wind output while producing the hydrogen needed for transport industry or injection into the gas grid.  



In the long run hydrogen could become a key element in 100% renewable energy systems. With technologies maturing actual scale-up should yield major cost reductions. The right policy and regulatory framework however remains crucial to stimulate private investment in in hydrogen production in the first place.

Heating and cooling accounts for almost half of global energy consumption. With most of this relying fossil fuels however it contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. In parts of the world lacking modern energy access meanwhile inefficient biomass use for cooking also harms people’s health damages the environment and reduces social well-being.



The transition to renewable-based energy-efficient heating and cooling could follow several possible pathways depending on energy demand resource availability and the needs and priorities of each country or region. Broad options include electrification with renewable power renewable-based gases (including “green” hydrogen) sustainable bioenergy use and the direct use of solar and geothermal heat.



This report developed jointly by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) outlines the infrastructure and policies needed with each transition pathway. This edition focused on renewable-based heating and cooling follows a broader initial study Renewable Energy Policies in a Time of Transition (IRENA IEA and REN21 2018).



The shift to renewables for heating and cooling requires enabling infrastructure (e.g. gas grids district heating and cooling networks) as well as various combinations of deployment integrating and enabling policies. The policy framework can demonstrate a country’s commitment to the energy transition level the playing field with fossil fuels and create the necessary enabling conditions to attract investments.



Along with highlighting country experiences and best practices the study identifies barriers and highlights policy options for renewable heating and cooling.



Key recommendations include:

• Setting specific targets and developing an integrated long-term plan for the decarbonisation of heating and cooling in all end-uses including buildings industry and cooking and productive uses in areas with limited energy access.
• Creating a level playing field by phasing out fossil-fuel subsidies and introducing other fiscal policies to internalise environmental and socio-economic costs.
• Combining the electrification of heating and cooling with increasingly cost-competitive renewable power generation scaling up solar and wind use and boosting system flexibility via energy storage heat pumps and efficient electric appliances.
• Harnessing existing gas networks to accommodate renewable gases such as biogas and green hydrogen.
• Introducing standards certification and testing policies to promote the sustainable use of biomass combining efficient systems and bioenergy solutions such as pellets briquettes bioethanol or anaerobic digestion.
• Reducing investment risks for geothermal exploration and scaling up direct use of geothermal heat.
• Improving district heating and cooling networks through energy efficiency measures and the integration of low-temperature solar thermal geothermal and other renewable-based heat sources.
• Supporting clean cooking and introducing renewable-based food drying in areas lacking energy access with a combination of financing mechanisms capacity building and quality standards aimed at improving livelihoods and maximising socio-economic benefits.

Offshore renewable energy – including offshore wind and solar power as well as emerging ocean energy technologies – could support sustainable long-term development and drive a vibrant blue economy. For countries and communities around the world offshore renewables can provide reliable stable electricity as well as support water desalination and aquaculture.

This report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) considers the status and prospects of offshore renewable sources and recommends key actions to accelerate their uptake.

The development of renewable sources and technologies at sea promises to spur new industries and create jobs in line with the global energy transition. Offshore wind towers with either fixed or floating foundations and floating solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays offer clear technological and logistical synergies with the existing offshore oil and gas industry.

Offshore renewables could provide clean power and ensure energy security for small island developing states (SIDS) and many of the least-developed countries (LDCs).

Among other findings:

• The predictability of power generation from ocean energy technologies complements the variable character solar PV and wind.
• Desalination of seawater using renewable energy sources – including solar and wind power but also direct solar and geothermal heat – can further enhance the sustainable blue economy.
• Renewable-based shipping powered with advanced biofuels hydrogen or synthetic fuels as alternatives to oil offer further synergies with offshore renewable energy.
• Islands and coastal territories could adopt renewable-based electric propulsion for short-distance (< 100 km) sea transport.
• Two reports released concurrently examine the potential for offshore renewables:

Over the past decade energy demand has witnessed a drastic increase mainly due to huge development in the industry sector and growing populations. This has led to the global utilization of renewable energy resources and technologies to meet this high demand as fossil fuels are bound to end and are causing harm to the environment. Solar PV (photovoltaic) systems are a renewable energy technology that allows the utilization of solar energy directly from the sun to meet electricity demands. Solar PV has the potential to create a reliable clean and stable energy systems for the future. This paper discusses the different types and generations of solar PV technologies available as well as several important applications of solar PV systems which are “Large-Scale Solar PV” “Residential Solar PV” “Green Hydrogen” “Water Desalination” and “Transportation”. This paper also provides research on the number of solar papers and their applications that relate to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the years between 2011 and 2021. A total of 126513 papers were analyzed. The results show that 72% of these papers are within SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. This shows that there is a lack of research in solar energy regarding the SDGs especially SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 5: Gender Equality SDG 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 10: Reduced Inequality and SDG 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institutions. More research is needed in these fields to create a sustainable world with solar PV technologies.