Latest news with #renewables
Tahawul Tech
2 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Chinese mobile operators cut operational emissions
The Chinese mobile operation industry recently reduced their operational emissions for the first time in 2024. However the volume of mobile data traffic has nearly quadrupled since 2019. As a whole the industry has begun taking actions to improve its energy efficiency and increased the use of renewables. Before the decline last year, previous analyses found regular annual increases in emissions in China, which rose 7 per cent between 2019 and 2023. Energy consumption grew 30 per cent since 2019 as data consumption soared with the nationwide rollout of 5G services, with the nation ending 2024 with just over 1 billion 5G connections. Steven Moore, head of climate action at the GSMA, stated the opportunity in China is enormous, as operators can propel the industry forward in its efforts towards net zero. 'A lot more needs to be done, and it is encouraging to see the mobile industry in Greater China making progress in this way', he noted. 'However, this first decrease is only realised if it goes further next year. We must double down and ensure we are doing everything we can as a global industry to halve emissions by 2030'. The Mobile Net Zero: Greater China report, released at the event, noted the drop in emissions comes as a growing number of mobile operators in the region are setting voluntary climate targets. Four operators in Asia Pacific have validated near-term science-based targets, while three have validated net zero targets. Several key suppliers also have committed to science-based targets and 2050 net zero targets. The annual Mobile Net Zero report found the mobile industry trimmed operational emissions by 8 per cent between 2019 and 2023 despite surging demand. Source: Reuters Image Credit: Stock Image
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Big Oil Isn't Afraid of Peak Oil Demand
Big Oil firms expect global oil demand to stop growing at some point early next decade. But the decline will be very slow and gradual and will look more like a plateau than a downward spiral. The world's biggest international oil and gas companies have started to acknowledge that demand growth could slow or stop within a decade. But these firms keep pumping oil and gas more than they did earlier this decade as they expect that oil demand – regardless of a peak – isn't going the headline-grabbing surge in renewable energy capacity, solar and wind cannot replace fossil fuels in many industrial processes and production while demand for petrochemicals drives increased oil and gas consumption. The strategic shift of BP and Shell from early this decade to boost investments in renewables while scaling back oil production lasted only a couple of years. Europe's Big Oil found out firsthand that the renewables business isn't bringing the profits that the core oil and gas business is generating. Faced with the difficult task of rewarding shareholders with attractive yields and payouts and stopping the investor outflow from the industry, and with an energy crisis with soaring oil and gas prices, Shell and BP drastically scaled on their ambitions in renewables and shifted their focus on oil and gas again. Equinor of Norway, where electric vehicles hold an enormous market share and power comes from hydro and wind, also reduced investments in renewables, in order to boost returns for shareholders and adapt to an uneven energy transition. The Norwegian major, which dropped 'oil' from its name and rebranded to Equinor seven years ago with more renewables business in mind, acknowledged that market conditions in the clean energy sector have changed and the energy transition is going forward with an uncertain and uneven pace. At the same time, Equinor, which now produces a large part of the gas going to Europe via pipelines, expects to keep a high level of oil and gas production in Norway 'all the way to 2035.' 'What we are working on is to make sure that we are able to squeeze every molecule out of the Norwegian continental shelf,' chief executive Anders Opedal told the Financial Times. 'So we have to drill around 100 wells a year for the next decade.' Low returns from higher-cost renewables and the uncertain pace of the transition amid the push for security of supply have had European majors scale back plans and investments in renewables and look to grow low-cost lower-carbon oil and gas production. In the U.S., ExxonMobil and Chevron didn't have to pivot as they weren't deep into renewable energy even before the 2022-2023 energy crisis and soaring the International Energy Agency (IEA), which has just doubled down on its forecast of peak oil demand by the end of this decade, Big Oil companies don't see any peak by 2030. Some have put a peak at some point in the 2030s, but all say that oil and gas will remain essential for global economic growth and development in 2050. 'Under any credible scenario, oil and natural gas remain essential,' ExxonMobil says in its latest Global Outlook to 2050. The U.S. supermajor also believes that 'Lower-carbon technology needs policy support to grow rapidly but ultimately must be supported by market forces.' In 2050, more than 50% of global energy demand will still be met by oil and natural gas, Exxon reckons. 'The world will be different in 2050, but the need to provide the reliable, affordable energy that drives economic prosperity and better living standards, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, will remain just as critical as it is today,' it says. Shell's CEO Wael Sawan has said that reducing global oil and gas production would be 'dangerous and irresponsible' as the world still needs those hydrocarbons. In its 2025 Energy Security Scenarios, Shell sees oil demand likely to grow by 3?5 million barrels per day (bpd) into the early 2030s, with a long but slow decline after that as petroleum remains an affordable and convenient fuel, particularly in transport, and an important feedstock for the petrochemical industry. In all three scenarios analyzed by Shell, upstream investment of around $600 billion a year 'will be required for decades to come as the rate of depletion of oil and gas fields is two to three times the potential future annual declines in demand.' In the most-discussed strategy reset this year, BP slashed spending on clean energy and boosted upstream investments. The UK-based supermajor will aim for 10 new major oil and gas projects to start up by the end of 2027, and a further 8–10 projects by the end of 2030. Production is also expected to grow: to 2.3–2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in 2030, with capacity to increase to 2035. That's a stark departure from BP's previous strategy to lower oil and gas output by 2030. 'We will grow upstream investment and production to allow us to produce high margin energy for years to come,' CEO Murray Auchincloss said. Whenever peak oil demand occurs, it will not be a steep downhill in global consumption—it will be a long plateau with a soft decline afterward, Big Oil says. A steep drop could only occur if there is an aggressive political push toward net-zero emissions by 2050, Shell's head of scenario planning, Laszlo Varro, told FT. But such a push would be 'significantly outside society's current comfort zone.' By Tsvetana Paraskova for More Top Reads From this article on Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
Sustainability Times
12 hours ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Still at 99.8%': Revolutionary Zinc-Iodine Battery Holds Nearly Full Capacity After 500 Brutal Charge Cycles
IN A NUTSHELL 🔋 Researchers in Australia developed a new zinc-iodine battery technology offering safer and more sustainable energy storage. technology offering safer and more sustainable energy storage. ⚡ The innovative dry electrode technique enhances performance and stability by preventing dendrite growth, crucial for battery longevity. enhances performance and stability by preventing dendrite growth, crucial for battery longevity. 🌍 This breakthrough positions zinc-iodine batteries as a viable alternative to lithium-ion for large-scale and grid storage applications. for large-scale and grid storage applications. 🔧 Future prospects include optimizing the technology to double energy density and exploring other halogen chemistries for broader applications. In a groundbreaking development, scientists in Australia have unveiled a cutting-edge zinc-iodine battery technology that promises to revolutionize energy storage solutions. This innovation is set to provide energy storage providers with cheaper, safer, and longer-lasting batteries, particularly beneficial for renewables and grid stability. With the increasing demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage systems, this breakthrough could mark a significant shift in how energy is stored and utilized globally, paving the way for more reliable and environmentally friendly power solutions. The Science Behind Zinc-Iodine Batteries Zinc-iodine batteries have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, primarily due to their intrinsic safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. The recent advancement, spearheaded by researchers at the University of Adelaide, involves the development of a dry electrode technique that significantly enhances the performance of these batteries. By mixing active materials as dry powders, the team created thick, self-supporting electrodes, offering enhanced performance and stability. A key innovation is the addition of 1,3,5-trioxane to the electrolyte, which forms a flexible protective film on the zinc surface during charging. This film prevents the growth of dendrites—sharp, needle-like structures that can cause short circuits in batteries. As explained by Professor Shizhang Qiao, this protective measure is crucial in maintaining the battery's longevity and safety, addressing one of the major challenges faced by energy storage technologies today. 'Trash Into Power': Scientists Create Batteries From Industrial Waste to Store Green Energy and Rewrite the Future of Sustainability Comparing With Lithium-Ion Batteries While lithium-ion batteries have long dominated the energy storage market, their limitations in terms of safety, cost, and environmental impact have prompted the search for alternatives. The new zinc-iodine technology stands out due to its ability to retain a significant percentage of its capacity over numerous charge cycles. Pouch cells with the new electrodes maintained 88.6% capacity after 750 cycles, while coin cells demonstrated a remarkable 99.8% retention after 500 cycles. Such performance metrics position zinc-iodine batteries as a viable competitor for grid-scale storage applications. The high iodine loading and stable zinc interface allow these batteries to store more energy at a lower weight and cost, making them an attractive option for large-scale energy storage. This innovation not only holds the potential to disrupt the current market but also encourages the adoption of more sustainable energy practices. 'Solar Just Beat Coal': Historic Milestone as EU Electricity Is Now Powered More by the Sun Than by the World's Dirtiest Fuel Advantages and Future Prospects The dry electrode technique offers several advantages over conventional battery technologies. The dry-processed electrodes can hold more active material, enhancing the energy density and reducing self-discharge rates. This improvement is critical for applications requiring stable and long-lasting energy storage solutions, such as renewable energy integration and grid balancing. Looking forward, the researchers plan to optimize the technology further, potentially doubling the system energy density by refining current collectors and minimizing excess electrolyte. The prospect of scaling this technology using reel-to-reel manufacturing techniques also opens up opportunities for widespread industrial adoption. As the team explores other halogen chemistries, such as bromine systems, the scope for innovation in this field continues to expand. 'Bury Them Deep': Nuclear Reactors Planted One Kilometer Underground Could Deliver Cheap and Ultra-Safe Energy for Decades Implications for the Energy Industry This breakthrough in zinc-iodine battery technology holds significant implications for the energy industry, particularly in the context of renewable energy integration. By providing a safer and more cost-effective storage solution, energy providers can better manage supply and demand, enhancing grid stability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The potential to scale this technology for use in utilities and microgrids further underscores its importance in the transition towards a more sustainable energy future. The research team's success in developing this technology not only highlights the capabilities of zinc-iodine batteries but also sets a precedent for future innovations in energy storage. As industries and governments worldwide seek to address the challenges of climate change and energy security, such advancements are crucial in driving progress towards a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of sustainable energy storage, this innovation raises an intriguing question: What other groundbreaking technologies lie on the horizon to transform how we store and use energy? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (21)
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are under pressure – and it's not from each other this time
Mobile Net Zero report shows momentum is building. | Image credit – GSMA Still, to hit net zero by 2050, the pace needs to more than double. Emissions must fall 7.5% per year until 2030 – so far, we're not even close. Quick hits from the GSMA report: 2024 is off to a decent start: emissions are estimated to be down another 4.5%. 37% of electricity used by mobile operators came from renewables in 2023, up from just 13% in 2019. 81 operators (covering almost half the planet's mobile connections) have committed to science-based climate targets. Operational emissions dropped in most regions between 2019 and 2023, with Europe leading the way at -56%. North America followed with a 44% cut and Latin America trimmed 36%. Greater China, on the other hand, saw an 8% increase during that time – but early 2024 data shows a nearly 4% drop. If that trend holds, it could be a game changer globally, since China is the world's biggest smartphone market. – Steven Moore, Head of Climate Action at the GSMA, June 2025 A huge chunk of emissions still comes from power use. Operators like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T used 290 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2023 alone – roughly 1% of global energy use. That includes running networks, stores, data centers and even EV fleets. But the big elephant in the room? Scope 3 emissions – things like phone manufacturing and supply chains – make up over two-thirds of the industry's total carbon footprint. And they're still a mess to track. The good news: more people want greener tech. Nearly 90% of users care about repairability and longevity and almost half say they'd consider a refurbished phone. Refurbs generate up to 90% fewer emissions and the second-hand phone market is booming – expected to hit $150 billion by 2027. Video credit – GSMA So, why should we care about this? Well, it's pretty simple: the networks powering your life – yes, I'm looking at you, T-Mobile , AT&T and Verizon – are major players in this global effort. Their commitment (or lack thereof) to sustainability directly impacts our planet's future, and let's be honest, it's increasingly becoming a competitive battleground, too. T-Mobile 's been loud and proud about its green goals. In 2023, it pledged to hit net-zero emissions across the board, and earlier this year, it came up with a clever idea: turning old phones into Wi-Fi routers to cut down on e-waste. Verizon is also in the game, targeting net zero by 2050. To get there, it just expanded its deal with Invenergy, locking in 640 megawatts of solar power across four US states. But, still, it's not all about carbon cuts. There's also growing attention on "energy justice" – making sure these green shifts also benefit underserved communities. Sustainability isn't just a tech problem – it's a people problem, too. And being aware of what each company does is a good idea. It's honestly pretty exciting to see the mobile industry – usually slammed for being wasteful – start making real moves on sustainability. Seeing emissions drop while data usage keeps climbing shows there's some serious behind-the-scenes innovation happening. It shows that innovation doesn't just mean a faster chip or a better camera; it can also mean a greener network. That said, the hard part is still ahead. The GSMA report makes it clear: cutting emissions twice as fast and cracking down on those giant Scope 3 numbers won't be easy. And it's not just about throwing up more solar panels (though, hey, that helps). It's about rethinking how phones are made, where the parts come from, and what happens when we're done with them. For us, that means looking a little closer at which brands and carriers are actually doing the work. Would I pick a phone or a plan based on how green it is? If the performance and price are solid, too – definitely. Sustainability should quickly become part of the decision-making checklist.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman and EU target energy synergies through innovation and storage
MUSCAT - The Sultanate Oman and the European Union (EU) are exploring deeper collaboration to accelerate the energy transition through innovative technologies, smarter infrastructure, and long-duration storage systems. This was the key message that emerged from a session of the EU-Oman Energy & Water Collaboration Forum, held recently in Muscat under the theme 'How Can Oman and the EU Work Together to Optimise the Energy Mix?' The high-level panel brought together energy experts from Oman and Europe to explore how partnerships can help optimise energy resources, enhance grid resilience, and support Oman's ambitious sustainability targets. Moderator Said al Kamyani, Sustainability Specialist, set the tone by highlighting the urgency of building diversified and secure energy systems. He guided the discussion across a range of topics, including regulatory frameworks, advanced technologies, and the growing role of energy storage in stabilising renewables. Thuraiya al Wahaibi, Senior Product Engineer at Nama Power and Water Procurement (Nama PWP), shared Oman's clean energy targets of 30% renewables by 2030 and 60% by 2040, alongside net-zero emissions by 2050. She outlined Nama PWP's roadmap, which includes more than eight upcoming solar and wind projects, as well as ongoing studies into pumped hydro and geothermal energy. 'Oman's regulatory environment and public-private partnership model are strong foundations,' she said, 'but scaling up will require stronger collaboration on technologies like smart grids, storage, and system integration.' Dr Yves-Laurent Beck, Hydropower Project Manager at French utility EDF, emphasised the suitability of pumped hydro energy storage for Oman's mountainous terrain. Citing EDF's global expertise and its work on the Hatta Pumped Storage Plant in the UAE, he advocated for long-term collaboration and capacity-building in Oman. 'Pumped hydro with variable-speed turbines can offer flexibility and grid stability, particularly as renewable energy sources become dominant,' Dr Beck noted. Storage solutions were further explored by Paul Smith, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Energy Dome. He introduced the company's CO₂ Battery—an innovative long-duration storage solution with a 30-year lifespan that uses carbon dioxide in a closed cycle. 'Our technology is a cost-effective answer to grid intermittency and is fully compatible with green hydrogen production,' Smith explained. 'Oman's ambition to lead in hydrogen makes it an ideal partner for such solutions.' Henrico van den Boomen, CEO of stressed the importance of modernising grid infrastructure in parallel with the rollout of renewables. Drawing from the Dutch experience, he cautioned against underestimating the complexity of grid adaptation. 'Europe faced delays due to slow planning on local balancing and smart systems,' he said. 'Oman has the advantage of foresight—now is the time to invest in decentralised systems and advanced energy management.' Khalfan Naser Said al Burtamani, Chief Commercial Officer at Nama Electricity Distribution, shared Oman's progress in digital infrastructure. He pointed to the deployment of smart meters—now covering 77% of the system—and the SABIQ prepayment platform. 'Advanced Metering Infrastructure is a game-changer,' he said. 'But we also need policies that keep pace with innovation, especially as grid pressure, cybersecurity and resilience become more complex.' The session closed with a consensus on the need for flexible, forward-looking regulatory frameworks and stakeholder coordination. Panellists agreed that technologies like CO₂ batteries and pumped hydro are essential to support the stability and scalability of Oman's renewable and hydrogen ambitions.
