The Green Edge Reports Roundup, June-24: Part Two - Sectors
Continuing with our selection of reports and other publications from this month’s reading list.
Part Two of our crop of green reports from this months reading list. Also see Part One - General.
As usual, you can find all these reports and more in our searchable reports list on The Green Edge Data Portal.
֎ Reports we feel are particularly worth a look.
Energy
General
֎At the crossroads: Pathways to a net zero future
Mission Zero Coalition, June 2024.
Using the successful formula: multi-stakeholder engagement across 11 roundtable sessions to identify and agree five cross-cutting themes and the necessary sets of actions which are: balanced supply and demand for renewable energy; attractive investment environment; an efficient and democratic planning system; a sufficient flow of skilled and specialised workers; and a data driven and digitalised energy system. To jump to a summary turn to page 73 and these are captured in a single figure (No. 40) which lists out the key actions for each theme for the next 100 days, next year, and next 5 years.
Strategic for Affordable and Fair Clean Energy Transition: World Energy Outlook Special Report
IEA, May 2024.
A detailed global perspective on the transition to clean energy. Nothing on skills and making the transition fair from a work point of view, but it does major on affordability. The transition to clean energy solutions is both cleaner than today but also cheaper and more efficient plus the costs of inaction are almost too large to contemplate.
Grids and Networks
AI risks for Energy Networks: Challenges, Management and Regulation
Energy Systems Catapult, June 2024.
Illustrates the cross-over and interdependency between AI and green/clean tech very well, and some potential challenges (even threats). From a skills perspective it illustrates the increasing list of skills priorities that face the UK economy over the next phase of the net zero transition.
Report on proposed CUSC modification CMP 376
Charles River Associates for Centrica plc, September 2023.
Grid capacity and the ability to add further generating capacity is a critical renewable energy issue. This report, whilst technical, does present a lot of very useful insights into understanding the challenges being faced and the implications of not rapidly addressing them. We have to wonder the amount of skills and capacity devoted to progressing what is a frustrating process and a major constraint.
The elephant in the room: how do we regulate gas transportation infrastructure as gas demand declines?
One Earth, May 2024.
The UK has around 7,700 kms of high-pressure gas pipelines that are maintained by 1,500-2,000 people, and as more and more buildings and business go off-gas grid, the costs of operating and maintaining the supply to gas customers must increase. This paper highlights the dilemma of fossil fuel assets that can’t be repurposed with the transition to net zero. Our interest is the transition and the retaining of skills for the gas pipeline system will be a major challenge as the core skills set are relevant to new and emerging areas.
Renewables
2024 Manifesto for an era of delivery and growth
Renewable UK, May 2024.
One of the five main requests from the renewables sector in the UK skills feature strongly (their fourth request) which calls for boosting training (funded in part by a change to the apprenticeship levy), a four-nations taskforce (recognising the issues raised through skills devolution), and the identification and focus on critical occupations. We would like to think the skills issues and actions raised here will find their way into the Green Jobs Delivery Group’s Net Zero Workforce Plan and thinking.
Storage
European Market Outlook for Battery Storage 2024-2028
Solar Power Europe, 2024.
Dramatic growth in all major European markets for battery storage which is dominated by residential applications (70%): Germany grown 2.5 times, Italy 1.85 times, and the UK 1.93 times. Simple message for skills (and the grid), batteries for storage needs to be included in any retrofitting training programme at the same time the grid finding ways to make use of stored energy to balance the grid.
Wind
Global Offshore Wind Report 2024
Global Wind Energy Council, June 2024.
All things offshore wind and an excellence insight to the global market. Skills are well covered (pages 75-82) and a list of core skills are provided. Information provided here is very applicable to the UK as the industry now operates to clear global practices and standards.
Agriculture & Nature
Rewilding Finance. Harnessing high-integrity investment to boost rewilding across Britain
Rewilding Britain, May 2024.
A well written and illustrated report which shows the status of rewilding using several examples. Fills a gap in our understanding of rewilding and growing range of investors.
Action-oriented recommendations for upskilling and reskilling the EU agricultural workforce
EU CAP Network, April 2024.
There might be a few ideas here that could be used within the UK e.g. vouchers for farmers, increasing access to courses and programmes, maintaining a full central register of programmes, etc.
Artificial Intelligence
Greening AI: a policy agenda for the AI and energy revolutions
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, May 2024.
As the demands for AI grow, so does the need for data/computer centres which demand energy. This in part explains the hunt for zero and low carbon energy sources by the major IT/internet companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon. Building low energy data centres for AI applications will help but it is clear that this needs to built in from the beginning. We could view this issue in a different way: how best to capture the energy consumed but not used, and channel it to other applications.
Built Environment
֎Building a sustainable workforce: Greening the built environment
Bright Eye Ventures and UfI Ventures, 2024.
At last, EdTech meets sustainability and the built environment, and here we have analysis of the need, the potential (see page 23), and the role of EdTech in raising skills with greater productivity. We need to see what is said here being integrated into the LSIP plans across England.
Net Zero Carbon Advice Note
Test Valley Borough Council, March 2024.
A useful guide for net zero buildings with helpful checklists. Builds on the work of a few other councils and continues to be useful and applicable for multiple stakeholders. We could see this being used as an input to a widespread education programme to boost understanding across citizens, builders, suppliers and planners.
Green Governance: A holistic approach for feasible and successful Net Zero Transition Plans in the real estate industry
CRREM and EPRA, April 2024.
Takes us from ESG 1.0 to ESG 3.0 in a structured way with a series of very useful charts linking the various elements impacting and reshaping real estate management. Illustrates well the mindset shift for an industry that must start from a different set of premises that before. Links well with the work of RICS and RIBA and across into the UK Green Building Council.
Circular Economy
Towards a typological framework for circular economy roadmaps: A comprehensive analysis of global adaption strategies
Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 434, January 2024.
The framework emerging here is interesting for those seeking to develop qualifications for the circular economy. At the moment the circular economy does not feature strongly amongst L3-5 qualifications even at module level.
Reusable Health Care Textiles (HCTs) for use in Personal Protective Equipment: Proceedings of a Workshop
National Academies, 2024.
For those wishing to get into the details and understand the potential for the re-use of HCTs. See this as a detailed case study of one sector’s set of challenges to change the use of core set of items across health care. Education and training do get raised as adopting circular economy principles would require a significant mind shift for many.
Heat & retrofit
֎How to install more heat pumps: insights from a survey of heating engineers
Beta Teach, IMS Heat Pumps, and Nesta, June 2024.
A very timely report based on the inputs of 340+ installers with an extensive part devoted to staffing, recruitment, and skills (from page 37 onwards). Three main findings: the burden of administration, finding staff (where experience is weighted higher than qualifications), and the low level of customer demand. For us, the results were positive in that message we gained from reading the report indicated a desire to take on new work (heat pumps) and that capacity is currently in place to support some growth. But consistent demand will drive growth of skills supply more attuned with needs.
֎How to make heat pumps more affordable
Nesta, June 2024.
A good contribution to cracking the “affordability challenge” of heat pumps, looking at various policy themes e.g. innovation, cheaper electricity, and subsidies. Shows that parity of within reach especially when we look at the full life-time costs involved.
Clean heat: Coordinating the switch street by street
Nesta, June 2024.
Suggests a move from an individual to a collective (street by street) approach, and works this issue through, showing that the rate of domestic decarbonisation can increase. Scale means that planning skills development can be put onto a more stable and higher volume basis.
Briefing: Why we need a register of gas boilers
Centre for Public Data, January 2024.
Just as we have a series of databases covering the quality of the housing stock, the case is made here that we need the same for gas boilers to help in the planning of the transition to net zero. The data largely exists but aren’t pooled and used at present.
Construction
Cooperation the key to sustainable construction
Saint Gobain, April 2024.
A useful text that takes us through decarbonisation, renovation, circularity, urbanisation, and quality of life. For anyone new to understanding construction and net zero, this is a good read with a set of examples and case studies.
Design
A blueprint for renewal design and technology education
Design Council, June 2024.
Link (scroll down to see the report)
Makes the case and provides the data to support the renewal of design and technology (D&T) across the schools’ curriculum. D&T is the cross-over of science and creativity, and helps to develop key skills relevant to the green economy. For this campaign to succeed, it will require major support across Government, and throughout the school’s system. Design is a key, successful part of the UK economy, and is central to the transition to net zero and the development of the circular economy. To date, we have seen little inclusion of design into the skills thinking of the Climate Change Committee’s work but hopefully this will now change.
Finance/Insurance
The Big Picture: The $10 trillion role of insurance in mobilising the climate transition
Howden Group and the Boston Consulting Group, June 2024.
Places insurance as key enabler of the climate transition, also seeking to avoid the challenges of not tackling the huge impact of extreme weather conditions (a $100 billion bill currently). Describes green finance (for want of a better term) as having a key role to play, and highlights the strategic thinking required to make progress as Government tend to look at specific costs and not the total picture.
Mining
Battery and Electric Machines: Charging Ahead
International Mining, March 2021.
A traditional industry electrifying itself largely with batteries, and features one of our favourite companies, Xerotech of Ireland. Applying battery technology in the mining environment pushes its resilience and robustness to the limits.
Transport
֎Net zero and UK shipping: HC 509
Environmetal Audit Committee, House of Commons, May 2024.
A progress report on the decarbonisation of shipping and ports: the current UK efforts are found wanting. We have covered various aspects of the maritime sector in the UK and their efforts to change energy sources, energy types, energy supply, energy storage etc. onshore to support ferries and ships, and to shift the skills of their staff. The report calls for a significant refresh of the Clean Maritime Plan which would link well with the Green Skills Report of the Maritime Skills Commission.
Skills needs for zero-emissions vehicles and battery manufacturing in Ontario. Summary for policymakers
Place Centre, Smart Prosperity Institute and Future Skills Centre, December 2023.
With the major investments made by Stellantis, LG, GM, Ford, and Volkswagen in Ontario, and there is real interest in the switch from ICE to EV, and this report covers this shift in some excellent graphics e.g. Table 1 covers the sub-sectors summary of trends and their impact on occupations and skills. Relevant no matter where you are in the world. Europe has an excellent resource here in the ALBATTS project is worth looking at too where the design of new jobs is a key focus.
Electric Vehicle Outlook 2024
BNEF, June 2024.
Excellent update on all classes of EV vehicles: EV cars sales growth is slowing but still very high in a number of countries (e.g. China, India), commercial EVs now showing traction, but when we view the various classes of vehicles versus 2050 and emissions reduction, medium and heavy trucks are off track.
Heavy Lifting Required: Truckmakers’ electric transition
Carbon Tracker, May 2024.
A massive task ahead given the levels of emissions arising from trucks and the lack of progress to date. Given the life of a truck, perhaps there is a retrofit option emerging (not examined here) given there might be quite a lot of trucks being banned in time.
Risks related to emerging and disruptive transportation technologies: A guide
National Academies, 2024.
Covers four technologies: connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs), electric vehicles (EVs), mobility on demand and mobility as a service (MoD/MaaS), and advanced air mobility (AAM). Main interest in the guide would be those involved in the planning of transport at a local and regional levels, seeking to understanding some of the developing risks and how they can be managed.
Airport Energy Resiliency Roadmap
National Academies, 2024.
Airports are mini-cities and have their own specific threats to continuous energy supplies and are often located to be threatened as well by rising sea levels. A very practical guide: for those seeking a quick view to the content and logic of the materials presented turn to the chart on Page 5.