ALL THE COLOURS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE RAINBOW
From water companies navigating away from grey infrastructure to gas producers getting ready to pump out blue, green and even white hydrogen, there’s a monumental task ahead for utilities looking to make their infrastructure greener.
Find out more in this Utility Week Live Guide to Sustainable Infrastructure, a subject close to our hearts and a key theme at this year’s Utility Week Live (register here, if you haven’t already).
It’s so important because, with the world now having officially breached 1.5°C warming over the course of 12 months compared to pre-industrial times in 2023-2024, the pressure is on to deliver a new environmentally-friendly energy system. And deliver it quickly.
Our guide explores the race to decarbonise the power, gas and water industries and looks at some of the new types of infrastructure utilities are adopting in the battle against climate change, from nature-based solutions to the first tentative steps on the road to a hydrogen economy.
Ben Hargreaves, head of content, Utility Week
We’ve spoken to Project Union, which aims to create a 2,000km transmission network for hydrogen based on repurposing existing assets alongside new ones – a network that represents roughly a quarter of the UK’s current natural gas transmission pipelines, and which is at a critical stage in its development.
You can also learn about water companies’ lacklustre efforts to date to adopt nature-based solutions and what they are doing to change that, and find out from the chief executive of the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers why decarbonising the gas network is such a formidably complex task.
There’s clearly many technology, investment and policy decisions where the stars will have to align for sustainable infrastructure to become the planet-saver we know it could be. But whatever the future holds, rest assured Utility Week will be on hand to bring you all the latest developments.
See you in person at the show.
Utility Week Flex Awards - held at Utility Week Live 2024 (21 May, NEC, Birmingham)
Net zero cannot happen without flexible energy – it’s as simple as that. Market makers, regulators and industry pioneers are working together to create an active flexibility market in the UK – but there are significant challenges ahead. Utility Week is delighted to support the emerging energy flexibility market with the launch of the Flex Awards hosted on the show floor at Utility Week Live, NEC, Birmingham, 21 May 2024.
Related content:
Interview: Project Union's Dr Danielle Stewart
National Grid Gas Transmission sees hydrogen very much having a major role in the UK's future gas landscape.
Biomethane and hydrogen under starter’s orders
IGEM chief executive Oliver Lancaster discusses how the UK can leverage the considerable investment sunk into the country's gas network.
NEW! Flex Awards
Powering progress: Celebrating innovation and resilience in Energy Flexibility. See the categories and flick through the entry guide to give you tips on your award-winning entry...
Water industry looks to mainstream blue-green infrastructure
Water companies hope to get funding in the next price review for sustainable water management solutions.
Energy and water infrastructure spend
Half the projected £775bn investment in UK infrastructure over the next decade will be spent on energy and water projects.
INFOGRAPHIC
Climate change by numbers
