Extraordinary Insights
On demand content
Agenda
the global energy transition - why is it important?
Host: Craig Shanaghey, President of Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa
High on the energy transition agenda is the need to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels. We need to move away from coal, reduce the carbon intensity of oil and gas, and apply more resource and investment to mitigating solutions like carbon capture and offset options. Recently the UK passed a couple of major milestones – generating more power from zero carbon sources than fossil fuels, and going two weeks without using coal to generate electricity. There is a long way to go yet but we are heading in the right direction. Can we decarbonise the fossil fuel chain to remain viable for a post transition world?
roll out the sun
Host: Joanna Parker-Swift, Chief Executive Officer, Solivus
Solivus® wants to make the world a better place. Their innovative, ultra-lightweight fabric has been designed for the residential and commercial sectors but the challenge is to expand their reach and make it available to many. The company's goal is to be pivotal in reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and make cost-efficient energy generation and storage through the transition to more energy efficient vehicles powered with renewable energy and trading excess renewable energy to others to create a cleaner environment for everyone. The EI will look to explore the opportunities that exist in the solar market and how we can reduce the barriers to widespread global implementation of solar power generation and storage at any scale.
'covid catalyst' - could graphene lead the green recovery?
Host: James Baker, CEO, Graphene@Manchester
Graphene, the route to commercialisation from the lab to the market place
Graphene was first isolated at the University of Manchester in 2004. The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), in partnership with Masdar, is the University’s second world-class graphene centre, creating a unique pipeline of capability to fast-track graphene’s commercial potential. The GEIC is critical in the development of commercial applications and in maintaining the UK’s continued growth in graphene and related 2D materials. Together, the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and GEIC provide an unrivalled hub of graphene expertise and capabilities. The two facilities demonstrate Manchester’s position as the globally leading knowledge-base in graphene research and commercialisation.
Graphene and 2D Materials have many applications and potential across many sectors, from light weighting of structures to novel energy storage mechanisms to enhanced thermal management capabilities. They will support the drive towards sustainability and achievement of net-zero and also help support the rapid recovery from the global pandemic.
transforming the built environment
Host: Adam Matthews MBA, Head of International, Centre for Digital Built Britain
Adam Matthews MBA is Head of International for the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) and former Chairman and co-founder of the EU BIM Task Group. Adam leads a team advising governments around the world to develop and implement strategies for the introduction of BIM to deliver national level impact. The EI will build on the previous one to look at the key transformational ideas for the development of Cities of the Future and how we will manage to house the world's population in 2050.