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Climate neutrality for the year 2050 is the goal assumed at the level of the EU27+UK. As Romania is no exception, it has assumed the gradual mitigation of pollution generated by the energy sector, and by 2030, according to 'Fit for 55', the share of energy from renewable sources must reach 42.5% from total energy consumption. For the rest of the energy produced from traditional sources, natural gas and/or coal, modern technologies will be used to retain the gaseous noxes. Even if they are not greenhouse gases, NO and SO2, generated from fossil fuel combustion, cause negative effects on the environment and biodiversity. The adsorption capacity of different materials, three nanomaterials developed in-house and three commercial adsorbents, both for NO and SO2, was tackled through gas chromatography, elemental analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Fe-BTC has proven to be an excellent material for separation efficiency and adsorption capacity under studied conditions, and is shown to be versatile both in the case of NO (80.00 cm3/g) and SO2 (63.07 cm3/g). All the developed nanomaterials generated superior results in comparison to the commercial adsorbents. The increase in pressure enhanced the performance of the absorption process, while temperature showed an opposite influence, by blocking the active centers on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future energy scenarios include both green and blue hydrogen, as both are needed to scale up decarbonized energy supply. A transition to renewable energy is predicted over time, but the urgency we are facing cannot be met by renewable energy alone. For blue hydrogen production, the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are primarily affected by emissions from natural gas production, processing, and transport (CO2 and methane), as well as process efficiency and carbon capture ratio. Few complete and updated analyses are available that cover the entire blue hydrogen value chain with the best available technology for process facilities, as well as the proper design, operation, and maintenance of all relevant systems and infrastructure. This paper analyses the GHG intensity of blue hydrogen, using recent data as well as input from technology providers on state‐of‐the‐art gas reforming technologies. Data are primarily based on natural gas production and transport in the North Sea Basin, with gas export from the Norwegian continental shelf to continental Europe or the United Kingdom, and with blue hydrogen production either in Norway or near pipeline landfall in the European Union or United Kingdom. Some data related to potential blue hydrogen production in the US Appalachian region are also given. The data show that the properly designed and operated value chains for blue hydrogen supply, with minimal emissions from natural gas supply and high carbon capture in hydrogen production, will give a major reduction in GHG emissions from energy end‐use. GHG footprint for end‐users based on blue hydrogen will typically be 80%–90% lower than for direct supply and use of natural gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a mass balance approach to estimate the seasonal and annual budgets of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) of the United Kingdom (excluding Scotland) and the Republic of Ireland from concentration measurements taken on a ferry along the east coast of the United Kingdom over a 3-year period (2015–2017). We estimate the annual emissions of CH4 to be 2.55±0.48 Tg, which is consistent with the combined 2.29 Tg reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by the individual countries. The net CO2 budget (i.e. including all anthropogenic and biogenic sources and sinks of CO2) is estimated at 881.0±125.8 Tg, with a net biogenic contribution of 458.7 Tg (taken as the difference between the estimated net emissions and the inventory value, which accounts for anthropogenic emissions only). The largest emissions for both gases were observed in a broad latitudinal band (52.5–54 ∘ N), which coincides with densely populated areas. The emissions of both gases were seasonal (maxima in winter and minima in summer), strongly correlated with natural gas usage and, to a lesser extent, also anti-correlated with mean air temperature. Methane emissions exhibited a statistically significant anti-correlation with air temperature at the seasonal timescale in the central region spanning 52.8–54.2 ∘ N, which hosts a relatively high density of waste treatment facilities. Methane emissions from landfills have been shown to sometimes increase with decreasing air temperature due to changes in the CH4 -oxidising potential of the topsoil, and we speculate that the waste sector contributes significantly to the CH4 budget of this central region. This study brings independent verification of the emission budgets estimated using alternative products (e.g. mass balance budgets by aircraft measurements, inverse modelling, inventorying) and offers an opportunity to investigate the seasonality of these emissions, which is usually not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK, AFC Energy has entered into a binding Heads of Agreement deal with HiiROC Ltd, whose plasma-based technology has proven its ability to extract hydrogen from methane and biomethane – readily available from incumbent gas networks – without CO 2 or other greenhouse gas emissions. The 'green' hydrogen produced using this technique could in turn fuel AFC's H-Power™ alkaline fuel cell systems, thereby opening up methane as a candidate carrier of green hydrogen for low-cost power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency of climate change, while the world economy is projected to depend on fossil fuels for some time, requires substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry. This study proposes a methodology for the decarbonisation of offshore natural gas production networks through progressive electrification, either by connecting offshore platforms with nearby renewable energy sources, e.g. offshore wind farms, or by sharing resources so as to improve their energy generation efficiency. In this context, a novel multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming model is proposed to simultaneously minimise greenhouse gas emissions and associated costs from a determined offshore platform network, considering technical constraints, such as maintaining the energy balance of the network, ensuring that cables are installed to enable energy flows, and respecting the maximum generation capacities and minimum operating loads of turbines. For demonstration purposes, the proposed methodology was applied to a UK Southern North Sea network and optimised using the augmented ε -constraint method. The Pareto front approximation obtained suggests that the studied network's cumulative greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 25% over the next 10 years at an average cost of US$370.9 per tonne CO 2 e. This study also explores the impact that uncertainties and postponing investment decisions may have in the set context. [Display omitted] • Offshore natural gas production GHG emissions can be reduced via electrification. • Energy generation options were analysed using a multi-objective optimisation model. • Sharing power production reduces GHG emissions in mature offshore fields in the UK. • GHG emissions reduction (25%) is achieved at average cost of US$370.9/tonneCO 2 e. • Integration with offshore wind farms provided the greatest benefits in the optima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonising heavy-duty trucks is challenging due to high journey power and energy requirements. With a growing fleet of commercial vehicles in the UK, biomethane can provide significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to fossil diesel. Methane is a potent GHG with a global warming potential (GWP) of 23–36, therefore reducing levels in the atmosphere can have a significant impact on climate change. There are a range of anthropogenic sources of methane that could be collected and processed to provide sustainable energy (upcycled), e.g., agricultural waste and the waste water system. This paper explores the impact of using upcycled methane in transport in South East England, evaluating local sources of anthropogenic methane and the environmental and economic impact of its use for a heavy-duty truck compared to fossil and battery electric alternatives. Analysis concludes that the use of upcycled methane in transport can provide significant reductions in lifecycle GHG emissions compared to diesel, fossil natural gas or battery electric trucks, and give net negative GHG emissions where avoided environmental methane emissions are considered. Furthermore, upcycling solutions can offer a lower cost route to GHG reduction compared to electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural gas is regarded as a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels with respect to pollution and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when burned as fuel. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas however and can escape during natural gas production and transmission. It is therefore vital to quantify fugitive CH4 emissions from natural gas production and transmission when assessing its contribution to climate change. Identifying and distinguishing emission sources is an important step in quantifying emissions, with δ13C in CH4, ethane:methane (C2H6:CH4) and CH4:CO2 ratios being well used as signatures for this. Principally, these signatures enable fugitive natural gas emissions to be distinguished from other CH4 sources in aircraft and ground sampling. Studying these signatures also has potential utility in identifying specific emission processes (e.g. flaring vs leaking gas) and further characterising specific sources (e.g. maturity or depth of gas source). As part of the United Nations Climate and Clean Air Coalition (UN CCAC) international methane studies, a five-day aircraft campaign was conducted over gas rigs in the southern North Sea in April 2018, with a further four-day campaign scheduled for April/May 2019. Flights are conducted using the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Twin Otter aircraft. C2H6, CH4 and CO2 mole fractions are measured continuously during flights using cavity enhanced spectroscopy. Whole air samples are collected in flasks and bags when flying through emission plumes at low altitude and analysed in the laboratory for δ13C in CH4 using high precision CF-GC-IRMS. Emissions from a few rigs have been identified from the April 2018 campaign, with enriched δ13C in CH4 signatures or elevated C2H6 measured from the CH4 plumes, indicating the rigs as sources. Targeted sampling in the April/May 2019 flight campaign should enable testing of the temporal consistency of the emissions and their δ13C in CH4 and C2H6:CH4 signatures, and aid investigation of the relationship between these signatures, and infrastructure and gas source characteristics.Two ground surveys have also been conducted around each of three gas terminals on the UK's east coast. Surveys were conducted by car and on foot, again using cavity enhanced spectroscopy for continuous in situ C2H6, CH4 and CO2 mole fraction measurement, and whole air sample collection in bags for laboratory analysis of δ13C in CH4. Differences in excess CH4 from terminals have been detected. δ13C in CH4 and C2H6:CH4 signatures of gas terminal emissions have been compared with those for gas rigs sampled during the aircraft campaigns, and additionally, with signatures from UK gas distribution network leaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]