NetZero
Urban areas, home to half the world's population, are key to addressing climate change. Governments and businesses are developing "net zero" strategies to reduce carbon emissions. But what does this mean for infrastructure, operations, and city planning?
Net Zero carbon consultancy
Change is difficult, especially in the context of sustainability. Merely 7% of these endeavors succeed in meeting their objectives, a percentage that decreases to 1% in Europe due to stricter regulatory standards. Given that the majority of people on Earth—roughly half—now reside in cities, the green transition will be crucial to both reducing global warming and helping people adjust to it.
Governments, local governments, and companies are creating net zero strategies to lower their carbon emissions in order to address this. However, what exactly does "net zero" mean, and how does it relate to organizational processes, infrastructure design, and city-scale planning?
Solutions
Local Authorities
Local authorities will play a crucial role in the transition to net zero. With their broad remit and intimate knowledge of their communities, they can best integrate activity on the ground. Our consultancy services can help local authorities understand the energy transition in their area and develop strategies to meet national net zero ambitions.
DNOS
The transition to net zero energy will bring seismic changes to energy networks, creating unprecedented challenges for distribution network operators (DNOs). The increase in the amount of generation connected throughout the electricity network, combined with the growth in demand from the electrification of heat and transport, will present significant obstacles.
Industry
The transition to net zero will bring significant changes to the way we produce and consume energy. As businesses face growing pressure from consumers to consider their environmental impact and rising costs, it is crucial to establish an informed, strategic view. Our Net Zero Transition team works closely with businesses to develop customised decarbonisation roadmaps that take into account short and long-term opportunities for renewable generation, electrification of heat and transport, changing energy system costs, financial incentives, and emerging technical and regulatory opportunities.
Cross-Sector Utilities
The utilities sector, including road and street works, will play a crucial role in the journey towards achieving net zero in Great Britain. Their business-as-usual practices present unique challenges to decarbonisation. With gas usage currently required for electricity generation, heating, and fueling vehicles, finding a replacement renewable energy source with similar energy density and safety record is no easy task. While hydrogen shows promise as a renewable option, it also presents challenges in terms of volatility and storage.