The gap in research and development between academia and the industry within the energy sector will need to be addressed in order for Bahrain to achieve its net zero carbon commitments, attendees at a top climate change conference heard yesterday … with announcements for tackling this challenge in the pipeline.
During the Global Water, Energy and Climate Change Congress (GWECCC) leadership discussion panel titled ‘The Energy Trilemma: Affordability, Security, Sustainability,’ Bapco Energies group chief executive Mark Thomas highlighted the need for an innovation ecosystem within the sector.
“I have a fairly good idea of how we are going to reduce our carbon footprint by 30 per cent by 2035, but we don’t know how we are going to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060,” Mr Thomas noted in his comments during the discussion.
Aramco executive vice-president for technology and innovation Ahmed Al Khowaiter, Enowa chief executive Peter Terium, Petroleum Development Oman external affairs value creation director Abdul Amir Ajmi, Acwa Power chief technological officer Bart Boesmans and Oman-based Be’ah sustainability and circular economy vice-president Dr Mohab Ali Al Hinai also spoke during the session and highlighted the need for deeper collaboration between government, academia and industry on innovation.
Mr Thomas hinted at announcements to come before the end of the year on ‘partnerships and entities, specifically to build an innovation ecosystem in the energy sector’.
“We recognise that we are missing research and development with academia, we’re missing a government-sponsored research and development, we’re missing establishing entrepreneurial spirit at the universities, where our graduates should be encouraged to turn what they learned at university into a business proposition that solves an energy and environmental problem,” he added.
The panelists also highlighted the innovation already taking place within the region’s oil and gas companies, with Mr Al Khowaiter rejecting the ‘hyperbole around the use of hydrocarbons’.
“There have been many suggestions that if the world just stops producing oil and gas, that all will be well,” he added.
“In my view, that is a completely irrational view – it’s like addressing the obesity epidemic by asking farmers to not plant next year’s crop – it will result in starvation! In fact, stopping oil and gas production would do more than just bring transportation and global trade to a halt – it will derail the very innovation needed to support the world’s transition to a lower carbon-intensive future.”
At the landmark UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in 2021 at Glasgow, UK, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, had stressed the importance of adapting to climate change, when announcing that Bahrain would cut its emissions by 30pc by 2035.
HRH Prince Salman said Bahrain is committed to reaching net zero by 2060 and by 2035, we will reduce emissions by 30pc through decarbonisation and efficiency initiatives.
The 2035 targets also include carbon removal solutions by quadrupling mangrove coverage, doubling tree coverage in Bahrain, and directly investing in carbon capture technologies.
Last year, 110,000 mangroves were planted and efforts continue this year with another 100,000 seedlings planted in May.
In June, HRH Prince Salman announced the doubling of the previously announced target of 230,000 mangroves in 2023 to 460,000.
Meanwhile, some of the innovation being developed at the region’s oil and gas producers is being highlighted on the sidelines of the GWECCC at an exhibition, where the likes of Aramco are highlighting how they are reducing the carbon cost of their industrial processes.
The exhibition continues today with International Desalination Association president Fady Juez opening the session and key oil and gas energy professionals highlighting emerging technologies for sustainability being implemented in the region.
The three-day conference will end tomorrow with a focus on youth involvement and collaboration. This will include a youth leaders dialogue focused on ‘Unearthing Potential in Advancing Water and Energy Sustainability,’ as well as a session highlighting challenges for youth in climate advocacy.
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