The infrastructure of net zero: a unique challenge for Australia
Paul Ebert A * , Clare Anderson B and Chris Greig CA Worley, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
B Worley, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
C Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, USA.
The APPEA Journal 62 S251-S255 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21062
Accepted: 26 February 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
In August 2021, Worley and Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment published a report titled ‘From ambition to reality: Weaving the threads of net-zero delivery’ which examined the challenge of building the assets of net zero. It used as a basis Princeton’s Net-Zero America study which detailed a number of pathways to achieve net-zero, finding for all an enormous infrastructure challenge – like nothing the world has ever seen. This joint publication considered the complex execution challenge of delivering this infrastructure. Extrapolating these results to the world economy, it was obvious that if infrastructure was delivered using historical, linear development and deployment paths then it would not be possible to reach net zero by 2050 regardless of which technology pathway was used. The joint publication developed five key shifts in practice that could bridge the gap between net zero ambition and reality. In this paper we explore the implications of this for the Australian energy markets, focusing on energy exports and the decarbonisation technologies most relevant to the oil and gas sector assuming a net zero ambition. In particular, we consider the shifts that will be needed to deliver these technologies, focusing on key deployment levers that may prove pivotal to meeting this ambition.
Keywords: blue hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, decarbonisation, green hydrogen, infrastructure, net zero, regulation, renewable energy.
Dr Paul Ebert is the Group Director Energy Transition for Worley. Paul’s career has mostly followed the rise of renewable energy following a PhD in wind turbine aerodynamics, although has broadened to include other technologies and integration of lower emissions options into the more complex industries. Paul is a former Chair of ARENA’s Advisory Panel, and sits on similar panels for NZAust, CSIRO and ANU. |
Dr Clare Anderson is the Director of Sustainability Performance for Worley. Clare has a PhD in chemical engineering and has worked primarily in the oil and gas industry providing project and engineering management across all phases of project development in Europe, South Africa and Australia. She is a former Director of the Australian Institute of Energy and currently sits on the advisory panel of Net Zero Australia (NZAust). |
Dr Chris Greig is the Theodroa D. and William H. Walton III Senior Research Scientist at Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and co-led the Net-Zero America study. With a PhD in chemical engineering, he is a fellow of ATSE and is an adjunct professor at UQ. He has extensive industry experience, as a company founder and has played senior executive and non-executive roles in major engineering and resource companies. |
References
AEMO (2021) Draft 2022 Integrated System Plan. Australian Energy Market Operator, December 2021. Available at https://aemo.com.au/-/media/files/major-publications/isp/2022/draft-2022-integrated-system-plan.pdfAnderson C, Greig C, Ebert P (2021) From ambition to reality. Weaving the treads of net-zero delivery. Joint publication of Worley and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment of Princeton University, August 2021. Available at https://acee.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/from-ambition-to-reality-report.pdf
DISER (2021) Australian Energy Update 2021. Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, September 2021. Available at https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/australian-energy-update-2021
GISERA (2022) Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance, CSIRO. Available at https://gisera.csiro.au/
IEA (2021) Net Zero by 2050. A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector. (International Energy Agency: Paris)
Lane J, Greig C, Garnett A (2021) Uncertain storage prospects create a conundrum for carbon capture and storage ambitions. Nature Climate Change 11, 925–936.
| Uncertain storage prospects create a conundrum for carbon capture and storage ambitions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Larson E, Greig C, Jenkins J, Mayfield E, Pascale A, Zhang C, Drossman J, Williams R, Pacala S, Socolow R, Baik EJ, Birdsey R, Duke R, Jones R, Haley B, Leslie E, Paustian K, Swan A (2021) Net-Zero America: Potential Pathways, Infrastructure, and Impacts. (Princeton University: Princeton, NJ)
