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engineering a sustainable gas future

decarbonisation challenge is massive
in scale. IGEM is the first to recognise
that we can maximise our impact
through collaboration with government,
collaboration with industry initiatives
such as Gas Goes Green, as well as
through collaboration across the
broader science and engineering
community – so that engineering
articulates evidence with a clear voice.
We can never underestimate
the power of networking to
aid debate, learning and
innovation

There are many examples where
IGEM has used its gas engineering
knowledge to leverage its impacts
through practical collaborations.
These include our sponsored Future
Gas Series policy publications with
Policy Connect exploring the difficult
to decarbonise area of domestic heat,
the joint publication on the engineering
challenges of hydrogen from the XXXXXXXXXXXXXX NEIL ATKINSON
professional engineering institutions,
and our regular expert contribution to Canada. As the repository continues
the Royal Academy of Engineering’s WHAT ENGINEERING A to expand, its value will grow and
National Policy Centre. SUSTAINABLE GAS FUTURE grow – helping to facilitate the pace of
We can never underestimate the innovation and transition.
power of networking to aid debate, MEANS FOR IGEM
learning and innovation. Our webinar WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM IGEM IN THE
programmes, including the prestigious Partnering with policy makers to FUTURE? HOW WILL IGEM CONTINUE TO TACKLE THE
Henry Cavendish series, are routinely support programmes to deliver net CHALLENGE OF DECARBONISATION, AND WHAT ROLE
attracting great interest by members zero targets, including those for pure WILL IGEM BE PLAYING MOVING FORWARD?
and non-members alike, who are and blended hydrogen, biofuels and If a decarbonised transition is to
valuing the depth of knowledge in the run-up to COP 26. happen at all, a new interdependent
exchange they provide. energy system will be needed. That
Supporting the decarbonised skills system will necessarily involve many
agenda, through professional things: multiple sources and types of
IGEM will need be right at registration, hydrogen training energy generation, the use of different
the heart of all this effort courses and training specifications energy vectors including hydrogen, new
and must continue to for the industry. energy storage capabilities, real-time
change as result. We’ve been Sharing knowledge, via our Henry demand management, carbon capture,
utilisation and storage solutions and
making great progress with Cavendish lecture series, webinars, different local and regional energy
stakeholders but there’s more events and conferences. networks working together.
to be done IGEM will need be right at the heart
Delivering technical standards of all this effort and must continue to
to accommodate hydrogen in change as result. We’ve been making
THE RECENT LAUNCH OF THE HYDROGEN the network, such as for the great progress with stakeholders but
KNOWLEDGE CENTRE IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD HyTechnical and Hy4Heat there’s more to be done. Our business
FOR BOTH IGEM AND THE WIDER INDUSTRY, HOW programmes. is gas in all its forms and applications.
DO YOU THINK/HOPE THIS WILL AFFECT THE Technically, we are already deeply
DECARBONISATION CHALLENGE GOING FORWARD? Supporting the regulatory opening involved in hydrogen, but we need
IGEM was approached by BEIS to up of the allowable gas quality to be prepared to be involved with
develop a Hydrogen Knowledge Centre regime, for the transport of hydrogen issues such as production, storage and
as a one-stop repository of trusted and other low carbon gases. transport solutions. There will also be
technical resources. We’ve delivered on a massive need for reskilling. There is
that ambition. The centre has already Provision of underpinning enabling an opportunity to be seized with IGEM
created worldwide interest and a tools and resources, like the playing a leadership role in attracting
number of international collaborations Hydrogen Knowledge Centre and new blood into a green, vital industry
are already anticipated, including the IGEM policy and research hub. in parallel harnessing a much more
from countries such as Australia and diverse workforce.

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