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igem news

GAS UTILISATION

TOMORROW’S GAS SYSTEM

IGEM Marketing Assistant Jodie Shepherd reports from our aren’t any showstoppers for a transition
Gas Utilisation conference, which this year looked at how the to hydrogen networks, unless I’m going
downstream gas industry is responding to the challenges it faces to find something out today that I
now and in the future hadn’t been expecting to hear.
“However, the evidence case
ON 29 MARCH, professionals from position the energy sector would continues to be built with innovative
across the utilisation sector of the gas find itself in with the conflict that’s demonstrators that many of you here
industry came together for IGEM’s happening in Europe right now. might be involved in. IGEM is facilitating
2022 Gas Utilisation conference: Today “That’s on top of all the matters and those projects through the development
and Tomorrow, sponsored by Radius reasons for the high gas prices that have of standards with support from our
Systems and supported by the Large emerged over the last six to eight months industry volunteers.
Business Forum. or so. I’m sure you’ve been asked by your “We’re also involved as partners
The event, which was held at family and friends and clients about that, in some funding programmes on the
the National Conference Centre in and I’m certainly no expert in it, but it’s innovation side as well.
Solihull, aimed to tackle key areas in helpful to have some understanding of Turning to the subject of skills,
the transition to hydrogen. Featuring what the reasons are.” Ollie said: “Having a skilled and ready
industry experts presenting, discussing He went on to list some of those workforce to build and deliver the energy
and debating the hot topics of the reasons, which included 2021 being transition needs some focus because most
day, the conference was tailored to a low wind year accompanied by a of us may be finding out that recruiting at
equip those working in downstream longer-than-usual winter. the moment is really difficult - and we’re
operations with what they need to He said: “We, as a collective energy only just at the beginning of the transition.
prepare for the future. sector, need to work to prepare for “We need many more engineers, and
In his welcome speech, IGEM Chief forthcoming winters to ensure security we need qualified engineers to join our
Executive Officer Ollie Lancaster said: of supply as well as becoming less sector now, plus young people who want
“When it comes to the title of this reliant on imports. to become engineers as well. But let’s, for a
session - the ‘today’ part - little did we “Meanwhile, in our net zero start, make sure that the engineers of today
know when we put this conference ambitions to prepare for tomorrow, we are equipped with everything they need.”
together a few months ago what find that from a safety perspective there Ollie also chaired the first session

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