Page 38 - Gi flipbook February 2018

IGEM NEWS | Events

DRIVING GAS

INTO THE FUTURE

demand? What would be the impact
of holiday traffic?
Further in-depth modelling is
required for all load types to assess
peak demand increase and understand
the likely profiles which will
determine storage requirements.
Tony Griffiths, Sales & Marketing
Director at Gas Alliance Group, was
the next speaker and discussed the
adoption of biomethane buses in the
transport sector.
Tony addressed the reliance on
lithium, cobalt and graphite to provide
batteries for EVs. There are limited
known reserves and mining of lithium
could be exhausted in 50 years’ time.
The CO footprint for lithium is also
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a concern due to how it is transported
globally. Mining of the ore takes place
in Bolivia, Chile and the Congo and is
transported to China, Japan and South
Korea to be made into batteries, which
are then imported to the UK.

Based on calculations by Gas Alliance
By Kelly France, IGEM & West Utilities’ main focus has been Group, the CO footprint of an
2
Communications and Engagement adopting a ‘consumer first’ approach in electric bus battery is:
Coordinator addressing the energy trilemma. This • Production of battery pack:
has meant adapting strategies to meet 64,800kgs
THE IGEM SOUTH WEST Section changing needs. • Battery packs for life of a bus at 2.5
hosted another innovative and Based upon illustrative outputs for batteries: 162,000kgs
engaging technical paper evening on electric vehicles, the extra peak • UK electricity production for life of a
24 October. The event focused on the demand from EVs across the UK may bus: 765,400kg/bus (EU Power mix)
impact of electric vehicles on the range between 6GW and 18GW by (Excludes electricity transmission
energy networks, biomethane buses 2050, depending on consumer charge losses, and charging inefficiencies)
2
and natural gas HGVs. Attendance was behaviour and EV uptake. Charging • Total CO for life of an electric bus:
a good indicator of the interest in the could be influenced by ‘time of use’ 830,200kgs
topic, as it was full to capacity. tariffs to encourage off peak charging.
A welcome address by Section Chair The implications for the gas In comparison, Gas Alliance Group
Pip Wrenn was followed by Bethan network will depend on other has calculated the CO footprint for a
2
Winter, Systems Operation Manager at generation sources and the availability biomethane bus:
Wales & West Utilities, who took to the of intermittent green generation. This • Production and transmission of
stage to discuss the impact of electric may lead to the introduction of new biomethane: 0.00532kgs
vehicles (EVs) on the gas network. gas peaking power stations, with an • Total CO for life of a biomethane
2
If the uptake of EVs continues on its estimated 470 by 2050, or a smaller bus: 2,554kgs
projected path, various challenges will number of larger power stations. By
affect the supply and consumption of 2050, depending on power station Biomethane is sustainable,
energy. Significant research is efficiency, there would be an renewable, can be produced in the UK
2
underway, however there is no agreed additional peak demand for gas of and has zero CO emissions.
path for the future of energy and heat. 54GWh/4.9mcm per hour. Bus company First West, which
For ‘intermittent’ renewables to Unlike heat, there is a specific issue operates in Bristol, has been an early
work, back up and storage will be with vehicles – they move. How adopter of biomethane buses. Bristol
essential, as there is no security of would this impact networks? Will the has been declared an Air Quality
supply without those elements. Wales generation need to be local to Management Area (AQMA) so the

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