Wander Thoughts

The EU's industry could reduce its CO2 emissions by a quarter with the use of heat pumps, estimates the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).

The current heat pump technology can already supply 37 per cent of the industry's process heat requirements if it was fully implemented.

That is a saving bigger than the annual emissions of the Czech Republic.

“Europe requires competitive and sustainable industrial development, and large-scale heat pumps play a crucial role in this effort,” says Paul Kenny, Director General of the European Heat Pump Association.

“Technology is now providing secure heat, reducing costs, and affordable energy in manufacturing processes, ranging from paper production to pasta-making, and this capacity should and must be further developed.”

What applications can industrial heat pumps be used for in terms of manufacturing processes?

Approximately 60 percent or more of the energy consumed by European industry is utilized for heating purposes, as reported by the European Pest Control Association (EPHA). The majority (around 66 percent) of heat demand is attributed to process heating or the utilization of thermal energy within manufacturing processes.

Approximately 80% of this energy has traditionally been derived from fossil fuels. Presently, a mere 3% originates from renewable electricity and 11% from biomass. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heat energy by 2050 is a top priority to meet existing EU emissions targets.

These systems can reach temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius, making them suitable for processes that need lower temperatures. 37 percent of the total heat energy demand for process heat is from manufacturing that requires temperatures below 200 degrees Celsius.

These processes include beer brewing, dairy processing, and paper manufacturing. For instance, the Wepa Greenfield paper factory in Château-Thierry, France, utilizes a heat pump to evaporate water from paper pulp. A government-backed project utilizes a heat pump to increase the temperature of waste heat from the drying process from 70C to 140C - high enough to undertake drying of the paper pulp.

Why aren't companies currently leveraging heat pumps?

About 16 percent of heat in residential and commercial buildings in the EU now comes from heat pumps.

Companies may be deterred from changing their approach due to a lack of knowledge about the benefits of doing so, and high upfront costs can also serve as a significant obstacle.

Most European countries provide financial incentives or support for companies investing in a large-scale heat pump. A survey by the EPHA discovered that aid is offered in 24 EU countries, including Norway and Switzerland, through means such as grants, loans, or tax relief.

Aims to accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy usage in industries that consume significant energy. To achieve this, it seeks to simplify the process of obtaining permits for clean technologies, encourage investments in cleaner alternatives, and support the growth of green markets.

Implementing sustainable food systems, distributing food to the most vulnerable populations, temperature regulation, and educational campaigns are key components of this approach.

"We call on the European Commission to provide industrial heat pumps with priority status in its upcoming plans and strategies," Kenny concludes.

The island of Saint Helena now boasts the world's most isolated public electric vehicle charging station in its capital, Jamestown.

Approximately 2,000 kilometers off the west coast of Africa is part of a trial conducted by the Norwegian charging company Easee and the Japanese car brand Subaru.

With only a handful of electric vehicles currently present on the island, the government is anticipating that upgrading the infrastructure will encourage more people to abandon their vehicles powered by petrol and diesel.

And, as Saint Helena moves forward with its plan for a greener future, it's a key part of a strategy to reduce its reliance on costly imported fossil fuels.

Electric vehicles can be a viable option even in the most inaccessible locations.

"Our trial with Connected Kerb allows us to thoroughly test our systems, whether it's the data link to the charging point, to identify and resolve any issues remotely," says Adam Rodgers, country director for Easee in the UK and Ireland.

“We're very confident we can do it – we've proven that in the past – but it will be a true real-world testing ground for us to thoroughly test and ensure that the next generation of chargers we develop incorporate the knowledge we gain from this experience.”

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For Lorraine Bishton, managing director of Subaru UK, it shows that EVs can be a viable option even in the most rural or isolated areas.

There's a lot of misconceptions about EVs at the moment," she says, "They're viewed mainly as city cars, but in reality, they're just as suitable for rural areas or rural environments as they are for urban ones.

And to be truthful, if you can handle operating an electric vehicle under these types of conditions, then you can drive it anywhere.

Opinions about Electric Vehicles (EVs) are undergoing a shift on the island of St Helena.

The government has significantly reduced tax on importing electric vehicles to almost zero, nevertheless, the single vehicle imported by Subaru has increased the total number by 20 percent.

“Only a handful of electric vehicles can be found on the island at present,” says Mark Brooks, Minister for Treasury and Economic Development in the St Helena government.

We intend to encourage people to bring in more electric vehicles. Our goal is to install more charging stations and lay down the necessary infrastructure, and then explore policy initiatives to boost the number of electric vehicles on the island.

The opinions about electric vehicles are changing very quickly, Tara Wortley, a businesswoman and one of the few electric vehicle owners on Saint Helena, said.

I have my thoughts on whether renewables and electric vehicles are part of St Helena's future, but we've actually seen electric vehicles arrive on the island and they are operational.

Wortley has discovered that owning an EV is more economical. She has found that her daily expenses for driving an electric vehicle are significantly lower than those of driving a diesel car. Specifically, the daily cost to drive a diesel car would be approximately £7 to £8 (around €8 to €9), in contrast to the minimal cost of £0.17 (approximately €0.20) per day for her electric vehicle.

Opportunities for businesses can also be found in this green transition. Derek Pedley aims to bring a fleet of electric rental vehicles to St Helena in early 2025 – for both tourists and local residents.

"I especially consider the rental market first because I would classify it as a lower risk," he says.

The entirety of the island's electric vehicles are currently being charged at home, and Pedley suggests that it would be logical to provide charging stations in Jamestown and even at the airport for individuals who are collecting rental cars.

“Upon revisiting the island in five years, I am confident that the number of electric cars you will encounter will be in the hundreds,” he concludes.

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The cost of importing fossil fuels is prompting the government of St Helena to scrutinize its energy alternatives.

Saint Helena seeks to shift away from relying on imported fossil fuels. The island reportedly spends approximately £5 million (€6 million) annually to import fuel for electricity and vehicular purposes, accounting for roughly one-sixth of its £34 million (€40.5 million) annual revenue from the UK.

“Clearly with St Helena being isolated, we have to bring in fuel at least every month to every six weeks,” explains Merril Lawrence, electricity generation manager at Connect, St Helena.

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"We are located just below the equator. We receive approximately 12 hours of sunlight daily, almost consistently throughout the year. Additionally, being a small island situated in the midst of the ocean, there is always a gentle breeze blowing through our region," Brooks adds.

That's right, we have extremely conducive circumstances for harnessing solar and wind energy.

It aims to increase its renewable energy capacity from 25 per cent to 80 per cent in the next four years, with the goal of going fully renewable in the future.

I believe as we're a relatively small community on St Helena and we have a compact government, it seems feasible that we can be entirely carbon neutral.

In terms of having a fallback system in place in case something goes wrong with renewable energy sources, we potentially could rely on diesel generation for resilience. However, it is entirely feasible that we can power an entire island using only renewable energy.

Watch the video seen above to see the world's most isolated electric vehicle charger in operation.