Adrian Black

The UK Climate Change Committee's 7th carbon budget says hydrogen will "play a small but important role, particularly in industrial sectors... however, we see no role in buildings heating and only a very niche, if any, role in surface transport." #HydrogenLadder for the win. https://lnkd.in/ga2vTTHv

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Yesterday, the winners of the third round of the UK’s Advanced Fuel Fund (AFF) competition were announced. Seventeen SAF projects have been awarded grants to support pre-FEED, FEED, or select EPC activities. It’s interesting to observe the evolving technology mix among AFF winners over the three funding rounds: • Window 1 (2022): 4 Fischer-Tropsch (FT) projects (70% of funding), 1 ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) project (30%) • Window 2 (2023): 6 FT projects (63%), 1 ETJ (17%), 1 methanol-to-jet (MTJ) (11%), 1 pyrolysis + hydrotreatment project (8%) • Window 3 (2025): 10 FT projects (53%), 3 ETJ (29%), 4 MTJ (18%) The share of ethanol-to-jet and methanol-to-jet technologies grew noticeably in the latest round, likely indicating a shift in focus among SAF developers in the UK. What are your thoughts on this? #SAF #Decarbonization #Methanol #Ethanol #AviationFuel #MTJ #ETJ #FischerTropsch #UK #AFF

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I’ve written a new article for Hydrogen Economist on how SAF can help stabilise the future of hydrogen: https://lnkd.in/ei5JneAs With major hydrogen projects being cancelled and costs still high, the sector is under pressure. But there is a path forward. SAF offers a real commercial opportunity, backed by regulation, long-term demand and strong offtake interest. Unlike some other hydrogen applications, SAF can be implemented today using existing infrastructure, and the aviation supply chain brings the kind of credit strength that helps get projects financed. At OXCCU TECH LTD we’re focused on scaling Power-to-Liquids to demonstrate its commercial viability at an industrial level. SAF provides the stable offtake model that hydrogen needs and unlocks a route to scale production now—not years from now. Once that infrastructure is in place, surplus hydrogen capacity can flow into other sectors, bringing costs down and accelerating the broader energy transition. Thanks to Stuart Penson for the chance to lead on this conversation. Petroleum Economist #SAF #Hydrogen #Aviation #EnergyTransition

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James Johnston pitches Piclo at Ecosummit 2025 to promote their next $15M round. The UK energy software startup operates flexibility marketplaces for flexibility buyers and sellers to facilitate energy trading, a €10B market by 2030. Piclo grows fast and operates in 6 countries including nation-wide in the US which is James' main priority going forward. Piclo is backed by Future Energy Ventures, Sustainable Future Ventures and Clean Growth Fund and is fundraising $15M to hyperscale the marketplace. https://lnkd.in/d3wyF-MY

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Power prices in the UK are high and volatile. They’re in the process of making it easier to build renewable generation by reducing permitting and environmental hurdles to lower power costs. This is what the growth of batteries looks like without these reforms. It’s crazy that this slope could get steeper over time.

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At a time when significant investment is needed to deliver the UK Government’s clean power mission, today’s decision not to move forward with zonal pricing is important: it reduces uncertainty and risk for developers ahead of the next renewables auction, making it possible to invest at a lower cost for consumers. As one of the UK’s largest developers and power generators, this is especially important for us. In the UK and all of our markets we share a common objective: shaping and rebuilding the energy system as cost-efficiently as possible. Reforming the national market, including grid charges, to ensure there are clear, enduring signals for generation to be located in the right place can deliver the desired efficiencies, with minimal disruption during this period of significant investment and change.    We look forward to constructively supporting the UK Government’s reform of the national market.

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Here’s Issue 92 of my SDG Alpha newsletter: just a short note from me this week, as the dust settles on another brilliant Accelerate Green cycle — and some fascinating news has rolled in. Plenty happening across the climate, innovation, and policy landscape, including… 🌍 Greencoat Renewables PLC lists on the JSE’s AltX, expanding access to green energy portfolios 💨 Ørsted puts its Irish onshore wind assets up for sale, with a potential €600M price tag 🌱 Coillte gets the green light for its Derryclare peatland restoration in Connemara ⚡ EVHACS teams up with Mitsubishi Electric on a world-first EV charger + heat pump unit 🔁 €27M circular economy fund opens to scale reuse and waste-cutting solutions across Ireland Plus: a nuclear reality check, smart energy meetups, a reusables pilot in Malahide, and the (surprisingly upbeat) return of public consultations! Read the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/eDNxy2mW

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