Quick Summary

Sustainable fuel is now cementing its place in the rush to curb carbon emissions. Today, engines that run on these fuels are available and already in the market. In our previous podcast with Rollce Royce, we discuss Sustainable fuels with John Kelly, Vice President Middle East and Africa about Sustainable Fuels. Checkout the interview here to keep abreast.

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Introduction

In a world grappling with the dire consequences of climate change, the exploration of alternative energy sources has become an imperative. Sustainable fuels, often hailed as the vanguard of eco-friendly energy solutions, have emerged as a beacon of hope. This article delves deeper into the essence of sustainable fuels, their creation, cost considerations, and their compatibility with modern engines.

Understanding Sustainable Fuels

Sustainable fuels, also known as biofuels or renewable fuels, encompass a diverse range of energy sources derived from organic materials. These fuels are inherently sustainable as they are sourced from renewable biomass, such as agricultural residues, algae, and even waste products. Unlike conventional fossil fuels that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable fuels emit fewer pollutants, making them a promising alternative in the fight against climate change.

The Making of Sustainable Fuels

Sustainable fuels are crafted through intricate processes that harness natural materials to generate energy. Bioethanol, for instance, is produced by fermenting sugar or starch crops such as corn or sugarcane. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is created by chemically reacting vegetable oils or animal fats with an alcohol. Additionally, advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol are extracted from non-edible plant parts, reducing concerns about diverting food crops for fuel production.

Cost Considerations

One of the primary concerns surrounding sustainable fuels is their cost-effectiveness. While the initial production costs of biofuels may be higher than those of traditional fossil fuels, economies of scale and ongoing advancements in production techniques are gradually closing this gap. Furthermore, the long-term benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the potential to achieve energy security contribute to their attractiveness as a viable investment.

Sustainable Fuels and Modern Engines

The compatibility of sustainable fuels with contemporary engines is a pivotal factor in their widespread adoption. Flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on a blend of gasoline and ethanol, are becoming increasingly prevalent. Additionally, many diesel engines can smoothly accommodate biodiesel blends. In recent years, the aviation and maritime industries have also begun experimenting with sustainable aviation fuels and biofuels for shipping, marking significant strides in greening these historically carbon-intensive sectors.

Benefits beyond emissions reduction

The advantages of sustainable fuels extend beyond their positive impact on carbon emissions. These fuels play a vital role in diversifying energy sources and enhancing energy security, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Moreover, the production of sustainable fuels can stimulate local economies by creating jobs in agriculture, processing, and distribution, contributing to community development.

Aligning with sustainable goals vision 2030

One of the most remarkable aspects of sustainable fuels is their alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 7, for instance, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. By transitioning to sustainable fuels, countries can democratize energy access and simultaneously work towards reducing inequalities and advancing social equity.

Promoting circular economy

Sustainable fuels fit seamlessly within the framework of a circular economy. Many of these fuels are produced from organic waste materials, effectively converting discarded resources into valuable energy sources. This not only diverts waste from landfills but also nurtures a closed-loop system that maximizes resource efficiency.

Challenges and the road ahead

While sustainable fuels hold immense promise, they are not devoid of challenges. One major hurdle is the competition for land and resources between biofuel production and food crops. Striking a balance between sustainable fuel production and food security remains a complex consideration. Technological innovation and strategic land-use planning will be crucial in overcoming such obstacles.

Conclusion

Sustainable fuels stand as a testament to human ingenuity and our collective commitment to shaping a more sustainable future. By harnessing the power of organic materials to produce cleaner energy, these fuels offer a path forward in mitigating climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. As industries, governments, and individuals rally behind this green revolution, sustainable fuels have the potential to usher in a new era of energy that is both environmentally conscious and economically viable

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QUICK SUMMARY

In this interview at the Africa Energy Forum (aef), Tony talks to John Kelly, President of Rolls Royce Middle East and Africa, about the company’s commitment to sustainable power solutions in Africa. Here is what to expect:

• Expansion in the region
• Meeting Africa’s needs
• Sustainable fuels

Listen HERE.

INTERVIEW

TT: Hi everybody. We are here at aef. It is very busy, with lots of people. We are talking today to a very iconic company. With me is John Kelly, the President of Rolls Royce Middle East and Africa. John, please do us justice and properly introduce yourself.

JK: Thank you Tony. Rolls Royce as you said is an iconic brand with lots of history. Over one hundred years ago the company was founded by Charles Rolls Henry Royce and the focus was to provide the best engines. It started with automotive, applied it to aviation. In 1970, the company did split, so it does not do cars today. You have to talk to BWW for the cars. We have however continued to drive forwards excellent engines for aviation, land and marine. Recently, we also brought onboard another iconic company across the African market known as NTU which provides power systems solutions and because we are here in Nairobi at the Energy Forum (aef), we are very much focused on our power systems capabilities and what they provide today in terms of critical power for the continent but most importantly how they can drive us forward towards the drive to net zero which is important alongside economic development.

TT:  AEF is celebrating its 25th anniversary and it is the 1st time it is coming to continental Africa. Before it was Mauritius, what does this tell you and why is it important to have it in Africa for you?

JK: Being in Africa for us is super important. We have a long history in Africa, over 100 years working in aviation with the continents airlines. We have been in Africa for a long time. Alongside is phenomenal growth and phenomenal growth opportunities. We recognise being here, understanding Africa, understanding its requirements and tailoring our solutions is really important. On of our key announcements is that we are launching our East African Headquarters based here in Nairobi. This is really important as it recognizes the importance of this region and its growth. The demographics speak for themselves. Six and a half percent growth in the next four to five years, population of 170 million and around 170 million per annum GDP. That offers a fantastic growth opportunity, and we are really privileged to provide the power solutions to enable that growth and enable it in a more carbon environmentally friendly way.

TT: That is big news that you are announcing here. Why Nairobi? Why Kenya?

JK: Again, the demographics speak for themselves. It is strategically important. One of the things that is impressive for Kenya is that they are already running 80% on renewables. That is phenomenal. It is hence a great environment to harness that capability, to harness the focus on sustainable energy and then continue to provide that growth. The market we supply our power supply units, the likes of Rail, we have recently collaborated with Kenya Rail to provide brand new power generation sets for their locomotives and for things in the region such as aviation. In East Africa and Southern Africa there are huge opportunities in things like mining of critical minerals, but we want to do that sustainably. What we do not want is to provide the critical minerals needed to help in decarbonization while creating extra carbon while we produce it, and we want to do it ethically. We are confident that our products are ethically environmentally friendly and ethically friendly.

TT: You have mentioned sustainability a few times here. So visibly, it is really important for a company, and I know you have been pushing in the area of sustainable fuel. Can you elaborate on that a little bit please?

JK: Absolutely. Sustainable fuel is one of our key topics for the forum. There are a lot of our products today like diesel generators, gas generators and similar for our aviation products, they do rely on fuel. Traditionally they have been fossil fuels like kerosene and diesel. The best way today to decarbonize those products is to run them on sustainable fuels. Some really good examples are that we have done the research, invested and done the testing on our engines to know that they are safe and reliable to run a hundred percent on sustainable fuel. For example. You can run a diesel power generator on what’s called hydro treated vegetable oil (HVL) which can be produced locally, and it is a viable alternative to traditional fuel. Not only does it run the engine efficiently but there are also additional benefits which enhance the performance of the engine. We have done the same thing with our aviation products. When you fly with the world’s most efficient engine, you can also run them on sustainable aviation fuel which offers a non-fossil fuel-based alternative. I have mentioned a few of those current sources, the likes of biomass, derived fuel, waste fuel, HVL. They are very good alternatives and very viable today. We definitely advocate their use. They come with some challenges, particularly the scale, availability and also price. We do not stop the conversation there. We are also very passionate and advocating for synthetic fuels or e-fuels, you may know them as power to liquid. The relevance to Kenya and East Africa is that it is a perfect environment to produce e-fuels. I say that because we have got abundant supply of raw materials, water for hydrogen, supplies of carbon dioxide and also supplies of renewable energy. You need a strong power source that is not a carbon generating power source. The renewables are here. We think this is a very viable environment for those synthetically derived fuels and we think it is an opportunity for Kenya as it can provide the root to fuel independence and sovereignty. Fundamentally, you can use sustainable fuels in our products today and we can all generate environmental benefits.

TT: Thank you so much for that. I can see your passion for the green agenda. As a top leader, what do you think about the nuclear way?

JK: Alongside many technologies, this is not one single technological solution. We need to open the pathways to many solutions. One of them is nuclear opportunities. To be clear, we are not talking in the traditional sense of a huge nuclear power station with lots of investment and lots of concrete required from carbon. Our Rolls Royce product is a small modular reactor. This is not brand-new technology; this is proven safe technology that we have had operating in our business for over 40 years and we now see that this is a perfect time to bring it to market within the next decade and it is complimentary to all the other sustainable fuels. It provides a significant non-carbon source of power. When we think of huge economic development, we are going to see the likes of Kenya and the continent come with a huge power demand in health care, universities, data centers, which we rely on for economic development. I do not think we get there without adding a new capability. The good thing with nuclear fuel is that it is non carbon, there is a small amount of nuclear product produced at the end which can be easily managed and treated. To answer your question directly, it is a viable compliment alongside other solutions.

TT: Two last questions for you. Do you have a special message for the youth of Africa because currently we also have the YES Summit here?

JK: We are passionate about STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Those skill sets in the youth today are pivotal to pioneer these technologies, innovate and to produce ever increasing solutions. We provide STEM awareness sessions. Our staff like to connect with youths and schools to pass on their knowledge but fundamentally to inspire the youth, give them the knowledge and skills set and access to technology that they can then innovate themselves. We have seen fantastic examples of youngsters taking STEM awareness and quickly coming up with their own solutions. They have come up with solar panels that can move with those technologies. I would direct those interested in Rolls Royce, STEM and all the things we have talked about today to visit our website: www. Rolls-royce.com, it will have all the information in there whether it is career interests or future aspirations in Rolls Royce, which is the best place to go.

TT: My last question for you. I want to finish with the big news. The opening of the office. When is it and are we invited?

JK: We will be opening our East African headquarters representative office here in Nairobi in the next coming weeks. We have a location and as soon as we are up and running and fit for purpose you absolutely have an invite. We would be glad to host you.

TT: Thank you very much John and I wish you a great time for the rest of the conference.

JK: Thank you.

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