Australia's goal to reach net zero can only be enabled with advanced technology

We all saw how the meeting of the world’s leaders last year at COP26 concluded. Combined with a turbulent global market, it has left many wondering if Australia will ever be able to reach net zero and adhere to commitments to successfully decarbonise industry and infrastructure.

As I see it, we will. We’ve already seen new proposals emerge with the likes of Aurizon and Rio Tinto working to design or implement battery-electric or green trains to reduce their diesel-related carbon emissions. Similarly, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has already invested in ammonia-fuelled locomotives and vowed to continue to invest in hydrogen and battery-powered haul trucks and rigs.

Renewable energy like solar and wind has already become a power generation priority for Australia, as we look to retire our coal- and gas-fired power plants. This is now happening at a rate that is faster than expected, and Australia’s national energy grid is calculated to be coal-free by 2043. This renewable network will permit green hydrogen production locally for both local consumption and export.

As it becomes easier to implement energy-reduced operations thanks to decreasing costs and investment from the federal government, what kind of technology will be required to facilitate these initiatives?

Let’s start with building and industrial sectors where 45% of the world’s electricity is used to power electric motors in these applications. It’s estimated that around 300 million inefficient motors are in operation today, resulting in increased carbon emissions and monumental energy losses.

If these motors were replaced by modern, high-efficiency drive systems, we could reduce global electricity consumption by up to 10%. That would account for over 40% of the greenhouse gas emission reduction required to meet the climate goals for the Paris Agreement. Pairing a motor with a variable speed drive in a pump, fan or compressor application, for example, can typically reduce power consumption by 25%.

With the populations of cities rapidly growing, the demands of heating and cooling are growing as well. District energy is becoming key to sustainability. By allowing cities to utilise renewable energies and surplus heat, huge reductions in carbon footprint are possible. Technologies like ultra-premium IE5 synchronous reluctance motors and variable speed drives (VSDs) offer energy savings for HVAC systems at partial loads, potentially also reducing energy bills by up to 25% on average.

With the diverse challenges of climate change, water flow is also being scrutinised to ensure the efficient and reliable delivery of this precious resource. The application of IE5 motors with VSDs has already enabled reduced energy costs reductions of up to 77 tonnes of carbon emissions in water applications.

In the wake of Australia’s aspirations to become a global hydrogen superpower, particularly following the new trade partnership with Japan, it begs the question: just how will Australia produce and export clean hydrogen?

One way will be with the support of clean energy technologies like liquid-cooled multidrives and thyristor-based rectifier systems. We’ve already seen this technology adopted overseas by multinational hydrogen production and distribution companies and it will happen in Australia too.

Organisations and governments worldwide have made commitments to reach net zero in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Now is the time for them to start utilising the technology already available to help them achieve this goal.

*Michael Briggs is the Head of Innovation and the Motion Business for ABB Australia. He collaborates cross-industry to help solve some of Australia’s most complex challenges around energy efficiency, for a more sustainable future. He also oversees ABB’s Motion Business, servicing organisations across mining, transport, oil and gas, food and beverage, and the commercial sectors.

Image: ©stock.adobe.com/au/lazyllama