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Experts predict 2024 could surpass 2023 as hottest year

Picture Credit: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL

Published on 9th January 2024

Experts are forecasting that 2024 might surpass 2023 as the hottest year in recorded history, attributing this prediction to the exacerbating effects of climate change and the influence of the El Niño phenomenon.

Climate change, driven largely by the increased emission of greenhouse gasses from burning fossil fuels, has resulted in a global temperature rise.

Last year, the average temperature was about 1.4C higher than the pre-industrial era, and early estimates for this year indicate a range between 1.3C to 1.6C higher.

Adding to these climate change effects is El Niño, a phase within the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, characterized by warmer waters in the tropical Pacific.

This warming of sea surface temperatures leads to corresponding increases in the air temperature above the ocean, impacting global weather patterns and circulation.

Comparing El Niño to a pot of water on a stove, scientists explain that during La Niña, analogous to pouring cold water into the pot, there’s a minimal change in temperature.

However, during El Niño, the heating accelerates, likened to when the pot heats up rapidly after ceasing the cold water flow.

The prolonged duration of El Niño often results in the second year being warmer than the first, contributing to a string of record hot years witnessed over recent decades due to the combined influence of climate change and El Niño.

Last year, 2023, witnessed a continuous trend of above-average temperatures, with the latter part of the year setting numerous records, notably the warmest months and the hottest day observed.

Anomalies in the Atlantic Ocean’s temperatures were also observed, not typically associated with El Niño.

These unprecedented temperature fluctuations in 2023 emphasize the significance of studying 2024’s climate patterns. The impact of El Niño typically influences specific weather patterns in different regions, increasing the likelihood of specific weather events.

The combined impact of climate change and El Niño poses challenges, intensifying extreme weather conditions.

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NeoCarbon and Carbonaide Partner to Capture and Store CO2 in Concrete

NeoCarbon and Carbonaide collaborate to capture CO₂ and store it in concrete for a sustainable, low-carbon future in construction

NeoCarbon and Carbonaide’s partnership aims to transform concrete production into a carbon sink by capturing and storing CO₂

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Published on 4th February 2025

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NeoCarbon, a leader in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, and Carbonaide, a trailblazer in carbonisation technology for concrete production, have formed a strategic partnership that seeks to capture CO2 from the atmosphere for permanent storage in concrete. The collaboration will drastically reduce carbon emissions within the building and construction sector, with carbon removal credits expected by 2025.

Combining DAC Technology and Carbonisation for Sustainable Concrete Production

The partnership leverages NeoCarbon’s innovative DAC technology, which captures CO2 directly from the air, and Carbonaide’s carbonisation process, which stores CO2 in precast concrete. NeoCarbon’s modular DAC system ensures rapid and scalable CO2 capture, while Carbonaide’s technology effectively mineralises the CO2 within concrete, creating a permanent carbon storage solution. This collaborative effort will be instrumental for concrete producers as it might serve as an entry point toward minimizing carbon footprint. Additionally, the approach is helpful for building a low-carbon value chain of carbon capture and storage.

Re-Imagining the Concrete Industry as a Carbon Sin

NeoCarbon CEO René Haas said, “Together with Carbonaide, our goal is to address theurgent need for effective carbon capture solutions in the concrete industry. Bycombining NeoCarbon’s DAC technology with Carbonaide’s carbonisation expertiseand technology, we aim to transform concrete production into a carbon sink.”

A Step Toward a Sustainable Future in Construction

Tapio Vehmas, CEO of Carbonaide added, “The cooperation with NeoCarbon allows usto move a significant step forward in transforming the fossil concreteproduction process to a more sustainable one. We are opening new possibilitiesfor carbon capture and utilisation, paving the way for a more sustainablefuture for the construction industry.”

Also read: Soletair Power and Carbonaide Turn CO₂ Emissions into Carbon-Storing Concrete

A Key Deployment Opportunity in Germany

The partnership is particularly relevant in Germany, where concrete producers are actively seeking solutions to reduce their carbon emissions. With strong demand for sustainable practices, the collaboration is also well-positioned to make an impact in this key market.

Home / Oil and Gas

Shell Restarts Production at UK’s Penguins Field with New FPSO Facility

Shell restarts production at the UK’s Penguins field

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Published on 4th February 2025

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Shell has started up a modern floating production, storage, and offloading facility that is capable of operating on the Penguins field in the UK North Sea. The operator with 50% ownership of the project is Shell while NEO Energy holds another 50% interest. In 2021, Shell shut down the Brent Charlie platform, previously used as an export route by the field. Decommissioning will now start on this installation.

Boosting Oil and Gas Output with Reduced Emissions

Peak production will be at approximately 45,000 boe/d in the Penguins redeveloped field. The project has a calculated discovered recoverable resource of approximately 100 million boe. The field mainly produces oil but will also generate enough gas to heat around 700,000 UK homes each year.

In comparison to the older Brent Charlie platform, the new FPSO facility will decrease the operational emissions by about 30%. The upgraded facility will also extend the field’s life up to 20 years, which will ensure long-term energy production for the UK.

Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, said, “Today, the UK relies on imports to meet much of its demand for oil and gas.”

She added, “The Penguins field is a source of the secure domestic energy production people need today, and the FPSO is a demonstration of our investment in competitive projects that create more value with less emissions.”

Also read: Shell Launches Production at Whale Facility in Gulf of Mexico

Energy Transport and Refining in the UK

Shell will ship Penguins oil to refineries outside the UK, which then send refined products like petrol and diesel back. Shell will send natural gas from Penguins through a pipeline to the St Fergus terminal, supplying the UK’s gas network.

The Penguins redevelopment includes drilling new wells, all connected to the new FPSO facility for enhanced production capabilities. Discovered in 1974, the Penguins field sits 165 meters deep, 150 miles northeast of Shetland, and produced intermittently since 2003. The field previously produced oil and gas until production ceased in 2021.

Experts predict 2024 could surpass 2023 as hottest year

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