But what is this net-zero?
According to (Azevedo et al., 2021), net-zero is defined as the process of balancing carbon emissions by an identical uptake of carbon emissions. But this net-zero must not be mistaken for being “carbon-neutral”. Therefore, in the just-concluded July 2 – 8, 2022 NetZero week, an emphasis was made on the distinction between net-zero and carbon neutral. While net-zero involves reducing emissions to their lowest amount through a detailed carbon reduction plan, carbon neutrality is achieved simply by investing in offset projects. So, it effectively removes the responsibility of reducing emissions.
Today, our energy demand is being met by burning fossil fuels emitting GHGs. If we are to reach net-zero, the way we generate electricity is one of the critical areas that must transition to clean energy.
The good news is that things are beginning to change. For example, in the United Kingdom (UK), IEA reported that the total energy supplied (TES) from renewables, biofuels and nuclear energy accounted for 23.6 percent of the total share in 2020. This represents a massive step in the right direction as they only accounted for 8.9 percent in 1990 and 11.8 percent in 2010.
Therefore, we must ask what net-zero means for wind energy and blade repair?
It is no longer uncommon to see wind farms when you travel around the UK. These wind turbines that convert wind to electricity as blades move can cut GHG emissions and save costs. The wind industry recorded one of its strongest years in 2020 regarding installation capacity. However, according to Forbes, achieving net-zero would require tripling this growth over the next ten years.
What will this growth mean for Blade Repair?
It is not enough to install turbines; we must ensure that they are operating at optimal conditions. Wind farm operators are now learning that turbine blades cannot simply be efficient without proper maintenance. This is why there is an increased demand for highly-skilled blade repair technicians because they play a very niche but crucial role in the journey towards net-zero. Blade repair technicians execute various services ranging from inspecting and cleaning rotor blades to servicing and repairing large wind turbine blade structures.
Altitec Blades Services has delivered world-class blade repair engineering with state-of-the-art onsite technical support to aid wind energy development globally.
As a leading blade repair servicing company, Altitec is very committed to the fight for a more sustainable future. This is why we recently published our IMPACT Report 2021 to show our carbon footprint portfolio for all parts of our organisation and highlight our work to reduce and offset them.
“We have achieved a lot and are learning every day about new challenges, better understanding the difference between carbon neutrality, by investing in offsetting projects which is a common activity and net-zero ambitions which are more challenging to achieve” Tom Dyffort.
Click here to read our report
