2018 has been a year of great change. The United Kingdom’s weather systems have let us know explicitly the impact of global climate shifts. We began 2018 with the ‘Beast from the East’ bringing extensive cold weather & blankets of snow right through until the end of April in some counties. We then faced the extremes of the heatwaves which enveloped the UK throughout our summer, whereby temperatures were the highest on record since records began in 1910.
However, one of the most alarming statistics we have witnessed this year, was the time graph which showed clearly how much our planet has begun to heat up, revealing that the majority of countries have warmed by at least 1°C since the 1800’s.
Dolphin N2 have continued to develop their CryoPower diesel engine throughout 2018, which promises up to 90% reduction in engine out emissions for long haul freight & transportation systems. The technology ensures that when coupled to after treatment, the resulting tailpipe emissions are nearly zero impact. The 30% reduction in fuel consumption and relatively low cost of installation, using predominantly current automotive components, means that the payback periods for long haul freight are short and could be as low as one year depending on usage profile.
Dolphin N2 has sustained strong working relationships with their partners Step C02, The University of Brighton, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Innovate UK, Hiflux & Ricardo. Simon Brewster CEO of Dolphin N2 firmly believes that CryoPower is a “potentially game changing, commercially and environmentally attractive technology”
The Dolphin N2 team have spent 2018 bringing their pioneering CryoPower split cycle diesel engine technology to the attention of industry leaders & investors alike. The Dolphin N2 technology has developed exponentially since it’s inception & is now being realised as an energy supply chain generator, as the technology can supply a perpetual & reliable energy supply on demand, in addition to the automotive long-haul freight applications.
The Dolphin N2 team have attended a series of events this year, whereby the Dolphin N2 CryoPower technology has been received with developing interest by industry leaders and investors.
On the 14th September 2018, Professor Rob Morgan (University of Brighton) and Dr Andrew Atkins (Ricardo UK) presented analytical results of Dolphin N2 Split cycle concept for ultra-low emissions vehicles at Thiesel in POLITÈCNICA DE VALÈNCIA. In addition, the Step Co2 team presented some of the exciting findings from the collaborative work developing a highly efficient, zero emissions engine running on the split cycle principle.
Simon Brewster CEO of Dolphin N2 attended LCV (Low Carbon Vehicle) 2018 in September. LCV being the UK’s premier Low Carbon Vehicle event was a perfect platform for business owners & industry experts to network & discuss future collaborations.
During the LCV event Simon Brewster & Nick Owen – Technical Adviser Dolphin N2, were in conversation with Alistair Walshaw, who was working as part of the IVECO / CNH / FPT group. Iveco have already developed their EUROCARGO CNG engine which has obtained significant benefits in efficiency, emissions, and maintenance by utilising compressed natural gas. Natural gas being a “clean” fuel produces 10% less Co2, 35% less NOx emissions than their diesel equivalent and 95% less 95% less particulate matter. (1)
The Institution of Diesel and Gas Turbine Engineers (IDGTE) one day seminar titled ‘Emissions from Reciprocating Engines and their Abatement’ took place in Kegworth on Tuesday 18th September. Simon Brewster CEO of Dolphin N2 & Benjamin West – Operations Manager Dolphin N2 attended, with Simon Brewster presenting an ‘Overview of the energy scene with particular reference to developments with gas and diesel engines aimed at reduced emissions.’
The Concawe report, with research carried out by Ricardo published on the 24th August 2018, opened the discussion on how we should continue to embrace a selection of power sources for transportation & energy, rather than putting all of resources into battery & electrification.
The Concawe report evaluated the use of a combination of low carbon fuels, with biofuel & artificially synthesized eFuels. This technology is seen to work alongside electrification & with a final scenario of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) together with increased use of bio- and eFuels being considered; all three scenarios would still be capable of delivering the ‘EU target of light-duty vehicle parc life well-to-wheels GHG emissions reductions to less than 13 percent of those of 2015 by 2050.’
Professor Neville Jackson, Ricardo chief technology and innovation officer said:
“The results of this work show that despite advantages for electrification of transport there are also significant environmental and infrastructure challenges. In particular, the analysis suggests that we will achieve more GHG reduction faster and at less cost if we drive towards a mix of electrification and low carbon, clean fuel.” (2)
In the wake of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report published in October 2018, the media saw a frenzy of climate change & zero emissions stories. The focus on global climate temperatures remaining at or below 1.5oC was at the heart of the IPCC report.
Benjamin West – Operations Manager at Dolphin N2 attended ATZ Live in Cologne in November 2018. The topic for this event was ‘Heavy-Duty, On- and Off-highway Engines 2018 – Future Challenges’ & was attended by some of the leading industry names. Delegates were actively intrigued by the Dolphin N2 technology & all showed an interest in how the Cryogenics could be a remarkable contributor to the global emissions reduction strategies.
Simon Brewster – CEO Dolphin N2, attended the GIA (Global Industry Alliance) 4th Task Force on Tuesday 27th November at the IMO (International Maritime Organization) Headquarters in London. The purpose of the 4th Task Force meeting was to ‘discuss how the GIA can support IMO in the development of measures that can increase the uptake of low carbon fuels (with a view to feeding this into IMO’s work on the Initial GHG Strategy). ‘(3)
The 15 members of the GIA which represent leading shipowners/operators, classification societies, engine/technology builders & suppliers, data providers, oil companies & ports, are seeking to find ways to implement the GloMEEP strategies 3 core points. The 4th Task force meeting focused on the adoption of low carbon fuels in the shipping sectors, yet we are still seeing a one-sided negative view of the use of liquid fuels generally in the media, which gives a jaded vision of the outcomes of still using fossil-based fuels for transport, whether that be cars, trucks or ships. ‘The meeting agreed, as a next step, to hold a GIA roundtable early 2019 to discuss how early movers could be incentivised to invest in alternative fuels. ‘(4)
As we come to the end of 2018, COP24 (United Nations Climate Change Conference, the 24th Conference of the Parties) was held in Katowice, Poland. Despite the emotive responses of some attendees during COP24, the purpose of COP24 & the expectations & embedding of the Paris Agreement were reiterated globally. Although there were criticisms of COP24 being held in the heart land of the coal industry, it was made abundantly clear that the responsibility of tackling climate change falls at all of our feet & we now look to governments & industry leaders to make the investments & the choices to enable planet Earth to have a sustainable & bright future.
In light of the above, we can all take stock of the various conferences & papers released concerning climate change & the expectations upon the human race to reduce the Co2 emissions immediately. As we forge our way in to 2019, the Governments, Leaders & the people of planet Earth are abundantly aware of their task: we must tackle climate change with immediate effect, drawing on the vast technologies available to capture carbon, to reduce emissions & to undo the damage caused by the inception of the Industrial Revolution, a key starting point to the global temperature rise. We look to companies like Dolphin N2 with their cutting edge CryoPower technology as real ‘game changers’ in the fight to reduce global temperatures & yet still enable humans the flexibility for transportation & energy provision & supply.
Written by Katy-Jane Mason on behalf of Dolphin N2.
- https://www.iveco.com/uk/Pages/Home-Page.aspx
- https://ricardo.com/news-and-media/press-releases/report-shows-balanced-use-of-technologies-preferable-to-sole-focus-on-electrification
- http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/WhatsNew/Pages/default.aspx
- http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/WhatsNew/Pages/default.aspx
