Kevin O’Donovan

Kevin O’Donovan, the founder of the boutique energy consultancy A Bit of This & That, takes a look at the technologies that can help bridge the gap between the realities of the present, in which we depend on fossil fuels to the detriment of the climate, and our ambitions for the future, which we hope will be powered by cleaner energy. Kevin presents the technologies with the most potential to serve as climate solutions – and about the need to combine these technologies for maximum impact.

In this episode, Kevin talks about how technical, material, and mechanical innovations have the potential to revolutionize the way in which the world captures and uses energy:

• Kevin identifies five drivers of change – energy storage, offshore wind energy, carbon capture technologies, digital twinning, and blockchain – and explains how each of these five technologies can help tip the balance toward a cleaner energy mix.
• According to Kevin, the transition to cleaner energy won’t happen because of any single technology. Instead, he says, we will need to enact change in multiple areas to alter the overall landscape of the energy industry.
• Kevin envisions a future with massive offshore wind farms floating on artificial islands. These energy hubs could store excess power as green hydrogen on site, or perhaps use it to support local ammonia production.
• Kevin is an advocate of blockchain technology. In particular, he believes it can be used to verify information about energy providers’ carbon intensity, while also supporting compliance efforts and bolstering security against cyberattacks.