On 29 October Andy Brown, Director Upstream International, Shell, together with a delegation visited the University of Cambridge. Shell met with Shell funded PhD students who presented their research in five minutes. The session was chaired by Dr Dan Credgington, an Energy@Cambridge Energy Champion in the Department of Physics. The talks covered topics including Active Coastal Tectonics in the Mediterranean, Self -Healing Cement and NMR Studies of Enhanced Oil Recovery.
Prof Lynn Gladden, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research welcomed Andy Brown and Dr Enass Abo-Hamed, an Energy Champion in the Department of Chemistry, introduced Andy Brown who presented a lecture entitled ‘Challenges and Opportunities in the Future of Energy’ to an audience of around 150 students, academics and Shell representatives. Andy spoke about the company as a pioneer which has a history of new technological developments, including the first floating natural gas facility and the largest gas to liquid plant in the world.
According to Shell’s global energy outlook, by 2050 there will be around 9 billion people, and over 2 billion vehicles. The energy demand will be double the amount required in 2000 and with three times the amount of renewable energy.
Andy summarised that the transition to a low carbon economy requires energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage, future fuel as a clean energy carrier, more natural gas and effective carbon pricing.
Following a lively discussion after the talk, the evening ended with a networking drinks reception.