The history of energy mirrors the history of humanity. Advancements in our species have always coincided with advancements in our understanding and the use of technology. From the first fires of our ancestors to sailboats, windmills and eventually wind turbines and solar panels, each new source of energy has given us the power to do things we never thought possible.

And while our dependence and use of energy hasn’t really changed that much over the centuries (heating, cooking, and moving), the scale, production, and scope of our energy use has exploded. Unfortunately, so has the pollution. As our insatiable energy consumption expands to meet the needs of a growing population, exponential pressure is placed on the environment causing global warming and increasing the damage to biodiversity. It’s not just hard on Mother Earth, humans and animals suffer in ever larger and frequent floods and storms, causing massive destruction and the largest number of climate refugees on record. 

Meeting our Energy Needs without Sacrificing our Planet

While we recognize the damage that energy production and extraction have caused our planet, we also know that energy is essential to human life.

Companies like InterContinental Energy are rising to the challenge. They are leading the way with green fuels by pioneering massive wind and solar farms to desalinate seawater, and split water into hydrogen and oxygen more efficiently at scale. This will provide affordable green solutions in sectors which have had more difficulty decarbonizing but would still like to meet the Paris Agreement targets.

However, time is of the essence. Every year we are witnessing record temperature highs, extreme weather patterns and devastating natural disasters. The harmful effects of climate change are no longer something we can ignore.

Scaling Green Energy

“Our vision is to drive the renewable energy revolution beyond green electricity to green fuels using only wind, sun, and water that will result in a healthy planet with a future for everybody.”

Brendan Hammond, Head of Australia, InterContinental Energy

Perhaps the most common objection to the general adoption of renewable energy is the issue of scalability. How can we possibly meet the energy needs of an entire planet with solar panels and wind turbines?

The answer to scale, is scale itself. Intercontinental Energy was one of the first to recognize the untapped potential of coastal deserts with their bright sunny skies and whipping wind at night to produce affordable green hydrogen. ICE works with host Governments and partners on enormous swathes of uninhabited desert land that are perfect for solar and wind farms.

Tapping into the Hydrogen Well

Hydrogen has long been the stretch goal for renewable energy advocates. Using inexpensive green electrons to desalinate seawater, and then electrolysis to separate the hydrogen and oxygen, it’s readily available and it burns cleanly. So, what’s been holding us back?

“It was clear to us that in order to be able to transport renewable energy globally across oceans, we needed to find a way of bottling it. And the best way of bottling it was to convert the energy into green hydrogen.”

Brendan Hammond, Head of Australia, InterContinental Energy

Unfortunately, hydrogen rarely occurs naturally without binding with another molecule and it is even harder to transport. This is where ICE has stepped up to the plate. By scaling renewables like wind and solar in coastal deserts, hydrogen can be produced using renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.

While hydrogen is currently difficult to transport as it requires refrigeration at negative 253 degrees Celsius, technology breakthroughs are beginning to bubble. Whether it is transporting liquid hydrogen, using an intermediate carrier, or converting to green ammonia, solutions are rapidly being developed.

Utilizing our pioneering project template, ICE has embarked with its partners on a number of projects across Australia, Oman and Saudi Arabia to prove that not only is hydrogen viable, but it’s also absolutely required for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

A Greener Future

The time for making a commitment to climate-friendly energy sources is now. And as more and more communities become affected by climate change and resource constraints, people will begin voting with their wallets.

We need to show the world that it is possible to have our cake and eat it too. We can have a thriving economy without sacrificing our planet. And companies like Intercontinental Energy are leading the way.