Clean Energy

Clean energy is the terminology used to characterize resources of energy that are more environmentally friendly, less polluting than standard practices and environmentally sustainable Clean energy is often used interchangeably with the terms green energy, alternative energy, and renewable energy, each of which suggests lower polluting, non-fossil-fuel energy sources.

However the potential pollution control provided by carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and sequestration (CCS) technology expands this category to include all major energy resources. Thus, while clean energy sources initially included biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, hydrogen, wind, hydroelectric and nuclear, CCS allows inclusion of petroleum, natural gas, and coal.

With CCS technology, an otherwise heavily emitting CO2 energy source such as coal is transformed into a clean energy resource for the production of electric power while also serving as a feedstock to produce fuels and chemicals as shown in the following figure.

The rise of environmental concerns such as climate change, threats to air and water quality, and apprehension regarding overall energy availability and security of supply has focused increased attention on clean energy's growing role, with essentially all forms of energy becoming more "clean" relative to current performance. Nexant believes that a critical mechanism for clean energy growth involve the development of new technologies as well as improvement of existing technologies fostered by major government support.

Successful development and sustainability of these emerging clean energy technologies is a multifaceted endeavor given their technical complexity, significant cost, and complex supply and delivery infrastructure. Key areas of development are expected to be in the areas of catalysis and energy efficiency. In addition, Nexant expects that a comprehensive life cycle approach will be adopted for industrial process facilities designed to minimize total emissions and energy use while minimizing waste of all kinds.

Nexant is a leading provider of technical and management consulting services, not only to the gas, oil, and chemicals sectors, but also in the clean energy arena where the company has extensive experience and capabilities in biomass, clean coal, CO2 capture and sequestration, geothermal, hydrogen, natural gas, solar, and wind.

These capabilities are rooted in our global staff of industry experts who, over the past four to five decades, have gained direct and extensive experience in the advanced technological, commercial and economic aspects of clean energy. Nexant is a global industry leader focused on every facet of clean energy development and commercialization.

Nexant's comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach addresses virtually all aspects of existing and developing clean energy technologies and is spearheaded by a team of seasoned professionals having hundreds of years of combined industry experience. These industry experts work with companies ranging from startup/venture capital firms, Fortune 100 companies, licensors, and EPC contractors, as well as numerous government agencies around the world. They frequently advise on groundbreaking, first-of-a-kind clean energy technologies at any point in the project development chain, from concept to commercialization.