“The planet is basically made up of two parts. Land and sea. Firstly, let’s talk about the land. It’s what we are standing on right now. We know lots about the land. Then there is the sea, which is full of wonderful things. We know a bit about the sea, but we’ll talk some more about that once you’ve learned to swim.” This is a short excerpt from a children’s book written by Oliver Jeffers, titled ‘Here We Are’, which I have become accustomed to reading to my son most nights. Jeffers wrote the book for his own son, Harland, during the first two months of his life, as a way of trying to “make sense of it all.” It’s a beautiful book, full of wise words and guidance for living on planet Earth. It emphasises the importance of being kind to others and using your time well (“it will be gone before you know it”), all while highlighting the sheer enormity of the universe. “Though we have come a long way, we haven’t quite worked everything out, so there is plenty left for you to do,” Jeffers writes. “Just remember to leave notes for everyone else.”
As I was editing this issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering, Jeffers’ book immediately came to mind. The lines “we know a bit about the sea” and “we haven’t quite worked everything out” echoed in my thoughts as I was reading the piece from Patrick Kools, Decarbonisation Practice Leader at KBC (A Yokogawa Company), starting on page 18. Kools’ article explains how, up until fairly recently, there was a general consensus in the scientific community that the ocean was a “sort of desert.” However, thanks to groundbreaking research from genomics pioneer, Craig Venter, we now know that “the number of microbes in our oceans dwarfs the stars in the universe by a factor of 100 million.” The discovery underscores the complexity and richness of life in our oceans, revolutionising our understanding of marine ecosystems. Kools argues that this paradigm shift in marine science can also serve as inspiration for the future of the refining sector: “Just as the vast potential of microbial diversity offers new pathways for innovation, so too can our willingness to adapt and embrace change propel us toward a successful, sustainable future in refining.”
Kools’ article is just one of many interesting pieces in this magazine that showcase how innovative technology and industry collaboration are driving the sector toward a more sustainable future. To further advance this agenda, I am delighted to announce the launch of a brand-new supplement to Hydrocarbon Engineering: ‘EnviroTech 2024’. This supplement will focus solely on decarbonisation technology and solutions that are helping to transform the downstream sector. Available now, EnviroTech 2024 features articles on topics including renewable fuel integration, CCUS, SAF, clean hydrogen, emissions reduction, and much more. To access your free copy of this supplement, click here.
As we embrace these advancements in sustainability, I am reminded of another line from Jeffers’ guidebook to life: “Well, that is planet Earth. Make sure you look after it, as it’s all we’ve got.” Our industry has a vital role to play in advancing responsible and sustainable energy production, ensuring that we protect our planet for future generations.
