Energy
We help clients navigate the increasingly complex energy market to get the best value from the opportunities it offers.
The world is now more dependent than ever on energy with the demand for urban energy under increasing pressure. With usage levels rapidly expanding and the Energy Trilemma becoming more prominent, we are working with clients to shape a better world through the efficient, affordable and sustainable sourcing of energy, its dispatch and use.
Providing value and insight
Arup contributes innovatively across a number of energy markets using our skills and geographies to advise on policy, programmes, projects and usage to take the best energy thinking forwards whilst delivering the most viable and efficient solutions.
Our collaboration with leading organisations such as Siemens allows us to analyse market opportunities for clients, like we did in our distributed energy report which outlines investment suggestions for business looking to take control of their energy usage and become a ‘pro-sumer’
Our emphasis is towards transitional and future energy whilst improving the quality and reducing consequences of existing legacy energy. We've developed a series of five minute guides about various energy solutions and sources.
We operate independently and understand both the leading and emerging technologies and the way the increasingly complex energy markets work to provide services that help our clients get the best value from their initiatives. For example, we’ve been working with Sibanye Gold to develop a solar facility in South Africa to power their operations facilities.
Addressing the Energy Trilemma
There are three challenges that have to be addressed when facing investment in energy and demand and these three challenges imply a trade-off when choosing one over the other. These three elements that make up the Energy Trilemma:
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Energy Security - the effective management of primary energy supply from domestic and external sources, the reliability of energy infrastructure, and the ability of energy providers to meet current and future demand.
- Energy Sustainability - the indication of its propensity to create damaging pollution.
- Energy Affordability - the accessibility and affordability of energy supply across the population.
The Energy Trilemma
As world population continues exponentially growing, demand for energy will grow with it. Global energy demand is expected to increase just as fast and potentially double by 2050.
To keep up with global energy demand, the investment requirements for energy infrastructure are nearly US$50 trillion between now and 2050.
With such a large portion of money being invested, and the need for energy becoming ever so critical, the method of resource allocation is paramount.
There are three challenges that have to be addressed when facing investment in energy and demand, and these three challenges imply a trade-off when choosing one over the other. These three challenges constitute the Energy Trilemma:
- Energy Security
- Energy Affordability
- Energy Sustainability
Find out more in our Energy trilemma five minute guide
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We are working closely with a number of countries, cities and organisations to help them to make informed decisions about energy projects. Success for an energy programme relies on understanding the driver for change and Arup is well positioned to assist clients who want to take advantage of the opportunities this change brings. Examples include our UK Legislation Timeline, our market readiness study for North Sea Decommissioning, a national cost-benefit assessment of smart grid and smart city readiness for Australia’s energy future.
We’ve looked at the impact of urbanisation on energy in cities in a report on behalf of the World Energy Council and have successfully outlined five core areas for development and innovation. Our concept of urban energy allows public and private organisations to assess the best opportunities for them in the challenging market.
Expertise for every stage of your project
We understand that clients looking to embark on a new energy project may not be an operator or a provider, but an organisation looking to take control of their usage and supply, or an investor interested in energy. Arup works across a range of markets from developers and operators, to diverse cities and organisations offering services in three streams:
Energy advisory
We provide independent advice on energy master planning and energy business strategy from ‘demand’ side reduction to transaction advice. We work with producers, large energy consumers, cities, governments, property owners and corporate clients on energy strategies through to business change management. Our advice includes market performance, planning and consenting as well as reduced carbon and/or ‘zero net energy’ concepts.
Energy systems
Clients want to take control of their energy consumption through solutions such as microgrids, storage and smart networks. We provide specialist mechanical, electrical, process knowledge and project management skills to integrate these energy systems into a project. This work is mainly applicable to the supply side of the Energy market and we work with clients to provide up-front design scoping and integration, independent owner’s engineer, plus packaging and delivery management.
Energy structures
Our structures offering allows us to work with some of the largest energy operators in the world, from designing the right solution such as an ACE offshore platform through to maritime installations, LNG storage facilities, CGS solutions as well as offshore structural work such as deep sea wind farms. We have developed a number of award winning structures thanks to our civil/structural, geotechnical, maritime, cost planning and advanced analytical in-house capabilities.
We have the ability to support our clients’ objectives by combining the appropriate services from our business-offerings, this allows us to deliver successful tailored solutions each time.
Experience across the energy markets from supply to demand
We support clients by bringing cross-sector experience to challenging projects in the energy market which covers power, heat and transport. Our understanding of the built environment spanning from supply to demand means we are active across the core energy markets.
Renewable energy
We provide skills and experience to assist clients with all stages of renewable projects including solar, onshore and offshore wind, marine, biofuels, hydro and geothermal energy. We can support projects from conception and business case through to technical viability and consultancy, to full engineering and asset life extension.
Distributed energy
Arup’s in-house energy advisory experts work with clients on feasibility studies, techno-economic modelling and viability assessments to develop business cases, plus guidance through project scoping, procurement, managing stakeholders and commissioning.
Oil and gas
We work with clients across the oil and gas sector to advise on environmental and planning consultancy, procurement, technical due diligence to design, consult, monitor, review and decommission. These include setting environmental standards remediation measures and innovations like our award-winning ACE offshore platforms for offshore oil/gas, wind turbine structure designs, innovative LNG storage tank technologies.
Nuclear energy
We work with local authorities, planners, regulators, developers and contractors to deliver all aspects of new nuclear power station delivery from site selection through to first electricity generation. Our teams of engineers, designers, project managers, consultants and advisors help to find the best solutions to the technical, financial, delivery and stakeholder challenges that ensure successful outcomes.
Energy networks
Energy networks are becoming increasingly complex. Our work embraces electrical transmission and distribution, off-grid and microgrid systems, heat networks, gas networks (including natural gas, hydrogen and carbon dioxide) and the data networks that communicate and extract information and intelligence.
Power generation
We provide clients with high-quality, cost-effective and sustainable solutions from projects initial feasibility through to successful commercial operation. Our multidisciplinary service focuses on energy sector companies engaged in upstream activities from exploration to transmission and distribution.