When it comes to climate change, carbon dioxide is the standout culprit and much of the world's attempts to decarbonise and achieve Net Zero centre on the greenhouse gas.
But there are other villains in the global warming story, including fluorinated gases, nitrous oxide and methane.
Methane deserves special attention. It's got its fingers in many pies – it's emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas and oil. In farming, it's released from livestock and other agricultural practices and it is emitted by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
Even though it stays in the atmosphere for less time than carbon dioxide before breaking down, while it's there methane is 80 per cent more efficient at global warming than carbon dioxide.
In addition, it is the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant that the UN calculates causes a million premature deaths a year.
Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years, meaning even if the world suddenly emitted no carbon dioxide at all, it would still be a problem. Methane takes around ten years to break down, so tackling its levels now would seriously help the world not exceed the 1.5ºC warming target set out in the Paris Agreement.
Methane split
One UK company has come up with a patented process that turns harmful methane into climate-friendly hydrogen gas and graphene, the much heralded product of the future.
Based in the UK university city of Cambridge, Levidian does this by separating the methane molecule (CH4) into one carbon atom from the four hydrogen atoms inside it's unique Loop system.
Levidian is specifically looking at heavy industries and agriculture - among its more than 50 clients and partners are the Emirati oil and gas company ADNOC, the UAE-based waste management firm Tadweer, the UK water company United Utilities and the Luxembourg-based construction company Stugalux.
Its first customer in the agricultural sector was Worthy farm in the English county of Somerset, the home of the world-famous Glastonbury Festival.
"As a society we’re making great progress in decarbonizing our electricity grid, like in transportation with electric vehicles," Levidian's chief executive, John Hartley told The National.
"But the hard-to-abate bit, the tricky bit, has been the really heavy industrial customers who use loads of heat, loads of power on their sites and have lots of waste products, and that's really where we're focused.”
The advantage of Levidian's Loop system is its portability. Housed in units that are essentially shipping containers, they can be transported to wherever methane is being gathered, be that a gas field, a landfill site or a farm.
Once at a site, pre-combusted methane is fed into the Loop, at which point the patented scientific process swings into action.
“We bring in methane, ideally from a waste source, Mr Hartley told The National.
"We apply microwave energy to that methane, and at the point where we apply the microwaves, we run it through our nozzle system, which is our kind of special proprietary intellectual property, and the combination of the microwaves and the nozzle geometry causes little vortices in the gas flow."
"The carbon becomes powered graphene material, and the rest becomes hydrogen, which you can then burn as a clean fuel.”
'A unique and special material'
Graphene was first isolated in Manchester in the UK some 20 years ago and shouldn't be confused with other forms of carbon like diamonds and graphite.
It's what's now referred to as a 2-D material - a single layer of carbon atoms that has unique and different properties.
“For example, a single atomic layer of carbon is 200 times stronger than steel," James Baker, chief executive of Graphene@Manchester told The National.
"It's more conductive than copper. It can act as a perfect membrane to allow some molecules to pass through and to block others. It's quite a unique and special material, but the challenge is making it into things that are practical.”
Based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) in Manchester, Mr Baker and his colleagues are spearheading the spread of graphene into the wider world through a myriad of applications - from making cement stronger to enabling tyres to last longer, from lighter plastics to new forms of batteries to ink and clothing.
"What we're seeing with graphene is that already people are building houses, you can buy running shoes, tyres and an anti-corrosion coating," he told The National.
"So, products are already on the market today. It's starting to get into more general use in a number of cases.”
Just as Levidian has close relationships with ADNOC, Tameer and Khalifa University, the GEIC is part-funded by the UAE's Masdar, the world-leading renewable energy company.
Down on the farm
A big potential user of Levidian's Loop technology is the agriculture sector and the company's first client in this area was Worthy Farm, probably better known as the site of the Glastonbury Festival.
For most of the time, Worthy Farm is a working farm in the rolling hills of the west of England. As such, its cattle herd produces slurry, which itself is a source of methane.
Helping Levidian get the Loop established at Worthy Farm, Hexla is a company that assists start-ups deploy their next generation renewable technologies into the market.
Worthy Farm was already making biogas from its cow slurry, but Hexla was able to insert a Levidian Loop into the process which meant the biogas became 17 per cent hydrogen, because the Loop was taking the hydrogen from the methane and putting it back into the biogas stream. As such, the biogas was becoming decarbonised. In addition, graphene was also produced.
“Anyone who wants to decarbonise a methane or natural gas stream, whether its agricultural, waste-water treatment or industrial, this technology is going to be quite useful," Andy Yeow, a former natural gas trader and co-founder of Hexla told The National.
Hexla is looking to take the Levidian Loops around the world, with deployments in the US, the Middle East and Australia.
For Mr Yeow and his Hexla co-founder Peter Behrens the key to the Loop's success is the potential commercial viability of graphene.
Theoretically, because the market value of graphene is so much higher than hydrogen, the hydrogen can be produced in the Loop for almost no cost all.
“If everyone turned round and said ’we’re going to put graphene into concrete today’, we can start building some fairly large-scale facilities that can start producing some meaningful amounts of hydrogen for the world," Mr Yeow told The National.
"But it’s making sure that the graphene is being utilised.”
Mr Hartley said the Loop processes solves the problem of producing graphene at scale without having to resort to energy and cost-intensive graphite rock mining. It was one of the main reasons Levidian attracted investment from the UAE's sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala.
It's also no coincidence the first Loop to be exported from the UK went to Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi and why the Gulf region is such an important area for Levidian's expansion in the coming years.
"That's kind of pulled us into that region," he told The National.
"We've now got three members of staff there. We've hired a managing director to grow the region, and the UAE will be our regional office for the Middle East more broadly.”
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
info-box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Happy Tenant
Started: January 2019
Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana
Based: Dubai
Sector: Technology, real-estate
Initial investment: Dh2.5 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 4,000
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Schalke 0
Werder Bremen 1 (Bittencourt 32')
Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
Key fixtures from January 5-7
Watford v Bristol City
Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan
Coventry v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Manchester United v Derby
Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom
Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon
Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City
Manchester City v Burnley
Shrewsbury v West Ham United
Wolves v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Luton Town
Fulham v Southampton
Norwich City v Chelsea
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
More from Neighbourhood Watch
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on animal trafficking
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Khalid Essa, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Salem Rashid, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Attas, Walid Abbas, Hassan Al Mahrami, Mahmoud Khamis, Alhassan Saleh, Ali Salmeen, Yahia Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Fabio De Lima, Khalil Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Muhammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
EXPATS
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The five pillars of Islam
More on Quran memorisation:
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
