18 minute read
Brent Johnson SAGE Energy Consulting
Finance & operations
Riveron: Inclusion and diversity in the energy industry
Riveron is a business advisory firm specializing in accounting, finance and operations. Energy Capital spoke with Annie Rosenfeld, Senior Manager of the company, about her work and the opportunities that women in the industry have today.
THERE ARE THREE NECESSARY FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION: INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT
Riveron's team's priority is to meet the changing needs of each client by providing relevant resources and high levels of expertise on the job. In conjunction with their clients, they carefully prepare and execute change throughout the transaction and business life-cycle, in both healthy and distressed environments.
Annie Rosenfeld, as Riveron's Senior Manager, has helped optimize the company's financial and technology operations. She focuses on all client portfolios to ensure that each investment is properly configured to meet their short and long-term needs. In this regard, Rosenfeld's nearly 15 years of experience in accounting and financial functions enables her to prepare and analyze financial statements and capital markets. Thus, her activities improve business processes in terms of profitability, design, documentation, preparation and execution of audits and budgeting.
This extensive experience in public and private companies in various fields, such as now the energy sector, allows her to understand the challenges of clients in the sector's landscape. Some of these challenges relate to managing volatility, adapting to and driving the energy transition; as well as digital transformation and environmental care.
From her work in the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry, Rosenfeld notes that many companies are trying to take advantage of the energy transition and sustainability curve. So, while there is still a long way to go, "this context is inspiring creativity and collaboration in the energy community."
Such cooperation is reflected not only in these sectors, but also in technology, media, e-commerce, industrial consumer products and financial services. Technology also makes it possible for people to work together as a community," she said.
Annie Rosenfeld also highlighted three necessary factors to consider in this process: innovation, infrastructure and investment. All according to the goals and challenges of each company, but with Riveron "integrating them from an expert vision to find the best solution".
In addition, climate change means opening up to new needs in each of these factors, and companies in the industry are indeed aware of these emerging
IN THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS, SOLUTIONS AND REGULATIONS WILL HAVE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT THAN THEY DO NOW, A TIME WHEN THE NEEDS ARE EVEN STRONGER THAN THE ANSWERS.
requirements. Therefore, in the next 20 to 30 years, solutions and regulations in that regard will have an even greater impact than they do now, at a time when the needs are even stronger than the answers.
In the context of these transformations, one is essential: women's participation in the energy industry. Annie Rosenfeld pointed out that "Women elevate performance and make us more inclusive". In addition, "they are cross-functional and effective leaders, not to mention that we are 50% of the population," she noted. In the perspective of Riveron's Senior Manager, women's participation is invaluable in innovation and in creating the opportunities presented by the energy transition. This presence is not only personal, but collective, because "throughout the industry there are women who exist and are working closely with the great solutions, but it is still not enough".
She explained that, as great entrepreneurs, women's participation is growing more and more and it is essential to communicate these achievements so that the community continues to grow. This growth must be in all business positions, including
leadership positions, and in both professional development and networking, and in the fields of technology and mathematics.
"We are also supporting education programs,” Rosenfeld said. This allows the industry to work with the women it needs and, at the same time, to be the industry that women need.
Particularly in Riveron's case, gender diversity and inclusion of women is very important. "There is a growing number of women at all levels and in business consulting," Rosenfeld noted. Additionally, she expressed her personal and professional willingness to help to increase this presence of women throughout the industry.
In order for companies to motivate women leadership in the sector, Rosenfeld argued that the first thing they must implement, is to recognize the opportunity to change paradigms. This involves not only keeping up to date with the latest issues in the energy industry, but also opening minds to support this diversity and inclusion.
Rosenfeld knows that this is a long process, but to achieve it, companies must make structured plans and programs to close the gap. In this sense, policies and projects must also be flexible to join new talent and capabilities according to the needs of each company.
At Riveron, they have recognized that working differently also entails modeling a new mindset and staying alert to find areas of opportunity. To open up this range of recognition for women's work at the business advisory firm they have also taken educational and training steps. "This is a daily, constant work, as it directly affects women's activities and business reality," commented Rosenfeld. In the company, they have carried out programs of inclusion in the work culture, team meetings at the end of the workday to recognize female employees and creating networks for more equitable participation.
Moving towards equity not only improves operational processes, but also opens up avenues for financial benefits. In short, "they help us to be better, both for the experience of employees and customers, as well as for the success of the company". One example of this is that staff stay with the company longer.
Rosenfeld detailed that this inclusion should be taken into account as a long-term attitude and not just for short periods. She also stated that this approach is indispensable for the business and energy sector, as well as for the industry in general. Thus, the knowledge that is developed in terms of investment, innovation and infrastructure will also be crossed by openness to gender diversity and the participation of women.
Regarding her personal journey, Annie Rosenfeld acknowledged that even with all the obstacles she has overcome and the areas of opportunity she has taken advantage of, she feels good to be working in this business. "We are breaking down those walls that existed for years and recognizing our work to evolve and revolutionize the industry," she said.
Finally, she stated that, in her experience, it is fundamental for women to recognize the victories they have achieved so far. She also expressed the importance of supporting each other not only in one industry, but in all of them.
ANNIE ROSENFELD Riveron's Senior Manager concluded by reiterating her commitment and that of the company to continue opening paths for the transformation to an industry that motivates, supports and includes the work of women and the existence of gender diversity.
SurfCleaner looking to expand into the US market
The global issue of floating pollutants in the water needs efficient solutions, and SurfCleaner is bringing them to the table to advance the energy transition and a cleaner economy.
SurfCleaner is an emerging Swedish-based company with top-notch solutions for treating surface water, making it possible for industrial plants to treat surface pollutants including sludge, oil spills, diesel, and other contaminants, while stimulating biogas production with top efficiency levels.
Christina Lundbäck Founder & Corporate Relations, SurfCleaner
100%
In fact, its customers can reach up to 100% separation of oil, diesel, plastics, floating sludge, and debris. The company’s solutions also allow up to 99% hydrocarbon removal, with less than 0,5% water content. As a result, refineries, steel mills, mining facilities, and municipal waste treatment plants can achieve greener operations with a 95% greenhouse gas emissions reduction.The company’s solutions also come promptly, as new regulations come out of the COP26 summit for the energy industry. From major companies to governments globally and locally, the need for cleaner operations and treating surface water solutions is a must.
We can take the example of Nigeria’s Delta oil spill from a well owned by the state company NNPC, which has been ongoing for weeks, affecting the lives of residents. The environmental cost of the spill is a matter of global attention now, and politicians are still trying to find a solution.
That’s where SurfCleaner’s solutions come in handy. The company has a mission of expansion to advance its portfolio and help the energy transition and allow a greener and healthier environment worldwide. Christina Lundbäck, Founder and Corporate Relations of the company, sat with us on an exclusive interview to disclose SufCleaner’s vision for the future.
Products and overall mission of SurfCleaner
Energy Capital: Christina, could you please tell us about your portfolio of products and the overall mission of SurfCleaner?
Christina Lundbäck: Yes, we have a skimmer separator hybrids for 100% removal, separation, and recovery of oil, diesel, petrol, plastics, sludge, debris, and other contaminants floating on the surface of the water. We have divided the market into two segments. We have industrial wastewater and public wastewater treatment plants. When talking about the industrial segment, we are talking about refineries, steel mills, etc. Our primary aim is to treat water. Up to this date we have sold more than 40 of our products. However, this year the peak is going higher because the demand is so big now. Significantly since the COP26 and all
0,5%
water content in pollutants removal
of the objectives from it to reduce biogas. So, our aim for next year is to sell 100 products at least worldwide, because the more SufCleaners are out there, the cleaner the world will be.
EC: Can you please describe in general the customer-based solutions that you offer?
CL: Yes. We have sold our solutions to refineries and big brands like ExxonMobil and others in Italy and Argentina. I think that the need for these devices is great. So, we are focusing on expanding to other countries; establishing partnerships, and finding distributors because you cannot do it alone.
EC: How does the company foresee the future for its business model? CL: We aim to be present in all the countries in the world. However, we especially aim for the US due to the immense size of the wastewater treatment market. I t hink it is like a $208 billion dollar market. So, we are going to focus on expansion. We have three products. A small one that is portable so you can put it into oil harbors or minor oil spills. We also have a big one, which has a certification for explosion class. And then, we have the wastewater product that we are testing in Sweden right now to take care of floating sludge because that is a resource. With it, you can produce methane gas or dry it and use it as a fertilizer. So, we have a focus on circular economy. For refineries, our products also serve to take care of pollution, with no methane produced. So, it is a win-win for everybody.
Tackling the global problem of floating pollutants
EC: When talking about floating contaminants, can you explain how your company plans to deploy solutions for this global problem?
CL: The thing is that we are a small company right now, based in Sweden. So, that’s why we are raising our voices so that the industry knows about us. We know that different regulations are coming, especially for the oil business, as it now has to take care of its waste. There will be a carbon tax, plunging the profits of oil businesses. So, we want to help the companies take responsibility for that. Indeed, we still need oil, so we aim to make the industry cleaner. But we also want to push the notion of reusing sludge because only 20% of our wastewater is clean. That is a pretty low margin. The UN aims to increase that margin to 60% by 2030. How are we going to do that? That is why SurfCleaner has to grow fast so we can treat more wastewater. In this regard, we are doing research right now in two wastewater treatment plants in Sweden. We are investigating how to increase energy efficiency and circular economy. We consider this to be very important because floating sludge is a problem that everybody has. Moreover, there are no mechanical solutions right now, and the ones out there waste a lot of energy.
On the other hand, our competitors, especially in the oil and gas sector, are struggling with diesel because it is very difficult to remove it from the water surface. It also evaporates fast. So, you need to clean it fast and efficiently. We can take it out with 0,5% water in it. Our competitors use 7,5 kilowatts when they are collecting it. They have a hydraulic pump and other devices. They have to run it manually. While with SurfCleaner, you just have to get it into the wastewater treatment plant
SurfCleaner Founder Christina Lundbäck and CEO Mikael Andersson
and let it work. It collects the pollutant, separates it, and gets rid of it in the same step.
Furthermore, the need for maintenance for refineries is minimal. With SurfCleaner, you don’t have to get the refinery on hold for several days – you just lift it up and flush it with a hose. Thirty minutes later, you can put it down again. It is much simpler.
EC: So, would you say this is a good time for deploying these solutions? Not only for enterprises but for governments facing new regulations…
CL: Yes. Not only at a global level but also at the local one. Many regulations are coming at a local level. This is happening for instance in Sicily, which is witnessing a rise in cancer cases related to coastal refineries and methane gas levels. We want to help industry take responsibility and make politicians understand that there are solutions to tackle these issues. As such, we are ramping up our international distributor network, as part of a strategic expansion plan led by CEO Mikael Andersson (pictured left). Having recently appointed new partners in Italy and Norway, we will be making further announcements in 2022 to underpin our network spanning across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. We can make a real impact delivering cleaner water and reducing emissions. Crucially, our solutions also support a future circular economy providing a strong incentive to reuse raw materials-boosting green credentials while improving the bottom line.
We know that we can make a real difference in clean water, reduce methane gas, and improve the circular economy. Indeed, it is important to have all these green options. But you also have to make sure that they reuse things and earn money from them while getting green. That’s our aim, at least, to do something for real.
Isotrol, not only an IT provider but a technology partner.
Isotrol and its success story in improving efficiency of power generation assets
The company surpassed a 110GW of operating footprint, and 450 power generations plants adopted its solution in 2021 alone. The future is also looking bright for Isotrol in the oil and gas industry.
Manuel Losada
Chief Operating Officer, Isotrol
Isotrol is a top technology developer with specialized and tailored solutions for the energy sector. Since 1984 it has been a pioneer of monitoring, system controls, and digitalization technologies. The company recently announced it surpassed the 110-gigawatts milestone, having deployed its solutions to more than 450 power plants in 2021 alone. Such growth is critical for the advancement of the energy transition. Indeed, Isotrol is not just a technology provider but a technology partner. As the company's solutions go deeper into the industry, reaching renewable generation assets and now delivering them to the O&G utilities that are entering in the renewable market, the company has become a true leader with a
consolidated position in the US, Europe, and Latin America.
To speak about how it crossed the 110 GW threshold and its success story, Manuel Losada, Chief Operating Officer of the company, sat with us on an exclusive interview to shed light upon the matter.
Energy Capital: Can you tell us please how Isotrol crossed the 110 Gigawatts threshold?
Manuel Losada: It is the consequence of many years of work. We have been in the market for more than 37 years so far, and we have been working basically with energy utilities. For the last 20 years, we have been working on renewable energy assets and working with new energies. We have introduced that knowledge into our Bluence platform, which is handling what we call Three Pillars to sustain energy transition. One pillar focuses on managing renewable energy assets, controlling them, gathering data, and getting the most of the assets through efficiency. The second pillar is how to integrate the energy into the grid. The 'grid integration' pillar is critical, as we need to make sure that the power is being introduced properly. The third pillar is the trading part, how to make the most of the energy. This is something we solve using complex algorithms and through artificial intelligence. Today we have about 64 GW in renewable assets and more than 60 so far in the energy trading part.
Manuel Losada, COO. EC: It's truly amazing. So, Isotrol has implemented its technology across more than 2500 power plants, right? So, can you tell us the expansion plans for Isotrol over the next few years?
ML: Sure. The market is growing a lot. Today we will say that 25% of the energy generation in the world is coming from renewable energies. However, this value will see a threefold increase by 2050. So, we will reach more than 86% of the energy generation coming from renewable sources. This is just a consequence of different factors.
As you know the cities are now much more crowded. You need to decarbonize those cities, and the answer for that is renewables. Consequently, electrification is also a main factor. Today, worldwide renewables are about 1500 GW, and this will grow fast in 10 years. So, our plans for the future are to help our customers to manage these changes in consuming energy.
EC: As you said, the industry is changing a lot, and the energy transition is a fact that requires many changes. So, with the help of solutions such as the ones Isotrol offers, the panorama will be very different. In this regard, can you tell us about the specific services or developments that Isotrol offers for the renewable energy industry?
ML: Bluence is a platform that offers help in precisely managing the changes of the energy transition. When so many new generation plants are installed in a region, you have to manage them. Consequently, digitalization technologies are a must. I always like to take this example: if you want to generate the energy of a nuclear plant with renewable energies, you will need several plants, which means many more sensors to monitor and therefore a huge amount of data to process, when at the same time you need to be more efficient reducing the number of people to operate the plants. Without the proper tools, you will not be able to achieve that. So, you need a system to know exactly what is going on with the plants and the assets; a system that delivers hints to the operators, so they know what they need to do to improve efficiency, get the most of the assets, and make the operational work much safer and easier, allowing operators to handle many more power plants.
EC: Can you tell us about the accompaniment process that Isotrol offers to its customers and the technology involved front-end? ML: In Isotrol we like to think of ourselves as technological partners rather than IT providers. In fact, Isotrol stands for (in Spanish) Engineering software and control. So, we know how to integrate data, communicate with different devices in any plant, and process that data into valuable information. Moreover our customers business is also evolving, and they need solutions that can adapt to new requirements. This is something that we understood. Customers do not only need peer products. That's why we like to call Bluence not a product but a solution. We adapt Bluence to our customers' needs, processes, future needs, etcetera. We deeply understand our customer's particular needs, the business they are involved in, and we help them under such conditions.
EC: In regards to evolution. We know that the oil and gas industry is rapidly adapting to the energy transition. Can you talk a little about the solutions that you offer for this sector?
2500 POWER PLANTS AND MORE HAVE IMPLEMENTED ISOTROL’S SOLUTIONS
ML: Yes. O&G utilities and electric utilities have similar backgrounds. O&G utilities are now entering in the Renewable Energy market. In fact, in ten years they are going to have more than 10% market share. Today they are in 0,5% of market share. But, the kind of needs are very similar when we speak about IT platforms they need to manage renewable energies. In this regard, I think they are doing their job pretty well. Now they know exactly what developments are needed to transform their assets from traditional sources to cleaner ones. So, we see a great future with O&G utilities, electric utilities and YieldCos. Finally, I think for the following years is going to be critical to treating data as another asset. Also, the investment to implement our solutions is even less than 1% of the total cost of a plant. However, the benefits are plentiful. Through solutions like the ones, we offer operators can get the most out of the assets for the next 20 or 30 years. So, for us, the future is really bright. We are delighted with our outlook for the future.
