Advancing to net zero steam

It has played a vital role in our past, and present, and will remain essential to our future progress too. Its superior thermal energy qualities make it a fundamental element in producing so much of what we take for granted, every day. And, thanks to rapidly evolving technology and engineering breakthroughs, we can look forward to enjoying its many benefits in a net zero world tomorrow. 

There was no need to invent it; it's been on Earth for longer than we have. You can still see it in its most natural state, bursting from geysers, creating breathtaking displays. Their sheer power and force give a hint as to why steam is the most widely used heat-carrying medium in the world. And they highlight its elemental nature. 

Its ability to hold a significant amount of energy that can be used either mechanically, to turn a turbine for example, or as heat to enable many processes, makes steam a key sustainable, renewable resource. Thanks to the steam and condensate loop, the water it uses can be recycled by efficient systems, saving energy as it does so. 

With high efficiency, low toxicity, ease of movement, superior heat capacity, and low cost compared to other alternatives, a world without steam is unthinkable. We have steam to thank for many of the tremendous technological advances in society over the past 300 years. Whilst the mechanisms that use, and need steam may have changed, steam itself has remained fundamental to our evolution. 

It plays a key role in the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring medicines and vaccines can be produced safely, reliably, and in large quantities. Healthcare facilities rely upon steam to keep instruments risk-free when treating us. Both the chemical and petroleum industries need steam to keep their plants running smoothly, and in creating the many products we rely upon for everyday living. From plastics to polyester (the world's most common clothing material), to ammonia production, which provides fertilisers to feed the world. And its many uses in the food and beverage industry mean we do not need to think twice about the safety and lifespan of so many things we eat and drink to live. 

But, beyond a photo opportunity, geysers do not have much practical use for us, and, except for a few places on earth, steam as geothermal energy is not an option. That means to harness its value, steam has to be generated by us. And that is where the test for guaranteeing its sustainable future lies. 

We need steam in vast quantities to maintain our growth and quality of life. It is vital we move away from generating steam using gas, coal, or oil to renewable, efficient sources of energy, as swiftly as possible.

Alongside, there will be an increasing need to do more with less, continually assessing and improving efficiency measures that will make steam even more important to so many industries that rely upon it. Data-driven, system-wide approaches will be the most effective means of doing so. 

Because steam is so widely used by so many diverse industries, there is a huge variety of steam system sizes, configurations, end-use applications, and operational practices. This means there are many options to identify opportunities for improving steam system performance. 

Just as steam has helped civilisations around the world grow and develop, now it is the turn of engineers to help steam continue its place in our history. Steam has taken us on a rewarding journey so far, and will continue to do so for centuries to come.