New Partners - Blue Insight & Hazel Insight

14th December 2021

Experts Hilary McMahon and Jon Stewart provide strategic advisory and change management consultation across key areas of sustainability and business transformation at a critical time for the marine and energy markets

BLUE Insight, the business advisory and research arm of BLUE Communications (BLUE), the leading business, brand, PR, and communications consultancy for the marine and energy markets, today announced the appointment of two new Senior Advisors, Hilary McMahon and Jon Stewart.

The move widens BLUE Insight’s knowledge and experience from the marine fuels market into strategic business advisory services spanning many of the key verticals of change at a critical time for the marine and energy markets. These challenges are reshaping corporate strategies and include the requirement to manage and implement a transition to cleaner energy sources and to demonstrate tangible sustainability performance improvements across all operational touch points. The transformation of global supply chains is also causing marine operators and energy providers to re-evaluate their agility and resilience. All of these factors operate against a backdrop of digitalisation, ESG-led financial assessment and greater public accountability.

In conjunction with Adrian Tolson, BLUE Insight’s Director and Lead, the new Senior Advisors will provide knowledge-led consultancy services in relation to the following critical areas of development:

  • Clean technology development and planning

  • Environmental regulatory insight, strategy and compliance

  • Marine fuels market insight and bunkering strategy

  • Port infrastructure development

  • Environmental Social Governance (ESG) decarbonisation and sustainability strategy planning

  • Sustainable finance and funding

  • Low and zero carbon fuels insight; energy transition strategy and stress testing

  • Refining and cargo markets insights and trends.

Hilary McMahon has more than 20 years of experience in sustainability and the role of the private sector in solving the climate crisis.  She has held a number of leadership roles, including the former Director of Intelligence at Sir Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room, and previously as an expert and as a thought leader at the World Resources Institute, the United Nations, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the European Commission.  She was also a Judge for the MIT Co-Lab, Echoing Green Fellowship and Yale Low Carbon Case competition, a reviewer for the World Energy Outlook, a selection committee member for Bloomberg New Energy Finance and a nominee for the C3E Energy Award.

At BLUE Insight she will bring this knowledge to the fore advising on specific areas, including existing and breakthrough technologies such as low carbon solutions and global climate policy, EU and UK related public financial support, private low-carbon investment opportunities, greening ports and their adaptation to climate change, as well as sustainability impact tracking and reporting.

With over 30 years of experience within the maritime industry, Jon Stewart has played an important role in the development of ship’s equipment for the management of wastewater and ballast water. In 2005 he founded International Maritime Technology Consultants, Inc. (IMTCI) to provide consultancy to manufacturers of vessels’ environmental systems with a focus on systems optimisation and type approvals as well as regulatory guidance. Acting as technical advisor to various delegations of IMO sub-committees including MEPC, PPR and III. Jon has been at the forefront of assisting administrations and organisations with the implementation of environmental regulations for ballast water and air emissions.

Commenting on the appointments, Adrian Tolson, Director and Lead, BLUE Insight, said:

“The marine and energy markets are significantly and quickly transforming on the back of the global energy transition.  This is causing unparalleled complexity and uncertainty for many organisations throughout these industries.  Right now, they need access to knowledge and insight from people who have in-depth experience of these markets, and an understanding of how business Blue Insight models are evolving, so that they can develop the right strategies for growth, compliance, and competitive advantage.  Hilary and Jon align very much with BLUE’s mantra of ‘in depth influence’, bringing the specialist knowledge and the consultancy calibre that companies are crying out for in these changing times.”

Automobile Trends and Trail Blazers

At a recent Bloomberg New Energy Finance event in Munich, the focus of the discussions was appropriately on the automobile sector, with representatives from the German manufactures speaking openly about their future plans and the $140 billion plus being committed to manufacturing electric and plug-in hybrid cars (Source: @BloombergNEF).

 Using the data from the recently published Electric Vehicle Outlook 2019, that is that 2 million Electric and hybrid vehicles were added in 2018, BNEF suggests that by 2040, the share of BEV and PHEV in the global fleet will amount to over 37%. This raises some questions for both the manufacturers, and the buyers.

 For example, given that the average car travels 30 KM a day, should we be suffering from range anxiety? And doesn’t the use of series hybrids, which can operate efficiently on both an electric and internal combustion engine, not negate that issue? Furthermore, should we be focusing on individual car ownership, or are the majority of electric cars going to be owned by the likes of Uber and Lyft and therefore, is it likely that these companies will in the future be building out their own charging infrastructure?

 The changing landscape suggests there are huge opportunities, but like with the electricity market and the ‘on-flux’ of renewables, the business as usual model of manufacturers selling their wares directly to individual customers will need to be adapted. They will need to embrace fleets, shared ownership, and more urban business models. This presents both opportunities and challenges and will require a host of new partnerships, platforms and service agreements. Let us hope the automobile manufactures are coming at this new time with an open mind, as they clearly were during the discussions in Munich. 

Launch of Renewable Power for Mines Report with Columbia University

Out now! The Renewable Power of the Mine: report on how mining companies have integrated renewables, the roadblocks that still exist, and the future trends that will drive uptake -https://bit.ly/2UyKXyF . The report takes us on a journey through the potential for renewables to provide a clean, reliable source of energy for an industry plagued by challenging working environments, and a review of projects to date and what we can learn from their implementation. #solar #wind #COP24 @CCSI_Columbia.

Launch of Distributed Power Africa

by Strive Masiyiwa chairman and founder of Econet

As an entrepreneur my philosophy is about reaching out to meet the needs of people. Asking, what do people need and how can we respond to those needs? With great urgency, people need energy in Africa. We at Econet have set out on a journey of innovation and experimentation to meet those energy needs.  

Our journey thus far has led us to consider the following.

The old rules don’t apply anymore. The new economy, that exists today, requires a new energy economy and therefore a new approach to providing that energy. So what does this new economy look like? The new economy in Africa is more global (Tencent is the most valuable company in Africa, and it's from China). The new economy is more mobile (due to the rise of apps such as M-PESA and Ecocash. In Kenya for example more than 60% of people use their cell phones for financial transactions[1]). And the new economy is about a new type of client (with people looking to bundle their energy services with other services) and a new type of marketplace where roles will change (where ones wireless provider can also provide clean energy and a smart building).

Out of crisis comes opportunity. Africa faces many challenges, and it is not always unified in those challenges. Econet has had much experience in providing solutions to those challenges. Ecocash was created in Burundi, after the civil war, to find a way for global money to find its way to those that needed it most. When we decided to expand this business opportunity in Zimbabwe we realized that the poor no longer had access to small denominations of money. Ecocash could be the solution. Ecocash mobile money transfer service is currently used by over 6.8 million Zimbabweans with over $23 billion worth of transfers transacted over the past five years.  

 Business needs to be principled. The Pope told all of us gathered at the Vatican: “Seek ever more creative ways to transform our institutions and economic structures so that they may be able to respond to the needs of our day and be in service of the human person, especially those marginalized and discarded.” We need to remember that we are not just selling electrons, but meeting the needs of our people.

With all of this in mind, we created Distributed Power Africa (DPA). Africa has an energy crisis, people’s needs are not being met, and we have a duty to solve the problem. Our solution will look to use our pan-African history as a trusted provider of wireless, fiber optic and money services to provide energy to the mid-sized market that powers the African economy – schools, clinics, businesses and others struggling to serve their communities. By providing a full service – installation, maintenance and ownership – we will help to provide a much needed source of reliable energy, at a stable and competitive price for at least ten years. Furthermore, due to the strength of our business we will cover the upfront cost of the hardware and software so that there are no upfront costs, or risk, for the customer. This innovation will make energy more accessible for all.

Due to innovative energy monitoring systems, DPA will be able to go further and ensure that efficiency is built into the system by providing energy efficiency technologies. This will help to avoid energy waste, and manage the costs for the consumer. We will be able to work with our existing clients and we will initially do this in ten African countries.

 But we cannot do it alone. Competition is good, but it has to be bolstered by cooperation. Two-thirds of sub-Saharan African economies are growing faster than the global average, and three African countries are among the world’s top 10 fastest growing economies. These leading economies and their neighbors will be able to build more profitable energy markets if they cooperate across their borders. Innovative energy products and services should be able to move beyond borders to the people that need them and this requires leadership at every level. Econet is therefore looking to Government, regulators and business to partner to ensure that we create a healthy market for innovative energy services across Africa so that we can bring essential life changing services to millions.

[1] http://www.pewglobal.org/2015/04/15/cell-phones-in-africa-communication-lifeline/

30 | WORLD ENERGY FOCUS ANNUAL 2017

Launch of Columbia Sustainable Finance Professionals Network at Columbia University

Hilary McMahon has joined the the  Columbia Sustainable Finance Professionals Network at Columbia University as an Advisory Board member. The Network is a graduate student association comprised of established professionals in finance, investing and economics with an interest in sustainable finance and investing. CSFPN provides a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaborating on projects focused on sustainable finance and investments.

Other members include - Alberto Gómez-Obregón, Anna Snider, Amy Springsteel, Charlotte Peyraud, Hilary McMahon, Nathalie Wallace, Michael Eckhart, Rina Kupferschmid, Richard Zimmerman and Shuaib Siddiqui.

For more see: https://csfpn.wordpress.com/

 

Africa's Light Bulb Moment: and its Renewable

For too long, governments in Africa have subsidised inefficient and often corrupt energy utilities, following the outdated, high-carbon pathway the rich world has followed. This has kept costs high and failed to extend the benefits of electrification much beyond urban centres.

But Africa's energy deficit is not only a scandal. It also presents an enormous opportunity, and one that offers a triple dividend -- reducing poverty in Africa, promoting economic prosperity and safeguarding the sustainability of our planet.

Africa has an opportunity to lead the world, and leap to a totally renewable energy base, in the same way as the continent has leapfrogged from fixed-line telephony straight to mobile communications.

What does that opportunity look like? The Africa Progress Panel, of which we are both panel members, sets out the vision in its latest report, Power, People, Planet: Seizing Africa's Energy and Climate Opportunities.

Strive Masiyiwa and Bob Geldof recently wrote about this opportunity in the Huffington post. See the article here. 

Sustainable Energy for All @SE4ALL Charts a Course for SDG Goal 7 on Energy

With new leadership, and a fully operational Secretariat, the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) iniative under the United Nations is being watched carefully to see how it plans to deliver on the newly established Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on Energy. This goal, which establishes clean energy access for all as a global objective, has inspired corporations, investors, civil society and Government representatives from around the globe to come together to discuss how the international community can facilitate a transition to energy for all. Econet Wireless, a global company delivering internet and other services across the continent of Africa will engage in this process to provide entrepreneurial solutions to deliver energy to those who do not have it, through, for example, solar home power systems, green kiosks (for phone charging) and clean cookstoves.

The lack of electricity across the globe is kiling men, women and children, stunting the development of nations and businesses. As a representative of Econet, and the private sector, we will be working to support the SDG goal 7 and SE4All initiative. 

UN SE4All High-Level meeting, September 2015

UN SE4All High-Level meeting, September 2015

Hilary McMahon nominated for C3E Award - June 2015

The U.S. C3E Awards recognize outstanding mid-career women who are advancing clean, renewable sources of energy, related technologies, or clean energy policy. Each winner will receive $8,000 and national recognition at the C3E Symposium in November.

Awards honor mid-career leadership and achievement in eight categories: Advocacy, Business, Education, Entrepreneurship, Government, International, Law & Finance, and Research.