The big question: where would you invest your green finance for net zero?

Tim Killen

Global Head of Growth – Project Sector at Fracht Group

When making strategic decisions about our approach to developing the global energy transition market, we face real challenges in terms of where to best invest our time, energy and resources. We must ensure an adequate return on investment for the short and long term, balanced with our sustainability, environmental, social and governance, and diversity objectives, to contribute to a sustainable, equitable and resilient energy transition journey.

We need to adopt a multifaceted approach to our activities in the energy project space. The traditional energy landscape is mature in terms of its technology, investors and clients, with whom we have successfully worked for many decades. While it is exciting and will be critical to achieving carbon net-zero targets, the energy transition market is in its developmental stages and faces several challenges and dependencies, including the need for government support to make projects economically viable, technology development and financial bottlenecks, policy and regulatory risks, and industry capacity and competence.

We face real challenges in terms of where to best invest our time, energy and resources

We are committed to supporting our existing clients in traditional energy markets, while investing to assist in the design and innovation of new supply chain and logistics solutions across all aspects of energy transition technologies. To ensure a sustainable energy future, the pipeline for new energy projects, including hydrogen, carbon capture and sustainable aviation fuel, needs to gather momentum globally, so that we see final investment decisions on key projects achieved in the short term.

About Fracht Group

Fracht Group is a privately owned Swiss-based international freight forwarder and project logistics service provider, working on CAPEX and OPEX projects across all aspects of the energy industry. The organisation was founded in 1955 and remains independently owned, with more than 150 offices worldwide in more than 65 countries. Fracht Group moves high-value critical cargo by road, sea and air to support its clients’ logistics and supply chain requirements. Through a global network of dedicated personnel, long-standing experience and the latest information technology, Fracht Group delivers strategic and innovative solutions in every direction.

Riikka Paarma

Chief Sustainability Officer at Halton

At Halton, net zero is twofold. First, like any company, we need to ensure that we decarbonise our own operations. We have already made significant investments in solar PV, heat pumps and renewables across our locations, and we will continue to do so.

As part of our corporate and sustainability strategy, we are decoupling from increased material use by growing in services, which necessitates a growing service fleet. This includes investments in electric vehicle (EV) pilots, or hybrids as EV infrastructure remains immature across many of our key geographies.

Finally, for scope 3 upstream, the investment focuses on decarbonising our main supply: steel. Given that lower-carbon steel options are still in their early stages, we are prioritising cross-value chain pilots and cross-industry partnerships that will jointly boost demand for lower-carbon steel.

We are decoupling from increased material use by growing in services

We are also committed to helping our customers tackle their own net-zero challenges, and so investments in net zero-aligned research and development and operations are front and centre, both strategically and for scalable impact. Our solutions are and will be needed to support a variety of net-zero technologies, from offshore wind to carbon capture. Moreover, our solutions typically improve our customers’ energy efficiency – a significant focus of COP28 last year.

Overall, we see tremendous opportunities in net zero, which is why we have recently opened a new factory in the US to support decarbonisation in the Americas while staying close to customers and minimising logistics emissions.

While uncertainties may prevail, we have a clear strategic direction. We are committed to continuously investing in our innovation capabilities and manufacturing capacity to ensure that we are ready to realise our potential in the net-zero revolution, together with our customers.

About Halton

Halton Group specialises in sustainable indoor environment solutions, providing solutions for energy applications, public and commercial buildings and foodservice facilities. Founded in Finland in 1969, Halton now operates in over 35 countries around the world, with annual sales of €300m and more than 1,900 employees. It has production facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Finland, Germany, Malaysia, the UK and the US.

Benoit Lamoussiere

Strategy & Sales Director at Ponticelli UK

I would prioritise investments that deliver both immediate emission reductions and long-term strategic value, driving decarbonisation while supporting the UK’s net-zero goals and focus on homegrown energy. Upgrading the energy efficiency of existing oil and gas infrastructure is crucial if we are to reduce emissions significantly while maintaining operational viability. This will include adopting advanced energy management systems, cleaner fuels, or electrification to lower carbon footprints.

Supporting new offshore oil and gas licenses will be essential to maintain domestic energy security, but this must be done cleanly and efficiently to show the sector’s commitment to responsible energy production and shed its ‘dirty’ stigma.

Investing in renewable energy projects, particularly floating offshore wind (FLOW) and hydrogen, will be equally important. Expanding homegrown energy production through FLOW projects will be crucial in reducing our reliance on energy imports, and our engineering and construction expertise positions us to support this important growth.

I would prioritise investments that deliver both immediate emission reductions and long-term strategic value

Additionally, improving the UK’s grid capacity will be essential to accommodate new offshore projects and ensure renewables can be integrated efficiently, building a resilient, net-zero energy future.

Finally, I would advocate for technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage as a means to prepare for long-term decarbonisation while ensuring the UK is energy independent.

About Ponticelli UK

Ponticelli UK delivers comprehensive engineering, construction and maintenance services across the oil and gas, petrochemical and renewable energy sectors. As part of the Ponticelli Group, with more than 100 years of experience and a global workforce, the company provides integrated solutions from design to decommissioning, ensuring seamless project execution. Committed to safety and sustainability, Ponticelli UK adopts a collaborative approach by forming integrated teams of industry specialists. This enables the delivery of efficient, cost-effective solutions that are tailored to clients’ specific needs, driving operational excellence and facilitating the transition to a low-carbon future.