Exploring the Transition to a Global Fossil Fuel-Free Future

Embarking on a Future Powered by Renewables

Amidst deliberations at COP28, renewable energy advocate Tilo Suckow spearheads the initiative to shift from traditional energy sources to renewable alternatives. His role at Sunfire situates him at the forefront of advocating for green energy solutions and sustainable mobility practices.

His previous sustainability consulting experience at EY, and his influential tenure tackling global environmental challenges with WWF, have significantly shaped his perspective. Suckow vividly recalls how exposure to a plethora of environmental crises while at WWF expanded his understanding of human impact on the earth, most notably on biodiversity and the various crises due to climate change.

"I decided that I want to not only reduce my personal footprint but also amplify my professional influence for positive change," Suckow reflects on his journey towards fostering sustainability.

"Every product we consume, every kilowatt-hour produced, bears an environmental toll, often unseen by end consumers." This realization dawned early on Suckow, who grew up witnessing the environmental cost of brown coal mining.

His intimate connection with environmental technology, shaped by his academic orientation and subsequent role at EY, positioned him to effectively guide corporations on sustainability and ESG reporting.

Presently, at Sunfire, Suckow is harnessing his prowess to enhance the company's sustainability portrait through incisive reporting and performance measures. The escalating regulatory landscape makes such accountability not just a necessity but a priority for companies worldwide.

Sunfire: Pioneering Sustainability in Action

Within its own corporate sphere, Sunfire diligently aligns its internal processes with its ethos of sustainability, Suckow oversees these essential mechanisms, anticipating a future where sustainability reporting will evolve into an even more pivotal corporate function.

"Our commitment is clear: to serve as a catalyst for industrial giants, enabling a dramatic shift from fossil-reliant business models towards renewable, circular ones," Suckow proudly states.

The Power of Green Hydrogen

The promise of green hydrogen is no mirage. It represents a tangible, transformative force in the ongoing energy transition. Its potential to replace fossil fuel-based hydrogen presents a significant environmental boon—a reduction in emissions on a grand scale.

For Suckow, the burgeoning green hydrogen economy is a "once in a century opportunity," with the European Union playing a critical role in nurturing this emergent market. The ambition is grand: to propel electrolysis capacity from a few hundred megawatts to over 100 gigawatts by 2030, a scale-up exceeding a hundred times within this decade.

The dialogue on green hydrogen often converges on cost considerations. But just as witnessed with renewable energy," Suckow stipulates, "scaling up operations will bring down costs for green hydrogen production.

Yet, to ride this wave of opportunity, there's simply no room for bureaucratic delays. The integration of expansive green hydrogen production must progress in tandem with corresponding green electricity generation, asserts Suckow.

Final considerations, as the chase to boost renewable energy production continues, it sustains its core relevance to any prospective green hydrogen revolution and the larger ambition of a 'world without fossil fuels'.