• WPC 2024
  • March 18-22, 2024

Richard Bale

S&P Global Commodity Insights

Associate Director, Chemical Consulting

Richard joined S&P Global’s consultancy business in 2014, based in the London office. He is responsible for delivering single client projects in Europe such as competitive, technology and market analysis, due diligence and financial analysis across a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on specialty, low carbon and biomass-based chemicals.

Previously, Richard spent five years working for Plaxica Ltd, focusing on the production of lactic acid and polylactic acid (PLA), he was involved in the design of Plaxica’s pilot plant facility and was responsible for the discovery and testing of new feedstock opportunities.

Richard holds a master’s degree in chemistry from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London.

Sessions With Richard Bale

Tuesday, 19 March

  • 04:00pm - 05:05pm (CST) / 19/mar/2024 09:00 pm - 19/mar/2024 10:05 pm

    Specialty Chemicals - Something in the Air (Hydrogen / Carbon capture)

    4:00 PM: Session IntroductionKevin Smith, Commodity Chemicals Lead, S&P Global Commodity Insights

    4:05 PM: Decarbonization opportunities with CCUS and HydrogenBala Suresh, Executive Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights

    There is more carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere than is consumed in various processes and is associated with causes for changes in the climate patterns. Climate change is real and importance is now given to prevent catastrophic impacts that alters our lifestyles. Governments, industries, institutions and other stakeholders are working towards limiting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and to move towards creating a cleaner environment. Though the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recommended that we do not exceed 1.5 deg C increase above pre-industrial levels, and the Paris Agreement has a goal to limit to 2 deg C, the rise could be as high as 2.4 deg. C by the year 2100.

    Reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires improvement of energy efficiencies and also introduce renewables for achieving decarbonization. In this session, we will look at ways to decarbonize the markets with a focus on the use of hydrogen and carbon capture to assist in the process.

    4:20 PM: Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) and their Role in the Materials TransitionMark Morgan, Vice President, Specialty Chemicals and Renewables Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights

    A materials transition is needed to enable the energy transition to continue. A new generation of catalysts and adsorption materials have been developed called metal organic frameworks or MOFs. Some MOFs can absorb large amounts of hydrogen and could compete in future with compressed hydrogen storage at high pressure in composite cylinders for light vehicles. When certain MOFs are combined in coating systems they can be used in dehumidifier applications or even systems for the direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide. Other applications include water filtration, lithium recovery, biogas refining and battery anode/cathode materials to name but a few and most related to the energy transition. The market for MOF is embryonic but still exceeds $400 million worldwide with double-digit growth potential.  

    4:35 PM : Amine Scrubbing: Crafting a solution for net zeroRichard Bale, Associate Director, Chemical Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights

    Aqueous solutions of amines have been used in gas sweetening, removing acid components such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, for over 90 years. These sweetening units have become a common feature of refineries and gas processing plants.

    Now, as companies look to reduce their carbon footprints, the possibility of using amines to capture carbon dioxide from flue gases and other plant emissions is of increasing interest. The benefits include the ability of amine solutions to be easily recycled and the production a pure carbon dioxide stream which can act as a feedstock for other chemical processes.

    4:50 PM: Q&A     

    5:00 PM: Closing Remarks