Introducing: Daniel Gonzalez Fernandez
Could you please tell us about your career path and your position at BV?
My journey spans diverse industries—oil & gas, chemical, energy, biotechnology, and food & beverage. I began as an honors graduate in industrial electronic engineering at the University of Seville, earning an award as a “promising talent” engineer at my first company, Ayesa. Starting as an instrumentation and control engineer, I quickly moved into process design roles, honing my expertise globally.
I then moved on to a role on Worley Consulting’s team, where I became a subject matter expert in green hydrogen. My next role at Q Energy involved assessing opportunities and defining strategies for the hydrogen sector.
I also made time to continue my studies. I completed a master’s degree—with honors—in industrial engineering design, and conducted postgraduate studies in the metal minerals processing industry. Eventually, I started working toward a Ph.D. on the topic of green hydrogen technology and its derivatives.
I recently joined BV as a Global Technical Lead in Hydrogen. My role encompasses various responsibilities. These include the definition of services; the development of a technical library, service methodologies, tools, and systems; and shaping BV's workforce development. I also provide technical support for strategic opportunities in the field of industry decarbonization, focusing on feasibility/pre-feasibility studies and technical advisory.
In your position, how do you contribute to the sustainable development of hydrogen as a driver of the energy transition?
In my role as the Global Technical Lead in Hydrogen, I drive the sustainable development of hydrogen in the broader context of the energy transition. My approach involves strategic planning, technological expertise, and collaboration with key stakeholders.
Technologically, our focus is on providing highly efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly hydrogen production solutions, including advances in electrolysis, carbon capture, and emerging technologies. Close collaboration with our expert teams ensures our solutions stay at the forefront of innovation, aligned with global sustainability objectives. Additionally, I actively contribute insights from my involvement in hydrogen projects, providing a real-world perspective on potential risks and challenges from design to construction phases.
Our commitment to global regulatory frameworks is unwavering, exceeding environmental standards and positioning us as leaders in environmentally responsible hydrogen production. I've been engaged in assessing potential regulations from the technology's early development, ensuring a proactive approach to risk mitigation.
I’ve also taken on the responsibility of educating internal teams, stakeholders, and the public on the nuanced benefits and challenges of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier, emphasizing its role in decarbonization while dispelling misconceptions.
What’s your greatest professional achievement and your biggest challenge at BV?
Despite my relatively short tenure with the BV family, I'm proud to share a couple of notable achievements. We've successfully ventured into a new sector, engaging both our long-standing clients and new partners. Our approach is centered on technical expertise and transparent methodologies, ensuring clarity and quality in our services. The standout achievement for me has been the formation of a globally distributed team of experts. Identifying and bringing together individuals who align with our objectives and leveraging their collective knowledge has been a significant success. It has been immensely rewarding to build a cohesive team capable of delivering exceptional service to our clients.
However, with growth comes challenges. The primary hurdle has been expanding our team to meet the increasing demand for our services. Finding individuals with the requisite high level of expertise in the current market is no small feat. Articulating the unique benefits of working for a company with such a rich history, where our core value is to be a trustworthy partner offering sound technical advice, is crucial. We're not just seeking experts; we're looking for individuals who embody our values, creating a reliable and capable group dedicated to assisting our clients.
What will be the main challenges for the energy transition in the next 10 years, and what will be BV's role?
In my view, hydrogen plays a crucial role in decarbonizing industries, providing an alternative energy solution for carbon-heavy sectors like mobility, heavy industry, and energy. Its versatility, from powering transport to manufacturing, makes it a key player in reducing environmental impact.
The 21stcentury challenge lies in developing low-carbon hydrogen for a sustainable energy transition. Over the next decade, the hydrogen value chain will face significant challenges. Massive investments are crucial. Governments, banks, and energy providers need to collaborate to make this happen. Cost reduction is another hurdle, and government incentives can play a pivotal role in driving down production costs. Scaling up production plants, coupled with the decreasing price of renewable energy, could cut green hydrogen production costs by 30% by 2030.
Beyond that, impeccable project and risk management are paramount. Safety and risk mitigation must be non-negotiable in the entire hydrogen production and utilization process.
BV's role is to align with these challenges, assisting clients by providing expert knowledge during the transition. Our focus is on representing their interests, mitigating technology and project risks, and guiding them with our expertise to make informed decisions. We aim to steer clients away from unfounded opportunities while highlighting those grounded in a profound understanding of technology and potential benefits.