Summit Agricultural Group
Date: 2021-02-19
Alden, Iowa-headquartered Summit Agricultural Group (Summit AG), a diverse farming, agricultural investment, and farm management firm, is reporting the creation of Summit Carbon Solutions -- a new business platform that will address the global challenge of decarbonisation by developing the world's largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

When fully developed, Summit Carbon Solutions will dramatically lower the carbon footprint of biorefineries and other carbon dioxide emission sources throughout the U.S. Midwest and have an infrastructure network capable of capturing and permanently storing more than 10 million tpy of CO2.

Summit Carbon Solutions has partnered with leading biorefiners in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota to execute the first phase of the project, which will put them on the path of delivering net-zero carbon fuel. (Source: Summit Agricultural Group, PR, 17 Feb., 2021) Contact: Summit Agricultural Group, Justin Kirchhoff, Pres., (515) 854-9820, www.summitag.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biorefining,  Carbon Emissions,  CCS,  Carbon Footprint,  

CEMEX
Date: 2021-02-19
Houston-headquartered CEMEX USA is reporting receipt of an undisclosed amount of grant funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a pilot carbon capture unit at its Victorville, California, cement plant.

The project is a collaboration with Carbon Clean, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and RTI international which will lead the initiative. The project aims to develop and scaling-up specific CO2 capture process components and incorporate next-generation non-aqueous solvents. The collaboration will assess the integration of modular carbon capture technology with the cement plant as well as evaluate the cost and technical considerations of using the captured CO2 as a feedstock for new products.

As previously reported, in 2020 CEMEX announced its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 35 pct of cementitious products by 2030 as part of a longer-term goal of producing net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050. (Source: CEMEX, The Chemical Engineer, 18 Feb., 2021) Contact: CEMEX USA, Jaime Muguiro, Pres., 713-650-6200, www.cemexusa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CEMEX,  Cement,  Carbon Emissions,  CCS,  

American Petroleum Institute
Date: 2021-02-17
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is reporting receipt of $100 million funding under the US DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy programme. The program aims to identify and develop innovative technologies to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and tackle climate change.

According to API, over the past decade, the oil and gas industry has provided low-cost natural gas, while reducing CO2 emissions in the electric power sector and addressing methane emissions. Methane emissions have declined by nearly 70 pct between 2011 and 2019 in five of the largest US oil and gas producing regions, according to the EPA's new Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program data.

API notes its members are already investing in direct air carbon capture, carbon capture use astorage, CCS, decarbonisation infrastructure such as CO2 pipelines, sustainable and efficient fuels, and lower cost, low-carbon hydrogen. (Source: API. PR, Website, 16 Feb., 2021) Contact: API, Mike Sommers, CEO, (202) 682-8114, www.api.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News American Petroleum Institute,  GHG,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  Methane,  

TECO 2030 ASA,Slattland
Date: 2021-02-15
In Norway, Oslo headquartered-based TECO 2030 ASA reports it is partnering with the Rakkestad, Ostfold-based mechanical engineering group Slattland to explore possible cooperation within a range of emission-reducing projects, including hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage, offshore and onshore wind, hydrogen competence development and other opportunities.

TECO 2030 is an innovative engineering and equipment development company aiming to significantly increase the use of renewable energy, specifically in the form of hydrogen fuel. cells, and reduce the environmental footprint of the shipping industry. TECO 2030 recently announced a partnership with Thecla Bodewes Shipyards in Holland to develop zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell propulsion on all types of river vessels, such as push tugs, dredgers, passenger and cargo ships and low-profile coasters, according to the company website.

Slattland operates in offshore and marine, hydrogen and wind power, carbon capture and energy sectors. (Source: TECO 2030, PR, Green Car Congress, 13 Feb., 2021) Contact: TECO 2030 ASA, +47 67 200 300 -- Oslo HQ, (305) 833 6510 -- Miami Office, www.teco2030.no; Slattland, 47 69 22 73 73, www.slattlend.no

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fuel Cell,  Hydrogen,  Renewable Energy,  CCS,  ,  

Schlumberger, LafargeHolcim
Date: 2021-02-12
Building materials firm LafargeHolcim and Schlumberger New Energy are reporting a partnership to explore the feasibility of capturing carbon at LafargeHolcim cement plants and storing it using Schlumberger's carbon sequestration technologies, according to various industry media. Rigzone report.

According to a Schlumberger statement, a carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) feasibility study will focus on a pair of LafargeHolcim cement plants in Europe and North America. Schlumberger also noted its LafargeHolcim collaboration marks a step toward developing a blueprint for large-scale CCS deployment. (Source: Schlumberger New Energy, Rigzone, 10 Feb., 2021)Contact: LafargeHolcim Ltd, Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability Officer, Stephanie Sulcer, Communications, 847 716 0368, stephanie.sulcer@lafargeholcim.com, www.lafargeholcim.com; Schlumberger New Energy, Ashok Belani, Exec. VP, www.slb.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LafargeHolcim,  Schlumberger,  CCS,  

DRAX, Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-02-08
UK-headquartered DRAX Group is reporting a £226 million agreement for its wholly-owned subsidiary DRAX Canadian Holdings' acquisition of British Columbia-based wood pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Energy. The deal, which is subject to DRAX shareholder, regulatory approval and other customary conditions, is expected to close in Q3 this year.

According to the release, DRAX and Pinnacle combined will have 17 wood pellet plants, 3 major fibre baskets, 4 deep water ports, 4.9 Mt capacity from 2022 with 2.9 Mt available for self-supply, 2.6 GW of renewable biomass generation, with potential for BECCS, global growth opportunities for sustainable biomass. (Source: DRAX, Website, Various Media, 8 Feb., 2021) Contact: Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Duncan Davies, CEO, 604.270.9613, 604.270.9914--fax, www.pinnaclepellet.com; DRAX, Will Gardiner, CEO, +44 (0) 1757 618381, www.drax.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wood Pellet,  DRAX,  Woody Biomass,  Pinnacle Renewable Energy,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2021-02-05
Houston-headquartered oil and gas major ExxonMobil is reporting the launch of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions, a new unit to advance and deploy its low-carbon technology and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects portfolio, including the company's possible support for a CCS project in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

ExxonMobil is also reportedly advancing plans for more than 20 new CCS opportunities around the world, and plans to invest $3 billion on lower emission energy solutions over the next four years. (Source: ExxonMobil, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: ExxonMobil, www.corporate.exxonmobil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil,  CCS,  

Equinor, CCS
Date: 2021-01-29
In Oslo, Equinor is reporting the issuance of $74 million in contracts for its Northern Lights project, the world's first carbon capture project to pump Norwegian industrial emissions into an offshore reservoir.

Equinor awarded a $57.5 million EPCI contract to Subsea 7 for fabrication, pipe laying and subsea installations to be completed during 2022-2023. Equinor also awarded a $16.1 million EPCI contract to Stavenger-based oil and gas service provider Aibel for the Northern Lights subsea control system.

According to the company most contracts for Northern Lights are now in place, including Aker Solutions ‘ $28 million deal for the CO2 receiving facilities outside Bergen and subsea equipment for injecting captured CO2 into a reservoir for permanent storage. Aker's work is expected to be completed in 2023.

The Norwegian government-funded Northern Lights project will transport, inject and store up to 1.5 million tpy of CO2 and is slated to be operational in 2024. (Source: Equinor, PR, 27 Jan., 2021) Contact: Northern Lights Project, Sverre Overaa, Director, sjov@equinor.com, Per Sandberg, Bus. Dev, prsa@equinor.com, www.northernlightsccs.com; Aibel, +47) 85 27 00 00, www.aibel.com; Equinor, www.equinor.com; Aker Solutions, Kjetel Digre, CEO, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Equinor,  CCS,  Aker Solutions,  

Lehigh Cement ,International CCS Knowledge Centre
Date: 2021-01-27
Lehigh Cement and the International CCS Knowledge Centre are conducting a feasibility study looking at carbon capture and storage (CCS) at the Edmonton, Alberta cement plant. The study will consider an engineering design for the use of Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering's (MHIENG) carbon capture technology at Lehigh's plant in Alberta. The MHIENG technology is presently being deployed at 13 commercial plants globally.

The study is intended to: deliver a Class 4 cost estimate; to work with a carbon capture technology provider (MHI Group) to perform engineering design tailored to the Lehigh plant; to manage the process and engage third parties, as necessary; to complete a detailed business case; and to develop the budget for Front End Engineering Study (FEED). The project received $1.4 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) through its Partnership Intake Program, according to the release. (Source: Lehigh Cement, Pr, Global Cement News, Jan., 2021) Contact: Lehigh Cement, (780) 420-250, www.lehighhanson.com; International CCS Knowledge Center, 306-565-5660, info@ccsknowledge.com, www.ccsknowledge.com; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, www.mhi.com/group/mhieng/homepage

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lehigh Cement ,  CCS,  International CCS Knowledge Centre ,  

Carbon Capture and Storage Association
Date: 2021-01-27
In the UK, Somerset-based Viridor Waste Management reports it has joined the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), making it the first company from the waste sector to do so.

The CCSA was established to ensure that carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is recognised as an essential solution to deliver net-zero emissions across the economy. The CCSA works to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net-zero goals. CCSA members include industry, equipment manufacturing, oil and gas, distribution, academia and regional bodies, as well as the associated supply chain and service sector.

Viridor Waste Management Ltd. has the UK's largest network of more than 300 advanced recycling, energy recovery and landfill diversion facilities. The company works in partnership with more than 150 local authority and major corporate clients with 32,000 customers across the UK. (Source: Viridor, PR, 26 Jan., 2021) Contact: Viridor, Tim Rotheray, Director of Environment, Innovation and Regulation, +44 0 1823 721400, www.viridor.co.uk; Carbon Capture and Storage Association, www.ccsassociation.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCUS,  CCS,  Viridor,  Carbon Capture and Storage Association ,  

Enviva Biomass
Date: 2021-01-25

Together renewable fuels will further displace coal and natural gas -- As countries take aggressive action on climate change to decarbonize their respective economies by 2050, the direction is clear -- all carbon-neutral and carbon-negative renewable fuels will need to work together if we want to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. As the global energy demand for alternative fuels increase, 2021 will mark a turning point for the industry as wind, solar, geothermal, woody biomass, hydrogen, and lithium-ion battery energy providers (among others) make a collective and coordinated effort to combat the global climate crisis.

The aftermath of COVID-19 will push economies into a renewable future -- The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed how societies, businesses, and governments view the world. As various industries saw a decline in the demand for products and/or services throughout the pandemic, the energy industry witnessed the opposite. Energy production and distribution remained essential regardless of the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic we've seen an increased global interest in reducing carbon emissions. Looking ahead, we expect renewable fuels will continue to play a crucial role in power generation for decades to come. For this reason, we don't foresee a job loss, rather a job transfer -- or perhaps a job boom - in renewables in 2021. For those currently working in fossil fuels, this shift will present a great opportunity to transition skills as the energy sector continues to evolve into a clean energy future.

Europe will continue to be the "Poster Child" for renewable energy implementation, but there will be some regulatory uncertainty. -- Delivering Europe's long-term ambition to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050 requires an extensive set of urgent measures to scale up action. At the very least, the world-leading sustainability criteria established by the Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII) will need to be fully implemented by all member states if Europe plans to meet their 2030 and 2050 emission reduction goals. At best, member states will need to further amend the directive if they wish to succeed in cutting carbon emissions by 55 pct in the next decade from 1990 levels.

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will be critical to increased deployment of wind and solar -- The use of bioenergy has more than doubled since 2000 as a result of its end-use as heat, transportation, and electricity. In fact, biomass is the only renewable fuel on the market that is readily available today and can replace fossil fuels for heat generation. In heavy industries such as steel, aluminum and cement, sustainably sourced wood-based biomass offers a carbon-neutral fuel replacement for coal and gas-fired furnaces (and combined heat and power plants). As a dependable and dispatchable renewable fuel, sustainably-sourced biomass represents a prime solution to complement the intermittency of wind and solar (among other renewables) that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 85% on a lifecycle basis.

Biomass to assist the development and deployment of a hydrogen economy -- Looking ahead to more future-oriented solutions, such as the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass is projected to play an important role. The most obvious is to use biomass directly to create hydrogen through gasification and thereby avoid carbon emissions that are associated with natural gas. Even further down the road, when surplus solar and wind could potentially be used to create hydrogen at scale, there will be an exciting opportunity to produce aviation and other fuels with carbon capture of biomass that could result in even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, as decarbonization efforts in the steel and cement industry rapidly increase, they too will look to bioenergy solutions for support.

BECCS on the short rise -- Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is one of the very few options on the table that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. Once matured, BECCS could mark the beginning of a new era for low-carbon fuel applications that will enable us to meet and/or exceed international net zero targets while still enjoying air travel and heavy goods transport, which is difficult and very expensive to decarbonize. We expect 2021 will be the year that we see true progress in climate change mitigation, as a result of new initiatives/policies, new innovations, and new collaborations that are already taking shape.

ENVIVA Holdings, LP is the world's largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Through its subsidiaries, ENVIVA owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water export terminals in the Southeastern United States and exports pellets primarily to power plants in the UK, Europe and Japan that previously were fueled by coal, enabling them to reduce their lifetime carbon footprint by up to 85 pct. We make our pellets using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests. ENVIVA Holdings, LP conducts its activities primarily through two entities: ENVIVA Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership (NYSE: EVA), and ENVIVA Development Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned private company. (Source: Enviva Holdings, LP, Jan., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Holdings, LP., www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviv news,  Woody Biomass Wood Pellet news,  CCS news,  Renewable Fuel news,  

ENVIVA
Date: 2021-01-25
The following has been submitted by the world's largest industrial wood pellets producer, ENVIVA Holdings LP:

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will be critical to increased deployment of wind and solar -- The use of bioenergy has more than doubled since 2000 as a result of its end-use as heat, transportation, and electricity. In fact, biomass is the only renewable fuel on the market that is readily available today and can replace fossil fuels for heat generation.

In heavy industries such as steel, aluminum, and cement -- sustainably sourced wood-based biomass offers a carbon-neutral fuel replacement for coal and gas-fired furnaces (and combined heat and power plants). As a dependable and dispatchable renewable fuel, sustainably-sourced biomass represents a prime solution to complement the intermittency of wind and solar (among other renewables) that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 85 pct on a lifecycle basis.

Biomass to assist the development and deployment of a hydrogen economy -- Looking ahead to more future-oriented solutions, such as the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass is projected to play an important role. The most obvious is to use biomass directly to create hydrogen through gasification and thereby avoid carbon emissions that are associated with natural gas. Even further down the road, when surplus solar and wind could potentially be used to create hydrogen at scale, there will be an exciting opportunity to produce aviation and other fuels with carbon capture of biomass that could result in even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, as decarbonization efforts in the steel and cement industry rapidly increase.

ENVIVA is the world's largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Through its subsidiaries, ENVIVA Holdings, LP owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water export terminals in the Southeastern U.S. and exports primarily to previously coal-fired power plants in the U.K., Europe and Japan. We make our pellets using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests and employ about 1,100 people and support many other businesses in the U.S. South. ENVIVA Holdings, LP conducts its activities primarily through two entities: ENVIVA Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership (NYSE: EVA), and ENVIVA Development Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned private company. (Source: ENVIVA Holdings, LP, Jan., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Holdings, LP. ENVIVA Biomass, Enviva Partners, LP, (301) 657-5560, www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviva,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  Renewable Fuel,  CCS,  

ENVIVA
Date: 2021-01-25
The following has been submitted by ENVIVA Holdings, LP, the world's largest industrial wood pellets producer:

Together renewable fuels will further displace coal and natural gas -- As countries take aggressive action on climate change to decarbonize their respective economies by 2050, the direction is clear -- all carbon-neutral and carbon-negative renewable fuels will need to work together if we want to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. As the global energy demand for alternative fuels increase, 2021 will mark a turning point for the industry as wind, solar, geothermal, woody biomass, hydrogen, and lithium-ion battery energy providers (among others) make a collective and coordinated effort to combat the global climate crisis.

Europe will continue to be the "Poster Child" for renewable energy implementation, but there will be some regulatory uncertainty. -- Delivering Europe's long-term ambition to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050 requires an extensive set of urgent measures to scale up action. At the very least, the world-leading sustainability criteria established by the Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII) will need to be fully implemented by all member states if Europe plans to meet their 2030 and 2050 emission reduction goals. At best, member states will need to further amend the directive if they wish to succeed in cutting carbon emissions by 55 pct in the next decade from 1990 levels.

Bioenergy is the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will be critical to increased deployment of wind and solar -- The use of bioenergy has more than doubled since 2000 as a result of its end-use as heat, transportation, and electricity. In fact, biomass is the only renewable fuel on the market that is readily available today and can replace fossil fuels for heat generation. In heavy industries such as steel, aluminum, and cement, sustainably sourced wood-based biomass offers a carbon-neutral fuel replacement for coal and gas-fired furnaces (and combined heat and power plants). As a dependable and dispatchable renewable fuel, sustainably-sourced biomass represents a prime solution to complement the intermittency of wind and solar (among other renewables) that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 85 pct on a lifecycle basis.

Biomass to assist the development and deployment of a hydrogen economy -- Looking ahead to more future-oriented solutions, such as the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass is projected to play an important role. The most obvious is to use biomass directly to create hydrogen through gasification and thereby avoid carbon emissions that are associated with natural gas. Even further down the road, when surplus solar and wind could potentially be used to create hydrogen at scale, there will be an exciting opportunity to produce aviation and other fuels with carbon capture of biomass that could result in even fewer net greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, as decarbonization efforts in the steel and cement industry rapidly increase, they too will look to bioenergy solutions for support.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) -- is one of the very few options on the table that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. Once matured, BECCS could mark the beginning of a new era for low-carbon fuel applications that will enable us to meet and/or exceed international net zero targets while still enjoying air travel and heavy goods transport, which is difficult and very expensive to decarbonize. We expect 2021 will be the year that we see true progress in climate change mitigation, as a result of new initiatives/policies, new innovations, and new collaborations that are already taking shape.

COVID 19 Pandemic aftermath -- Throughout the pandemic we've seen an increased global interest in reducing carbon emissions. Looking ahead, we expect renewable fuels and energy will continue to play a crucial role in power generation for decades to come.

ENVIVA Holdings, LP is the world's largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source used to generate electricity and heat. Through its subsidiaries, ENVIV Holdings owns and operates wood pellet processing plants and deep-water terminals in the Southeastern U.S. and exports pellets primarily to formerly coal-fired power plants in the U.K, Europe and Japan. ENVIVA makes pellets using sustainable practices that protect Southern forests and employ about 1,100 people and support many other businesses in the U.S. South. ENVIVA Holdings, LP conducts its activities primarily through two entities: Enviva Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership (NYSE: EVA), and ENVIVA Development Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned private company. (Source: ENVIVA Holdings, LP, Jan., 2021) Contact: ENVIVA Holdings, LP, www.envivabiomass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ENVIVA,  Renewable Energy,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Tesla, Elon Musk
Date: 2021-01-22
Yesterday, Tesla CEO and the world's richest person with a net worth north of $180 billion, Elon Musk tweeted he plans to give away $100 million as a prize for the "best carbon capture technology."

In a following tweet, Musk noted details of the $100 million prize would be released next week. (Source: Elon Musk, 21 Jan., 2021) Contact: Elon Musk (@elonmusk)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  CCS,  Tesla,  Elon Musk,  Carbon Emissions,  

Indian Oil Corp
Date: 2021-01-18
On Jan 14, Austin, Texas-based engineering design services company Dastur Energy reported it will lead a consortium to determine the feasibility and possible desin for the development of India's largest industrial carbon capture and utilisation (CCUS) project at the Indian Oil Corporation's 13.7 million tpy Koyali refinery near Vadodara. The refinery reportedly has the potential to capture over 5000 tpd or more than 1.5 mtpa of CO2 for large scale enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations.

Air Liquide and the Univ. of Texas Austin Bureau of Economic Geology are also participating in the project which is funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), as part of its mission to promote the development of sustainable infrastructure projects and foster economic growth in partner countries like India. (Source: Dastur Energy, Indian Oil Corp.,, PR, GasWorld, 14 Jan., 2021) Contact: Dastur Energy, (512) 823-0398, info@dasturenergy.com, www.dasturenergy.com; Indian Oil Corporation, www.iocl.com; Air Liquide, Corporate Communications, +33 (0)1 40 62 58 49, media@airliquide.com, www.airliquide.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Air Liquide,  Indian Oil Corp,  CCS,  CCUS,  

DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2021-01-18
In Washington, the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) reports the availability of $160 million funding to help recalibrate the Nations fossil-fuel and power infrastructure for decarbonized energy and commodity production. The funding, for cost-shared cooperative agreements, is aimed to develop technologies for the production, transport, storage, and utilization of fossil-based hydrogen, with progress towards net-zero carbon emissions.

Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE/FE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize advanced and novel technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen. When coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions.

Funding is available for significant advancements in the following program areas:

Net-Zero or Negative Carbon Hydrogen Production from Modular Gasification and Co-Gasification of Mixed Wastes, Biomass, and Traditional Feedstocks -- The objective is to advance gasification technologies capable of improved performance, reliability, and flexibility to produce net-zero or negative carbon hydrogen by readily accommodating integration of pre-combustion carbon capture. An additional objective is utilizing low-cost and negative-cost feedstock materials, along with traditional feedstocks, to produce low-cost net-zero carbon fuels and chemicals.

Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell Technology (SOEC) Development -- The objective is to develop new or modified materials for SOECs and improve understanding of degradation mechanisms in SOECs for efficient and cost-effective production of hydrogen.

Carbon Capture -- The objective is to complete the initial design of a commercial scale carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) system that separates and stores more than 100,000 tpy net carbon dioxide of 95 pct purity, with 90 pct+ carbon capture efficiency, from a steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR) plant producing 99.97 pct H2 from natural gas.

Advanced Turbines -- The objective is to advance the performance of gas turbine combustion systems fueled with high purity hydrogen, hydrogen and natural gas mixtures and other carbon neutral fuels (e.g., ammonia). An additional objective is to demonstrate a hydrogen-fueled rotating detonation engine in a gas turbine.

Natural Gas-Based Hydrogen Production -- The objective is to develop transformative natural gas decarbonization technologies to produce zero- or negative-carbon hydrogen, to meet the needs of future hydrogen markets.

li> Hydrogen Pipeline Infrastructure -- The objective is to develop technologies that improve the cost and performance (e.g., resiliency, reliability, safety, integrity) of hydrogen transportation infrastructure, including pipelines and compression stations.

Subsurface Hydrogen Storage -- The objective is to develop technologies to improve the cost and performance (efficiency, safety, integrity) of subsurface hydrogen storage.

The FOA will be used to solicit R&D for specific areas of interest aligned with the above seven program areas. Successful applications will be of different monetary values and project durations. Projects will be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NRTL).

Download the HYDROGEN STRATEGY -- Enabling A Low-Carbon Economy document HERE. (Source: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy DOE, PR, 15 Jan., 2021) Contact: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hydrogem,  DOE Office of Fossil Energy ,  

Carbon Capture
Date: 2021-01-18
In Washington, the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) reports the availability of $160 million funding to help recalibrate the Nations fossil-fuel and power infrastructure for decarbonized energy and commodity production. The funding, for cost-shared cooperative agreements, is aimed to develop technologies for the production, transport, storage, and utilization of fossil-based hydrogen, with progress towards net-zero carbon emissions.

Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE/FE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize advanced and novel technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen. When coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions. Funding is available for significant advancements in carbon capture as follows:

Carbon Capture -- The objective is to complete the initial design of a commercial scale carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) system that separates and stores more than 100,000 tpy net carbon dioxide of 95 pct purity, with 90 pct+ carbon capture efficiency, from a steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR) plant producing 99.97 pct H2 from natural gas.

The FOA will be used to solicit R&D for specific areas of interest aligned with the above seven program areas. Successful applications will be of different monetary values and project durations. Projects will be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NRTL). Download the HYDROGEN STRATEGY -- Enabling A Low-Carbon Economy document HERE. (Source: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy DOE, PR, 15 Jan., 2021) Contact: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  Hydrogen,  

ESSAR,Progressive Energy
Date: 2021-01-13
Andhra Pradesh-based Indian energy company ESSAR Oil Ltd. reports it plans to construct the UK's largest low carbon hydrogen production hub to support the country's transition to a more environmentally sustainable economy. The £750 million investment in two plants will be made jointly with clean energy specialist Progressive Energy as part of its HyNet scheme, a project to supply low carbon hydrogen to industrial sites and homes in north-west England.

The plants well be constructed next to its Progressive Energy's Stanlow refinery on the Mersey estuary in north-west England. Natural gas, and fuel gases from the refinery, will be converted into low carbon hydrogen, with carbon dioxide captured and stored (CCS) in depleted undersea gasfields 60km offshore in Liverpool Bay. The refinery will be converted to burn hydrogen instead of natural gas. (Source: Essar, PR, FT, Jan., 2021) Contact: Essar, +91 89125 23213, www.essar.com; Progressive Energy, www.progressive-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Progressive Energy,  Hydrogen,  

Date: 2021-01-11
In London, UK Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled his 10-point plan for a "green"--low-carbon industrial revolution. The plan focus on the following industries and initiatives:

Offshore wind -- The government has already announced an ambition to have every home in the UK powered by offshore wind in an effort to cut the emissions from electricity.

Hydrogen -- The gov. plans to have 5GW -- sufficient power for roughly 1.5 million UK homes -- of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

Nuclear -- The plan calls for renewed support for small modular nuclear reactors that can be largely built in factories and other small applications.

Electric vehicles -- The plan calls for increased support for electric vehicles, recharging infrastructure and the previously announced ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

Public transport, cycling and walking -- Calls for increased clean public transport options including electric, alternative fuel and hydrogen powered buses as well as encourages cycling and walking.

Jet zero and greener fuel transportation -- Calls for zero-emission alternative fuel and electric power long-haul mass transportation including passenger rail, electric airplanes and maritime ferries.

Energy efficiency -- The plan calls for a major effort to increase residential and public building energy efficiency.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) -- Focuses on "clusters" where groups of power stations, factories or industrial plants could be linked to CCUS infrastructure for greater efficiency and cost savings.

Nature and the ecosystem -- Seeks to end the loss of wild life habitats, increase funding for tree planting, peatland restoration and other programs to store carbon, protect habitat and curb flooding.

10. Innovation and finance -- for the wholesale, economy-wide shift away from fossil fuels to a low-carbon energy clean future. (Source: Office of UK PM Boris Johnson, Jan., 2021) Contact:Office of UK PM Boris Johnson, www.email.number10.gov.uk

Energy Efficiency
Date: 2021-01-11
In London, UK Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled his 10-point plan for a "green"--low-carbon industrial revolution. The PM's plan calls for "a major effort to increase residential and public building energy efficiency".

The plan also calls for: a concerted development and deployment of: offshore wind; small-scale nuclear; electric vehicles and alternative fuels; increased use of public mass transit; hydrogen; carbon capture and storage (CCS) "clusters" where groups of power stations, factories or industrial plants could be linked to CCUS infrastructure for greater efficiency and cost savings; ecosystem funding for tree planting, peatland restoration and similar programs to store carbon; and a wholesale, economy-wide shift away from fossil fuels to a low-carbon energy clean future. (Source: Office of UK PM Boris Johnson, Jan., 2021) Contact:Office of UK PM Boris Johnson, www.email.number10.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

United Airlines
Date: 2021-01-08
Further to our 14th Dec, 2020 coverage, US air carrier United Airlines notes it recognizes the role it plays as an airline in contributing to climate change, its responsibility in solving it and has accordingly set a goal of going 100 pct green by reducing 100 pct of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

To that end, United notes "true sustainability is about taking on the biggest culprit in our industry -- the emissions generated by our aircraft." Accordingly, the company notes it is looking beyond using carbon offsets which "simply don't go far enough to address the emissions caused by our operations."

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, United aims to tackle its emissions from their source by continuing and accelerating development and investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). United well also make a multimillion-dollar investment to help fund start-up company 1Point Five's planned Direct Air Capture plant to capture, remove and store 1 million metric tpy of CO2 -- equivalent to the work of 40 million trees. (Source: United Airlines, PR, 6 Jan., 2021)Contact: United Airlines, www.corporate-office-headquarters.com/united-airlines 1Point Five, www.1pointfive.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  CCS,  SAF,  Direct Air Carbon Capture,  United Airline,  Carbon Neutral,  ,  

University of Wyoming
Date: 2020-12-30
The University of Wyoming, in partnership with West Virginia University of Law and the U.S. Energy Association (USEA) has released a comparative study for the U.S. DOE identifying the regulatory shortcomings slowing the deployment of carbon dioxide utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies. The study findings could help eliminate regulatory blindspots that pop up when projects are proposed with federal or private surface and subsurface interests.

Scientists are working to find commercial ways to capture and store CO2 underground. But CO2 can also be used at oil fields, by injecting it into reservoirs to remove residual oil that traditional drilling processes could not extract. Researchers note policy makers need to know both the legal and regulatory obstacles facing energy developers trying to advance these technologies. For examples, developers hoping to establish these technologies on federal, state or private lands can run into issues involving land, mineral, pore space or water rights, pipeline regulations, eminent domain or limits to CO2 storage regulation, among others, according to the report.

Recent federal incentives could accelerate the advancement of CO2 storage and utilization across the 12 states studied. For one, in 2018 Congress revised Section 45Q of the tax code to provide more favorable tax incentives to companies engaged in carbon capture and sequestration. The 45Q federal tax credit is given to companies for each ton of CO2 they sequester in the ground. Since then, the program has received feedback from potential claimants, and the Internal Revenue Service recently proposed rules to regulate the program. (Source: University of Wyoming, PR, US Energy Association, Dec., 2020) Contact: US Energy Association, (202) 312-1230, www.usea.org; University of Wyoming, School of Energy Resources, Holly Krutka, Exec. Dir., (307) 766-1121, hkrutka@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/ser

More Low-Carbon Energy News University of Wyoming,  CCS,  CCUS,  U.S. Energy Association ,  

Japan
Date: 2020-12-28
Last week in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga confirmed his government's goal of goal of generating more than half of the country's electricity primarily from offshore wind and other renewable energy resources and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Japan also aims to use nuclear and thermal power plants with carbon capture technology (CCS) to cover 30 to 40 pct of the nations electricity demand. Ammonia and hydrogen technologies are expected to supply roughly 10 pct of the country's power needs.

Japan was the world's sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter in 2017. (Source: ADP, Manila Times, Various Media, 27 Dec., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Japan,  Renewable Energy,  Offshore Wind,  Carbon Neutral,  

Aker Solutions
Date: 2020-12-23
Aker Solutions reports receipt of a roughly $57.6 million contract from its spin-off Aker Carbon Capture for engineering, procurement, and management assistance for a CO2 capture plant at Heidelberg Cement-owned Norcem's cement plant in Brevik, Norway.

The project, part of Norway's Longship project, will start in January 2021 for completion in 2024 and will capture roughly 400,000 metric tpy of CO2.

For the project, Aker Carbon Capture is responsible for the delivery of a complete new facility for capture, intermittent storage, and offloading of CO2, with integrated waste-heat recovery. Aker Solutions' scope includes engineering, procurement, and management assistance for the new installation. (Source: Aker Solutions, PR, Offshore Eng., 21 Dec., 20200 Contact: Aker Solutions, Kjetel Digre, CEO, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; Norcem, www.norcen.no

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Norcem,  Aker Solutions,  

UK Carbon Emissions
Date: 2020-12-16
In London, the UK Conservative government of PM Boris Johnson has confirmed the introduction of a national emissions trading scheme (UK ETS) to replace the EU system (EU ETS) when BREXIT comes into force on 1 Jan., 2021.

The UK ETS would immediately lower the current EU cap on greenhouse gases that businesses can emit by 5 pct and thus provide greater certainty about the decarbonisation trajectory over the long term and deliver a "robust carbon price signal" to spur business to invest in carbon abatement -- CCS.

The UK ETS would initially apply to electric power generation, aviation and other energy-intensive industries, and carbon pricing could be expanded across the economy, the paper showed.

Britain is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and recently increased its emissions reduction target from 57 to 68 pct for 2030. (Source: Various Media, ENDS Europe, Yahoo Finance UK, 14 Dec., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News EU ETS,  UK Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  

European Commission
Date: 2020-12-16
The European Commission (EC) reports it has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €30 billion scheme to support projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands while contributing to the EU environmental objectives and supporting the EU Green Deal.

The €30 billion scheme, which will run until 2025, will support cost effective renewable energy, use of waste heat, hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage(CCS) and other environmentally-friendly projects in line with EU rules.

Scheme beneficiaries will receive support via a variable premium contract of up to 15 years, according to the EC release. (Source: European Commission, EU Reporter, 15 Dec., 2020)Contact: EU Green Deal, ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Commission ,  European Green Deal,  Carbon Emissions,  GHGs,  

Shell,Equinor,Northern Lights
Date: 2020-12-16
In Oslo, the Norwegian parliament has announced its approval of the final investment decision for the Northern Lights project enabling the shipping, reception and sequestration of CO2 beneath the Northern North Sea.

Northern Lights project partners TOTAL, Equinor, and Shell are now establishing a Joint Venture company responsible for all project activities, including business development.

The Northern Lights project includes the development and operation of CO2 transport and storage facilities and will be the first cross-border, open-source CO2 transport and storage infrastructure network to offer European industrial emitters CCS opportunity.

The first phase of the project will be completed in 2024 with a capacity of up to 1.5 million tpy of CO2. (Source: TOTAL, PR, 15 Dec., 2020) Contact: Northern Lights Project, Sverre Overaa, Director, sjov@equinor.com, Per Sandberg, Bus. Dev, prsa@equinor.com, www.northernlightsccs.com; TOTAL, www.total.com; Equinor, www.equinor.com; SHELL, www.shell.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL,  Equinor,  Northern Lights,  CCS,  Shell,  

CCS,International CCS Knowledge Centre
Date: 2020-12-16
Incentivizing Large-Scale CCS in Canada, a joint White Paper by the tax consulting firm RSM Canada and the Regina, Sask.-based International CCS Knowledge Centre (Knowledge Centre), identifies venues within the Canadian tax and grant systems to incentivize large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in its pivotal role to create an economically sustainable route to deep emissions cuts.

The White Paper examines Canada's climate commitments, its current status in CCS, explores deployment-enabling policy options based on jurisdictional review, and recommends the ideal incentive scenarios for Canada. The White Paper notes that the construction and development of three CCS projects over four years would generate $2.7 billion in GDP across Canada and support over 6,100 jobs.

Download the Incentivizing Large-Scale CCS in Canada white paper HERE. (Source: International CCS Knowledge Center, PR, Oct., 2020) Contact: International CCS Knowledge Center, 306-565-5660, info@ccsknowledge.com , www.ccsknowledge.com; RSM Canada, 855-420-8473, www.rsmcanada.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS news,  International CCS Knowledge Centre news,  

United Airlines
Date: 2020-12-14
United Airlines is reporting a multi-million-dollar investment in direct air carbon capture specialist 1PointFive -- a partnership between Oxy Low Carbon Ventures and Rusheen Capital Management -- to construct the first US industrial-sized direct air capture plant to permanently sequester one million tpy of CO2. United's participation is part of its previously reported plan to be 100 pct "green" by 2050. The carbon capture project is expected offset nearly 10 pct of the air carrier's annual emissions.

United notes it is also investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which has up to 80 pct less carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel.(Source: United Airline, Hospitality Ireland, Reuters, 13 Dec., 2020) Contact: 1Point Five, www.1pointfive.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News United Airlines,  Aviation Biofuel,  CCS,  

Basin Electric Power
Date: 2020-12-11
In North Dakota, Bismark-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative reports its subsidiary Dakota Gasification Company owned and operated Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah has captured 40 million metric tons of CO2, a milestone in the synthetic natural gas production facilities' 20-year effort to lower the impacts of energy production.

As one of the world's largest carbon capture facilities, the Great Plains Synfuels Plant captures roughly 2 million metric tpy of CO2 using coal gasification and produces synthetic natural gas and other useful chemicals and fertilizers.

Basin Electric, a consumer-owned, regional cooperative that generates and transmits electricity to 140 member rural electric systems in nine states -- Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming -- serving about 3 million consumers. (Source: Basin Electric, PR, KX Net, 9 Dec., 2020) Contact: Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Paul Sukut, CEO and GM, www.basinelectric.com; Dakota Gasification, Dale Johnson, VP, COO, 701-223-0441, www.dakotagas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Basin Electric Power,  

Global CCS Institute
Date: 2020-12-07
The Melbourne, Australia-headquartered Global CCS Institute's recently released 2020 Global Status on CCS report notes the total capacity of carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities operating and under development grew by 33 pct world-wide over 2019. The report notes:

The CCS facility pipeline continued to grow three years in a row, with global capture and storage capacity nearly doubling within three years and increasing by one-third since 2019;

Almost 40 million tpy of CO2 are being captured from 26 commercial CCS facilities currently in operation;

Presently 65 commercial CCS facilities are in various stages of development globally;

The U.S. presently hosts the highest number of operational CCS facilities globally as well as 12 of the 17 new commercial CCS facilities added to the project pipeline in 2020;

The US has some of the most advanced supportive policies for CCS of any country in the world, including the enhanced 45Q tax credit and the California Low-Carbon Fuel Standard;

2020 saw increased ambition and support for CCS in Europe as well. The Norwegian Government announced its green light for the Langskip project.

Funding for CCS infrastructure was earmarked in the UK's Spring Budget with the goal of developing several hub and clusters during the decade. Elsewhere in Europe, the first call of EU's €10 billion Innovation Fund for CCS projects, was launched in July, this year;

In Asia Pacific, regional collaboration between countries and businesses continued to gather pace in 2020 in order to advance technical understanding and develop regulatory frameworks, with notably Australia and Japan making progress in terms of domestic policies and CCS investments;

In a move that will reduce both cost and risks to government and industry, CCS hubs and clusters -- the shared use of CO2 transport and storage infrastructure among companies -- is predicted to support a boom in the adoption of CCS in the coming years;

The report echoes findings by the IPCC, which shows that CCS is vital to meet net-zero Paris climate targets.

Download the Global Status of CCS 2020 report HERE. (Source: Global CCS Institute, Dec., 2020) Contact: Global CCS Institute, Guloren Turan, GM, Brad Page, CEO, +61 3 8620 7300, info@globalccsinstitute.com, www.globalccsinstitute.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Global CCS Institute,  CCS,  

Glencore
Date: 2020-12-07
Following up on our June 1st report, Swiss-headquartered and London listed coal mining giant Glencore has raised its pledge to reduce its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions footprint by 40 pct compared to 2019 levels by 2035, before reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

To that end, Glencore noted it would: be "investing in the commodities the world needs" such as copper, cobalt, and nickel which are all essential for battery technologies and renewable energy infrastructure ; curbing coal production; supporting the deployment of low emission and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and "engaging with its customers and supply chain partners." (Source: Glencore, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: Glencore, Ivan Glasenberg, CEO, www.glencore.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Glencore,  Coal,  Carbon Emissions,  Net-Zero Emissions,  

Climeworks, Carbfix
Date: 2020-12-04
Following up on our 28th August report, construction of the world's first large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant in Iceland is now underway. The facility, called "Orca", uses fans to suck in air and filter out some 90 pct of its CO2, which is turned into carbonate minerals for storage underground. The facility is expected to remove 4,000 tpy of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Project participant include Switzerland-based Climeworks, which makes the CO2 collectors, Carbfix, which owns the CO2 "mineralising" technology and Iceland's ON Power, which will power the plant with geothermal energy. Construction began in November for completion and commissioning in spring, 2021. (Source: Climeworks, Global Const. Review, Dec., 2020) Contact: Climeworks, Christoph Gebald, CEO, +41 44 533 2999, www.climeworks.com; ON Power, Berglind Ran Olafsdottir, CEO, www.on.is; Carbfix, www.carbfix.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climeworks ,  CCS,  Geothermal,  Cabfix,  ON Power,  

Santos
Date: 2020-12-02
Under pressure from more than 43 pct of its shareholders, Santos, one of Australia's largest oil and gas companies, has announced it will become a "net-zero" emitter by 2040. To that end, the company aims to cut its direct emissions 26-30 pct on 2020 levels by 2030, purchase nature-based offsets such as tree-planting programs, accelerate the deployment of more renewable energy and utilize carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

Santos' strengthened targets come as it nears a final investment decision for one of the world's cheapest CCS projects at its Moomba gas plant in South Australia. After completing the final field trial, successfully injecting 100 tonnes of CO2 into a depleted gas reservoir in the Cooper Basin, Santos is now waiting for the Clean Energy Regulator to finalize the methodology for CCS to qualify for federal carbon credits. (Source: Santos, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 Dec., 2020) Contact: Santos, Kevin Gallagher, CEO, Brett Woods, Exec. VP, Low Carbon Operations, +61 8 8116 5000, www.santos.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Carbon Credit,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Footprint,  

TOTAL, ADNOC
Date: 2020-11-16
In Abu Dhabi, the UAE state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) reports it is joining forces with the Paris-headquartered energy giant TOTAL to investigate joint R&D and deployment opportunities in CO2 emission reductions and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

The framework agreement expands on the two companies' long-standing partnership and collaboration. Agreed upon targets include improved energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for oil and gas operations as well as assessing the potential for enhanced oil recovery projects based on CO2 usage. (Source: ADNOC, TOTAL, Offshore, 13 Nov., 2020)Contact: ADNOC, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, +971 2 7070000. +971 2 6023389--fax, www.adnoc.ae; TOTAL, www.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL,  ADNOC,  CO2,  Carbon Emissions,  CCS ,  

Suez SA, BP
Date: 2020-11-16
Paris-based French waste and water management specialist Suez SA is reporting a memorandum of understanding with BP PLC to explore the feasibility of a carbon-capture, utilization and storage project in the U.K.

The project would develop a system to capture carbon-dioxide emissions from an energy-from-waste facility in the Teesside area. The captured carbon would be supplied to the CCUS project to then be transported and stored in a storage site in the North Sea. The project would allow the capturing of up to 10 million tpy of CO2 emissions -- equal to the annual energy use of over three million UK households, according to Suez. (Source: Suez SA, PR, Market Screener, 16 Nov., 2020) Contact: Suez AS, www.suez.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BP,  Carbon Emissions,  CCS,  CCUS ,  

Occidental, ConocoPhillips
Date: 2020-11-13
Houston,headquartered petroleum major Occidental Petroleum is reporting it will reach net-zero emissions for all the oil and gas it produces by 2040, but did not specify how it would meet its self imposed goal. The company has advocated policies that support CCS technology, including the 2018 expansion of a tax credit that provides $35 per ton of captured CO2 used for oil production, and $50 per ton for CO2 simply stored underground.

In an Oct. 19 press release, ConocoPhillips, also based in Houston, announced the adoption of a comprehensive framework to manage climate-related risk, meet energy demand and zero- out its direct greenhouse gas emissions, which are much less than the emissions that come from burning the oil and gas the company sells. Taken together, the two corporate pledges could increase pressure on ExxonMobil and Chevron, the nation's largest oil companies, which have yet to announce such far-reaching goals. (Source: Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, Inside Climate News, 12 Nov., 2020) Contact: Occidental Petroleum, www.oxy.com; ConocoPhillips, www.conocophillips.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  

Sempra Energy, Salk Institute
Date: 2020-11-13
In the Golden State, San Diego-based Sempra Energy is donating $2 million to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies Harnessing Plants Initiative (HPI) to help fund a five-year study to advance plant-based carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies.

The institute's Harnessing Plants Initiative aims to fight climate change by optimizing a plant's natural ability to capture and store carbon and adapt to diverse climate conditions.

With the Sempra Energy funding, Salk researchers will develop a drought-tolerant, carbon-sequestering grass (sorghum) variety designed to grow on land in Southern California and store carbon in the soil for use with grain production, grazing or bio-energy feed stocks.

HPI aims to develop crop plants that have significant global acreages to store long-lasting carbon in the soil. Crop plants that are engineered to store more carbon in the soil for longer can lead to a potentially enormous reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).

HPI estimates that if, worldwide, 70 pct of the target crops are converted into carbon-sequestration-enhanced crop plants, 1.5 to 6 gigatons of CO2 can be sequestered per year, the equivalent of up to as much as one-third of human-caused CO2 emissions that accumulate in the atmosphere each year. (Source: Sempra Energy, PR, Power Engineering, 13 Nov., 2020) Contact: Salk Institute, Professor Wolfgang Busch, Pres., Harnessing Plants Initiative (HPI), 858-453-4100, www.salk.edu; Contact: Sempra Energy, Kevin Sagara, HPI Committee, Dennis V. Arriola, VP, Chief Sustainability Officer, (619) 696-2901, www.sempra.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sempra Energy,  CCS,  Carbon Capture & Sequestration,  

Cemx,Membrane Technology & Research
Date: 2020-11-11
San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico-based cement giant Cemex reports receipt of grant funding for an 18-month carbon capture technology research and develop project at its Balcones cement plant in Texas, USA.

Houston-headquartered Cemex USA is partnering with Newark, California-based Membrane Technology & Research Inc to study and trial trial a new membrane technology to capture CO2. (Source: Cemex, PR, Cemnet , 10 Nov., 2020) Contact: Cemex USA,Jaime Muguiro, Pres., 713-650-6200, www.cemexusa.com; Membrane Technology & Research Inc., 650.328.2228, www.mtrinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cemex,  CCS,  

TOTAL,Stanford University,LLNL
Date: 2020-11-10
Paris-headquartered energy major Total , US DOE Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Stanford University have released GEOSX, an open source simulator for large-scale geological carbon dioxide (CO2) storage.

GEOSX was developed using advanced new technologies in high-performance computing and applied mathematics and aims to improve the management and safety of geological CO2 repositories. Its computing performance is unmatched to date. The open-source nature of GEOSX aims to ensure a high level of transparency, sharing and community support to pave the way for the large-scale development of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies.

GEOSX is the first major outcome of the five-year FC-MAELSTROM research project launched in 2018 by Total, Stanford University School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, and LLNL. It draws on each partner's 20-plus years of expertise in simulation and high-performance computing research. GEOSX, www.geosx.org. (Source: TOTAL, PR, 10 Nov., 2020) Total Marie-Noelle Semeria, Total's Chief Technology Officer Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@total.com l @TotalPress Investor Relations: +44 (0)207 719 7962 l ir@total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Stanford University news,  TOTAL news,  LLNL news,  CCS news,  Carbon Emissions news,  Carbon Storage news,  

Baker Hughes, Compact Carbon Capture
Date: 2020-11-04
Houston-headquartered energy technology company Baker Hughes is reporting an agreement to acquire Compact Carbon Capture (3C), a Norwegian technology development company specializing in carbon capture solutions. The deal includes all intellectual property, personnel and commercial agreements. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Compact Carbon Capture's technology uses rotating beds instead of static columns, effectively distributing solvents in a compact and modularized format enhancing the carbon capture process, resulting in up to 75 pct smaller footprint and lower capital expenditures. 3C's modular and scalable configuration can be easily deployed into existing brownfield applications and also be optimized for a wide range of capacity and applications, including offshore and industrial emitters. (Source: Baker Hughes, Website News Release, Nov., 2020) Contact: Baker Hughes, www.bakerhughes.com; Compact Carbon Capture, www.compactcarbon.no

More Low-Carbon Energy News Baker Hughes ,  Compact Carbon Capture ,  CCS,  

CF Industries Holdings
Date: 2020-10-30
Deerfield, Illinois-based hydrogen and nitrogen products specialist CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has announced steps to support a global hydrogen and clean fuel economy through the carbon-free production of green and low-carbon ammonia.

To that end, the company Board of Directors has authorized carbon capture and storage and other carbon abatement projects across its production facilities. The company is aiming for a 25 pct reduction in CO2e emissions intensity by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Additionally, the company has signed low-carbon and CCS Memorandums of Understanding with ThyssenKrupp and Haldor Topsoe. (Source: CF Industries Holdings, PR, Contact: CF Industries Holdings, Tony Will, CEO, www.cfindustries.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Hydrogen,  CCS,  

CF Industries Holdings
Date: 2020-10-30
Deerfield, Illinois-based hydrogen and nitrogen products specialist CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has announced steps to support a global hydrogen and clean fuel economy through the carbon-free production of green and low-carbon ammonia.

To that end, The company Board of Directors has authorized construction of a 20,000 tpy green hydrogen production facility as well as CO2 sequestration and other carbon abatement projects across its production facilities. Additionally, the company has signed low-carbon and CCS Memorandums of Understanding with ThyssenKrupp and Haldor Topsoe and is in discussions with global utilities and maritime transportation providers interested in using low-carbon ammonia directly as a fuel.

The company is aiming for a 25 pct reduction in CO2e emissions intensity by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. (Source: CF Industries Holdings, PR, Contact: CF Industries Holdings, Tony Will, CEO, www.cfindustries.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Alternative Fuel,  Clean Fuel,  Green Hydrogen,  

International CCS Knowledge Center
Date: 2020-10-30
Incentivizing Large-Scale CCS in Canada, a joint White Paper by the tax consulting firm RSM Canada and the Regina, Sask.-based International CCS Knowledge Centre (Knowledge Centre), identifies venues within the Canadian tax and grant systems to incentivize large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in its pivotal role to create an economically sustainable route to deep emissions cuts.

The White Paper examines Canada's climate commitments, its current status in CCS, explores deployment-enabling policy options based on jurisdictional review, and recommends the ideal incentive scenarios for Canada.

The White Paper notes that the construction and development of three CCS projects over four years would generate $2.7 billion in GDP across Canada and support over 6,100 jobs.

Download the Incentivizing Large-Scale CCS in Canada white paper HERE. (Source: International CCS Knowledge Center, PR, Oct., 2020) Contact: International CCS Knowledge Center, 306-565-5660, info@ccsknowledge.com , www.ccsknowledge.com; RSM Canada, 855-420-8473, www.rsmcanada.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  International CCS Knowledge Center,  

Singapore
Date: 2020-10-28
In his opening remarks at the Singapore International Energy Week on Monday (Oct 26), Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing announced the government has set aside S$49 million to fund low-carbon energy R&D and test-bedding efforts in hydrogen and carbon capture utilization and storage. The Minister also noted the government "hopes its green initiatives and energy management system can be an inspiration to the urban societies across the world." (Source: Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, PR, 27 Oct., 2020) Contact: Singapore Ministry for Trade and Industry, +65 6225 9911, www.mti.gov.sg

More Low-Carbon Energy News Low-Carbon Energy,  CCS,  CCUS,  

BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell,Total
Date: 2020-10-28
International energy giants BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell and Total and National Grid are reporting their formation of the Northern Endurance Partnership, a joint alliance, and the submission of a £75 million bid for government funding from the second round of the UK's £170 million Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge for a project that will shuttle carbon emissions captured from the Teesside and Humber industrial hubs to a porus rock aquifer beneath the seabed for permanent sequestration. The partnership claims Endurance could potentially cut the UK's emissions in half.

The planned offshore pipeline network is key to the success of two major industrial decarbonisation projects being plotted on the UK's east coast -- Zero Carbon Humber and Net Zero Teesside -- aimed at capturing CO2 from local industry and then either finding other industrial uses for the CO2 or storing it under the North Sea. Both projects, Zero Carbon Humber and Net Zero Teesside, plan to capture and transport 17 million and 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions respectively every year, with commissioning in both cases earmarked for 2026. (Source: BP, UK Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, Business Green, 27 Oct., 2020) Contact: UK Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, www.idric.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  BP,  Eni,  Equinor,  Shell,  Total,  UK Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge ,  

University of Connecticut
Date: 2020-10-28
University of Connecticut is reporting professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering George Bollas has patented a reverse-flow fixed-bed reactor for power generation and carbon dioxide (CO2) recapture.

Bollas' invention works with chemical-looping combustion (CLC) technology wherein hydrocarbon fuel is oxidized by a metal oxygen carrier and then regenerated by air oxidation. The metal carrier provides a bed for the combustion of fuel and hence generation of energy. This reaction reduces the oxide which is then re-oxidized through exposure to air and looped back into the system.

Bollas' invention utilizes intensified fixed-bed reactor configurations in which direction of the fuel and air flows are reversed. By periodically switching flow direction inside the CLC reactor, the oxygen carrier conversion is uniform at both ends of the reactor, rather than piling up on one end. This process produces two reaction fronts rather than one, improving the overall thermal management of the reactor and reducing hot and cold spots and significant temperature gradients. Bollas' reactor also provides for better contact between the fuel and the unconverted oxygen carrier, which reduces carbon formation and allows for higher CO2 selectivity. CO2 can be separated out after condensing the water vapor created during the oxygen carrier reduction step and captured, preventing it from being emitted into the air.

Existing CO2 capture technologies rely on physical and chemical separation of CO2. These processes selectively absorb CO2 using a great deal of energy. Bollas' invention makes the process 10 pct to 20 pct more efficient at CO2 capture and provides resistance to solid carbon formation. It also mitigates the temperature drop from the reaction, addressing the most significant challenges with CLC. It is a form of process intensification and enables modularization of the CLC reactor. The latter is enabled by the unique simple design in Bollas' invention where the reactor is a fixed bed loaded with the oxygen carrier and the flow regime and temperature management is controlled via valves outside the reactor. (Source: Univ. Connecticut, PR, UConn Today, 28 Oct., 2020) Contact: UConn Technology Commercialization Services Donna Cyr, PhD , (860) 486-3013, donna.cyr@uconn.edu, www.uconn.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News University of Connecticut,  CCS,  Carbon Capture ,  

WaysH
Date: 2020-10-26
In the Golden State, waste-to-hydrogen specialist Ways2H reports closure on a $2.5 million investment from Long Beach-based social benefit investment firm Pacific6 Enterprises. Led by founding partner John C. Molina, Pacific6 Enterprises supports projects and companies that have the potential to make a significant positive social, environmental and economic impact.

Ways2H's patented thermochemical process produces clean hydrogen fuel from municipal solid waste, wastewater sludge, plastics and/or other waste biomass without incineration. The process is net-zero carbon by itself and carbon-negative when paired with carbon capture and storage (CCS), according to the company website. (Source: Ways2H, Website News, 21 Oct., 2020) Contact: Ways2H, Jean-Louis Kindler, CEO, 562-414-4150 , www.Ways2H.com: Pacific6 Enterprises, www.pacific6.com.

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ways2H,  Hydrogen,  Renewable Hydrogen,  

Microsoft,Equinor,Northern Lights
Date: 2020-10-23
Redmond, Washington-headquartered software giant Microsoft is reporting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Equinor -- fka Statoil -- concerning development of a digital platform covering the transportation, receipt and permanent storage of liquefied CO2 for the North Sea, Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

Under the MoU, MoU stipulates the two sides would work on a model for a conventional investment. Namely, Microsoft has earmarked $1 billion for technology that prevents CO2 from escaping into the atmosphere. The two firms will also jointly explore and establish advocacy of policies that accelerate CCS's contribution to Europe's meeting its climate goals.

The Northern Lights initiative, which is equally owned by Equinor, Royal Dutch Shell and Total, is expected to begin operations in 2024 with a first-phase capacity of 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2. (Source: Microsoft, Balkan Green Energy News, 21 Oct., 2020) Contact: Northern Lights Project, Sverre Overaa, Director, sjov@equinor.com, Per Sandberg, Bus. Dev, prsa@equinor.com, www.northernlightsccs.com; TOTAL, www.total.com; Equinor, www.equinor.com; SHELL, www.shell.com; Microsoft Corporate Offices, www.headquartersinfo.com/microsoft-headquarters-information

More Low-Carbon Energy News Microsoft,  Equinor,  Northern Lights,  CCS,  

Gulf Coast Sequestration
Date: 2020-10-23
Louisiana-based Gulf Coast Sequestration LLC is reporting plans to create a 10,000 foot deep carbon sequestration project to store up to 80 million tons of CO2 between the Sabine River and Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The company, which has applied for the necessary EPA Class VI UIC permits , believes the project will be "the largest geologic carbon capture sequestration project in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world", according to the release. (Source: Gulf Coast Sequestration LLC , Website PR, 20 Oct., 2020) Contact: Gulf Coast Sequestration LLC, Colin Williams, Bus. Dev., info@gcscarbon.com, www.gcscarbon.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Gulf Coast Sequestration ,  CCS,