Petro Nova, NRG Energy
Date: 2020-07-31
Houston-headquartered power utility NRG Energy confirmed to the Australian Financial Review that it has mothballed its Petra Nova carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Texas due to its poor financial performance.

Since coming online in Jan., 2017, Petra Nova, the world's largest coal-fired power plant post-combustion CO2 capture system, captured over 3.9 million short (US) tons of CO2 which was used to produce over 4.2 million barrels of oil through enhanced oil recovery (EOR). (Source: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy, NRG Energy, Australia Financial Review, 30 July, 2020)Contact: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy; NRG Energy, Mauricio Gutierrez, CEO, (609) 524-4500, www.nrgenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Enhanced Oil Recovery,  Petro Nova,  NRG Energy,  CCS,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-07-31
The 2020 US Democratic presidential presumptive candidate Joe Biden's campaign has released the following position on clean energy and climate change:

Democrats commit to eliminating carbon pollution from power plants by 2035.

Wind and solar energy will be increased dramatically through the installation of 500 million solar panels and 60,000 made-in-America wind turbines.

Any clean energy infrastructure financed with federal support "through the tax code" should include robust wage and labor requirements.

Fossil fuel subsidies will be repealed.

California's primacy in Clean Air Act regulation of cars and trucks will be recognized and protected.

Oil and gas methane pollution will be reduced by the application of "robust" federal standards and targeted support for repairing and replacing aging distribution systems.

By 2030, all new buildings will achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Within five years, the Democrats will "incentivize" tens of billions of dollars in private-sector investments to retrofit the energy efficiency of four million buildings.

The country's entire fleet of school buses will transition to zero-emission buses to reduce harmful air pollution within five years.

The US will rejoin the the Paris Climate Agreement. A new Executive Order should be issued on climate and environmental Justice. There will be a strong emphasis on building environmental justice governmental institutions and practices. An environmental justice fund will be created to make "historic investments" in low-income communities, and remediating Superfund and other contaminated sites will address other issues afflicting these communities. Democrats will employ screening and mapping tools to ensure racial and socio-economic equity in federal climate, energy and infrastructure programs.

Fossil fuel companies will be held accountable for cleaning up abandoned mine lands ,oil and gas wells and industrial facilities so they can be safely "repurposed," especially in the coal country.

Innovative technologies will be advanced that create cost-effective pathways for industries to decarbonize, including carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and "advanced nuclear" that eliminates risks associated with conventional nuclear technology.

America's natural carbon sinks on public lands will be increased by ensuring 30 percent of our lands and waters are conserved by 2030.

A new "climate test" will be applied to ensure that all major domestic and international infrastructure projects that require federal approval will avoid or minimize climate impacts, including impacts from export terminals.

The Federal Government should be reorganized by transforming the CEQ into a Council on Climate Change; establish a new office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice; create an Office of Climate Mobilization in the White House; establish a White House Council on frontline Environmental Justice where community and national leaders would inform the design and execution of climate change laws, policies and programs.

Editor's Note: To ensure unbiased and equal coverage to all candidates , this publication will provide detailed coverage of the incumbent Republican Donald Trump's position on clean energy and climate change if and when his position paper is released.

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Clean Energy,  

Climeworks
Date: 2020-07-29
Zurich-headquartered carbon capture technology specialist Climeworks AG is reporting its first carbon removal plant located on the slopes of an active volcano in south-west Iceland.

The plant is powered by waste heat from a geothermal energy plant using direct air carbon capture technology (DAC).

Climeworks technology consist of modular CO2 collectors that can be stacked to build machines of any size. Climeworks direct air capture machines are powered solely by renewable energy or energy-from-waste. Grey emissions are below 10 pct, which means that out of 100 tons of carbon dioxide that our machines capture from the air, at least 90 tons are permanently removed and only up to 10 tons are re-emitted, according to the company website. (Source: Climeworks, BTN News, 28 July, 2020) Contact: Climeworks, Jan Wurzbacher, co-founder and co-director, +41 44 533 2999, www.climeworks.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  Climeworks,  Carbon Offset,  Carbon Credit,  Climate Change,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-07-27
Scientists from ExxonMobil, University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a new material that could capture more than 90 pct of CO2 emissions from natural gas-fired power plants, using low-temperature steam, requiring less energy for the overall carbon capture process.

Laboratory tests indicate the patent-pending materials -- tetraamine-functionalised metal organic frameworks -- capture CO2 emissions up to six times more effectively than conventional amine-based carbon capture technology.

By manipulating the structure of the metal organic framework material, the team of scientists and students demonstrated the ability to condense a surface area the size of a football field, into just one gram of mass -- about the same as a paperclip -- that acts as a sponge for carbon emissions, according to the release.

"Through collaborations with strong academic institutions and national labs like UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, we are developing a portfolio of lower-emissions energy solutions. This provides yet another example of one of the many new materials ExxonMobil is researching to reduce CO2 in the production of energy," according to the release. (Source: ExxonMobil, Smart Energy, 26 July, 2020)Contact: ExxonMobil www.exxonmobil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  

UCLA,CO2Concrete
Date: 2020-07-27
UCLA is reporting receipt of US DOE grant funding for the development of concrete from carbon dioxide emissions. The project is one of 11 sharing funding of $17 million from the US DOE's carbon utilization programme. A further $905,000 has been raised from industry partners and the UCLA discretionary funds.

CO2Concrete has a carbon footprint 50-70 pct lower than traditional concrete, and captures carbon dioxide from raw flue gas emitted by cement plants and other sources. One particular attraction of the process is that it does not need a conventional carbon capture system. Cement production reportedly accounts for 8 pct of man-made carbon dioxide emissions.

A test centre to demonstrate the process is located at Dry Fork Station, a coal-based power plant near Gillette, Wyoming. (Source: UCLA, Global Construction Review, 27 July, 2020) Contact: UCLA, Civil Engineering Prof. Gaurav Sant, www. samueli.ucla.edu/gaurav-sant

More Low-Carbon Energy News UCLA,  CO2,  Cement,  Concrete,  CO2Concrete,  

UK PM Boris Johnson
Date: 2020-07-24
In London, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched a new Jet Zero Council to tackle aviation emissions as part of his government's £350-million ($445.4 million) plan for the UK to meet its net zero by 2050 goal.

The Jet Zero Council will bring together the government, environment sector and aviation and aerospace industry experts to work towards an ambition of the first-ever zero emission long-haul passenger plane.

The UK government's overall net zero by 2050 funding package will support the transition from natural gas to clean hydrogen power; scaling up carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology; a drive towards the use of innovative materials in heavy industry; support for advanced new building techniques; state of the art construction techniques; research and development for the automotive sector, and others. (Source: Various Media, Economic Times India, 22 July, 2020)

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

Clean Coal
Date: 2020-07-24
"Coal is one of our nation's most abundant natural resources and has been providing well-paying jobs and powering the US for decades. That's why, as the global energy mix evolves, we're investing in the next-generation of coal technologies that will lay the groundwork for clean, reliable 21st century coal-to-energy plants.

"The Trump Administration sees a bright future for the new, next stage of coal."-- Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, July, 2020)

Brouillette was commenting on the Trump Administration's $118 million Coal FIRST commitment to develop technologies to generate carbon-neutral electricity and hydrogen using coal.

Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative) plants will incorporate carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies and be capable of flexible operations to meet the needs of the grid, use innovative components that improve efficiency and reduce emission and will be small compared to the current conventional utility-scale coal-fired plants. Contact: Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette www.energy.gov/contributors/dan-brouillette

More Low-Carbon Energy News Coal,  Clean Coal,  

CCS,Norcem,Aker Solutions
Date: 2020-07-22
Aker Solutions reports it is launching a series of structural and strategic changes to transform the company and enhance shareholder value by spinning off the wind and carbon capture businesses to shareholders and merging Aker Solutions ASA with Kvaerner ASA to create an optimized supplier company.

Aker Solutions intends to spin off its wind development business as well as the carbon capture technology business to Aker Solutions' shareholders in two separate companies. Oslo-based Kvaerner and Aker Solutions have entered into a merger plan, whereby the two entities will join forces to create Aker Solutions ASA, Combined 2019 revenues for the companies were about NOK 38 billion ($4.1 billion US) with an EBITDA of NOK 2.7 billion.

Aker Solutions intends to separate its CCUS business in a separate entity, Aker Carbon Capture followed by a private placement in the company, guaranteed by Aker ASA, to secure sufficient funding for the next phase of the development. The shares in the CCUS Company are expected to start trading on Merkur Market during August 2020. (Source: Aker Solutions, PR, Chemical Engineering, 20 July, 2020) Contact: Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; Kvaerner, www.kvaerner.com

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

Southern Environmental Law Center
Date: 2020-07-22
As we previously reported in June, the Charlottesville, Virginia-based Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) reported it was joining with Biofuelwatch, the Dogwood Alliance and NRDC in the "Cut Carbon Not Forests Campaign."

The campaign is intended to convince the UK to end more than £1 billion a year in government subsidies to biomass-fired power producers. A large portion of the biomass fuel used in the UK is sourced from forests in the Southeastern US then shipped to the UK -- Europe's largest user of biomass-fired electricity.

"The UK classifies biomass electricity as a carbon-neutral fuel. It is anything but. Cutting live trees, shipping them thousands of miles across an ocean and then burning them to generate electricity both reduces forest capacity for carbon capture and releases more carbon pollution into the atmosphere. It is a lose-lose proposition for the environment and a definite contributor to climate change," according to the SELC release.

Download Cut Carbon Not Forests campaign details HERE. (Source: Southern Environmental Law Center, PR, 22 June, 2020) Contact: SELC, David Carr, General Counsel , 434-977-4090, www.southernenvironment.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern Environmental Law Center,  Woody Biomass,  Climate Change,  

Norway CCS
Date: 2020-07-20
Gassnova, the Norwegian state enterprise for carbon capture and storage (CCS) reports receipt of €2.1 billion in funding for its CCS Norway project from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority (ESA).

The CCS Norway project is a central part of Norway's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and meet the European goal of climate-neutrality by 2050. The project would allow for the establishment of carbon capture facilities at Norcem, a cement factory in Brevik, and Fortum Oslo Varme, a waste-to-energy plant.

The captured CO2 is then to be transported and stored deep below the seabed in the North Sea. This part of the process is to be carried out by a joint venture between Shell, Total and Equinor, known as Northern Lights.

The €2.57 billion Full-Scale CCS Project promises to become the first of its kind to go live in Europe. The Norwegian government would cover around 80 pct of the project's estimated cost, according to a release. (Source: CCS Norway, GreenCar Congress, 19 July, 2020) Contact: CCS Norway, www.ccsnorway.com; Equinor, www.equinor.com; TOTAL, Investor Relations: +44 (0) 207 719 7962 l, ir@total.com, www.total.com; Norcem, www.norcen.no

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Norway CCS,  Norcem,  Total,  Equinor,  

Carbon Emissions
Date: 2020-07-17
Nine Japanese companies are reported to have launched the Ship Carbon Recycling Working Group (WG) formed within Japan's Carbon Capture and Reuse (CCR) study group. The WG aims to explore the utilization of "methanation" technology for zero-emission maritime fuels in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero in maritime transportation, which accounts for 99.6 pct of Japanese imports and exports.

The first stage of activities involves: separation, capture and liquefaction of CO2 emitted from steelworks; transportation of liquefied CO2 by ship to a hydrogen supply site; generation of synthetic methane from CO2 and hydrogen by methanation reaction; and liquefaction of the synthetic methane and using it as marine fuel.

The participating members include EX Research Institute Ltd, Hitachi Zosen Corp., Japan Marine United Corp., JFE Steel Corp., JGC Corp., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), Nippon Steel Corp.; and Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corp. (Source: Mitsui OSK Line, PR, Dry Bulk, July, 2020) Contact: Mitsui OSK Line, www.mol.co.jp

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Alternative Fuel,  Maritime Emissions,  

University of Tokyo
Date: 2020-07-17
Nine Japanese companies are reported to have launched the Ship Carbon Recycling Working Group (WG), within the University of Tokyo's Carbon Capture and Reuse Study Group (CCR), aimed at the utilization of "methanation" technology and liquefaction of synthetic methane for use as a zero-emission marine fuel.

The participating members include EX Research Institute Ltd, Hitachi Zosen Corp., Japan Marine United Corp., JFE Steel Corp., JGC Corp., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), Nippon Steel Corp.; and Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corp. (Source: Mitsui OSK Line, PR, Dry Bulk, 16 July, 2020) Contact: University of Tokyo Carbon Capture and Reuse Study Group, +81-3-5452-6008, 6009, +81-3-5452-6071 - fax, www.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/news/2607

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane news,  Marine Fuel news,  Maritime Fuel news,  

DOE ARPA-E
Date: 2020-07-15
In Washington, the U.S. DOE has announced $11.5 million in funding for 12 projects as part of Phase 1 of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy's (ARPA-E) FLExible Carbon Capture and Storage (FLECCS) program. FLECCS project teams will work to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes that better enable technologies, such as natural gas power generators, to be responsive to grid conditions in a high variable renewable energy (VRE) penetration environment.

FLECCS project teams are developing CCS retrofits to existing power generators as well as greenfield systems that intake fossil carbon-containing fuel like natural gas or bio-gas and output electricity. FLECCS Phase 1 teams will design, model, and optimize CCS processes that enable flexibility on a high-VRE grid. Later in the program, teams that move to Phase 2 will focus on building components, unit operations, and prototype systems to reduce technical risks and costs.

In FLECCS Phase 2, up to $31 million in additional funding will be available for teams. At the conclusion of the Phase 1 period, teams will be down-selected based on an engineering design review and the projected economic impact of their Phase 1 projects on a future electricity grid. Selected teams will move on to receive additional funding, further develop their technologies and address Phase 2 challenges.

Download a sampling of FLECCS projects and details HERE. (Source: US DOE ARPA-E, July, 2020) Contact: ARPA-E, Lane Genatowski, Director, arpa-e.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE ARPA-E,  CCS,  

ExxonMobil, Princeton
Date: 2020-07-08
In New Jersey, the Princeton University Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment reports the renewal of a 5-year collaboration with Houston-headquartered oil giant ExxonMobil to research lower-emission technologies and energy solutions.

The new, five-year agreement builds on ExxonMobil's participation in Princeton's E-filliates Partnership, a corporate membership program aimed at accelerating R&D and deployment of energy and environmental technologies through academia and industry partnerships.

ExxonMobil is the world-leader in carbon capture, sequestering (CCS) more carbon in the last 20 years than any other company. Princeton is advancing this technology with new research to better understand how stored CO2 flows within rocks and interacts with minerals and improving the understanding of underground storage capacity, according to the Princeton release.

Princeton researchers are also working to better understand the barriers, technology needs and opportunities of the global energy transition. This research is taking a comprehensive look at potential pathways to achieve net-zero emissions in the U.S. by 2050, and the investments in technology, infrastructure, and skill development to achieve that goal.

Princeton's Andlinger Center is one of five university energy centers ExxonMobil has partnered with to undertake fundamental research to provide low-carbon energy solutions while meeting global energy demand. (Source: Princeton, Strategic Research Institute, PR, GasOil News, 7 July, 2020) Contact: ExxonMobil, Princeton Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, 609-258-4899, www.acee.princeton.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil,  Princeton,  Carbon Emissions,  CCS,  

iOffset
Date: 2020-07-08
In the UK, Lancaster-based carbon streaming service iOffset is reporting its launch with its inaugural commercial partnership with national car retailers, Motor Depot and CarSupermarket.com. iOffset's service will see the dealerships offset the projected future emissions of every used car sold for the first year of ownership.

The company's "Offset as a Service" (OaaS) cost-effectively offset any product, service or transaction in full or in part, enabling investment into accredited projects that prevent the production of an amount of CO2 equal to a product's carbon footprint, through afforestation schemes, renewable energy and emerging technologies in carbon capture and storage. (Source: iOffset, PR, 7 July, 2020) Contact: iOffset, Mark Hammond, Founder , www.ioffset.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset,  

Atos SE, Total
Date: 2020-07-08
Bezons, France-based multinational information technology service and consultancy Atos SE reports it will partner with French energy giant Total SA to develop technologies to advance carbon neutrality.

The partnership follows Total's 2019 acquisition of Atos's Quantum Learning Machine, a quantum simulator used to test and accelerate algorithms for various fields, and in particular can be useful in discovering new materials for carbon capture or energy storage (CCS). (Source: Atos SE, Market Screener, 7 July, 2020) Contact: Atos SE, +33 1 73 26 00 00, www.atos.net; Total SA, +33 1 47 44 46 99, www.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Neutral,  Carbon Emissions,  Total SA,  CCS ,  

Singapore
Date: 2020-07-06
In Singapore, a consortium of oil major Chevron, infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong, cement maker Pan-United, and data center operator Keppel Data Centres reports it aims to introduce a range of commercially viable carbon capture systems (CCS) for the energy, construction, chemicals and IT sectors within five to10 years.

The plan is to develop systems that can be deployed locally in Singapore, and potentially exported overseas. Cryogenic carbon capture, which can reduce emissions from power plants by 95 to 99 pct at about half of the cost of conventional technologies, and membrane-based carbon capture, whereby CO2 is separated from other exhaust gases via a membrane, and is then collected and stored, are among the CCS technologies being considered. The effort is being supported by the National Research Foundation.

In February, the city-state pledged to hit peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and cut emissions by half by 2050. (Source: EcoBusiness, 5 July, 2020) Contact: Singapore National Research Foundation, +65 6684 2900, www.nrf.gov.sg

More Low-Carbon Energy News Singapore news,  CCS news,  

i3 Energy
Date: 2020-07-06
In the UK, Westhill-based i3 Energy PLC (I3E) reports it will acquire private Canadian oil and gas company Gain Energy through a reverse takeover for US$58.8 million.

The acquisition includes Gain Energy's stake in the Weyburn, Saskatchewan carbon-capture plant, the world's fourth largest carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) facility. Gain's interest in the Weburn facility is estimated to offset approximately 17,760 boepd of scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions, according to the i3 Energy release.

The Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project accesses data from the actual CO2-enhanced oil recovery operations (EOR) in the Weyburn oil field formerly operated by Cenovus Energy of Calgary. These EOR operations are independent of the research program, according to Wikipedia. (Source: i3 Energy PLC, July, 2020) Contact: i3 Energy PLC, +44 (0)1224 945 980, www.i3.energy; Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project, www.ptrc.ca/projects/past-projects/weyburn-midale

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCUS,  Carbon Capture Utilization Storage,  CO2,  Weyburn,  

LG Chem
Date: 2020-07-06
South Korean chemical and battery-manufacturer LG Chem reports it has initiated a carbon neutrality pledge to reduce annual carbon emissions to 10 million tpy by 2050 -- a 30 million tpy reduction from a projected 40 million tpy of emissions in 2050.

To that end, the company plans to use more renewable energy, develop more eco-friendly chemical products and operate energy storage system (ESS) facilities that utilize recycled secondary battery cells.

In its first step toward carbon neutral growth, LG Chem has initiated a renewable energy 100 (RE100) program at its plants worldwide. The company will also concentrate on developing carbon capture utilization storage (CCUS) and creating a circular economic system that recycles its products, including batteries, and waste. LG Chem ia also aiming for Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Landfill Zero certification for achieving at least a 90 pct diversion from landfills. (Source: LG Chem, PR, Korea Times, July, 2020) Contact: LG Chem, +82 (2) 3773-6951, ltkremark@lgchem.com, www.lgchem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LG Chem,  Carbon Emission,  Carbon Neutral,  

DRAX,Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Date: 2020-06-26
In the UK, Drax Group and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (MHIE) are reporting a new 12-month bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) pilot project at the Drax Power Station in the Humber region, North Yorkshire.

The pilot, which is expected to get underway this autumn, will test two of MHI's proprietary solvents -- KS-1TM Solvent which is presently being used at 13 commercial plants including Petra Nova in Texas where it is capturing 1.4 million tpy of CO2 , and KS-21TM Solvent which is designed to achieve significant performance improvements and cost savings, according to MHIE.

Implementing BECCS at Drax could deliver 16 million tpy of negative emissions -- a third of the negative emissions the UK needs from BECCS to reach its zero carbon targets by 2050, according to DRAX. (Source: DRAX, MHI, Cdn. Biomass, 24 June, 2020) Contact: DRAX, Will Gardiner, CEO, +44(0)1757 618381 www.drax.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,  DRAX,  CCS,  Biomass,  

Southern Environmental Law Center
Date: 2020-06-24
The Charlottesville, Virginia-based Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) reports it is joining with Biofuelwatch, the Dogwood Alliance and NRDC in the Cut Carbon Not Forests campaign.

The campaign is intended to convince the UK to end more than £1 billion a year in government subsidies to biomass-fired power producers. A large portion of the biomass fuel used in the UK is sourced from forests in the Southeastern US then shipped to the UK -- Europe's largest user of biomass-fired electricity.

"The UK classifies biomass electricity as a carbon-neutral fuel. It is anything but. Cutting live trees, shipping them thousands of miles across an ocean and then burning them to generate electricity both reduces forest capacity for carbon capture and releases more carbon pollution into the atmosphere. It is a lose-lose proposition for the environment and a definite contributor to climate change," according to the SELC release.

Download Cut Carbon Not Forests campaign details HERE. (Source: Southern Environmental Law Center, PR, 22 June, 2020) Contact: SELC, David Carr, General Counsel , 434-977-4090, www.southernenvironment.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern Environmental Law Center,  Woody Biomass,  Climate Change ,  

CCS,Norcem,Aker Solutions
Date: 2020-06-17
Aker Solutions and HeidelbergCement-owned Norcem are reporting an agreement to advance the engineering, procurement and construction of a CO2 capture, liquification and intermediate storage plant at Norcem's cement plant in Brevik, Norway.

The project will use Aker Solutions' Advanced Carbon Capture (ACC) technology and its HSE-friendly S26 amine solvent.

The Akers Solutions--Norcem project is subject to Norwegian government approval and funding of the project. If completed, the plant could become the world's first large-scale capture plant at a cement producer. (Source: Aker Solutions, Cement News, 17 June, 2020) Contact: Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; Norcem, www.norcem.no

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aker Solutions,  CCS,  Carbon Storage,  Norcem,  Cement,  CO2,  

Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Date: 2020-06-15
The state of Wyoming, Japan Coal Energy Center (JCOAL) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are reporting an agreement to jointly advance a carbon capture test project to be conducted at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center at the Dry Fork Station power plant. The tests will cover JCOAL and Kawasaki's novel amines -- chemical compounds that naturally attract carbon dioxide -- use in carbon capture. The project is now under construction.

JCOAL operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and is supported by more than 120 member coal-related businesses, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Nippon Steel and Toshiba. The organization works to promote overall coal activities, from coal mining to the field of coal utilization, toward a stable energy supply, sustainable economic growth and the reduction of the global environment emissions. (Source: Wyoming News Exchange, Laramie Boomerang, 12 June, 2020) Contact: Wyoming Integrated Test Center, 307-635-3573, info@wyomingitc.org, www.wyomingitc.org; JCOAL, www.jcoal.or.jp › eng; Kawasaki Heavy Industries, www.global.kawaski.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kawasaki Heavy Industries,  JCOAL,  CCS,  Carbon Capture,  ,  

Repsol
Date: 2020-06-15
Madrid-based Spanish integrated energy company Repsol SA reports it is collaborating with Saudi Aramco and will construct a 10-MW, green-hydrogen plant to produce synthetic fuels at its Port of Bilbao refinery. The €60 million ($67.5 million) project is part of a larger €80-million decarbonization project that will include a carbon-capture project and a fuel-from- municipal waste plant. The project is expected to be completed and operational in 2024.

Repsol's TechLab and Aramco have signed a memorandum of understanding to carry out the technological development of the project, which will combine green hydrogen generated from renewable sources with CO2 emissions from the refinery as raw materials. This will produce 3.6 million lpy of transportation fuel. (Source: Repsol SA, PR, S&P Global, 15 June, 2020) Contact: Repsol SA, Josu Jon Imaz, CEO, (+34) 91 753 8100, 91 753 8000, sacportal@repsol.com, www.repsol.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Repsol,  Synfuel,  Alternative Fuel,  Green Hydrogen,  Hydrogen,  Carbon Capture,  

Pale Blue Dot
Date: 2020-06-12
In Scotland, Aberdeenshire-headquartered Pale Blue Dot Energy reports it has tapped Jersey-based Petrofac to support front end engineering design and concept work on its Acorn carbon capture and hydrogen production project at the St Fergus gas terminal, near Peterhead. The project has secured funding from the EU and UK and Scottish governments.

Project partners, including Chrysaor, Shell and Total, aim to reform North Sea natural gas into clean hydrogen, with carbon dioxide emissions safely mitigated through the carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure. The Acorn project holds the first UK CO2 appraisal and storage licence to be awarded by the Oil and Gas Authority. (Source: Pale Blue Dot, Thomson Media, 10 June, 2020) Contact: Petrofac Engineeing, Johm Pearson, CEO, www.petrofac.com: Pale Blue Dot, Ian Phillips, Project Director, info@pale-blu.com, www.pale-blu.com; pale-blu.com › acorn

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Pale Blue Dot,  

UNDEERC
Date: 2020-06-10
Reporting from Bismarck, the North Dakota Industrial Commission reports it has awarded $500,000 in Renewable Energy Programme funding to the Energy & Environmental Research Centre at the University of North Dakota (UNDEERC) for the development of North Dakota's ethanol and carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility near Richardson.

Research for the facility will build on the successful outcomes of three phases of work which have been carried out since 2016. A CO2 Storage Facility Permitting Guidance Document will be compiled as part of the project to serve as a resource for other North Dakota renewable energy or biofuel producers interested in pursuing utilization of CCS technology, according to the release. "This project continues to help maximize the marketability of North Dakota ethanol through evolving CCS incentive programmes," the commission noted in a statement. (Source: North Dakota Industrial Commission, 6 June, 2020) Contact: North Dakota Industrial Commission, www.dmr.nd.gov; UNDEERC, 701-777-5000, www.undeerc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News UNDEERC,  CCS,  Ethanol,  

Global CCS Institute
Date: 2020-06-08
The Melbourne, Australia-headquartered Global CCS Institute is reporting the addition of 10 carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities to its global database, bringing the total number of CCS facilities in various stages of development to 59 -- 21 facilities in operation, 3 under construction, and 35 in various stages of development, with a capture capacity of more than 127 million tpy.

The facilities added continue trends in CCS deployment that include innovative applications such as natural gas power, negative emissions and cement, as well as stacked and offshore geologic storage, according to the report.

Download the The Value of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) report HERE. (Source: Global CCS Institute, PR, 8 June, 2020) Contact: Global CCS Institute , Brad Page, CEO, +61 3 8620 7300 , info@globalccsinstitute.com,, www.globalccsinstitute.com

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

Technical University of Denmark,
Date: 2020-06-08
Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark, DTU Bioengineering report they have identified a number of enzymes that can capture CO2 and transform it into sustainable chemicals with the use of electricity from the wind turbines. The specific enzymes can effectively convert carbon dioxide into formic acid and then into methanol.

The DTU Bioengineering scientists contend that Denmark can become a market leader if there is a high production of the particular enzymes.

According to the researchers, 200 tonnes of the enzyme can capture one million tpd of CO2. A new technology needs to be developed to produce enzymes on a large scale, the DTU release notes. (Source: DTU Bioengineering , CPH Post, 6 June, 2020) Contact: DTU Bioengineering, (+45) 4525 2600 , info@bio.dtu.dk, www.bioengineering.dtu.dk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methanol,  Carbon Capture,  CO2,  

Climeworks AG
Date: 2020-06-03
Zurich-headquartered carbon capture technology specialist Climeworks AG reports it raised 73 million Swiss francs ($76 million) in a private funding round -- the biggest private investment in a direct air capture firm to date, according to Climeworks.

Climeworks' technology captures CO2 from the air and stores it in solid state underground. (Source: Climeworks, Bloomberg, June, 2020) Contact: Climeworks, Christoph Gebald, co-CEO, +41 44 533 2999, www.climeworks.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Direct Air Carbon Capture,  Climeworks AG,  CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Capture,  

Carbon Capture
Date: 2020-06-01
In Washington, the US Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service this week issued proposed regulations to help businesses understand how legislation passed in 2018 may benefit those claiming carbon capture credits. The proposed regulations provide guidance regarding two new credits for carbon oxide captured using equipment originally placed in service on or after February 9, 2018, allowing up to: $50 per metric ton of qualified CO2 for permanent sequestration, and up to $35 for Enhanced Oil Recovery purposes.

Neither of these new credits is subject to a limitation on the number of metric tons of qualified carbon oxide captured. The new law also expanded carbon capture to include "qualified carbon oxide". Prior to the change in law, carbon capture was limited to a total of 75,000,000 metric tons of qualified carbon oxide.

The proposed regulations address procedures to determine adequate security measures for the geological storage of qualified carbon oxide, exceptions to the general rule for determining who the credit is attributable to, procedures for a taxpayer to make an election to allow third-party taxpayers to claim the credit, standards for measuring utilization of qualified carbon oxide and rules for credit recapture.

In Notice 2020-12, the IRS provides guidance to help businesses determine when construction has begun on a qualified facility or on carbon capture equipment that may be eligible for the carbon capture credit. This notice provides broad guidance in lieu of taxpayers requesting private letter rulings in this area.

In Revenue Procedure 2020-12, the IRS creates a safe harbor for the allocation rules for carbon capture partnerships similar to the safe harbors developed for partnerships receiving the wind energy production tax credit and the rehabilitation credit. The safe harbor simplifies the application of carbon capture credit rules to partnerships able to claim the credit. (Source: US IRS, US Treasury Dept., MyChesCo, 30 May, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Oxide,  Carbon Monoxide,  CO2,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  Carbon Credit,  

Fluor, Project Tundra
Date: 2020-05-29
Houston headquartered Fluor Corp. reports it has been awarded the front-end engineering and design (FEED) for Minnkota Power Coop's Project Tundra, a carbon capture, utilization and storage retrofit project at the Milton R. Young Station in Center, North Dakota. The work is expected to be completed in Q1, 2021.

For its scope of work, Fluor will leverage its proprietary Econamine FG Plus carbon capture technology -- an energy-efficient and cost-effective process for the removal of CO2 from flue gas streams. The process will incorporate Fluor's advanced solvent formulation together with a number of patented energy savings features.

The FEED is being funded by the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy and managed by its National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) as part of a larger initiative to advance carbon capture technology development. (Source: Fluor Corp., PR, Chem Engineering, 21 May, 2020) Contact: Fluor Corp., www.fluor.com; Minnkota Power Coop, 701-795-4000, www.minnkota.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Project Tundra,  Fluor,  

Newleaf Energy
Date: 2020-05-29
Monkseaton, Whitney Bay, UK-based Newleaf Energy Ltd., reports it plans to construct a massive Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generating Biomass Gasification Plant with integrated Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCUS) technology on a 2.45-hectare site at Coolcor in Offaly.

The proposed development will include: biomass feedstock reception and storage bunkers; offices; gasification control building gasification plant to convert biomass into syngas to RNG; RNG filling area; two bundled thermal energy storage tanks; CHP gas engines; and other related facilities. (Source: Newleaf Energy Limited, Offaly Express, 27 May, 2020) Contact: Newleaf Energy Limited, +44 191 252 9960

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomass,  

Ofgem, Energy Networks Association
Date: 2020-05-29
In the UK, Britain's five gas networks -- Cadent, National Grid, NGN, SGN, and Wales & West Utilities have outlined a "Zero Carbon Commitment" and plan to spend £904 million on zero-carbon energy infrastructure and hydrogen deployment across the UK, subject to Ofgem funding approval which is expected in July.

If approved, the spending would focus on projects across Britain between 2021 and 2026, under the RIIO-2 price control. The gas networks claim that spending could help the UK use "blue hydrogen" developed from carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and "green hydrogen" from renewable electricity -- with the latter becoming cost-competitive by 2030.

Under the plan, £446 million would be spent on a new network infrastructure for the industrial use of hydrogen, including £391 million for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects in the north-west of England, Aberdeenshire and the Isle of Grain. A further £264 million would be spent on projects to expand the capacity of local gas networks by connecting hydrogen and bio-methane generation projects and transport refueling stations. £150 million would be used to run large-scale trials for domestic use of hydrogen heating, cooking and transportation and how these are connected to the gas grid. £43 million would be spent to research blending more zero-carbon hydrogen with the natural gas currently used in the UK's gas networks.

According to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), £182 billion could be invested to make hydrogen cost-competitive with the current natural gas-based system and would reduce energy system costs to the UK public by £189 billion by 2050. (Source: ENA, edie, 28 May. 2020) Contact: Energy Networks Association, www.energynetworks.org; OFGEM, Chris Lock, +44 0207 901 7225, www.ofgem.gov.uk

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

Aker Solutions
Date: 2020-05-29
Norwegian engineering firm Aker Solutions reports its mobile carbon capture and storage (CCS) test facility at oil major Preem's hydrogen gas plant refinery in Lysekil, Sweden, has begun test operations. Full-scale operations are slated for later this year when the project reduces the Lysekil refinery emissions by 500,000 metric tpy -- one-third of the refinery's total annual CO2 emission -- according to the company.

The project, a collaboration between Sweden's largest fuel company Preem, Aker Solutions, Chalmers University of Technology, Equinor, and the Norwegian research institute SINTEF, is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and the Norwegian research and development programme CLIMIT. (Source: Aker Solutions, Website, 27 May, 2020) Contact: Aker Solutions , Luis Araujo, CEO, +47 67 51 30 00, +47 67 82 69 50 fax, www.akersolutions.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aker Solutions,  CCS,  

DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2020-05-29
A federally-funded carbon capture facility is planned for a site adjacent to Mississippi Power's Kemper County Energy Facility. The facility will be managed by the Southern States Energy Board and will receive $17.4 million in federal grants and $6.1 million in non-DOE funds for a total of $23.59 million. Up to 900 million metric tpy of CO2 emissions from three Southern Company power which will be stored underground.

On April 24, the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy announced $131 million in grants for carbon capture, utilization and storage research and development. Five projects, including the one in Kemper County, were selected for funding. The other carbon capture projects receiving DOE grants include:

The Illinois Storage Corridor will construct two capture facilities and receive $25 million.

The San Juan Basin in New Mexico will store carbon emissions from a nearby power plant, with some of the carbon dioxide to be stored at a site in northwest New Mexico and the rest sent via pipeline for enhanced oil recovery in the Permian Basin. The project will receive $21.9 million.

The North Dakota project will store carbon emissions from a nearby coal-fired power plant and receive $24.9 million in federal funds.

Wyoming will build three storage sites to handle carbon emissions from a coal-fired power plant and will receive federal grants totally $19.1 million.

The projects will assess safe and cost-effective commercial scale geologic storage sites and examine the technological and economic viability of carbon capture or purification technologies and the National Energy Technology Laboratory will manage the selected projects.

The $7.5 billion Kemper County plant was originally intended to be fueled by synthesis gas produced from lignite coal and was to have to have removed 65 pct of the carbon emissions and other byproducts from the gas stream for sale to industrial customers. The plant was supposed to cost $2.4 billion, but the cost ballooned by 212.5 percent to $7.5 billion. (Source: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy, Northside Sun, 27 May, (2020) Contact: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy, www.energy.gov › office-fossil-energy

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

Date: 2020-05-27
A recently published research paper revealed that Saudi Arabia has a competitive edge when it comes to producing carbon-neutral oil. This enables the Kingdom to proceed with comprehensive applications of carbon capture, use, and storage for future transition to carbon-free oil production, while it can recycle carbon by-products into beneficial chemicals that can be utilized and marketed for use in multiple energy purposes. Published by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), the paper reveals that Saudi Arabia is currently working towards achieving a circular economy. The paper discussed ways to coordinate initiatives of Kingdom Vision 2030 in order to achieve green growth in the Kingdom, which means increasing the GDP and continuing economic growth in parallel to cutting carbon dioxide emissions. Saudi Arabia, according to the paper, produces the world’s lowest carbon levels per oil barrel and this gives the Kingdom a competitive edge in the future transition to producing carbon-neutral oil. The paper stated that the Kingdom has an opportunity to become a major supplier of basic low-carbon petrochemicals as well as high-value chemicals by increasing the use of renewable energy and improving the efficiency of the refining, processing, and marketing industries in the petrochemical industry. Titled “Green Growth Paths in The Kingdom,” the paper presented nine policies that promote green growth in Saudi Arabia. The paper notes that the Kingdom's 2030 vision encourages green growth through its strategic goals, which include building new cities, developing national industry and logistic services, and upgrading digital technologies to enhance trade and local content by focusing on industry, mining, energy, and logistical services. (Source: King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center , Asharq Al- Swat, 17 May, 2020) Contact: King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, www.kapsarc.org

MAN Energy Solutions
Date: 2020-05-27
Augsburg, Germany-headquartered MAN Energy Solutions, a unit of VW, reports it has contracted for the engineering of three RG compressor trains for a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project in the Netherlands. The Port of Rotterdam Authority, Energie Beheer Nederland B.V. and N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie are jointly developing the Port of Rotterdam CO₂ Transport Hub and Offshore Storage (PORTHOS) project.

When completed, PORTHOS will store approximately 2.5 million tpy of CO2 beneath the North Sea. The CO2 will be captured by various companies in the Rotterdam port area which accounts for roughly 16 pct of the Netherlands total CO2 emissions, according to the release.

MAN Energy Solutions' scope of work for Porthos covers the engineering of two RG 25-4 and one RG 31-4 type compressor trains with an order for three additional units intended at a later stage. PORTHOS is expected to store the first CO2 by the end of 2023. (Source: MAN Energy Solutions, WoldOil, 26 May, 2020) Contact: MAN Energy Solutions, Uwe Lauber, CEO, www.man-es.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  CCUS,  Carbon Capture & Storage,  

MAN Energy Solutions
Date: 2020-05-27
Augsburg, Germany-headquartered , a unit of VW, reports it has contracted for the engineering of three RG compressor trains for a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project in the Netherlands. The Port of Rotterdam Authority, Energie Beheer Nederland B.V. and N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie are jointly developing the Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub and Offshore Storage (PORTHOS) project.

When completed, PORTHOS will store approximately 2.5 million tpy of CO2 beneath the North Sea. The CO2 will be captured by various companies in the Rotterdam port area which accounts for roughly 16 pct of the Netherlands total CO2 emissions, according to the release.

MAN Energy Solutions' scope of work for Porthos covers the engineering of two RG 25-4 and one RG 31-4 type compressor trains with an order for three additional units intended at a later stage. Porthos is expected to store the first CO2 under the North Sea by the end of 2023. The finalization of MAN's engineering contract is scheduled for late-summer 2020. (Source: MAN Energy Solutions, WoldOil, 26 May, 2020) Contact: MAN Energy Solutions, Uwe Lauber, CEO, www.man-es.com

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

Australia
Date: 2020-05-22
Australia's conservative government on Thursday released a fresh technology roadmap to tackle climate change, targeting the use of natural gas, hydrogen, batteries and carbon capture, while avoiding the contentious issue of setting a carbon price.

The latest proposal, which the government aims to turn into formal policy by September, is based on driving down energy storage costs to back up wind and solar power, electrifying industrial processes and scaling up hydrogen production. . Green groups, mining, energy and other big corporations oppose the plan for its continued reliance on fossil fuels, like gas and coal, and are calling for the imposition of a carbon tax to drive green investment.

The technology roadmap is designed to help Australia meet its Paris Climate Accord commitment to cut carbon emissions by between 26 pct and 28 pct from 2005 levels by 2030.

Although Australia is one of the world's biggest carbon emitters per capita Angus Taylor, the Minister of Energy and Emissions recently said it is not Australian government policy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. (Source: Australia Ministry of Energy and Emissions Reduction, Hindustan Times, Reuters, 21 May, 2020) Contact: Australia Ministry of Energy and Emissions Reduction, Hon. Angus Taylor, Minister, www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/taylor

More Low-Carbon Energy News Australia Climate Change news,  Carbon Emissions news,  

North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center
Date: 2020-05-22
The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) reports it has been awarded nearly $17 million last month from the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy for a project that will directly support Project Tundra, a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) research and development project led by Grand Forks-based Minnkota Power Cooperative. The EERC is the lead on the CarbonSAFE effort, which is a facet of the project that is looking at CO2 storage options for Project Tundra, according to the release.

Another $7.9 million in non-DOE funding from the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC), through Minnkota, as well as Computer Modelling Group Ltd. and Schlumberger, brings the total funding to $24.9 million for the CarbonSAFE Phase III project. DOE recently awarded a total of $131 million for cost-shared R&D CCUS projects in the U.S.

Project Tundra is currently in the advanced R&D phase. If the project moves forward, construction will commence in 2022–2023. (Source: UND Today, University of North Dakota, PR, 19 May, 2020) Contact: Minnkota Power Co-op, Mac McLennan, Pres., CEO, 701-795-4000, www.minnkota.com; UND EERC, Charlie Gorecki, CEO, 701.777.5000, eercinfo@undeerc.org, www.undeerc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center news,  Project Tundra news,  CCS news,  Minnkota news,  

TOTAL, Equinor, Shell
Date: 2020-05-19
International Energy giants Equinor, Shell and TOTAL are reporting agreement on the planned $685 million Northern Lights -- North Sea carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

The project to be located off the Norwegian coast would capture and sequester 5 million tpy of CO2 from some of the EU's heaviest emitters.

A final investment decision on the project hinges on approval by the Norwegian authorities and rubber-stamping by the EFTA Surveillance Authority.

"The Northern Lights project could become the first step to develop a value chain for CCS, which is vital to reach the global climate goals of the Paris Agreement," according to Equinor Exec.VP Anders Opedal. (Source: Total, Equinor, Shell Oil, ReCharge, 15 May, 2020) Contact: Equinor, www.equinor.com; TOTAL, Investor Relations: +44 (0) 207 719 7962 l, ir@total.com, www.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL,  Equinor,  Shell ,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  

TOTAL
Date: 2020-05-19
Paris-based energy giant TOTAL reports it is partnering with UK start-up Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC) to develop new quantum algorithms to improve Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) materials and technologies.

TOTAL presently invests up to 10 pct of its $1 billion annual R&D effort on CCS related technologies and initiatives. TOTAL is working on nanoporous materials (adsorbents) that could eventually be used to trap the CO2 emitted by the Group's industrial operations or those of other major emitters. Absorbents could also be used to capture CO2 directly from the air (Direct Air Capture or DAC).

(Source: TOTAL, PR, Business Wire, 15 May, 2020) Contact: TOTAL, Investor Relations: +44 (0) 207 719 7962 l, ir@total.com, www.total.com; Cambridge Quantum Computing, www.cambridgequantum.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL,  CCUS,  CCS,  CO2,  Carbon Capture,  Direct Air,  

JX Nippon
Date: 2020-05-15
In the Lone Star State, Houston-headquartered engineering, procurement, and construction company and former Halliburton subsidiary KBR, Inc. reports it has been awarded a Master Service Agreement (MSA) and Feasibility Study by Tokyo-based JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corp.

The Feasibility study will assess options for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), alongside blue hydrogen production relating to oil and gas fields in South East Asia, a region where JX Nippon continues to expand on its global track record of CCS/CCUS projects.

Under the agreement, KBR's Singapore hub will provide technical consultancy services in relation to developing concepts and technology recommendations for the capture of CO2, reinjection, and production of blue (i.e. carbon free) hydrogen. KBR will also evaluate the feasibility of conversion and transport of hydrogen in other forms for sale into the market, including liquified cryogenic hydrogen, liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), ammonia, and methanol (utilizing CO2). (Source: KBR, PR, 13 May, 2020) Contact: JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration, www.nex.jx-group.co.jp › english; KBR, Jay Ibrahim, Pres., Energy Solutions, www.kbr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  

Midwest AgEnergy,Blue Flint Ethanol
Date: 2020-05-13
North Dakota-based Midwest AgEnergy Group (MAG), the parent company to ethanol biorefineries Blue Flint, near Underwood, North Dakota and Dakota Spirit near Spiritwood, North Dakota, reports they are evaluating alternative thermal energy and utility options to ensure the long-term viability of the Blue Flint facility.

MAG's move is occasioned by Great River Energy's planned 2022 closure of its Coal Creek Station which provides water and steam to the Blue Flint facility. Great River's Spiritwood Station provides steam and electricity to Midwest AgEnergy's Dakota Spirit facility. To ensure long-term operations at the Blue Flint facility the company is:

Assessing the most viable alternative source for water and process heat while preserving the low carbon fuel designation that facility has developed •Evaluating options for using the contract termination payment from Great River Energy to reinvest in economical alternative sources of power and water at the Blue Flint facility

Continuing with the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at Blue Flint. CCS will prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere and safely store it underground in a geological formation and will decrease the carbon intensity of ethanol fuel produced at the facility

Continuing to utilize the steam and water services provided by Coal Creek through its scheduled operations into the second half of 2022 and implement changes to allow operations well beyond 2022. The company notes it foresees little to no impact to the Dakota Spirit facility and plans to continue long-term biorefinery operations. (Source: Midwest AgEnergy Group , 11 May, 2020) Contact: Midwest AgEnergy, Jeff Zueger, CEO, (701) 442-7500, www.midwestagenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Midwest AgEnergy,  Ethanol,  Blue Flint Ethanol,  

Newcastle University,
Date: 2020-05-08
In the UK, Newcastle University researchers are touting a new class of self-forming silver membrane to separate carbon dioxide from a mixture of gases. Operating like a coffee filter, it lets harmless gases, such as nitrogen, exit into the atmosphere and then the CO2 can be processed.

In a method never tried before and described in the research paper, aluminum oxide supports in pellet and tubular form were used to grow the silver membrane. Silver was added to the membrane, and the conditions experienced during operation forced the silver to grow within the membrane, bestowing higher performance.

The researchers used X-ray micro-computed tomography to look inside the membrane and confirm that the permeation of CO2 and O2 stimulated self-assembly of silver dendrites.

The researchers believe the system may be applicable for use in CO2 separation processes, either to protect the environment or in reaction engineering. Researchers also note "the performance of the membrane is at the level required to be competitive with existing carbon capture processes -- in fact, it would likely reduce the size of the equipment required significantly and potentially lower operating costs." (Source: Newcastle University, Website, Technology Networks, May 04, 2020) Contact: Newcastle University, Dr. Greg Mutch, www.ncl.ac.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  CCS,  

UK Oil and Gas Authority
Date: 2020-05-08
The UK's oil regulator UK Oil and Gas Authority has unveiled plans to force North Sea operators to meet the government's 2050 net-zero carbon by 2050 goals.

To that end, the Authority proposes to amend its principle objective of maximizing economic recovery to bring in a number of low carbon obligations on operators, who would be open to penalties if they are not met. Changes include reducing flaring and emissions as much as possible, fully assessing low carbon development options like platform electrification, and requiring "good faith" negotiations on carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Greenpeace noted "the Oil and Gas Authority's plan to achieve net-zero is unworkable, because it demands a continued reliance on fossil fuels, which is destroying our climate -- what we really need is a zero-carbon economy." (Source: UK Oil and Gas Authority, Energy Voice, Evening Standard, 6 May, 2020) Contact: UK Oil and Gas Authority, Mike Tholen, Sustainability Director, Andy Samuel, CEO, +44 0300 020 1010, oga.correspondence@ogauthority.co.uk, www.ogauthority.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK Oil and Gas Authority,  CCS,  Net-Zero Emissions,  CO2 ,  

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
Date: 2020-05-06
The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) is reporting the carbon capture project at San Juan Generating Station has scored $22 million in cooperative funding for a northwest New Mexico site analysis.

Data and analyses produced under the funding agreement will be used to prepare, submit and attain a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency to potentially construct a CO2 injection well, that would allow for geologic sequestration of 50 million metric tonnes of CO2. Of the total funding, $17.5 million came from the US DOE and $4.5 million is in cost sharing from the other parties to the agreement. (Source: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, PR, 4 May, 2020) Contact: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Dr. Robert Balch , Petroleum Recovery Research Centre , 575-835-5434, www.nmt.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,  ,  

USDA Forest Service
Date: 2020-05-04
USDA Forest Service reports the release of its Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals from Forest Land, Woodlands, and Urban Trees in the United States, 1990-2018 report, a state-by-state overview of carbon emissions and related trends and details on deforestation and reforestation across the 49 continental states. Estimates of carbon movement from the atmosphere into living trees, dead wood, and soil as well as state-by-state estimates of emissions from forest fires is included.

The Forest Service scientists quantified the contribution of forests, harvested wood products, and urban trees to carbon capture and storage. They found that, collectively, these natural systems account for more than 95 pct of Earth's terrestrial carbon sink. The atmospheric carbon absorbed by forests, harvested wood, and urban trees is equal to more than 11 pct of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States each year between 1990 and 2018.

Download the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals from Forest Land, Woodlands, and Urban Trees in the United States, 1990-2018 report HERE. (Source: USDA Forest Service, April, 2020) Contact: U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.usda.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  USDA Forest Service,  Carbon Emissions,  

CCS,Norcem,Aker Solutions
Date: 2020-05-04
Oslo-based HeidelbergCement subsidiary cement manufacturer Norcem is reporting as much as 400,000 tpy of carbon dioxide could be captured and stored at what is set to become the world's first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility for cement production, if government construction funding is approved. The project, which would use Aker Solutions carbon capture technology, would be constructed at a Norcem cement plant in Brevik.

The project has received necessary safety and quality certifications and could break ground in January 2021. Building the full-scale CCS system and operating it for five years is estimated to cost $1 billion. (Source: Norcem, ENR, May, 2020) Contact: Aker Solutions, Fredrik Berge, Inv. Relations, +47 22 94 62 19, fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com, www.akersolutions.com; Norcem, www.norcem.no

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aker Solutions,  CCS,  Carbon Storage,  Norcem,  Cement,  CO2,  

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Date: 2020-04-29
The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) is reporting receipt of $17.5 million in US DOE funding to study the safe storage of CO2 in underground saline reservoirs near the San Juan Generating Station. An additional $4.4 million in afunding will come from Enchant Energy and NM Tech funds.

The data obtained from the $22 million effort will be used to prepare, submit and obtain a permit to construction a Class VI well to store CO2 captured from the power plant if Enchant Energy successfully retrofits San Juan Generating Station with carbon capture technology. The Class VI wells are intended to store carbon dioxide in a safe and secure manner for at least 990 years.

Other recently funded CCS projects include:

Approximately $25.4 million for the Illinois Storage Corridor

Nearly $23.6 million for an early carbon dioxide storage complex in Kemper County, Mississippi

Roughly $25 million for a carbon dioxide storage well project in North Dakota as part of Minnkota Power's Project Tundra

About $19.1 million for a storage complex project in Campbell County, Wyoming, that would use CO2 captured from the coal-fired Dry Fork Station. (Source: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Farmington Daily Times, 27 April, 2020) Contact: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Robert Balch, Dir, Petroleum Recovery Research Center at New Mexico Tech, 575-835-5434, www.nmt.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Storage,  CCS,  CO2,  New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology ,