Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Date: 2020-01-13
In the UAE, the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reports it plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 25 pct by 2030. The company, which produced about 3 million bpd of oil and 10.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas, is currently among the five lowest greenhouse gas emitters in the oil and gas industry and has one of the lowest methane intensities in the world of 0.01 per cent, according to a release.

Additionally, ADNOC plans to scale up its carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) programme, from 800,000 tpy of captured CO2 to 5 million tpy by 2030. (Source: ADNOC, N Business, 13 Jan., 2020) Contact: ADNOC, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, +971 2 7070000. +971 2 6023389 - fax, www.adnoc.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News Abu Dhabi National Oil Company,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-01-13
"As we wrap up 2019, it's useful to take stock of the past year and keep looking ahead to the future and what we need to do to accomplish our energy goals. We need to do a lot. We are at a crucial inflection point with climate change, as is all too clear from the regular stream of updates in our news feeds every day. ExxonMobil’s annual Energy Outlook, which came out recently, discusses how the world is still offtrack to meet certain climate goals without a lot of additional effort.

"That further work means continued technology innovation. We have to keep finding and inventing solutions to the myriad of individual problems posed by the dual challenge. These different efforts -- both within and outside of our own research labs -- are all essential to moving us forward. They include the important renewables work being done with wind, solar and geothermal by so many around the world; they also include research focused on carbon capture technology and biofuels -- and everything in between. On ExxonMobil’s end, we are proud of our portfolio of innovative emission-lowering projects that have led to more than 10,000 patents in the last decade. Since 2000, we've spent $16.5 billion on this kind of R&D.

"Moving into 2020, we need to stay focused on several key themes related to solving the dual challenge: scale, speed, collaboration and training the next generation of scientists, engineers and other problem solvers. Scale is everything in our efforts. Reducing carbon emissions to fight climate change as we simultaneously deliver more and more energy to a growing world is a big job. And it's not just one job. As I said earlier this year, 'Not only are the sizes we are talking about so big they are sometimes unfathomable, but we must deploy solutions globally AND across countless end uses. It's not one equation with one unknown, but multiple equations with multiple unknowns.'

"As we work to solve for these multiple unknowns, we are pursuing projects big and small. What they share in common is the strict requirement that they must lead to a scalable solution. Energy is gigantic, from the infrastructure that supports it to the markets that drive its supply and demand. Any solution we find in the lab, however brilliant, must be ready to immediately scale.

"And it needs to happen quickly. As we know, scientific discovery is an ongoing endeavor -- you can't put a deadline on invention. But we can accelerate innovation. First, we can follow the example of parallel processing from computer science. In our labs, we don't wait for the basic science to be definitively 'concluded' (if it even can be). We start the engineering while we're still doing the science and iterate between the two. That requires collaboration between different types of researchers and innovators – between our corporate lab and government and academic labs, for example -- and that's the other way we speed up scalable solutions: with partnerships. Partnerships are a force multiplier. They are absolutely key when it comes to solving the dual challenge. When I look back on the past year, I am proud of the scope and variety of partnerships we undertook as a company. To name just a few:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (and other DOE-funded labs) -- in a 10-year, $100 million collaboration to bring advanced energy technologies to market at scale, focused on reducing carbon emissions.

IBM -- to collaborate on quantum computing that could help make energy exploration and extraction enormously efficient.

MIT Energy Initiative -- to extend our existing relationship supporting this project, which is committed to discovering new emission-reducing technology.

Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) locations in Madras and Bombay -- to continue our research with scientists and students working on the ground in India to address the energy needs and challenges on the subcontinent, including studying life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in India's power sector.

Clariant and Genomatica -- to convert residue left over from farming into biofuel that can power trucks, ships and more. Clariant has expert processes to extract sugars from agricultural leftovers like wheat straw, while Genomatica turns sugars into biofuels.

Global Thermostat -- to evaluate the scalability of their innovative carbon capture technology, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere and industrial sources.

Microsoft -- to digitally transform 1 million acres of unconventional oil and gas fields in the Permian Basin, making it the largest-ever oil and gas acreage to use cloud technology, and also making it more efficient. Energy efficiency is an often overlooked area when we think about the dual challenge.

(Source: ExxonMobil, PR, , 31 Dec., 2019) Contact: ExxonMobil, Dr. Vijay Swarup, VP Research and Development , www.linkedin.com › dr-vijay-swarup-120a95159, (972) 444-1107, www.exxonmobil.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  ExxonMobil,  Vijay Swarup ,  

Clean Air Task Force
Date: 2020-01-13
"If you were to start a large power plant or steel plant (with carbon capture facilities) today after the rules came out, it would be almost impossible to reach commenced construction in that time frame. It's not that there aren't projects we think are going to go forward, but it's the larger projects. It takes about six years from the original concept to the design and the detailed engineering and permitting and then getting to final investment decision and starting construction." -- Kurt Waltzer, Managing Dir., Clean Air Task Force,discussing delays in construction of Carbon Capture facilities, Houston Chronicle, 13 Jan., 2020.

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a research and policy centre that combines technology innovation, policy advocacy, and thought leadership expertise to leverage workable solutions to the global climate crisis. Above all, CATF are practical climate problem solvers, according to its website. Contact: Clean Air Task Force, Kurt Waltzer, 617.624.0234, 617.624.0230 - fax, info@catf.usinfo@catf.us, www.catf.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Air Task Force,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  

SakPower
Date: 2020-01-10
On the Canadian Prairies, SaskPower reports its carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at its Boundary Dam Power Station captured 57,590 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the month of December, for a total of 616,119 tonnes captured in 2019. The facility's average daily capture rate in December was 2,504 tonnes with a peak one-day capture rate of 2,863 tonnes. The facility was online 72 pct of the time, compared with an average of 70 pct for the previous 12 months.

Since first coming online in October 2014, the Boundary Dam CCS unit has captured 3,081,452 tonnes of CO2. (Source: Saskpower, Estevan Mercury, 9 Jan., 2020) Contact: SaskPower, Mike Marsh, (306) 566-2121, www.saskpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News SaskPower,  CCS,  Boundary Dam,  

Svante Inc., LafargeHolcim, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures,
Date: 2020-01-08
Burnaby, British Columbia-based Svante Inc., LafargeHolcim, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC, and Paris-based Total SA are reporting a joint study to assess the viability and design of a commercial-scale carbon-capture facility at the Holcim Portland Cement Plant in Florence, Colorado.

The study will evaluate the cost of the facility designed to use Svante's technology to capture up to 725,000 tpy of CO2 from the cement plant, which would be permanently sequestered underground by CO2 management and storage specialist Occidental.

This joint initiative follows the recently-launched Project CO2MENT between Svante, LafargeHolcim and Total in Canada at the Lafarge Richmond cement plant, where progress has been made towards re-injecting captured CO2 into concrete. (Source: Savante Website, BusinessWire, 6 Jan., 2019) Contact: Svante Inc., Claude Letourneau, , Pres., CEO, Julia McKenna , Inv. Relations, 604.456.0504, jmckenna@svanteinc.com, www.svanteinc.com; LafargeHolcim, www.lafargeholcim.com; Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, Jeff Alvarez, IR, (713) 215-7864, jeff_alvarez@oxy.com, www.oxy.com; Total SA, +33 1 47 44 46 99, www.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Total SA,  Svante Inc.,  LafargeHolcim,  Oxy Low Carbon Ventures,  CCS,  CCUS,  CO2,  Carbon Capture,  

UK Renewable Energy
Date: 2019-12-30
In London, the newly elected majority Conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed its election manifesto pledge to "enable new floating turbines" and increase the country's new offshore wind capacity from 30GW to 40GW by 2030.

The Johnson government's commitment to wind energy is part of its effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The government also confirmed its planned £800 million investment in a carbon capture storage (CCS) cluster by the mid-2020s. A further £500 million will also be provided to help energy-intensive industries move to low-carbon techniques and a low-carbon economy. (Source: BBC, Various Media,Dec., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Offshore Wind,  UK Renewable Energy,  

Heriot-Watt University
Date: 2019-12-20
In the UK, chemical engineers from Heriot-Watt University are reporting a collaboration with a team of international researchers to design materials inspired by drug design tools used by the pharmaceutical industry that could synthesise new metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) -- porous crystals that combine metal nodes with organic linkers -- that can capture CO2.

The researchers conducted experiments that mimicked real industrial operations and compared the performance of their new materials with those that are currently commercially available. According to Dr Susana Garcia, Assoc. Dir., Heriot-Watt Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, "Instead of the conventional trial and error, we computer-generated 325,000 MOFs and identified the features of the best performers. We now have the tools to tailor-make a material that will separate carbon dioxide in the most economical way for a given source, like industrial emissions, and make it available for other purposes like carbon storage or as a resource for the chemical industry." (Source: Heriot-Watt University, PR, Engineer Live, 17 Dec., 2019) Contact: Heriot-Watt University, Dr Susana Garcia, Assoc. Dir., Heriot-Watt Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, www.hw.ac.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  Carbon Emissions,  

Port of Antwerp
Date: 2019-12-20
In the Netherlands, a collaboration of eight players in the port sector -- Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, INEOS, ExxonMobil, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp and Total -- are reporting an agreement to conduct a study of the economic and technical feasibility of developing carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) at the Port of Antwerp.

The consortium believes that both storing and using carbon can make a useful contribution to achieving the energy and climate objectives at Flemish, Belgian and European level and lead to reductions in CO2 emissions in the run-up to 2030. To that end, the Port of Antwerp and a number of other partners have submitted the necessary applications to the European Commission.

The Port of Antwerp in Flanders, Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. It is Europe's second-largest seaport, after Rotterdam. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt which is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. -- Wikipedia. (Source: Port Staretegy, 18 Dec., 2019) Contact: Port of Antwerp , Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO, +32 (0)3 205 20 11, www.portofantwerp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  CCUS,  

Greenhouse Gas,Center for Biological Diversity
Date: 2019-12-18
Bill Would Pause New Fossil Fuel Leasing, Tie Future Fossil Fuel Permits to Carbon Sequestration WASHINGTON— In Washington, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.)has introduced legislation aiming to set an overall cap on greenhouse gas emissions from public lands and to achieve "net zero" emissions from public lands by 2040.

The legislation would temporarily pause all new fossil fuel leasing on public lands until the Department of the Interior develops a comprehensive strategy to achieve "net zero" emissions on these lands.

If interim benchmarks for greenhouse gas emissions reductions are not met by 2025, fossil fuel leasing, as well as drilling and other permits to develop fossil fuels on existing leases, would be curtailed until the bill's targets were achieved. Unfortunately the legislation fails to permanently end new fossil fuel leasing which would be allowed to continue even beyond 2040 if emissions resulting from federal lands fossil fuel use were sufficiently offset by carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), forest regrowth and other land-use changes, or by the deployment of large-scale renewable energy facilities on public lands.

The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, about 28 pct of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four major federal land management agencies administer 610.1 million acres of this land (Source: Center for Biological Diversity, 17 Dec., 2019) Contact: Center for Biological Diversity, www.biologicaldiversity.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  

Red Trail Energy
Date: 2019-12-13
Following on our June 16th coverage, Richardton, North Dakota-based corn ethanol producer Red Trail Energy LLC reports preparations for its carbon dioxide emissions underground storage project are underway with plans to drill a test well within the next few months. Depending on the tests results, Red Trail could start injecting CO2 by fall 2021, according to the company. (Source: Red Trail Energy, Star Tribune, 11 Dec., 2019) Contact: Red Trail Energy, Gerald Bachmeier, CEO, (701) 974-3308, www.redtrailenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Red Trail Energy,  Ethanol,  CCS,  Carbon Capture & Storage,  

University of Virginia
Date: 2019-12-11
A recently released study from the University of Virginia notes that farming, agriculture and other land practices presently contribute around 11 gigatons to CO2 emissions per year -- roughly one quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. However, the study argues that the land could actually be converted into an absorber of carbon, given the right conditions.

Among the measures recommended by the study were richer countries transitioning to plant-based diets and reducing food waste, while aiding poorer nations to curb deforestation and restore degraded land. If a concerted global effort was made, land could be absorbing three gigatons of carbon by 2050, turning one of our biggest liabilities into a helping hand in the fight against climate change. The study also recommends:

95 pct reduction in deforestation and land degradation by 2050. This would include more robust conservation policies in developing tropical countries, as well as the conversion of coastal wetlands into protected areas and the prohibition of peatland burning.

25 pct reduction in agricultural emissions by 2050. This would include introducing synthetic or organic fertilizers, enhancing the water-agriculture interface in places where rice cultivation is a primary industry and managing emissions from fermentation and manure.

50 pct adoption of plant-based diets by 2050. This would involve encouraging a healthier diet through consumer campaigns and governmental policies, as well as the development of new foodstuffs to entice unconvinced consumers.

50 pct reduction of current level of food waste by 2050. This would involve tightening up gaps in the supply chain, improving consumer awareness through advertising campaigns and enhancing refrigeration and distribution capabilities in the developing world.

Restoration of forests, coastal wetlands and drained peatlands. This would involve financing ecosystem services, improving in local and national conservation policies and investing in restoration practices.

Improving forestry and agroforestry management. This would include optimising current forestation conservation process and integrating agroforestry into lands currently used for agriculture and grazing.

Enhancing soil carbon sequestration capabilities. This would include controlling soil erosion, reducing tillage of the land and restoring degraded soils, as well as the application of biochar where appropriate.

Deploying bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in developed countries. This would involve investing into the research and development of BECCS technologies and deploying them in relevant sites. (Source: University of Virginia, Environmental Technology, 1 Dec., 2019) Contact: University of Virginia, Stephanie Roe, Environmental Researcher, Report Lead Author, 434-924-7761, www.evsc.as.virginia.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon,  Carbon Storage,  

Packard Foundation
Date: 2019-12-09
According to the newly released Global Change Biology study from the Los Altos, California-based David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the burgeoning bioenergy sector must peak and decline in the next 30 years to alleviate extreme pressure on land. The study researchers assert that projections envisioning the use of biomass from crops, trees or grasses for fuel through 2100 overlook the technology's high carbon footprint and excessive land use.

An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released last year found that many scenarios capable of reducing the threat of climate change relied heavily on bioenergy, predicting that energy from biomass could make up 26 pct of primary energy in 2050 -- up from 10 pct in 2020 -- and predicting that solar and wind combined would likely only account for 22 pct. Those scenarios often relied on significant use of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which involves growing trees across a large area of land to produce wood pellets burned for energy, then capturing and sequestering the carbon emissions. In its analysis, though, the IPCC found significant challenges associated with a high reliance on bioenergy, noting in particular that the vast areas of land required to produce biomass for energy would compete with food production and other human needs.

The Global Change Biology assessment examine a flurry of recent reports that suggest even more problems with large-scale bioenergy projects reliant on large tracts of land, and also show that more cost-effective alternatives will be available in the coming decades. Pulling from these recent studies, the authors establish three reasons why large-scale bioenergy must and can peak and decline in the next 30 years:

Large-scale bioenergy emits carbon. Carbon emissions from bioenergy can be greater in the near-term than emissions from the fossil fuels it is replacing, undermining the assumption that bioenergy is always a relatively low-emission and low-cost form of energy. Burning wood pellets, for example, creates a "double climate problem." Manufacturing and shipping wood pellets entails substantial emissions of fossil CO2, and it can take decades or centuries for harvested areas to return to pre-harvest carbon stocks.

Large-scale bioenergy puts a squeeze on land. Land is already a scarce resource, and it will become even scarcer with time due to an increase in the human population and a rise in the appreciation of the conservation value of natural and mostly-natural ecosystems--even if agricultural yields continue to increase. Because land is so limited, we should use it as efficiently as possible for energy production. In contrast to land-intensive bioenergy, the amount of electricity that can be produced from a hectare of land using photovoltaics is at least 50-100 times that from biomass.

Large-scale bioenergy is inferior to other solutions. And, by mid-century, land-intensive bioenergy will face fierce competition from superior technologies such as wind and solar energy, the development of efficient storage and other flexibility solutions, and the advent of more effective carbon removal technologies such as direct air capture with carbon storage.

The assessment comes at a time when the bioenergy industry is ramping up worldwide, with the EU in the lead. Bioenergy currently accounts for 10 pct of the world's energy, and 50 pct of our renewable energy. In the EU, bioenergy accounts for two-thirds of all renewable energy (nearly half from wood). Two-thirds of the EU's "20 pct Renewable Energy by 2020" target depends on bioenergy. And the bloc is also about to greenlight the conversion of five large coal plants to bioenergy plants that burn imported wood pellets from overseas forests.

Land-intensive electrical power projects in particular are picking up steam as governments and industry leaders seek to transform disused coal factories into new profit centers. Between 2006 and 2015, the production of wood pellets for biomass energy use quadrupled to 26 million tons. Worldwide, demand for globally traded wood pellets destined for use in phased-out coal plants or new dedicated bioenergy plants is expected to rise 250 pct by 2027.

The study lays out a bioenergy trajectory that policymakers can use to encourage sustainable bioenergy while also opening the door for new technologies to replace land-intensive bioenergy in the very near future. These recommendations include improved accounting of the actual carbon emissions associated with the use of biomass, favoring biomass from waste, residues or land management practices that enhance carbon storage, and providing incentives for energy storage, direct air capture technologies, and low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuels. Above all, the authors argue that bioenergy projects should be avoided if they involve natural forests, such as converting natural forests to bioenergy plantations, or use land best suited for food crops. And the authors caution that claims that bioenergy projects are a zero-carbon form of energy should be met with skepticism.

The Packard Foundation through 2020, will have awarded nearly $1 billion in grants to reduce carbon emissions, one of the its greatest program commitments in its 55-year history. (Source: David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Dec., 2019) Contact: David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Walt Reid, Director Conservation and Science Program, Report Author, 650-948-7658, www.packard.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bioenergy,  CO2,  CCS,  Biofuels,  Carbon Emissions,  

University of Wyoming
Date: 2019-12-06
In the Cowboy State, the Casper Star-Tribune is reporting the US DOE will partner with and fund University of Wyoming researchers in Laramie with $5 million to study the economics and technology behind carbon capturing at two of the state's coal-fired power plants -- the Dave Johnston power plant in Glenrock and the Naughton power plant in Kemmerer.

To advance the project, the University Energy Resources Council is seeking proposals for the construction of coal-based generation technology that can collect carbon emissions. Proposals until be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 14, 2020. (Source: University of Wyoming, Casper Star-Tribune, News Observer, AP, 4 Dec., 2019) Contact: University of Wyoming Energy Resources Council, Trish Steger, Executive Administrative Assistant, 307-766-6897, Fax: 307-766-6701, psteger@uwyo.edu, www.uwyo.edu/ser/about-us/energy-resources-council, www.uwyo.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News University of Wyoming ,  CO2,  Carbon Capture,  

MIT
Date: 2019-12-04
In the Bay State, MIT engineers are reporting the creation of a device to trap carbon dioxide while consuming less energy and at a lower cost than current technologies, according details published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.

The devise works much like a battery and absorbs the CO2 from the air that passes on its electrodes. And, unlike current carbon capture techniques, it works in a wide range of sizes ranges of concentrations. It could therefore be used to purify CO2 from flue gases from factories and power plants, or even extract it directly from the atmosphere.

The new MIT system contains two thin sheets of soft electrodes covered with two different chemical compounds. During charging, one of the compounds -- polyanthraquinone -- reacts with CO2 and incorporates the gas into the electrode. The idea is to let a stream of flue gas or air through the unit during charging to clean it of CO2. Once the electrode is saturated, the device would go into discharge mode and pure CO2 released could be compressed to be stored underground or used for the manufacture of fuels and other chemicals.

The system uses about one gigajoule of energy per ton of CO2 captured. Other existing methods can use up to 10 times more, according to Sahag Voskian, developer of the technology. (Source: MIT, Anthropocene Magazine, Tech Ballad, 1 Dec., 2019) Contact: MIT, Sahag Voskian, 617.253.4588, svoskian@mit.edu, www.hattongroup.mit.edu/sahag-voskian

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  Carbon Captute,  MIT,  

CCS
Date: 2019-12-04
A group of world leading maritime shipping companies and ship builders, including NYK, Sovcomflot, DSM and others, are reported to have joined forces with the København, Denmark-based Maritime Development Center to develop DecarbonICE, an on-board carbon capture and storage (CCS)solution.

The DecarbonICE concept captures ship exhaust CO2 and other GHGs in a cryogenic process and turns it into dry ice. Proven offshore technology is then applied during normal ship operations to transport the dry ice into the seafloor sediments for permanent sequestration as liquid CO2 and CO2 hydrate.

In combination with future carbon neutral fuels like biofuels and electro fuels, the DecarbonICE technology can create carbon negative shipping and thus contribute to atmospheric carbon reduction at a significantly lower cost than shore-based CCS. capture.

The shipping industry is looking for carbon free solutions to achieve the IMO 2050 target of a 50 pct CO2 emissions reduction compared to the 2008 level. (Source: Maritime Development Center, Port News, 1 Dec., 2019) Contact: Maritime Development Center, +45 33 33 74 88, www.mdc.center

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Carbon Capture & Storage,  CO2,  Maritime Emissions,  IMO,  

Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil , Shell
Date: 2019-12-04
In the Netherlands, the Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub and Offshore Storage Project (PORTHOS) is reporting a non-binding agreement with Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil and Shell to collectively work on preparations for the capture, transport and storage of carbon dioxide in Rotterdam for eventual storage in empty gas fields beneath the North Sea.

The carbon capture will take place at Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil and Shell refineries and hydrogen production facilities in Rotterdam. The transport and storage of the CO2 beneath the North Sea will be prepared by Porthos.

The Netherlands has clear climate objectives: the emission of greenhouse gases must be reduced by 49 pct by 2030 and by 95 pct by 2050 compared with 1990. One way to achieve the climate objectives is to capture CO2 for use or for storage underground (CCUS). The national coalition agreement and the national Climate Agreement underline the importance of CCUS for the energy transition. (Source: PORTHOS, Gas World, Dec., 2019) Contact: PORTHOS, +31 6 2246 6553, info@rotterdamccus.nl. www.rotterdamccus.nl/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Air Liquide,  Air Products,  CCS,  CCUS,  ExxonMobil ,  Shell ,  Carbon Capture,  

Southern California Gas ,Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Date: 2019-11-27
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and the Richland, Washington-based US DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are reporting receipt of $300,000 in US DOE funding to design, fabricate and demonstrate a modular Integrated CO2 Capture and Conversion to Methanol (ICCCM) prototype for the combined capture and conversion of CO2 into methanol at an industrial CO2 source -- electric generation or anaerobic digestion facility.

Over the next two years, the project will evaluate the compatibility of certain catalysts and solvents, design and build and test a reactor a project that would advance the development of Integrated CO2 Capture and Conversion to Methanol (ICCCM). SoCalGas has spent more than $10 million on the research and development of low or zero carbon technologies in the last three years. (Source: SoCalGas, Energy Global, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: SoCalGas, Yuri Freedman, Senior Director of Business Development, www.socalgas.com; PNNL, Dr. David Heldebrant, www.pnnl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methanol,  Carbon Capture,  ,  Southern California Gas ,  Methanol,  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,  

Ervia,Equinor
Date: 2019-11-27
On the Emerald Isle, Dublin-based utility company Ervia is reporting a MoU with Stavanger, Norway-based Equinor ASA under which the two firms will assess the potential for Ireland to benefit from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Under the MoU, Ervia will work with Equinor, a world leader in CCS technology, and the Norwegian Government's wider Northern Lights project, which aims to drive CCS development across Europe. If successful, the project would see carbon emissions from Ireland's electricity production and large industry captured and sequestered in Norway's geological reserves in the North Sea. Northern Lights project partners include ArcelorMittal, Air Liquide, Shell, Total, Equinor and others. (Source: Ervia, Chemical Engineering, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Ervia, Cathal Marley, Interim CEO , www.ervia.ie; Equinor ASA, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ervia,  CCS,  Equinor,  

Qatar Science & Technology Park,Total
Date: 2019-11-25
Reporting from the Qatar Science & Technology Park, Total Research Centre-Qatar (TRC-Q) is announcing the launch of two new research projects using locally sourced microalgae to produce sustainable biofuels and for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). The Centre is also collaborating with Hamad Bin Khalifa University's Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute to develop various clean energy technologies, products and solutions.

According to the release, TRC-Q currently has projects for analytical organic geochemistry and acid stimulation of wells to improve production, as well as flagship projects related to sustainable development, marine biodiversity biofuels and solar energy Microalgae is a promising pathway to sustainable Biofuels and TRC-Q is working with QU and universities and research organisations in the Netherlands, France and China to explore biofuels, as an option for limiting transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to the release. (Source: Total Research Centre-Qatar, Gulf Times, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Total, www.total.com/en; Total Research Centre-Qatar, Yousef al-Jaber, Dir., www.afaq.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Algae news,  Microalgae.Biofuel news,  

MMA Offshore
Date: 2019-11-20
Freemantle, WA-based MMA Offshore Limited is reporting three new multi-vessel contract awards and extensions from AGR Australia and Esso.

Two of the contracts will support a project exploring commercial-scale carbon capture and storage in Australia -- including the CarbonNet Offshore Appraisal Well Drilling Programme which is part of the Victoria State Government's CarbonNet Project. MMA Offshore's contract is expected to commence in late November, lasting approximately 45 days.

The CarbonNet Project is exploring the viability of commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) from multiple CO2 capture projects. (Source: MMA Offshore, Riviera, Nov., 2019) Contact: MMA Offshore, David Ross, CEO, +61 8 9431 7431, +61 8 9431 7432, www.mmaoffshore.com

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

COAL21
Date: 2019-11-20
In the Land Down Under, COAL21, Australia's largest industrial low emissions technology fund, reports it will provide additional funding towards establishing the country's first commercial scale carbon capture hub in Queensland.

The new funding will support consideration of a final investment decision for construction of a $150 (Aus) million carbon capture plant at the Millmerran Power Station as part of the Carbon Transport and Storage Company's estimated $230 million, scalable Integrated Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) project in the Surat Basin. When fully operational, the facility will remove and store emissions equivalent to to the emissions 25,000 cars per year over the project's potential 25-30-year life, according to COAL21.

According to COAL21, the investment will provide: an emissions reduction solution for carbon exposed industries in southern Queensland; improved energy security in the national electricity market; and the foundation of a commercially competitive emission reduction and removal solution for new high efficiency low emission power stations, as well as emissions reduction infrastructure, for Australian industries.

COAL21 is a $550 million low emission technology fund established by the Australia black coal industry with the purpose of investing in research and deployment of carbon reduction technologies.

The Surat Basin investment continues more than a decade of COAL21 investing in low emission technologies, including a world first project that demonstrated carbon capture technology can be applied to coal-fired power stations to generate electricity with low emissions -- the Callide Oxyfuel project. (Source: COAL21, International Mining, 19 Nov., 2019) Contact: COAL21, www.coal21.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  Coal,  

TOTAL, Qatar University
Date: 2019-11-20
French energy giant TOTAL and Qatar University's Center for Sustainable Development in Doha are reporting the launch of two research projects for the investigation of micro-algae for biofuels production and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). Both projects are sponsored by Total R & D Group and will be performed at Qatar University.

The partnership supports the investigation into sustainable solutions to support the increasing global requirements for biofuels, lubricants, and raw materials, whilst capturing carbon dioxide.

According to TOTAL, algae are sustainable sources of biomass which can be used for a multitude of applications including biofuels production and CO2 sequestration using non-arable lands. (Source: Qatar University, TOTAL, MENAFN, 19 Nov., 2019) Contact: TOTAL Research Center Qatar University, Yousef Al Jaber, Director, +974 4403 3333, www.qu.edu.qa; TOTAL, Marie-Noelle Semeria, Snr. VP, Group CTO, https://fr.linkedin.com › marie-noëlle-semeria-859b8897, www.total.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Algae,  Algae Biofuel,  TOTAL,  CCUS ,  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: 2019-10-30
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers are reporting a new technology to capture CO2 and other greenhouse gases from a stream of air. While most methods of removing CO2 from a stream of gas require higher concentrations -- such as those found in the flue emissions from fossil fuel-based power plants -- the new MIT method requires significantly smaller concentrations and little energy to suck out the gas even when present in very low concentrations, according to the MIT release.

The researchers described the device as a large, specialized battery with a stack of electrodes that absorbs CO2 from the air passing over its surface as it was being charged, and then released the gas as it was being discharged.

According to the researchers, the pure CO2 stream could be compressed and sequestered underground or processed into fuel through a series of chemical and electro-chemical processes. (Source: MIT, The Tribune, Press Trust India, 29 Oct., 2019) Contact: MIT, Sahag Voskian, 617.253.4588, 617.253.8723 - fax, svoskian@mit.edu, www.hattongroup.mit.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,  

Oil and Gas Climate Initiative
Date: 2019-10-28
In London, the thirteen-member Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is reporting a $1 billion commitment to support the goals of the Paris Climate Accord -- including investments in carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and supporting carbon taxes and economic incentives aimed at reducing emissions.

Initially, OGCI will help decarbonize multiple industrial hubs in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands and China. The OGCI also aims to build on the industry's reduction in methane emissions (9 pct in 2018) and to include carbon emissions in hope that future temperature increases will not exceed 2 degrees Celsius. To complement its methane emissions-intensity target, OGCI seeks to reduce collective average carbon intensity by 2025.

The OGCI member companies -- BP, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Occidental, Pemex, Petrobras, Repsol, Saudi Aramco, Shell and Total -- account for 32 pct of global operated oil and gas production, according to the OGCI website. (Source: OGCI, Alex Mills, Tims Record News, 28 Oct., 2019) Contact: Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, +44 (0)203 922 0853, contact@climateinvestments.energy, www.oilandgasclimateinitiative.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Oil and Gas Climate Initiative ,  

International Energy Agency
Date: 2019-10-28
"We must accelerate the deployment of all low-carbon technologies, from renewables to nuclear power to carbon capture, utilization and storage." -- Dr. Fatih Birol, Exec. Dir. International Energy Agency, +33 1 40 57 65 00, www.iea.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  International Energy Agency,  

ExxonMobil,MIT Energy Initiative
Date: 2019-10-21
Irving, Texas-headquartered oil giant ExxonMobil reports it has extended its support of the MIT Energy Initiative's (MITEI) low-carbon energy research and education mission by renewing its status as a founding member for another five years. ExxonMobil first signed on as a member of the initiative in 2014.

With its renewed membership, ExxonMobil will: extend its membership in MITEI's Center for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage CCUS; join MITEI's Center for Energy Storage, which seeks to develop new energy storage technologies for use in renewables-heavy electric power systems, electricity-powered transportation, and other applications; and join MITEI's Mobility Systems Center, its newest Low-Carbon Energy Center.

Among MITEI projects supported by ExxonMobil is a new multi-level energy assessment tool, the Sustainable Energy System Analysis Modelling Environment, which assesses lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from various energy sectors. Other ExxonMobil-supported MITEI research includes an assessment of the future role for carbon capture and storage (CCS)technology in a portfolio of climate mitigation options and a project that models the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of solar power and demonstrates its low carbon intensity.

ExxonMobil will also continue to support energy education through MITEI's undergraduate and graduate programs, including the Energy Fellows Program, which enables graduate students to engage in research in low-carbon energy areas of their choice and prepares them for careers addressing energy and climate challenges.(Source: ExxonMobil, PR, 21 Oct., 2019) Contact: ExxonMobil , Robert Armstrong, www.exxonmobil.com, www.twitter.com/exxonmobil; MIT Energy Initiative, Louis Carranza, Assoc. Dir., energy.mit.edu

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

Air Liquide,ArcelorMittal
Date: 2019-10-18
Paris-headquartered Air Liquide reports it is partnering with steel maker ArcelorMittal and its partner LanzaTech in the first industrial scale demonstration plant to capture CO2 from the steelmaking process and recycle it into advanced bioethanol.

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will provide a technology solution that purifies blast furnace offgas which will be injected into a bioreactor to produce bioethanol.

The project, which is supported by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, will be constructed ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Ghent, Belgium and is slated to become operational at the end of 2020 when it will produce 80 million lpy bioethanol. (Source: Air Liquide, PR, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: Air Liquide, Corporate Communications, +33 (0)1 40 62 58 49, media@airliquide.com, www.airliquide.com; LanzaTech, Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, (630) 439-3050, jennifer@lanzatech.com, www.lanzatech.com; ArcelorMittal, Alan Knight, Corporate Responsibility GM, +32 9 347 31 11, www.corporate.arcelormittal.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Air Liquide,  LanzaTech,  ArcelorMittal,  Bioethanol,  LanzaTech,  

Aroura Energy Research
Date: 2019-10-18
In a recently published report, Oxford, UK-headquartered Aurora Energy Research notes the UK will need more than 100GW of additional wind and solar capacity and 30GW of short duration energy storage to meet its net-zero grid system obligations.

The report presupposes capacity increases of more than 100GW of solar and wind, rising from 33GW today to more than 140GW in 2050, as well as 20GW of new nuclear and the inclusion of 3GW of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the system.

In this scenario, there could be an 'excess' in renewable generation of 185TWh by 2050. Aurora suggests this could be used to produce hydrogen to decarbonise heating, transport or industry, however. To meet these necessary increases in storage and flexibility, Aurora has called on government, Ofgem, and the system operator to follow three principles: price the externalities, define the system needs and to let the market decide.

Aurora Energy Research is a consultancy which offers data-driven analytics on European and global energy markets to provide intelligence on the global energy transformation through forecasts, reports, forums and consultancy services. (Source: Aroura Energy Research, Current News UK, 16 Oct., 2019) Contact: Aurora Energy Research, Ana Barillas, Principal, Richard Howard, Research Director, +44 (0) 1865 952 700, oxfordoffice@auroraer.com, www.auroraer.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  

Qatar
Date: 2019-10-09
In Qatar, the Ministery of State for Energy Affairs reports the commissioning of a previously unannounced carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility aimed at storing as much as 5 million tonnes of carbon from Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities by 2025.

According to the Ministry announcement, the 2.1 million tpy capacity facility is the region's largest such facility. (Source: Qatar Ministery of State for Energy Affairs, The Peninsula, Reuters, 8 Oct., 2019) Contact: Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs, www.gco.gov.qa › ministries › minister-of-state-for-energy-affairs

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Carbon Capture,  CO2,  Qatar,  

International CCS Knowledge Centre
Date: 2019-10-09
Tokyo-based Japan CCS Co., Ltd. and the Regina, Saskatchewan-headquartered International CCS Knowledge Centre are reporting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining plans to collaborate on accelerating the use and understanding of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCS/CCUS).

Japan CCS Co., Ltd. is conducting the Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Project to demonstrate the viability of full-chain CCS in Japan. The International CCS Knowledge Centre will share the experience and lessons-learned from the construction, operation and maintenance of SaskPower's Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility - the world's first commercial scale, post-combustion CCS facility on a coal-fired power plant.

The International CCS Knowledge Centre was established by BHP and SaskPower with a mandate to advance the global understanding and deployment of large-scale CCS to reduce global GHG emissions. (Source: Japan CCS, International CCS Knowledge Centre, PR, 8 Oct., 2019) Contact: International CCS Knowledge Centre , Mike Monea, President & CEO, www.ccsknowledge.com; Japan CCS Co., Ltd., www.japanccs.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News International CCS Knowledge Centre,  CCS,  Boundry Dam,  Saskpower,  ,  

ION Clean Energy,Nebraska Public Power District
Date: 2019-10-02
Boulder, Colorado-based solvent-based CO2 capture technology specialist ION Clean Energy, Inc. reports it has been selected by the U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and awarded $5.4 million to complete a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study for a 600-mw equivalent, CO2 capture system designed to be retrofitted into Nebraska Public Power District's (NPPD) Gerald Gentleman Station in Sutherland, NE.

The project will provide critical data and insight into the transformative potential of ION's CO2 capture technology when deployed at existing coal-fired power plants.

ION Clean Energy is commercializing its proprietary liquid absorbent process and working with local and global partners to commercialize and deploy its CO2 capture technology. (Source: ION Energy, PR, 1 Oct., 2019) Contact: ION Clean Energy, Alfred "Buz" Brown, CEO, 303.997.7097, info@ioncleanenergy.com, , www.ioncleanenergy.com; Nebraska Public Power District, Pat Pope, CEO, Pres., www.nppd.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Nebraska Public Power District,  ION Clean Energy,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  

MEG Energy
Date: 2019-10-02
On the Canadian prairies, Calgary-based MEG Energy reports it is seeking government support for a new carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project that aims to erase emissions from its oil sands facility and possibly from other nearby oil-producing operations.

The company is hoping to have an operational pilot project within two years but has not released costing or other details. (Source:, MEG Energy, CBC, 1 Oct., 2019) Contact: MEG Energy, Derek Evans, CEO, 403-770-0446, www.megenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  

DTE Energy
Date: 2019-09-27
In the Motor City, DTE Energy reports it is committing to achieve net carbon neutrality by the year 2050. To that end, the Detroit utility plans to work on carbon capture and sequestration CCS), energy storage storage technologies, and even "advanced modular nuclear" technology, according to DTE COO Trevor Lauer. (Source: DTE, Michigan NPR, 26 Sept., 2019)Contact: DTE Energy, Trevor Lauer, Pres., COO, Irene Dimitry, VP Business Planning & Development, (313) 235-9994, dimitryi@dteenergy.com, www2.dteenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News DTE Energy,  Carbon Neutral ,  

US DOE,DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2019-09-23
The U.S. DOE is announcing 32 winners for $56.5 million in federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects for advanced coal technologies and research under six separate funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). The projects further the (Trump) Administration's commitment to strengthening clean coal technologies and cover a range of topics, including carbon capture, utilization, and storage; rare earth element recovery; coal to products; crosscutting coal R&D; steam turbine efficiency; and advanced materials. The awards are as follows:

$10 million for ten projects under DE-FOA-0001992, Maximizing the Coal Value Chain. The projects will develop innovative uses of domestic coal for upgraded coal-based feedstocks used to produce power and make steel and for producing high-value products from coal or coal by-products.

$11.9 million under DE-FOA-0001996, Advancing Steam Turbines for Coal Boilers. The two projects selected under this FOA seek to improve the performance of steam-based power cycles, resulting in lower cost electricity with reduced emissions per megawatt-hour from coal fueled boilers.

$9.3 million for ten projects under DE-FOA-0002001, Crosscutting Research for Coal-Fueled Power Plants. This effort supports DOE's Crosscutting Research Program, which develops technologies that can be applied to a range of fossil energy uses.

$5 million under DE-FOA-0002002, Advanced Materials for High-Efficiency, Flexible and Reliable Coal-Fueled Power Plants. DOE selected five projects to support its Crosscutting Research program, which fosters the development and deployment of innovative systems for improving efficiency and environmental performance.

3 projects will receive up to $15 million under DE-FOA-0002003, Process Scale-Up and Optimization/Efficiency Improvements for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Critical Materials (CM) Recovery from United States Coal-Based Resources.

2 projects will receive $5.3 million under DE-FOA-0001998, Transformational Sensing Systems for Monitoring the Deep Subsurface. This award seeks to reduce uncertainty of and enable real-time decision-making associated with subsurface carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. The selected projects support DOE's Carbon Storage Research Program by improving characterization and prediction of subsurface fluid movement and enhancing real-time measurement of critical subsurface properties.

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)will manage the selected projects. (Source: US DOE, 20 Sept., 2019) Contact: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy, www.energy.gov/fe; NETL, www.netl.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE Office of Fossil Energy,  NETL,  Coal,  Clean Coal,  US DOE,  

South African National Energy Development Institute,Global CCS Institute.
Date: 2019-09-20
The Sandon, South Africa-based South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) reports it has joined the Melbourne, Australia-headquartered Global CCS Institute. The move is intended to further the activities of the South African Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (SACCCS), a division of SANEDI.

SANEDI's international membership includes governments, global corporations, private companies, research bodies and HGOs that are committed to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as an integral part of a net-zero emissions future.

The South African government has pledged to cut its total CO2 emissions through increased energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear, cleaner mobility and CCS and others. (Source: SANEDI, ESI Africa, 18 Sept., 2019) Contact: SANDEI, Barry Bredenkamp, General Manager, +27 11 038 4300, www.sanedi.org.za; Global CCS Institute. +61 3 8620 7300, , www.globalccsinstitute.com

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

Carbon Engineering,
Date: 2019-09-20
In British Columbia, Canada, Squamish-based C Carbon Engineering Ltd. (CE)reports it is expanding the capacity of the design for its first commercial Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant from 500,000 tpy, to an expected one million tpy of CO2 removed from the atmosphere and permanently stored underground each year.

The plant is being engineered Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (OLCV), a subsidiary of Occidental and a leader in safe CO2 management and injection. Construction is slated to begin in 2021 for completion and commissioning within approximately two years.

CE's technology captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere so it can be stored permanently underground, or synthesized into transportation fuels. The company's pilot plant in Squamish began operations in 2015 and has been converting captured CO2 into fuels since 2017. (Source: Carbon Engineering, PR, 17 Sept., 2019) Contact: Carbon Engineering, Steve Oldham, CEO, www.carbonengineering.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Engineering,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Capture,  CO2,  

CO2 Solutions Inc
Date: 2019-09-18
Quebec-based enzyme-enabled carbon capture specialist CO2 Solutions Inc reports it has filed a notice of intention to make a proposal pursuant to the provisions of Part III of the Canadian Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Ernst and Young Inc. has been appointed as trustee and will assist CO2 Solutions in its restructuring efforts.

CO2 Solutions' technology lowers the cost barrier to Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) positioning it as a viable CO2 mitigation tool, as well as enabling industry to derive profitable new products from these emissions. The company has an extensive patent portfolio covering the use of carbonic anhydrase, or analogues thereof, for the efficient post-combustion capture of carbon dioxide with low-energy aqueous solvents. (Source: CO2 Solutions, Inc., PR, CNW/Telbec, Sept. 16, 2019) Contact: CO2 Solutions Inc., Richard Surprenant, CEO, Jeremie Lavoie, (418) 842-3456, ext. 223, jeremie.lavoie@co2solutions.com, www.co2solutions.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2 Solutions Inc.,  Carbon Capture,  CO2,  CCUS,  

US DOE,NETL
Date: 2019-09-16
The U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has announced approximately $110 million in federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects under three funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). Approximately $75M is for awards selected under two FOAs announced earlier this fiscal year; $35M is for a new FOA.

These FOAs further the (Trump) Administration's commitment to strengthening coal while protecting the environment. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is increasingly becoming widely accepted as a viable option for coal-fired energy sources or gas-fired power plants and other industrial sources to lower their CO2 emissions.

Under the first FOA award, Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) Studies for Carbon Capture Systems on Coal and Natural Gas Power Plants, DOE has selected nine projects to receive $55.4 million for cost-shared R&D. The selected projects will support FEED studies for commercial-scale carbon capture systems.

Under the second FOA award, Regional Initiative to Accelerate CCUS Deployment, DOE selected four projects to receive up to $20 million for cost-shared R&D. The projects also advance existing R&D by addressing key technical challenges; facilitating data collection, sharing, and analysis; evaluating regional infrastructure; and promoting regional technology transfer.

Under the new FOA, , DOE is announcing up to $35 million for cost-shared R&D projects that will accelerate wide-scale deployment of CCUS through assessing and verifying safe and cost-effective anthropogenic CO2 commercial-scale storage sites, and carbon capture and/or purification technologies. These types of projects have the potential to take advantage of the 45Q tax credit for each ton of CO2 sequestered or utilized. The credit was recently increased to $35/metric ton for enhanced oil recovery and $50/metric ton for geologic storage.

Projects selected under this new FOA shall perform the following key activities: complete a detailed site characterization of a commercial-scale CO2 storage site (50 million metric tons of captured CO2 within a 30 year period); apply and obtain an underground injection control class VI permit to construct an injection well; complete a CO2capture assessment; and perform all work required to obtain a National Environmental Policy Act determination for the site.

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory NETL) will manage the selected projects. (Source: US DOE, Office of Fossil Energy, PR, 13 Sept., 2019)Contact: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy. www.energy.gov/fe/foa-2058-front-end-engineering-design-feed-studies-carbon-capture-systems-coal-and-natural-gas, www.energy.gov/fe; NETL, www.netl.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NETL,  CCS,  US DOE,  CCUS,  CO2,  Office of Fossil Energy,  

Abu Dhabi,Carbon Emissions
Date: 2019-09-13
In Abu Dhabi, the UAE Energy Ministry reports the oil-soaked nation is planning to generate 50 pct of its energy from renewable sources and slash its carbon emissions by 70 pct by the year 2050 while not "diminishing its role as a supplier of hydrocarbons."

To that end, in February 2018, Abu Dhabi created the Department of Energy to act as a regulator and policy maker for the country's energy sector. The country also implemented significant structural reforms in the energy sector and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Group (ADNOC) has announced plans to invest $1.8bn by 2023 in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other measures to reduce carbon emissions.(Source: ADNOC, Oil & Gas, Sept., 2019) Contact: ADNOC Group, www.adnoc.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  

BHP Billiton
Date: 2019-09-13
In the Land Down Under, mining giant BHP Billiton is touting a five-year plan that will see the company spend $400 million on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other technologies and measures to reduce carbon emissions. The plan also ties the group's executives remuneration packages closer to meeting environmental targets.

According to Group CEO Andrew Mackenzie, "For many years performance against emissions targets has been considered in BHP's executive remuneration plan. From next financial year we will clarify and strengthen this link and further reinforce the strategic importance of action to reduce emissions."

On Dec. 8, 2017, Dr. Fiona Wild, BHP VP for Sustainability and Climate Change, noted "We have knowledge of geology, markets and economics, so there's probably something we can bring to the table here in terms of our understanding around CCS to try to push this technology down the cost curve so it can be more readily available at scale and affordable costs." (Source: BHP, Western Australian, July, 2019) Contact: BHP Billiton, Dr. Fiona Wild, VP Sustainability and Climate Change, +61 3 9609 3333, www.bhpbilliton.com, www.bhp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BHP Billiton news,  Climate Change news,  

Equinor,Ervia
Date: 2019-09-06
In Dublin, the Irish state utility company Ervia reports it has inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Norwegian firm Equinor -- f.k.a. Statoil -- to undertake research on the potential for Ireland to benefit from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Under the MoU, Eriva will work with Equinor and the Norwegian Government's wider "Northern Lights" project which aims to drive CCS development across Europe. If successful, this would see carbon emissions from Ireland's electricity production and large industry captured and exported via ship to be permanently stored in Norway's geological reserves in the North Sea.

Ervia, previously known as Bord Gais or Bord Gais Eireann, is a multi-utility company distributing pipeline natural gas, water services and dark fiber services in Ireland. (Source: Business Irish, Ervia, 5 Sept., 2019) Contact: Ervia, Cathal Marley, CEO, +44 01 823 0300www.ervia.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Equinor,  Bord Gais,  CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  

Oil & Gas Technology Center
Date: 2019-09-04
In the UK, the Aberdeen-based Oil & Gas Technology Center (OGTC) , in partnership with industry, reports it will create a new Net-Zero Solution Center to accelerate the development and deployment of technologies to de-carbonize offshore operations and develop the UKCS as the first net-zero oil and gas basin globally, supporting the industry's Roadmap 2035.

The Center will focus on developing technologies to reduce operational carbon emissions, working with other parts of the energy sector to create integrated solutions and re-purposing infrastructure to accelerate carbon capture usage and storage, hydrogen production and gas-to-wire capacity.

BP, Shell, Wood, Chrysaor, Aker Solutions, INEOS, CNOOC International, Total, Siemens and Equinor are among the project's backers. (Source: Offshore Engineering, OGUK, PR, 3 Sept., 2019) Contact: Oil & Gas Technology Center, Colette Cohen, CEO, +44 1224 063200, www.theogtc.com

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

ExxonMobil, Mosaic Materials
Date: 2019-08-28
Irving, Texas-headquartered petroleum and energy giant ExxonMobil reports it is partnering with US-based Mosaic Materials Inc. to explore breakthrough technologies that can remove carbon dioxide from emissions sources. The two companies will evaluate opportunities for industrial uses of the technology at scale.

ExxonMobil V.P for R&D, Vijay Swarup, noted "New technologies in carbon capture will be critical enablers for us to meet growing energy demands, while reducing emissions. Our agreement with Mosaic expands our carbon capture technology research portfolio, which is evaluating multiple pathways -- including evaluation of carbonate fuel cells and direct air capture -- to reduce costs and enable large-scale deployment."

Mosaic's technology utilizes porous solids known as metal-organic frameworks to selectively remove impurities such as CO2 from gas mixtures in an array of applications from submarines to power plants, according to the company website.

With a working interest in approximately 20 pct of the world's total carbon capture capacity, ExxonMobil has been able to capture about 7 million tpy of carbon dioxide and has cumulatively captured more of it than any other company since 1970, according to the company. (Source: ExxonMobil, TradeArabia News Service, 27 Aug., 2019)Contact: ExxonMobil, Vijay Swarup, VP ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co., William M. Colton, VP Strategic Planning, www.exxonmobil.com; Mosaic Materials, John Husk, VP, Bus. Dev., www.mosaicmaterials.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Exxon,  Mosaic Materials,  CO2,  CCS,  Carbon Capture,  

Boundary Dam,SaskPower
Date: 2019-08-23
On the Canadian Prairies, SaskPower and the Estvan Mercury are reporting the carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at SaskPower's Boundary Dam Power Station captured 80,530 tonnes of CO2 in July -- an average of 2,598 tpd with a peak one-day capture rate of 2,871 tonnes.

The 80,530 tonnes of CO2 captured in July marked about 80 pct capacity for CO2 for the second consecutive month. The 12-month average for tonnes of CO2 captured was 51,297 tonnes, or about 51 pct.

Since start-up in October 2014, the facility has captured over 2.8 million tonnes of CO2. (Source: SaskPower, Estevan Mercury, 21 Aug., 2019) Contact: SaskPower, Mike Marsh, Pres., CEO, (306) 566-2121, www.saskpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News SaskPower,  CCS,  Boundary Dam,  

Public Service Co. of New Mexico,Enchant Energy
Date: 2019-08-19
In an effort to avoid the scheduled 2022 shut down of Public Service Co. of New Mexico's (PSNM) coal-fired San Juan Generating Station, Farmington New Mexico city officials are reporting an agreement with Enchant Energy Corp., also of Farmington.

Under the agreement, the city would keep its 5 pct share in the plant and Enchant Energy Corp. would acquire a 95 pct ownership interest from other utilities that will be divesting in the plant. Enchant Energy would also pay for installation of new emissions equipment and carbon capture technology. The company anticipates an estimated $1.23 billion investment in the project but notes it could benefit from federal tax credits associated with investments in carbon-capture technology.

Enchant Energy seeks to capture CO2 for sequestration purposes and electricity production by investing in state-of-the-art environmental technology at San Juan Generating Station. These activities are intentionally designed to further New Mexico's dual goals of substantially reducing its statewide CO2 output and supporting New Mexico's economy by employing hundreds of people in San Juan County and on the Navajo Nation by providing reliable, low-cost wholesale electricity, according to the company website. (Source: Public Service Co. of New Mexico, Durango Herald, AP, 17 Aug., 2019) Contact: Public Service Co. of New Mexico, Pat O'Connell, Dir. Resource Planning, (505) 241-2700, www.pnm.com; Enchant Energy, Jason Selch, CEO, (505) 436-1828, info@enchantenergy.com, (505) 436-1828, www.enchantenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enchant Energy,  Public Service Co. of New Mexico,  Coal,  CCS,  

National Carbon Capture Center
Date: 2019-08-16
The U.S. DOE National Carbon Capture Center reports French energy major player TOTAL has joined its ranks. TOTAL is the second major oil and gas producer to sponsor the center -- following ExxonMobil in 2018. Active in more than 130 countries, TOTAL produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity.

The National Carbon Capture Center serves as a neutral research and testing facility to advance technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-based power plants.

Through the evaluation of over 60 technologies, the Center has already reduced the projected cost of carbon capture from fossil generation by one-third, according to the Center which is currently adding infrastructure to expand testing of carbon capture technologies for natural gas power plants.

National Carbon Capture Center partners include DOE and its National Energy Technology Laboratory, American Electric Power, ClearPath, the Electric Power Research Institute, ExxonMobil, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Tennessee Valley Authority, Peabody Energy and Wyoming Infrastructure Authority.

The National Carbon Capture Center is operated by the Southern Company and to date has worked more than 30 organizations from seven countries to evaluate and scale up emerging carbon capture technologies. (Source: National Carbon Capture Center , PR, AAAS, 15 Aug., 2019) Contact: National Carbon Capture Center, John Northington, Dir., Marc Willis, (202) 586-3628, marc.willis@hq.doe.gov, www.nationalcarboncapturecenter.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL,  National Carbon Capture Center,  TOTAL,  Carbon Capture,  

LanzaTech,Novo Holdings,Novozymes.
Date: 2019-08-12
Biotechnology specialist LanzaTech, the developer of microbe-based carbon capture and recycling systems that changes carbon-based waste into usable ethanol, is reporting an investment from Novo Holdings, the parent company of Novozymes.

The new Novo Holdings funding will enable LanzaTech to leverage intellectual property held by a subsidiary of Novo Holdings, Novozymes. The result of this partnership should see Lanzatech expanding its production to include other fuels than just ethanol. At its current level of production, LanzaTech estimates it could capture the equivalent of 70,000 vehicles on the world's roads.

LanzaTech aims to develop a circular system where the microbes convert waste products into ethanol, which is then used to fuel the same machinery that produced the waste. (Source: LanzaRech, Cloud Wedge, 8 Aug., 2019) Contact: LanzaTech, Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, (630) 439-3050, jennifer@lanzatech.com, www.lanzatech.com; Novozymes, Peder Holk Nielsen, President and CEO, Tina Sejersgard Fano, VP Bioenergy, +45 44 46 00 00, www.novozymes.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Novozymes,  LanzaTech,  Carbon Capture,  

Oslor Norway,Carbon Emissions
Date: 2019-08-12
The Norwegian capital city of Oslo -- pop. 634,200 +- -- reports it has targeted a 95 pct reduction in carbon dioxide emission by the year 2030 but did not reveal the anticipated costs of reaching it goal. The target of 95 percent is compared to 2009 emissions.

To reach its goal, the city government wants all vehicles in the city to be "emission free," although they did not want to go so far as to talk of an outright ban on petrol and diesel cars. Oslo is this year's European Green Capital and the municipality also wants to reduce car traffic overall by a third compared to 2015, emphasising public transport, bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways. The city has also a carbon capture and storage mechanism at a city waste incineration plant.

Oslo mayor Raymond Johansen described his city's goal as the "most ambitious climate strategy of any major city in the world," (Source: City of Oslo, ET Auto, AFP, 10 Aug, 2019) Contact: City of Oslo, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo

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

CarbonCure Technology
Date: 2019-08-09
Nova Scotia-based Canadian clean technology innovator CarbonCure Technologies (CarbonCure) and industrial gases specialist Linde, the world's largest industrial gas supplier, have partnered to introduce CarbonCure Technology to Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

The CarbonCure Technology enhances the competitiveness of the concrete industry through improved production efficiency and sustainability. The technology injects a precise dosage of captured waste carbon dioxide (CO2) into concrete during production. Once introduced, the CO2 chemically converts to a nano-mineral, creating manufacturing efficiencies while reducing the concrete's carbon footprint.

The CarbonCure Technology is presently installed in nearly 150 concrete plants in North America and Southeast Asia, with more than 2.3 million cubic meters of concrete supplying a wide range of construction projects from airports, roads to high-rise towers.

CarbonCure, the world leader in carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology used in the production of concrete, is on a pathway to reduce 500 megatons of CO2 emissions annually. CarbonCure technology is estimated to be a $400 billion market opportunity with the potential to reduce up to 1.4 gigatons of annual CO2 emissions by 2030, according to the Global CO2 Initiative. (Source: CarbonCure, PR, 8 Aug., 2019) Contact: CarbonCure Technologies, Robert Niven, CEO, (902) 442-4020, info@carboncure.com, www.carboncure.com; Linde, www.linde.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCU,  Carbon Capture & Utilization,  CarbonCure Technology,  Concrete,  Linde,  Cement,  

UK National Grid
Date: 2019-08-09
According to the UK National Grid's latest Future Energy Scenarios (FES) report, Great Britain could reach net-zero carbon in its electricity grid by 2050 -- if "immediate action" is taken across all key energy technology and policy areas, such as increased energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage (CCS), and "at a significantly greater scale than assumed."

The report outlines five "credible pathways and scenarios for the future of energy" over the next 30 years. Two of the scenarios meet the country's old 2050 target of an 80 pct reduction in GHG emissions by 2050, and a new "standalone sensitivity analysis on how net-zero carbon emissions could potentially be achieved by 2050."

The report notes that achieve net-zero, British homes would need to use at least one-third less energy for heating by 2050 than today, while the electricity system would need to operate using only zero-carbon generation, and the power sector would need to deliver negative emissions, using technologies like biomass and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS).

Report details HERE. (Source: UK National Grid, July, 2019) Contact: UK National Grid, Kayte O'Neill, Head of Strategy and Regulation, www2.nationalgrid.com/uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK National Grid,  Net-Zero Carbon,  CCUS,  CCS,  CO2,