AEGIS Hedging Solutions
Date: 2022-01-05
In the Lone Star State, The Woodlands-based AEGIS Hedging Solutions is reporting the acquisition of Houston-headquartered Emission Advisors, a leader in the environmental markets.

Emission Advisors works with companies across multiple sectors to understand, purchase, sell, and retire voluntary and compliance offsets in multiple environmental markets including: voluntary carbon offsets; emission reduction credits (ERCs); carbon allowances (California Cap and Trade Program and RGGI; regional emissions markets (Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Mass Emissions Cap and Trade Program and Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM); renewable energy Certificates (RECs); Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits; RINS under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program; and Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) allowances. The company provides structured environmental compliance, brokerage, consulting, and portfolio optimization services to a large diverse client base.

AEGIS simplifies commodity and environmental markets for companies serious about managing their commodity exposures and/or emission footprints. AEGIS has unmatched technology and expertise to deliver market insights, tailored hedge strategies, efficient trade execution, and full-cycle management of hedge positions -- all designed for regulatory compliance. (Source: AEGIS Hedging Solutions, PR, 5 Jan., 2021) Contact: AEGIS Hedging Solutions, Bryan Sanbury, CEO; Emission Advisors , Mike Taylor , 713-385-3321, mtaylor@aegis-hedging.com, www.aegis-hedging.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News AEGIS Hedging Solutions ,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Market,  Carbon Offset,  

Spades Touts Climate Resilience Enterprise (Ind. Report)
Date: 2022-01-05
Minneapolis-based specific benefit for profit corporation Spades reports it is developing three new tree planting projects involving 1,000,000 acres, 100 million trees, and 100 million MT of sequestered carbon, with dozens of projects in its pipeline. Spades biotechnology increases tree survival to improve climate resilience, investor returns, local economic development and provide returns via carbon offsets timber, and agroforestry.

Spades proprietary solutions include Terrazone™ which helps fit people and land, negotiating between competing rural land uses, including the protection of habitat; Ecofit™biotech helps select the right combination of local tree species for current and future environments; engagement with the largest tree grower network in the world and local governments; and balanced finance to help unlock higher returns for investors, donors, and local landowners, applying monitoring and standards to track outcomes for 50 years.

Spades projects are open to diverse habitats and locations, from temperate to tropical, coastlines to highlands, in developed and developing nations. The first three projects are in Africa and Latin America.

Established in 2019, Spades is committed to developing profitable projects to reforest the world. Our vision is to sustain the world by integrating thriving human, environmental, and economic solutions. Spades' solutions meet multiple urgent, global needs of stakeholders. Reforestation, regenerative agriculture, integrated rural land use development, diversified ecosystems, greater food security, better water resources, carbon sequestration, air quality, and income and investment opportunities are just a few areas that will reap rewards from Spades work, according to the company.

According to a May 2021 report by the UNCCD, more than 125 countries have made commitments to improve their land and ecosystems. National pledges to take action already cover over 1 billion hectares. (Source: Spades, PR, Jan., 2022) Contact: Spades for Life, Raymond Menard, CEO, www.spades.life

More Low-Carbon Energy News Reforestation,  Aforestation,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  Carbon Sequestration,  

Michigan DNR, Bluesource
Date: 2022-01-03
In Michigan, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Salt Lake City-headquartered environmental services and carbon finance markets specialist Bluesource are touting their previously announced Bluesource/DNR Big Wild Forest Carbon (Offsets) Project allowing state residents and companies to offset their carbon emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. These credits signify carbon taken out of the atmosphere and stored in trees through photosynthesis.

The project will be conducted on 100,000 acres in The Big Wild of the Pigeon River Country State Forest in the Northern Lower Peninsula. Plots of land have already been measured, but credits will not be issued until May 2022. Bluesource has 76 similar projects covering 3 million acres nationwide and has been effective in helping to generate millions of carbon offsets, according to Bluesource.

Michigan utility DTE has committed to purchase all of the Big Wild Forest Carbon Project carbon credits for the next 10 years at an estimated cost of $10 million as part of its strategy to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. DTE residential customers can voluntarily choose to offset their carbon emissions partially or fully by making payments ranging from $4 to $16 per month. (Source: Bluesource, Jan., 2021) Contact: Bluesource/DNR Big Wild Forest Carbon Project, 801 322 4750 , www.bluesource.com; Michigan DNR Big Wild Forest Carbon Project, Scott Whitcomb, 800-292-7800 www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_103466---,00.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset,  Carbon Credit,  Bluesource,  

EcoPenguin,Plan Vivo
Date: 2021-12-20
Amsterdan-headquartered EcoPenguin, the world's first carbon offsetting platform in the cryptocurrency space, is partnering with the non-profit Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty (COTAP), the first carbon offset provider to accept all major cryptocurrencies, to provide the cryptocurrency community with convenient ways to take responsibility for its environmental footprint and mitigate its climate impacts.

Cryptocurrencies are carbon-intensive and have a large climate impact, since they depend on high-powered computers to validate billions of transactions on a blockchain. Bitcoin currently accounts for 1 pct of global electricity consumption -- as much as entire countries -- and generates 95 Mtpy of carbon emissions and 1000 kg for a single transaction. Bitcoin miners have even brought disused coal plants out of retirement to meet their energy needs, according to the release.

EcoPenguin's mission is to help decarbonize cryptocurrency and build a thriving, eco-friendly crypto community. COTAP's mission is to empower individuals and organizations in developed countries to address climate change and global poverty simultaneously.

COTAP's carbon offsets counteract carbon emissions with tree planting, agroforestry, and forest protection operations in Nicaragua, Uganda, India, Fiji, Indonesia, and Mexico. The projects are all located in areas where income levels are less than $2 per day.

COTAP offset projects are certified under Plan Vivo, the world's longest-standing voluntary standard for forest carbon, which stipulates that rural communities must own the carbon offset projects and must receive at least 60 pct of the revenues the projects generate.

Download EcoPenguin White Paper HERE . (Source: EcoPenguin, PR, 20 Dec., 2021) Contact: EcoPenguin, www.ecopenguin.com/home; COTAP, www.cotap.org; Plan Vivo Foundation, www.planvivo.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News EcoPenguin,  Carbon Offset,  GHGs,  Carbon Emissions,  

Greenpeace
Date: 2021-12-08
"There's no time for (carbon) offsets. We are in a climate emergency and we need phasing out of fossil fuels. These offsetting schemes are pure 'greenwash' so that the companies, oil companies, can continue to do what they've been doing and make a profit." -- Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace (Source: Greenpeace, Oct., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset news,  Greenpeace news,  

terraPulse, UNFCCC
Date: 2021-12-01
North Potomac, Maryland-headquartered terraPulse, a provider of artificial intelligence for monitoring large land areas, reports it has been selected by the countries of Belize, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic to map forest cover as part of a sweeping forest activity study funded by The World Bank The project is part of the REDD+ Readiness process, moderated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which supports countries' efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and to foster sustainable management of forests.

Through the program, terraPulse will apply scientifically peer-reviewed AI to nearly forty years of satellite imagery to support the countries' monitoring of forest assets. The approach fuses data from local sources with global satellite data from NASA; the results will enable carbon modeling and the development of greenhouse gas inventories for the UN's Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) land sector initiative.

Founded in 2014, terraPulse develops cloud-based solutions for monitoring ecosystem change at local, national, and global scales. Using peer-reviewed methodologies that apply big data and machine-learning to satellite imagery, terraPulse has produced the world's first sub-hectare resolution maps of global tree-canopy cover, surface water, and urbanization. With unmatched speed, accuracy and granularity -- down to individual property parcels -- terraPulse enables governments, nonprofits, businesses, and academic institutions to monitor, protect and commercialize natural assets -- including the rapidly growing market for carbon offsets. (Source: terraPulse, PR 30 Nov., 2021) Contact: terraPulse, www.terrapulse.com; UNFCCC, www.unfccc,int

More Low-Carbon Energy News terraPulse,  UNFCCC,  Forest Carbon,  REDD+,  Carbon Offset,  

Purpose Investments
Date: 2021-11-29
In Toronto, Canadian asset manager Purpose Investments is touting two new cryptocurrency-based exchange-trading funds (ETFs) that offer carbon offsetting to investors. Exchange-traded funds are public trade, limited liability and passively managed investment funds that have many benefits such as performance, versatility and security.

Purpose Investments has partnered with Patch to help measure the carbon footprint of crypto wallets and provide carbon removal solutions. The objective is to invest in controlled carbon offset schemes with the aim of providing carbon neutral exposure to customers BTC. Some of the projects it invests in include direct air carbon capture, biomass, mineralization or CO2 removal, forestry, marine composting and soil management. (Source: Purpose Investments, PR, WSC, 28 Nov., 2021) Contact: Purpose Investments, 877-789-1517, www.purposeinvest.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Purpose Investments,  Carbon Neutral,  

Ryanair
Date: 2021-11-24
"People want low fare air travel, and people want somebody else to pay the environmental taxation. You give people the opportunity to voluntarily offset their carbon footprint. 1 pct of our passengers take that up. I suspect a lot of those are the corporate passengers where there's a corporate policy of offsetting carbon footprint." -- Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary

Dublin-based airline Ryanair formerly charged a flat fee to offset emissions on each booking, but now uses a proportional system based on the length of the flight and emissions generated. For example, Frankfurt to Milan attracts a fee of €0.79 ($0.89). Presently, some airlines include carbon offsetting in fares, others levy an optional flat charge directly at the point of booking while Lufthansa, and others, require passengers to go to a third-party website to complete the offsetting transaction. (Source: Ryanair, Simple Flying, Nov., 2021) Contact: Ryanair, www.ryanair.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Footprint news,  Carbon Offset news,  Carbon Emissions news,  Aviation Emissions news,  

Carbon Streaming
Date: 2021-11-19
Toronto-headquartered Carbon Streaming Corp, reports the closing of its previously reported blue carbon credit streaming agreement with MarVivo Corporation for the MarVivo Blue Carbon Conservation Project in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. MarVivo builds mangrove and marine conservation sites with the REDD+ model providing sustainable funding through Blue Carbon credits.

The deal includes a $6 million upfront cash investment and a $2 million cash investment in MarVivo Corporation, paid on closing, followed by four separate $1 million investments at specific project milestones during development, implementation, validation and verification by Verra.

Upon payment of the Upfront Deposit, Carbon Streaming will have the right to purchase the greater of 200,000 credits or 20 pct of the annual verified carbon credits from the MarVivo Project each year. The Company will make ongoing payments to MarVivo Corporation for each carbon credit sold under the carbon stream. The first delivery of carbon credits is expected to occur in the first half of 2023. Carbon Streaming invests capital through carbon credit streaming arrangements with project developers and owners to accelerate the creation of carbon offset projects by bringing capital to projects that might not otherwise be developed. (Source: Carbon Streaming Corp., PR, Website, 18 Nov., 2021) Contact: MarVivo Corporation, www.marvivo.earth; Carbon Streaming Corp., www.carbonstreaming.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Blu Carbon,  Carbon Streaming,  Carbon Credit,  REDD+,  

SkyNRG
Date: 2021-11-17
Amsterdam-based aviation biofuel specialist SkyNRG and digital tool developer CHOOOSE (Climate Action for Eeveryone) are reporting the launch of "Fly on SAF", a new carbon emission reduction solution that enables airlines and travel companies to integrate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon offsets at Heathrow Airport, Rotterdam, The Hague Airport, Stuttgart Airport and others.

Airline travelers booking a ticket with organisations offering "Fly on SAF" can easily mitigate the carbon footprint from their flight by replacing fossil fuel with SAF. (Source: SkyNRG, Website, PR, Nov., 2021) Contact: SkyNRG, +31 20 470 70 20, info@skynrg.com, www.skynrg.com; CHOOOSE, www.chooose.today

More Low-Carbon Energy News SkyNRG,  SAF,  Carbon Offset,  

Carbon Offset
Date: 2021-11-17
"I think (carbon) offsetting is cheating. It's a short-term stopgap if you haven't got a more sustainable alternative, but it's cheating." -- Tony Douglas, CEO, Etihad Airways , 17 Nov., 2021

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

Northwest Natural Holding
Date: 2021-11-15
Portland, Oregon-headquartered Northwest Natural Holding Co. (NW Natural) is reporting the formation of NW Natural Renewables, a subsidiary focused on supplying renewable fuels processed from existing waste streams and renewable energy sources to utilities and commercial, industrial, and transportation sector customers nationwide.

NW Natural will initially seek to acquire or develop RNG projects with key permits and feedstock and lease agreements in place. The company previously entered into deals to invest in RNG facilities and purchase the fuel, leveraging a nation-leading RNG tariff. The company is also developing a green hydrogen project and pioneered the use of voluntary carbon offsets and decoupling mechanisms to encourage energy efficiency, according to the company release. (Source: Northwest Natural Holding Co., PR,S&P, 5 Nov., 2021) Contact: NW Natural, Dave Anderson , CEO, Pres., 503-721-2530, www.ir.nwnaturalholdings.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Northwest Natural ,  RNG,  Natural Gas,  

Cognizant
Date: 2021-10-20
Teaneck, New Jersey-headquartered global business consultancy Cognizant reports it has committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Cognizant's commitment calls for reducing emissions by 50 pct from the company's global operations and supply chain by 2030, and by 90 pct by 2040, with the remaining emissions negated with carbon offsets. Specific initiatives to achieve net-zero include:

Aligning to climate science -- Cognizant is developing a science-based emissions reduction target that is aligned with the need to keep global average temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and will submit this target for third-party validation with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Ongoing investments in renewable energy -- Building on initial success in India, where over a quarter of Cognizant's energy has come from renewable sources since 2020, Cognizant plans to expand its use of onsite solar energy and enter new power purchase agreements with clean energy developers. It will also continue as a member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, a global initiative bringing together the world's most influential businesses committed to procuring 100 pct renewable electricity.

Increasing energy efficiency -- Cognizant will be investing in new energy efficient equipment and technologies across its owned offices and data centers throughout the world. In 2019 and 2020, the company improved energy efficiency across several offices in India, replacing outdated conventional power supply systems with modular systems, upgrading conventional lighting with energy efficient LED fittings, and retrofitting cooling systems.

In addition to its own net zero agenda, Cognizant is developing and deploying solutions enabling its global client base to double down on reducing their own carbon footprints, reducing waste, and sustainable product development by leveraging technology advancements in AI, data and analytics, cloud and IoT. Examples include: transitioning energy-intensive data centers to public cloud use; designing IoT-enabled smart buildings that manage electricity, heating, cooling and water consumption more efficiently to reduce power needs; and using IoT and cloud solutions in transportation and supply chain applications for real-time vessel emissions monitoring to improve shipping route planning and increase fuel efficiency. (Source: Cognizant, Website PR, 19 Oct., 2021) Contact: Cognizant, Brian Humphries, CEO , Sophia Mendelsohn, Chief Sustainability Officer , Jodi Sorensen, jodi.sorensen@cognizant.com, www.cognizant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cognizant news,  Net-Zero Emissions news,  Carbon Emissions news,  Energy Efficiency news,  Renewable Energy news,  

Carbon Offset
Date: 2021-10-18
"The (carbon offsetting) compliance systems work because it's a legal framework and therefore companies have to work really hard to comply. It drives efficiency and gets companies to decarbonize in the most efficient and quick way possible because there are some industries that can decarbonize much quicker than others." -- Prof. Mark Maslin, Earth System Science at University College London, Oct. 2021. www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/people/academic-staff/mark-maslin

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions news,  Carbon Offset news,  

Grattan Institute
Date: 2021-10-15
In the Land Down Under, a new report from Melbourne-based think tank the Grattan Institute asserts that carbon offsets can be part of a "low-cost climate change policy" but that the Australian government should introduce clearer rules to improve the integrity of the system and environmental outcomes.

The report recommends applying sector-specific offset approaches to emissions reduction policy, including whether offsetting is allowed as an alternative to reducing emissions in different scenarios, as well as limits on the amount of offsetting and the types of units used. It also recommended more stringent methods for the creation of Australian Carbon Credit Units, including an ongoing independent review process overseen by the federal government. This includes introducing rules to prevent double-counting of offsetting activities that take place in Australia but are used to offset emissions overseas.

The report also suggests that as demand for offsetting units grows with greater policy focus, governments should take a step back from being the major buyers to focus more on underwriting research and development in better offsetting practices, and technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as direct air carbon capture and storage, and large-scale mineralisation.

The report also calls for introducing an "upside-downside" clause in government contracts to encourage the move to updated carbon offsetting methods and placing time limits on the use of units from outdated offsetting methods. (Source: Grattan Institute, Website, PR, Oct., 2021) Contact: Grattan Institute, +61 3 9035 9881, www.grattan.edu.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News Grattan Institute,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Credit,  Climate Change,  Carbon Offset,  

IndiaNational Power Corp.
Date: 2021-10-13
India's largest power company National Power Corp. (Napocor) is reporting the launch of its "Energy Carbon Sequestration Initiative" which promotes reforestation across 56,000 hectares of watersheds while helping energy companies and other firms in watershed areas meet their carbon offsetting targets.

Napocor's protection and reforestation projects are presently supported by the universal charge-environmental fund which is collected from electricity users every month. In July, the Indian Government Department of Energy issued an advisory aimed at encouraging independent power producers to join Napocor's carbon sequestration program. (Source: Napocore, PR 12 Oct., 2021) Contact: Napocore, Emmanuel A. Umali, Manager for Watershed Management, www.ntpc.co.in

More Low-Carbon Energy News Reforestation news,  Carbon Sequestration news,  Climate Change news,  

Greenpeace
Date: 2021-10-08
"There's no time for (carbon) offsets. We are in a climate emergency and we need phasing out of fossil fuels. These offsetting schemes are pure 'greenwash' so that the companies, oil companies, can continue to do what they've been doing and make a profit." -- Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace (Source: Greenpeace, Oct., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenpeace,  Carbon Offset,  Climate Change,  

Date: 2021-09-27
"Nothing cab save oil" -- James Jampel, HITE Carbon Offset hedge fund manager, commenting that the oil industry will be the loser in the energy transition to alternative energy sources. (Source: Bloomberg, 22 Sept. 2021) Contact: HITE Carbon Offset, James Jampel, (617) 431-4360, jjampel@hitehedge.com, www.hitecarbonoffset.com

Airlines for America
Date: 2021-09-15
The Washington, DC-based airlines trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) reports its member carriers have pledged to work with government leaders and other stakeholders to make 3 billion gallons of cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) available to U.S. aircraft operators in 2030. The trade organization is also committed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to work toward a rapid expansion of the production and deployment of commercially viable SAF.

To that end, A4A noted the need for positive government policy support, including a $1.50-$2.00 per gallon SAF blenders tax credit; public-private SAF research, development and deployment programs such as a new SAF and low emissions technology grant program under consideration by Congress and other collaborative initiatives.

"For decades, U.S. passenger and cargo carriers have been investing in increasingly fuel-efficient aircraft and operating them in more efficient ways, improving overall fuel efficiency by more than 135 percent year-end 2019, saving over 5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) -- equivalent to taking more than 27 million cars off the road on average in each of those years. Additionally, A4A and our members have helped launch the nascent SAF industry and committed to the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to help facilitate achieving carbon-neutral growth in international aviation beginning in 2020," the A$A release noted. (Source: Airlines for America, Website PR, 9 Sept., 2021) Contact: Airlines for America, Nicholas E. Calio, CEO, 202-626-4141, www.airlines.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Airlines for America,  SAF ,  

ZooShare Biogas, EnerFORGE
Date: 2021-08-30
The ZooShare Biogas Cooperative, in partnership with Toronto Zoo, Loblaw Companies and Oshawa, Ontario-based EnerFORGE, has announced its most recent project is now operational. The ZooShare Biogas Project, a first of its kind in Canada, converts zoo manure and Loblaw supermarket and other Toronto area sourced food waste into sufficient power for roughly 250 homes while reducing as much as 20,000 tpy of greenhouse gases

EnerFORGE, the project’s critical energy infrastructure partner, the ZooShare biogas plant will add to its strategic portfolio of low-carbon energy projects, allowing them to build new value propositions in the production of RNG, hydrogen fuel cells, and carbon offset projects. (Source: ZooShare Biogas Cooperative, PR, 26 Aug., 2021) Contact: ZooShare Biogas Cooperative, www.zooshare.ca; EnerFORGE, (905) 723-4626, www.opuc.on.ca/energy-services-innovation; EnerFORGE, (905) 723-4626 x 5261, connect@EnerFORGE.ca, www.enerforge.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News ZooShare Biogas,  Biogas,  EnerFORGE,  

Itochu Corporation,Mineral Carbonation International
Date: 2021-08-27
Japan's Itochu Corporation reports it has invested in Canberra, Australia-based start-up Mineral Carbonation International (MCI), developer of a scalable carbon platform technology that converts industrial CO2 emissions into solid bulk materials used in new low-carbon products for construction, industrial and consumer markets.

MCI builds carbon plants that enable CO2 emissions reduction, avoidance and removal and creates high quality permanent carbon offsets. the company recently raised $14.6 million from the Australian Federal government to help fund construction of a demonstration plant near Newcastle. (Source: Itochu Corporation, Financial Review, 25 Aug., 2021) Contact: Mineral Carbonation International, Marcus Dawe, CEO, contactus@mineralcarbonation.com, www.mineralcarbonation.com; Itochu Corporation, www.itochu.co.jp

More Low-Carbon Energy News Itochu Corporation,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Utilization,  

Schneider Electric,Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group
Date: 2021-08-23
International renewable energy and energy efficiency firm Schneider Electric reports it has joined the 50-member public-private Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG), the capital’s leading initiative to champion sustainability issues for both government and the private sector. Schneider Electric and the ADSG will share knowledge on the latest research and solutions for topics such as carbon emissions reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Schneider Electric will also support the ADSG in key focus areas including youth engagement and sustainability reporting. Both entities will work side by side to promote a greener future for the UAE’s capital.

The ADSG’s goals include capability building, knowledge sharing and advocacy for issues such as energy efficiency, sustainability reporting and the circular economy.

As previously reported, Schneider Electric launched its sustainability consultancy in the Gulf with services tailored to the identification of energy efficiency savings, carbon offset programs, offsite renewable energy sourcing, electric mobility advising, and supply chain and logistics optimization. The company has committed itself to delivering 800 million tons of saved and avoided CO2 emissions to customers throughout the world, including Abu Dhabi and the UAE, by 2025. (Source: Schneider Electrdi, PR, 22 Aug., 2021) Contact: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, www.adsg.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News Schneider Electric news,  Energy Efficiency news,  Renewable Energy news,  

Schneider Electric,Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group
Date: 2021-08-23
Global renewable energy and energy efficiency firm Schneider Electric's consultancy unit reports it has joined the 50-member public-private Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG), the capital's leading promoter of renewable energy and sustainability.

Schneider and the ADSG will share knowledge on the latest research and solutions on carbon emissions reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy and promote "a greener future for the UAE's capital."

The ADSG's goals include capability building, knowledge sharing and advocacy for issues such as energy efficiency, sustainability reporting and the circular economy.

As previously reported, Schneider Electric's sustainability consultancy in the Gulf offers services tailored to the identification of energy efficiency savings, carbon offset programs, offsite renewable energy sourcing, electric mobility advising and supply chain and logistics optimization. The company has committed itself to delivering 800 million tons of saved and avoided CO2 emissions to customers worldwide, including Abu Dhabi and the UAE, by 2025. (Source: Schneider Electric, PR, 22 Aug., 2021) Contact: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, www.adsg.ae; Schneider Electric, Vicki True, 774-613-1158, vicki.true@se.com, www.se.com, twitter.com/SchneiderElec

More Low-Carbon Energy News Schneider Electric,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

AIR TO EARTH
Date: 2021-08-20
New York-based AIR TO EARTH LLC® (A2E) is offering permanent carbon removal subscription plans that deliver measurable emission reduction results and advance the removal of legacy emissions using a three pillars approach -- pollution rights removal, natural carbon removal and technology innovation of direct air capture, an emerging pathway for removing CO2 directly from the Air for use or storage.

A2E issues, registers, and retires A2E carbon removal offsets on behalf of individuals, corporations and institutions seeking a measurable and low-cost way to offset difficult to abate carbon emission. Each A2E CRO represents one metric ton of avoided carbon emissions and is backed by carbon pollution rights that are permanently removed from use under an emissions reduction framework validated by 11 U.S. States and the U.S. EPA.

A2E has partnered with Kiss the Ground, Restore America's Estuaries and Texas A&M Energy Institute to advance natural carbon removal and innovate direct air capture. (Source: AIR TO EARTH, PR, 18 Aug., 2021) Contact: AIR TO EARTH LLC, Joseph Stark, Founder and CEO, 914.924.5505, jstark@airtoearth.com, www,airtoearth.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset,  Carbon Credit,  AIR TO CARBON,  

Avfuel
Date: 2021-08-18
Chicago-headquartered Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI) reports it is joining the industry push toward a more sustainable future by enabling clients to evaluate and reduce net carbon emissions by providing an online CO2 calculator to estimate emissions and facilitating an option to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions, and boost the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through Ann Arbor, Michigan-based aviation fuels and services provider Avfuel Corporation.

Each carbon credit purchased will offset one metric ton of CO2 emissions through direct investment in a selection of carbon offset projects that meet the requirements of either the United Nations or the Gold Standard.

Avfuel calculates carbon credits based on an industry-standardized formula, measured in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the ISO 14064 Standard, and utilizes CO2 emission coefficients as assigned by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Source: JSSI, PR, Aviation Pros, 16 Aug., 2021) Contact: Avfuel Corp., Keith Sawyer, Manager of Alternative Fuels, 734-663-6466, ksawyer@avfuel.com, www.avfuel.com; JSSI, Neil Book, CEO , www.jetsupport.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Avfuel,  SAF,  Aviation Biofuels,  Carbon Offset,  Carbon Credit,  

Ozop Energy Solutions, Stem Inc.
Date: 2021-08-18
Warwick, NY-based OZOP Energy Solutions reports its wholly owned subsidiary, OZOP Energy Systems, Inc., will deliver a 2 MW / 4 MWh smart energy storage project with Stem Inc. artificial intelligence (AI) software to commercial property customer in Brooklyn, New York.

The front-of-meter energy storage system will be driven by Stem's Athena® intelligent software platform which uses AI to optimize the value of energy through battery discharge and recharge cycles. Utilizing Stem's AI-driven storage is also the next step in OZOP's patent-pending energy storage technologies, allowing the storage system to deliver critically timed energy to the grid as the New York City utilities demand requires it. These OZOP storage systems contribute to carbon offset programs by reducing the need for spinning reserves, an expensive but necessary support feature of the utilities.

The Brooklyn facility will be OZOP's first project to utilize Stem's smart energy storage within the Company's portfolio of commercial properties in New York, California, Texas and Arizona.

OZOP Energy Solutions invents, designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes ultra-high-power chargers, inverters, and power supplies for a wide variety of applications in the defense, heavy industrial, aircraft ground support, maritime and other sectors. OZOP Energy Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of renewable energy products in the energy storage, solar, mcrogrids, and EV charging sector. (Source: OZOP Energy Solutions, Inc., PR 18 Aug., 2021) Contact; OZOP Energy, Brian Conway, CEO, www.ozopenergy.com; Stem Inc., www.stem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage news,  Artifical Intelligence news,  AI Energy Storage news,  Stem news,  

Climate Neutral Group
Date: 2021-08-18
Utrecht, Netherlands-based global environmental consultancy Climate Neutral Group (CNG) reports it is managing South Africa's recently launched AgriCarbon Programme, the country's first internationally recognised carbon offset programme for the agricultural sector.

The AgriCarbon Programme provides farmers with an additional source of income by helping them certify and sell high-demand agricultural carbon credits. CNG determines the amount of carbon credits generated on the farm through soil data which is submitted to the carbon auditor and finally the Verra carbon standard. Including multiple farms under the AgriCarbon Programme substantially reduces carbon development and auditing costs per farm, thereby maximizing income to the farmers. (Source: Climate Neutral Group, PR, Engineering News, 18 Aug., 2021) Contact: Climate Neutral Group, +31 30 232 6175, www.climateneutralgroup.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Credit news,  Carbon Market news,  

GreenGas USA, Duke University,
Date: 2021-08-09
As previously reported in July, Durham, North Carolina's Duke University inked a 20-year agreement to purchase 95,000 MMBtus of renewable natural gas (RNG) from Charleston, South Carolina-based GreenGasUSA, which captures wastewater methane to upgrade into RNG.

The GreenGas project will supply RNG from biomethane currently being off-gassed from roughly 700 million ppy of vegetable food processing wastewater holding ponds at McCall Farms in Effingham, South Carolina. Duke University will use the RNG in its on campus steam plants to replace about 6 pct of the fossil natural gas currently being combusted.

Duke has pledge net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2024. (Source: Duke University, PR, Biocycle, 3 Aug., 2021) Contact: Duke University, Tanja Vujic, WasteNot Strategies, LLC Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative, www.duke.edu; GreenGasUSA, Marc Fetten, 412-726-3331, marc.fetten@greengasusa.com, www.greengasusa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GreenGas USA,  RNG,  Duke University,  

Vantage Data Centers
Date: 2021-08-04
Denver-based Vantage Data Centers, a global provider of hyper-scale data center campuses, reports the company will achieve net zero carbon emissions globally by 2030, by reducing emissions that the company directly controls -- Scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as reductions that it can guide or influence throughout its supply chain. The company's reduction targets are in alignment with the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) methodology.

To reach its net zero goal the compay will focus:

Emissions Reduction -- Vantage is investing in technologies that target reductions in emissions, starting with a focus on energy efficiency and emissions reductions from on-site generators. The company will also develop processes and partnerships to reduce Scope 3 emissions outside of its control, such as emissions associated with customer IT and cooling loads.

Renewable Energy -- Vantage has already taken a proactive approach in designing highly efficient data center campuses with industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). The company offers renewable energy options to customers across all campuses globally and works with energy providers to advocate for and invest in additional renewable energy sources globally.

Supply Chain -- Vantage is working closely with its vendors and suppliers to decarbonize its supply chain.

Carbon Offsets -- Only in areas where emissions are unavoidable, Vantage will purchase offsets. The offsets purchased will provide funding for carbon removal projects and investments in communities where the company operates its data centers. (Source: Vantage Data Centers, PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: Vantage Data Centers, Amanda Sutton, Director of Sustainability, 408) 748-9830, www.vantage-dc.com/features/sustainability

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vantage Data Centers,  Net Zero Carbon,  Carbon Emissions,  

Carbon Streaming
Date: 2021-08-04
Toronto-headquartered Carbon Streaming Corp. is reporting a carbon credit streaming agreement with Hong Kong-headquartered Infinite-EARTH Limited, the developer of the industry's flagship REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) project, the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project in Borneo, to which InfiniteEARTH has exclusive carbon and marketing rights.

The Rimba Raya Project is expected to create over 70 million credits over its remaining 20-year crediting period, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,527,171 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) per year with a total reduction of 130 million tCO2e estimated over its 30-year carbon offset project, which started in 2009.

InfiniteEARTH is a pioneer in the REDD+ industry, having developed the world's first REDD+ carbon accounting methodology, the first REDD+ project validated under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the first REDD+ project to receive "triple-gold" verification under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard. The Rimba Raya Project is also the world's first REDD+ project to be verified under the newly launched Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SDVista), earning the highest possible rating for demonstrating its contribution to all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Carbon Streaming invests capital through carbon credit streaming arrangements with project developers and owners to accelerate the creation of carbon offset projects by bringing capital to projects that might not otherwise be developed. The company is focused on acquiring, managing and growing a high-quality and diversified portfolio of investments in projects and/or companies that generate or are actively involved, directly or indirectly, with voluntary and/or compliance carbon credits, according to the company. (Source: Carbon Streaming, PR,3 Aug., 2021) Contact: Carbon Streaming, Justin Cochrane, Pres. and CEO, 647.846.7765, info@carbonstreaming.com, www.carbonstreaming.com; Rimba Raya Project , www.rimba-raya.com; VCS, www.vcs.com; InfiniteEARTH, hk.linkedin.com › infinite-earth-organization

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Streaming,  Carbon Credit,  REDD+,  

SK Innovation
Date: 2021-08-02
South Korean battery manufacturer SK Innovation reports publication of its Net-Zero Roadmap 1.0 detailing outlining the company's plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

SK Innovation set a step-by-step goal to achieve 100 pct Net Zero before 2050 after reducing 12.43 million tons of CO2 generated in Scope 1 and 2 as of 2019 to 25 pct in 2025 and 50 pct in 2030. The company plans to invest roughly $1.3 billion to cut down 2.5 million tons of carbon emissions by 2030 by improving energy efficiency, transitioning to 25 pct renewable energy by 2025 and 100 pct by 2030. The company also plans to adopt Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, develop environmentally-friendly products, elevate factory operation efficiencies participate in carbon offset programs to further cut battery and materials business emissions 13.6 million tons by 2035. (Source: SK Innovation, PR 2 Aug., 2021)Contact: SK innovation, www.eng.skinnovation.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News SK Innovation,  Battery,  Net-Zero Emissions,  

European Green Deal
Date: 2021-07-16
On Wednesday the 14th, the European Commission (EC) announced the adoption of a package of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 pct by 2030 (Fit for 55), compared to 1990 levels. Achieving these emission reductions in the next decade is crucial to Europe becoming the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and making the European Green Deal a reality. With today's proposals, the Commission is presenting the legislative tools to deliver on the targets agreed in the European Climate Law and fundamentally transform our economy and society for a fair, green and prosperous future. The following proposals will enable the necessary acceleration of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the next decade:

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) puts a price on carbon and lowers the cap on emissions from certain economic sectors every year. It has successfully brought down emissions from power generation and energy-intensive industries by 42.8 pct in the past 16 years. The EC is proposing to lower the overall emission cap even further and increase its annual rate of reduction and to phase out free emission allowances for aviation and align with the global Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and to include shipping emissions for the first time in the EU ETS.

To complement the substantial spending on climate in the EU budget, Member States should spend the entirety of their emissions trading revenues on climate and energy-related projects. A dedicated part of the revenues from the new system for road transport and buildings should address the possible social impact on vulnerable households, micro-enterprises and transport users.

The Effort Sharing Regulation assigns strengthened emissions reduction targets to each Member State for buildings, road and domestic maritime transport, agriculture, waste and small industries. Recognizing the different starting points and capacities of each Member State, these targets are based on their GDP per capita, with adjustments made to take cost efficiency into account.

Member States also share responsibility for removing carbon from the atmosphere, so the Regulation on Land Use, Forestry and Agriculture sets an overall EU target for carbon removals by natural sinks, equivalent to 310 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030. National targets will require Member States to care for and expand their carbon sinks to meet this target. By 2035, the EU should aim to reach climate neutrality in the land use, forestry and agriculture sectors, including also agricultural non-CO2 emissions, such as those from fertilizer use and livestock. The EU Forest Strategy aims to improve the quality, quantity and resilience of EU forests. It supports foresters and the forest-based bioeconomy while keeping harvesting and biomass use sustainable, preserving biodiversity, and setting out a plan to plant three billion trees across Europe by 2030.

Energy production and use accounts for 75 pct of EU emissions, so accelerating the transition to a greener energy system is crucial. The Renewable Energy Directive will set an increased target to produce 40 pct of our energy from renewable sources by 2030. All Member States will contribute to this goal, and specific targets are proposed for renewable energy use in transport, heating and cooling, buildings and industry. To meet both our climate and environmental goals, sustainability criteria for the use of bioenergy are strengthened and Member States must design any support schemes for bioenergy in a way that respects the cascading principle of uses for woody biomass.

To reduce overall energy use, cut emissions and tackle energy poverty, the Energy Efficiency Directive will set a more ambitious binding annual target for reducing energy use at EU level. It will guide how national contributions are established and almost double the annual energy saving obligation for Member States. The public sector will be required to renovate 3 pct of its buildings each year to drive the renovation wave, create jobs and bring down energy use and costs to the taxpayer.

A combination of measures is required to tackle rising emissions in road transport to complement emissions trading. Stronger CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans will accelerate the transition to zero-emission mobility by requiring average emissions of new cars to come down by 55 pct from 2030 and 100 pct from 2035 compared to 2021 levels. As a result, all new cars registered as of 2035 will be zero-emission. To ensure that drivers are able to charge or fuel their vehicles at a reliable network across Europe, the revised Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation will require Member States to expand charging capacity in line with zero-emission car sales, and to install charging and fuelling points at regular intervals on major highways: every 60 kilometres for electric charging and every 150 kilometres for hydrogen refuelling.

Aviation and maritime fuels cause significant pollution and also require dedicated action to complement emissions trading. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation requires that aircraft and ships have access to clean electricity supply in major ports and airports. The ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative will oblige fuel suppliers to blend increasing levels of sustainable aviation fuels in jet fuel taken on-board at EU airports, including synthetic low carbon fuels, known as e-fuels. Similarly, the FuelEU Maritime Initiative will stimulate the uptake of sustainable maritime fuels and zero-emission technologies by setting a maximum limit on the greenhouse gas content of energy used by ships calling at European ports.

The tax system for energy products must safeguard and improve the Single Market and support the green transition by setting the right incentives. A revision of the Energy Taxation Directive proposes to align the taxation of energy products with EU energy and climate policies, promoting clean technologies and removing outdated exemptions and reduced rates that currently encourage the use of fossil fuels. The new rules aim at reducing the harmful effects of energy tax competition, helping secure revenues for Member States from green taxes, which are less detrimental to growth than taxes on labour.

Finally, a new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Tax) will put a carbon price on imports of a targeted selection of products to ensure that ambitious climate action in Europe does not lead to 'carbon leakage.' This will ensure that European emission reductions contribute to a global emissions decline, instead of pushing carbon-intensive production outside Europe. It also aims to encourage industry outside the EU and our international partners to take steps in the same direction.

European Green Deal, www.ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en. (Source: EC, PR, 14 July, 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Green Deal,  

Carbon Offset
Date: 2021-07-12
Banking majors NatWest, CIBC, ITAU and NAB report they have joined forces to create Project Carbon, a blockchain-based marketplace for the sale and purchase of carbon offsets used as a tool by many businesses to help reduce their environmental impact.

Launching as a pilot in August, Project Carbon will act as a place where the four banks' corporate customers buy and sell carbon offsets with clear and consistent pricing and standards. More banks are expected to join at a later date. (Source: Finextra, 12 July, 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset news,  Carbon Market news,  

Singapore Airlines
Date: 2021-06-28
The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has launched a voluntary carbon offset programme that allows passengers on both Singapore Airlines and Scoot to offset their carbon emissions via dedicated microsites beginning in late July, this year. Passengers will also be able to use "frequent flyer" points to offset emissions, starting in Q4, 2021.

The offset projects selected include: protecting forests in Indonesia; supporting renewable solar energy projects in India ; and providing efficient, clean burning cook stoves for rural families in Nepal. The offsets will be provided via the BlueHalo digital solution, which has been developed by Australia-based Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM). This allows passengers to immediately calculate and offset the emissions associated with their journey.

As previously reported, the SIA has committed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by: increased investments in new-generation aircraft; achieving higher operational efficiency; adopting low-carbon technology such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and sourcing high quality carbon offsets.

SIA is a participant in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). (Source: Singapore Airlines, Business Traveler, 27 June, 2021) Contact: Singapore Airlines, www.singaporeair.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ICAO,  Singapore Airlines,  Carbon Offsets ,  

CME Group
Date: 2021-06-21
In Chicago, the diverse derivatives marketplace CME Group reports it is launching a new futures contract Aug. 1 that will be tied to the value of nature-based carbon credits, including those generated from agriculture.

The new N-GEO futures are designed "to help create a more transparent and efficient voluntary emissions offset market." The contract size is 1,000 offsets and each offset represents 1 metric ton of CO2, according to the release.

The futures were developed with Xpansiv market CBL, which launched an N-GEO spot contract earlier this year based on eligible voluntary offsets from Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) projects with additional Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) accreditation.

N-GEO futures are based on eligible voluntary offsets from AFOLU projects with additional Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) accreditation. AFOLU category activities include: afforestation, reforestation, revegetation, wetland rewetting and conservation and improved forestry management. N-GEO futures are based on eligible voluntary offsets from AFOLU projects with additional Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) accreditation, CME said. The futures are based on CBL's Nature-Based Global Emissions Offset Spot contract, which launched in March. (Source: CME Group, PR, PR, 21 June, 2021) Contact: CME Group, Peter Keavey, Global Head of Energy, 312-930-1000, www.cmegroup.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset news,  Voluntary Carbon Offset news,  

Future Biogas,Northern Lights
Date: 2021-06-16
In the UK, Guildford-based biogas project developer Future Biogas Ltd. reports it is preparing a £35 million IPO on the London Stock Exchange this July.

The IPO supports the company's plan to construct roughly 25 new power projects by 2028 and to grow an existing portfolio of 10 biogas plants operated on behalf of investment entities backed by Aviva and JLEN Environmental Assets Group.

The growth strategy includes carbon-capture and storage (CCS) "bolt-on" projects which further boost the environmental credentials for the soon-to-be-listed share.

Future Biogas is teamed up with the Northern Lights Project -- a venture by a number of oil and gas firms with a presence in the North Sea. Carbon captured by Future Biogas will be supplied to Northern Lights for permanent storage underground, beneath the North Sea. The Northern Lights venture partners include Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Equinor. Future Biogas will generate carbon offsets for its part in the venture, and it intends to sell them to corporate buyers. (Source: Future Biogas Ltd., PR, Investor, 15 June, 2021) Contact: Future Biogas Ltd., Philipp Lukas, CEO, +44 1483 375920, www.futurebiogas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Future Biogas,  CCS,  Biogas,  Northern Lights ,  Carbon Offsets,  

Oliva Gaea
Date: 2021-06-11
Dubai-based startup Olive Gaea reports the launch of its carbon offset platform that calculates the carbon footprint of any individual or business through a simple yet science-based questionnaire then provides dedicated plans and a list of carbon offsetting solutions and verified climate projects.

The platform allows users to offset purchases made on e-commerce businesses including grocery orders, food and fuel delivery, and online stores, among others. The Olive Gaea platform supports carbon offsetting projects that are handpicked and verified by Verra , Plan Vivo and other third party organizations. (Source: Olive Gaea, PR, Kahleej Times, 10 June, 2021) Contact: Olive Gaea, Vivek Tripathi, CEO, info@olivegaea.com, www.olivegaea.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset news,  Carbon Credits news,  

Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific
Date: 2021-05-26
Singapore Airlines Group -- Singapore Airlines, Scoot and SIA Cargo -- is reporting a commitment to invest in new-generation aircraft, adopt low-carbon technology such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and source "high quality" carbon offsets to meet their recently announced goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Likewise, Hong Kong-headquartered Cathay Pacific Group, one of the first air carriers in Asia to establish a timeline for achieving carbon neutrality, has announced plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To that end, Cathay Pacific will investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), identify efficiencies including a new fuel-efficient fleet and reducing engine use on the ground, as well as take advantage of carbon offsets. (Source: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, PR, Travel Weekly, May, 2021)

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

CleanBay Renewables, Climate Action Reserve
Date: 2021-05-14
Annapolis, Maryland-based enviro-tech company CleanBay Renewables Inc. reports it is working with the Los Angeles-headquartered carbon offset registry Climate Action Reserve (CAR) to establish a nitrous oxide (N2O) avoidance framework and a protocol for carbon credit accounting associated with fuel and fertilizer derived from poultry manure.

The Climate Action Reserve will initially focus on quantifying the emission reductions from the conversion of agricultural byproducts, like poultry manure, into controlled-release fertilizers and establish mechanisms to calculate the displacement of fossil transportation fuels through the use of agriculture-derived renewable natural gas (RNG). The end goal is to develop a science-based framework applicable across the entire agricultural sector, enabling science-based carbon credit accounting for agricultural N2O emission reductions.

CleanBay is developing a portfolio of bioconversion facilities across the U.S., each of which will recycle more than 150,000 tpy of chicken litter to generate over 750,000 MMBtus of sustainable renewable natural gas (RNG), 125,000 tpy of organic fertilizer, and an estimated 500,000 tpy of CO2 equivalent emission abatement that will be available for purchase in carbon markets. (Source: CleanBay Renewables Inc., PR, 12 May, 2021) Contact: CleanBay Renewables Inc., 410-514-6488, info@cleanbayrenewables.com, www.cleanbayrenewables.com; Climate Action Reserve, (213) 891-1444, fax: (213) 623-6716, reserve@climateactionreserve.org, www.climateactionreserve.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset,  Climate Action Reserve,  

Australia Climate Change
Date: 2021-05-03
In Canberra, the Australian Government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Lib.) last week committed $100 million to ocean conservation in an effort to protect 'blue carbon' environments and reduce emissions.

Of the total, $30.6 million will be invested in practical action to restore and account for blue carbon ecosystems to improve the health of coastal environments in Australia and regionally:

Almost $19 million will go to four major on-ground projects restoring coastal ecosystems across the country, including tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses;

$10 million will provide four major on-ground projects to assist developing countries in the region restore and protect their blue carbon ecosystems;

Over $1 million will help to solidify Australia as a leader in ocean and natural capital accounting assistance enabling Australia to understand and account for the environmental and economic benefits of protecting these critical ecosystems.

The Government has also newly pledged $59.9 million to develop a high-integrity carbon offset scheme in its Indo-Pacific region to stimulate investment in high-quality projects that deliver carbon offsets that meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement.

The investments are in addition to more than $1.1 billion the Morrison Government previously announced it will invest in low emissions energy technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage and is in addition to the $18 billion of investment the Government is making alongside the Technology Investment Roadmap over the next 10 years to drive at least $70 billion of total new investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030. (Source: Gov. of Australia, PR, Good News Network, 2 May, 2021) Contact: Gov. of Australia, www.Australia.gov.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCSAustralia Climate Change,  Blue Carbon,  Mangrove,  Carbon Emissions,  

Carbon Emissions
Date: 2021-04-30
For greater clarity, the Fifth Estate has offered the following brief clarifications of the plethora of commonly used carbon emissions related terms:

Net Zero Energy -- There's two ways of looking at this. The first is based on simple math, and means a building, precinct, process or region generates as much energy within its own boundaries or site as it pulls in from elsewhere over a specific period -- most often a year. The other definition is a building or precinct or region that generates 100 pct of its own energy needs on site or within its boundaries.

Net Positive Energy -- When a building or precinct generates more energy than it uses and shares that energy through either a local microgrid or by sending it into the main grid, it becomes energy positive.

Carbon Negative -- Carbon negative is used for larger scales than individual buildings, such as precincts, regions, businesses or even entire nations. It means absorbing more carbon than all combined carbon emissions within the specific area or operation.

Carbon Neutral -- Carbon neutral is basically a balancing act where a building, business or region sequesters or offsets as much carbon as it emits.

Carbon Offsets -- All offsets are not created equal -- there are dirt-cheap offsets sloshing around the global carbon market from questionable projects in far-flung places. But not only are they scientifically and ethically questionable, they also will not meet the standards required for formal third-party carbon neutral certification. The best offsets deliver co-benefits beyond just sequestering carbon, such as improving biodiversity, increasing water quality or catchment protection, generating social benefits, local economic benefits or supporting Indigenous cultural practices and knowledge.

Operational Emissions -- Most carbon accounting undertaken for the purposes of carbon neutral certification focus on carbon emissions generated by the operation of a building, business or region. It's not just emissions from energy or fuel use though. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol defines three "scopes" or categories of carbon emissions as follows -- Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from "owned or controlled sources" such as a fleet of vehicles, a power plant or a manufacturing plant. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of energy used within a building, plant or region. Scope 3 emissions are all the indirect emissions in a business, process or region's value chain both upstream and downstream. This would include something like methane emissions from waste sent to landfill, or the emissions from energy used to make the widgets that a business procures then retails.

Embodied Carbon -- Basically, almost everything we use from a smartphone to a building, has embodied carbon. Embodied or upfront carbon refers to the emissions released during the manufacture and transport of building materials, and the construction as well the end-of-life-phases of built assets. (Source: Fifth Estate Australia)

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

One River Digital Asset Management
Date: 2021-04-28
Greenwich, Conn.-based One River Digital Asset Management (ORDAM), one of the largest institutional crypto fund managers, and Sao Paulo, Brazil-based MOSS, the world's largest carbon credit platform, are reporting plans to launch the world's first carbon-neutral crypto asset fund, enabling climate conscious investors the opportunity to benefit from exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum while offsetting their carbon footprint.

Through the provable "burning" of MCO2 tokens (via UNISWAP), ORDAM created the world's first carbon neural crypto asset offering. For every Bitcoin owned, ORDAM will buy and "plants" MCO2 tokens, offsetting carbon emissions.

ORDAM is the first asset management company to offer carbon offsetting globally. (Source: MOSS, ORDAM, PR, 27 Apr., 2021) Contact: MOSS, www.moss.earth/en/home; One River Digital Asset Management, (203) 489-1440 , info@oneriveram.com, www.oneriveram.com/digital-assets-strategies

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset,  Carbon Credits,  

Occidental Petroleum Corp,NextDecade
Date: 2021-03-29
In the Lone Star State, Houston-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) major NextDecade Corp. is reporting a term sheet agreement with Houston-headquartered Occidental Petroleum Corp. subsidiary Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV) to off-take and permanently store CO2 captured from the proposed Rio Grande LNG project in the Port of Brownsville, South Texas.

The companies will negotiate a CO2 off-take and a sequestration and monitoring agreement for OLCV to transport CO2 from the facility for sequestration in an underground geologic formation in the Rio Grande Valley.

Next Decade aims to make the LNG facility a net-zero carbon emissions development with CCS and by purchasing carbon offsets, subject a final investment decision later this year. Construction is expected to get underway in 2022. (Source: NextDecade Corp., Website PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, Richard Jackson, Pres., U.S. Onshore Resources and Carbon Management, OLCV@OXY.COM, www.oxylowcarbon.com; NextDecade Corp., (713) 574-1880, www.next-decade.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Occidental Petroleum Corp.,  CCS,  NextDecade,  LNG,  

NextDecade
Date: 2021-03-19
Houston-headquartered natural gas major NextDecade Corporation is reporting the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary NEXT Carbon Solutions, LLC to develop one of the largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in North America at NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG project.

The new company will also advance proprietary processes to lower the cost of utilizing CCS technology; help other energy companies reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production, transportation, and use of natural gas; and generate high-quality, verifiable carbon offsets to support companies in their efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

NEXT Carbon Solutions' CCS project is expected to reduce permitted CO2 emissions at Rio Grande LNG by more than 90 pct without major design changes to the Rio Grande LNG project. As a result, Rio Grande LNG is expected to be the greenest LNG project in the world, according to the company release. (Source: NextDecade, Website, PR, 18 Mar., 2021) Contact: NextDecade, Matt Schatzman, CEO, (832) 209-8131 phughes@next-decade.com, www.next-decade.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions news,  CCS news,  LNG news,  Natural Gas news,  

USGBC
Date: 2021-03-17
In the Sunshine State, the city of Palm Coast -- pop. 81,000 -- reports its recently expanded 21,000 square feet Community Center has received US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. The project earned LEED qualifying points for:

Location and Transportation -- surrounding density and diverse uses, bicycle facilities, reduced parking footprint, green vehicles;

Sustainable Sites -- construction activity pollution prevention, site assessment, open space, rainwater management, heat island reduction (reduce effects on human and wildlife habitats by reducing the impact of heat retaining components);

Water Efficiency -- outdoor water use reduction, indoor water use reduction, building-level water metering;

Energy and Atmosphere -- fundamental commissioning and verification, minimum energy performance, building-level energy metering, fundamental refrigerant management, optimize energy performance, enhanced commissioning (verifying the training of the staff and testing to operate the energy and water systems), enhanced refrigerant management (reduce ozone depletion by minimizing the emission of harmful compounds), green power and carbon offsets (100 pct of the total building energy consumption is offset by the use of renewable energy sources);

Materials and Resources -- storage and collection of recyclables, construction and demolition waste management planning, building life-cycle impact reduction (reuse or salvage at least 25 pct of the materials for the building), product disclosure and optimization -- environmental product declarations (utilize products and materials that have environmental, economical, and socially preferred life-cycle impacts), product disclosure and optimization -- material ingredients (Install materials that have a minimum level of recycled content), construction and demolition waste management (reduce construction waste that is disposed of in landfills);

Indoor Environmental Quality -- minimum IAQ performance, environmental tobacco smoke control, enhanced IAQ strategies (utilize mechanically and naturally ventilated ideals to promote occupant comfort), low-emitting materials (reduce concentrations for chemical contaminants), construction IAQ management plan (promote the well-being of the construction workers during construction), thermal comfort (provide multiple controls of the mechanical system to the building occupants), interior lighting (provide multiple controls of the lighting to the building occupants);

Innovation -- achieved a higher level of low-emitting materials and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning products to maintain the building;

Regional Priority Credits -- surrounding density and diverse uses (extra credit granted on the location of the project), thermal comfort (extra credit granted on the location of the project). (Source: City of Palm Coast, Palm Coast Observer, Mar., 2021) Contact: City of Palm Coast, www.palmcoastgov.com; USGBC, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  USGBC,  

Nutrien
Date: 2021-03-12
Saskatoon-based crop nutrient products -- nitrogen, phosphate and potash products -- supplier Nutrien is touting a new "carbon farm" carbon credit pilot program that works with growers interested in producing and selling carbon offsets in voluntary offset markets.

Nutrien was hoping to have about 100,000 acres in Western Canada and the United States corn belt states of Illinois and Ohio subscribed to its "carbon farm" program in 2021.

Under the program, growers will have the option of adopting a variety of agronomic practices scientifically proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can be used to produce offsets ranging from the adoption of minimal tilling low disturbance cropping practices to the use of specialized crop nutrient products such as slow-release fertilizers, nitrogen inhibitors, biological and micro-nutrients, and variable rate fertilizer prescriptions. The entire system will be supported by digital platforms and data collection programs that enable monitoring and quantification.

As the markets for voluntary carbon credits and GHG offsets become more established, it is expected that more farmers and land managers will recognize carbon offsets as a new revenue stream that can supplement net farm incomes, the release notes. Nutrien estimates growers could eventually earn as much as $30 to $50 per acre under its program. Potential revenues will ultimately depend on carbon credit valuations in voluntary markets. (Source: Nutrien Ag Solutions, PR, Website, Mar., 2021) Contact: Nutrien, Mark Thompson, Exec. VP, (306) 933-8500 www.nutrien.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Nutrien,  Carbon Farming,  Carbon Offset,  Carbon Market,  

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Date: 2021-03-10
Reporting from Ottawa, Environment and Climate Change Canada has announced draft regulations to establish the market-based Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System to reduce carbon emissions, spur innovation and private-sector investment in economic activities that lead to further emissions reductions and create jobs.

The offset rules will be part of the 2018 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which enabled a sweeping tax on emissions on everything from industrial pollution to home-heating fuel, and will support a domestic carbon trading market under Canada's carbon price for industry -- the Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) -- under which regulated facilities that exceed their emission limits can provide compensation by purchasing federal offset credits -- an additional lower-cost option -- generated from activities not already incentivized by carbon pollution pricing.

Once established, the Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System will stimulate demand for projects across Canada that reduce greenhouse gases and generate federal offset credits. The ability to generate and sell federal offset credits creates opportunities for farmers, foresters, Indigenous communities, municipalities, and other project developers to earn revenues from greenhouse-gas reductions and removals.

Protocols for high priority project types are currently under development in parallel to the regulation to give industries additional lower-cost compliance options. For example, under the Landfill Methane Management Protocol, which is currently under development, a municipality could install technology to collect methane that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. The municipality could earn federal offset credits, which it could sell to industrial facilities regulated under the Output-Based Pricing System. Canada is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. (Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Website PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: Environment and Climate Change Canada, www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Environment and Climate Change Canada ,  Carbon Credit,  Carbon Tax,  GHG,  Carbon Offset,  

UKGBC
Date: 2021-03-10
In London, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has published Renewable Energy Procurement and Carbon Offsetting Guidance for Net Zero Carbon Buildings to provide clarity for the property and construction industry on the procurement of high-quality renewable energy and carbon offsets for net zero buildings and organisations.

The new guidance includes a set of principles which should be used to evaluate the quality of renewable energy procurement routes, including how to create additionality -- driving a material increase in the UK's renewable energy capacity.

Download Renewable Energy Procurement and Carbon Offsetting Guidance for Net Zero Carbon Buildings details HERE. (Source: UKGBC, insight, 9 Mar., 2021) Contact: UKGBC, Alastair Mant, info@ukgbc.org, www.ukgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News UKGBC,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

CME Group, CORSIA
Date: 2021-03-05
Chicago-based derivatives marketplace CME is reporting the launch and availability for trading of its Global Emissions Offset (GEO) futures.

GEO futures, which were designed to help customers manage the risks associated with voluntary decarbonization strategies, are based on the selection criteria and review process developed for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). GEO futures allow for delivery of CORSIA eligible voluntary offset credits from three ICAO approved registries and are listed by and subject to the rules of NYMEX. (Source: CME Group, PR, Mar., 2021) Contact: CME Group, www.cmegroup.com/geo

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Offset,  Carbon Credit,  Carbon Market,  CORSIA,  

Shell
Date: 2021-02-22
Oil industry giant Royal Dutch Shell reports plans to increase tree plantings, the use of nature-based carbon offsets and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in their effort to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero carbon by 2050.

Shell wants to ramp up its use of nature-based carbon offsets, which include forestation projects, to 120 million tpy by 2030, to as high as 300 million tpy . Shell, which currently has 4.5 million tonnes of CCS capacity either in use or in the pipeline, aims to sell CCS as a service to other emitters Globally, the entire voluntary carbon offset market reached 104 million tonnes in 2019, according to Ecosystem Marketplace . (Source: Shell, Yahoo, 19 Feb., 2021) Contact: Shell, www.shell.com/newenergies

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