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

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

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

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

Electriq Power
Date: 2021-02-19
Electriq Power is an energy storage solutions company that designs, engineers, and assembles fully integrated energy management and storage solutions for homes and small businesses, with systems delivered and deployed by a network of installers across North America.

Electriq's flagship product line is the PowerPod, the industry-leading smart home battery backup system designed to save on electricity costs and protect against blackouts. The system includes a battery, hybrid battery/solar inverter, an energy meter, as well as a smart home energy software to manage electricity use and optimize efficiency. The PowerPod is modular and expandable up to three systems with three battery packs per system, giving installers and homeowners system design flexibility, with up to 16.5 kW of power and 99 kWh of battery storage.

The PowerPod 2, launched in late 2020, is the next-generation version of Electriq Power's industry-leading PowerPod family. This latest system is equipped with non-toxic, non-hazardous Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LiFePO4), or LFP, batteries, which are rapidly becoming the industry standard, allowing for longer battery cycle life, increased reliability, and enhanced safety. The new high-performance, cobalt-free model builds upon key features of the original PowerPod system and PowerPod LFP technology to create the optimal energy storage solution. Notable product enhancements of the PowerPod 2 include:

More power: 11.4 kW DC solar, 7.6 kW continuous backup output;

Storage duration from 10 to 20 kWh;

Outdoor-rated (NEMA 3R);

AC-Coupled option with three models of usable capacity—AC-10 (kWh), AC-15 (kWh), and AC-20 (kWh);

Grid services-ready through OpenADR 2.0b certification or Electriq-developed PowerADR protocol;

Resilient communication during power and internet outages via built-in, battery-powered LTE; Modular and easy to install, plus guaranteed commissioning during installation with LTE.

The PowerPod 2 became the first fully integrated OpenADR 2.0b-certified residential battery storage system on the market, enabling Electriq Power to seamlessly partner with energy aggregators and participate in today’s dynamic energy marketplace. Recent strategic partnerships have given Electriq Power a pathway forward into deployment and control of energy storage systems while maximizing value for microgrids. Additionally, as the company continues to build out its vision of increasing value-added services for Virtual Power Plants, Electriq Power has accelerated deployments of battery systems and established a foundation from which to provide real-time grid services to support utility infrastructure and grid operators across the country. (Source: Electriq Power, 18 Feb., 2021) Contact: Electriq Power, Aric Saunders, EVP of Sales (855) 206-9462, aric@electriqpower.com, www.electriqpower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Electriq Powe,  Battery,  Energy Storager,  

Bank of America
Date: 2021-02-15
With assets of $2,031,940,000, the Bank of America -- the country' second largest bank by assets -- reports it is aiming to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its financing activities, operations and supply chain by 2050.

To that end, Bank of America will need to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations as well as engage with its borrowers in order to "help accelerate their own transitions to net zero." The bank notes it plans to establish interim science-based emissions targets for "high-emitting portfolios, including energy and power."

In the announcement, Bank of America laid out initial steps to cut its operational emissions by 2030, which include purchasing 100 pct zero carbon electricity and reducing energy use and potable water use by 55 pct, among other initiatives. The bank is also set to disclose its financed emissions by 2023 through the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials. (Source: Bank of America, PR, Feb., 2021) Contact: Bank of America, www.bankofamerica.com; Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials, www.carbonaccountingfinancials.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenhouse Gas,  GHGs,  Bank of America,  Carbon Emissions,  Net-Zero Emissions,  

Bill Gates
Date: 2021-02-15
In his new book -- How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: the Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need Microsoft multimillionaire Bill Gates acknowledges that he's an "imperfect messenger on climate change. "The world is not exactly lacking in rich men with big ideas about what other people should do, or who think technology can fix any problem," according to a book extract.

"And I own big houses and fly in private planes -- in fact, I took one to Paris for the climate conference, so who am I to lecture anyone on the environment? I plead guilty to all three charges. I can't deny being a rich guy with an opinion. I do believe, though, that it is an informed opinion, and I am always trying to learn more."

Gates notes that while he admires the passion of the "Extinction Rebellion", discounts Greta Thunberg's impact and sees the Green New Deal as "a fairy tale", he is convinced there isn't the time, money or political will to reconfigure the world energy sector in 10 years.

According to Gates, a meaningful reduction in emissions demands an all-encompassing approach -- "zero-carbon ways to produce electricity, make things, grow food, keeping our buildings cool or warm, and move people and goods around the world. People need to radically change how they produce the worst climate offenders: steel, meat and cement. In his view, the single most useful thing individuals can do is to educate themselves and better judge the impact of various solutions. (Source: Bill Gates, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: the Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, Feb., 2021) Contact: Bill Gates, Gates Notes, www.gatesnotes.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bill Gates,  Climate Change,  

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

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

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

Fiji,Forest Carbon Partnership
Date: 2021-01-29
In the South Pacific, Fiji has become the only Small Island Developing State in the Pacific to enter a carbon trade under a 5-year emissions reduction payment agreement with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, a global partnership at the World Bank. The facility will unlock $26 million in results based payments for increasing carbon sequestration and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, activities commonly referred to as REDD+. The FCPF works with 47 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, along with 17 donors that have made contributions and commitments totaling $1.3 billion. The FCPF supports REDD+ efforts through its Readiness and Carbon Funds.

Fijian Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum noted "The emission reduction program area includes forest protection, planting and ustainable management of over 37,000 hectares spread over 20 districts on the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni, with the potential to expand to other areas that express interest. The contracted volume of greenhouse gases that Fiji is expected to sequester from these forest activities in the next five years is 2.5 million tonnes, for which a result-based payment of $12.5 million will be paid upon verification by the World Bank."(Source: FBN News, 27 Jan., 2021) Contact: Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, www.forestcarbonpartnership.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News World Bank,  REDD+,  Forest Carbon Partnership,  Fiji,  Carbon Trading,  Reforestation,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change ,  

LAVO
Date: 2021-01-27
Australia-based LAVO is touting its hybrid hydrogen Green Energy Storage System as a replacement for lithium-ion battery units, which leave a massive carbon footprint during production.

The Green Energy Storage System for residential solar systems can store more than 40 kWh of electricity which is supposedly enough for days of off-grid power for an average household. Measuring 66 x 49 x 15.7 inches and weighing 714 lbs, the system's Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to monitor and control energy usage remotely. (Source: LAVO, Website, PR, Men Gear, Jan., 2021) Contact: LAVO, Alan Yu, Pres. www.lavo.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage news,  Hydrogen news,  Solar news,  

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

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

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

Enviva Biomass
Date: 2021-01-25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2021-01-25
The US DOE Office of Fossil Energy has announced plans to make $8 million in Federal funding available for cost-shared research, development, and testing of technologies that can utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) from power systems or other industrial sources for bio-mediated uptake by algal systems to create valuable products and services.

Funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002403, Engineering-Scale Testing and Validation of Algae-Based Technologies and Bioproducts, will support the goals of DOE's Carbon Utilization Program. The primary objective of carbon utilization technology development is to lower the near-term cost of carbon capture through the creation of value-added products from the conversion of CO2.

The intent of the FOA is to seek applications that aim to perform engineering-scale testing and validation of algae-based technologies and bioproducts. Technologies that convert CO2 must show a net decrease in CO2 emissions through life cycle analysis, display a potential to generate a marketable product and show that the product displays beneficial aspects when compared to commercially available products produced with existing state-of-the-art technology.

Information on this notice of intent can be found HERE.

The Office of Fossil Energy funds R&D projects to reduce the cost of advanced fossil energy technologies and further the sustainable use of the nation's fossil resources. (Source: DOE Office of Fossil Energy,, PR, 20 Jan., 2021) Contact: DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy; National Energy Technology Laboratory, www.doe.netl.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NETL,  US DOE Office of Fossil EnergyCO2,  Algae,  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2021-01-25
The US DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has announced up to $15 million in federally funded financial assistance for cost-shared research and development projects under the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002402, Carbon Capture R&D: Bench-Scale Testing of Direct Air Capture Components (TRL 3) and Initial Engineering Design for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Systems from Air (TRL 6).

Since 2001, DOE-FE's Carbon Capture Program has been identifying and advancing technologies with the goal of removing CO2 from point sources such as fossil fuel-based power plants and industrial processes or directly from the atmosphere. The technologies should incur minimum costs and minimum energy penalties.

The Carbon Capture Program aims to develop efficient processes and components utilizing transformational materials to lower the cost of DAC systems. Project researchers should achieve a better understanding of system costs, performance, and other factors to accelerate development of this climate-critical technology. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the projects, which will develop lower-cost, scalable technologies for CO2 capture from air and support DOE's Carbon Capture Program. The FOA focuses on two areas of interest:

Bench-Scale Testing of Structured Material Systems or Component Designs for Optimized Direct Air Capture -- Projects will support testing and validation of advanced carbon capture structured material systems (e.g., monoliths, laminate structures, membrane bundles or electrodes) or component designs (e.g., air contactors, desorbers or electrochemical cells) under environmentally relevant conditions for DAC. The objective of this bench-scale R&D effort is to advance promising structured material systems or component designs for DAC to a sufficient maturity level that can justify their scale-up in a subsequent program.

Initial Engineering Design of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Systems for Direct Air Capture -- Projects will support the completion of an initial design of a commercial-scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)- DAC system that separates, stores, or utilizes a minimum of 100,000 tpy net CO2 from air. Chosen projects will enable a better understanding of CCUS-DAC system costs, performance and business case options and facilitate a better focus on DAC R&D needs. Applicants are encouraged to propose teams that consist of both the carbon capture technology developer and partnering organization(s) with demonstrated experience in engineering, procurement, construction, and managing projects of similar size, scope, and complexity.

DOE anticipates selecting up to 8 projects for this FOA. (Source: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy 25 Jan., 2021) Contact: DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE Office of Fossil Energy,  Direct Air Carbon Capture,  

GEVO
Date: 2021-01-22
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol and ethanol producer GEVO, Inc. reports it has entered into definitive agreements with institutional and accredited investors for the sale of an aggregate of 43,750,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $8.00 per share in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules.

The offering is expected to gross $350 million, prior to placement fees and expenses. The net proceeds will be used to fund capital projects, working capital and for general corporate purposes.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. Citigroup is acting as capital markets advisor to GEVO. (Source: GEVO, Website PR, 20 Nov., 2020) Contact: GEVO Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  

Green Plains
Date: 2021-01-22
In the Cornhusker State, Omaha-based biorefining specialist Green Plains Inc. and Ospraie Management have announced that recently-acquired Fluid Quip Technologies (Fluid Quip) is engineering and constructing a fully scalable commercial Clean Sugar Technology™ (CST) production facility at the Green Plains York Innovation Center. This technology effectively transforms a dry milling facility into a clean sugar biorefinery where dextrose/glucose replaces ethanol as the primary product.

Co-located on the York, Neb. biorefinery campus, the Green Plains York Innovation Center is comprised of pilot and industrial scale fermentation systems which have been utilized for various functions including sugar-based cellulosic fuel developments, algae production, yeast fermentation processes, as well as antimicrobial scale up for third party customers. The Center also has downstream separation equipment which is ideal for testing enhancements to the CST system, as well as the MSC™ technology. Green Plains expects the initial CST project at the York Innovation Center to begin production by the end Q1.

The York Innovation Center will also function as a platform to further develop Fluid Quip's MSC system to enhance protein concentration levels, increase yields and develop additional high-value proteins and yeasts. (Source: Green Plains, Website PR, 19 Jan., 2021) Contact: Green Plains Inc., Todd Becker, CEO, Phil Boggs, VP, 402.884.8700, phil.boggs@gpreinc.com, www.gpreinc.com; Fluid Quip, 319-320-7709, www.fluidquiptechnologies.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bellulosic,  Biofuel,  Green Plains,  Fluid Quip Technologies,  Ethanol,  Biorefinery,  

TC Energy
Date: 2021-01-20
Houston-headquartered TC Energy Corporation, developer of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project from Alberta to the Texas Gulf coast, is reporting the operation will be fully powered by renewable energy sources no later than 2030. The company will also achieve net-zero emissions across the project operations when it is placed into service in 2023.

The implementation of this initiative is expected to eliminate more than 3 million tpy of CO2 emissions -- equivalent of removing approximately 650,000 cars from the road.

As part of this announcement, TC Energy is expected to spur an investment of over $1.7 billion in communities along the Keystone XL footprint creating approximately 1.6 gigawatts of renewable electric capacity. (Source: Keystone XL, PR, 17 Jan., 2021) Contact: KeystoneXL, Richard Prior,, Pres., CEO, 866-717-7473, keystone@tcenergy.com, www.keystonexl.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Keystone XL,  TC Energy,  Carbon Emissions,  Renewable Energy,  

Date: 2021-01-20
Houston-headquartered TC Energy Corporation is reporting a new sustainable energy initiative for the Keystone XL Project. The company will achieve net zero emissions across the project operations when it is placed into service in 2023 and has committed the operations will be fully powered by renewable energy sources no later than 2030. This announcement comes after an extensive period of study and analysis, and as part of the company's ongoing commitment to sustainability, thoughtfully finding innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while providing communities with reliable energy needed today.

Implementation of the initiative is expected to eliminate more than 3 million tpy of CO2 from the pipeline project's operations -- equivalent of removing approximately 650,000 cars from the highway. TC Energy is expected to spur an investment of over $1.7 billion in communities along the Keystone XL footprint creating approximately 1.6 GW of renewable electric capacity, according to the release.

By implementing this initiative, Keystone XL will allow responsibly produced Canadian oil to be safely transported into the United States from many producers who have set their own net zero emissions goals. Canadian Oil Sands producers have cut emissions intensity by 21 pct in recent years and they are expected to fall another 27 pct by 2030.

Net zero emissions will be achieved when the pipeline is placed into service by purchasing renewable energy from electricity providers the purchase of renewable energy credits (REC) or carbon offsets.

The pipeline would carry heavy Canadian tar-sands oil from Alberta to refineries and ports on the Texas Gulf of Mexico via connections in the U.S. Midwest. Former President Barack Obama had killed the $8 billion Keystone XL project saying that it would cause emissions linked to climate change and do little for U.S. drivers. President Donald Trump resurrected the 830,000 barrels-per-day project two months after taking office in 2017. Incoming Pres. Jor Biden has indicated he will kill the project almost immediately upon entering the White House. (Source: Keystone XL, PR, 17 Jan., 2021) Contact: KeystoneXL, Richard Prior,, Pres., CEO, 866-717-7473, keystone@tcenergy.com, www.keystonexl.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  Hydrogen,  

Honeywell
Date: 2021-01-15
Charlotte, N.C.-based Honeywell reports the introduction of a new UOP Ecofining technology for the production of renewable diesel fuel.

The single-stage Ecofining process produces Honeywell Green Diesel fuel which is chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel and can be used as a drop-in replacement in vehicles with no modifications. It also delivers an 80 pct lifecycle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with petroleum diesel.

The new process uses a combination of catalysts to clean and remove oxygenates and other contaminants from the feedstock, and then "isomerize" the feed to improve its cold-flow properties.

The UOP Ecofining process is used in most 100 pct biofeed units producing renewable diesel worldwide. UOP currently has licensed 20 Ecofining units in nine countries processing 12 different types of renewable feedstocks, according to the compamy release. (Source: Honeywell, PR, Website, 13 Jan., 2021) Contact: Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions, Ben Owens, VP, GM, (480) 353-3020, www.honeywell.com/us/en/company/sustainability

More Low-Carbon Energy News UOP Ecofining,  Renewable Diesel.UOP Honeywell,  Diamond Green Diesel,  

CalPortland ,ENERGY STAR
Date: 2021-01-15
In Arizona, CalPortland reports its Rillito cement plant has been awarded its ninth consecutive US EPA ENERGY STAR certification for energy efficiency and intensity reduction.

To gain ENERGY STAR recognition, the plant replaced and upgraded various equipment for greater energy efficiency and expanded its energy team and increased energy efficiency awareness throughout the plant. (Source: CalPortland, Global Cement News , 12 Jan., 2021) Contact: CalPortland, Allen Hamblen, CEO, 520-744-3222, www.calportland.com; DOE ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  

Mitsui, Bombora
Date: 2021-01-11
In Japan, maritime merchant fleet operator Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Welsh marine energy developer Bombora are reporting an agreement to identify potential opportunities and applications for Bombora's mWave and wind energy projects in Japan the neighbouring area.

Bombora is currently in the final assembly phase of its 1.5MW mWave Pembrokeshire Demonstration Project in Wales with installation scheduled for mid-2021. Looking beyond the test and validation this year, Bombora is forging ahead with technological and commercial advancements. InSPIRE, Bombora's partnership project with global EPC contractor, TechnipFMC, to integrate mWave and wind generation on one floating offshore platform has already commenced. The first phase of the InSPIRE project will realise the demonstration of a 12MW Integrated mWave and wind floating platform. Phase two makes the leap to an industry leading 18MW. Significant gains are made from integrating mWave and wind onto a single platform. It is possible to generate 50 pct more power from seabed lease areas and 50 pct more consistent power than just offshore wind. Most important of all is the ability to accelerate the cost reduction pathway for this emerging sector, delivering a 20 pct lower cost of energy than floating offshore wind alone.

Japan aims to install 10GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 rising to between 30GW and 45GW by 2040 as part of the country's effort to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. (Source: Bombora, Business News Pembrokeshire , 11 Jan., 2021) Contact: Bombora, +44 1646 233140, www.bomborawave.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Mitsui,  Bombora ,  Wind,  Wave Energy,  

Tata Steel
Date: 2021-01-06
India's Tata Steel is reporting a collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Green Business Centre and relevant steel sector stakeholders to develop the GreenPro Label framework for steel rebars with the lowest environment impact. GreenPro Ecolabeled products are guaranteed to be made to the highest sustainability and quality standards and are recognized in Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) green building rating system.

To date, more than 125 building products and materials manufacturing companies have adopted GreenPro Ecolabel for more than 1,800 products for Green Building construction.

Buildings and construction together account for nearly 36 pct of global energy use and 39 pct of energy related CO2 emissions. Embodied carbon accounts for 11 pct of the building’s emissions and is primarily from materials like steel, cement, concrete, glass, according to CII. (Source: Tata Steel, CII Green Business Centre, Jan., 2021) Contact: CII Green Business Centre, +91 40 4418 5111, www.greenbusinesscentre.com; Tata Steel, www.tatasteel.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tata ,  

Green Plains Inc.
Date: 2020-12-30
In the Corn Husker State, Omaha-based Green Plains Inc. is reporting its subsidiary, Green Plains Hereford LLC, has completed the previously announced sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas, to Hereford Ethanol Partners, L.P. for $39 million, plus working capital. Additionally, an earnout provision of up to $75 million related to certain value enhancement opportunities, including future earnings from Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits was included as part of the transaction.

Green Plains Partners LP also announced it completed the sale of the storage assets and the assignment of certain rail transportation assets associated with Green Plains Hereford LLC for $10 million, which was applied to debt reduction. (Source: Green Plains Inc., PR, 28 Dec., 2020) Contact: Green Plains Inc. Investors: Phil Boggs, Snr. VP, Investor Relations, 402.884.8700, phil.boggs@gpreinc.com, www.gpreinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Plains,  Ethanol,  

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

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

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

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

Natural Resources Canada
Date: 2020-12-28
On December 16, 2020, the Canadian Liberal Gov. of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released its Hydrogen Strategy for Canada, an ambitious framework to cement hydrogen's role in Canada's path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to make Canada a global leader in hydrogen technologies.

Hydrogen can be used as a fuel alternative for transportation, including light- and heavy-duty vehicles, transit buses and trains. It can also be used in power generation and can be burned on its own or blended with natural gas to heat residential and commercial buildings or provide high-grade heat for industrial processes. Hydrogen is also commonly used as feedstock for industrial processes such as petroleum refining, bitumen upgrading and the production of ammonia, methanol and steel.

Download the HERE. (Source: Natural Resources Canada, 16 Dec., 2020) Contact: NARCAN, www.nrcan.gc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Carbon Emissions,  Hydrogen,  Natural Resources Canada,  

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

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

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

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

Green Plains
Date: 2020-12-18
In the Cornhusker State, Omaha-headquartered ethanol producer Green Plains Inc. is reporting its subsidiary, Green Plains Hereford LLC, has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell its 2006-vintage 100 MMgy ethanol plant in Hereford, Texas, to Hereford Ethanol Partners L.P. for $39 million, plus working capital and an earnout provision of up to $75 million related to certain value enhancement opportunities, including future earnings from Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits.

Green Plains Hereford LLC has also entered into an asset purchase agreement with Green Plains Partners LP and affiliates to acquire the storage and transportation assets and the assignment of railcar leases associated with the Hereford ethanol plant for $10 million. Both transactions are expected to close within the next 30 days. (Source: Green Plains Inc., Dec., 2020) Contact: Green Plains Inc., Todd Becker, CEO, Phil Boggs, VP, 402.884.8700, phil.boggs@gpreinc.com, www.gpreinc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Plains Inc.,  Ethanol,  DDGs,  

DOE EERE
Date: 2020-12-14
The U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) reports the launch of its EERE Program Information Center -- a new portal for renewables and energy efficiency funding opportunities.

The EERE Program Information Center identifies and helps users respond to open opportunities including Funding Opportunity Announcements, Requests for Information, Notices of Intent, Notices of Technical Assistance, and Lab Calls.

The DOE EERE works with and offers funding to businesses, industry representatives, universities, National Laboratories, and others to increase the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. (Source: U.S. DOE EERE, PR, 7 Dec., 2020) Contact: DOE EERE Program Information Center, 202-287-6956, eereepichelpdesk@ee.doe.gov, epicweb.ee.doe.gov/EPICRefDocs/external/EERE_Program_Information_Center_Coming_Soon.pdf

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE EERE news,  Energy Eficiency news,  

US DOE
Date: 2020-12-11
In Washington, the US DOE has announced up to $35 million in funding for bioenergy feedstock technologies and algae research and development. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports the White House priority for advancing the domestic bioeconomy, as well as the Bioenergy Technologies Office's goals of improving the performance and lowering the cost and risk of technologies that can be used to produce biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts. Topic Areas include:

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to Enable Production of Conversion-Ready Feedstocks (up to $15M): (a) Measurement of variability of key MSW characteristics within and across unique MSW streams (b) Development of novel methods for rapid/real-time measurements.

Algae Productivity Exceeding Expectations (APEX) (up to $20M): (a) Improvements in productivity with traditional carbon dioxide (CO2) supply (b) Improvements in productivity with Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 from ambient air.

The Feedstock Technologies Topic Area will focus on the characterization of MSW streams. Projects will work on understanding MSW variability and informing the steps necessary to produce conversion-ready feedstock. The Advanced Algal Systems Topic Area looks to improve seasonal productivity of algae via a diverse portfolio of strains and improvement approaches. Projects will develop tools to accelerate current and future strain and cultivation improvements.

The application process will include two phases: a concept paper and a full application. Concept papers are due on February 1, 2021, and full applications are due on April 5, 2021.

Download details HERE. (Source: US DOE, 18 Dec., 2020) Contact: US DOR, www.energy.gov/eere

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE EERE,  Biofuel,  Algae,  Bioenergy,  

Ameresco
Date: 2020-12-11
In the Bay State, Framingham-based energy efficiency and renewable energy specialist Ameresco, Inc. is reporting completion energy efficiency upgrades to wastewater plants serving New Britain, Middletown, Berlin and Cromwell for the Mattabassett District in Cromwell, Conn.. The completed projects are expected to result in more than $1 million in energy savings over the course of 12 years.

Ameresco's work included plant-wide integrated temperature controls, a modernized building lighting system, high efficiency HVAC units and low-voltage transformer replacements. The project guarantees an estimated 581,909 kWh in total energy savings. Construction was completed in November. (Source: Ameresco, Worcester Bus. Journal, Dec., 2020)Contact: Ameresco, David J. Anderson, EVP, (508) 661-2264, www.ameresco.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ameresco,  Energy Efficiency,  

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Date: 2020-12-07
In Lansing, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) reports the availability of $322,800 in funding for clean diesel and alternative fuel engine and equipment replacement projects under a competitive grant request for proposals.

The 2020-22 Michigan Clean Diesel Program RFP targets efforts to replace old diesel equipment, vehicles and engines with cleaner alternative fuel, electric or hybrid versions. Cities, townships, villages, county governmental agencies, public school districts, private schools, public transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, nonprofit organizations or private businesses can apply for the grants.

Download Michigan Clean Diesel Program details HERE. (Source: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, www.michigan.gov/egle

More Low-Carbon Energy News ALternative Fuel,  

sdu, cANADA gREEN bUILDING cOUNCIL
Date: 2020-12-04
In Burnaby, British Columbia, Simon Fraser University (SFU) School of Sustainable Energy Engineering reports it recently completed 220,000 sq-ft Surrey Campus building has earned Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) LEED Gold certification for sustainable design and operations.

The five-storey building incorporates 330 precast white cement panels with reflective surfaces organized around the light filled atrium and live trees at varying levels. The building incorporates various LEED qualifying energy efficiency features and underground parking, modern wet and dry teaching labs, classrooms, study spaces, faculty offices, meeting rooms and a 400-seat lecture hall. The project was partially funding through the federal government's Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and matched by the Province of British Columbia. (Source: Simon Fraser University, PR, Construction Business, 1 Dec., 2020) Contact: Simon Fraser University, Larry Waddell, Chief Facilities Officer, www.sdu.ca; Canada Green Building Council, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  LEED Certification,  

LafargeHolcim
Date: 2020-12-04
Swiss cement giant LafargeHolcim reports it has earmarked 100 million Swiss francs ($111.89 million) over the next two years on waste heat recovery "thermal heat" systems to cut CO2 emissions at six cement plants in India, as it looks to reduce its carbon emissions by 500,000 tons a year.

LafargeHolcim has committed to reduce its Scope 2 indirect carbon emissions by 65 pct compared with 2018 levels. The company has been working to reduce its carbon emissions which analysts have said have weighed on its share price as environmental concerns become increasing important for investors. (Source: LafargeHolcim, PR, 3 Dec., 2020) Contact: LafargeHolcim Ltd, Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability Officer, Stephanie Sulcer, Communications, 847 716 0368, stephanie.sulcer@lafargeholcim.com, www.lafargeholcim.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LafargeHolcim,  Cement,  Carbon Emissions,  

University of Wisconsin–Madison
Date: 2020-12-02
The University of Wisconsin--Madison reports it has been recognized in the Philadelphi-based Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2020 Sustainable Campus Index for its water and energy saving initiatives at the Charter Street Heating and Cooling Plant. The plant improvements stem from an improved cleaning system for heat exchangers covering over 50,000 tons of the campus's central plant chillers.

The Sustainable Campus Index highlights innovative and high-impact initiatives from colleges and universities that submitted a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) report in the most recent calendar year. (Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison, PR, Dec. 2020) Contact: University of Wisconsin-Madison, www.wisc.edu; Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, 303-395-1331, www.aashe.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News University of Wisconsin–Madison ,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Management,  

Renewable Fuels Association,National Farmers Union
Date: 2020-12-02
Commenting on the US EPA's again missing the annual statutory deadline for the release of the RVOs, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said:

"It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that EPA is missing its statutory deadline for publishing the final rule for 2021 RVOs, given that we still haven't even seen a proposed rule. And even if a proposed rule was released today, it would be next to impossible to have a final rule done by the end of the calendar year, or even by inauguration day.

"At this point, it likely makes more sense to let the new administration handle the 2021 RVO rulemaking process entirely. President-elect Biden has correctly noted that the RFS waivers granted by the current EPA have severely cut ethanol production, costing farmers income and ethanol plant workers their jobs. Thus, we are confident that the new EPA administrator, whoever that may end up being, will stop doing secret favors for oil refiners and ensure the RFS is implemented in a way that is consistent with the law and Congressional intent. We know it may take a few months for the new administration to get a final 2021 RVO rule done, but in the meantime, the statute is crystal clear that refiners must blend at least 15 billion gallons of conventional renewable fuel in 2021.

"So, while there may be some uncertainty around where the final advanced and cellulosic volume requirements may end up, the marketplace should be able to enter 2021 with some level of confidence around the conventional renewable fuel and biomass-based diesel requirements."

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew added, "By punting a decision on 2021's RVOS to the next administration, EPA is introducing yet more uncertainty to the biofuels industry -- uncertainty that most farmers and biofuels producers can't afford right now. Despite promising again and again to uphold RFS, the Trump administration has consistently undermined the program with its misappropriation of small refinery exemptions, preferential treatment of oil corporations, and disregard for its legal responsibility to restore lost demand, all of which has cost America's farmers and biofuel producers dearly. To add insult to injury, fuel use -- and, consequently, ethanol use -- has dropped significantly during the pandemic, cutting deeply into profits.

"Trump's EPA has almost invariably fallen short in its handling of biofuels, and today's decision, or lack thereof, is no different. We sincerely hope Biden's EPA learns from their mistakes and takes biofuels policy in a much more promising direction." (Source: National Farmers Union, Renewable Fuels Association, FencePost, 30 Nov., 2020) Contact: National Farmers Union, Rob Larew, Pres., (202) 554-1600, www.nfu.org; Renewable Fuels Association, Geoff Cooper, Pres., CEO, (202) 289-3835, www.ethanolrfa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuels Association,  RFS,  National Farmers Union ,  

Enel Group,Hydrogen Europe
Date: 2020-11-30
At last weeks European Hydrogen Forum, a gathering of industry leaders, policy-makers, government representatives and researchers, the Enel Group reported plans to grow its green hydrogen capacity to over 2 GW by 2030 and to integrate electrolyzers with renewable energy plants producing electricity for direct sale and ancillary services to support further renewable penetration in the grid, with green hydrogen also being sold to industrial customers.

According to Enel Group CEO Francesco Starace, the company is developing green hydrogen projects in Spain, Chile and the United States. Starace noted the cement, fertilizer and chemical industries, as well as transport by sea or air cannot be fully electrified and need green hydrogen if we want to achieve a fully decarbonized society going forward. For these sectors, green hydrogen can truly be the answer to decarbonization. Technological development, however, is just in the initial phase and we have to accelerate its pace and study its evolution carefully in order to avoid mistakes in capital allocations and bets in solutions that need to be tested before large investments are put to work, Starace added.

The European Hydrogen Forum was jointly organized by the European Commission's Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), in partnership with Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research. (Source: Enel Group, Romania Business Review, 27 Nov., 2020) Contact: Enel Group, Francesco Starace, CEO, www.enel.com; Hydrogen Europe, www.hydrogeneurope.eu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Hydrogen,  Enel Group,  

Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
Date: 2020-11-30
In Hanoi, the Vietnamese government reports it has joined the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) to improve forest protection, forest quality and sustainable forest management, thereby helping Vietnam realize its climate targets.

The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) pledged to purchase 10.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from six northern central provinces for a total $51.5 million via the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) in the 2018-2024 period, which was recently signed between the World Bank (WB) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples' organizations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, activities commonly referred to as REDD+.

The FCPF has to date worked with 47 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, along with 17 donors that have made contributions and commitments totaling $1.3 billion. Vietnam is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region and fifth globally to reach such a milestone agreement with the FCPF. (Source: Nhan Dan Online, 29 Nov., 2020) Contact: Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, www.forestcarbonpartnership.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Forest Carbon Partnership,  REDD+,  Carbon Emissions,  Deforestation,  

BiON
Date: 2020-11-23
Kuala Lumpur-based environmental engineering, wastewater treatment and renewable energy solutions specialist BiON Plc is reporting non-binding memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Green Lagoon Technology, LIPP Engineering, and SIRIM Tech Venture to partner on waste-to-energy biogas industry opportunities in Malaysia.

BiON, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, BiON Ventures Sdn Bhd (BVSB) and BiON, has inked MOUs with:

Green Lagoon Technology (GLT), a developer of biogas power plants with a specialisation in in-ground bioreactor systems. The firm currently has four grid-connected biogas plants generating a total of 6 MW. Green Lagoon Technology, www,glt.my

LIPP Engineering (LIPP), an engineering, procurement and construction firm focused on generating renewable energy from various biomass or waste sources utilising its German-developed technology. LIPP Engineering, www.lipp-engineering.com

SIRIM Tech Venture (SIRIM), a Malaysian government agency that promotes technological advancement and adoption to drive industrial efficiency and development in Malaysia. SIRIM Tech Venture Sdn Bhd, www.sirimtechventure.my (Source: BiON Plc, PR Website, Nov., 2020) Contact: BiON Ventures Sdn Bhd, +603 6413 1085, info@bioplc.com, www.bionplc.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas,  Waste-to-Energy,  

Boralex
Date: 2020-11-20
Montreal-headquartered Boralex Inc. is reporting an agreement to acquire the full 49 pct equity stake held by the Province of Quebec Pension Fund -- Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) -- in 3 wind farms totaling 296 MW in Quebec, already 51 pct owned by Boralex.

The 3 wind farms, located in the Avignon RCM in Gaspesie and the Appalaches RCM in eastern Quebec, are equipped with Enercon turbines and have long-term PPAs with Hydro-Quebec Distribution, expiring between 2032 and 2033 with a weighted average remaining contract duration of nearly 12.5 years.

As part of the acquisition, Boralex will pay $121.5 million cash to CDPQ on closing, which may be supplemented by a conditional consideration of up to $4 million subject to the settlement of certain future conditions that need to be met. The closing is expected to take place at the end of November 2020, subject to standard closing conditions. With this transaction, Boralex's installed capacity will be 2,212 MW. (Source: Boralex Inc., Website, PR, 19 Nov., 2020) Contact: Boralex, Patrick Lemaire, Pres., CEO, (514) 985-1353, www.boralex.com; CDPQ, 514 847-5493, www.cdpq.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Boralex,  Wind,  CDPQ,  

Portland General Electric
Date: 2020-11-20
In Oregon, Portland General Electric (PGE) has announced a new climate change action plan aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) across its operations by 2040. The plan initially focuses on lowering the GHG associated with power supplies to clients by 80 pct by 2030 as compared to 2010 levels.

To that end, PGE will shut down coal-fired power capacity , more renewables, such as wind, solar and battery storage switch more than 60 pct of its vehicle fleet to electric vehicles by 2030.

PGE noted that reaching the 2040 goal will require policy, regulatory and technology advancements that support the thorough elimination of GHG from power supply. (Source: Portland General Electric, PR, Website, 19 Nov., 2020) Contact: PGE, Maria Pope, CEO, Steve Corson, (503) 464-8444, www.portlandgeneral.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Portland General Electric ,  PGE,  Net-Zero Emissions,  GHG,  

Monash University ,CSIRO
Date: 2020-11-18
In the Land Down Under, Monash University is touting Airthena™ technology which it describes as "the most cost-effective method of capturing CO2 yet devised." A two metres square solar cell powered Airthena unit can capture six kilograms of CO2 per day, according to the Monash release.

The Airthena device, which uses a metal organic framework (MOF) that acts like a sponge to soak up CO2, could be adapted so that greenhouses capture their own CO2, or the CO2 could be used to feed algae for biofuel production or to make sustainable cement, according to the developers website.

The developers are in discussions with industry partners and investors, and hope to finalize plans to scale up the technology in the near future. (Source: Monash University, Website PR, 17 Nov., 2020) Contact: Airthena - CSIRO, www.csiro.au/en/Do-business/Commercialisation/Marketplace/CO2Gen; Monash University, www.monash.edu

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

Schneider Electric
Date: 2020-11-16
The Richland County School District One in Columbia, South Carolina, reports it is partnering with energy efficiency and management specialist Schneider Electric to implement an energy efficiency – energy savings performance contract (ESPC) projected to cut the school district’s utility and operational costs by 24 pct and save $28 million in energy costs over the next 20 years.

As part of the program, Schneider Electric will implement modern technologies that will generate savings and, in turn, create a revenue stream to help fund future improvements . Schneider’s work will include:

updated HVAC technology for cleaner environments and to regulate fresh outdoor air;

full district-wide telecommunications overhaul, improving district-wide emergency communications and providing flexibility for distance learning;

iInterior and exterior lighting upgrades to bring emergency lighting up to current building code standards;

replacement and upgrade of critical electrical infrastructure to reduce maintenance time and extend the life of the outdated system;

upgrade and replacement of water and restroom fixtures to further reduce waste;

installation of a “smart-plugs” network to manage high-load devices and improve energy efficiency, and;

building envelope improvements to renew aging buildings to better withstand extreme seasonal weather patterns and increase comfort for students and staff. (Source: Richland County School District One, PR, Nov., 2020) Contact: . Richland County School District One S.C. www.richlandone.org; Schneider Electric, www.se.com

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

CEMEX, ENERGY STAR
Date: 2020-11-13
Houston-headquartered CEMEX USA reports its Miami cement plant has achieved US EPA ENERGY STAR® Certification for 2020 -- the tenth consecutive year the plant has earned the recognition for energy efficiency and sustainability and ranked in the top 25 pct of similar US facilities.

Since 2007, CEMEX USA cement plants have earned more than 50 ENERGY STAR® Certifications. In addition, dozens of CEMEX USA cement terminals and ready-mix concrete operations have achieved the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry. (Source: CEMEX USA, PR, 10 Nov., 2020) Contact: CEMEX USA, Jaime Muguiro, Pres., 713-650-6200, www.cemexusa.com; US DOE, ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CEMEX,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  

Toshiba
Date: 2020-11-13
Japanese conglomerate Toshiba reports it will no longer accept orders for the construction of coal-fired thermal power facilities.

The announcement is in keeping with the company's goal of cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 pct by 2030 from its base level of 2019 and the commencement of operations of a large-scale carbon capture facility in Fukuoka, Japan. The company also plans to expand its solar renewable energy business to ¥650 billion ($6.17 billion) by 2030, from ¥190 billion yen ($1.80 billion) in 2019.

Toshiba's announcement comes as coal continues losing ground as Germany's Siemens Energy, U.S. multinational conglomerate General Electric (GE), India's largest coal-fired power generator, NTPC Ltd, and other energy sector majors increasingly abandon Old King Coal. (Source: Toshiba, Mercom India, Nov., 2020) Contact: Toshiba, www.toshiba.co.jp/worldwide/index.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Toshiba news,  Coal news,  

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

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

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cemex,  CCS,  

Endesa
Date: 2020-11-09
In Madrid, Endesa reports it will start supplying biogas sourced wastewater and sludge at its network of (bio)NGV stations in Region-Ile-de-France, beginning in 2023. The announcement follows a supply contract agreement between Spanish multi-energy company and SIAAP, the main wastewater treatment syndicate in the Paris region.

The supply contract awarded to Endesa includes the purchase of 40GWh/year of biomethane from 2023, and up to 220GWh/year from 2030. Endesa currently operates 8 public and 3 private (bio) NGV stations and plans to expand its network to 40 (Bio)NGV stations in France by 2024. (Source: Endesa, PR, PetrolPlaza, 7 Nov., 2020) Contact: Endesa SA, www.endesasa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Endesa,  NGV,  Alternative Duel,  Biogas,  

Diamond Green Diesel
Date: 2020-11-04
Diamond Green Diesel reports it will more than double its production of renewable diesel to 675 million gpy at its Norco, Louisiana plant with the completion of a second Honeywell Ecofining process unit with a capacity of 30,000 bpd The facility converts inedible oils and other waste fats into a high-quality renewable diesel fuel. When the second unit is expected to be completed in 2021.

Honeywell Green Diesel can be used as a drop-in replacement in diesel-powered vehicles with no engine modifications, and features up to an 80 pct lifecycle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel from petroleum.

Diamond Green Diesel is owned by Valero Energy Corp. and Darling Ingredients Inc.(Source: Diamond Green Diesel, PR, GreenCar Congress, 2 Nov., 2020) Contact: Darling Ingredients, Melissa A. Gaither, VP IR , (972) 281-4478, mgaither@darlingii.com, www.darlingii.com; Diamond Green Diesel, sales@diamondgreendiesel.com, www.diamondgreendiesel.com; Valero Renewable Fuels, Joe Gorder, Pres., (800) 324-8464, www.valero.com; Honeywell UOP, Rebecca Liebert, Pres.,CEO, www.uop.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News UOP Honeywell,  Diamond Green Diesel,  

CenterPoint Properties
Date: 2020-11-04
Oak Brook, Illinois-headquartered industrial real estate company CenterPoint Properties is reporting closure of its inaugural $250 million green bond issuance.

The bond proceeds will be used to finance projects such as green building construction, the development and operational maintenance of green buildings and to acquire new, refurbished, or existing buildings that receive LEED, ENERGY STAR® and other industry-leading certifications. Bond proceeds will also be used to fund energy-efficient projects within the company's current portfolio, including operational enhancement and other sustainable maintenance. (Source: CenterPoint Properties, PR, Mercom, 3 Nov., 2020) Contact: CenterPoint Properties, (630) 586-8000, www. centerpoint.com; LEED,US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org; US DOE, ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CenterPoint Properties,  LEED,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency ,  

Growth Energy, USDA
Date: 2020-11-02
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor recently submitted the following comments to the USDA's Agriculture Innovation Agenda regarding readily available technologies that enable our domestic agriculture sector to increase production while reducing its environmental footprint.

In her comments, Skor argued that biofuels like ethanol play a critical role in achieving the USDA's goals and called for building on current investments to expand renewable fuels role in the nation's transportation infrastructure. "Supporting programs like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and initiatives to expand access to higher biofuel blends like E15, E30, and E85 can build on biofuels' environmental progress and expand the market for American agriculture,", said Skor. "USDA's Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) is a prime example how the agency can support the productivity of our farmers, while decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and encouraging further adoption of sustainable farming practices across our agriculture sector."

Skor also notes the biofuels industry's continued advancements to capture CO2 and the plant-based fuel's ability to replace harmful toxics and improve air quality. "We have a better option in ethanol, the single most affordable and abundant alternative to petroleum-based fuel additives that threaten air quality in communities across the globe. To expand on these benefits, USDA should continue to promote programs that boost biofuels access and use throughout the country.

As the department works to streamline programs and seek opportunities to improve sustainable farming across the country, Skor encouraged USDA to continue exploring the strong link between U.S. agriculture and our biofuels industry, and promote the increased use of biofuels so our nation's farmers can continue to rely on these markets as we work to reduce the environmental impact of the agriculture sector.

The organizations have asked the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to order the following: EPA should not withhold the name of the company submitting an application for an SRE nor the name and location of the refinery for which relief is requested; EPA should immediately produce the information that was unlawfully withheld for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance years 2015, 2016, and 2017, and; EPA should not withhold any of the five data elements identified in the proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule (Source: Growth Energy, Website PR , 28 Oct., 2020) Contact: Growth Energy, Emily Skor, (202) 545-4000, www.growthenergy.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Growth Energy,  USDA,  RFS,  Biofuel,