Pew Trusts
Date: 2022-04-29
Coastal wetlands -- including seagrass beds, salt marshes, and tidal forested wetlands -- can help protect coastal communities from severe storms and flooding. Because they are also incredibly efficient at capturing and storing carbon, these coastal habitats are natural allies in the fight against climate change. Such carbon stores found in coastal and marine ecosystems are known as "blue carbon."

Recognizing the climate mitigating role blue carbon can play, The Pew Charitable Trusts began working to protect and restore coastal wetlands in 2018, engaging with agencies, researchers, and stakeholders around the country and the world. In the U.S., the Pew Trusts focus is with states since they largely set the policies governing their coastlines. To help create stronger connections among state agencies, practitioners, researchers, and NGOs working on blue carbon, Pew is launching the Blue Carbon Network, to:

Provide experts and state officials with opportunities to discuss blue carbon science through convenings, resource materials, and information sharing.

Connect local, state, and national partners to share information and best practices related to blue carbon policy and management.

Troubleshoot challenges in coastal habitat data and mapping.

Identify data and approaches for developing greenhouse gas inventories for state coastal wetlands, including national resources available to states and how to overcome common challenges like incorporating seagrass and other submerged aquatic vegetation into those inventories.

Understand and address the effect of sea-level rise on carbon that is sequestered and stored in coastal landscapes.

Set realistic yet meaningful coastal habitat conservation and restoration targets within state climate mitigation strategies.

Develop tools that can help coastal managers better assess the blue carbon impact of restoration activities.

Navigate challenges and opportunities, such as financing and monitoring, for mainstreaming blue carbon into coastal habitat management.

To date, Pew Trusts has collaborated with the Oregon Coastal Management Program, Silvestrum Climate Associates, and researchers from the Pacific Northwest Blue Carbon Working Group to develop a first-ever, state-level blue carbon inventory and specific policy-level recommendations for maintaining and enhancing carbon storage in Oregon's estuaries. These proposals have been incorporated into the Oregon Global Warming Commission's Natural and Working Lands and Waters proposal. And in North Carolina, Pew is working with researchers and officials to build the state's first greenhouse gas inventory for coastal wetlands. This inventory will likely be among the first in the world to include seagrass in addition to other tidally influenced wetlands such as marsh.

Blue Carbon Network details are HERE . (Source: Pew Charitable Trusts, 29 April, 2022) Contact: Pew Charitable Trusts, Rebecca Theim, Communications, 202.540.6828. www.pewtrusts.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Storage news,  Blue Carbon news,  Climate Change news,  Seagrass news,  

Fluence, TECO
Date: 2022-04-04
Taipei, Taiwan-headquartered Fluence Energy, Inc. a leading global provider of energy storage products and services, and digital applications for renewables and storage is reporting plans to partners with TECO Group to participate in Taiwan’s energy storage market by offering battery-based energy storage systems for offshore wind, solar PV and work together towards the goal of net-zero carbon emissions.

The two firms have been cooperating in Taiwan's energy storage market since 2020. Fluence was established in January 2018 as a joint venture between Siemens and The AES Corporation to bring innovation to modern power infrastructure. With a presence in 30 global markets, Fluence provides an ecosystem of offerings to drive the clean energy transition, including modular, scalable energy storage products, comprehensive service offerings, and the Fluence IQ Platform, which delivers AI-enabled digital applications for managing and optimizing renewables and storage from any provider.

In recent years, TECO Group has continued to actively deploy related fields of net zero carbon emissions, including offshore wind, solar PV, and energy storage systems. In the past three years, TECO has undertaken large-scale mechanical and electrical engineering cases of more than 10 billion TWDs, of which the deployment of onshore substations for offshore wind is about 2 GW. (Source: Fluence Energy Website PR, 3 Mar., 2022) Contact: Fluence Energy, Jan Teichmann, Pres. Asia Pacific, Lexington May, Sr. Manager, Investor Relations, 713-909-5629, InvestorRelations@fluenceenergy.com, www.fluenceenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence,  TECO,  

Pacific Islands Forum
Date: 2022-04-01
In Suva, Fiji, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the leading political intergovernmental organisation representing 18 countries and territories of the Pacific Ocean, and FIFA are reporting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together to enhance awareness of climate change mitigation action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and leverage opportunities for climate-resilient football development in the Blue Pacific region.

The partnership will focus on education around climate change, fostering climate change disaster resilience and mitigation, developing advocacy strategies and boosting community initiatives.

The United Nations defines small island developing states (SIDS) as a group of most vulnerable and capacity constrained developing countries sharing similar challenges when it comes to sustainable development .

FIFA launched a Climate Strategy in November 2021 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland, and committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Back in 2016, FIFA became the first international sports organisation to join the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Neutral Now initiative, pledging to measure, reduce and compensate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with FIFA World Cups.

According to Pacific Islands Forum General Secretary Henry Puna, "The single greatest threat facing the Pacific and our Blue Planet is climate change, and we must urgently raise awareness, build resilience and act now to limit global warming to 1.5C. We see this partnership with FIFA as a chance to influence behaviour change and drive action from individuals, communities, businesses and governments across the world using the power of football. It will also help mobilise financing for resilience building through the Pacific Resilience Facility." (Source: Pacific Islands Forum, PR, 30 Mar., 2022) Contact: Pacific Islands Forum, www.forumsec.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pacific Islands Forum news,  

Fluence Energy
Date: 2022-02-28
In the Land Down Under, Melbourne-based Telstra Energy and Fluence are reporting the deployment of the Fluence IQ Bidding Application to optimize the performance of the 232 MW Murra Warra 1 Wind Farm in Victoria State and the 88 MW Emerald Solar Park in Queensland, both of which have long-term PPAs with Telstra Energy.

The Fluence IQ Bidding Application help maximize power generation during favorable market conditions and avoid generation during periods of oversupply and negative prices. (Source: Fluenece Energy, Blog, 23 Feb., 2022) Contact: Fluence Energy, www.fluenceenergy.com; Telstra Energy, www.telstra.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy,  Wind,  Australia Wind,  

Fluence Energy, Greencoat
Date: 2022-02-23
Arlington, Virginia-headquartered global clean energy storage specialist Fluence Energy Inc. reports the delivery of a 10.8 MW battery-based energy storage system to Dublin, Ireland-based Greencoat Renewables PLC's Killala Community Wind Farm in County Mayo. Ireland. The project, which is Greencoat's first investment in energy storage technologies, is now in commissioning stage.

Fluence Energy is a Siemens and AES Corporation joint venture. (Source: Fluence, Website PR, 21 Feb., 2022) Contact: Greencoat Renewables, Ben Brooks, Proj. Mgr., +44 20 7832 9400 -- London, +44 20 7832 9400 -- Dublin, www.greencoat-capital.com; Fluence Energy, Joanna Spirodek Regional Marketing Manager, +49 1728 662155, Joanna.Spirodek@fluenceenergy.com, www.fluenceenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence,  Fluence Energy,  Wind,  Energy Storage,  Greencoat,  Community Solar,  Solar+Storage,  

Fluence Energy,SMC Global Power Holdings
Date: 2022-01-28
Fluence Energy, a leading energy storage technology and digital applications provider enabling the global clean energy transition, is reporting the first 20-MW / 20-MWh battery-based solar energy storage system in the 470 MW / 470 MWh portfolio the company is deploying for SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMCGPH) has entered commercial service. The project is only the second grid-scale battery project to serve the Philippines electricity network.

Fluence is a global market leader in energy storage products and services and digital applications for renewables and storage. As of September 30, 2021, the company has more than 3.6 GW of energy storage deployed or contracted in 30 markets globally, and more than 4.7 GW of wind, solar, and storage assets optimized or contracted in Australia and California. (Source: Fluence Energy Website, PR, 26 Jan., 2022) Contact: Fluence Energy, www.fluenceenergy.com; SMC Global Power Holdings, www.smcglobalpower.com.ph

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy,  Solar,  Battery,  Energy Storage,  

Fuels of the Future
Date: 2022-01-26
In Berlin, a report from the Fuels of the Future (UFOP) 19th International Digital Conference on Renewable Mobility (24-28 Jan. 2022) finds around 7 pct from 1.4 billion ha of crops ---grain, oilseeds, protein, sugar and fibre plants, fruits, vegetables, nuts and others -- grown worldwide went into biofuels production in 2020.

Biofuel production is mostly located in countries where there is already a surplus of feedstock (especially maize, soy and palm oil) and legally prescribed blending obligations.

According to UFOP, if the surplus were not used to produce biofuels, it would have to be placed on the global market where it would weigh heavily on feedstock prices. The use in biofuel production reduces the production overhang, generates extra value added and reduces the need for foreign currency for imports of crude or fossil fuels. This is primarily a problem in poorer countries. Another advantage is the amount of high-quality protein feed that is generated in biofuel production, demand for which is steadily increasing.

The amount and quality of these protein feeds have a strong influence on feedstock prices. Consequently, they also determine the amount of land dedicated to growing the feedstocks. In other words, biofuels are by no means the price drivers in the commodities markets, according to the UFOP release. (Source: UFOP, Website, 25 Jan., 2022) Contact: UFOP, info@ufop.de, www.fuels-of-the-future.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fuels of the Future,  Biofuel,  

Vistra Energy
Date: 2022-01-26
Texas-headquartered integrated utility and power generation company Vistra Energy is reporting plans to add another 350MW/1,400MWh battery energy storage capacity to nearly double the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility existing 400MW/1,600MWh in Monterey Bay, California.

The existing facility is 400MW/1,600MWh and was brought online in two phases, with the most recent 100MW/400MWh Phase II commissioned in August 2021. Phase I's 300MW/1,200MWh of batteries went online at the end of 2020, although in September they were temporarily taken offline after overheating in some battery modules had been detected. Phase II remained operational at that time.

For the project, Vistra has worked with battery module and rack provider LG Energy Solution, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner Burns & McDonnell and system integrator Fluence. Construction could begin in May this year for completion by June, 2023, according to the release.

Vistra is the largest competitive residential electricity provider and largest competitive power generator in the U.S. with a diverse generation portfolio of approximately 39,000 MW. (Source: Vistra Energy, PR, Website, 25 Jan., 2022) Contact: Vistra Energy, Curtis Morgan, CEO, Jim Burke, COO, www.vistraenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vistra Energy,  Battery,  Energy Storage,  BESS,  

IRENA
Date: 2022-01-17
According to the recently released Geopolitics of the Energy Transformation: The Hydrogen Factor from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the rapid growth of the global hydrogen economy can bring "significant geoeconomic and geopolitical shifts giving rise to a wave of new interdependencies." Driven by the climate urgency and countries' commitments to net zero, Irena estimates hydrogen to cover up to 12 pct of global energy use by 2050.

IRENA notes "Growing trade and targeted investments in a market dominated by fossil fuels and currently valued at $174 billion is likely to boost economic competitiveness and influence the foreign policy landscape with bilateral deals diverging significantly from the hydrocarbon relationships of the 20th century." Irena also estimates, over 30 pct of hydrogen could be traded across borders by 2050, a higher share than natural gas today. (Source: IRENA, PR, Jan., 2022) Contact: IRENA, Francesco La Camera, Director-General, +97124179000, info@irena.org, www.irena.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News IRENA,  Hydrogen,  Green Hydrogen,  

QuantumScape, Fluence
Date: 2022-01-14
Arlington, Virginia-headquartered global clean energy storage specialist Fluence Energy Inc. is reporting a multi-year agreement with San Jose, California-based battery start-up QuantumScape to introduce solid-state lithium-metal battery technology in stationary energy storage applications.

Under the agreement, which reserves batteries produced by QuantumScape's pre-pilot production facility, QS-0, the companies will work together to validate and test QuantumScape's solid-state battery cells for use in Fluence's proprietary stationary storage products. The companies expect to enter into a large-scale supply agreement during their collaboration. (Source: Fluence, PR, Website, Jan., 2022) Contact: Fluence Energy, Samuel Chong VP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations, (872) 301-2501, www.fluenceenergy.com; QuantumScape, www.quantumscape.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News QuantumScape,  Battery Energy Storage,  Fluence,  

Fluence Energy
Date: 2022-01-03
Fluence Energy, an energy storage products and services, and digital applications for renewables and energy storage specialist, reports it has been selected by Taipei, Taiwan-based solar specialist and renewable energy IPP, Ina Energy Corp., a subsidiary of the PJ Asset Management Group, to deliver a 6MW / 6MWh battery-based energy storage system (BESS) in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Fluence will cooperate with the Taiwan-based TECO Group and its subsidiary YATEC to offer Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) services to the state-owned utility company Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) (Source: Fluence Energy, Website PR, 20 Dec., 2021) Contact: Fluence Energy, Samuel Chong VP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations, (872) 301-2501, www.fluenceenergy.com; Ina Energy Corp, www.inaenergy.com.tw; www.taipower.co.tw: Ina Energy Corp., www.inaenergy.com.tw

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy,  BESS,  Energy STorage ,  

Fluence Energy
Date: 2021-09-29
Arlington, Virginia-headquartered global Clean energy storage specialist Fluence Energy Inc. report it has filed for initial public offering (IPO) and plans to list on Nasdaq under the ticker 'FLNC. Details of shares to be offered or at what price have net been revealed.

Fluence was formed in 2017 as a Siemens-AES Corporation JV.

JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley are lead underwriters in a syndicate of 16 banks. Proceeds will be used for debt reduction, working capital and other general corporate purposes. The company had a net loss of $74.8 million in the nine months to June 30, and revenue of $430.4 million, according to its filing documents. (Source: Fluence Energy Inc., PR, 28 Sept., 2021) Contact: Fluence Energy Inc., Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens,  Fluence,  Energy Storage,  BESS,  

Lundin Energy
Date: 2021-09-15
Stockholm-headquartered oil and gas company Lundin Energy AB reports it has committed $800 million to reach carbon neutrality, 70 pct of which has already been spent on electrification of the Johan Sverdrup and Edvard Grieg platforms and three renewable energy projects. As a result, the company's main producing assets will be at an industry leading low level of approximately 1 kg CO2 per boe, over 15 times better than the industry average by the end of 2022.

Additionally, through the sourcing of high quality, proprietary natural carbon capture projects and carbon credit offtake agreements, all future residual emissions will be neutralised. Alongside significant reductions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the Company is also actively reduce Scope 3 emissions for which it has influence or control over, such as through a hybrid support vessel fleet and the sourcing of carbon neutral materials. (Source: Lundin Energy AB, PR, 15 Sept., 2021) Contact: Lundin Energy AB, Nick Walker, CEO, Tel +46 8 440 54 50, www.lundin-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lundin Energy,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Neutrality,  

Solar
Date: 2021-08-30
According real estate firm Zillow, the installation of solar panels and solar batteries can increase a property's market re-sale value by as much as $5,911 for each kilowatt of solar panels installed. Zillow, notes that homes with solar installations tend to sell for an average of about 4.1 pct more than homes without solar.

Some locations show a higher value-add -- roughly 5.4 pct for New York City, and some show lower, 2.7 pct for Riverside, California. Local solar installation prices, geographic location, system age and replacement value also influence the value-add of solar panels. (Source: Zillow, ecoWatch, Others, Aug., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  

NOAA
Date: 2021-08-16
Following up on our 9th June report, according to new global data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information, July 2021 has earned the unenviable distinction as the world's hottest month ever recorded!

Around the globe -- The combined land and ocean-surface temperature was 1.67 degrees F (0.93 of a degree C) above the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees F (15.8 degrees C), making it the hottest July since records began 142 years ago. It was 0.02 of a degree F (0.01 of a degree C) higher than the previous record set in July 2016, which was then tied in 2019 and 2020.

The Northern Hemisphere -- The land-surface only temperature was the highest ever recorded for July, at an unprecedented 2.77 degrees F (1.54 degrees C) above average, surpassing the previous record set in 2012.

Regional records -- Asia had its hottest July on record, besting the previous record set in 2010; Europe had its second-hottest July on record-tying with July 2010 and trailing behind July 2018; and North America, South America, Africa and Oceania all had a top-10 warmest July.

Extreme heat and global climate change -- With last month's data, it remains very likely that 2021 will rank among the world's 10-warmest years on record, according to NCEI's Global Annual Temperature Rankings Outlook. Extreme heat detailed in NOAA's monthly NCEI reports is also a reflection of the long-term changes outlined in a major report released this week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change offsite link.

"Scientists from across the globe delivered the most up-to-date assessment of the ways in which the climate is changing. It is a sobering IPCC report that finds that human influence is, unequivocally, causing climate change, and it confirms the impacts are widespread and rapidly intensifying," according to NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. (Source: NOAA, 13 Aug., 2021) Contact: NOAA, Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., Administrator, www.noaa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NOAA,  Climate Change,  

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,  

Siemens, Fluence
Date: 2021-07-21
Siemens Smart Infrastructure is reporting a letter of intent with Nordostbayern (Future Energy North-East Bayern) for construction of a turnkey 100MW / 200MWh large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in the town of Wunsiedel, northern Bavaria, Germany.

Subject to financing, energy storage technology and services provider Fluence, which was formed in 2017 as a Siemens-AES Corporation JV, will provide the lithium-ion battery system. Siemens will handle project management including the building of medium-voltage switchgear equipment and facilitating connection to the local high-voltage grid.

Siemens broke ground earlier this month on an 8.75MW green hydrogen electrolyser plant at the Town of Wunsiedel's local "energy park". The plant's proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser will be connected to a 6MW battery storage system that Siemens supplied and installed in 2017. The green hydrogen project is scheduled to go into operation in summer 2022, according to the release. (Source: Siemens Smart Infrastructure, PR, Energy Storage, 20 July, 2021) Contact: Siemens Smart Infrastructure, www.linkedin.com/showcase/siemensinfrastructure, www.new.siemens.com/global/en/company/topic-areas/smart-infrastructure.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens,  Fluence,  Energy Storage,  BESS ,  

Columbia Universitys Center on Global Policy
Date: 2021-05-07
The attached report, part of the Carbon Management Research Initiative at Columbia University's Center on Global Policy, examines 19 CO2 recycling pathways to understand the opportunities, technical and economic limits of CO2 recycling products gaining market entry and reaching global scale.

The pathways studied consume renewable (low-carbon) electricity and use chemical feedstocks derived from electrochemical pathways powered by renewable energy. Across these CO2 recycling pathways, the authors evaluated current globally representative production costs, sensitivities to cost drivers, carbon abatement potential, critical infrastructure and feedstock needs, and the effect of subsidies. Based on this analysis, the paper concludes with targeted policy recommendations to support CO2 recycling innovation and deployment. Key findings of the analysis include :

CO2 recycling pathways could deliver deep emissions reductions. -- When supplied by low-carbon electricity and chemical feedstocks, CO2 recycling pathways have the combined potential to abate 6.8 gigatonnes of CO2 per year (GtCO2/yr) when displacing conventional production methods.

Some CO2 recycling pathways have reached market parity today, while the costs of remaining pathways are high. -- Electrochemical carbon monoxide (CO) production, ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, concrete carbonation curing, and the CarbonCure concrete process all have an estimated cost of production (ECOP) lower than the product selling price. These pathways have a combined carbon abatement potential of 1.6 GtCO2/yr. Most remaining pathways have an ECOP of 2.5 to 7.5 times greater than the product selling price. In particular locations and contexts, ECOP may be substantially lower, but these costs are representative of CO2 recycling at global scale.

Catalyst performance and input prices are the main cost drivers. -- The largest component of ECOP is electricity and chemical feedstock costs, and the main cost drivers are those who influence these two cost components. For electrochemical pathways, ECOP is most sensitive to catalyst product selectivity (the ability of the catalyst to avoid unwanted side reactions), catalyst energy efficiency, and electricity price. For thermochemical pathways, the largest cost drivers are product selectivity, chemical feedstock price, and the price of the electricity used to make the feedstocks.

CO2 recycling at the scale of current global markets would require enormous new capacity of critical infrastructure. -- Each pathway at global scale would consume thousands of tWh of electricity, 30--100 million metric tpy of hydrogen, and up to 2,000 Mt of CO2 annually. This would require trillions of dollars of infrastructure per pathway to generate and deliver these inputs, including a combined 8,400 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity and 8,000 GW of electrolyzer capacity across all pathways.

Based on these findings, the authors recommend the following policy actions:

Ensure CO2 recycling pathways are fed by low-carbon inputs. -- Without low-carbon electricity and feedstocks, CO2 recycling could potentially be more carbon-intensive than conventional production.

Prioritize certain pathways strategically. -- CO2 recycling methane and ethane production are extremely uneconomic and should be deprioritized. All other pathways are more economically promising and could be the focus of a targeted innovation agenda to reduce costs. In addition, the following pathways that have an ECOP less than 5 times the selling price could be prioritized for early market growth: electrochemical CO production, green hydrogen, ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, concrete carbonation curing pathways, CO2 recycling urea production, and CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins, methanol, or jet fuel.

Target research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to catalyst innovation to bring down ECOP and reduce input demand. -- Policy makers can promote RD&D to improve the selectivity and energy efficiency of CO2 recycling catalysts. By decreasing a pathway's consumption of electricity and feedstocks, these innovations would both decrease ECOP and alleviate the sizable critical infrastructure needs.

Create demand pull for early market CO2 recycling products. -- Governments can use demand pull policies such as public procurement standards to bolster early markets for the most mature CO2 recycling pathways.

Promote build-out of critical infrastructure. -- To provide for the substantial infrastructure needs of CO2 recycling, policy makers can seek to remove barriers to and catalyze investment in building renewables installations, transmission lines, electrolyzers, and CO2 transport pipelines.

Download the report HERE. (Source: Columbia University/ SIPA, Center for Global Energy Policy, 4 May., 2021) Contact: Columbia University, www.energypolicy.columbia.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  

RFS, Renewable Fuel Standard
Date: 2021-04-28
Reuters is reporting U.S. renewable fuel standard credits (RINs) jumped Tuesday to record highs as costs for soybean oil pushed up both renewable fuel and biomass-based credits.

Renewable fuel (D6) credits for 2021 traded up from $1.44 to $1.50 each and biomass-based (D4) credits traded at $1.58 each, up from $1.52 previously -- highest since Reuters began reporting data for renewable fuel credits in 2013 and biomass-based credits in 2014.

The credits, known as RINs, rose at the same time that the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday was hearing oral arguments for a case involving the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires refiners to blend biofuels into their fuel mix each year or buy RINs from those that do. The Supreme Court's decision around the case will likely heavily influence the future of the RFS.

As previously noted, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. Under the now vanquished administrator Greg Pruitt's direction, the EPA handed out 54 exemptions over two years and not a single request for an exemption was denied.Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, the nation's oil refineries are required to blend billions of gallons of biofuels such as ethanol into the fuel or buy credits from those that do. But the EPA can waive their obligations if they prove compliance would cause them financial distress. (Source: Various Media, Reuters, 27 Apr., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuels Standard,  

Suncor Energy
Date: 2021-02-10
Calgary, Alberta-based oilsands and refining giant Suncor Energy reports it has resumed construction of two carbon emission reducing projects paused last March as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted -- a $1.4-billion project to install two cogeneration units at its Oil Sands Base Plant and a new $300-million wind power plant in southern Alberta.

Suncor reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $168 million on revenue of $6.6 billion, compared with a net loss of $2.34 billion on revenue of $9.6 billion in the same period of 2019, with both sets of numbers heavily influenced by asset writedowns. The company says the current loss includes a $142-million after tax transportation provision related to the recently cancelled Keystone XL oil export pipeline project, offset by a $539-million unrealized after-tax foreign exchange gain on U.S. dollar denominated debt. (Source: Suncor Energy, Canada Press, Feb., 2021) Contact: Suncor Energy, www.suncor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Suncor ,  Carbon Emissions,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2021-02-05
"Whether or not anything we do will ultimately influence it (climate change) remains to be seen. One day we'll know the answer to that, but our ability to predict the answer to that is quite complicated." -- Rex Tillerson, Former ExxonMobil CEO, former Trump administration U.S. Sec. of State, Nov., 2020

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil news,  Climate Change news,  

AES Corporation, Fluence
Date: 2021-01-29
The AES Corporation is reporting the commissioning of one of the world's largest stand alone battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the AES Alamitos Energy Center in California. The system will provide up to 400 MWh of energy to Southern California Edison (SCE) under a 20-year PPA.

The installation incorporates Fluence Advancion 5 batteries -- Fluence is a Siemens-- AES JV and a leading energy storage and technology provider.

AES presently manages projects that are operational, under construction and under development, including the operation of approximately 2.5 GW of renewable energy projects and has a contracted 2.6 GW pipeline nationwide. (Source: AES, PR, Website, Saur, 28 Jan., 2021) Contact: AES, Andres Gluski, Pres., CEO, www.aes.com; sPower, Ryan Creamer, CEO, Naomi Keller, VP Marketing, (801) 679-3514, nkeller@sPower.com, www.sPower.com; Fluence Energy, Fluence Battery Storage System, Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com; Southern California Edison, William Walsh, VP Energy Procurement and Management, www.sce.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News AES Corporation ,  Fluence,  Battery Energy Storage,  Southern California Edison ,  

Wartsila, Fluence,AGL
Date: 2021-01-15
In the Land Down Under, Helsinki-headquartered Wartsila and Washington, DC-based Fluence Energy are reporting receipt of contracts from Australia's largest private renewable energy investor AGL to supply up to 1000MW of grid-scale battery storage between them.

As previously reported, AGL, has committed to build 850MW of grid-scale battery storage by FY2024. In 2020, AGL announced plans to build batteries at Loy Yang A power station in Victoria (200MW), Liddell power station (150MW) and Broken Hill (50MW) in New South Wales and Torrens Island (250MW) in South Australia. (Source: Wartsila, Fluence, renews, Jan., 2021)Contact: AGL, Garry West, +61 3 8623 831, gwest@agl.com.au, www.agl.com.au; Fluence Energy, Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com; Wartsila, www.wartsila.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News AGL,  Energy Storage,  Wartsila,  Fluence,  

Pittsburgh
Date: 2020-11-13
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is promoting a new "Marshall Plan for Middle America" that would transition the Appalachian region away from fossil fuels and toward greener sources of energy and increased energy efficiency. The plan calls for $600 billion in investments over 10 years in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky, to fund renewable and energy efficiency projects.

The Appalachian region plan's lead author, Leslie Marshall, associate director of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sustainable Business, said the plan is aimed at trying to deal with a "confluence of crises" brought on by the region's reliance on fossil fuels and the treat of climate change.

The plan, which shares many of the goals of the Green New Deal, does not specify where the money will come from but suggests it could be funded through a mix of tax breaks, public-private partnerships, and alliances between labor, environmental, and academic institutions.

Research for the project received financial support from the Enel Foundation, which is run by Enel, an Italian energy company with significant renewable energy investments. (Source: State Impact Pennsylvania, The Allegheny Front, 13 Nov., 2020)

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

Canada Clean Fuels Standard,Suzuki Foundation
Date: 2020-10-23
"The UN's annual Emissions Gap Report 2019 found Earth is headed toward 3.2 degrees C warming based on current and estimated emissions trends and called on governments to increase efforts to limit global warming immediately. But Canada isn't even on track to meet its original 2030 emissions-reduction targets.

"Greenpeace recently obtained leaked strategy documents advising industry to push back against measures such as the federal clean fuel standard that prompts a switch to low-carbon fuels by setting limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels. To meet it, fossil-fuel suppliers can buy or generate credits by offering low-carbon alternatives, like biofuels from waste organics or electric-vehicle charging stations. The clean-fuel-credit market is expected to attract investment in low-carbon fuel production and distribution in Canada.

"It's a smart move as the government looks to support economic recovery. Clean-fuels investments generate employment. Clean Energy Canada estimates the regulation could spur the need for up to 31,000 skilled workers to build, operate, and supply new facilities.

Navigator, the PR firm engaged to develop an action plan to counter the clean-fuel standard, advises its unnamed clients to use a "counter-punch strategy" -- to pay lip service to government's climate agenda, wait for the clean-fuel-standard announcement, then orchestrate a hard push-back. Part of the scheme is to convince Canadians that "fighting climate change is a losing battle" by arguing action is too costly. It's dishonest. Energy companies -- and the politicians they're seeking to influence -- know Canada must decarbonize the fuel supply to reduce GHG emissions.

"All the major federal political parties have pledged to meet or exceed Canada's 2030 targets. The clean-fuel standard is projected to reduce annual GHG emissions by 30 million tonnes by 2030 -- equivalent to taking 7 million cars off the road and accounts for 15 pct of Canada's current emissions-reduction target -- more than can be achieved with any other single climate-policy instrument.

"B.C.'s (British Columbia) low-carbon fuel requirement has been in place since 2010 and is credited with delivering one-quarter of B.C.'s emissions reductions between 2007 and 2012 with limited impacts to consumers' pocketbooks. As part of its CleanBC plan, the province recently announced further reductions to the carbon intensity of transportation fuels over the next decade using this instrument. California, Oregon, and the EU have parallel policies. Their experience shows that a clean-fuel standard can reduce emissions, drive innovation, and increase renewable alternatives availability.

"Too often, industry opposition to environmental policies isn't driven by facts but by vested interests. Climate action is in everyone's interest. Government must stand firm on the policies needed to achieve timely emissions reductions. The sooner Canada adopts its clean fuel standard, the better."

Download the UN Emissions Gap Report 2019 HERE. (Source: David Suzuki, Suzuki Foundation, The Straight, 20 Oct, 2020) Contact: Suzuki Foundation, David Suzuki, 604-732-4228, www.davidsuzuki.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Fuel Standard,  Renewable Fuels,  Suzuki Foundation,  Environment and Climate Change Canada,  

Fluence Energy,Advanced Microgrid Solutions
Date: 2020-10-19
Washington, DC-headquartered global energy storage technology and services provider Fluence Energy is reporting acquisition of Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) as a part of initiative to help its utility and commercial consumers optimize their renewable assets and energy storage.

AMS' software and technology platform utilizes portfolio optimization, advanced price forecasting, artificial intelligence, and market bidding to ensure energy storage systems and other flexible generation assets are responding favorably to power market price signals. AMS is currently active in Australia's National Electricity Market and California ISO market. (Source: Fluence Energy, PR Website, 15 Oct., 2020) Contact: Fluence Energy, Brett Galura, CEO, (571) 274-9404, www.fluenceenergy.com, www.fluenceenergy.com; Advanced Microgrid Solutions, www.advancedmicrogridsolutions.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fluence Energy,  Microgrid,  Advanced Microgrid Solutions,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-10-07
"Whether or not anything we do will ultimately influence it (climate change) remains to be seen. One day we'll know the answer to that, but our ability to predict the answer to that is quite complicated." -- Rex Tillerson, Former ExxonMobil CEO, former Trump administration U.S. Sec. of State

More Low-Carbon Energy News ExxonMobil news,  Climate Change news,  

City of Pittsburgh
Date: 2020-09-25
At the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, the city of Pittsburgh has released and published the first information and data gleaned from its energy bench-marking ordinance.

The ordinance, passed in 2016, requires all building owners with 50,000 or more square feet to track and report information about their energy and water use in the hope of encouraging building owners and managers increase energy efficiency and reduce their energy use.

Under the city's program, building owners receive a report from the city on their building's energy performance compared to other similar buildings. More than half of the city's buildings have reported their energy use but hundreds of the city's largest buildings haven't yet complied with the ordinance.

In 2019, more than 500 of Pittsburgh's larger buildings collectively reduced energy consumption by 23 pct compared to 6 pct in 2014. (Source: City of Pittsburgh, Public Source Pittsburgh, 25 Sept., 2020) Contact: City of Pittsburgh, Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer, 412-255-2621, www.pittsburghpa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  

Montana Climate Change
Date: 2020-09-14
In Helena, the office of Montana Governor Steve Bullock (D) has announced the Montana Climate Solutions Plan and the Montana Climate Solutions Council (MCSC).

MSCS's recommendations begin with the creation of a Montana Climate Solutions Network (MCSN), a broad affiliation of diverse stakeholders who would support planning and implementation of climate strategies in Montana.

Among the specific proposals to reduce the impacts of climate change are to work with communities to identify their highest-priority risks and vulnerabilities and implement hazard mitigation plans, promote agricultural research that will sustain production in higher projected temperatures and extreme water shortages, implement strategies to make communities more fire-resistant, and to encourage the development of cleaner energy production options such as wind, solar, decarbonized fuels from hydrogen and biomass, and micro-hydro electricity generation projects.

The Montana Climate Solutions Plan also calls for regularly updated energy efficiency standards for household appliances and for Investor Owned Utilities and rural cooperatives to implement on-bill energy efficiency financing programs. The plan also calls for a carbon pricing -- carbon tax -- mechanism at the state level in the event a national carbon tax is not implemented. To that end, the plan calls for Montana to track and influence the development of federal legislation through its Congressional delegation and through its membership in the U.S. Climate Alliance.

Download the Montana Climate Solutions Plan, HERE . (Source: Montana Climate Solutions Council, Website, Great Falls Tribune, 12 Sept., 2020) Contact: Montana Climate Solutions Council, deq.mt.gov/DEQAdmin/dir/Climate

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

Linkoping University
Date: 2020-09-02
In Sweden, researchers at Linkoping University (LiU) are reporting development of a "molecular photoswitche" that efficiently captures solar energy and stores it in chemical bonds. The molecules are available in two different forms having different properties and, in the case of the molecule developed by the LiU researchers, different energy contents.

The chemical structures of all photoswitches are influenced by the energy of light. This means that the structure and therefore the properties of the photoswitch can be changed by lighting it. One of the possible fields of application for photoswitches is molecular electronics, in which the two forms of the molecule have different electrical conductivity. Another area is photopharmacology, in which one form of the molecule is pharmacologically active and can bind to a specific target protein in the body, while the other is inactive.

Most chemical reactions begin in a state where a molecule is high in energy and then goes on to a low energy molecule. In the new study, the researchers did the opposite -- a low-energy molecule becomes a high-energy molecule. Researchers will now explore how stored energy can be best released from the energy-rich form of the molecule. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). (Source: Linkoping University, FreeNews, 1 Sept., 2020) Contact: Linkoping University, Bo Durbeej, Professor of Computational Physics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, www.liu.se

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

AES Corp., 5B
Date: 2020-08-31
New South Wales-based Australian solar energy specialist 5B is touting the idea of rather than constructing a solar array onsite a solar array would be pre-assembled as units that are hinged together and fold up like the sides of an accordion. Under the 5B model, a pre-fabricated solar installation can be installed three times faster and at lower cost than a traditional ground mounted system and can produce up to twice as much electricity per unit of area as a traditional ground-mounted system.

To date, 5B has installed its prefabricated systems throughout Australia in the Northern Territories, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia.

AES Corp., a global grid scale battery storage installations specialist and co-founder of Fluence Energy, has invested in 5B and anticipates adding 2 to 3 GW of solar power annually using 5B's systems in upcoming projects, including projects in Panama and Chile as a part of an expansion of the 10 MW Los Andes solar facility in the Atacama Desert. (Source: AES, PR, Clean Technica, 30 Aug., 2020) Contact: AES Corp., Andres Gluski, Pres., CEO, www.aes.com; 5B, Chris McGrath, CEO, www.5b.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News AES,  Solar,  Energy Storage,  

Petrofac
Date: 2020-08-14
International energy industry services provider Petrofac Engineering is reporting plans to cut its direct and indirect emissions to net zero by 2030, and work to influence its supply chain to set its own reduction targets. To that end, Petrofac will:

Reduce its emissions by implementing energy efficiencies and low carbon strategies on sites and operations, optimising operations and methods of construction and advancing flare and venting reduction and carbon abatement plans.

Adopt new technologies such as phasing in hybrid and electric vehicles on site, decarbonising HVAC systems by switching to renewable electricity where available and fitting smart building technology in offices to maximise energy efficiency.

Support and enable its clients, partners and suppliers in their lower carbon ambitions, enable flexible and agile working practices, continue to embed emission reductions targets in management scorecards and incentivise staff to be advocates for Net Zero. Petrofac comprises 80 nationalities and its Board . (Source: Petrofac Engineering, PR, albawaba, 13 Aug., 2020) Contact: Petrofac Engineeing, John Pearson, CEO, www.petrofac.com

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

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-07-27
"Whether or not anything we do will ultimately influence it (climate change) remains to be seen. One day we'll know the answer to that, but our ability to predict the answer to that is quite complicated." -- Rex Tillerson, Former ExxonMobil CEO, former Trump administration U.S. Sec. of State

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

European Investment Bank
Date: 2020-07-08
"Investments in energy efficiency improvements are vital to ensure Europe's future as a sustainable, yet prosperous economy. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, however, there is a great risk of losing sight of the benefits of energy efficiency investments by European firms. The EIB Investment Survey (EIBIS) provides a unique source of data that highlights how more investment in energy efficiency is needed.

"This report examines the quality of firms' building stock, their spending on energy efficiency measures and the factors that influence their decisions regarding that investment. It highlights that both high-quality information and advanced management practices make a crucial difference in the likelihood of investment in energy efficiency. The regulatory framework needs to be supportive, yet also push for higher energy building performance standards, while financing conditions should facilitate timely investment by firms to realize the enormous gains that can be achieved through energy efficiency improvements."

Download the Who is Investing in Energy Efficiency and Why It Matters report HERE. (Source: European Investment Bank, July, 2020) Contact: EIB, www.eib.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Investment Bank news,  Energy Efficiency news,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-05-20
"The extent to which world leaders consider climate change when planning their economic responses post COVID-19 will influence the global CO2 emissions paths for decades to come.

"Opportunities exist to make real, durable, changes and be more resilient to future crises, by implementing economic stimulus packages that also help meet climate targets, especially for mobility, which accounts for half the decrease in emissions during confinement." -- Prof. Corinne Le Quere , University of East Anglia, May, 2020) Contact: Prof. Corinne Le Quere, www.uea.ac.uk/environmental-sciences

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Chnage news,  

NASA
Date: 2020-03-09
"Urban areas are currently responsible for approximately 70 pct of the global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and rapid ongoing global urbanization is increasing the number and size of cities. Thus, understanding city-scale CO2 emissions and how they vary between cities with different urban densities is a critical task. While the relationship between CO2 emissions and population density has been explored widely in prior studies, their conclusions were sensitive to inconsistent definitions of urban boundaries and the reliance upon CO2 emission inventories that implicitly assumed population relationships.

The attached Space-based Quantification of per capita CO2 Emissions from Cities report provides the first independent estimates of direct per capita CO2 emissions (E pc) from space-borne atmospheric CO2 measurements from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) for a total 20 cities across multiple continents. The analysis accounts for the influence of meteorology on the satellite observations with an atmospheric model. The resultant upwind source region sampled by the satellite serves as an objective urban extent for aggregating emissions and population densities.

The study suggests that E pc declines as population densities increase, albeit the decrease in E pc is partially limited by the positive correlation between E pc and per capita gross domestic product.

Download the NASA Space-based Quantification of per capita CO2 Emissions from Cities study HERE. (Source: NASA, IOP, Environmental Research Letters, Open Access, Feb.,2020) Contact: NASA, www.nasa.gov/oco2; Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., 818-354-0307, janelee@jpl.nasa.gov, www.jpl.nasa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NASA,  Carbon Emissions,  

US Industrial Pellet Association
Date: 2020-02-26
As previously reported, the Richmond, Virginia-based not-for-profit US Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA) is lauding the National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) for its letter signed by more than 100 scientists and researchers calling on policymakers to consider key fundamentals related to forest-woody biomass and the benefits of wood energy.

The letter, which noted that the "carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass are well established", cites a report from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) which notes -- "In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit. Demand for wood helps keep land in forest and incentivizes investments in new and more productive forests, all of which have significant carbon benefits."

Reviewing more than 30 years of scientific research on forest biomass utilization, scientists from Yale, Harvard, and Georgia to Washington, Idaho, Berkeley and others identified four fundamentals for science-based decision-making on biomass energy production:

The carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass energy are well established.

Measuring the carbon benefits of forest biomass energy must consider cumulative carbon emissions over the long term.

An accurate comparison of forest biomass energy carbon impacts with those of other energy sources requires the use of consistent time-frames in the comparison.

Economic factors influence the carbon impacts of forest biomass energy. (Source: The US Industrial Pellet Association, 25 Oct., 2019) Contact: The US Industrial Pellet Association, Deth Ginter, Exec. Dir., J. Marcus, (804) 775.5894, JMarcus@theusipa.org, www.theusipa.org; National Association of University Forest Resource Programs, www.naufrp.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Forest Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-02-05
"Whether or not anything we do will ultimately influence it (climate change) remains to be seen. One day we'll know the answer to that, but our ability to predict the answer to that is quite complicated." -- Rex Tillerson, Former ExxonMobil CEO, former Trump administration U.S. Sec. of State

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Chnage,  Rex Tillerson,  

National Association of Home Builders
Date: 2020-01-24
According to the 2020 Green Single Family and Multifamily Homes SmartMarket Brief conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics, in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), almost all home builders in the US are incorporating energy-efficient practices and over two-thirds are using practices designed to improve indoor air quality and water efficiency. Key findings include:

91 pct of home builders use energy-efficient approaches, and 69 pct do so on the majority of their projects. These practices may include the use of LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances and appropriately-sized, highly efficient HVAC systems;

Energy efficiency and durability are the top influential green attributes in product/system selection;

Over two-thirds use practices designed to improve indoor environmental quality and water efficiency; and

97 pct of green builders report using energy efficiency practices on more than 75 pct of their projects.

The study reveals both customer demand and perceptions about performance are driving green engagement. Most builders believe that the top factors influencing consumer decisions about whether to invest in a green home are concerns about cost and performance, with related issues -- like their return on investment and the quality of the home -- following close behind. However, most builders and remodelers say it's a careful balance of production with demand. Lack of market demand was cited as the top reason why many companies are not ramping up their green building. Forty-two pct of single-family and 31 pct of multifamily builders reported doing no green projects at all.

Cost is also a major influencer in the green building market. However, 70 pct of single-family home builders believe that their customers will pay more for a green home, suggesting that many home buyers understand the benefits of green. (Source: National Association of Home Builders, Jan., 2020) Contact: National Association of Home Builders, www.nahb.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Association of Home Builders,  Energy Efficiency,  Green Building,  

US Energy Information Administration
Date: 2019-12-09
The recently released U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2018 Report examines economic trends and changes in fuel mix that influence energy-related CO2 emissions in the U.S. As a result, most of the CO2 emissions being discussed are the result of fossil fuel combustion or their use in the petrochemical and related industries, the report states.

In the short term, energy-related CO2 emissions are influenced by the weather, fuel prices and disruptions in electricity generation. In the long term, CO2 emissions are influenced by public policy, reduced costs and improved efficiencies of new technology, demand-side efficiency gains and economic trends, according to the report.

A major factor in recent reductions in the carbon intensity of electric generation in the U.S. is the reduced generation of electricity using coal while increasingly using natural gas. Natural gas emits less CO2 for the same amount of electricity generated, and non-carbon generation (including renewables), which do not emit the gas.

Between 2005 and 2018, EIA has calculated that cumulative U.S. C02 emissions reductions attributable specifically to shifts from coal to natural gas and to non-carbon generation totaled 4,621 million metric tons (MMmt). Of this total, 2,823 MMmt resulted from decreased use of coal and increased use of natural gas; 1,799 MMmt resulted from decreased use of coal and increased use of non-carbon generation sources.

Between 2005 and 2017, total U.S. electricity generation increased by almost 4 pct while related C02 emissions fell by 27 pct. During the same period, fossil fuel electricity generation declined by roughly 9 pct, and non-carbon electricity generation increased by 35 pct.

Download the U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2018 Report HERE. (Source: US Energy Information Administration, 14 Nov., 2019) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  CO2 Emissions,  Natural Gas Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Climate Transparency’s 2019
Date: 2019-11-15
According to Climate Transparency's 2019 report card on Canada's climate plan and Canadian emissions within the G20:

Canada's per-capita emissions in 2016 were 18.9 tonnes per person, compared with a G20 average of 7.5 tpp. By way of comparison, the lowest per-capita emissions in the G20 were in India, at 1.9 tonnes, and the highest in Australia, at 21.8 tonnes.

Almost one-third of Canada's emissions come from transportation -- the second-highest in the G20 and still rising while they are falling in the G20 as a whole.

Buildings produced 13 pct of Canadian emissions, and Canada has no national strategy to reduce emissions from existing buildings. Building emissions in Canada are twice the G20 average, but while the G20 average has gotten slightly worse in the last five years, Canada has cut its emissions from buildings almost 10 pct.

Canada is among the three least likely G20 countries to hit its existing 2030 emissions-reductions targets, and are presently less than half of where Canada needs to go.

Climate Transparency is an open global consortium with a shared mission to stimulate a 'race to the top' in climate action through enhanced transparency. For this purpose, comprehensive, comparable and credible information about government climate action is spread by bringing together the most important actors in assessing and communicating climate action for the benefit of key influencers and decision makers.

According to its website, he Climate Transparency consortium produces the Brown to Green Report every year, providing a comprehensive overview of how the G20 countries are doing on the transition to a low-carbon economy. The report draws on the latest emissions data and covers over 80 indicators on decarbonisation, climate policies, finance, and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Providing country ratings, it identifies leaders and laggards of climate action in the G20. Additionally, a country profile is produced for each of the G20 countries. (Source: New Climate Institute, Nov., 2019) Contact: New Climate Institute, www.newclimate.org

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

US Industrial Pellet Association
Date: 2019-10-28
The Richmond, Virginia-based not-for-profit US Industrial Pellet Association (USIPA) is lauding the National Association of University Forest Resource Programs (NAUFRP) for its letter signed by more than 100 scientists and researchers calling on policymakers to consider key fundamentals related to forest-woody biomass and the benefits of wood energy.

The letter, which noted that the "carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass are well established", cites a report from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) which notes: "In the long term, a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit. Demand for wood helps keep land in forest and incentivizes investments in new and more productive forests, all of which have significant carbon benefits."

Reviewing more than 30 years of scientific research on forest biomass utilization, scientists from Yale, Harvard, and Georgia to Washington, Idaho, Berkeley and others identified four fundamentals for science-based decision-making on biomass energy production:

The carbon benefits of sustainable forest biomass energy are well established.

Measuring the carbon benefits of forest biomass energy must consider cumulative carbon emissions over the long term.

An accurate comparison of forest biomass energy carbon impacts with those of other energy sources requires the use of consistent time-frames in the comparison.

Economic factors influence the carbon impacts of forest biomass energy. (Source: The US Industrial Pellet Association, 25 Oct., 2019) Contact: The US Industrial Pellet Association, Deth Ginter, Exec. Dir., J. Marcus, (804) 775.5894, JMarcus@theusipa.org, www.theusipa.org; National Association of University Forest Resource Programs, www.naufrp.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News IPCC,  US Industrial Pellet Association ,  Woody Biomass,  Wood Pellet,  

Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
Date: 2019-08-21
In a recently released Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) paper -- Proglacial freshwaters are significant and previously unrecognized sinks of atmospheric CO2, researchers show that the watershed of Canada's Lake Hazen, which is fed by several glaciers, consumes CO2 as far as 26 miles downstream. According to the paper, this finding could change the way scientists think about how freshwater ecosystems will respond to a warming planet, forcing us to reevaluate the way that melting glaciers will contribute to climate change, at least in the near future.

Paper Abstract -- "Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from freshwater ecosystems are almost universally predicted to increase with climate warming. Glacier-fed rivers and lakes, however, differ critically from those in non-glacierized catchments in that they receive little terrestrial input of organic matter for decomposition and CO2 production, and transport large quantities of easily mobilized comminuted sediments available for carbonate and silicate weathering reactions that can consume atmospheric CO2.

"We used a whole-watershed approach, integrating concepts from glaciology and limnology, to conclusively show that certain glacier-fed freshwater ecosystems are important and previously overlooked annual CO2 sinks due to the overwhelming influence of these weathering reactions.

"Using the glacierized Lake Hazen watershed (Nunavut, Canada) as a model system, we found that weathering reactions in the glacial rivers actively consumed CO2 up to 42 km downstream of glaciers, and cumulatively transformed the High Arctic's most voluminous lake into an important CO2 sink. In conjunction with data collected at other proglacial freshwater sites in Greenland and the Canadian Rockies, we suggest that CO2 consumption in proglacial fresh waters due to glacial melt-enhanced weathering is likely a globally relevant phenomenon, with potentially important implications for regional annual carbon budgets in glacierized watersheds."

Download report details HERE. (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Aug., 2019) Contact: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, www.pnas.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Proceedings of the National Academy of Science,  CO2,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Fluence
Date: 2019-08-09
Austin, Texas-based Fluence by OSRAM (Fluence), a provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial crop production, reports it will become the LED provider of choice for The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TGOD), a publicly traded cannabis grower in Ontario, Canada.

TGOD will use Fluence's high-intensity, high-bay VYPR lighting solutions in two greenhouses measuring over 1.4 million square feet in total.

Fluence Bioengineering, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc., creates energy-efficient LED lighting -- Grow Light -- solutions for commercial crop production and research applications. (Source: Fluence, PR, BusinesWire, 8 Aug., 20190 Contact: Fluence, David Cohen, CEO, www.fluence.science/fluence-by-osram-emea; The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., www.tgod.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News LED Light,  Fluence,  

Committee on Climate Change
Date: 2019-06-21
In London, the UK's top climate change advisory body, The Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) May report calls for "clear" climate change leadership across all government departments and agencies with delivery in partnership with businesses and communities.

According to the report, emissions reductions "must be vital to the whole of government and to every level of government in the UK. Policies must be fully funded and implemented across all sectors of the economy to drive the necessary innovation, market development and consumer take-up of low-carbon technologies, and to positively influence societal change."

Download the CCC Net Zero-- The UK's Contribution to Stopping Global Warming report HERE. (Source: The Committee on Climate Change, May, 2019) Contact: Committee on Climate Change, www.theccc.org.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News TheCCC,  Committee on Climate Change,  Climate Change,  

Siemens,BASF
Date: 2019-06-03
Siemens will install a battery storage system as part of the overhaul of a gas power plant for chemicals giant BASF. As well as replacing the gas turbines at the industrial power plant in Schwarzheide, Germany, a SIESTART battery system has been installed to provide blackstart capabilities. Siemens will also provide a 15-year service contract.

The battery system will be provided by Fluence, the joint venture between AES and Siemens. The company said BASF will benefit from blackstart capabilities, islanding, if required, and a more reliable power supply. (Source: Siemens, Energy Storage News, 30 May, 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens news,  Energy Storage news,  BASF news,