ADNOC, bp, Masdar
Date: 2021-09-20
In the UAE, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), British Petroleum (bp) and Masdar are reporting framework agreements on the potential development of clean hydrogen hubs in both the UK and UAE at a scale of at least 2 GW -- 1GW in the UAE and 1GW in the UK.

The agreement is in line with the UK's commitment to achieve 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030 and the UAE's Nationally Determined Contribution of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23.5 pct compared to business as usual for the year 2030. Adnoc and bp will also identify areas for potential partnership in methane detection platforms and greenfield carbon capture and underground storage (CCS). (Source: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, PR, Khaleeji Times, 7 Sept., 2021)Contact: ADNOC, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, +971 2 7070000. +971 2 6023389--fax, www.adnoc.ae; Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, +971 2 653 3333, www.masdar.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News ADNOC,  bp,  Masdar,  Hydrogen,  CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  

FortisBC
Date: 2021-09-17
In British Columbia, Canada, FortisBC Energy Inc. reports it will reopen its renewable natural gas (RNG) program to its natural gas customers on Oct. 15, 2021. The program was temporarily halted in 2019 when demand exceeded supply with around 10,000 customers subscribers.

FortisBC's RNG program kicked off in 2011 and was the first utility in North America to offer RNG to customers as a simple way to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. FortisBC now has 15 new RNG supply agreements approved by its regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission. FortisBC currently works with nine biogas producers (six in in BC and three out of province) to produce RNG. The company also aims to have contracts in place for around 24 petajoules of renewable gas by 2025, representing around 10 percent of its natural gas supply (Source: FortisBC, PR, Website, 15 Sept., 2021) Contact: FortisBC RNG, Jason Wolfe, Dir. Energy Solutions, www.fortisbc.com, www.fortisinc.com/rng

More Low-Carbon Energy News FortisBC ,  RNG,  

POET
Date: 2021-09-17
Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based biofuels pioneer and producer POET is reporting the release of The Sun, the Soil and the Seed, its inaugural sustainability report outlining the company's focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.

POET pledges that its renewable, plant-based bioethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 70 pct compared to gasoline by 2030 and that it will achieve net-zero carbon at its bio-processing facilities by 2050. To that end, the report notes the company is advancing operational efficiencies and promoting a sustainable society through both POET's business ventures and its philanthropic endeavors, according to the company release. (Source: POET, Website PR, 14 Sept., 2021) Contact: POET, Jeff Broin, CEO, (605) 965-2200, www.poet.com, www. poet.com/sustainability

More Low-Carbon Energy News POET,  Biofuel,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Neutral,  

Uniper, Siemens Energy, Toyota Tsusho
Date: 2021-09-17
In the UK, Uniper, Siemens Energy AG, Toyota Tsusho and Associated British Ports (ABP) are reporting receipt of matched funding from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, to study and help develop roughly 20MW of green hydrogen production for use at the Port of Immingham, either as a direct replacement for diesel and heavy fuel oil or for the production of clean shipping fuels.

The funded study will review the technical and economic feasibility of reducing port greenhouse gas emissions with hydrogen and develop a plan for future development, as well as assess key areas encompassing the conversion of existing infrastructure, the generation and storage of hydrogen and potential end uses of green hydrogen in and around the port.

The completed feasibility study could enable a front-end engineering design study (FEED) to start in 2022, with potential financial investment decisions in 2023 and possible first green hydrogen production by 2025. (Source: Uniper, Siemens Energy, Toyota Tsusho, RE News, 16 Sept., 2021) Contact: Uniper, www.uniper.energy; Siemens Energy AG, www.siemens-energy.com/global/en.html; Toyota Tsusho, www.toyota-tsusho.com/english; Associated British Ports , www.abports.co.uk/locations/immingham

More Low-Carbon Energy News Innovate UK,  Uniper,  Siemens Energy,  Toyota Tsusho,  Green Hydrogen,  

GE Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-09-15
GE Renewable Energy's Grid Solutions business reports receipt of a contract from Oslo, Norway utility Elvia to deliver an SF6 free substation in Heggedal featuring GE's g3 gas, an alternative to Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) -- a potent greenhouse gas.

The project scope includes the design, engineering, delivery, erection and commissioning of six bays of GE's F-35-41g 145 kV g3 insulated switchgear and associated electrical balance of plant. This represents the delivery of one of the most digitally advanced gas-insulated substations (GIS) in the world, with a GE digital solution that includes low power instrument transformers (LPIT) and GE's BWatch, an online digital monitoring system.

A recent EU Commission report concluded that fluoronitrile-based gas mixtures -- such as g3 gas -- may be the only insulating and switching gas alternative to SF6 when space is a constraint. (Source: GE Renewable Energy, PR, 14 Sept., 2021) Contact: GE Grid Solutions, 678-844-6777, www.gegridsolutions.com/hvmv_equipment/catalog/g3; Elvia, www.elvia.no

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

California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership
Date: 2021-09-13
In the Golden State -- where heavy-duty diesel trucks are the largest single combined source of smog-forming NOx, diesel particulate matter and other climate-altering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -- the California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership (CNGVP) reports fleets are increasingly turning to near-zero emission (NZE) natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and carbon-negative renewable natural gas (RNG).

According to the CNGVP, investment in NZE NGVs is even more effective as fleets utilize carbon negative RNG. In Q1 2021, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program revealed that the average annual carbon intensity of compressed natural gas from renewable feedstocks was -16.57gCO2e/MJ, the lowest average of any currently available vehicle fuel. This means that fleet vehicles fueled by RNG in California are helping to remove more greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere than any other alternative fuel available, and ultimately help eliminate the climate impact of these heavy-duty vehicles. (Source: California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership, PR, Sept., 2021) Contact: California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership, Tom Swenson, Bus. Dev, Mgr Cummins, 909-396-2647, www.cngvp.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership,  CNG,  NGV,  

Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative
Date: 2021-09-13
Following up on our July 13, 2021 coverage, In Jakarta, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry reports it has terminated its 2020 deal with Norway on cooperation to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation, due to lack of payment. The two countries have been cooperating on reducing deforestation, peatland and forest degradation and related climate change initiatives since 2010.

Norway offered a $56 million contribution to Indonesia, based on its 2016-2017 results on curbing deforestation under a United Nations-backed REDD+ forest-conservation scheme. . Apparently payment wasn't prompt enough for the Indonesians following its meeting of national greenhouse gas emission cuts by the equivalent of 11.2 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions in the 2016-2017 period.

As previously reported, under the Paris climate agreement Indonesia committed to reduce carbon emission by 41 pct by 2030, with international assistance, and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

The Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative noted it planned to continue supporting Indonesia's deforestation and other climate change mitigation efforts. (Source: Indonesian Foreign Ministry, 11 Sept., 2021) Contact: Indonesian Foreign Ministry, www.kemlu.go.id/portal/en; Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative, www.ndcpartnership.org/funding-and-initiatives-navigator/norways-international-climate-and-forest-initiative-nicfi ; Norway Minister of Climate and Environment, Sveinung Rotevatn, www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kld/id66

More Low-Carbon Energy News Deforestation,  REDD+,  Climate Change,  Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative,  

SoCalGas
Date: 2021-09-10
In the Golden State, Las Angeles-based Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) reports it has begun purchasing renewable electricity under Southern California Edison's (SCE) Green Rate Program everywhere the gas utility is eligible for service by SCE. Including this new arrangement, SoCalGas estimates that it will purchase nearly 53.7 million kilowatt hours of power from renewable sources each year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 38,000 metric tpy.

This electricity is instrumental in powering a gas infrastructure that serves SoCalGas's 22 million customers today and can distribute cleaner fuels in the future. A total of 69 operating facilities, representing more than 80 pct of all electricity demand at these facilities, will now use renewable power from the electrical grid. This purchase places SoCalGas among the largest SCE renewable energy customers.

The purchase of 100 pct renewable electricity under SCE's Green Rate Program includes five Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs that SoCalGas subscribes to within the SCE territory.

In addition, SoCalGas is in the process of replacing 50 pct of its over-the-road fleet with electric, hybrid, renewable natural gas, and fuel electric vehicles by 2025 and replace its fleet with zero emissions over-the-road fleet by 2035.

SoCalGas, a subsidiary of Sempra, is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 pct of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. (Source: Southern California Gas Company, PR, 8 Sept., 2021) Contact: Southern California Gas Co., Jawaad Malik, VP Strategy and Sustainability,www.socalgas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News SoCalGas,  Renewable Energy,  

Strategic Biofuels
Date: 2021-09-03
As previously noted, Strategic Biofuels LLC, the leader in developing negative carbon footprint renewable fuels plants, reports its carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) test well program at its Louisiana Green Fuels (LGF) Project in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, has been completed.

The test well program demonstrated that CO2, the main greenhouse gas generated during the fuel production process, can be safely and securely stored deep underground and that the storage reservoir has sufficient capacity to store all the gas produced over the plant's lifetime. Completing the test well program is an essential pre-requisite for securing the permit for the EPA Class VI sequestration well.

The design and execution of the test well program was developed by COO Bob Meredith with help from Geostock Sandia, an international consulting firm that has worked with the Department of Energy on carbon sequestration wells for almost two decades. (Source: Strategic Biofuels LLC, Aug, 2021) Contact: Strategic Biofuels, Strategic Biofuels & Louisiana Green Fuels, [startlimk]info@info@strategicbiofuels.net[endllink]

More Low-Carbon Energy News Strategic Biofuels ,  Biodiesel,  CCS,  

Pennsylvania, RGGI
Date: 2021-09-03
Fpllpwing up on our 14th July coverage, in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) reports it has given the nod for state's entrance into Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) -- a collective of states aiming to reduce carbon emissions by placing a cap and restrictions on the amount of carbon emitted by power plants.

Pennsylvania currently has the fifth-highest emitting energy sector in the nation. Under RGGI, the state's CO2 emissions would be reduced by 31 pct compared to 2019 levels. The final form regulation will cap emissions at 78 million tons in 2022 and would be gradually lowered to 58 million tons in 2030.

RGGI began with Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, and more recently added New Jersey and Virginia. (Source: Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission, PR, City & State Pennsylvania, Sept., 2021) Contact: RGGI, www.rggi.org

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

American Coalition for Ethanol
Date: 2021-09-03
Reporting from Lincoln, Nebraska, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is calling on the Biden Administration and Congress to make ethanol part of discussion by considering the Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021 which was introduced last week by Rep. Cheri Bustos, (D-Ill.) as part of the administration's efforts to decarbonize the U.S. fuel supply.

ACE wrote to Rep. Frank Pallone, (D-N.J.), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, "ACE encourages you to schedule a legislative hearing to hear from ethanol companies leading the way towards decarbonization and chart a path for policy that can help meet 2050 decarbonization goals. If appropriate, ACE or its member companies would be willing to testify at such a hearing," the letter noted.

Ethanol industry groups have expressed support for the bill because it would require a number of steps to be taken to expand the ethanol market as part of the overall climate strategy.The bill would require a lifecycle assessment of transportation fuels using the Greenhouse gas and Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. (Source: ACE, PR, DTN, 1 Sept/. (Source: ACE, PR, DTN, 1 Sept. 2021) Contact: American Coalition for Ethanol, Brian Jennings, CEO, www.ethanol.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News American Coalition for Ethanol,  Ethanol,  

Neste
Date: 2021-09-01
Helsinki-headquartered Neste Oy is the first company in Finland to provide a service for companies and other organizations to monitor their climate emissions caused by the use of transport fuels. Road transport accounts for more than 90 pct of Finland's total transport emissions.

Neste's new digital service helps companies monitor their consumption of Neste transport fuels, the resulting greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions reductions achieved through the use of renewable diesel over a specific time period. The service uses graphs and maps to illustrate the geographic and chronological distribution of consumption and emissions, and provides benchmarking data on each company's road transport emissions in their respective sector.

A recent Neste industry survey found that the use of renewable diesel in the public sector has more than tripled from 2019 to mid-2021 when the total annual consumption of diesel is considered. At the same time, the proportion of renewable diesel from the total consumption of diesel has doubled in the manufacturing industry and increased by more than five-fold in the goods transport, according to Neste. (Source: Neste Oyi, Website PR, 31 Aug., 2021) Contact: Neste Oyi, Thorsten Lange, Exec. VP, Heidi Peltonen, Team Lead, Sustainable Partnerships, Marketing & Services, +358 10 458 4128, www.neste.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Transportation Emissions,  Neste,  Renewable Diesel,  

Gevo, GEVO
Date: 2021-09-01
Englewood, Colorado-based Gevo, Inc. reports it has filed air quality and wastewater permit applications for its 45 million gpy Net-Zero 1 project in Lake Preston, South Dakota, with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

According to the Gevo website, "The concept of a Net-Zero Project is to convert renewable energy (photosynthetic, wind, renewable natural gas, biogas) from a variety of sources into energy dense liquid hydrocarbons that when burned in traditional engines, have the potential to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the whole lifecycle of the liquid fuel: from the way carbon is captured from the atmosphere, processed to make liquid fuel products, and including the burning as a transportation fuel."

Net-Zero 1 is currently expected to have a capacity of 45 million gpy of hydrocarbons (for gasoline and jet fuel, based on current take-or-pay contracts), to produce more than 350,000,000 ppy of high protein feed products for use in the food chain, to produce enough renewable natural gas to be self-sufficient for the production process needs, and also to generate renewable electricity with a combined heat and power system. Net-Zero 1 is also expected to utilize wind energy. (Source: Gevo, Website PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: Gevo, Dr. Chris Ryan, CEO, 303-858-8358, cryan@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Gevo,  GEVO,  

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

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

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

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation
Date: 2021-08-30
In Beijing, China's largest oil distiller and petrochemicals producer, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) is reporting plans to invest roughly 30 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) over 5 years to establish 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations with 200,000 tpy of capacity, and facilities run by renewable energy that can produce over 1 million tpy of the zero-emission fuel.

Sinopec's preliminary budget will fund the necessary R&D, production of hydrogen, purification, treatment, storage and transport facilities. The company will also upgrade its refineries and petrochemical plants to use "green" hydrogen in their operations to reduce their carbon footprint. The goal is to avoid 10 million tpy of CO2 by 2025.

The company also plans to install 7,000 solar power projects totaling 400 MW at its network of 30,00 fuel stations and increase its low carbon plant-based fuel supply capacity to provide 100,000 tpy of aviation biofuel (SAF) and 1.45 million tpy of ethanol by 2025.

Sinopec emitted 170.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2020, 84 pct of which were attributed to its oil refining and chemicals manufacturing operations, according to its latest sustainability report. (Source: Sinopec, S.China Morning Post, Sept., 2021) Contact: Sinopec, www.sinopecgroup.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ,  Sinopec,  Hydrogen,  Carbon Emissions,  

Imperial Oil
Date: 2021-08-27
Imperial Oil reports it plan to build a 1 billion lpy renewable diesel (RD) from locally sourced and grown feedstocks, manufacturing facility at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton, Alberta. RD production will source blue hydrogen -- produced from natural gas with CCS -- to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional hydrogen. The blue hydrogen and bio-feedstock will be combined with a proprietary catalyst to produce premium low-carbon diesel fuel..

A final investment decision will be subject to government support and approvals, market conditions, economic competitiveness and other considerations, Imperial noted. Subject to final investment decision, the facility could start production in 2024 (Source: Imperial Oil, PR, 25 Aug., 2021) Contact: Imperial Oil, Brad Corson, Pres., CEO, www.imperialoil.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Imperial Oil,  Renewable Diesel,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-08-25
The City of Bellevue Washington and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) have developed a toolkit to give cities more detail on what is driving changes in local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from year to year. Supported by a financial assistance award from the Department of Energy Cities Leading through Energy Analysis and Planning project.

the toolkit allows cities to attribute changes between two inventories to the impacts of policies and programs along with external drivers, such as growth or decline in the level of economic activity and changes to weather. This analysis will support policy-makers to better communicate about their progress and refine their policy approaches.

Download the Drivers of Change Analysis HERE. Download the toolkit HERE. (Source: US DOE EERE,Aug., 2021) Contact: US DOE EERE, www.energy.gov/eere; ICLEI-USA, www.icleiusa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHGs,  Greenhouse Gas,  Climate Change,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-08-25
Cities Leading through Energy Analysis and Planning demonstration project teams are led by local governments and have been selected to develop and pilot data-driven decision frameworks. To develop these frameworks, the local governments have partnered with academic institutions, technology companies, utilities, regional planning bodies, and non-governmental organizations for the following demonstration projects:

Drivers of Change for Local Greenhouse Gas Emissions Toolkit -- The Bellevue, WA and ICLEI-USA developed a toolkit to give cities details on what has been driving year-to-year changes in GHG emissions inventories. Report and details HERE

Powering Energy Efficiency and Impacts Project Framework (PEEIF) -- The Upper Coastal Plain COG team piloted a new framework to enhance low income energy service delivery to households in northeastern North Carolina. Report and details HERE

Policy, Permit, Perform: Using City Benchmarking Data and Building Construction Permit History to Identify Energy Performance Improvements -- Portland, OR evaluated the use of the DOE Building Energy Asset Score Tool and rating system to commercial buildings disclosing their energy use. Report and details HERE. (Source: US DOE EERE,Aug., 2021) Contact: US DOE EERE, www.energy.gov/eere; ICLEIUSA, www.icleiusa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US DOE/EERE,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

FortisBC Energy
Date: 2021-08-23
Surrey, British Columbia-based utility FortisBC Energy Inc. is reporting the 10th anniversary of its Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program. Fortis BC was the first utility in North America to offer RNG to its customers and is focused on growing RNG supply and advancing a number of projects and agreements to meet the growing demand for renewable energy, according to the company release.

"Increasing the amount of RNG in the natural gas system is an important part of FortisBC's "30BY30" target, an ambitious goal to reduce customers' greenhouse gas emissions 30 pct by 2030. Within this target, FortisBC has committed to making 15 per cent of all gas in its system carbon neutral by 2030 -- aligning with the provincial government's CleanBC strategy," according to the company press release. (Source: FortisBC, PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: FortisBC, Jason Wolfe, Dir. Energy Solutions, www.fortisbc.com, www.fortisinc.com/rng

More Low-Carbon Energy News FortisBC Energy,  RNG,  

Global Energy Group, Proman
Date: 2021-08-23
Inverness, Scotland-based Global Energy Group Ltd. (GEG) is reporting an agreement with Swiss methanol producer Proman to develop a commercial-scale renewable-power-to-methanol plant utilizing locally sourced captured CO2 to be located at the GEG-owned Nigg Oil Terminal in Scotland. Subject to ongoing technical feasibility studies, financing and development, Proman will become the owner, operator and off taker of the “Cromarty Clean Fuels Project“ green methanol production facility.

Green methanol is a renewable, liquid used as a transportation fuel or chemical industry feedstock produced from recycled carbon dioxide and hydrogen produced from renewable electricity using proven technologies such as electrolysis. As a transportation fuel, green methanol drastically cuts greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating sulphur oxide and particulate matter, and significantly reducing nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions. (Source: Global Energy Group Ltd., Chem. Eng., 18 Aug., 2021) Contact: Global Energy Group Ltd., Tim Cornelius, CEO, www.gegroup.com; Proman, David Cassidy, CEO, +41 43 888 29 99 , Switzerland@proman.org, www.proman.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Global Energy Group news,  Proman news,  Methanol news,  Green Methanol news,  Alternative Fuel news,  

Union Pacific
Date: 2021-08-23
In Omaha, Union Pacific, the country's second largest railroad after BNSF, reports it will boost the biodiesel fuel blend rate in its more than 700 EMD locomotives from the present 5 pct to 20 pct as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Union Pacific noted the updated fuel blend rate follows comprehensive testing of high-horsepower locomotives and monitoring their fuel consumption, as well as the biofuel blend's impact on engine oil and fuel filters and the environment. (Source: Union Pacific, 21 Aug., 2021) Contact: Union Pacific, Beth Whited Executive VP Environment, 402-544-5000, www.up.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Union Pacific,  Biodiesel,  Biodiesel Blend,  

Maersk
Date: 2021-08-20
Maritime shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) is reporting a contract with Copenhagen-based REintegrate to produce roughly 10,000 tonnes of carbon neutral e-methanol, produced by using renewable sources such as biomass and solar energy which the vessel will need to operate each year.The entire Maersk fleet would require roughly 20 million tpy of green methanol fuel, according to the release.

REintegrate's new decentralized production technology offers green e-methanol identical to fossil methanol, from renewable energy sources and CO2 from bio-waste. E-methanol provides a convenient transition to environmentally friendly fuels and chemicals with an ultra-high greenhouse gas reduction and a competitive rice to similar products such as green bio-products.REintegrate's process facilitates the re-cycle of CO2 emissions and the by-products (oxygen and heat) can be used in the industrial sector and for district heating, according to the company website.

With about 90 per cent of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly three per cent of the world's CO2 emissions. Maersk aims to have a carbon-neutral fleet by 2030 to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050, according to the release. (Source: A.P. Moller-Maersk, GFM News, 18 Aug., 2021) Contact: A.P. Moller-Maersk, Morten Bo Christiansen, Hesd of Decarbonization, www.maersk.com; Reintegrate, +45 6168 6212, www.reintegrate.dk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Maersk,  Methanol,  Green Methanol,  

Edmonton Alberta
Date: 2021-08-20
On the Canadian prairies, the City of Edmonton (pop. 1.49 million), Albert, City Council reports unanimous approval of a $12.4 million, two-year pilot program to finance energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades to 100 existing Edmonton buildings as part of the city's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The program, which will launch in September, will be available to homeowners and organizations for renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements to their properties. The project financing will be repaid over time through a clean energy improvement tax.

The program is primarily funded by a Federation of Canadian Municipalities loan of $8.4 million and a grant of $1.2 million and a $2.1 million contribution by the city. (Source: City of Edmonton City Council, PR, 18 Aug., 2021) Contact: City of Edmonton City Council, www.edmonton.ca/city_government/mayor-city-councillors

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

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

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

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

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

Aemetis
Date: 2021-08-17
Cupertino, California-headquartered renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable fuels specialist Aemetis, Inc.reports it has awarded a construction services contract to Machado & Sons Construction Inc. to construct the Company’s 32-mile biogas pipeline extension connecting multiple dairy anaerobic digesters throughout Stanislaus and Merced Counties in California.

The pipeline is part of the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Digester Project which is developing a network of lagoon digesters connected via a biogas pipeline to produce renewable natural gas (RNG).

The pipeline will transport the renewable biogas from the dairies to the Aemetis biogas upgrading facility at the Aemetis ethanol production plant in Keyes, California, where the biogas will be transformed into commercial-grade RNG for use as a carbon-negative “drop in” transportation fuel.

The planned 52 dairies in the Aemetis biogas project are expected to capture more than 1.4 million MMBtu of dairy methane and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to an estimated 5.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 each year. The captured methane will be transformed to carbon-negative transportation fuel to displace petroleum-based diesel throughout the State of California. The 5.2 million metric tonnes of annual CO2 emissions reduction from the Aemetis Biogas project is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 1.1 million cars from the road.

. Aemetis Carbon Zero products include zero carbon fuels that can “drop in” to be used in airplane, truck, and ship fleets. Aemetis low-carbon fuels have substantially reduced carbon intensity compared to standard petroleum fossil-based fuels across their lifecycle. (Source: Aemetis, Website PR, 13 Aug., 2021) Contact: Aemetis, Andy Foster, Phone: (408) 213-0940, Fax: (408) 252-8044, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aemetis news,  RNG news,  Biogas news,  Anaerobic Digestion news,  

US DOE EERE
Date: 2021-08-16
In Washington, the US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has awarded $82.6 million in funding to 44 projects that will lower Americans' energy bills and help meet the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by investing in new energy efficient building technologies, construction practices, and the U.S. buildings-sector workforce.

The 44 projects across 20 states will improve building energy efficiency through innovations in thermal energy storage, building envelopes, lighting, HVAC, water heating -- as well as by bolstering the energy efficiency workforce with trainings, educational programs, and other technical support. The following are among the 44 funded projects:

North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota will develop a novel absorption material that will efficiently store thermal energy.

Baryon Inc. based in Wilmington, Delaware will develop an innovative air-conditioning system based on a new method of evaporative cooling combined with dehumidification that can consume 50 to 85 pct less energy than traditional air conditioning systems.

In Sidney, Ohio, Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions will design, fabricate, and validate a highly efficient refrigerated display case for use in supermarkets.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark will design, prototype, install, test, and evaluate a high-performance residential wall retrofit that can achieve estimated heating and cooling energy savings of 30 pct or more.

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance in Atlanta, Georgia, will develop training resources on electrified building systems such as electric heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric vehicle charging systems, and battery storage systems. These resources will help members of the workforce learn how to educate consumers on the benefits of these technologies.

Download the full list of funded recipients HERE.

The mission of the DOE EERE is to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to equitably transition America to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050, and ensure the clean energy economy benefits all Americans. (Source: US DOE EERE, PR, 13 Aug., 2021) Contact: US DOE EERE, Building Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency news,  DOE Building Technology Office news,  DOE EERE news,  

Cornell
Date: 2021-08-16
Blue hydrogen, an energy source that involves obtaining hydrogen by using methane in natural gas, is usually described as a "low-carbon option for generating electricity, powering vehicles, and even heating buildings." But researchers from Stanford and Cornell universities found that blue hydrogen's carbon footprint is more than 20 pct greater than that generated by natural gas or coal and around 60 pct higher than burning diesel oil for heat and causes more harm to the climate than conventional fossil fuels

"Blue hydrogen provides no benefit. We suggest that blue hydrogen is best viewed as a distraction, something than may delay needed action to truly decarbonize the global energy economy, in the same way that has been described for shale gas as a bridge fuel and for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in general."

"In the past, no effort was made to capture the carbon dioxide byproduct of gray hydrogen, and the greenhouse gas emissions have been huge. Now the industry promotes blue hydrogen as a solution, an approach that still uses the methane from natural gas, while attempting to capture the byproduct CO2", study co-author Robert Howarth noted.

The vast majority of hydrogen (96 pct) is generated from fossil fuels, particularly from steam methane reforming (SMR) of natural gas, but also from coal gasification. In SMR, heat, and pressure are used to convert the methane in natural gas to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen so produced is often referred to as "gray hydrogen" -- this type is responsible for 6 pct of all-natural gas consumption globally, the study notes.

Blue hydrogen is produced using the same reforming process that is used to create other types of hydrogen, but the CO2 that would ordinarily be released is captured and stored underground. As of 2021, there were only two blue-hydrogen facilities globally that used natural gas to produce hydrogen on a commercial scale, according to the study.

The full study is available HERE. (Source: Cornell University, PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: Cornell University, Robert Howarth, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, (607) 255-6175, howarth@cornell.edu, www.eeb.cornell.edu/howarth

More Low-Carbon Energy News Blue Hydrogen,  Alternative Fuel. Climate Change,  

USDA Rural Development
Date: 2021-08-13
USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson on July 29, the 10th anniversary of the creation of the USDA's Certified Biobased Product Label, unveiled an Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry .

According to the report, in 2017 the biobased products industry: contributed $470 billion to the U.S. economy; directly and indirectly supported 4.6 million American jobs; and generated 2.79 jobs in other sectors of the economy for every biobased job. Additionally, biobased products displace approximately 9.4 million barrels of oil annually, and have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

Established in 2011 underneath USDA's BioPreferred Program, the Certified Biobased Product Label is intended to spur economic development, create new jobs and provide new markets for farm commodities. By harnessing the powers of certification and the marketplace, the program helps purchasers and users identify products with biobased content and assures them of its accuracy.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. (Source: USDA Rural Development, Website, , Aug., 2021) Contact: USDA Rural Development, Justin Maxson, Deputy Under Sec., USDA BioPreferred Program, www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/catalog/Catalog.xhtml

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel,  Biobased Products,  USDA Rural Development,  

Carrier
Date: 2021-08-13
The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida-headquartered air conditioning, commercial refrigeration and transport refrigeration product manufacturer reports it has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in absolute terms by over 78,000 tonnes compared to its 2015 baseline, according to its just released Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Report .

In the UK, Carrier estimates its introduction of more energy efficient technologies and lower GWP refrigerants has led to the avoidance of 68 million tonnes of GHG emissions in 2020.

Carrier has pledged, where technically feasible, to employ “natural” or very low GWP refrigerant solutions and to deliver the right refrigerant for each application, depending on specific country or regional requirements. It says it will also continue to evaluate options to expand its offering of ultra-low GWP solutions of below 30. (Source: Carrier, PR, Website, Cooling Post, 11 Aug 2021; Contact: Carrier Corp., 561-365-2000, www.corporate.carrier.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carrier,  GHG,  

Rolls-Royce Power Systems
Date: 2021-08-13
Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Power Systems reports it will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35 pct , compared to its 2019 level, by 2030 through the use of new net-zero and zero carbon technologies, and a new focus on engines that run on sustainable fuels from as early as 2023.

Key to meeting these goals is the certification of the most important engine products which will run on sustainable second generation biofuels and E-fuels from as early as 2023 and then be successively increased, according to the release. (Source: Rolls-Royce Power Systems,. PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: Rolls-Royce Power Systems, Dr Otto Preiss, COO and CTO, www.rolls-royce.com/products-and-services/power-systems.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rolls-Royce Power Systems,  Carbon Neutral,  Carbon Emissions,  

Rolls-Royce
Date: 2021-08-13
Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Power Systems reports it will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35 pct, compared to its 2019 level, by 2030 through the use of new net-zero and zero carbon technologies, and a new focus on engines that run on sustainable fuels from as early as 2023.

Key to meeting these goals is the certification of the most important engine products which will run on sustainable second generation biofuels and E-fuels from as early as 2023 and then be successively increased, according to the release. (Source: Rolls-Royce Power Systems,. PR, 11 Aug., 2021) Contact: Rolls-Royce Power Systems, Dr Otto Preiss, COO and CTO, www.rolls-royce.com/products-and-services/power-systems.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rolls-Royce,  Biofuel,  

NRCAN
Date: 2021-08-13
In Ottawa, Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) is reporting a $40,000 investment in paper products manufacturer Kruger Products's effort to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and obtain ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard certification at its Crabtree plant in Quebec.

Through ISO 50001 certification, the plant commits to reducing its impact on the environment, conserving energy resources and improving its performance through the efficient management of all forms of energy. The average IS0 50001-certified facility will experience a cumulative energy performance improvement of almost 3 pct in the first two years alone.

Federal funding for this project is provided by the Industrial Energy Management Program, which offers financial assistance to help fund Canadian industrial facilities' energy management projects. This funding supplements the investments made by Kruger Products itself to carry out this energy efficiency project and obtain ISO 50001 certification, for a total combined investment of $660,000. (Source: Natural Resources Canada, PR, Website, Aug., 2021) Contact: NRCAN, www.nrcan.gc.ca; ISO 50001, www.iso.org target=_blank>Energy Efficiency,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News ISO 50001 ,  NRCAN,  Energy Efficiency,  

IPCC
Date: 2021-08-11
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report addresses the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change.

The assessment, after considering the latest advances in climate science and multiple lines of evidence from paleoclimate, observations, process understanding, and global and regional climate simulations, warns dangerous global warming of 1.5C to 2C will be exceeded before the end of the century unless deep cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions are made.

The IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, and to identify adaptation and mitigation options.

The IPCC does not conduct its own research. IPCC reports are neutral, policy-relevant but not policy-prescriptive and are a key input into the international negotiations to tackle climate change.

Download The Technical Summary (TS), the full Report Chapters, the Annexes and the Supplementary Materials which remain subject to revisions following the SPM approval HERE. (Source: IPCC, 9 Aug., 2021) Contact: IPCC, www.ipcc.ch

More Low-Carbon Energy News IPCC,  Climate Change,  

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

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

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

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

Federation of Canadian Municipalities, NRCAN
Date: 2021-08-06
In Ottawa, Natural Resource Canada (NRCAN) and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) have announced a $1.8 million investment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, driving cost savings for Ontario communities through FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF). The following Ontario municipalities are being funded to design or conduct feasibility studies on implementing home energy efficiency retrofit financing programs:

Oakville Enterprises Corporation -- $70,000 to complete a feasibility study on a home energy retrofit financing program, in partnership with the Town of Oakville.

Peterborough -- $175,000 for a feasibility study on Peterborough's more equitable energy efficiency program.

Windsor -- $175,000 for a feasibility study on designing a residential deep energy efficiency retrofit (R-DEER) financing program.

Brampton -- $175,000 for a feasibility study on the Peel residential energy program (PREP).

Clean Air Partnership -- $175,000 for a feasibility study to develop a locally-tailored finance program for home energy retrofits with the County of Dufferin, London, Barrie and Huntsville.

Clean Air Partnership -- $175,000 for a feasibility study conducted in partnership with the Municipality of Clarington, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Tay Valley Township to develop locally-tailored home energy retrofit financing programs.

REEP Green Solutions -- $175,000 to complete a residential energy retrofit loan program design study in collaboration with the Region of Waterloo.

City of Greater Sudbury -- $170,000 for a study comparing home-retrofit financing models for Greater Sudbury.

Newmarket -- $133,700 for a feasibility study on the Newmarket energy efficiency retrofit (NEER) business implementation plan.

City of Thunder Bay -- $116,800 for a community efficiency financing feasibility study.

City of Burlington -- $100,000 for a feasibility study on a home energy efficiency retrofit program.

Municipality of Leamington and Essex Energy Corporation -- $91,200 for a study examining utility on-bill financing for home renewable energy projects in Essex County.

Town of Cobourg -- $71,500 for a community efficiency financing feasibility study. GMF's Community Efficiency Financing initiative helps communities of all sizes implement innovative local financing programs that directly help homeowners cut their GHG emissions, make their homes more energy-efficient.

To date, the Government of Canada has invested $1.65 billion in GMF since its inception. (Source: Natural Resource Canada, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, PR, Oakville News, 4 Aug., 2021) Contact: Federation of Canadian Municipalities, www.fcm.ca; NARCAN, www.nrcan.gc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News NRCAN,  Energy Efficiency,  Federation of Canadian Municipalities ,  

US Wind
Date: 2021-08-06
US Wind, Inc., Maryland's leader in offshore wind development, has announced major steps forward in the development of offshore wind energy for Maryland, including: major labor agreements to support the company's first major offshore wind project for Maryland -- the 22-turbine MarWin project -- and all other future projects; anew port facility agreement with Tradepoint Atlantic to develop 90 waterfront acres into a new offshore wind deployment hub, where US Wind will initially invest $77 million via the MarWin project; expansion plans for development of up to an additional 1,200 MW of offshore wind energy with the new Momentum Wind project; and a proposal for a new steel fabrication facility in Baltimore County at the Tradepoint Atlantic site -- Sparrows Point Steel -- to be built in conjunction with Momentum Wind.

At full capacity, Momentum Wind would include up to 82 turbines and will be Maryland's most ambitious clean energy project, able to fully satisfy the state's offshore wind energy goals and renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Catalyzed by a landmark 90-acre lease agreement with Tradepoint Atlantic at Sparrows Point Shipyard, the former home of Bethlehem Steel, US Wind will build on the port investment already committed via the MarWin project to facilitate the investment of an incremental $150 million to develop Sparrows Point Steel, Maryland's first manufacturing facility for monopile offshore wind foundations.

Founded in 2011, US Wind is majority-owned by Italian renewable energy developer Renexia SpA and a subsidiary of Toto Holding SpA which specializes in large-scale transportation and energy sector construction projects. (Source: US Wind, Website PR, 3 Aug., 2021) Contact: US Wind, Jeff Grybowski, CEO, Nancy Sopko, 410.727.4020, n.sopko@uswindinc.com, www.uswind.com; Tradepoint Atlantic, www.tradepointatlantic.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Wind,  Offshore Wind,  

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Date: 2021-08-06
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released draft rules aimed at dramatically reducing Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years and decades.

The rules, which require approval by the Environmental Quality Commission, would establish enforceable limits on greenhouse gas emissions caused by the use of gasoline, diesel, natural gas, heating oil, propane and other fuels used in homes, cars and businesses. Those limits would be lowered every year, reaching an 80 pct reduction by 2050. Emissions from the generation of electricity used in Oregon are being reduced through a separate program, recently approved by the Oregon legislature and signed by Governor Brown last week.

DEQ's Climate Protection Program focuses squarely on fossil fuels and on how Oregon communities and businesses can shift over time to cleaner forms of energy. Under the proposed rules, DEQ will set limits on companies supplying most of the fossil fuels used in Oregon.

A key part of the Climate Protection Program is helping vulnerable communities move to cleaner energy more rapidly. The proposed rules would allow regulated fuel suppliers to meet part of their emission reductions by supporting projects to accelerate affordable clean energy alternatives to gasoline, diesel, natural gas and other fossil fuels and make them available in rural, low-income and communities of color throughout Oregon.

Modeling conducted as part of the rule-making process shows that the program will significantly reduce emissions without disrupting the state's economy. The public has 60 days to comment on the draft rules. DEQ will review comments and further refine the proposal before bringing it to the Environmental Quality Commission for their consideration late this year.

Download Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program 2021 details HERE. (Source: Oregon DEQ, PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: Oregon DEQ, Harry Esteve, 503-951-3856, harry.esteve@deq.state.or.us, www.deq.state.or.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,  GHG,  Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  

Newfoundland Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Date: 2021-08-04
In Atlantic Canada, the Newfoundland Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is reporting a cost-shared funding more than $1 million for Efficiency and Fuel Switching projects for the Bruce II Sports Complex and Ralph Bennett Memorial Fire Hall in Channel- Port aux Basques.

The funding will be used for heat pump system HVAC improvements, installation of energy star rated glazing, air sealing and lighting retrofits at the Bruce II Sports Complex. The Ralph Bennett Memorial Fire Hall will be switched from oil to electricity, with installation of insulation and more efficient windows and doors.

The Town of Channel-Port aux Basques is receiving $490,000 from the Federal Government and $408,292 from the Provincial Climate Change Challenge Fund with the town contributing $326,707 in support of the project for the Bruce II Sports Complex. Funding of $58,631 is being provided by the Federal Government, along with $48,854 from the Provincial Climate Change Challenge Fund toward the Ralph Bennet Memorial Fire Hall project, with the Town contributing $39,092 in support of the project.

The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador's Climate Change Challenge Fund is a competitive grant-based program to fund greenhouse gas reduction projects and supports capital projects that lower greenhouse gas emissions. Funding is available to organizations across commercial, municipal, not-for-profit sectors and, Indigenous governments and organizations. (Source: Gov. of Newfoundland and Labrador, PR, 2 Aug., 2021) Contact: Newfoundland Environment and Climate Change Ministry, Lynn Robinson, 709-729-5449, 691-9446, lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca, www.gov.nl.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

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

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

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

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

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

Anaerobic Digester
Date: 2021-08-02
In the Golden State, the Santa Barbara County ReSource Cente Tajiguas Landfill facility located between Goleta and Gaviota has announced the opening of its new $130 million Materials Recovery Facility and an anaerobic digester. The facility will divert 60 pct of waste from the landfill and create enough energy to power 2,000 homes and champion the county's greenhouse gas reduction effort.

The two components of the new facility will work in tandem. The recovery facility will remove organic trash, including food waste, wet paper and wet cardboard which will be mixed with water and cow manure to produce biomethane. (Source: Santa Barbara Resource Center, News Press, July, 2021) Contact: Santa Barbara Resource Center, Marborg Industries, 805) 963-1852, www.marborg.com/resource-center

More Low-Carbon Energy News Anaerobic Digester,  Biogas,  

LG Energy Solutions
Date: 2021-08-02
In South Korea, Seoul-headquartered advanced lithium-ion battery and energy storage systems specialist LG Energy Solutions reports it aims to transition all business operations to 100 pct renewable energy by 2030, establish a virtual circular value chain for resources by 2025, and eliminate some 960,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. (Source: LG Energy Solution, PR, 31 July, 2021) Contact: LG Energy Solutions, www.lgensol.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LG Energy Solutions,  Carbon Neutral,  Battery,  Carbon Emissions,  

Renewable Fuels Association
Date: 2021-08-02
In a recent letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wrote: "As members of the RFA we share your vision for decarbonizing the transportation fuels sector and applaud your commitment to addressing climate change. We support your goals of achieving a 50 pct reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050.

"Low-carbon renewable fuels like ethanol are already helping our nation confront climate change by significantly reducing GHG emissions from the transportation sector. In fact, since 2008, the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels in the U.S. prevented nearly 1 billion metric tons of GHG from entering the atmosphere.

"Today's ethanol already reduces GHG emissions by 52 pct, on average, when compared directly to gasoline. Furthermore, many of us (RFA members) are already producing advanced and cellulosic ethanol that is certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as providing a 65-75 pct GHG reduction compared to gasoline. But given the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to reasonably decarbonize, the RFA are committing today to the pursuit of the following carbon performance goals:

By 2030, ensure that ethanol reduces GHG emissions by at least 70 pct, on average, when compared directly to gasoline. This equates to a 33 pct reduction in ethanol's average carbon footprint from 45 grams CO2-equivalent per megajoule (g/MJ) today to about 30 g/MJ by 2030.

By 2050, ensure that ethanol achieves net zero lifecycle GHG emissions, on average. As ethanol producers continue to adopt carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) and other low- and no-carbon technologies between 2030 and 2050, U.S. ethanol can achieve net carbon neutrality, on average, by mid-century or even sooner.

"Ethanol's carbon footprint continues to shrink rapidly, as new technology and innovation have improved the efficiency of the entire production process. In fact, a recent study by DOE scientists found that ethanol's carbon footprint shrunk by 23 percent between 2005 and 2019. While we are proud of these advances in efficiency and sustainability, many opportunities exist to deliver even greater GHG reductions in the near term," the letter noted. (Source: RFA, PR, 27 July, 2021) Contact: RFA, www.ethanolrfa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuels Association news,  GHG Emissions news,  CCUS news,  Ethanol Low-Carbon Fuel news,  

Telensa
Date: 2021-07-30
UK-headquartered smart street lighting specialist Telensa Ltd reports the City of Vaughan, (pop. 324,000 +-) Ontario, Canada, will retrofit it's existing 23,000 streetlights with energy efficient LED's and Telensa's PLANet "wireless" intelligent street lighting system.

The City-wide LED Streetlight Retrofit Program is expected to cut energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions and deliver roughly $1 million per year in street lighting energy cost savings.

The LED program is backed by the City's Corporate Energy Fund which is designed to financially support and implement energy retrofit projects. (Source: Telensa, PR, LEDs Mag., 28 July, 2021) Contact: Telensa Ltd, +44 (0)1799 588800, 470 558 9711 -- US Office, www.telensa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News LED Light,  Streetlight,  

Carbon Tax
Date: 2021-07-30
"I think it's (carbon tax) not a bad thing. We know that there is a huge economic cost to greenhouse gas emissions, which comes home at some point in time, not immediately; but it could come later, a year later, a decade later, but these are the externalities. So I think we need to recognize that climate change is a result of unmanaged externalities."

"Carbon markets and carbon taxes are two sides of the same coin in the sense that these are alternative ways of ensuring that polluters pay and carbon is a form of pollution." -- Pavan Sukhdev , WWF International, Pres.; Deutsche Bank, Former Managing Director

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Tax,  

Norfolk Southern Railway
Date: 2021-07-30
Atlanta-headquartered Norfolk Southern Railway reports it plans to cut scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 43 pct from a 2019 base year by 2034. The rail carrier's target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Locomotive fuel accounts for over 90 pct of the railroad's carbon emissions. Norfolk Southern set a fuel-efficiency goal as part of its 2015 strategic plan, targeting an 8.6 pct improvement by 2020. The company exceeded that goal with a 9.4 pct improvement, which resulted in savings of more than 130 million gallons of diesel fuel and avoidance of approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of emissions, according to the release. Norfolk Southern is making significant efforts to lower GHG emissions across the company, including:

$500 million of green bonds were recently issued by the company to fund eligible green projects. Norfolk Southern was the first Class I railroad in North America to launch green bond financing.

More than 700 locomotives were retired by the company in 2020, targeting older, less fuel-efficient models. Through precision scheduled railroading, the company has achieved operating efficiencies which allow for the movement of more freight with fewer locomotives, reducing fuel burn.

A company locomotive modernisation programme is converting older DC traction models to more reliable and efficient AC units, and quipping locomotives with smart energy management technology for increased fuel efficiency

An innovative public-private partnership program to recycle older locomotives into low-emission 'Eco' models is reducing emissions in urban communities on our rail network and enabling them to meet their Clean Air Act obligations.

An initiative to replace diesel-powered overhead cranes with hybrid and fully electric cranes at company intermodal facilities is projected to reduce emissions at those facilities by approximately 75 pct. (Source: Norfolk Southern Railway, PR, July, 2021) Contact{ Norfolk Southern Railway, www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en/contact-us.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Carbon Emissions,  SBTi,  

TC Energy
Date: 2021-07-30
Calgary-based TC Energy Corp. is reporting an agreement with the Canadian Department of National Defense for development of a 1,000 MW pumped hydro energy storage project on federal lands in Ontario.

The multi-billion Ontario Pumped Storage Project, which would be Ontario's largest energy storage project, would optimize the province's electricity system and deliver roughly $250 million in annual savings to electricity consumers, provide emission-free electricity for the province while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an expected 490,000 tpy -- the equivalent of removing 150,000 cars from Ontario roads.

The project also aims in part to reduce the amount of electricity exported from the province to Quebec and Manitoba, as well as to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, at a loss of $384 million ($309 million US). (Source: TC Energy, PR, 28 July, 2021) Contact: TC Energy, 403-920-7859, www.tcenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News TC Energy news,  Energy STorage news,  Pumped Hydro Energy STorage news,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2021-07-30
In the Sunshine State, the City of Miami Beach reports receipt of U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for its sustainability initiatives, implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at improving sustainability and for its Green Building Ordinance.

The Green Building Ordinance requires new construction over 7,000 square feet or ground floor additions to existing structures that encompass more than 10,000 square feet of additional floor area to be LEED Gold certified or Living Building Challenge certified. In addition to the Green Building Ordinance, the city was also recognized for its alternative transportation options, its expansive green spaces and natural resources such as the dune system that protects the coastline, and its approach to civic and community engagement.

The key metrics tracked through the LEED Cities and Communities program will help support the first Miami Beach climate action plan, which includes setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and prioritizing mitigation actions in the sectors of energy and transportation. (Source: City of Miami Beach, PR, Miami Beach Chamber Community News, 30 July, 2021) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency.LEED Certification,  LEED Cities,  

Canadian Pacific Railway , Science Based Targets
Date: 2021-07-26
Calgary, Alberta-headquartered Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. has published its first comprehensive Climate Strategy outlining the railroad giant's plan to drive innovative climate action and a measured response to emerging climate-related risks impacting the rail sector. The Climate Strategy outlines CP's objectives: establishing a clear understanding of climate-related risk and opportunities ; reducing the 140 year-old company's carbon footprint; adapting operations to the physical risks of climate change; integrating climate factors across the business and engaging with stakeholders on climate action.

To guide implementation of the Climate Strategy, CP has established two science-based emissions reduction targets that address 100 pct of CP's Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and more than half of Scope 3 emissions. CP commits to reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions intensity of its locomotives -- the company's largest source of emissions -- by in excess of 38 pct by 2030. CP also commits to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions from non-locomotive operations by in excess of 27 pct t by 2030. These targets are based on the most current methodology available to the transportation sector through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

CP has already taken significant steps to reduce GHG emissions, including installing a large solar farm at its Calgary corporate campus capable of generating more power than consumed annually by the main headquarters building. CP has also initiated a pioneering hydrogen locomotive program, and is currently building a hydrogen-powered locomotive using fuel cells and batteries to power the locomotives' electric traction motors. This initiative is important to generate critical industry knowledge and experience that will inform future development while supporting CP's emissions reduction targets.

CP participates in leading sustainability disclosure frameworks including CDP, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Aligned with these frameworks, CP will continue to disclose annual emissions, management practices and ongoing energy efficiency initiatives, and commencing in 2022 will report to its shareholders on its progress on the Climate Strategy.

In other railroad emissions and climate news, Norfolk, Virginia-based railroad Norfolk Southern Corp. has announced its science-based target to achieve a 42 pct reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 2034 from a 2019 base year.

Norfolk Southern's emissions reduction target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Validation from the SBTi -- a joint initiative of CDP, UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and World Wide Fund for Nature -- confirms the company's target is consistent with reductions required to keep warming to well-below 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. (Source: Canadian Pacific Railway, PR, 26 July, 2021) Contact: CP, Keith Creel, Pres., CEO, 888-333-6370, www.cpr.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Science Based Targets,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  CP Rail,  

Israel
Date: 2021-07-26
In Jerusalem, the Israel Environmental Protection Ministry has announced the country would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 85 pct from 2015 levels by 2050, as part of an international push to limit global warming. The government approved the 2050 target and set an interim target of 2030 to reduce emissions by 27 pct from levels in 2015, the year when global climate accords were agreed in Paris.

Israel's national targets include a 96 pct cut in transportation related carbon, an 85 pct reduction from the electric power generation sector and a 92 pct cut in the municipal waste sector. (Source: Israel Environmental Protection Ministry, PR, Reuters, 25 July, 2021) Contact: Israel Environmental Protection Ministry , www.gov.il/en/departments/ministry_of_environmental_protection/govil-landing-page

More Low-Carbon Energy News Israel,  Carbon Enissions,  

Neste, Fit for 55
Date: 2021-07-23
Helsinki-headquartered Neste Oyi issued the following comments in welcoming the EU's "Fit for 55" commitment to long-term policies and the ambition to become climate neutral by 2050:

"As a whole, the Fit for 55 package seems to provide the tools to combat the climate crisis during this decade by raising the ambition level of emission cuts across different sectors of the economy. It will support the growth of renewable fuels markets in both road and aviation segments. The Commission's proposal to establish an EU-wide obligation to supply a growing minimum share of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as of 2025 will create a large market and progressively cut down emissions from flying. The package also supports Neste's climate commitments, including to reach carbon neutral production by 2035. Now that the EC's proposals will enter the legislative process, it will be important to further raise the level of ambition and keep the focus on emission cuts by various solutions, not only by specific technologies," notes Neste VP for Public Affairs, Ilkka Rasanen.

"Neste firmly believes that all solutions are needed in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the societies. On European roads, the number of electric cars is growing at a rapid pace, which is a logical and welcome development as the power generation sector is embracing emission free technologies. However, achieving the ambitious climate targets requires both EVs and renewable transport fuels, as internal combustion engine vehicles will keep playing a key role for a long time, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles. The average age of cars in Europe is more than 10 years; this means that many new vehicles sold today will still be in use for another 15-20 years. When it comes to especially heavy-duty vehicles, internal combustion engines and renewable fuels, both biofuels and so-called e-fuels (Power-to-X), will be needed for a long time. After all, the combustion engine is not the problem when the fuel is renewable and sustainably produced. Already today, customers using the Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ made from 100 pct renewable raw materials can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 pct compared to fossil diesel.

"The aviation industry has already taken steps in the right direction by committing to the target of achieving carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards. Neste, as the world's leading producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), is committed to helping the aviation industry meet the proposed EU-wide obligation.

"Following its sustainable sourcing principles, Neste continues to develop the availability of emerging, lower-quality waste and residue raw materials, as well as agricultural and forest harvesting residues, algae and municipal solid waste as future raw materials. Neste is also exploring Power-to-X technologies as a new renewable fuel." (Source: Neste, PR, Website 16 July, 2021)Contact: Neste, Ilkka Rasanen, Vice President, Public Affairs, +358 50 458 5123, www.neste.com

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