Dear readers,
The European Parliament has been busy once again: whether it’s environmental claims or pollution rules – MEPs have been making a lot of progress in the last week. Claims such as “biodegradable”, “water-saving” or “climate-neutral” are to be scrutinised more strictly in future. A corresponding planned directive passed through Parliament at first reading. More under:
A comprehensive analysis of biomethane specifications has been carried out in Belgium. I will then distribute the report as soon as it is publicly available. The study also examines the guarantees of origin and standards associated with digestate as an end product of biomethane.
Californians (USA) used more E85 last year than ever before, which shows how excited consumers are about higher biofuel blends and how much they are looking for more ways to reduce their carbon footprint and save at the pump. Growth Energy’s CEO said. Everyone wants to help reduce carbon emissions, and higher biofuel blends are one of the most affordable ways to do that. California and policymakers across the country should take note of the meteoric rise of E85 in the Golden State and continue to lower costs for consumers by increasing the percentage of biofuels in America’s fuel tank. https://growthenergy.org/2024/03/11/california-e85-record/
We continue with the current information from week 11 at:
I wish all my readers a good start into the new week
Bernd Ahlers
Berlin
With Cargill Power Canola Programme, Canadian canola growers can soon benefit from growing market opportunities for renewable fuels combined with bioenergy. Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations, the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard and the EU’s voluntary 2BS sustainability programme recognise canola as a low-carbon feedstock for biofuels when grown using sustainable practices. Through the Cargill Power Canola programme, Cargill enables farmers to easily access these global markets. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recognises that all Canadian farmland meets these criteria, so Canadian farmers can simply complete the Cargill Power Canola registration process to fully register. https://www.cargillag.ca/content/dam/cargill/dm-assets/cargillag/pdfs/Cargill%20Power%20Canola%202024.pdf
Red Trail Energy (RTE) and Puro.earth announced the awarding of credits for the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) during production. This makes RTE the first ethanol production facility to generate CO2 removal certificates (CORCs) in the voluntary carbon market. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credits are generated through Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) from ethanol production in accordance with Puro’s Geologically Stored Carbon Methodology. https://www.gasworld.com/story/red-trail-energy-becomes-first-ethanol-plant-to-issue-co2-removal-credits/2135304.article/
Air Liquide and Vopak have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-operate on ammonia import, cracking and distribution infrastructure in Singapore. The parties will explore and research the joint development of low-carbon ammonia supply chains in Singapore, including the potential development of ammonia cracking facilities, associated ammonia storage and handling infrastructure at Vopak’s Banyan terminal and the distribution of low-carbon hydrogen via a hydrogen pipeline network. This collaboration aims to support Singapore’s national hydrogen strategy, which focuses on promoting advanced hydrogen technologies with high market readiness to build low-carbon hydrogen supply chains. https://www.gasworld.com/story/air-liquide-and-vopak-partner-on-ammonia-and-hydrogen-infrastructure-in-singapore/2135723.article/
AUGA Group AB and its subsidiaries, which have developed sustainable technologies and solutions for agriculture, began supplying biomethane via the natural gas network operated by gas transmission system operator Amber Grid AB on Tuesday. The biogas produced in Lithuania will be sold on the German market. The project capacity of 3 biogas power plants enables the production of 61 gigawatt hours of gas per year. https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/lithuanian-firm-auga-commences-biomethane-supply-for-german-market/
Shipping company CMA CGM has announced that it has recently signed an agreement with Nike to purchase sustainable biofuel. This initiative will make an important contribution to the decarbonisation of Nike’s supply chain, according to CMA CGM. From 1 July 2023 to 31 May 2024, Nike will use sustainable biofuel for 36% of its transport volume with CMA CGM. Through this measure, Nike will reduce its CO2 emissions by 25,000 tonnes, taking an important step towards greener operations. https://www.ship-technology.com/news/nike-biofuels-agreement-with-cma-cgm/
ClonBio will invest an additional $400 million in Jefferson, USA, to build a biorefinery at the AztalanBio facility. The company has already invested $100 million to upgrade the facility to make it the largest in the state. The company was asked by the Department of Energy to file a Part II application to secure $400 million to invest in the biorefinery project. https://eu.jsonline.com/story/money/business/energy/2024/03/12/irish-firm-plans-400-million-expansion-of-wisconsin-ethanol-plant/72931045007/
Sublime Energie, a Mines ParisTech company, has developed a process for the liquefaction of biogas produced by methanation that allows it to be transported to a purification centre. A way to democratise methanisation on farms that are far from purification plants and networks by offering recovery possibilities. After initial funding of EUR 1 million, the start-up has just received EUR 11.5 million from Crédit Mutuel’s Environmental Revolution and Solidarity Fund. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/french-tech-sublime-energie-wants-to-facilitate-agricultural-methanization
The government in India is planning to procure more maize for ethanol production to reduce the country’s dependence on sugarcane for the 25 per cent ethanol blend. Sugarcane production has dropped significantly this year, forcing the government to limit the use of sugarcane as an ethanol feedstock, which in turn is fuelling demand for alternative feedstocks, especially grains. Investments are being made in the Indian Institute of Maize Research, for example, in the hope of increasing production in the most important growing regions by a third over the next five years. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-plans-to-procure-more-maize-to-ramp-up-production-of-ethanol-101709579087613.html
In Belgium, the GreenMeUp project carried out a comprehensive analysis of the specifications of various standards related to biomethane. The report will be available shortly. The study also examines the guarantees of origin and standards associated with digestate as an end product of biomethane. The creation of the gas quality standard EN 16726 by CEN is an example of joint efforts towards regulatory harmonization and market integration. https://www.europeanbiogas.eu/biomethane-standards-facilitating-renewable-gas-uptake/
The recent Green Deal legislative package has confirmed the increasing importance of gaseous fuels for decarbonizing transport, particularly in the areas of road and maritime transport. In this context NGVA Europe is merging with Eurogas to improve understanding of the possibilities for biomethane, hydrogen and natural gas to deliver decarbonization of transport as society moves away from oil. https://ceenergynews.com/transport/eurogas-and-ngva-europe-merge-to-decarbonise-european-road-transport/
Nissan Motor Co. announced that it has developed a stationary bioethanol-fuelled system that enables high-efficiency power generation. Trials have begun at the Nissan plant in Tochigi (Japan) to improve power generation capacity and fully utilise it from 2030, the company announced. In 2016, Nissan became the first automotive company in the world to develop a vehicle propulsion system powered by a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fuelled by bioethanol. Nissan is now applying this SOFC development experience to stationary power generation systems, the company added. More on this topic. https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/nissan-starts-trial-of-stationary-power-generation-system-fueled-by-bio-ethanol
IRENA has launched a study on sustainable bioenergy in the Caribbean that provides a holistic view of the bioenergy potential in six small island developing states in the Caribbean – Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. The report assesses the potential for using various raw materials such as sugarcane, oil palm and municipal waste to produce bioenergy, taking into account the crucial balance between ecological health and socio-economic benefits in these states. https://www.polity.org.za/article/sustainable-bioenergy-potential-in-caribbean-small-island-developing-states-2024-03-14
MOL and Rio Tinto have agreed to further collaborate on the decarbonisation of shipping in addition to their existing commitment to the DOO programme. The DOO programme is a Rio Tinto initiative aimed at improving the safety and welfare of crew in the bulk shipping industry. The MOL Group has positioned environmental strategy as a key element of its “BLUE ACTION 2035” management plan and set the target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2” through a number of strategies such as the introduction of clean fuels for ships and efficient operations. https://www.mol.co.jp/en/pr/2024/24033.html
BP and BASF have signed a license agreement to use BASF’s gas processing technology to capture carbon dioxide (CO2). BASF-backed H2Teesside and its engineering delivery package is already well advanced. BASF’s OASE®1 white, a proven technology in many ammonia, hydrogen and carbon monoxide plants around the world, will improve the energy efficiency of the blue hydrogen production process while achieving a CO2 capture rate of up to 99.99%. https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home/news/press-releases/bp-selects-basfs-carbon-capture-technology-for-blue-hydrogen.html
The S-Hub consortium, comprising ExxonMobil Ltd. and Shell Singapore, is proud to have been selected by the Singapore Government as the lead developer for a cross-border carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. S-Hub and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2023 to coordinate the planning and development of a CCS project capable of capturing and permanently storing at least 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030. The commitment to realise the project is subject to final agreements between the parties. https://www.shell.com.sg/media/2024-media-releases/exxonmobil-shell-work-with-singapore-government-on-carbon-capture-and-storage-value-chain.html
Avfuel Corporation and Neste have entered into a partnership extension that keeps the companies at the forefront of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for business aviation and solidifies their leadership position in the sustainable space. The agreement extends the companies’ partnership through 2024 and establishes the framework through December 2027 to continue their work on improving access to Neste MY Sustainable Aviation FuelTM for business aviators, from corporate flight departments and FBOs to large OEMs. https://biofuels-news.com/news/avfuel-and-neste-ink-extension-of-saf-supply-agreement/
Platts reports that Poland’s new E10 policy, which came into effect on January 1, has helped drive T2 ethanol prices to a 13-year high of $744 per cubic meter, boosting Eastern European ethanol supplies force. In return, ethanol stocks at ARA were depleted without the typical influx of imports from the East. Some traders believe that Poland will rely on ARA rather than nearby countries of origin due to cost reasons. https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/031424-polands-e10-fuel-standard-to-draw-ethanol-from-ara
The Canadian Minister of Energy in Thorold, Ontario, announced a C$15 million federal investment to support six clean fuel projects across Canada, including C$10 million for two projects in the Niagara region. https://www.rngcoalition.com/news
Škoda Ireland and Certa have launched a new joint campaign to encourage owners and potential buyers of new diesel vehicles to use HVO biofuel to reduce their carbon emissions from driving by up to 90%. Škoda and one of Ireland’s largest fuel suppliers are working together on this initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of using hydrogen-treated vegetable oil (HVO) as a replacement for diesel. https://www.petrolplaza.com/news/37151