Ladies and gentlemen,
„You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”— Jane Goodall
According to the new Banking on Climate Chaos Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2024, the world’s largest banks have committed $6.9 trillion in fossil fuel finance since the 2016 Paris Agreement. Remember, the goal of the Paris Agreement, signed by 196 countries, was to limit man-made global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, contrary to their commitments, private interests in many countries continue to fund the activities of fossil fuel companies that continue to expand. “Climate change hits the people on the frontline first and worst. The people living on the frontlines of climate chaos and the fossil fuel industry are overwhelmingly indigenous peoples, black and brown communities, low-wage workers, women, fishermen or small-scale farmers, often living in poverty,” according to Banking on Climate Chaos. The Guardian reported in its 15th edition of the report that researchers investigated the underwriting and lending of the world’s 60 largest banks to more than 4,200 oil, gas and coal companies that caused environmental devastation in the Arctic and Amazon. They found that of the nearly $7 trillion made available to companies, almost half supported the expansion of fossil fuel exploration.
The Australian government has presented the “Future Made in Australia” budget package, announcing key investments in renewable energy projects totalling 22.7 billion dollars. The country plans to become a renewable energy superpower and an indispensable part of the global economy. The entire report can be found in Annex.
Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT) announced the UK Government’s announcement of the SAF mandate. The mandate, which will become law, is key to driving investment in a domestic SAF industry that will put the UK at the forefront of decarbonising aviation, the company said. https://www.novapangaea.com/
Argentina lowered the price of biodiesel slightly to around $1.062 per tonne from May, while raising the price of sugarcane-based ethanol by almost 10% to around 70 cents per litre. Although the price increase was smaller, the price of corn-based ethanol was raised to around 65 cents per litre. The government regularly changes biofuel prices in line with commodity prices, so the new prices remain in place until the government decides to change them again. https://www.xm.com/de/research/markets/commodities/reuters/argentina-raises-domestic-bioethanol-prices-lowers-biodiesel-53836850
The Philippine government could save millions of dollars annually if it increased its ethanol blend from the current 10 per cent to 20 per cent (E20). The higher blend could also reduce fuel prices by 4%. Even increasing the blend to just 15% could reduce fuel costs at the pump by 2%. Although the country is aiming for a voluntary 20% ethanol blend, the necessary regulations have yet to be published. https://www.chinimandi.com/philippines-to-boost-ethanol-blending/
UK-based Binn Group has announced that it has begun construction of a new energy from waste (EfW) plant with French company Paprec, which will provide low-carbon energy for local industry. The new plant at Binn Eco Park in Tayside, Scotland, will be funded by Paprec and built, operated and managed by Paprec Energies Binn, a joint venture between the French company and the Binn Group. https://www.greenenergynews.co.uk/paprec-energies-binn-begins-construction-on-e120-million-energy-from-waste-facility/
Johnson Matthey (JM) has been selected by HIF Global as the methanol licensor for HIF Global’s Paysandú eFuels project in Uruguay. The plant would be the largest e-methanol plant in South America and will utilise electrolytic (green) hydrogen and waste CO2 from an ethanol plant to produce e-methanol. E-methanol enables the production of a lower carbon fuel than conventional methanol by using renewable feedstock. https://matthey.com/media/2024/hif
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is working with PETRONAS and its logistics partners to expand the use of HVO100 biofuel to achieve a fully biofuel-powered European season. Working with title and technical partner PETRONAS, the team plans to build on its 67% emissions saving achieved in the 2023 European season by extending the use of biofuels to the generators that power the hospitality and technical units at the track. https://biofuels-news.com/news/mercedes-petronas-f1-puts-biofuels-on-the-starting-grid/
Infinium has entered into an agreement with SMA Mineral (SMA) in Norway that will advance the development of Infinium’s eFuels project at Mo Industripark in Mo i Rana, Norway. The Infinium plant will utilise the carbon dioxide (CO2) that SMA will produce at its ZEQL (Zero Emission Quick Lime) plant at the industrial park as a feedstock for the production of eFuels. Infinium uses CO2 waste and renewable energy to produce eFuels products, including the sustainable. https://biofuels-news.com/news/infinium-signs-carbon-deal-with-sma-mineral-for-esaf-site/
Since April 1, Signature’s LAX terminal has become the second business aviation terminal worldwide, joining Signature’s terminal at San Francisco International Airport, to offer only blended SAF to business aviation customers. The blended fuel provided by Signature to their customers at LAX consists of 30% SAF and 70% conventional jet fuel. This enables customers using the blended fuel to achieve up to a 24%* reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their air travel compared to flights powered by conventional fossil jet fuel. https://www.neste.com/news/neste-enables-signature-aviation-transition-to-offering-only-blended-sustainable-aviation-fuel-for-all-business-aviation-customers-at-its-los-angeles-international-airport-terminal
In Sweden, by studying how bubbles form in a drop of biodiesel, researchers at the University of Gothenburg can help future engines get the most energy out of the fuel. In an internal combustion engine, the fuel is distributed in small droplets in injection valves to maximize combustion. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-05-levitating-diesel-biodiesel-droplets-efficient.html
In Singapore, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is working with airport stakeholders to conduct trials on the use of renewable diesel for heavy and specialised airside vehicles operating at Singapore Changi Airport, as part of its larger effort to decarbonise the Singapore aviation sector. https://www.saurenergy.asia/singapore-airport-to-start-trials-on-use-of-renewable-diesel-for-aviation/
Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsubishi Chemical have decided to conduct a joint feasibility study on the conversion of raw materials and fuels at the three companies’ ethylene production plants in Japan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in line with the target set by the Japanese government. The plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero, and each company is advancing measures to reduce energy consumption and the technological development of low-carbon feedstocks and fuels. https://www.asahi-kasei.com/news/2024/e240508.html
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has announced that it will begin using sustainable aviation fuel in its F-35 aircraft by the end of the year. The US Navy, the Royal Air Force and the armed forces in Brazil, France and Germany have also trialled biofuels in their fighter aircraft. The switch to biofuels is seen as a strategic way to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports for military purposes. https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2024/norway-aims-to-use-biofuel-for-its-f-35-multirole-fighters
The Sugar Mills Association of India has sought the government’s support to achieve the target of 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2030 instead of 2025 as planned. The industry assumes that with government support, sugar cane can supply 55-60% of the ethanol required for the blending mandate. It considers the limit on ethanol production to be too strict, as there would have been sufficient sugar despite the production of an additional 2.5 billion litres of ethanol. https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/isma-seeks-policy-support-to-meet-indias-20-ethanol-blending-target/110004716
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd (“K” LINE) has used B100 biofuel for ships for the first time on a trial basis. The fuel was delivered by World Fuel Services on the car carrier “APOLLON HIGHWAY” operated by “K” LINE and handed over to the ship in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on 31 March 2024. After leaving the European Emission Control Area, the ship began using the B100 biofuel. The trial was completed on 30 April. https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/KAWASAKI-KISEN-KAISHA-LTD-6491394/news/Kawasaki-Kisen-Kaisha-K-LINE-Conducts-First-Trial-Use-of-B100-Biofuel-for-Carbon-free-Operat-46740431/
In Washington, 25 trade associations representing producers, feedstock providers, blenders, consumers, and retailers of low-carbon, renewable fuels sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging Treasury to finalize and publish guidance for the §45Z Clean Fuels Production Credit as soon as possible. https://cleanfuels.org/groups-urge-treasury-to-promptly-complete-%c2%a745z-clean-fuels-production-credit-guidance/
Green Car Congress reported that researchers from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Russia explored the conversion of methane into hydrogen in the gas reservoir with zero oil saturation via steam methane reforming initiated by in situ gas combustion. The report noted that a paper on their work is published in the journal Fuel. https://www.greencarcongress.com/2024/05/20240506-skol.html
Nayara Energy plans to invest 71.85 million dollars in two new ethanol plants in Andrha Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The plants, which are scheduled to go into operation in 2026, will each be able to produce 200,000 litres of ethanol per day from maize and broken rice. Three other ethanol plants are at an earlier stage of development. The company is also starting to research the sustainable production of aviation fuel. The company is supported by the Russian energy giant Rosneft. https://www.argusmedia.com/es/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2568874-nayara-energy-to-set-up-two-ethanol-plants-in-india
In Ireland, Diageo announced plans to invest over €100 million to decarbonize its historic St. James’s Gate site in Dublin 8, where Guinness has been brewed for 264 years. The investment underpins the goal to accelerate to net zero carbon emissions for the site and will transform energy and water consumption with the aim to make it one of the most efficient breweries in the world by 2030. https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/05/17/guinness-owner-diageo-to-invest-more-than-100m-in-st-james-s-gate
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB have developed a bio-based and functionalised flocculant to efficiently treat complex wastewater. In addition, toxic phenols are removed from the water by the enzyme laccase in a chitosan matrix. https://www.igb.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/press-releases/2024/lachipur-functionalized-chitosan-as-a-biobased-flocculant-for-the-treatment-of-complex-wastewater.html
In Japan, an Osaka Metropolitan University research team has found that improves the growth of the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of ethanol. The findings were published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. The researchers explored persimmon tannin because it is known for its antioxidative properties. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/more-efficient-bioethanol-production-might-be-possible-using-persimmon-tannin-to-help-yeast-thrive/ar-BB1mw8NP