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Azerbaijan, host of the United Nations COP29 climate summit, has announced the launch of a new Climate Action Fund with the goal of mobilizing $1 billion for the support of new national climate targets in developing nations. Contributions to the fund will be made by oil and gas companies and 10 fossil-fuel producing countries, reported Reuters. Oversight for the fund — which will be housed in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan — will be conducted by an international board of shareholders. “Countries rich in natural resources should be at the forefront of those addressing climate change,” said Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 president-designate, as Reuters reported. “We are calling on donors to join us so that we can fulfil the COP29 plan to enhance ambition and enable action.” The Climate Action Fund would receive yearly donations from its contributors and dedicate 20 percent of investment revenues to a Rapid Response Funding Facility to help countries that are most vulnerable with responding to climate disasters.
In contrast to a Brussels hydrogen study, which does not see the goals of a hydrogen economy being achieved, the German company EnBW wants to invest around 1 billion euros in the development and expansion of a national hydrogen core network. A hydrogen pipeline is to become an important component of a future European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) by 2032. The connection to the core network will primarily supply large industrial centres, power plants and generation facilities with hydrogen in the future, but will also open up transnational corridors for hydrogen imports, according to the company.
The U.K. Department for Transport on July 22 sent a written statement to the U.K. Parliament confirming that, subject to Parliamentary approval, the agency will introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The expected SAF mandate will phase in starting at 2% in 2025 and increasing on a linear basis to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2024. According to the Department of Transport, regulations implementing the SAF mandate will place a cap on feedstocks used in the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process, but not until other types of SAF are also commercially viable.
The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), which was launched in September 2023 by key G20 members including India, the US and Brazil, is on the verge of getting its diplomatic status as the Indian government is likely to sign a headquarters agreement with the agency soon. “The headquarters agreement will be signed with the host country. It will grant immunity and privileges to the organisation as an international organisation; this process is also underway. We plan to do this very soon. The Foreign Ministry will sign the agreement,” said a source familiar with the matter. https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/india-prepares-to-sign-headquarters-agreement-with-global-biofuels-alliance/
American Express and Shell Aviation inked an extended agreement to support growth of the Avelia sustainable aviation fuel program, helping to enable access to SAF globally. Elsewhere, GA Telesis Engine Services announced the adoption of SAF provided by Neste, in collaboration with DHL Also, production capacity of SAF in the USA could grow by 1400% this year if all announced capacity additions come on line, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Finally, Repsol and Iberia signed an agreement with Inditex for the purchase of SAF. https://www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/press-room/amex-gbt-reinforces-commitment-to-saf-through-new-avelia-agreement-with-shell-aviation/
The IEA prepared a report in support of Brazil’s G20 presidency which examines the complexities and discusses regulatory approaches for accounting biofuel carbon intensity across various regions. It highlights the main reasons for variability of lifecycle GHG emissions of biofuels and emphasises that impacts of land use change are a major source of disagreement across different policy frameworks. It concludes that policies need to adopt pragmatic approaches to foster verifiable and performance-based continuous improvement of sustainable biofuels. https://www.iea.org/reports/carbon-accounting-for-sustainable-biofuels
A strategic initiative to use SAF emphasises GATES’ long-term commitment to using Neste’s SAF to reduce its carbon footprint and promote more sustainable aviation practices. In collaboration with DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, and emphasising DHL’s role as a GATES launch customer for SAF, GATES will begin integrating Neste-produced SAF into its engine testing in Finland. https://www.energytech.com/renewables/article/55128493/ga-telesis-engine-services-adopts-saf-for-engine-testing-with-dhl-as-first-customer
Banle Energy International, a Hong Kong subsidiary of marine fuel logistics company Banle Energy Group, has completed 2 B24 biofuel bunkering operations for Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming in Port Klang, Malaysia, marking the port’s first biofuel bunkering operation. The B24 biofuel is a blend of used cooking oil methyl ester and conventional marine fuel. According to the report, the B24 biofuel blend is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 20% compared to conventional marine fuel. https://www.banle-intl.com/
Boeing has issued guidance stating that military aircraft built by the company can be fuelled with sustainable aviation fuel that can be blended up to 50% with conventional fuel. The guidance is aimed at supporting militaries worldwide that are considering the introduction of SAF into their fleets, the company said. The global No Technical Objection (NTO) states that there are no technical issues with Boeing aircraft running on synthetic jet fuels, which include SAF. The NTO applies to all Boeing-built defence aircraft and their derivatives, the company added. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131457
In a document published on Friday, the European Commission announced that it will impose provisional anti-dumping duties on Chinese HVO and FAME imports ranging from 12.8% to 36.4% in four weeks. In the meantime, the EBB will request automatic registration of imports during the pre-disclosure phase to provide relief to the hard-hit EU biodiesel sector before the duties come into force. However, EBB is very concerned that the EU has unexpectedly exempted dumped Chinese sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from these provisional measures. In the interest of the Union, EBB expects the European Commission to take action against unfair trade by Chinese SAF producers, which would otherwise seriously harm the industry and lead to dependence on China in the future. https://ebb-eu.org/news/european-biodiesel-board-obtains-provisional-remedies-in-fight-against-chinese-unfair-biodiesel-imports/
The EU-Commission has authorised a €1.5 billion French scheme to promote the production of sustainable biomethane to support the transition to a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved on the basis of the Temporary Crisis and Transitional Framework for State aid (TCTF) adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023 and 2 May 2024. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3986
Envision Group, and DHL Group have signed a strategic partnership agreement to foster a comprehensive collaboration in logistics solutions to achieve logistics sustainability goals, SAF, green energy and the joint development of a “Net Zero Industrial & Logistic Park”. https://group.dhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2024/dhl-and-envision-team-up-for-sustainable-innovations-in-logistics-and-energy.html
Airbus is investing in LanzaJet in line with its goal to act as a catalyst for the global development of sustainable aviation fuels. This investment will support the development of the Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) process, an important step required for the large-scale production of SAF. It will enable LanzaJet to further expand its capabilities and capacity to scale its proprietary ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) process technology. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-07-airbus-to-boost-sustainable-aviation-fuel-production-through
Biophilica, a London-based company, has announced that its vegan leather alternative Treekind has received the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) label for 100% bio-based products. Treekind, a home-compostable, plastic-free leather alternative made from leaves, is the first vegan leather from the UK to receive this certification, according to the report. https://www.innovationintextiles.com/clothing-footwear/biobased-confirmation-for-treekind/
SUEZ acquires a 51% majority stake in ARA Cursus (ARA), a developer and operator of biogas plants based in Poland. The Group is thus strengthening its position as a major player in the European market for the anaerobic digestion of waste and the production of renewable energy from waste. In addition to SUEZ, EIFFEL is acquiring a 24.5% stake in ARA through its EIFFEL GAZ VERT fund, which has already financed ARA projects. BOURGOGNE, ARA’s former majority shareholder, retains a 24.5% stake in ARA. https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/biogas/suez-acquires-51-stake-in-ara-cursus-20240722
Cowboy Clean Fuels announced the successful closing of a Series B equity financing of approximately $13 million. This financing will be critical to the commercialisation of the company’s breakthrough technology for the simultaneous production of renewable natural gas (RNG) and permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide and represents a significant opportunity for investors in the growing renewable energy and carbon markets. https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/cowboy-clean-fuels-closes-13m-to-commercialise-technology-for-rng-and-co2-sequestration/
Neste has commissioned capacity for blending and storage of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at the ONEOK terminal in Houston, Texas. This is another step in the continued availability of Neste SAF to airlines flying from airports east of the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast. https://www.neste.com/news/neste-s-newly-commissioned-terminal-capacity-in-houston-texas-expands-availability-of-neste-s-sustainable-aviation-fuel-at-airports-in-the-central-and-eastern-parts-of-the-u-s
Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP), a co-operation between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies, has signed a 20-year contract with Chemanol, a Saudi methanol chemical company. Under this agreement, Chemanol will supply 100,000 tonnes of methanol annually to SATORP’s Amiral project, a petrochemical complex in Jubail on the east coast of Saudi Arabia. https://www.chemanalyst.com/NewsAndDeals/NewsDetails/saudi-arabia-chemanol-inks-20-year-methanol-deal-with-aramco-and-totalenergies-28620
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a new $2.5bn plan to boost the country’s transition to clean energy, including subsidies for green energy industries and hydrogen from renewable energy. According to the report, the plan will also include measures to help agriculture, infrastructure and villages transition to green energy. https://bioenergytimes.com/spain-set-to-launch-new-25-billion-plan-to-support-green-hydrogen/
Boeing and Clear Sky, an investment company dedicated to aviation sustainability, are joining forces to accelerate sustainable aviation solutions. In an initial project, the companies will help test and further develop Firefly Green Fuels’ cutting-edge technology to increase SAF production in the UK. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131467
Iowa Biodiesel Board applauded Iowa U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson (R-02) for leading a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency encouraging more usage of biofuels in the U.S. EPA is currently considering volume obligations for the 2026 Renewable Fuel Standard. https://bioenergytimes.com/iowa-biodiesel-board-welcomes-call-for-more-usage-of-biofuels-in-usa/
Major olive oil producers in the Spanish province of Jaén will enter the biomethane business. Four projects for the production of biogas from Alpeorujo are underway in the surrounding municipalities, which will require a joint investment of 137 million euros and will be financed through public-private co-operation. Agriculture Minister Fernández Pacheco announced on Tuesday (23 July) aid amounting to 41 million euros, which will account for a third of the disbursement. A further third will be provided in two cases by the producers Dcoop, Jaencoop and Interóleo, in another case by Migasa and in a fourth case by El Tejar. The remainder of the planned investments will be covered by private investors. https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/12921458/07/24/los-gigantes-aceiteros-entran-en-el-biometano-con-inversiones-de-137-millones-en-jaen.html