Ladies and gentlemen,
First i like to invite you to listen to our new 15 min BEFH Podcast. You will find it at the end of the news or simply click here.
Now on with the news.
There is no question that we need to do something about climate change. Germany, for example, is subsidising green energy producers to the tune of 20 billion euros in 2024. In 2023, around 36.6 billion euros were invested in wind and solar power plants in Germany and a total of 9.9 billion euros were made available to other countries as part of international climate financing. These investments have enabled Germany to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50 million tonnes* in the last three years, while China has increased its CO2 emissions by 1.3 billion tonnes in the same period.
The impression that Germany’s efforts are not contributing to climate protection cannot be ignored, and the fact that the German government constantly refers to its ‘pioneering role’ cannot be substantiated. To date, no country is prepared to join the German programme. Unless Germany pays. The German climate protection actions become even more incomprehensible when you look at the current ‘Forest Declaration Assment’ report. Download here: https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024ForestDeclarationAssessment.pdf
Despite international commitments to limit and reverse deforestation by the end of this decade, we are seeing an increase in deforestation. Worldwide, deforestation has increased with 6.37 million hectares lost. This includes 1.4 million hectares lost in important biodiversity areas. The deforestation of 2023 led to 3.8 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions. This corresponds to 6.5 times the emissions that Germany caused in 2023.
Now I ask myself what the billions that German taxpayers have to spend on climate protection every year achieve if economic interests take precedence over climate protection in other parts of the world. Goose’s objective, without embellishment: ‘Money thrown away’. Germany should rather solve its housing problems with the money and not dismantle its industrial centre.
According to the study, this puts the world about 45% away from achieving the targets set during COP26 in 2021. During this conference, more than 140 countries pledged to halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030.
Another issue is the dependence on and pressure from fossil fuels, which reached record levels last year, as well as the extraction of minerals for increasing renewable energy production. According to the report, fossil fuels still account for 80% of the world’s energy supply and this share may only fall by 7% by the end of the decade. *50 million tonnes represent 0.1% of global CO2 emissions
The latest World Energy Outlook (WEO) #1 from the International Energy Agency (IEA) describes the global energy system in 2030 as one in which clean energy technologies play an increasingly important role. According to the report, the future of global energy supply will be characterised by an increasing number of electric cars on the road worldwide. ‘In energy history, we have seen the age of coal and the age of oil – and we are now moving rapidly into the age of renewables.’
The new report emphasises that the current geopolitical fragmentation and tensions pose significant risks to energy security and global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ‘The report emphasises the inextricable link between the risks of energy security and climate change. In many regions of the world, extreme weather events exacerbated by decades of high emissions are already posing profound challenges to the safe and reliable operation of energy systems, including increasingly severe heat waves, droughts, floods and storms.’
In its report, the IEA makes it clear that significantly more investment in energy systems is needed for clean energy to continue to grow. #1 https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/c036b390-ba9c-4132-870b-ffb455148b63/WorldEnergyOutlook2024.pdf
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) last week received a positive judgment from the European Court of Justice (Case C-112/23 P) dismissing the appeal of Indonesian exporters PT Pelita Agung Agrindustri and PT Permata Hijau Palm Oleo against the General Court’s judgment of 14 December 2022 (Case T-143/20). With its judgement, the Court of Justice confirmed the General Court’s judgement in its entirety and thus ended a four-year legal dispute. https://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/european-biodiesel-board-achieves-major-success-in-fight-against-unfair-indonesian-biodiesel-imports
KazMunayGas-Aero (KMG AERO) have signed an agreement with NextChem to collaborate on promoting energy transition initiatives based on NEXTCHEM’s proprietary technology portfolio and process engineering capabilities. These initiatives aim to contribute to the decarbonisation and modernisation of industry and facilities in Kazakhstan, in particular the production of sustainable aviation fuel and low-carbon hydrogen through CO2 capture, as well as the implementation of circular solutions. https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/106507/
The European Energy Exchange (EEX) will launch quarterly auctions for biogas Guarantees of Origin (GOs) on 4 December 2024 on behalf of the French Ministry of Energy. At the auctions, the French state sells guarantees of origin produced by selected biogas plants that benefit from a state support mechanism. EEX has already been offering registry services for biogas GOs in France since October 2023 and has been operating a similar auction mechanism for French electricity GOs since 2019. https://www.eex.com/en/newsroom/detail?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=12893&cHash=dbd9a921b8e8defd567cc9ba4ca79d68
Terviva announced an investment by Chevron Renewable Energy to increase the cultivation of pongamia suitable for biofuel production. Together, the two companies aim to expand Terviva’s pongamia cultivation and increase the availability of pongamia as a feedstock for renewable fuel production. The new agreement signals the further development of pongamia as a low-carbon resource for biofuel production, the company said. https://agfundernews.com/terviva-pushes-into-biofuels-after-investment-from-chevron-renewable-energy-group
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) will take advantage of the delayed implementation of European Union Deforestation-Free Regulations (EUDR) to improve the ecosystem of palm oil in Indonesia. Recently, the association said the delay of the EUDR implementation will give time for the palm oil industries, especially smallholders, to make some needed adjustments to comply with the EUDR. “During that one year, we’ll try to improve the palm oil industries so that all players can comply with the international requirements,” said GAPKI’s chairman. https://gapki.id/en/news/2024/10/02/opinion-potential-market-disruption-likely-forces-eu-to-delay-eudr/
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider, along with other members of Congress, has introduced the Expanding Clean Fuel Production Act, which would extend the Section 45Z clean fuel production credit for ten years. The Inflation Reduction Act established the Clean Fuel Production Credit (CFPC) for fuels with zero or low greenhouse gas emissions, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). https://schneider.house.gov/
The Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has announced that Power2X and Advario will build a global centre for the production and storage of sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) and synthetic low-carbon fuels in the port of Rotterdam. The Power2X production facility will have a capacity of over 250,000 tonnes of e-SAF per year. https://storageterminalsmag.com/power2x-and-advario-to-develop-world-scale-e-saf-hub-in-the-port-of-rotterdam/
Eni has commissioned the French investment bank Natixis to search for investors interested in acquiring a stake in Enibioch4in. A large minority stake, which could amount to up to 49 per cent, is being considered. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Eni+has+commissioned+the+French+investment+bank+Natixis+to+search+for+investors+interested+i
Eni and KKR have signed an agreement under which KKR will take a 25% stake in Enilive’s share capital, for a total agreed consideration of €2.938 billion. The transaction will be funded through: 1) the subscription of a capital increase in Enilive reserved to KKR amounting to €500 million; 2) the purchase of Enilive’s shares from Eni for a value of €2.438 billion, corresponding to a post-money valuation of € 11.75 billion of Equity Value for 100% of Enilive’s share capital. https://pglex.it/en/pedersoligattai-with-eni-in-the-agreement-for-kkr-to-enter-enilives-share-capital/
In Spain, BIOFAST Project has successfully concluded and achieved its main objective: to reduce the time taken to carry out biodegradation tests on bioplastics in composting environments. This research was coordinated by the Plastics Technology Centre (AIMPLAS) with the participation of the Materials Technology and Sustainability Research Group (MATS) in the Chemical Engineering Department of the ETSE School of Engineering at the Universitat de València, and the company Prime Biopolymers. https://en.kunststoffe.de/a/news/biofast-project-to-accelerate-biodegrada-6145171
U.S. ethanol production has increased to 1.081 million barrels per day. Exports fell by 34,000 barrels per day to 106,000 barrels per day. Analysts assume that processing margins have risen slightly and remain well above the break-even level. https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/ethanol-production-up-as-supply-dips/
The Niegeria Government has agreed to collaborate with some Swedish organisations to convert solid and liquid waste into energy in Lagos. The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the state would continue to pay special attention to waste management, adding that waste is not waste but one of the best resources anywhere. https://allafrica.com/stories/201009070404.html
TotalEnergies has broken ground on the Oakmulgee Dairy Farm renewable natural gas (RNG) project in Amelia Court House, Virginia, with its joint venture partner Vanguard Renewables, a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock. https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/TOTALENERGIES-SE-4717/news/TotalEnergies-SE-and-Vanguard-Renewables-Start-Construction-of-New-Farm-Based-Renewable-Natural-Gas-48167702/
Mitsubishi Power, has completed the construction of a 50-megawatt (MW)-class wood-fired biomass power plant in the city of Hyuga, Japan. The Hyuga biomass power plant was developed by a consortium led by MHI as part of a complete turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solution and will be operated by Hyuga Biomass Power Co, Ltd, a special purpose company (SPC). https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/mitsubishi-power-completes-hyuga-biomass-plant/
Wizz Air will trial operations using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in collaboration with Airbus. This positions Wizz Air at the forefront of compliance with the EU’s forthcoming RefuelEU aviation regulations, which are set to take effect in 2025. The joint initiative underscores Wizz Air’s proactive approach to decarbonizing air travel in alignment with the EU’s Destination 2050. https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/about-us/news/wizz-air-and-airbus-to-launch-sustainable-aviation-fuel-trial-ahead-of-eu-mandates
Indian government has announced the state’s biofuel policy in the state of Punjab. According to the report, the policy aims to meet 20 per cent of the state’s total fuel demand through biofuels by 2035. Aman Arora, the Punjab State Minister for New and Renewable Energy, emphasised the purpose of the policy, which also aims to promote the supply of compressed biogas, 2G bioethanol and biomass pellets using Punjab’s agricultural residues. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/aman-arora-unveils-punjab-state-policy-biofuels-agri-waste-soil-content-9624399/
After a five-week trial in the Superior Court of California, Propel Fuels was awarded victory by a jury in its lawsuit against Phillips 66 Company for misappropriation of trade secrets. The jury found in Propel’s favour, finding that Phillips 66’s renewable fuels business was entitled to unjust enrichment damages totalling $604.9 million. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017095596/en/Jury-Awards-Propel-Fuels-604.9-Million-for-Trade-Secret-Misappropriation-by-Phillips-66
The Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and Henkel have produced new synthetic building blocks for innovative, biobased adhesives that can be dissolved on the basis of carbohydrates and vegetable oils. The researchers achieved particularly interesting side results with the development of a new, highly selective catalytic process for the production of divinyl ethers. https://www.european-coatings.com/news/markets-companies/henkel-and-likat-are-researching-new-bio-based-and-debondable-adhesives/
BEFH Podcast
We are proud to present our first BIOTECH ENERGY Podcast. Get to know more about the journey of BEFH so far and also the latest news about Bioethanol 2.0, SAF, the future of sustainable fuels and topics like cattle feed. The length of the podcast is approx. 15 min. Just press the start button above. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us. Enjoy.