Dear readers,
A transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels by 2060 would reduce trade risks and improve energy security for most nations, a new study has found.
Rare earth minerals such as lithium, copper, nickel, and cobalt are “snorting materials” for companies and countries rushing to secure supplies for clean energy systems. The most concentrated natural reserves of these minerals are found in the Global South, “mixing the geopolitics of energy and global trade,” according to a Stanford University press release.
“Most people focus on the new things that could be a problem, rather than considering the security benefits of moving away from fossil fuels,” said Steve Davis, lead author of the study and a professor of geosystems science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, in the press release. “For most countries in a net-zero emissions system in the future, trading the reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels and the increased dependence on these new materials is actually a win for energy security.” More with the link: Explorations of net-zero emissions energy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFf11uGvHJI
Easter is over, and the markets continue without a break. Those who want to invest don’t rely on headlines, but pay attention to signals, don’t panic, and keep their focus on the future.
Human-induced climate change continues to threaten the way of life of virtually all species on Earth. What if a group of organisms right under (and within) our noses could help reverse climate change? This is the argument of a recent report by the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) and the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS). The report, authored by a global advisory group of scientists, proposes using microbes to revolutionize the fight against climate change. By developing and scaling microbial solutions, we could expand non-fossil fuel consumption, provide a massive boost to ecosystems and plant resilience, and remove enormous amounts of methane from the atmosphere. Specific, tailor-made microbial species can feed on organic matter to generate clean bioenergy while capturing and storing carbon. If properly scaled, the report suggests, microbes could produce up to 245 exajoules of energy per year for industry and transportation by 2050. By comparison, coal produced about 180 exajoules of energy in 2023. Bioenergy from microbes could also provide a clean option for mass production, replacing traditional methods that use petrochemicals and fossil fuels, which heavily pollute the atmosphere. Finally, the authors argue that microbes can help mitigate the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas up to 80 times more potent than CO2 in warming the planet, despite its significantly shorter lifespan. The solution, as the report highlights, is to manage microbiomes across different ecosystems. Isolating microbial species that consume methane, or modifying environmental conditions to promote them while discouraging species that produce methane, would “prevent biodiversity loss and enhance ecosystem services,” the report states. More on the topic at JouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF7Xy45acoU
The Indian biomass power market revenue will exceed USD 149.68 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach approximately USD 237.49 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.95% during the forecast period. The increasing focus on renewable energy, government incentives, and the need for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels are key factors driving market growth, according to the research firm. “Various regions in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific have introduced subsidies and tax breaks under renewable energy requirements to encourage biomass adoption. European Union member states are required to increase their renewable energy consumption through the use of biomass, based on the targets set out in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Furthermore, these initiatives demonstrate global support for the development of environmentally sustainable energy technologies with financial support and governmental frameworks,” the report states. https://www.precedenceresearch.com/press-release/biomass-power-market
MayMaan is reestablishing a new paradigm in power generation with its groundbreaking AquaStroke® engine technology, which runs on a fuel mixture of 70% water and 30% ethanol. The company’s innovation offers a commercially viable, cleaner, and more cost-effective alternative to traditional diesel engines and electric batteries. As industries demand more sustainable solutions, MayMaan is uniquely positioned to lead the way toward a cleaner, more energy-efficient future. https://maymaan-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=sc
Investment in Brazilian ethanol production is expected to reach approximately US$6.7 billion by the end of 2034. This would increase installed capacity by over 10 billion liters. Total ethanol capacity is projected to rise to 68.2 billion liters over this ten-year period. EPE’s 10-Year Energy Expansion Plan (PDE 2034), approved this month, projects sugarcane ethanol production capacity to increase from 48.8 billion liters in 2024 to 51.5 billion liters in 2034, corn ethanol from 8.6 billion liters to 15.5 billion liters, and second-generation ethanol from 200 million liters to 1.2 billion liters. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/brazil-expected-to-require-nearly-us-7bn-in-ethanol-production-investments
U.S. Governor Jim Pillen has joined other Republican governors in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase the Renewable Energy Voting Value (RVO) to meet the state’s energy goals and promote growth in agriculture and the biofuels industry. “Thanks to renewable fuels policy, we now have 24 ethanol plants in Nebraska. We have the infrastructure to become the center of the new bioeconomy. Increasing RVO levels benefits our state’s biofuel producers and is critical to rural economic revitalization. In recent years, the biofuels industry has made significant investments to expand domestic production capacity and strengthen feedstock supplies. Unfortunately, the RVO levels set by the previous administration did not reflect this growth. As a result, an increasing number of biofuel producers, including ethanol and biodiesel plants, have had to scale back or close their operations.” https://governor.nebraska.gov/governor-pillen-joins-republican-governors-advocating-epa-increase-renewable-volume-obligation
Emirates Biotech has selected SAMSUNG E&A as the contractor for its upcoming Polylactic Acid (PLA) production plant in the United Arab Emirates. The strategic project, officially named Falcon PLA Project, will deliver a cutting-edge facility producing a biodegradable and environmentally friendly plastic alternative and solidifies Emirates Biotech’s commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation. https://emiratesbiotech.com/emirates-biotech-selects-samsung-ea-as-contractor-for-its-pla-production-plant/
Volotea has partnered with TotalEnergies to supply airlines with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from French airports. Volotea plans to purchase up to 7.5 million liters of SAF from TotalEnergies between 2025 and 2029. This will enable the airline to reduce its carbon footprint on flights from French airports. Volotea began integrating SAF into its fleet in 2022 and has since consumed more than one and a half million liters of this fuel. Since September 2022, the shuttle between Hamburg and Toulouse, operated by Volotea for Airbus, has used SAF at a rate above the industry average, reaching 12% in 2023. https://bioenergytimes.com/voloea-signs-mou-with-totalenergies-for-7-5m-litres-of-saf-by-2029/
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that ethanol production fell to its lowest level since mid-September 2024, at 1.012 million barrels per day. Seasonal maintenance partially contributed to this decline, allowing ethanol production to return to positive margins. Ethanol imports also fell again, to 137,000 barrels per day. https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/ethanol-production-stocks-below-previous-week/
Sunfire is supplying a 10-megawatt electrolyzer to the Port of Bilbao. A consortium led by Petronor – a subsidiary of Repsol – is working with Enagás Renovable and Ente Vasco de la Energía, the Basque government’s energy agency. Repsol will use the plant to produce green hydrogen for a nearby e-fuel plant. For this project, the Repsol-led consortium has chosen Sunfire’s proven alkaline compressed gas technology. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2026. The 10-MW plant can produce up to 200 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour using electricity from renewable sources. Repsol will then use this hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels (e-fuels). https://sunfire.de/en/news/sunfire-enters-spanish-market-with-new-electrolysis-project/
US biofuel production figures are expected to be negative in the first quarter of this year, according to analysis by Rystad Energy. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released updated statistics on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program on March 20, covering supply, trade, and price dynamics for February 2025. Similar to previous months, we continue to observe uncertainty regarding future biofuel policy, which is having a significant impact on the actual supply of almost all bioproducts. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/us-bioenergy-statistics
An international research team investigated the environmental sustainability of two algal biorefinery systems in Iran utilizing the endemic brown alga Nizimuddinia zanardini. The first scenario involved the production of fuel ethanol and electricity, while the second involved the co-production of fuel ethanol, electricity, and high-value bio-based chemicals such as protein, mannitol, and alginate. Combining process simulation tools with a rigorous life cycle assessment, the study provides a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts of utilizing one ton of dry algae, considering three environmental protection aspects: human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969725008605
Offshore Energy reports that the industry association Methanol Institute (MI) has welcomed India’s Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, as a new member. According to the report, the DPA is building zero-emission fuel refueling infrastructure along the Rotterdam-Singapore Green Shipping Corridor, testing green hydrogen and battery-powered tugboats, implementing standard operating procedures for methanol refueling, and establishing a center of excellence for green marine fuels. The Methanol Institute emphasized that the port, which handles around 140 million tons of cargo annually, plays a key role in the transition to cleaner fuels such as biomethanol. https://www.offshore-energy.biz/methanol-institute-imo-consultative-status/
In the UK, the 83rd session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) was held from April 7-11, 2025 when The “Interim Guidance on the Carriage of Blends of Biofuels and MARPOL Annex I Cargoes by Conventional Bunker Ships” was approved, which allows transportation of blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel by conventional bunker ships (i.e. oil tankers as defined in Regulation 1.5 of MARPOL Annex I that are engaged in the transport and delivery of fuel oil for use by ships). https://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/pdf/info_service/imo_and_iacs/MEPC83_sumE.pdf