Dear reader,
Changing our energy systems is essential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In 2022, 70% of all available gross energy in the EU came from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil). Nuclear energy accounted for 11% and renewable energy sources such as biofuels, wind, solar, hydropower and biomass provided 18% of the gross available energy. These figures illustrate the scale of the challenge ahead. For the period 2021-27, more than EUR 118 billion will be invested in climate action, including renewable energy, from cohesion policy funds. This is a significant contribution to the EU climate targets in line with the European Green Deal to ensure a sustainable path towards a climate-neutral Europe. In the new data report, you can find out more about the EU’s cohesion policy climate action, the untapped potential for renewable energy in the regions and how rural regions can boost energy production. Less developed regions are key to Europe’s energy transition. Find out more about the Cohesion Report at https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/ucma-sjp3
The European Commission has today presented a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas, identifying the challenges and concerns they face and highlighting some of the most promising opportunities available to these regions. Based on a forward-looking approach and extensive consultation with citizens and other stakeholders in rural areas, today’s vision proposes a Rural Pact and a Rural Action Plan aimed at making our rural areas stronger, better connected, more resilient and more prosperous. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_3162
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) filed a petition on Thursday, March 29, to join a lawsuit by European ethanol producers against the European Union’s FuelEU Regulation. By arbitrarily assuming that plant-based biofuels such as ethanol have the same lifecycle carbon emissions as the dirtiest fossil marine fuels, the EU regulation effectively prohibits the use of renewable plant-based marine fuels as a tool to decarbonize the maritime sector. The RFA’s application for leave to intervene supports the action brought by ePURE, a trade association representing European ethanol producers, and Pannonia Bio, one of Europe’s largest ethanol producers. Their application seeks to annul the relevant provisions of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which was adopted by the EU in 2023 and is due to enter into force in 2025. https://ethanolrfa.org/media-and-news/category/news-releases/article/2024/03/rfa-seeks-to-intervene-in-legal-challenge-to-eu-maritime-fuel-regulation
United European Car Carriers (UECC) has launched a collaboration with industry partners to promote cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) as a sustainable marine fuel. According to the report, UECC is working with UK shipping consultancy Lloyd’s Register FOBAS, Finnish engine manufacturer Wartsila and Dutch biofuel supplier ACT Group to critically test and evaluate a CNSL-based biofuel. After thorough testing of various blend combinations, FSI.100 was approved by engine manufacturers as a 30 percent blend component in an ISO 8217 DMA grade distillate oil for conducting sea trials, the report states. https://www.uecc.com/news/2024/jan/united-european-car-carriers-uecc-spearheads-collaboration-with-industry-leaders-to-advance-cnsl-as-a-sustainable-marine-fuel/
Repsol marked a milestone in the decarbonization of transport in the Iberian Peninsula with the start of large-scale production of renewable fuels at its industrial complex in Cartagena (Spain). This plant is the first on the Iberian Peninsula dedicated exclusively to the production of 100% renewable fuels. https://www.repsol.com/en/press-room/press-releases/2024/repsol-begins-large-scale-production-of-renewable-fuels-in-cartagena-the-first-plant-of-its-kind-in-the-iberian-peninsula/index.cshtml
Phillips 66 (Jet) announced a major milestone in California in the transformation of its San Francisco refinery into the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex, which will expand commercial production of renewable diesel. The Rodeo Renewed project has made progress. The facility now processes only renewable feedstock and produces approximately 30,000 barrels of renewable diesel per day. https://investor.phillips66.com/financial-information/news-releases/news-release-details/2024/Phillips-66-Announces-Major-Milestone-in-Production-of-Renewable-Diesel/default.aspx
Panda Biotech announced that commercial operations have officially begun at the Panda Hemp Gin, their landmark industrial hemp processing facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. The 500,000-square-foot building situated is the first of its kind and the largest in the Western Hemisphere, with the capacity to process 10 metric tons of industrial hemp into textile-grade fiber, hurd, short-fiber/hurd mix, and nutrient-rich micronized hurd per hour. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240403426324/en/Panda-Biotech-Announces-Commercial-Operations-Have-Begun-at-Its-Flagship-Panda-Hemp-Gin
Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed extreme disappointment in the Environmental Protection Agency’s final Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3. In the rule, EPA adopts new standards that are designed expressly to incentivize electric vehicles for model year 2027-2032 heavy duty vehicles. https://cleanfuels.org/clean-fuels-expresses-disappointment-in-epas-ghg-standards-for-heavy-duty-vehicles/
Terragia Biofuel announced it has raised a $6 million seed round led by Engine Ventures and Energy Impact Partners (EIP). The company will use the capital to commercialize its novel biology-based approach to converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol and other products, expand its employee headcount and initiate partnerships with major biofuel producers. https://www.esgtoday.com/cleantech-startup-terragia-raises-6-million-to-advance-biofuel-production-tech/
California Ethanol + Power (CE+P) has named international sugar and agribusiness consultant Booker Tate Ltd. to help guide sugarcane cultivation plans and ethanol production for Sugar Valley Energy, an approximately $650 Million 160-acre sugarcane ethanol refinery and bioenergy facility planned near Brawley in Imperial County. https://www.californiaethanolpower.com/news
Altens is stepping up its biofuel activities with the launch of the low-carbon PUR100. This alternative fuel, made from French rapeseed, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than traditional B100 thanks to more favorable agricultural practices. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions occurs not only in the use of biofuel in engines, but also in the cultivation of the crop. By applying more beneficial agricultural practices, the “emission savings from soil carbon accumulation” (ESCA) can be increased, thus improving the environmental impact of rapeseed. This better land management, which favors the sequestration of carbon in the soil, mitigates climate change. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/altens-launches-a-new-more-environmentally-friendly-b100
A new composite material is finding its way into the construction industry in Germany. It consists of natural stone, carbon fibers and biochar and is an alternative to reinforced concrete. It is characterized by a particularly good CO2 balance. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research, DITF, are leading the joint project “DACCUS-Pre*”. The basic idea of the project is to develop a new building material that stores carbon in the long term and removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than is emitted during its production. https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2024/03/21/co2-negative-construction-thanks-to-new-composite-material
Celanese Corporation, as part of its Fairway Methanol joint venture with Mitsui & Co. announced that the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) has certified its low-carbon CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilization) methanol under the ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) system. https://www.celanese.com/news-and-media/2024/march/celanese-achieves-iscc-cfc-certification-for-low-carbon-ccu-methanol
Cargill and CBH Group are working with Australia’s largest cooperative on plans for a large-scale oilseed mill south of Perth. According to the report, Cargill is in talks with the Western Australian government to secure a site near the CBH grain terminal in Kwinana, which is on a rail line that can be used to deliver canola from farms in the state’s vast wheatbelt region. https://www.afr.com/companies/agriculture/cargill-enters-biofuel-fray-in-fresh-blow-to-graincorp-growth-plans-20240328-p5ffzl
The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) and Lootah Biofuels have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral relations and promote cooperation in the development, promotion and utilization of biofuels as a sustainable and alternative energy source for the country. https://www.qcintel.com/biofuels/article/uae-government-and-lootah-biofuels-sign-mou-to-accelerate-bio-market-22570.html
In Texas, Technip Energies and LanzaTech Global, Inc. were selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to begin award negotiations for up to $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP). https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/03/25/2851451/0/en/Technip-Energies-and-LanzaTech-Selected-by-the-US-Department-of-Energy-to-Receive-200M-Investment-for-Breakthrough-Replicable-Decarbonized-Ethylene-Commercial-Facility.html
The Omani and German companies have signed a series of agreements for the supply of green hydrogen to refinery stations in Germany. The MoU was signed at a meeting between Salim bin Naser Al Aufi, Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, and Robert Habeck, Minister of Economy and Climate Protection, in Berlin. https://www.offshore-energy.biz/omans-hydrom-and-germanys-vng-looking-into-green-hydrogen-value-chain/
Bangchak and Sumitomo have joined forces in a strategic partnership through a framework agreement for the purchase and sale of used cooking oil (UCO) and neat SAF. This collaboration marks a pivotal advancement in the strategic partnership between the two corporations, underscoring their shared values and dedication to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. https://www.bangchak.co.th/en/newsroom/bangchak-news/1315/bangchak-and-sumitomo-corporation-forge-alliance-to-advance-uco-to-saf-supply-chain-championing-environmental-sustainability