Dear Readers,
As global temperatures continue to rise, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a global call to action to more effectively protect the billions of people exposed to extreme heat. The urgent appeal follows the highest temperatures ever recorded on Earth and deadly heatwaves in the United States, the Middle East, the African Sahel and Europe, which have killed several hundred people, including 1,301 Hajj pilgrims this summer.
“Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic – withering under increasingly deadly heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius around the world. Guterre’s message is clear: the heat is here. The extreme heat is having an extreme impact on people and the planet. The world must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures.Guterres wies auf die Notwendigkeit hin, die Widerstandsfähigkeit von Gesellschaften und Volkswirtschaften zu stärken, und verwies auf die Auswirkungen von Ernteausfällen, Infrastrukturschäden und die erhöhte Nachfrage nach Wasserversorgung, Stromnetzen und Gesundheitssystemen, so die UN in der Türkei. See under: https://eatforum.org/content/uploads/2019/01/EAT-Lancet_Commission_Summary_Report.pdf
The European Commission has authorised a €1.2 billion Spanish scheme to promote investment in the production of renewable hydrogen in Spain. According to the Commission, the scheme will be fully financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), following the Commission’s positive assessment of the Spanish Recovery Plan and its adoption by the Council. The scheme will subsidise investments in the production of renewable hydrogen with an installed capacity of at least 100 MW. The subsidised investments may include the production of fuels derived from renewable hydrogen and the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources. Under the scheme, the aid is granted in the form of direct grants to cover the investment costs of the subsidised projects. The amount of aid for each beneficiary will be determined on the basis of a tendering procedure. More at: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_4023
India’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, reported that since its inception, the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) currently has 24 member countries and 12 international organisations. The GBA was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Modi along with leaders of the US, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Singapore, Bangladesh, Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates on 9 September 2023 at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. The GBA is a multi-stakeholder alliance comprising governments, international organisations and industry, bringing together the major consumers and producers of biofuels. Its objectives include promoting capacity building, providing technical support to national programmes, sharing policy insights, promoting technologies and implementing internationally recognised standards and codes through broad stakeholder participation.
Airbus has announced a strategic investment in LanzaJet that will enable LanzaJet to further expand its capabilities and capacity to scale its proprietary ethanol-to-sustainable jet fuel process technology. LanzaJet has intentionally built a diversified portfolio of strategic investors comprised of leading global companies to ensure we have the ecosystem needed to scale the SAF industry. This important investment from Airbus supports the growth of our business and enables LanzaJet to scale the production and deployment of SAF to meet aviation’s decarbonisation goals and develop a more sustainable industry. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-07-airbus-to-boost-sustainable-aviation-fuel-production-through
US ethanol production reached a record high of 1.109 million barrels (about 220,000 tonnes) per day last week. This is 44,000 barrels (8,700 tonnes) per day more than last year. Inventories are at a 10-week high of 23.973 million barrels, an increase of 1.113 million barrels compared to this time last year. Ethanol exports remain at 58,000 barrels -(11,500 tonnes) per day. https://ethanolproducer.com/articles/eia-us-fuel-ethanol-production-reaches-record-high-1109-million-barrels-per-day
The Gunvor Group, together with VARO Energy, will build a large-scale SAF production plant at Gunvor Energy’s site in Rotterdam as part of a planned joint venture. According to the agreement, the costs and risks for the development of the plant will be shared equally until the final investment decision (FID). Following the joint FID and subject to the necessary regulatory approvals, VARO and Gunvor will establish a project company owned equally by both parties. https://www.varoenergy.com/en/news/varo-s-rotterdam-saf-project-gains-momentum-with-gunvor-s-50-investment/
Eni said it has signed a temporary exclusivity agreement with KKR, a global investment firm, aimed at progressing the due diligence phase and completing the drafting of the documents related to the sale of a 20% to 25% stake in its biofuels unit Enilive, based on a valuation of the company between $12.5 billion and $13.5 billion. https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2024/07/eni-enilive.html
International Airlines Group (IAG) has reached an agreement with Repsol for the purchase and supply of more than 28,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over the next six months. The SAF supplied by Repsol will be used by IAG airlines flying out of Spanish airports, including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Iberia Express and Vueling. https://www.repsol.com/en/press-room/press-releases/2024/iag-and-repsol-agree-the-largest-purchase-of-saf-in-spain/index.cshtml
At the Gate terminal in Rotterdam, Uniper is the first shipper to utilise the BioLNG production capacity to convert biomethane into BioLNG. The BioLNG produced at the Gate terminal is certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) programme. The underlying feedstock is biogas produced in one of the EU Member States, which is upgraded to biomethane to remove substances such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. More at: https://www.uniper.energy/news/uniper-expands-green-portfolio-to-include-biolng
Neste will supply United Airlines with up to 3,000 tonnes of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ for use at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in the US by the end of 2024. This expansion of the existing partnership between the two companies enables United to become the first airline to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for operational use on flights from Chicago O’Hare, one of the busiest airports in the U.S. https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/united-goes-with-neste-for-saf-at-ohare/
Poste Italiane’s ground and air fleet will be powered by biofuels supplied by Enilive, Eni’s company specialising in mobility services and products. This will accelerate Poste Italiane’s progress towards the energy transition and the achievement of its 2030 carbon neutrality targets. The CEO of Poste Italiane, and Giuseppe Ricci of Eni, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a collaboration based on the supply of biofuels produced in Enilive’s biorefineries through the processing of waste materials such as used cooking oils, animal fats and by-products from the agri-food industry. https://oilandgaspress.com/italian-post-office-fleet-to-run-on-enilive-biofuels/
The global bio-based construction polymers market is expected to reach USD 25.36 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.58% during the forecast period 2024-2032. The report states that Asia-Pacific will dominate the bio-based construction polymers market in 2023 with the highest revenue of around 38.30 The economic growth in Asia Pacific has initiated an extraordinary level of urbanisation and huge infrastructure development projects creating a constant demand for construction materials. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/23/2917389/0/en/Bio-Based-Construction-Polymer-Market-Size-to-Reach-USD-25-36-Billion-by-2032-Increasing-Adoption-of-Renewable-Products-Drive-the-Demand-Report-by-SNS-Insider.html
Fluid Quip Technologies announced the successful start-up of the world’s largest MSC system to date at the 175 million gallon ethanol plant in Casselton, USA. This is FQT’s twelfth MSC system to be installed worldwide. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730230270/en/Fluid-Quip-Technologies-Announces-Commissioning-of-World%E2%80%99s-Largest-MSC%E2%84%A2-Protein-System
Propel Fuels, Inc. says its trade secret misappropriation case against Phillips 66 Company has been scheduled for jury trial on August 26, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, located in Oakland, California. The lawsuit, filed on February 16, 2022, alleges that Philips 66 stole confidential data, proprietary strategies and business intelligence developed by Propel over 13 years at a cost to Propel of more than $200 million. https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2024/08/01/propel-fuels-lawsuit-phillips-66-jury-trial.html
PETRONAS, Enilive (a subsidiary of Eni) and Euglena Co. have finalised their investment decision to develop a biorefinery for SAF and HVO at PETRONAS’ Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) in Johor, Malaysia. The joint venture with PETRONAS Mobility Lestari and Enilive as major shareholders is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2028. https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2024/07/petronas-enilive-and-euglena-reach-final-investment-decision-to-construct-a-biorefinery-in-malaysia.html
Auris-Avalon Group of Companies and Prismecs announced a strategic alliance aimed at advancing the development and deployment of integrated clean energy projects globally. The strategic alliance leverages the unique strengths of both companies to meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biodiesel, green electricity, green hydrogen, and other renewable energy products. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/prismecs-forms-strategic-alliance-with-auris-avalon-group-to-accelerate-sustainable-energy-projects-worldwide
Itabus, an Italian transport company, is now using Enilive’s HVOlution diesel biofuel to power its fleet of next-generation buses. The new agreement strengthens the collaboration between Enilive, Eni’s company focused on mobility products and services, and Itabus, a long-distance coach transport company that has been part of the Italo group since last May. https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2024/07/itabus-travels-with-enilive-biofuel-100-made-from-renewable-raw-materials.html
JetBlue and World Fuel Services announced a new agreement that will see the first regular delivery of SAF from Valero Marketing and Supply Company, to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as early as the fourth quarter of 2024. Under the initial 12-month agreement, JetBlue is expected to purchase a minimum of 1,000,000 gallons of clean, sustainable aviation fuel – with an option to purchase up to an additional 4,000,000 gallons. The blended SAF will be provided via existing infrastructure, including the Colonial Pipeline. https://aviation.wfscorp.com/jetblue-receive-consistent-supply-saf-world-fuel-services
Australian airline Qantas said it has joined an alliance of airlines, an aircraft manufacturer, and energy and financing companies to help accelerate global production of aviation biofuel. The SAF Alliance (SAFFA) fund has been formed with anchor-investor Airbus as well as Air France-KLM, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-joins-new-alliance-to-accelerate-global-sustainable-aviation-fuel-supply/