Dear reader,
The burning of fossil fuels has brought huge profits to fossil fuel companies while fuelling the fires of climate change and causing increasingly deadly extreme weather events that have destroyed lives, property and livelihoods.
The fingerprints of the fossil fuel industry are everywhere. The industry continues to ignore the catastrophic consequences of burning fossil fuels, which heats up our atmosphere and increases the magnitude and frequency of disasters. The Department of Justice must hold the fossil fuel industry accountable now.
Fossil fuel companies have known about the dangers of using fossil fuels since the 1950s and have waged a veritable ‘disinformation campaign’ over the past few decades to drive away science and mislead the public. It is possible that the fossil fuel companies were aware of these risks before they started funding these experiments, because the idea of climate change was by no means new in the 1950s.
As for the disinformation campaign alleged in the document, this too is well documented. Since at least the 1970s, fossil fuel companies have kept the skeleton of climate change hidden in their closet and lied to the public. You can read the full article in the attachment.
The ChemCatBio consortium is developing a novel catalytic upgrading technology to enable competitive conversion of cellulosic ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The aim of ChemCatBio is to develop an economically viable process that reduces fuel production costs and carbon intensity to support the transition to net-zero aviation, within the concept of an integrated biorefinery.
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sanctioned a new green hydrogen law that establishes a legal framework for low-carbon H2 production — but he vetoed the section that would have granted billions of dollars’ worth of subsidies.
A recent article in Ethanol Producer Magazine highlighted the growth potential of the ethanol industry and pointed out that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can be produced from ethanol. This promising development could lead to increased demand for ethanol, which may require the expansion or retrofitting of existing plants. https://ethanolproducer.com/
The Indian Minister for Road Transport and Highways announced that a number of Indian companies are setting up plants to manufacture cars and motorbikes that run entirely on ethanol. According to the Minister, Toyota is the first car in the world to have a flex engine and meet the Euro 6 emission standard. As the car runs on pure ethanol, there are no net emissions. The minister also pointed out that Suzuki and Tata are developing cars with flex engines or 100 per cent ethanol. Bicycles and scooters with flex engines are being manufactured by Bajaj, Hero and TVS, according to the report. The minister went on to say that other manufacturers in India are also trying to launch a flex engine. You can watch a video under here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTAaMukJWIY
Indian Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the country’s aviation industry will use 20 per cent biofuel in the next five years. This initiative aims to utilise biofuels derived from agricultural stubble to support farmers and promote sustainable energy practices. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/indian-aviation-industry-to-use-20-biofuels-made-from-stubble-by-2029-nitin-gadkari
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has convened the third edition of its international conference on the occasion of World Biofuel Day to initiate discussions that could redefine the energy backbone of road transport. Themed ‘The Biofuel Revolution in India: Fueling Tomorrow’, the event became a melting pot of ideas on how to combine environmental ambitions with viable solutions. https://www.financialexpress.com/business/express-mobility-siam-explores-viability-of-ethanol-on-world-biofuel-day-experts-bet-on-biofuels-say-india-brazil-pact-global-example-in-energy-transition-3580767/
India’s Swachh Bio, a leading producer of lignocellulosic biofuels, has announced plans to set up a second-generation cellulosic biofuel plant in Telangana. The plant will have a capacity of 250,000 litres per day. https://bioenergytimes.com/telangana-swachh-bio-to-establish-cellulosic-biofuel-plant-with-over-rs-1000-crore-investment/
Sugar stocks in India have gone up to 5%. The government is ready to increase ethanol prices to boost production and achieve the ambitious target of 20% blending by 2025/26. Since the 2022/23 season, ethanol prices have stagnated at 65.61 rupees (0,71 €) per litre, a status quo that could soon change if the government’s proposal goes through. This potential price increase is the result of talks led by a petroleum ministry permanent secretary aimed at aligning ethanol prices with the fair and reasonable price of sugarcane. https://www.chinimandi.com/sugar-stocks-rally-after-ethanol-price-hike-buzz/
In an ambitious move, the Indian government has announced plans to blend 5% ethanol into diesel fuel – a move that could upend both the energy sector and environmental efforts. The initiative, which is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on crude oil imports, aims to add over 1 billion litres of ethanol to India’s diesel supply annually. https://www.qcintel.com/article/india-to-mull-blending-ethanol-in-diesel-scrap-oil-export-duties-28014.html
India’s Home Minister has urged sugar mills to diversify their ethanol production sources and stop relying solely on sugarcane. Speaking at an event organised by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), the minister urged sugar mills to adopt a forward-looking approach and explore alternative feedstocks such as corn and bamboo for ethanol production. This diversification, he suggested, would not only help the country achieve its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2025, but would also open up new export opportunities, especially with the upcoming establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/cooperation-minister-amit-shah-urges-sugar-mills-to-diversify-ethanol-feedstock/articleshow/112428281.cms?from=mdr
São Paulo’s bioenergy sector has made significant progress under the Greener Ethanol Protocol. These include the complete cessation of pre-harvest burning of sugar cane fields and a 52% reduction in water consumption since 2010. The update of the Greener Ethanol Protocol was published during the 30th edition of Fenasucro & Agrocana by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the Government of São Paulo. https://jornalcana.com.br/eventos/setor-bioenergetico-ratifica-protocolo-etanol-mais-verde-do-estado-de-sp/
Brazilian agave plants, only 4% of which are currently used for the production of sisal fibres, are to be transformed into a biofuel blessing. A new initiative aims to utilise 95% of the remaining biomass for ethanol production. The Brazilian Industrial Development Agency and the government of Bahia have launched the ‘Replanta Agave’ project and are providing R$2.6 million (€ 450k) to promote this innovative use in the sisal region, which affects 20 communities. https://globorural.globo.com/agricultura/noticia/2024/08/projeto-estimula-uso-de-agave-para-producao-de-etanol.ghtml
The Hungarian MOL Group has increased the biofuel production of its subsidiary Rossi Biofuel Zrt. to over 200,000 tonnes annually. This development is part of MOL’s ambitious ‘shape tomorrow’ strategy, which favours renewable fuels such as biodiesel from sustainable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled cooking oils. MOL is expanding beyond its borders and now supplies fuel blends to nine countries, integrating biodiesel and bioethanol into several hundred thousand tonnes of fuel annually. In addition, MOL’s foray into advanced biodiesel, which utilises waste products such as used cooking oils and animal residues, reflects a sophisticated approach to converting waste into energy. https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/current/mol-group_biofuel_annual-production-capacity_renewables/
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) will issue guidelines on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the fourth quarter. The deputy director-general of CAAT said SAF has become more important after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recognised its role in promoting sustainability in aviation. He confirmed that Thailand has been actively addressing the issue and has been working with the Ministry of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency and the Ministry of Energy Industry over the past two years. More at: https://www.nationthailand.com/sustainability/renewable-green-energy/40040345
EcoCeres announced the first delivery of 10 million litres of hydrogenated ester and synthetic paraffinic paraffin as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This is an important milestone for EcoCeres’ expansion in Europe and the start of the co-operation with Evos, a leading aviation fuel storage and handling company. https://www.eco-ceres.com/news/
Amazon has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition. ‘Joining our growing membership marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to increase SAF production and create a more sustainable future,’ said Alison Graab, Executive Director of the SAF Coalition. ‘With their significant presence in the logistics and transport sectors, we look forward to the insights they will bring.’ The SAF Coalition has grown to more than 50 organisations from across the SAF value chain since its inception in early 2024. Members include airports, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, agribusinesses, commodity producers, labour unions and technology companies. The coalition advocates for policies and incentives to rapidly advance the development, production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels. https://www.safinvestor.com/news/145690/amazon/
Universal Fuel Technologies has developed a revolutionary, sustainable aviation fuel production process called flex-forming that can utilise over 50 different feedstocks and increase efficiency by integrating into existing SAF facilities. Based in Los Altos, California, UFT’s innovation not only reduces manufacturing costs by valorising low-value by-products, but also offers significant energy savings, using 75% less energy than conventional ethanol-to-jet technologies and 33% less hydrogen. https://unifuel.tech/
Australian low-carbon fuels and chemicals company HAMR Energy has partnered with technology and engineering company thyssenkrupp Uhde to advance the development of a green methanol project in Portland, Australia, to help decarbonise the shipping sector. Under the agreement, thyssenkrupp Uhde will supply its green methanol technology to HAMR Energy’s $1.29 billion Portland Renewable Fuels Project. https://www.chemengonline.com/thyssenkrupp-uhde-joins-hamr-energy-for-large-scale-green-methanol-project-in-australia/
The University of Georgia (UGA) has found in a new study that biofuel from deforestation residues could make the transition to sustainable aviation fuel more cost-effective and carbon-friendly than previously thought. This study addresses the environmental and economic impacts of SAF production from logging residues in Georgia. By analysing two production methods, ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) and iso-butanol-to-jet (iso-BTJ), the study estimates the life-cycle carbon emissions and unit production costs associated with SAF. https://ethanolproducer.com/articles/study-confirms-sufficient-biomass-potential-to-reach-saf-goals
Topsoe has been selected to supply its HydroFlex technology for HOLBORN’s Hamburg refinery, which is expected to produce 220,000 tonnes of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2027. This facility will utilise waste and residues to meet the growing demand for low-carbon fuels, cementing Topsoe’s role in advancing global decarbonisation efforts. https://biofuels-news.com/news/topsoe-selected-as-technology-provider-for-holborns-hamburg-refinery/
The chairman of the Kazakh oil and gas company KazMunayGas has signed a cooperation agreement with LanzaJet for the production of SAF in Kazakhstan. According to the report, Khassenov visited LanzaTech’s laboratory in Chicago. There, he emphasised KMG’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 15% by 2031 compared to 2019 and pointed out that the development of the biofuel market in Kazakhstan will support the country’s goal of carbon neutrality. Currently, the global demand for SAF is increasing. Therefore, our company is considering the production of SAF in Kazakhstan,’ he said. https://www.kmg.kz/en/press-center/press-releases/kmg-lanzajet-usa/
Universal Fuel Technologies has developed a revolutionary, sustainable process for the production of aviation fuel. This process, known as flexforming, uses over 50 different raw materials and can be integrated into existing SAF systems to increase efficiency. Based in Los Altos, California, UFT’s innovation not only reduces manufacturing costs by valorising low-value by-products, but also offers significant energy savings, using 75% less energy than conventional ethanol-to-jet technologies and 33% less hydrogen. https://unifuel.tech/