Dear readers,
It is not fossil fuels, it is mankind that is destroying the planet.
With current policies, the planet is in the midst of a climate crisis of epic proportions. The unprecedented global weather extremes, floods, droughts and wildfires reflect a ‘non-action’ of political action. In the face of these disasters, the global average temperature has continued to rise with no improvement since 2021.
A report by Climate Action Tracker (CAT), released at the UN COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, shows that under current policies, the world is on track for 2.7 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century.
‘We are clearly not able to bend the curve,’ said the report’s lead author, Sofia Gonzales-Zuñiga, senior climate policy analyst at Climate Analytics, in a CAT press release.
This year has shown ‘minimal progress overall’, with almost no new net-zero pledges or national climate targets, the press release said. Fossil fuel emissions continue to rise despite repeated promises by governments to increase their 2030 targets and bring them in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Gonzales-Zuñiga said there is a 50 per cent chance that the average warming of 2.7 degrees Celsius will be higher. But our knowledge of the climate system tells us that there is a 33 per cent chance that our projection is 3.0°C or more, and a 10 per cent chance that it is 3.6°C or more – an absolutely catastrophic level of warming,’ Gonzales-Zuñiga added. Please find the CAT report attached:
Over the past two weeks, I have been following the COP29 climate negotiations closely. And they ended without the result that many have fought hard for. The rich countries did not pay what they had promised. But the work of many NGOs has come to an end. In a year’s time, world leaders will meet at COP30 in Brazil. They will present plans to stop the warming of our planet and the worst effects of the climate crisis. Brazil’s role as host of the COP30 gives it enormous influence over the direction the climate talks take. In the coming year, it must use this influence to persuade countries to adopt ambitious plans to phase out fossil fuels and expand renewable energy.
You can also look forward to an exciting and extensive programme for the 22nd International Congress for Renewable Mobility from 20 to 21 January 2025! Click here for the programme: https://www.fuels-of-the-future.com/application/files/8917/2984/1984/2024.10.25_Program_booklet_Fuelsfuture_ENG.pdf
Attached you will also find a press release from the Biodiesel Quality Management Working Group
U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows ethanol production fell slightly to 1.11 million barrels per day, but the four-week average remains at a record high of 1.1 million barrels per day. As a result, inventories are finally building up again, reaching a seven-week high of 22.563 million barrels last week, more than half a million barrels higher than the previous week. Ethanol exports remained stable this week at 144,000 bpd per day. U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows ethanol production fell slightly to 1.11 million barrels. https://ethanolproducer.com/articles/eia-ethanol-production-down-slightly-stocks-up-2-exports-unchanged
UC Santa Cruz chemists have discovered a new method for producing biodiesel from waste oil that simplifies the process and requires relatively little heat. In their study, published on 3 October in the American Chemical Society’s journal Energy & Fuels, lead author Kevin Lofgren describes a new way to convert used vegetable oil into biodiesel using sodium tetramethoxyborate. This chemical, which is used to produce the active ingredient that reacts with oil to produce biodiesel, is considered unique because it allows the biofuel to be easily separated from the by-products of production – by simply pouring them off. https://bioenergytimes.com/scientists-develop-simplified-method-to-produce-biodiesel-from-waste-oil/
Corteva Inc. announced a collaboration with bp on the companies’ shared intent to form a crop-based biofuel feedstock joint venture. The JV envisaged by Corteva and bp would produce and deliver crop-based biofuel feedstocks to help meet the anticipated growth in demand for ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ (SAF). https://www.airport-technology.com/news/corteva-bp-saf-feedstock-development/
A US team led by the US Department of Energy (DOE), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge Roadmap Implementation Framework in November 2024. The Implementation Framework highlights current federal agency capabilities and programmes that are aligned with the actions identified in the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap and identifies existing gaps where additional efforts, public-private partnerships and support are needed to achieve the goals identified in the SAF Grand Challenge. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/federal-agencies-announce-new-sustainable-aviation-fuel-implementation-framework
French renewable energy company Qair has been awarded a parcel of land in the Haropa harbour in Le Havre to develop its Methavert e-methanol production project. According to Qair, this is one of five parcels of the Haropa port that will be designated as ‘France 2030 industrial sites’ in May 2024 and will be supported by the government for the implementation of industrial projects. According to the report, the plant will initially produce 200,000 tonnes of e-methanol to support the decarbonisation of maritime transport and other emission-intensive and hard-to-decarbonise industries. https://www.qair.energy/france-qair-to-develop-e-methanol-project-on-haropa-port-site-in-le-havre/
BP Energy Spain has signed a strategic agreement with Spanish agri-food group MIGASA to supply up to 40,000 tonnes of non-food industrial waste vegetable oil annually over a ten-year period. bp will use these bio-based feedstocks together with other fossil feedstocks to co-process renewable fuels at its refinery in Castellón, such as HVO for heavy road transport or SAF for aviation. https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/bp-and-migasa-agree-to-supply-non-food-industrial-waste-to-produce-biofuels-at-the-castell-n-refinery
Ohmium International, a green hydrogen company that designs, manufactures and deploys advanced proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers, has partnered with the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Breathe Applied Sciences and Spirare Energy for India’s first plant to convert CO2 into green methanol. https://www.ohmium.com/
Mining company Antofagasta will be the first mining company in South America to use a hydrogen-powered locomotive. This is part of the company’s efforts to develop alternatives to fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make mining more sustainable. FCAB, the division of the mining company responsible for rail transport, presented the hydrogen-powered train this week, which will connect the city of Antofagasta with the regional port from 2025, the report states. https://www.miningweekly.com/article/antofagasta-unveils-south-americas-first-hydrogen-powered-locomotive-2024-11-14
BASF and Acies Bio, have entered into a transformative partnership to further develop a platform for fermentation technology from methanol to produce fatty alcohols. Fatty alcohols are essential building blocks for various ingredients in the household and personal care market, especially surfactants. Acies Bio’s biotechnological expertise complements BASF’s pursuit of innovative solutions and contributes to shaping a more sustainable future. https://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/basf-and-acies-bio-to-create,24753
Shell and DHL have signed an agreement to promote sustainable air freight at Brussels Airport. The one-year agreement covers the delivery of 25,000 tonnes of SAF to Brussels via a pipeline to the airport. The SAF used is certified under the voluntary ISCC certification scheme ‘ISCC Plus’ and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tonnes of CO2e compared to fossil jet fuel. It is produced in a fossil refinery by replacing fossil crude oil with renewable raw materials and will be used to offer DHL Express customers emission-reduced air transport services via DHL GoGreen Plus. https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/dhl-and-shell-team-up-on-saf-at-brussels/
The oversupply in the allowance market has prompted the government to prevent companies from renewing their greenhouse gas emission allowances in 2025 and 2026 to encourage production. Companies are now required to use allowances produced in the same year they met the requirements, rather than over-achieving by accumulating credits and carrying them over to the next year, as was previously the case. In 2022, the overfulfilment was around 24% above the prescribed CO2 emissions. https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/111324-germany-pauses-biofuel-ticket-rollovers-to-address-oversupply
Zymofix has secured €2 million in funding led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from The Nest Family Office and VP Capital. This strategic investment will fuel Zymofix’s efforts to scale its proprietary fermentation technology, turning biomass residues into high-quality microorganisms for use in agricultural and industrial applications. https://www.htgf.de/en/portfolio/htgffamily/zymofix/
MAHLE has secured a contract in the area of sustainable mobility. Commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus has commissioned MAHLE to supply components for the hydrogen engine of its “MAN hTGX” truck. The direct-injection engine with 6 cylinders has 16.8 L displacement and produces 383 kW power output. It will be equipped with the hydrogen power cell unit of the German automotive supplier, consisting of piston, piston rings, piston pin and cylinder liner. MAN plans to build around 200 units of its truck. https://newsroom.mahle.com/press/en/press-releases/mahle-awarded-contract-from-man-truck–bus-for-hydrogen-powered-truck-106432#
Sembcorp Industries of Singapore has signed a Joint Development Framework Agreement (JDFA) with PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (EPI), a subsidiary of PT PLN (Persero), and PT Transportasi Gas Indonesia (TGI), a joint venture of PT Pertamina Gas Negara and Transasia Pipeline Company, to construct a potential hydrogen transmission pipeline between Sumatra, the Riau Islands in Indonesia and Singapore. https://staticpacific.blob.core.windows.net/press-releases-attachments/3504141/SEMBCORP%20SIGNS%20JDFA%20WITH%20PT%20PLN%20AND%20PT%20TGI.pdf
In India, Tata Steel has successfully pioneered the usage of biochar (biomass-based charcoal) in its Jamshedpur plant. This move strongly reinforces the Company’s commitment to sustainability, nudging the steel maker closer to its Net Zero target of 2045. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/tata-power-steel-advance-sustainability-with-green-projects-1840172
Firefly Green Fuels signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sanepar, one of Brazil’s largest water and sanitation companies. This strategic partnership enhances Firefly’s access to sustainable feedstock for biofuels production while expanding its footprint into the growing Brazilian and Latin American markets. https://biofuels-news.com/news/firefly-green-fuels-partners-with-waste-giant-sanepar/
A collaboration between researchers at the University of Liverpool and the University of Georgia aims to develop sustainable bioplastics. Supported by the UKRI Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the project ‘Sustainable Bioplastics Prepared by Ultrasonic Treatment with Low CO2 Footprint’ aims to revolutionise the production of bioplastics through advanced ultrasonic treatment methods. https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/global/news/articles/liverpool-georgia-research-team-join-forces-to-develop-sustainable-bioplastics
Synata Bio has received a $4.5 million grant from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) for its Sylonto project. Sylonto is a joint venture that will be established in early 2023 to utilise Synata Bio’s technology in a plant to convert carbon into ethanol from commercial waste. Once completed, Sylonto will convert the exhaust gases on site into 50,000 tonnes of chemical-grade ethanol per year. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/19/2983769/0/en/Synata-Bio-s-Sylonto-Project-Awarded-4-5-Million-NDRC-Grant.html
HSBC Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific and EcoCeres are launching a significant initiative to support the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Hong Kong. By bringing together Hong Kong’s largest bank, its home airline, and a leading Hong Kong-based SAF producer, the collaboration aims to support a key innovation for the long-term decarbonisation of air travel and foster a local SAF ecosystem for Hong Kong. https://news.cathaypacific.com/hsbc-cathay-pacific-and-ecoceres-partner-for-major-sustainable-aviation-fuel-initiative-in-hong-kong#
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