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09/04/2025

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10/04/2025

Biojet/SAF: Canada. Tidewater began commercial operations at its renewable diesel and renewable hydrogen (HDRD) complex during the final quarter of 2023. The HDRD complex achieved a daily throughput of 2,677 barrels per day during the fourth quarter of 2024. Tidewater has proposed to develop 6,500 barrels per day of SAF capacity at the Prince George biorefinery. The company said it has continued to make meaningful progress on the front-end engineering design work for the proposed SAF project and expects to make a final investment decision during the second half of 2025. Link 10/04/2025

Biojet/SAF: Spain. BP decided to pause the expansion of its biofuels project aimed at producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the Castellon oil refinery in Spain. The Castellon project was part of a larger €2 billion decarbonization initiative announced in 2023 for the site located on Spain’s eastern coast. Despite the pause, BP said it will continue evaluating a similar biofuels expansion at its Rotterdam facility in the Netherlands, with a final investment decision expected by 2027. Link 10/04/2024

Biojet/SAF: The Netherlands Neste, the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), started producing SAF at its renewable products refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The refinery has been modified to enable Neste to produce up to 500,000 tons of SAF per annum. As a result, Neste’s global SAF production capability has increased to 1.5 million tons (around 1.875 billion liters) per annum. Link 10/04/2025

CO2 removal: Wärtsilä Gas Solutions launched the Wärtsilä Gas Solutions Puregas BC, a system designed to purify and liquefy the carbon dioxide captured from biogas upgrading plants. This solution offers a reliable, energy-efficient, carbon-negative, and profitable process for plant owners. This approach transforms biogas, already a circular and zero-carbon footprint fuel, into a carbon-negative solution. When combined with Wärtsilä’s Puregas CA biogas upgrading system, the Puregas BC solution further eliminates the already minimal methane emissions (less than 0.1%), as any methane slip can be redirected back to the upgrader Link 10/04/2025

26/03/2025

Daily News - Low Carbon Technologies - Gifford Consulting

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Biobased plastics: USA. Bioplastics manufacturer Danimer Scientific Holdings LLC is facing closure due to severe financial struggles. Danimer opened a plant in Wi******er, Kentucky, in 2020 to make polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) via fermentation. The company anticipated a vibrant market for the biobased and biodegradable polymer in single-use plastics applications like straws, cup lids, produce bags, and utensils. Later that year, Danimer went public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (S**C). It had plans to triple the size of the Wi******er plant and build a large facility in Bainbridge, Georgia, at a cost of $700 million. In 2021 it purchased Novomer, which made similar polymers, for $152 million. Link 27/03/2025

Feedstock: USA. Ash Creek Renewables has secured exclusive licensing rights from Montana State University for a new high-performance Camelina seed variety. Camelina is a low-carbon crop that grows with minimal inputs, supports soil health, and provides farmers with an additional revenue stream while integrating into existing agricultural systems. It is increasingly sought after as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and biomass-based diesel, offering a scalable solution to meet the growing demand for renewable fuels. Link 27/03/2025

Hydrogen: Germany. Bosch says it has racked up 100MW worth of orders for its PEM electrolyser stacks before the hydrogen production technology officially launches for sales in April. The German OEM’s 1.25MW Hybrion stack will be supplied to the likes of Neuman & Esser, AKA Energy Systems, Andrit and more, as it eyes “billions” in hydrogen revenues by 2030. The stacks will initially be manufactured at Bosch’s Bamberg plant in Germany. Bosch is also working with German-based Fest to integrate the stacks into a containerised 2.5MW system. The details come after Bosch made several changes to hydrogen plans, including halting plans to establish a hydrogen fuel cell production line at its South Carolina facility and dropping the development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Link 27/03/2025

Hydrogen: New Zealand. Fabrum and Ara Ake will develop the systems for Stralis Aircraft’s fixed-wing aeroplane. Under the partnership, Stralis will deliver the hydrogen-electric propulsion systems and aircraft integrated with Fabrum’s tanks and fuel system. The consortium will develop a liquid hydrogen tank and fuel system to enable the region’s “first” hydrogen-powered flight. Link 27/03/2025

Marine fuels: South Korea. HMM takes delivery of ‘HMM GREEN’, a 9,000 TEU methanol-powered containership. This vessel is the first of nine sister ships ordered in February 2023 from HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (seven vessels) and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (two vessels). Starting with this delivery, HMM will gradually receive the remaining eight vessels by next year as part of its fleet expansion plan. Link 27/03/2025

Recycling plastic: Norway. With the PPWR’s 2030 target of 70% recyclability for all packaging rapidly approaching, the industry is facing increasing pressure to adapt. The legislation mandates significant recycled content targets, driving innovation in packaging design and recycling technologies. TOMRA’s comprehensive suite of solutions – encompassing AI/deep learning, precise flake sorting and sophisticated waste analysis – is set to play a pivotal role in enabling recyclers and brand owners to meet these demands effectively. TOMRA’s comprehensive suite of solutions – encompassing AI/deep learning, precise flake sorting and sophisticated waste analysis are now being deployed. Link 27/03/2025

Technology Development: USA. 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. Link 27/03/2025

24/03/2025

Daily News - Low Carbon Technologies - Gifford Consulting

Biomaterials: France. Futerro, Belgian company specialised in the production of lactic acid, lactide (two platform molecules) and PLA (polylactic acid), has launched the engineering and the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) – called “Avant-Projet Détaillé” in French – for its future European biorefinery to be located at Saint-Jean-de-Folleville between Rouen and Le Havre Link 25/03/2025

Hydrogen: Chile. Chinese electrolyser manufacturer Hygreen Energy has been selected by Chile’s state-owned Production Development Corporation (Corfo) to establish a local production facility in Chile. Hygreen has been selected alongside Spanish and Chinese electrolyser producers Joletech Solutions and Guofu to receive a share of a $25.6m funding package. Chilean development agency Corfo believes the three projects could collectively attract more than $50m in additional investment. Link 25/03/2025

Hydrogen: Germany. Germany’s €5bn ($5.4bn) Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to support industrial sectors to decarbonise with hydrogen, carbon capture and electrification has been approved by the European Commission. The Climate Protection Contracts are a 15-year two-way carbon CFD aimed at supporting fuel switching and electrification in sectors like cement, chemical and steel production. Each will be selected through a competitive bidding process and ranked based on the lowest aid amount requested per tonne of CO2 avoided – meaning only the cheapest technologies will succeed. The system will only cover the actual additional costs linked to the new production processes – however, if operating with the cleaner technology becomes cheaper, beneficiaries will have to pay back the difference to the German Government. Link 25/03/2025

Hydrogen: Sweden. HYBRIT’s pilot project for hydrogen gas storage has now been completed and reported to the Swedish Energy Agency. The results show that it is technically possible to store fossil-free hydrogen gas for producing fossil-free iron and steel on an industrial scale. This can also reduce the variable operating costs of hydrogen production by up to 40 per cent. The project has successfully designed and constructed a 100 m3 hydrogen storage facility based on steel-lined rock cavern technology in Svartöberget adjacent to the DR pilot for sponge iron production in Luleå, Sweden. The tests now completed show that the technology works to support a large-scale hydrogen user, and that savings of about 25-40 per cent of the variable operating costs of hydrogen gas production could be achieved. Link 25/03/2025

23/03/2025

Daily News - Low Carbon Technologies: 24/03/2025 - Gifford Consulting

Ammonia production: China. Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for the ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia, strengthening its position in developing solutions for decarbonizing the maritime industry. The FCM Ammonia will be installed onboard seven LPG/ammonia carriers for Tianjin Southwest Maritime. Alfa Laval has achieved a significant milestone by securing the contract for the ammonia fuel supply system. The FCM Ammonia will be installed on a CSSC Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in China for ship owner Tianjin Southwest Maritime (TSM). The installation will commence with three 25,000 cubic meter vessels, followed by four 41,000 cubic meter vessels. Link 24/03/2025

Biogas: USA. The project, privately funded and operated by leading waste-to-value infrastructure developer Nexus W2V, is to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago area, including increased American domestic production of natural gas from food waste. The facility is part of a $140 million planned investment by W2V and will process 200 tons of organic waste daily, such as food scraps and processing byproducts, to convert them into renewable natural gas. Link 24/03/2025

Hydrogen: Canada. The Canadian Government has backed HTEC’s plans to develop a 15-tonne per day hydrogen liquefier facility in British Columbia. The project is being developed under HTEC’s H2 Gateway programme, and it will capture and liquefy 15 tonnes per day of industrial by-product hydrogen in North Vancouver, turning waste into clean fuel. The H2 Gateway programme plans the development of up to 20 hydrogen refuelling stations, three hydrogen production facilities and a fleet of 100 hydrogen heavy-duty fuel cell electric (FCEV) trucks. However, liquefying hydrogen is challenging because it requires a lot of energy, extremely low temperatures, special equipment and it can lead to fuel loss and safety risks. Nevertheless, liquid hydrogen is already being used in trucks around the world. Last year, Ineos Inovyn and Daimler Truck launched year-long customer trials of Mercedes-Benz GenH2 trucks powered by liquid hydrogen. Link 24/03/2025

Marine fuels: Belgium. World Shipping Council (WSC) released new research that shows both renewable-capable vessels and renewable fuels could be available to meet EU 2030 targets, but that the price gap between fossil and renewable fuels is the major barrier to making decarbonization a reality. The first “WSC EU Shipping Decarbonisation Report – Can the EU Fuel Shipping’s Decarbonisation?” – launched at the European Shipping Summit 2025 in Brussels, provides a comprehensive analysis of shipping’s transition to renewable fuels in the EU. The report finds that while the number of renewable-fuel capable vessels is increasing and fuel availability is improving, pricing remains the primary obstacle to scaled production and widespread adoption. Link 24/03/2025

Market Development: USA. A new tool released by HeatMap News assists with the planning and implementation of renewable energy projects in the US. Link 24/03/2025

Recycling plastic: France. As the only commercial recycler of PLA, TotalEnergies Corbion offers rPLA in 30% and 100% recycled grades, using its low-energy hydrolysis process at its Rayong, Thailand facility. This approach presents a viable alternative to conventional plastic recycling, minimizing carbon footprints and ensuring that PLA remains fully circular. Link 24/03/2025

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18/03/2025

Daily News Update - Whats New in Low Carbon Energy Technologies

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19/03/2025
Biofuels: USA. Aemetis Inc. released fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results, reporting increased revenues for its U.S. ethanol and biogas operations as well as its biodiesel operations in India. The Aemetis Biogas subsidiary expanded its annual production capacity by 80% last year. Revenues were up by 139%. Link 19/03/2025

CO2 removal: USA. Green Plains Inc. announced that construction has commenced on the compression infrastructure for its carbon capture and storage initiative in Nebraska, an important step in the company’s ongoing transformation to produce low-carbon, high value biofuels and ingredients. The compression equipment will enable the permanent sequestration of approximately 800,000 tons of biogenic carbon dioxide each year from Green Plains’ three Nebraska facilities in Central City, Wood River and York. Link 19/03/2025

Hydrogen: China. Sungrow Hydrogen has secured the largest share of the $680 million hydrogen production equipment contract for China Coal Ordos Energy Chemical’s “100,000-ton Liquid Sunshine” Demonstration Project, a national green hydrogen flagship initiative. The company will deliver 16 alkaline electrolyzers (1,200 Nm³/h each) and integrated gas-liquid separation and purification systems, reinforcing its leadership in large-scale industrial green hydrogen solutions. Link 19/03/2025

Hydrogen: USA. The project will use Verdagy’s eDynamic electrolysers to produce hydrogen compliant with Europe’s Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) standards and 45V US Treasury requirements. Verdagy opened its electrolyser manufacturing facility in Silicon Valley, California, October 2024, with production starting early 2025. The plant manufactures the company’s 20MW electrolyser modules, which are based on single-cell architecture. Link 19/03/2025

Plastic recycling: The Netherlands. Dow announced an equity stake in Xycle, a Rotterdam-based pioneer in advanced (also known as chemical) recycling technology, alongside investors ING, Invest-NL, Polestar Capital and Vopak. This marks an important milestone in Dow’s ongoing commitment to transform plastic waste into high-value materials and accelerate a circular economy for plastics by further increasing and diversifying access to circular feedstock. Xycle’s proprietary pyrolysis technology converts difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into pyrolysis oil that can be used to make virgin-quality plastics. Link 19/03/2025

Policy: USA. The EU is set to reintroduce tariffs on US steel and aluminium, targeting up to €18bn ($19.6bn) worth of US goods in a move that could impact US electrolyser manufacturers supplying European hydrogen projects. This latest escalation in the US-instigated global trade war comes in response to US President Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, which took effect on Wednesday (March 12). Link19/03/2025

Renewable Diesel: The Netherlands. Neste Corporation issued a EUR 700 million green bond with 5-year maturity under its EMTN (Euro Medium Term Note) program updated on September 12, 2024 and supplemented by the supplement dated March 10, 2025, and will pay a fixed coupon of 3.750 per cent. The net proceeds from this Green Bond are expected to be steered towards our expansion of the Rotterdam refinery, which is expected to become the world’s largest renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel facility. Link 19/03/2025

13/03/2025

The energy transition in the US is stalling rapidly!

We track new projects announced that contribute to the energy transition and energy security. Since January 2025 new project announcements in the US have reduced markedly.

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11/03/2025

First hydrogen engine dump truck - looks very interesting:

for more info - go to giffordconsulting.co.nz our daily updates page

https://hydrogenwire.com/2025/03/11/german-keyou-develops-hydrogen-powered-dump-truck-for-komatsu/

Munich-based hydrogen expert KEYOU and Japanese construction and mining equipment manufacturer Komatsu have jointly developed the world’s first…

06/03/2025

Our lastest low carbon technology updates for 7 March 2025:
giffordconsulting.co.nz

Biogas: India Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation is ready to sign an agreement with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to set up a centralized compressed biogas (CBG) plant in the capital. It will process biodegradable waste, contributing to the city’s goal of achieving zero waste for organic matter. The facility’s capacity will be either 100 or 200 tonnes. Link 07/03/2025

Hydrogen: Egypt: The Egyptian Government plans to build a green hydrogen plant in South Sinai worth $17bn. The Investment Opportunities Platform of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in Egypt has launched the project. A 3.1GW solar array, supported by pumped hydro storage, would power electrolysers during the day while simultaneously pumping water to a mountain-top reservoir. At night, the stored water would flow downhill, driving electricity-generating turbines to ensure continuous, round-the-clock operations. Link. 07/03/2025

Hydrogen: Germany. German hydrogen aircraft developer Apus Zero Emission has been placed under provisional insolvency proceedings by the Local Court of Frankfurt. The Strausberg-based firm has entered administration due to financial difficulties, reportedly attributed in part to what has become a common refrain in the industry: slow market development. Last September, Apus unveiled its four-seater hydrogen fuel cell aircraft, with test flights planned for this year and certification targeted for 2027. Reports indicate the company still intends to proceed with a test flight of its I-2 model. Link 07/03/2025

Hydrogen: USA. The StormFisher plant will convert 200 MW of renewable electricity, primarily from wind and solar, into green hydrogen via electrolysis and then into e-methane. The site will utilise a local biogenic CO2 source. It is expected to generate 2.5 million MMBtu of e-methane annually, equivalent to around 50,000 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The pre-FEED contract comes less than a month after the Canadian firm attracted Hy24 as a backer. The Paris-based hydrogen investor committed to investing USD 50 million (EUR 46.7m) in StormFisher Hydrogen to advance its North American pipeline, help it reach final investment decisions (FID) on its projects and support export ambitions to European and Asian markets.. Link 07/03/2025

Marine fuels: Denmark. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has developed an Ammonia Bunkering Operations Manual through its Energy Transition Fund outlining safety protocols for handling ammonia as a marine fuel. The 73-page manual, reviewed by the American Bureau of Shipping, builds on existing gas carrier protocols for loading, discharging, and ship-to-ship transfers, adapting them for ammonia bunkering. CIP stated the manual provides “a structured framework for safe and efficient ammonia bunkering. ETF is working with port authorities in Rotterdam, Sines, and Duisburg to align ammonia bunkering with port safety and infrastructure requirements. The group has also signed an MOU with these ports under the MadoquaPower2X project, which aims to develop a maritime green corridor for ammonia and methanol transport between Portugal and Northern Europe. Link 07/03/2025

Policy: USA. The United States Government strongly objected to a recommendation on “sustainable” aviation fuels made during the 13th triennial meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). This recommendation to the ICAO Council on multi-cropping, the practice of growing two or more crops on the same land, for sustainable aviation fuels, would unfairly penalize U.S. farmers and significantly benefit Brazil over the rest of the world. Link 07/03/2025

04/03/2025

We have just updated our dashboard so you can easily find out about what companies are developing new renewable energy or low carbon initiatives check it our at giffordconsulting.co.nz

19/08/2021

Climate change and governmental inaction!

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/19/life-earth-second-place-fossil-fuel-climate-breakdown

Check out our website on replacing fossil derived carbon with renewable sources of carbon - www.giffordconsulting.co.nz

Effective action against climate breakdown is near impossible while governments are vulnerable to lawsuits, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot