U.S. Energy Information Administration
Date: 2018-09-17
According to the US EIA's recently released Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report, U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 680,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in May, with sales reaching 610,000 tons.

The EIA data was collected from 85 densified biofuel manufacturers but does not include data from facilities with annual production capacities of less than 10,000 tons. The 85 manufacturers have a combined production capacity of 11.82 million metric tpy. Production included 132,432 tons of heating pellets and 549,031 tons of utility pellets. Domestic sales of densified biomass fuel reached 90,000 million tons in May, with an average price of $141.72 per ton. Exports in May reached 520,000 tons, at an average price of $144.48 per ton, according to the report. (Source: EIA, Biomass Mag, Other Media, Sept., 2018)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Energy Information Administration,  

Royal Academy of Engineering
Date: 2018-09-17
In the UK, The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) have released a joint report outlining a plan of action which could help the UK lead the way in deploying technologies to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

The report makes various recommendations that would allow the UK to achieve its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and identifies and assesses technologies available that might allow emissions removal goals to be reached. It considers not only the UK, but the global picture and how these technologies might be deployed alongside each other to achieve global carbon removal by 2100 as per the Paris Agreement.

Technologies discussed include ready-to-deploy methods as well as more speculative methods. Ready-to-deploy, land-based methods such as such as forestation, habitat restoration, and soil carbon sequestration could be quickly applied, but unfortunately these will become saturated within the century. Furthermore, these approaches alone will only allow the UK to achieve around one quarter of the target GGR required to reach net-zero emissions.

Development of speculative methods, such as direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and low-carbon concrete, is vital if sufficient GGR is to be achieved, the report says.

Download the Greenhouse Gas Removal Report HERE. (Source: THE Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, Chemical Engineer, Sept., 2018) Contact: Royal Academy of Engineering, www.raeng.org.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

RenewableUK
Date: 2018-09-17
RenewableUK is reportingthat with the opening of the world's largest offshore wind farm, Ørsted's 659 megawatt Walney Extension off the coast of Cumbria, the UK's onshore and offshore wind energy industry now exceeds 20 gigawatts of capacity; enough to power more than 14 million homes, cutting carbon emissions by 25 million tonnes a year.

The UK's first commercial onshore wind farm, Delabole in Cornwall, went operational in 1991, and the first offshore project in Blyth began generating in 2000 Every credible future energy scenario envisages renewables generating well over 50 per cemt of our electricity by 2030 - some forecast we'll be providing more than 70 per cent. (Source: RenewableUK, 17 Sept., 2018) Contact: RenewableUK, RenewableUK, Hugh McNeal, CEO, Maf Smith , Deputy CEO, +44 (0) 20 7901 1300, info@renewableuk.com, www.renewableuk.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RenewableUK,  Wind,  Offshore Wind,  Renewable Energy,  

African Development Bank
Date: 2018-09-17
The Johannesbug, South Africa-headquartered Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, managed by the African Development Bank, reports it has approved a $1 million grant to independent power producers in Angola. The grant will be used to establish a "one-stop shop" to encourage private investment in renewable energy and provide technical assistance on project procurement, contract design implementation and monitoring.(Source: African News Agency, African Development Bank, ESI, 14 Sept., 2018) Contact: African Development Bank, Amadou Hott, VP Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, +225 2026 3900, www.afdb.org/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News African Development Bank,  Renewable Energy,  

Woody Biomass
Date: 2018-09-17
In Helsinki, a Finnish governmental biofuels task force has noted the negatives associated with the use of biofuels for transportation as a way to reach zero greenhouse emissions.

In its report, the task force noted that emissions perhaps would not necessarily shrink as most of the fuels would be produced from woody biomass from the country's abundant forests. The development of emissions depends on how much carbon the vast Finnish forests actually tie down, and that is still being debated, according to the report.

In 2017, the European Union allowed an increase in the use of wood as fuel in Finland but no major investments in the biofuel sector resulted due to the high costs and the need public financial support to the investments. The report added that competition among pulp and biofuel industries for raw wood feedstocks could also be a problem. (Source: Various Media, Xinhua, Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuels,  Woody Biomass,  

Climate Change
Date: 2018-09-17
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) is a 29 year old American politician, educator, and political activist. On June 26, 2018, Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in New York's 14th congressional district. She is widely heralded by the media as the "possible new face" of American politics.

"In order to address runaway global climate change, Ocasio-Cortez strongly supports transitioning the United States to a carbon-free, 100 pct renewable energy system and a fully modernized electrical grid by 2035. She believes renewable fuels must be produced in a way that achieves our environmental and energy security goals, so we can move beyond oil responsibly in the fight against climate change. By encouraging the electrification of vehicles, sustainable home heating, distributed rooftop solar generation, and the conversion of the power grid to zero-emissions energy sources, Ocasio-Cortez believes we can be 100% free of fossil fuels by 2035.

"Ocasio-Cortez believes in recognizing the relationship between economic stability and environmental sustainability. It's time to shift course and implement a Green New Deal -- a transformation that implements structural changes to our political and financial systems in order to alter the trajectory of our environment. Right now, the economy is controlled by big corporations whose profits are dependent on the continuation of climate change. This arrangement benefits few, but comes at the detriment of our planet and all its inhabitants. Its effects are life-threatening, and are especially already felt by low-income communities, both in the U.S. and globally. Rather than continue a dependency on this system that posits climate change as inherent to economic life, the Green New Deal believes that radically addressing climate change is a potential path towards a more equitable economy with increased employment and widespread financial security for all.

"Climate change is the single biggest national security threat for the United States and the single biggest threat to worldwide industrialized civilization, and the effects of warming can be hard to predict and self-reinforcing. We need to avoid a worldwide refugee crisis by waging a war for climate justice through the mobilization of our population and our government. This starts with the United States being a leader on the actions we take both globally and locally", Ocasio-Cortez says. (Source: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sept., 2018) Contact: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (929) 388-6141. us@ocasio2018.com, https://twitter.com/Ocasio2018

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  

Date: 2018-09-17
Apple’s newest smartphones may not have received all-round praise, but its latest environmental initiative surely should. On Friday (Sep. 14), the world’s most valuable company said it is investing an undisclosed sum in a project in Colombia to restore mangroves and sequester as much as 17,000 metric tons (18,739 tons) of carbon dioxide in two years. That’s equal to the emissions that the fleet of vehicles updating Apple Maps will produce over the coming decade.

“Mangroves live at the edge of the land and sea, providing local communities with coastal protection, habitat for their fisheries, and a wealth of biodiversity,” according to Conservation International, an NGO that’s leading the mangrove restoration project. “These and other ocean wetlands store up to 10 times the carbon per unit area as terrestrial forests, making them a vital ally in the fight against climate change.” A 2016 study of 3,000 deforested mangrove patches found that most of them were being cut down for the use of growing rice, palm trees, or expanding fisheries.

Beyond cutting the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere, scientists show that we will also need to pull carbon dioxide from the air to avoid catastrophic climate change. There are six so-called “negative-emissions technologies” that can help us get there: afforestation and reforestation; enhanced weathering (using minerals that capture carbon dioxide); soil carbon (tweaking the crops and forests we currently grow to absorb more carbon); biochar (using a special kind charcoal as to trap carbon dioxide); BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, which requires capturing carbon dioxide produced by burning biomass like wood and then burying it underground); and DAC (direct air capture, which involves the use of machines that are essentially trees on steroids to suck carbon dioxide from the air and bury it underground).

Among those negative-emissions technologies, mangrove restoration would be classed as reforestation. The Conservation International project would cover an area of 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) in the Sinu river delta. The NGO will use the money raised for the project to help the 12,000 people in the community who use the mangroves for food, firewood, and livelihoods. Conservation International believes the carbon offsets will provide financial security to the region and develop sustainable ways to support tourism and fisheries.

Earlier this year, Apple also announced that all of its electricity use in 45 countries is powered by 100% renewable energy. Some of the success of such environmental shifts are down to the lower cost of renewable energy, but much credit also goes to environmental campaigns like Greenpeace’s Click Clean that hold tech companies to account on their sustainability promises. That said, there’s still a long way to go if Apple plans to cut emissions from all its energy use. (Source: Apple, PR, Sept., 2018)

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Date: 2018-09-17
In the Golden State, the Los Angeles Department of Wind and Power (LADWP) is floating a proposal that, if approved, would construct a wind and solar-powered pump station 20 miles south of the Hoover Dam. The station would pump water from downstream back up to Lake Mead, which was created by the dam. All the water stored at the lake could then be released as needed for power on demand, effectively turning the dam into a battery for solar and wind power.

The Hoover Dam water load currently functions at about 20 pct of its full capacity. Research committees are presently evaluating the environmental and infrastructural impacts of the project. If approved, the LADWP hopes to complete the project by 2028.

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.(Source: LADWP Good News Network, 16 Sept., 2018) Contact: LADWP, David H. Wright, GM, (800) 342-5397, www.ladwp.com; Hoover Dam, www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam

More Low-Carbon Energy News Pumped Energy Storage,  Los Angeles Department of Water and Power,  Pumped Energy Storage Renewable Energy,  Energy Storage,  

SSE Plc
Date: 2018-09-17
UK energy utility SSE Plc reports it has submitted an application with the Scottish Ministers seeking permission for a planned repowering of a 18.7-MW wind farm in Scotland to 80 MW the capacity .

SSE plans to replace the existing 22 turbines of its Tangy Wind Farm on the Kintyre peninsula with 16 newer and more efficient machines. The expansion project, called Tangy III, was previously approved in 2015 as a 15-turbine scheme. The original 22-turbine Tangy Wind Farm has been online since 2004.(Source: SSE, Renewables Now, 17 Sept., 2018) Contact: SSE, www.sse.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News SSE Plc,  Wind,  

Ute Peak Solar, Standard Solar
Date: 2018-09-17
In southwestern Colorado, San Miguel County Commissioners are reporting support for Ute Peak Solar and Rockville, Maryland-headquartered Standard Solar's proposed 30-mw power plant to be constructed at a substation in western Montrose County.

The San Miguel County Commission notes the planned solar plant is large enough to replace a nearby coal-fired power plant slated for shutdown by the end of 2022. (Source: San Miguel County Commission, Miami Herald, AP, 16 Sept., 2018) Contact: Standard Solar, (301) 944-1200, www.standardsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Standard Solar,  Solar,  

Stem,Solvay
Date: 2018-09-17
Millbrae, California-based Stem, the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy storage services, reports it is deploying an intelligent energy storage system for advanced materials and specialty chemicals company Solvay's plant in Welland, Ontario. With Stem's services, Solvay will reduce their Global Adjustment and energy costs automatically without changing plant operations or making a capital investment.

Belgium-headquartered Solvay manufactures advanced materials and specialty chemicals for a wide range of industries, including the renewable energy and energy storage industries. Stem's AI-driven energy storage system will be over 3 MWh and sited at Solvay's Welland manufacturing plant located in Niagara Falls, Canada, where the firm manufactures phosphine for use in consumer electronics and other high-end applications.

Using predictive analytics and high speed data feeds from the buildings, weather services, and the wholesale market to anticipate IESO grid peak hours, Stem's AI, Athena, releases stored energy at exactly the right times to help Stem's customers.

Stem is the global pioneer of real-time energy optimization for commercial and industrial customers using AI-driven energy storage, and is backed by the industry's largest project finance pool of $ 650 million. (Source: Stem , PR, 17 Sept., 2018) Contact: Solvay, Pascal Chalvon-Demersay, Chief Sustainability and Energy Officer. Stem, John Carrington, CEO, www.stem.com/canada

More Low-Carbon Energy News Stem news,  Energy Storage news,  Energy Management news,  Energy Efficiency news,  

University College Cork
Date: 2018-09-17
Speaking at the recent SEAI/ International Energy Agency Bioenergy Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion in the Circular Economy at the University College Cork (UCC), Professor Jerry Murphy called for decarbonization of Ireland's gas system in order to achieve the "circular economy" objectives as laid out in the government's €21.8 billion National Development Plan.

"Biogas plants cannot be directly compared to other renewable energy sources like wind turbines, which produce electricity, according to Prof. Murphy, Director of the SFI MaREI Centre headquartered at the University College Cork (UCC) Environmental Research Institute and Leader of the International Energy Agency Biogas Task. "There are so many more advantages to a biogas system -- from waste treatment, production of bio-fertilizer, generation of a renewable energy suitable for transport, heating or electricity, improved water quality and provision of jobs in rural communities. It is the full package."

In 2018, Gas Networks Ireland will introduce biogas onto the Irish gas network for the first time and they have a target of at least 20 pct of all gas used in Ireland to be renewable (decarbonized) by 2030. A significant aspect of this rollout will take place in the transport sector under the €25 million EU-funded Causeway project which aims to provide a sustainable, clean alternative to diesel for Ireland's transport operators. (Source: Gas Networks Ireland, TheCork.ie, 17 Sept., 2018)Contact: Gas Networks Ireland, www.gasnetworks.ie; Environmental Research Institute -- University College Cork, +353 21 490 1931, eri@ucc.ie, http://eri.ucc.ie, www.ucc.ie/en/eri

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas,  Anaerobic Digestion,  

Ergon Biofuels,Bunge
Date: 2018-09-17
Ergon BioFuels LLC, a subsidiary of Jackson, Mississippi based Ergon, Inc., reports it is closing its ethanol plant at the Port of Vicksburg, Mississippi, this December.

The 56.5 million gpy plant was constructed in 2007 as a joint venture between Ergon Ethanol, Inc. and White Plains, New York-headquartered Bunge North America Inc. The plant had previously halted production in December 2012. Ergon purchased Bunge's ownership in the facility in 2013 and restarted the plant in July 2015. (Source: Ergon Website, PR, Contact: Ergon, (601) 933-3000, http://ergon.com; Bunge Ltd, (914) 684-2800, www.bunge.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ergon,  Biofuels,  Ethanol,  Bunge,  

RedT
Date: 2018-09-17
London, UK-based Energy storage specialist RedT is reporting receipt of a conditional commitment from an infrastructure fund for £33 million to finance some 60MWh of RedT's flow storage units. The funds will enable the company to build around 800 of its flow storage units, which would be used to provide grid services, in Germany and Austria. The company also reportedly plans to deploy grid scale flow storage in the UK, with at least one such project in 2019. (Source: RedT, Energyst, Others, 17 Sept., 2018) (Source: Contact: RedT Energy, Scott McGregor, CEO, +44 (0) 207 061 6233, www.redtenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RedT,  Energy Storage,  

Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation
Date: 2018-09-17
In Beruit, the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) reports receipt of 75 Expressions of Interest (EoIs) for three 100 MW solar PV plus storage projects. LCEC has unveiled the names of the 75 consortiums that have expressed interest in building one or more of the three 100 MW solar PV plus battery storage projects.

In each project, the minimum power capacity is 70 MW and the maximum power capacity is 100 MW with Battery Energy Storage of minimum of 70 MW power with a minimum of 70 MWh of storage capacity, regardless of the solar PV sizing. (Source: Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, PV, 17 Sept., 2018)Contact: Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, +961 1 565 108, www.lcec.org.lb

Goteborg Energi
Date: 2018-09-14
In Stockholm, Swedish government controlled soler energy developer Goteborg Energi is reporting panel installation is underway at the country's largest solar park near the former Goteborg City Airport. The 5.5MW solar park will generate approximately 5,000kWh of electricity per year.

Swiss technology company ABB will supply a substation with switchgear, distribution transformers, and relays along with control equipment and inverters for the solar project. The project is slated for commissioning in November. (Source: Goteborg Energi, Power Tech. 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Goteborg Energi, www.goteborgenergi.se

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  ABB,  

Georgia Power
Date: 2018-09-14
Alpharetta, Georgia-headquartered United Renewable Energy™ (URE) is reporting completion of a 2-MW AC solar facility as the first installment of Georgia Power's Community Solar program. The project is owned by Georgia Power and was developed, designed and constructed by URE. The associated renewable energy credits (RECs) are retired on behalf of Georgia Power's Community Solar Program participants.

URE is an engineering, procurement, and construction firm developing utility-scale PV farms and energy storage systems. (Source: United Renewable Energy, PR 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: United Renewable Energy, William Silva, CEO, Jakky Shanahan, 678.881.0014 x708, jakky@u-renew.com, www.u-renew.com; Georgia Power, www.GeorgiaPower.com/CommunitySolar

More Low-Carbon Energy News Georgia Power,  Community Solar,  Solar,  

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program
Date: 2018-09-14
In the Pine Tree State, nine rural Maine businesses will receive a total of $431,725 in funding through the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

The USDA REAP grant program, entitled Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants, provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and small businesses to upgrade renewable energy systems in rural areas. (Source: USDA Rural Energy for America Program, Angus King, 12 Sept., 2018) Contact: USDA REAP, www.rurdev.usda.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News USDA REAP,  Energy Efficiency,  Renewable Energy,  

Voltalia, Echoenergia
Date: 2018-09-14
In Paris, French renewable energy company Voltalia is reporting the sale of 197MW of shovel-ready wind farm projects to private equity firm Actis Group's Brazilian-controlled company Echoenergia. Financial details have not been disclosed.

The firms have also entered a partnership which gives Sao Paulo-based Echoenergia access to a series of ready-to-build future wind projects of up to 500MW in North Eastern Brazil. Echoenergia currently has 700MW of installed capacity in the Northeastern states of Brazil. Voltalia owns a total installed capacity of 524MW. (Source: Voltalia, Power Tech., 12 Sept., 2018) Contact: Echoenergia, +55 11 4935-4000, www.echoenergia.com.br/en/quem-somos/a-echoenergia; Voltalia, Sebastien Clerc, CEO, +33 1 81 70 37 00, accueil.paris@voltalia.com, www.voltalia.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Voltalia ,  Wind,  Echoenergia,  

Ireland National Treasury Management Agency
Date: 2018-09-14
In Dublin, Ireland's National Treasury Management Agency reports it will launch its first green bond issuance in the coming months, and to that end is meeting with potential investors. The bond will be issued under the recently approved Irish Sovereign Green Bond framework.

Funds from the placement will be applied to green projects addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, water and natural resources depletion and the reduction of air pollution. (Source: Ireland National Treasury Management Agency, Renewables, Sept., 2018) Contact: Ireland National Treasury Management Agency, Frank O'connor, Director of Funding and Debt Management, +353 1 238 4000, info@ntma.ie, www.ntma.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Bond,  

Clariant
Date: 2018-09-14
Further to our 1st November, 2017 coverage, Swiss specialty chemical developer Clariant reports construction is underway on its previously announced cellulosic ethanol plant near the city of Craiova, Romania.

The ethanol will be processed from agricultural wastes and residues using the company's "Sunliquid™" technology. At full capacity, the 50,000 tpy plant will process about 250,000 tpy of locally sourced wheat straw and other cereals . Financial details of the project have not been announced.

Clariant is a speciality chemicals company, formed in 1995 as a spin-off from Sandoz. Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland, the public company encompasses 110 operating companies in 53 countries, with manufacturing sites located in Europe, North America, South America, China and India. (Source: Clariant, PR, Romania Insider, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Clariant, Markus Rarbach, Head of Start-up Business Biofuels & Derivatives, Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, +41 61 469 5111, Anja Pomrehn, Inv. Relations, +41 61 469 67 45 anja.pomrehn@clariant.com, www.clariant.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clariant,  Ethanol,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Google
Date: 2018-09-14
Reuters is reporting IT juggernaut Google has signed a 10-year PPA for renewable energy from three new wind farms presently under construction in Finland. The combined capacity of the three farms will be 190 MW and will be built by renewable energy developers Neoen of France and Germany's CPC and WPD.

Google's Finnish data centre is situated in a former paper mill built originally in the 1950s and uses water from the Baltic Sea for cooling. According to Google, the Finnish deal is the first where it is purchasing power from European projects that will not receive any government subsidies.(Source: Reuters, Gadgets 360, 12 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Google,  Wind,  

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners,Scout Clean Energy
Date: 2018-09-14
Global investment management company Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners reports it has begun commercial operations at its 200MW Persimmon Creek wind farm in Oklahoma. The 17,000 acres facility incorporates 73 GE 2.5MW turbines.

The project is a JV between Quinbrook and Elawan Wind, US, and was constructed by Florida-based firm Wanzek Construction. The project was financed with equity investments from Quinbrook and Elawan along with tax equity investments from a consortium comprising of GE Energy Financial Services and JP Morgan. To be initially operated under a GE Full Service Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement, Persimmon is reported to be the first project to be completed by the Boulder, Colorado-based wind energy developer and owner-operator Scout Clean Energy. (Source: Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, power Tech, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, (713) 580- 8022, www.quinbrook.com; Scout Clean Energy, Micheal Rucker, Pres., (303) 284-7566, info@scoutcleanenergy.com, www.scoutcleanenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Scout Clean Energy,  Wind,  

Eolus Vind
Date: 2018-09-14
SIA Eolus, a subsidiary of Hassleholm,Sweden-based Eolus Vind AB, has announced plans to construct a €250 million wind farm in Dobele and Tukums municipalities, Latvia. The project will utilize 51 turbines with an annual electricity production at 0.7 TWh -- about 10 pct of Latvia's yearly energy consumption. Construction is expected to get underway in 2019 for completion and commissioning in 2022.

Eolus Vind AB is one of the largest wind farm operators in Sweden, having built 540 out of the country's 3400 wind turbines. (Source: Eolus Vind AB, PR, Public Broadcasting Latvia, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Eolus Vind AB, Per Witalisson, CEO, +46 10 199 88 02, www.eolusvind.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  Eolus Vind,  

Date: 2018-09-14
The Renewable Fuels Association and other agriculture and ethanol groups on Wednesday appealed to President Donald Trump to immediately approve year-round sales of E15 and to reallocate Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) small-refinery waivers to larger refiners as originally intended under the RFS.

In a joint letter, the groups stress that small-refinery waivers have given refiners "exactly what they asked for: artificially low RIN (renewable identification numbers) credit prices and weaker biofuel blending requirements." Ethanol RIN prices have been trading between 20 and 30 cents since May as a result of the waivers, or a decrease of about 80 pct since last fall, the groups said.

Read the letter HERE. (Source: RFA, DTN/Progressive Farmer , Others, 12 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol,  "Hardship Waiver",  RFS,  

Ontario Cap-and-Trade, Greenpeace Canada
Date: 2018-09-14
Environmental advocate Greenpeace Canada reports ait has taken legal action against the Province of Ontario. Greenpeace alleges that Doug Ford, the province's newly elected, populist freshman conservative Premier, and his government failed to hold public hearings on his proposed legislation to kill the province's cap-and-trade program as instituted by the previous liberal government. Since its creation 1n 2017, the system has contributed nearly $2.5 billion to Ontario's coffers.

Under Ontario's unique “Environmental Bill of Rights legislation", Ontario residents have the right to be consulted on significant environmental regulations and legislation. The Greenpeace suit claims the Ford government ignored the Environmental Bill of Rights when it proposed, then announced it would cancel the province's cap-and-trade program.

The Ford administration's Cap-and-Trade Cancellation Act -- Bill 4 -- was introduced in late July. The bill, which has yet to pass the legislature, gives the new Ford administration sweeping power to set its own targets and create its own climate action plan without debate in the legislature nor to be enshrined in law. Along with killing the province's cap-and-trade program, Ford also promised to lower the price of beer to $1 per can. (Source: CP, Various Media, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Greenpeace Canada, www.greenpeace.org/canada/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenpeace,  Ontario Cap-and-Trade,  Doug Ford,  

Renewables Infrastructure Group
Date: 2018-09-14
The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) reports the 20MW Broxburn Energy Storage facility, Scotland's first utility-scale battery storage facility, has been officially opened and is now delivering sub-second balancing services to National Grid .

The Broxburn facility was constructed by RES, which sold the project to TRIG in August, 2017 for £20 million. It was the first project to have been acquired by TRIG and was RES' fourth in the UK, with the company now managing the site.

Testing of the project, which uses batteries from Samsung SDI, began in May and was followed by final testing under the EPC construction contract, which completed on 30 June when the battery began to deliver its contracted service to National Grid. (Source: Renewables Infrastructure Group, Energy Storage, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Renewables Infrastructure Group, www.trig-ltd.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Renewables Infrastructure Group,  Battery Energy Storage,  

DHL, Ohio State University
Date: 2018-09-14
In Westerhill, Ohio, contract logistics specialist DHL Supply Chain and The Ohio State University (OSU) are reporting a partnership for the planting and care of trees on the OSU campus. DHL, through its "GoGreen Program" , also purchased and donated 1,000 tonnes of carbon credits for Ohio State to contribute to the university's carbon reduction goals. Ohio State matched DHL's donation by purchasing an additional 1,000 tonnes of carbon credits.

OSU will use these credits to offset a portion of its annual greenhouse gas emissions, such as those from its own transport fleet. The program is being facilitated by North Carolina-based Urban Offsets.

DHL Supply Chain's GoGreen program has delivered an average reduction of 3 pct in CO2 emissions, year over year, for every mile travelled and every square meter of space used worldwide for its customers.

Urban Offsets helps companies and universities reduce their environmental impact by investing in sustainability projects around the world and directing profits into local projects that build climate resilient neighborhoods. Since 2017, more than 80,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions have been offset and 12,000 trees planted in at-risk communities around the country. (Source: DHL, PR, 12 Sept., 2018) Contact: Urban Offsets, https://registry.urbanoffsets.co; DHL Supply Chain, Nicole Porter, (614) 865-8437, nicole.porter@dhl.com, www.dhl.com; DHL GoGreen Program, HERE; OSU, Kate Bartter, Dir. Ohio State University Office of Energy and Environment, (614) 247-4762, energy.environment@osu.edu, https://oee.osu.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Carbon Footprint,  

California Gov. Jerry Brown
Date: 2018-09-14
"I don't believe (President) Trump represents the present but he has the power, he has the Republicans hook, line and sinker. His unabashed acolytes will follow him over the cliff. Gross ignorance is dangerous. The battle is with Trump -- that's the number one fight. But once he's out of there, dealing with climate change will still be a fight." -- California Gov. Jerry Brown (D)

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Gov. Jerry Brown news,  Donald Trump news,  Cliamte Change news,  

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Date: 2018-09-14
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) wreports it has been awarded $3 million over three years in grant funding for a three-year project aimed at using building energy more efficiently to shave peak electric energy usage. The grant was awarded by the DOE Building Technologies Office (BTO) and the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE).

LLNL's work seeks to establish metrics of peak energy usage and energy shaving capabilities that can be used by grid operators to lower the cost of their services. To that end, LLNL will work with the Contra Costa County Public Works Department in California, which will provide energy consumption data on more than 50 buildings which they manage. They will also work with New York University, which will provide similar data on about 20 buildings.

The project is scheduled to begin in October. (Source: LLNL, Sept., 2018) Contact: LLNL, Jhi-Young Joo Joo, Research Project Leader, www.llnl.gov; DOE Building Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/building-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,  Energy Efficiency,  DOE Building Technologies Office ,  

Date: 2018-09-14
In Kiev, the Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Economy Ministry of Ukraine is reporting the launch of a building energy efficiency certification program. The program includes a building energy efficiency--energy consumption audit and recommendations on improving the building energy efficiency and cutting energy costs. The launch includes an energy auditor training program of study in higher educational institutions in the Ukraine and abroad. (Source: Interfax Ukraine, 13 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy efficiency,  Energy Management,  

Date: 2018-09-14
Reporting from the capital city of Ljubljana, the Slovenian Statistical Office notes the county's CO2 emissions rose by 3.8 pct in 2016 compared to the previous year. A total of 15.2 million tonnes of CO2 was generated in 2016. Nitrogen oxide (NOx)emissions also increased by 4.5 pct. (Source: Slovenian Statistical Office, STA, 13 Sept., 2018) Contact: Slovenian Statistical Office, +386 1 241 64 00, gp.surs@gov.si, www.stat.si/StatWeb/en

Imperial College London Department of Chemical Engineering
Date: 2018-09-14
In the UK, the recently released Greenhouse Gas Removal Report from the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Imperial College London has found that the UK could cut new CO2 emissions from 468 million tonnes in 2015 to 130 million tonnes in 2050.

The report notes that just reducing emissions will not be enough to become carbon neutral and recommends the country implement "negative emissions" measures such as reforestatio, restoring wetland and forest habitats, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (CCS), and adding nutrients and alkalinity to oceans to meet the goal of carbon neutrality.

According to Professor Gideon Henderson, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Oxford and chair of the report working group, "If the UK acts now on greenhouse gas removal, we can reach national emissions targets and show how a major industrialized economy can play a leading role in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement."

Download the Greenhouse Gas Removal Report HERE. (Source: Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering,Imperial College London, Various Media, Sept., 2018) Contact: Imperial College London Department of Chemical Engineering, Professor Nilay Shah, Dir., +44 (0)20 7589 5111, chemeng.info@imperial.ac.uk, www.imperial.ac.uk/chemicalengineering

Sugarcane
Date: 2018-09-14
In New Delhi, the Indian government Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved an over 25 pct increase in the price of ethanol produced directly from 100 pct sugarcane juice for blending in petrol in a bid to cut surplus sugar production and reduce oil imports. The announcement raised the procurement price of sugarcane ethanol to Rs 59.13 per litre from the current rate of Rs 47.13.

Ethanol so extracted would be blended with petrol to cut reliance on imports. The government is looking at scaling up the blending to 10 pct in the next couple of years from the present 4-5 pct rate. (Source: PTI, 14 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol news,  India Ethanol news,  Sugarcane Ethanol news,  Ethanol Blend news,  

Starbucks
Date: 2018-09-14
Seattle-headquartered retail coffee juggernaut Starbucks is touting its new Starbucks Greener Stores Initiative focused on energy efficiency and water stewardship, renewable energy, creating a healthy environment, using responsible materials, water diversion and community engagement. The Greener Stores initiative is expected to save the company $50 million in utilities over the next decade.

Over the next year, Starbucks will develop an accredited program to audit all existing company-operated stores in the US and Canada against the framework criteria. The framework will be co-developed by leading experts, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and will be audited and verified by Scientific Certification Systems Global Services.

Starbucks has committed to design, build and operate 10,000 greener stores globally by 2025 In 2001, Starbucks joined with the US Green Building Council to develop the LEED for Retail program. In 2005, Starbucks opened its first LEED-certified store and now operates more than 1500 LEED-certified stores across 20 countries. (Source: Starbucks, Global Coffee Report, Sept., 2018) Contact: Starbucks, www.corporate-office-headquarters.com/starbucks

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building,  LEED,  USGBC,  Starbucks,  Energy Efficiency,  

Agrisoma Biosciences
Date: 2018-09-14
Gatineau, Quebec-based Carinata mustard biofuels producer Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. reports it biofuel is being used by United Airlines. Thirty pct of the jet fuel used in the Boeing will be replaced by Agrisoma's biofuel, leading the company to proclaim the plane will emit 30 pct less greenhouse gases than a regular flight. Currently, the technical and regulatory rules limit to 50 pct the amount of biofuel that can be used in commercial aircraft.

Carinata mustard can be grow on poor quality land at low cost. Once the oil is extracted from the plant, the residue becomes a protein-rich byproduct that can be used as livestock feed. (Source: Agrisoma, 570 News, 14 Sept., 2018) Contact: Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., Steve Fabijanski, CEO, 819-205-7795, www.agrisoma.com, www.growcarinata.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Agrisoma Biosciences,  Biofuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  Jet Biofuel,  Carinata,  ,  

GoodFuels
Date: 2018-09-14
In Amsterdam, GoodFuels Marine is reporting its GoodShipping Program, which claims to be the world's first global initiative established to decarbonize shipping through the use of sustainable low carbon marine fuels, has enabled five pioneering shippers -- Tony's Chocolonely, Dopper, Blygold, Magic Marine and Mystic -- to collectively cut their carbon footprint by over 40 tons through the use of GoodFuels Marine's advanced, sustainable marine fuel.

The five shippers have also reduced local emissions of sulphur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). When combined, emissions of these substances from vessels in port regions lead to over 60,000 premature deaths globally each year, according to researchers from the University of Delaware.

The GoodShipping Program , which requires shippers to commit to a reduction in their sea freight CO2 emissions, works on the premise that as all CO2 from container shipping is emitted into the same atmosphere, the means of mitigating these emissions is equally impactful, regardless of which vessels adopt biofuels over traditional bunker fuels -- or the amount of "drop in" biofuel that is added to the fuel tank, as long as it offsets the CO2 costs of transporting participating shippers' cargo. (Source: GoodFuels, Marine link, 13 Sept., 2018)Contact: GoodFuels, Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, +31 (0) 85 8000 238, info@goodfuels.com, www.goodfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GoodFuels ,  Marine Fuel,  Marine Biofuel,  Biofuel,  

Siemens.Triton Knoll
Date: 2018-09-12
Siemens Energy Management reports it will soon begin onshore substation and offshore transformer module design, supply and construction work on the UK's Triton Knoll offshore wind farm. The new wind farm will be capable of providing sufficient clean and sustainable power for the equivalent of at least 800,000 British homes.

Siemens was awarded a contract from its German customer Innogy SE, to design, supply and build the grid connection for the 860 MW wind farm 32 km off the Lincolnshire coast.

Siemens will lead on the construction of a new four-hectare onshore substation at Bicker Fen, as well as offshore infrastructure, including two Offshore Transformer Modules (OTM). Work is already underway on a new bell mouth entry point and 3.8 km access road to the new substation construction site. The onshore substation construction will start early 2019. (Source: Siemens Energy Management, T&D World, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: Siemens Grid Access, www.siemens.com/gridaccess; Siemens Energy Management, www.siemens.com/energy-management; Innogy Renewables UK, +44 1793 877777, www.innogy.com/web/cms/en/3708678/innogy-renewables-uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Siemens,  Offshore Wind,  Triton Knoll ,  

UltraTech Cement
Date: 2018-09-12
On Monday, South African global integrated chemicals and energy company Sasol and a group of pioneering Indian companies pledged to focus on energy efficiency as part of their business growth strategies by joining EP100. The Indian firms include UltraTech Cement, Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd, Mahindra Heavy Engines Ltd, and Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies (GILAC).

EP100 -- a global collaborative initiative on energy productivity led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy -- brings together 20 major businesses from 12 countries and seven sectors, with a combined revenue of over $200 billion.

Sasol has committed to installing a smart energy management system (EnMS) within 10 years, targeting a 30 pct energy productivity improvement. The firm has already invested in energy efficiency projects amounting to more than 10 million tpy of carbon emissions saved since 2004. UltraTech Cement has committed to doubling its energy productivity by 2035, Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd has committed to doubling its energy productivity by 2039 (2014 baseline); Mahindra Heavy Engines Ltd by 2041 (2016 baseline); and GILAC has already reduced their energy consumption by 41.8 pct (FY2011 baseline year), (Source: ESI Africa, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: UltraTech Cement, www.ultratechcement.com; EP100, www.theclimategroup.org/project/ep100; Sasol, Stephen Cornell, Pres., CEO, +27 10 344 5000, www.sasol.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Sasol,  

IXO Foundation,Gold Standard
Date: 2018-09-12
In Zurich, global sustainability finance specialist South Pole Group reports it is partnering with the IXO Foundation, developer of the Blockchain for Impact, and Gold Standard, the benchmark standard for climate and development projects, to develop an application and impact tokens on the IXO protocol to facilitate the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of data for compiling greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and originating carbon credits.

The application protocol is intended to serve as a means of submitting verified data and automatically issuing certified carbon credits. The aim is to streamline and accelerate the data verification processes for GHG inventory management and carbon credit origination. The application protocol has the potential to reduce MRV costs by up to 10x in comparison to current practices and to allow real-time tracking of GHG inventories and issuance of carbon credits. (Source: South Pole Group, Crypto Land, Sept., 2018) Contact: Gold Standard, Marion Verles, CEO, +41 22 788 7080, www.goldstandard.org; IXO Foundation, Dr. Shaun Conway, Pres., www.ixo.foundation; South Pole, Sophie Smithers Renat Heuberger, CEO and Co-Founder, +41 43 501 35 50, www.southpole.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Credit,  GHGs,  Greenhouse Gas,  Gold Standard,  

Argentina Biodiesel
Date: 2018-09-12
In Buenos Aires, Juan Jose Aranguren, the Argentinian Energy Secretary's office reports it has raised the price of biodiesel used in domestic fuel blends from 22,589 Pesos per ton to 26,509 pesos ($710.70) per ton -- a 17 pct increase. The increase is being attributed primarily to monetary fluctuations.

The government, which sets the price of domestic biofuels, mandates diesel fuel mixes sold in Argentina contain 10 pct biodiesel. Argentina consumed 1.17 million tons of biodiesel in 2017, according to that state statistics agency, Indec. Argentina is the world's largest exporter of soybean oil and soymeal for livestock feed, and the No. 3 exporter of raw soybeans. (Source: Argentinian Energy Secretary, Merco Press, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: Juan Jose Aranguren, Argentinian Energy Secretary, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Jose_Aranguren

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  Argentina Biodiesel,  

Climate Change
Date: 2018-09-12
"Climate change is moving faster than we are. We need to put the brake on deadly greenhouse gas emissions and drive climate action."

"These (2015 Paris Climate Agreement) targets were the bare minimum to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, but scientists tell us that we are far off track. According to a U.N. study, the commitments made so far by parties to the Paris agreement represent just one-third of what is needed."

"We need to rapidly shift away from our dependence on fossil fuels. We need to replace them with clean energy from water, wind and sun. We must halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and change the way we farm."

"If we do not change course by 2020, we risk missing the point where we can avoid runaway climate change, with disastrous consequences for people and all the natural systems that sustain us. Keeping our planet's warming to well below 2 degrees (Celsius) is essential for global prosperity, people's well-being and the security of nations." -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

(Source: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 10 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  Paris Climate Agreement,  

Vestas,Rusnano
Date: 2018-09-12
The Russian Association of the Wind Industry is reporting Vestas' new RUB 1 billion ($14.3 million) wid turbine blade which is under construction in Ulyanovsk, southern Russia, is nearing completion and expects to begin manufacturing 300 blades per year early in 2019.

Vestas presently produces nacelles for its 4MW platform at its factory in the neighbouring province of Nizhny Novgorod, and plans to set up a tower facility in Rostov, as part of its efforts to create a manufacturing hub in south-west Russia. Vestas partnered with Rusnano and the Consortium of Investors of Ulyanovsk Oblast to build the blade factory. (Source: Vestas, Russian Association of the Wind Industry, Vestas, WindPower Monthly 11 Sept., 2018)Contact: Russian Association of the Wind Industry, https://rawi.ru/en; Vestas, +45 9730 0000, www.vestas.com; Rusnano, en.rusnano.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rusnano,  Vestas,  Wind Turbine,  Wind Blade,  

ACCIONA Energía
Date: 2018-09-12
ACCIONA Energia reports it will acquire the 157.5-MW Mortlake South wind farm in Victoria State, Australia, following an award in the renewable energy tender called by the State Government of Victoria.

The 35, 4.5-MW Nordex wind turbine equipped Mortlake South wind farm represents capital expenditure of $288 million (AUS) (€177 million). Construction is slated to get underway early next year for completion in mid-2020.

The Mortlake acquisition will increase ACCIONA'S Australian renewable energy capacity 36 pct to 592 MW. The wind farm will generate clean energy equivalent to the electricity consumption of almost 80,000 Australian households, avoiding over 532,000 tpy of CO2.

To date, ACCIONA Energia has invested more than $1.3 billion (€814 million) in Australia since 2002. (Source: ACCIONA Energia , PR, REVE, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: ACCIONA Energia, www.acciona-energia.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ACCIONA Energía ,  Wind,  Australia Wind,  

Virgin Australia
Date: 2018-09-12
In the Land Down Under, Brisbane Airport is confirming the successful delivery of jet biofuel through the airport's regular fuel system.

The trial, which involved the delivery of approximately 20,000 litres of jet biofuel imported from the US, was intended to show potential biofuel producers that their product could be mixed with traditional aviation fuels and piped through the Brisbane Airport fueling system to end users.

In October, 2017, Virgin (Airlines) Australia announced a two-year project with Brisbane airport, US renewable fuel supplier Gevo and the Queensland Government and worked on the trial with supply partners Caltex and DB Schenker. The first test saw a biofuel blend pumped to 195 domestic and international flights that traveled more than 430,000 kilometres. Additional trials are expected over the next 12 to 18 months. (Source: Virgin Australia, Virgin, Airline Ratings, Sept., 2018) Contact: GEVO, Pat Gruber, CEO, (303) 858-3358, info@gevo.com, www.gevo.com; Virgin Australia, +61 7 3295 2296, www.virginaustralia.com/uk; Brisbane Airport, https://bne.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Jet Biofuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  

EPA,National Farmers Union
Date: 2018-09-12
"The farmers are the ones at the end of the day who are really not the winners in all of this, and it's very contrary to what the president and this administration has said that they support. They have talked extensively about supporting farmers but the actions from this EPA about the small refinery exemptions have not been supportive."

"We're obviously at a time right now where we're very concerned about our lack of export markets and so it's really important that this administration continues to support farmers, continue to support the renewable fuels industry by the Renewable Fuel Standard." -- Anne Steckel, Biofuels Advisor with the National Farmers Union, speaking on the US EPA RFS "Hardship" waivers for refiners.

According to EPA data, nearly 50 waivers were granted in 2016 and 2017, wiping out 2.2 billion gallons of blending obligations. "Hardship waivers" were intended for refineries that produced 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. (Source: Public News Service, 14 Aug., 2018) Contact: National Farmers Union, Roger Johnson, Pres., (202) 554-1600, https://nfu.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News EPA "Hardship Waiver" news,  RFA news,  NFU news,  

eMotorWerks,EnelX
Date: 2018-09-12
San Carlos, California-based eMotorWerks, a subsidiary of the Enel Group's new advanced energy services division Enel X, is reporting deployment of a 30 MW highly distributed virtual energy storage battery in California.

With 70 MWh capacity and eMotorWerks' JuiceNet cloud software platform as the Battery Management System (BMS), the eMotorWerks virtual battery manages charging loads to balance grid demand, reduces wholesale energy costs and mitigates the intermittency of renewables.

Over 6,000 eMotorWerks residential JuiceBox and other JuiceNet-enabled EV chargers installed in the Golden State make up the 30MW virtual battery. Locations are spread across the state and concentrated in the major population centers.

Enel X is a new Enel global business line dedicated to developing innovative products and digital solutions in sectors in which energy is showing the greatest potential for transformation: cities, homes, industries and electric mobility. (Source: eMotorWerks , Sept., 2018) Contact: eMotorWerks, Val Miftakhov, CEO www.emotorwerks.com; EnelX, www.enelx.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Battery,  Energy Storage,  Enel,  EV Charging,  

Battery,Energy Storage
Date: 2018-09-12
In the Land Down Under, the Victoria state Labor government reports that if re-elected it will provide $40 million in subsidies of up to $5,000 per-household to help 10,000 households install battery storage in their homes. The program is in addition to its suite of household energy incentives that include rebates, zero interest loans for rooftop solar, and a package for solar hot water systems. The battery storage assistance will be available only to those with existing rooftop solar systems, and with an annual household income of less than $180,000.

Eligible homeowners can expect to save up to $4,838 on a battery storage unit installation tapering down to $3,714 by 2026 as the price of batteries continues to drop.

(Source: Various Media Sources, RENew Economy, 11 Sept., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Storage,  Home Energy Storage Battery,  Solar,  Renewable Energy Storage,  Solar,  

Macquarie Group
Date: 2018-09-12
Aussie banking giant Macquarie Group reports its subsidiary Macquarie Capital Korea has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Goesan County for the financing of a 16MW solar PV project combined with 35MWh of solar energy storage.

Under the terms of the MoU, Macquarie will build the hybrid project and is set to announce the contracted EPC firm soon. (Source: Macquarie Group, RENew Economy, 11 Sept., 2018)Contact: Macquarie Group, www.macquarie.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Macquarie Group,  Solar,  Energy Storage,  

EPA
Date: 2018-09-12
According to a recently released University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) study, the US EPA's small refinery "hardship" waivers of their obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) could cost the ethanol industry nearly $20 billion annually.

The study concludes that the small refinery waivers could account for as many as 4.6 billion gallons of domestic demand lost over the next six years, along with the hit to revenue. Conventional biofuel such as corn ethanol stands to fall in use, along with consumption of ethanol in flex fuels and mid-level blends, and wholesale ethanol prices could slip as much as 19 cents per gallon on average.

The study also found that U.S. ethanol consumption stands to drop 761 million gpy on average between 2018 and 2023 with a resulting decline in gross ethanol sales revenues, with an average of $3.3 billion lost per year.

As previously reported, "hardship waivers" were intended for refineries producing 75,000 bpd or less and suffered "disproportionate economic hardship" from the costs of RFS compliance. The waiver frees the refineries from an obligation to provide the EPA with biofuels credits proving compliance. (Source: University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute, Transportation Today, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: University of Missouri Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute, (573) 884-4688, www.fapri.missouri.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel Standard,  Hardship Waiver,  RFS,  EPA,  Ethanol,  EPA Hardship Waivers,