Ice Cream Waste Used To Power UK Homes This Summer →

Chocolate ice cream has emerged as the most powerful flavour for green energy, following an innovative project involving the world’s third largest ice cream manufacturer, R&R Ice Cream, Iona Capital and resource management company, Veolia, in which inedible ice cream waste is being turned into biogas for the National Grid.

The R&R factory, based in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, is the UK’s largest producer of own label ice cream as well as top brands such as Nestlé’s Fab, Rowntrees’ Fruit Pastille lollies, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate sticks, Oreo ice cream and Yoomoo frozen yogurt, and now what is left over from the production of these sweet treats will help power local homes.

Read the full story here: CIWM journal

The Death of DECC: What’s in a Name?

Theresa May’s dismantling of the department of energy and climate change (DECC) can be viewed either as a removal of climate change as a frontline government priority at a critical post Paris COP21 stage, or else a bold and positive statement that the importance of addressing climate change has become so well integrated into the structure of modern government across all departments, that a specific department of climate change has become superfluous.

Read the full story here: Huffington Post

Abolition of Decc 'major setback for UK's climate change efforts' →

The abolition of the Department of Energy and Climate Change has been condemned by former ministers as a major setback to British efforts to combat global warming.

Decc was closed in a series of sweeping changes to the government unveiled by the new prime minister, Theresa May, on Thursday. Its functions, which include representing the UK at international climate talks, responsibility for meeting carbon targets and levying subsidies for green energy, have been transferred to a beefed-up business department led by Greg Clark.

Read the full story here: The Guardian 

IKEA to install biogas-powered fuel cell systems at 4 more stores

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, recently announced it is furthering its renewable commitment with plans for biogas-powered fuel cell systems at four more of its California stores.

A year ago, IKEA completed installation of such a project at IKEA Emeryville, one of the Swedish company’s two San Francisco-area stores. IKEA now plans to expand its fuel cell portfolio to 1.3 MW with a system at its other San Francisco-area store (in East Palo Alto), as well as three stores in Southern California

Read the full story here: Biomass Magazine 

EIB provides loan to biomass plant in Finland

The European Investment Bank has announced a loan agreement with an energy utility company in Finland for the deployment of a biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant.

The EUR 75 million ($84.49 million) agreement was signed with Lahti Energia. According to the EIB, the new biomass plant is set to replace the old Kymijärvi I coal-fired power plant by 2019 and will run on 100 percent forest biomass.

According to information published by Lahti Energia, the facility will have the capacity to supply more than 780 GWh of thermal energy annually to a district heating network in the Lahti region of central Finland.

Read the full story at: Biomass Magazine 

US Department of Energy seeks input in support of developing a billion-ton bioeconomy

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a request for information (RFI) regarding the ability to eventually supply up to a billion dry tons of biomass feedstock annually for a variety of end uses.

The DOE is seeking feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies and other stakeholders to support a “billion-ton bioeconomy.”  The RFI asks for stakeholder input on specific aspects in the development of large-scale supply systems and technologies to supply up to a billion tons of biomass feedstock each year. According to the DOE, the goal is to develop the components of processing and handling of biomass and demonstrate the viability of advanced feedstock supply systems (AFSS). 

Specific submission requirements are available on the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Exchange website under DE-FOA-0001630. 

Read the full story at: Biomass Magazine  

Survey finds positivity about the future of the Carbon Markets: IETA

The annual survey of International Emissions Tradition Association (IETA) members published on 25th May 2016 at Carbon Expo, finds 82% of members expect the existing carbon markets to expand as a result of the Paris Agreement. 

1. 82% of survey respondents believe that existing carbon markets will expand in scale as a result of the Paris Agreement. This figure is up from 58% in 2015, showing that feelings are more positive post-Paris.

2. National and sub-national emissions trading systems (ETSs) are expected to be the most signi cant drivers of carbon market expansion. The UNFCCC is seen as the guiding light for these national systems.

3. The global carbon price needed to achieve the objectives
   of the Paris Agreement has risen dramatically from €30 to €40. This is signi cantly higher than the current price expectations for the major markets. 

Read the full IETA report here: GHG Market Sentiment Survey 2016 

Duke Energy accounts swine waste power deal in North Carolina

Duke Energy recently announced it has finalized a second deal in 2016 to buy captured methane gas derived from swine waste. The planned project will be at farms in Kenansville, North Carolina.

The project will use captured methane gas to generate carbon-neutral renewable electricity at two power stations. Optima KV will construct a digester at each farm and pipe the captured methane gas to a centralized facility where it will be cleaned to pipeline quality specifications and injected into the natural gas pipeline system.

Read the full story here: Biomass Magazine

Tradition adds new Recyclables business to the “Tradition Green” Hub

Tradition, one of the world’s largest interdealer brokers in commodity and financial products, is pleased to announce the launch of its newest product “Recyclables” within the Tradition Green Business Hub.  

Francois Megret has joined to facilitate transactional and logistics services for plastics, metals and other recyclable materials between large and medium enterprises. Focused on French, Benelux Spanish and UK markets, the new business will facilitate transactions over a large geographical area, allowing for greater expansion of client business in this emerging market.

The Recyclables business will include the arrangement of physically settled trades for waste Polyethylene films coming from both agricultural and construction industries. When pelletized, the waste product can be reused to produce new Polyethylene films, thereby conserving natural resources, saving energy, reducing  greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing process, and reducing landfill.

This new business is the second to be announced so far in 2016 for Tradition Green, the business hub which brings together all environmental products brokered by Tradition under one brand.  In January a new biomass business was announced, covering transactions of wood chips and wood pellets. Tradition is committed to the development of new and emerging environmental markets, and the addition a Recyclables business further strengthens its position as a market leader in the environmental markets.

Desk Contacts

Francois Megret, Recyclables +44 (0)207 198 5837 francois.megret@traditiongreen.com

David Jenkins, Biofuels +44 (0)207 550 1750 david.jenkins@traditiongreen.com  

Press and Media Contacts

Lucy Mortimer, Tradition Green +44 (0) 207 198 1562 lucy.mortimer@traditiongreen.com

Pellet producer Viridis Energy for sale

Publically traded Canadian pellet production company Viridis Energy Inc. is up for sale.

Just weeks after the company announced it would cease operations at Okanagan Pellet Co., its West Kelowna, British Columbia, wood pellet production facility, the company informed investors that its lender, Royal Bank of Canada, has made a demand for payment in full of OPC’s outstanding debt, and that the company could not pay the $2.61 million sum by the date specified in the demand notice.

Viridis stated its reasons for ceasing operations at OPC as being recently discovered structural challenges of the building, and additional requirements from local authorities concerning dust management.

To read the full story click here: Biomass Magazine 

Nippon Paper to install torrefied pellet demonstration plant

Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. has signed a joint research and development agreement with Phoenix Pulp and Paper Public Co. Ltd., a core company of SCG Packaging's Fibrous Business Chain, invested by Nippon Paper Industries in Thailand.

In the course of this joint research, they will install demonstration facilities in Thailand for the production of woody biomass fuel (torrefied pellets) using torrefaction technology along with the woody biomass resources that PPPC possesses.

o read the full story click here: Biomass Magazine

Australian climate policy vacuum looms as government halts funding to ERF

The budget proposed by the Australian government Tuesday contained no fresh funding for the Emissions Reductions Fund (ERF), meaning the country’s primary tool to drive carbon cuts looks likely to run out of cash at the end of the year.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann had already signalled in February that the A$2.55-billion ($1.93-billion) ERF would not receive any further money in this year’s budget.

Even though the budget cut was expected, questions remain as to Australia’s ability to cut emissions going forward and the future of the country’s carbon project developers.

To read the full story click here: Carbon Pulse

Poll shows 57% of Australians back carbon market proposal

More than half of Australians back the opposition Labor party’s proposal to raise the nation’s 2030 CO2 target and introduce an emissions trading scheme, a poll showed Tuesday.

Labor maintained its 52-48 majority on a two-party preferred basis from last month ahead of the likely July 2 election, the Essential poll showed.

Climate change is emerging as one of the major issues yet again in an Australian election campaign after Labor’s policy release last week, which included setting up two emissions trading schemes.

To read the full story click here: Carbon Pulse

European Commission publishes ‘naughty list’ for 2015 EU ETS compliance

Around 95 installations have been marked by the European Commission as being non-compliant for not surrendering enough carbon allowances or offsets against their emissions for last year, according to data published this week.

UK-based Teesside Integrated Iron & Steel Works, the majority of which closed down in 2015, handed in 11.7 million units against its emissions of 15.7 million tonnes last year, making it the facility with the largest shortfall.

Second largest was Romania’s coal-fired Romag Termo power station, which only surrendered 2.2 million units against 4.4 million tonnes of emissions.

To read the full story click here: Carbon Pulse

Early activation of Paris Agreement to boost confidence, if not targets

The Paris Agreement could come into effect in 2018, two years earlier than originally planned, according to UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, increasing the currently slim chances that nations will swiftly deepen their emission reduction pledges.

An early start to the Paris pact is possible because in the final text there was no reference to the deal coming into effect from 2020, Figueres said during a question-and-answer session after delivering a lecture in London late Monday, Bloomberg reported.

Read the full story here: Carbon Pulse 

Shanghai CO2 price fall continues even as fresh demand emerges

Shanghai CO2 allowances fell another 10% on Wednesday, the maximum allowed daily price movement, even as buyers stepped in to pick up permits at record low levels.

SHEAs ended Wednesday at a fresh record low of 4.20 yuan ($0.65), down half a yuan on the day, as smaller emitters continued to offload their annual allowance surplus.

The price has now dropped some 61% since Mar. 25.

Over 55,000 allowances traded Wednesday. That was well above the combined 60,000 units traded over the previous three sessions, which itself was well above the low turnover typically seen outside of the weeks running up to the June compliance deadline.

Read the full story here: Carbon Pulse 

GE to build world’s largest commercial biomass-fired power plant in Belgium

GEhas been selected by Mechelen-based Belgian Eco Energy to build the largest greenfield, 100 percent biomass-fired power plant in the world. The plant, which will be powered by wood chips and agro residues, will generate approximately 215 megawatts (MW) of clean energy for the industry and nearby households reaching over 60 percent efficiency when operating in cogeneration mode.  

Read the full story here: Biomass Magazine

BP in 4m Shenzhen permit buy-back, China’s biggest carbon deal to date

BP has signed a buy-back deal with a Shenzhen-based energy producer for 4 million CO2 allowances in what is the biggest deal to emerge in China’s carbon market so far, as some traders look for ways to bank in on the uncertainty surrounding the transition to a national emissions trading scheme.

The UK-headquartered oil major signed the contract with Shenzhen Energy Group at a conference on Saturday, according to an announcement by the China Emissions Exchange, which hosts trading in the city’s pilot ETS.

BP bought the Shenzhen Emissions Allowances (SZEAs) and will sell them back at a fixed price ahead of the June annual compliance deadline.

Read the full story here: Carbon Pulse

China likely to allow banking of pilot CO2 permits, reduce free allocation

China is likely to let allowances from the pilot carbon markets be banked to the national emissions trading system, but will compensate by reduced allocation levels.

Chinese carbon traders are awaiting clarity on what will happen to the millions of surplus allowances from the seven pilot markets when the national ETS launches next year.

Ruling them ineligible in the national market would likely see pilot prices drop to near zero for the next 15 months.

Read the full story here: Carbon Pulse

South Korean CO2 price hits new highs

Prices in the Korean carbon market surged to new all-time highs this week despite recent changes in the administration of the ETS that have brought widespread anticipation that supply will increase.

The offset contract on the Korea Exchange (KRX) rose 10% on Tuesday to close at 17,600 won ($14.59), with 8,300 Korean Carbon Units (KCUs) changing hands.

Read the full story here: Carbon Pulse