Energy, Automobile, EV, Renewable News | More Energy News to 09/11/22

More Energy News to 09/11/22

November 9, 2022

11 Just Stop Oil supporters were remanded to prison yesterday, bringing to 16 the number of people who have been imprisoned for demanding an end to new oil and gas.

At Westminster Magistrates Court, 11 Just Stop Oil supporters were sent to prison until a hearing scheduled for December 6th at Southwark Crown Court. They were among 22 people who appeared in court on Tuesday over charges related to occupation of gantries over the M25 on Monday this week. The remaining 11 people were granted conditional bail. Read More

Eni and Leonardo signed an agreement for the development of joint sustainability and innovation initiatives, with the aim of boosting the energy transition and decarbonising their operations. The collaboration between Eni, a global leader in the energy sector, and Leonardo, a global leader in the aerospace, defence and security sectors, will be developed within a circular economy framework to promote and accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation of the aerospace sector, the production and use of energy from renewable sources, the energy efficiency of buildings and production plants, the recycling of materials and the re-use of waste. Specifically, the agreement focuses on the testing and use of sustainable biofuels for aviation and joint research programmes with a specific emphasis on e-fuels and hydrogen. The collaboration will involve sharing technological best practices in HSE (health, safety and the environment) and cyber-security. Read More

Octopus Energy and Lloyds Banking Group today announce a pilot scheme bringing the best heat pump offer to UK households, in a move to reduce energy bills for customers and decarbonise the heating of homes. Under the scheme, Halifax mortgage customers can get a heat pump installed from as little as £2,000*. Octopus Energy will provide and install the heat pumps, while Halifax will award a £1,000 Green Living Reward. The scheme, used in conjunction with a £5,000 government Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant, could mean heat pumps for some homes will cost less than many gas boilers**. The offer is designed to benefit the around 40% of UK homes (10 million) which are already suitable for heat pumps, or around 65% (14 million) with minor efficiency measures (such as loft insulation) carried out. The new scheme will also unlock greener energy for UK households. Air-source heat pumps are a low carbon source of heating – running on electricity, increasingly from renewable sources – and are 3-4 times more energy efficient than gas boilers. The news comes as UK homeowners face the worst cost of living crisis in a generation. Read More

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement under the Agency’s Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) program with Evergy Kansas Central Inc. at the company’s retired Tecumseh Energy Center coal-fired power plant in Tecumseh, Kansas.

In the settlement, Evergy will take certain actions to address potential groundwater contamination from a CCR impoundment at the Tecumseh site, under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

“The EPA is committed to ensuring that coal ash surface impoundments and landfills operate and close in a manner that protects public health and the environment,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The action will require Evergy to investigate and determine the extent of contamination from their operations.”

“EPA is encouraged by Evergy’s willingness to work cooperatively with EPA on this coal ash matter and its commitment to protecting Kansas waters,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “This settlement is an important step forward in the federal government’s nationwide effort to ensure energy providers clean up the harmful effects of CCR pollution.”

The settlement requires Evergy to assess the nature and extent of CCR contamination at a CCR impoundment at the Tecumseh site. Evergy will install additional monitoring wells, conduct groundwater sampling and analysis, and update closure plans for the facility’s CCR impoundment. If Evergy determines that remediation is necessary, then it will meet with EPA to discuss next steps. The company will also pay a civil penalty of $120,000.

Produced primarily from the burning of coal in coal-fired power plants, CCR is a large industrial waste stream by volume and can contain harmful levels of contaminants such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and cobalt. Without proper management, contaminants from CCR can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and the air. Read More

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced 31 teams as finalists for The Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar. The Sunny Awards is a $100,000 prize competition that recognizes community solar projects and programs that employ or develop best practices to increase equitable access to the meaningful benefits of community solar for subscribers and their communities.

The finalists, representing community solar champions in 13 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, will each receive $1,000 in cash prizes and will move on to compete for one of five $10,000 Grand Prize awards. Grand Prize winners are expected to be announced in early 2023.

The finalists are also eligible to win special recognition awards for excellence in providing a specific meaningful benefit of community solar, which may include greater household electricity bill savings, low- to moderate-income household access, resilience and grid benefits, community ownership and wealth building, equitable workforce development, and innovation in community engagement and impact. Read More

Coro Energy PLC, the South East Asian energy company with a natural gas and clean energy portfolio, announces that the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has now approved the updated Plan of Development for the Mako Gas Project within the Duyung PSC (the “Updated Mako PoD”). Details of the Updated Mako PoD were announced by the Company on 9 September 2022.

Highlights

· Indonesian Government has approved the Updated Mako PoD, representing an important milestone in the Mako Gas Project’s development.

· Updated Mako PoD based upon Contingent Duyung PSC Resources of 384 billion cubic feet gross within the Duyung PSC area which represents some 297 billion cubic feet net attributable* to 100% of the Duyung PSC Joint Venture.

· Indonesian government approval to export up to 100% of gas production to Singapore.

· The Operator is targeting production from the Mako Gas Project to commence in 2025 under the Updated Mako PoD at up to 120 million cubic feet of gas per day.

· Coro holds a 15% interest in the Duyung PSC in which the Mako Gas Project is located. Read More

Coro Energy Plc, the South East Asian energy company with a natural gas and clean energy portfolio, is delighted to announce the resumption of production at the Bezzecca gas field in Italy. The well demonstrated strong pressure support, giving good indications for production performance in line with previously announced expectations of c.15,000 scm/d. Stabilized production rates will be provided following an initial period to allow the necessary time for gas processing parameters to be adjusted.

James Parsons, Coro’s Chairman, commented: “I am delighted to announce that we have brought Bezzecca back into production which, together with the imminent resumption of Sillaro plus the current stable production from Casa Tiberi and Rapagnano, will increase cash flow generation from our Italian portfolio at an opportune time as spot gas prices escalate during the winter months.” Read More

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development and the African Development Bank Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their partnership to support sustainable economic and social development in Africa.

The agreement, signed at the 27th United Nations Climate Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 8 November, sets the scope for further strategic and operational cooperation through co-financing of public and private sector projects, joint diagnostic and analytical work, and sharing of knowledge and best practices.

The OPEC Fund and the African Development Bank Group have been partners since 1976.

They have so far co-financed nearly 90 projects in the energy, transport and water sectors, with more than $1 billion of OPEC Fund contribution for over $15 billion of the total project value. Read More

The World Bank Group announced today an innovative initiative to accelerate the pace of electrification in Africa to achieve universal access by 2030, according to a statement issued today by the multilateral lender.

The World Bank, IFC, and MIGA are launching a joint program to triple the electrification pace in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program will work with governments and the private sector to scale up private financing and deliver clean energy services through decentralized renewable energy solutions, such as mini-grids, off-grid solar markets, and systems for schools and health facilities, solar irrigation and cold chain for farmers, and innovative business models to displace diesel generation and improve access reliability.

The panel will discuss the importance of accelerating investment in distributed energy solutions and how innovative risk mitigation solutions can unlock barriers to investment. Insights will be provided by project developers, investors, and governments, who will highlight how political risk solutions could help mitigate some of the key risks while improving the viability of projects and accelerating scale. Read More

Investing an average of 1.4% of GDP annually could reduce emissions in developing countries by as much as 70% by 2050 and boost resilience, according to a new report from the World Bank Group.

The analysis, Climate and Development: An Agenda for Action, compiles and harmonizes results from the Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports, covering over 20 countries that account for 34% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It shows that investment needs are markedly higher in lower-income countries which are more vulnerable to climate risk, often exceeding 5% of GDP. These countries will need increased amounts of concessional finance and grants to manage climate change impacts and develop along a low-carbon path.

The report draws from the richness of the individual country reports and highlights lessons for countries on integrating climate and development objectives. Read More

The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) is taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from Nov. 6-18, 2022. Egypt’s vision as COP27 President is to move from negotiations and planning toward “full, timely, inclusive, and at-scale action on the ground.

Private sector involvement in climate action is key to closing the climate finance gap, which by some estimates ranges in trillions of dollars. MIGA’s ability to mobilize private capital is essential for unlocking private sector potential for addressing climate finance needs in developing countries. Read More

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $7,770,044 in research grant funding to 11 institutions to develop and evaluate innovative methods and approaches to inform our understanding of the human health risks that may result from exposure to chemical mixtures in the environment.

“Protecting public health is an essential part of EPA’s mission,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The research announced today will advance the science for evaluating mixtures of chemicals and their toxicity so we can better understand the human health impacts, and ultimately, better protect public health.” Read More

OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.

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