Nuclear Shutdown Means Japan Must Abandon Carbon Emission Targets

James Burgess: Nuclear Shutdown Means Japan Must Abandon Carbon Emission Targets
In 2009 the Japanese government signed a pledge to cut their carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2020, however following the disaster at Fukushima in 2011 and the subsequent collapse of public confidence in nuclear power, this target may have to be abandoned.  Nuclear power plants used to provide a large portion of Japanese electricity, and formed the backbone of their renewable energy sector and the plans to reduce carbon emissions. After the meltdown at Fukushima all 54 of the nation's nuclear reactors were shut down in order to undergo maintenance and testing, and have yet to be restarted.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration has now released figures which suggest that the gap left by nuclear power is being filled by larger use of fossil fuels. From January to April of this year the amount of electricity generated from natural gas, coal, and oil based power plants was up 40 percent compared to the same time last year. Fossil fuels now provide 90 percent of Japans electricity, rather than the 64 percent from last year.

Cutting carbon emissions without financial risk

Cutting carbon emissions without financial risk - lessons from London on Environmental Expert
World attention has been drawn to London England this week with media coverage of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee and the run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games due to open in less than 60 days.
And while the Olympic organizers have promised to deliver the most sustainable Olympics ever, the host city of London is also working to become one of the greenest cities in the world.  London's Mayor, Boris Johnson has committed the city to targets that could reduce the capital's CO2 emissions and energy consumption by 60% by 2025.

Poland accrues spare EUAs, could sell this year

Poland accrues spare EUAs, could sell this year - News - Point Carbon
Poland has amassed an undisclosed number of EU Allowances after several installations in the country closed earlier this year, and the government has started preparations to allow for their sale before the end of 2012, Poland’s environment ministry said this week...

Irena Says Renewable Energy May Create 4 Million Jobs by 2030

Irena Says Renewable Energy May Create 4 Million Jobs by 2030 - Bloomberg
The International Renewable Energy Agency said the United Nation’s goal of providing sustainable energy for all by 2030 may create up to 4 million jobs in the off-grid electricity industry alone.
The renewable energy companies currently employ 5 million people, Rabia Ferroukhi, senior programme officer at Irena’s Policy Advice and Capacity Building Directorate, said at a press conference in Abu Dhabi today.  “There is considerable employment potential in the downstream linkages, particularly in the distribution, sales, installation, operation and service of such systems, which can be enhanced if well integrated with local commercial activities,” said Adnan Z. Amin, Irena’s director-general.

China Calls on Foreign Embassies to Halt Pollution Data

China Calls on Foreign Embassies to Halt Pollution Data - Bloomberg
China called on foreign embassies to stop publishing data on air pollution levels in the country, saying that the Chinese government has the sole authority to release such information.  Foreign embassies that release such data are interfering in China’s internal affairs, Wu Xiaoqing, a vice minister of environmental protection, told reporters yesterday, according to a transcript posted on the State Council Information Office’s website. Wu didn’t specifically identify the U.S., which publishes hourly pollution readings for the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou on Twitter.  The U.S. pollution measurements have been a source of tension because the data periodically paints a worse picture of pollution levels than do Chinese readings. Data published by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, which measures pollutants of 2.5 micrometers in size, contributed earlier this year to a public outcry for China to move more quickly to the same standard.

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EUA	Dec 2012	6.49	0.00
sCER	Dec 2012	3.38	0.00

 

 

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06 Jun 2012 18:53

Poland accrues spare EUAs, could sell this year

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters Point Carbon) – Poland has amassed an undisclosed number of EU Allowances af…

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Markets

06 Jun 2012 13:46

Deeper carbon goal drops off EU agenda

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters Point Carbon) – EU environment ministers will not try to agree a long term e…

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06 Jun 2012 17:50

German coal-fired power output climbs 10 pct in Q1

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters Point Carbon) - German coal and lignite-fired power plants produced 10 perce…

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06 Jun 2012 18:30

EUAs drift lower as supply fears trump higher equities, oil

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters Point Carbon) - EU carbon allowances dipped 0.5 percent on Wednesday as fear…

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06 Jun 2012 19:58

Greens sue New Jersey governor for RGGI pull-out

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters Point Carbon) – Two green groups filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Ne…

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06 Jun 2012 20:14

Commission proposes tougher EU car CO2 standards

BRUSSELS, June 6 (Reuters) - The European Commission is set to propose tighter carbon emissions stan…

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06 Jun 2012 10:41

China could exclude power sector from CO2 trading scheme

BEIJING, June 6 (Reuters) - China will continue to keep electricity prices steady even if its stance…

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Deeper carbon goal drops off EU agenda

Deeper carbon goal drops off EU agenda - News - Point Carbon
EU environment ministers will not try to agree a long term emission strategy at a June 11 summit after Germany withdrew its request for the issue to be discussed...

Energy-dense biofuel from cellulose close to being economical

Energy-dense biofuel from cellulose close to being economical Latest News - Editorial, Grain & Cattle Markets, Current Stories
A new Purdue University-developed process for creating biofuels has shown potential to be cost-effective for production scale, opening the door for moving beyond the laboratory setting.  A Purdue economic analysis shows that the cost of the thermo-chemical H2Bioil method is competitive when crude oil is about $100 per barrel when using certain energy methods to create hydrogen needed for the process. If a federal carbon tax were implemented, the biofuel would become even more economical.  H2Bioil is created when biomass, such as switchgrass or corn stover, is heated rapidly to about 500 degrees Celcius in the presence of pressurized hydrogen. Resulting gases are passed over catalysts, causing reactions that separate oxygen from carbon molecules, making the carbon molecules high in energy content, similar to gasoline molecules.

Exxon Invests in Australia Coal-Seam-Gas Venture

Exxon Invests in Australia Coal-Seam-Gas Venture - WSJ.com
Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM +2.31% is taking a 10% stake in a joint venture to explore for gas trapped in Australian coal seams, placing a bet on an unconventional fuel that has attracted billions of dollars of investment in Australia and become one of the world's hottest energy plays.  Exxon's Esso Ventures unit is teaming up with closely held Ignite Energy Resources Ltd. to explore and potentially develop reserves of methane gas occurring naturally in more than 16 billion metric tons of brown coal close to the surface in the Gippsland Basin of southeastern Victoria state, and more than 280 billion tons in deeper seams.

Chesapeake Is Said to Discuss $4 Billion Pipeline Sale

Chesapeake Is Said to Discuss $4 Billion Pipeline Sale - Bloomberg
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) is in advanced talks to sell pipelines to Global Infrastructure Partners for more than $4 billion, said two people with knowledge of the matter.  The Oklahoma-City based energy explorer, facing a $22 billion cash-flow shortfall after natural-gas prices touched a decade low, is discussing selling its entire stake in Chesapeake Midstream Partners LP (CHKM) and other pipeline assets, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are private. The negotiations may lead to a deal within days and could also fall apart, the people said.  Chesapeake Midstream operates pipeline networks in Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and other gas-producing states, and had 3,953 miles (6,360 kilometers) of pipe as of March 31. The partnership gets about 75 percent of its revenue from Chesapeake Energy, with the remainder from energy producers such as France’s Total SA (FP) and Norwegian oil company Statoil ASA. (STL) Chesapeake Energy also owned 1,950 miles of pipelines separate from the Midstream partnership as of Dec. 31.

China picks stable power prices over emissions targets

China picks stable power prices over emissions targets | Reuters

China will continue to keep electricity prices steady even if its stance complicates efforts to rein in runaway energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, an official of the country's state planning agency said on Wednesday.  China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gas and its coal-heavy power sector generates more than half of total emissions.  But while Beijing has made broad commitments to reform the pricing system, it fears nationwide tariff increases could stoke inflation and even create social unrest.

Fish Heads to Chicken Fat Light Homes, Cut Retailer Costs

Fish Heads to Chicken Fat Light Homes, Cut Retailer Costs - Bloomberg
Fish heads and chicken fat are being turned into electricity by the U.K.’s largest retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) that ship food waste to power plants to reduce garbage-removal fees.
Tesco Plc (TSCO), Britain’s biggest supermarket chain, along with Marks & Spencer Group Plc (MKS), John Lewis Partnership Plc’s Waitrose, William Morrison Supermarkets Plc (MRW) and J Sainsbury Plc are testing how meat and fish, cooking oils and leftover sandwiches can lower energy bills and landfill costs when they’re transported to plants for converting into power.  Companies around the world have invested about $18.2 billion in waste-to-energy assets in the past five years, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Waste Management Inc. (WM), North America’s biggest trash hauler, purchased stakes in eight companies developing systems to convert rubbish into electricity, fuel and chemicals. In Brazil, cities are building incinerators that burn trash to produce electricity.  Bioenergy can provide at least 8 percent of the U.K.’s demand by 2020, valued at about $13 billion at today’s oil prices, the government forecasts.