Germany proposes a law to accelerate geothermal and renewable heat expansion
The German economy ministry released a draft bill on Friday, which would speed up the expansion of geothermal projects. Berlin is aiming to eliminate the use of fossil-fuels for heating systems by the year 2045. A Fraunhofer Institute study from 2023 showed that Germany has some of Europe's biggest geothermal resources, which could provide more than a quarter its annual heating needs. Local resistance and red tape have long slowed down development. The new bill simplifies approval procedures for geothermal, heat pump, heat storage and heating pipelines.
Brazil increases biofuels, sees self-sufficiency in gasoline
The Brazilian National Energy Policy Council approved an increase in the amount of biofuels blended into fossil fuels on Wednesday. This move was also hailed by renewable energy lobbyists who had earlier claimed that the blends wouldn't be changed this coming year. Pietro Mendes from the Energy Ministry's Oil and Gas Department announced the changes during a press conference. Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Mines and Energy at the event, also stated that a change in the mandate for biofuels would allow Brazil to become "gasoline-independent for the first 15 years".
UK Issues Environmental Guidance on New North Sea Oil and Gas Drilling
The UK published long-awaited guidance on environmental issues that will impact future developments of two North Sea oil and natural gas fields, including Shell and Equinor. The guidelines explain how future government decisions on extraction should treat greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas, also known as downstream emissions or Scope 3. The government ordered the document after a Supreme Court decision last year that said planning authorities had to consider the impact of greenhouse gas emissions when approving a well near Gatwick Airport.
UK releases environmental guidance that will impact North Sea drilling
The UK published environmental guidelines on Thursday, which will impact future developments of two North Sea oil and natural gas fields. Shell and Equinor are among the companies that are expected to benefit. The guidelines outlines how future government decisions on extraction should treat greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas, also known as downstream emissions. It is a significant step in ensuring that the full impacts of oil and natural gas extraction for potential projects are taken into consideration and we can ensure a managed and prosperous transition to a clean energy future in the North Sea…
US Supreme Court tests which courts can hear EPA Cases
Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court set rules for determining when cases challenging the actions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency relating to air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions are heard by regional appellate courts or a Washington appeals court that hears many regulatory cases. The ruling of 7-2 held that the U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit and not the 5th U.S. based in New Orleans, should hear the lawsuits challenging actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Tighter Emissions Regulations, Slower Economy to Soften Marine Fuel Demand
Stricter environmental regulations and slower global economic growth will soften marine fuel demand in the coming years, the International Energy Agency said in its annual report on Tuesday.Marine fuel sales jumped last year due to Red Sea disruptions that made shipping companies take longer routes.But demand for those fuels, also called bunkers, could flatline at around 5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024-2030, because of weak underlying shipping growth and rising costs from tougher maritime environmental standards…
What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a comprehensive budget package which would meet many of the priorities of President Donald Trump. The Republican-led Senate will now consider the package, and it is likely that significant changes will be made. The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation have provided cost estimates for the main elements of the package. CBO estimates that the bill will add $2.4 trillion over ten years to the $36.2 trillion debt, reduce revenues by 3.67 trillion and reduce spending by $1.25 billion.
Experts say that Australia's investment in natural gas threatens its climate credentials
Experts and two Pacific Climate Ministers say that Australia's approval for a 40-year project extension has undermined its bid to be the host of a United Nations Climate Summit next year, and its green credentials. The centre-left government that came to power in 2022, with a mandate to reform climate policy, has approved Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf Project to continue until 2070. This is subject to a review. The company and energy industry hailed the move, citing the continued operation of LNG plants as an alternative fuel to coal.
NYT reports that US EPA wants the greenhouse gas limitations on power plants to be removed.
New York Times, citing agency documents, reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had drafted a proposal to eliminate all restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gasfired power stations in the United States. According to a NYT report, the EPA argued that greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide from power plants burning fossil fuels do not "contribute significantly" to dangerous pollution or climate change. This is because these emissions are a small part of global emissions and they are declining.
Solar stocks plunge after Trump's tax plan advances in US House
The shares of U.S. Solar companies dropped sharply on Thursday in premarket trading after the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's tax and spending plan, which could end many green-energy subsides that supported the renewable energy industry. Sunrun was the worst hit, with a share price drop of up to 33%. Complete Solaria dropped by nearly 22%, while Enphase Energy and Maxeon Solar, as well as SolarEdge Technologies, fell between 10% and 15%. First Solar, Canadian Solar, and JinkoSolar all saw their shares fall by 6.5%, 10% and 2.3% respectively.
What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan
Republicans in Congress are advancing a sweeping package of budget cuts and spending reductions that would meet President Donald Trump's demands. However, details need to be worked out. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and the Congressional Budget Office have estimated the impact of this plan on the budget for the next ten years. (Cost: $2.2 trillion) Makes permanent lower income tax rates that were set to expire in Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Increases the alternative minimum tax exemption. (Cost: $1.3 trillion) Increases the standard deduction by $1,000 up to $1,500.
Last-ditch lobbying campaign aims to save Biden’s clean-energy tax credit
Trade groups in the U.S. Energy Industry have launched a last minute lobbying campaign to urge Congress to spare former President Joe Biden’s clean energy tax credit from being cut out of the Republican budget plan. The House Ways and Means Committee proposed on Monday that several lucrative subsidies in Biden's signature climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, be phased out or cancelled. Several subsidies related to solar and wind power, hydrogen and other technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions are on the table. Over the next few days, lawmakers will amend and pass the tax package.
What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan?
Republicans in Congress have proposed a sweeping package of budget cuts and spending reductions that would meet President Donald Trump's demands. However, details are still to be worked out. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and Congressional Budget Office have estimated the major components of the package as well as the impact on budgets over the next ten years. The list excludes smaller elements from each section. (Cost: $2.2 trillion) Makes permanent lower income tax rates that were set to expire in Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Increase the standard deduction by $1,000, to $1.500, until 2029.
What is in the Republican health and tax plan and what's not?
Republicans in Congress released the first drafts of a sweeping package to reduce taxes and spend less, which would satisfy President Donald Trump’s call to do so. However, many details need to be worked out. Here's a summary on what they've proposed so far and what has been left out. Budget estimates for the next 10 year period are provided by both the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) and the Congressional Budget Office. What's in the Taxes? Permanently extends the lower tax rates that Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will expire in 2025. Increases the standard deduction from $1,000 to $1500 by 2029.
Trump administration sues Hawaii and Michigan to block planned lawsuits on climate change
The Trump administration sued Hawaii and Michigan in an attempt to prevent them from suing major oil companies for their role in climate changes. They accused the Democratic-led state of overreach, and threatening domestic energy production. A lawsuit has not been filed by either state. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said to a local television station that Hawaii plans to sue fossil-fuel companies by Thursday. Last year, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel retained law firms in order to represent the state in climate-change litigation. In a lawsuit filed late Wednesday night in Hawaii and Michigan, the U.S.
The Trump administration sueded Michigan to stop a planned climate change lawsuit
The Trump administration sued Michigan to stop it from suing oil companies for their role in climate change. They claimed that the Democratic-led Michigan was blocking domestic energy production. In a late-night lawsuit filed in Michigan, the U.S. Department of Justice said that the state's intention to sue would have an "extraordinary extraterritorial scope" and undermine federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions as well as the administration's goals for foreign policy. The state hasn't filed the lawsuit yet. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is a Democrat.
Japan's greenhouse gases emissions drop 4% to a record low in FY23/24
Government data released on Friday showed that Japan's greenhouse gases emissions dropped by 4%, reaching a new record low for the fiscal year ending March 2024. This was due to lower energy consumption, increased use of renewable energies, and restarting nuclear power plants. The data of the Environment Ministry showed that emissions for 2023/24 dropped from 1.116 billion to 1.071 billion tons of carbon dioxide. This is the second consecutive year that the figure has declined. The industrial sector experienced a decline of 4%, while the commercial sector and service sector suffered a drop of 6.2%.
Government data shows that Britain's greenhouse gases emissions decreased by 4% between 2024 and 2025.
The government released preliminary data on Thursday showing that Britain's greenhouse gases (GHGs) will fall by 4% between 2024 and 2025. This is due to the closing of the last coal-fired plant in the country, and the reduction in emissions from the industrial sector. Britain's goal is to achieve net zero emissions in 2050. This will require an increase in renewable energy and the switch to cleaner electric cars. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, or DESNZ, said that total greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be 371 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2024.
Nigeria’s Refining Revolution is Reshaping West Africa’s Energy Landscape
The launch of the Dangote Refinery near the Port of Lagos presents an exciting opportunity to transform the energy and shipping markets in West Africa. And it stands to boost Nigeria’s role as an influential player in the global oil industry, fostering economic growth and regional development.Nigeria’s standing in the global energy landscape is getting a boost with domestic refining capacity expanding in 2025. The Dangote Refinery near Lagos presents a transformative opportunity for Nigeria’s economy and is expected to reshape global tanker routes and trade flows.The country has long been a leading exporter of crude oil…
Bosch plans to generate billions of dollars in revenue from hydrogen by starting production of electrolyser components
Bosch announced on Wednesday that it will start producing electrolyser parts for hydrogen production and expects its hydrogen business revenue to reach billions of Euros by 2030. Germany is looking to increase its reliance on hydrogen for future energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from highly polluting industries that can't be electrified, such as steel or chemicals. It also wants to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel imports. Hydrogen is made by electrolysers that use energy to split water into hydrogen.
