Net zero
Overview
Energy transition offers tough challenges and huge opportunities. Far from affecting only the power sector, all major industries are looking to transform how they produce, store, transport and consume energy. The need for authoritative information on fuels, industrial heat, power and chemical raw materials has never been greater.
Argus is helping companies to understand the landscape of the emerging net zero economy. Our global ecosystem of energy experts provides an industry-grounded understanding of each aspect of how your firm can better navigate the journey to net zero status.
Net zero market coverage
Argus is a leading independent provider of market intelligence to the global energy and commodity markets. Our price assessments and market intelligence are available for all major commodities driving the journey to net zero. Explore our coverage most relevant to your business.
Latest net zero news
Browse the latest market moving news from across key energy transition markets.
Brazil narrows lower biofuel mix mandate in south
Brazil narrows lower biofuel mix mandate in south
Sao Paulo, 10 May (Argus) — Brazil's oil regulator ANP dialed back the reduced biofuels mandatory blend in Rio Grande do Sul state to four cities amid the recent flooding in the region. Low blending areas now apply only to the cities of Canoas, Esteio, Rio Grande and Santa Maria. The measure will still last for 30 days, starting on 4 May. ANP lowered the anhydrous ethanol blend on gasoline to 21pc from the current 27pc in the entire state earlier this week , while pushing the mandatory biodiesel mix for 10ppm (S10) diesel down to 2pc, from the usual 14pc. The agency also temporarily suspended the blending mandate for diesel with 500ppm of sulfur (S500). ANP said it decreased the exemption's coverage as it identified "that the supply situation in the rest of the state had stabilized." Rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul blocked railways and highways where biofuels are transported to retail hubs. Floods in the state have left at least 116 dead and 143 missing, according to the local government. By Laura Guedes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil reports more off-spec biodiesel March-April
Brazil reports more off-spec biodiesel March-April
Sao Paulo, 10 May (Argus) — The rate of Brazilian biodiesel falling below required blending limits nearly tripled in March and April after the mandate was increased to 14pc, according to a government analysis. Hydrocarbons regulator ANP's Fuel Quality Monitoring Program (PMQC) found 271 instances of biodiesel below the required level between 1 March — when the blending mandate was increased from 12pc to 14pc — and 30 April. In January and February the PMQC found 97 instances of blends that did not meet the 12pc level. An increase in missed blending targets is common during transitions to higher blending levels, according to the agency, mainly due to difficulties in depleting inventories of the lower-level blend. Several plants claim that a slowdown in biodiesel withdrawals in the first four months of the year also contributed to challenges in complying with the new blending level. Some retailers' loss of market share has also been cited as an aggravating factor. In March, 154 recorded instances of non-compliance covered blending levels between 12.3pc and 13.9pc, according to ANP data. In April, there were 101 occurrences within the 12.3pc and 13.9pc range. Another eight instances of non-compliance were also recorded in each of March and April. The PMQC is a monitoring program and does not have the same effect on market behavior as inspections, according to ANP. "It is used as one of the intelligence vectors for the planning of ANP's inspection actions," the agency said. Only irregularities identified in the context of inspectios can result in fines levied against fuel distributors. By Alexandre Melo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan Airport Terminal, Euglena eye SAF supply chain
Japan Airport Terminal, Euglena eye SAF supply chain
Tokyo, 10 May (Argus) — Japan's biofuel producer Euglena and airport operator Japan Airport Terminal (JAT) plan to explore commercial delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to aircrafts at Haneda airport in Tokyo. Euglena and Japan Airport Terminal signed an initial agreement on 8 May to build a commercial SAF supply chain at Haneda airport, aiming to ship up to 50,000 kilolitre (kl)/yr. This will account for 23pc of the 220,000 kl/yr SAF that Haneda airport will require in the future to attain Japan's 2030 SAF supply goal. Japan aims to replace 10pc of conventional aviation fuel consumption with SAF within the country by 2030. Euglena plans to procure SAF from its 12,500 b/d biorefinery in Malaysia that is expected to begin commercial operations in 2025. Euglena has co-operated with Malaysian state-owned energy firm Petronas and Italian energy firm Eni to build the plant. Euglena also issued its first ¥1bn ($6.4mn) green bond to Japan Airport Terminal for building the commercial biofuel manufacturing plant. Euglena is a producer of biofuel called Susteo, which contains used cooking oil (UCO) as well as euglena oils and fats extracted from microalgae as raw materials. Susteo generates CO2 during the fuel combustion stage but the plants, which are the raw material for UCO, and euglena microalgae absorb CO2 during photosynthesis as they grow. The company in 2022 provided Susteo to government aircraft . Japan's SAF demand is estimated to reach 1.7mn kl/yr by 2030, comprising 880,000kl for domestic flights and 830,000kl for international flights, according to the ministry of land, infrastructure and transportation. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s J-Power steps up coal-fired power phase-out
Japan’s J-Power steps up coal-fired power phase-out
Osaka, 10 May (Argus) — Japanese power producer and wholesaler J-Power is stepping up efforts to halt operations of inefficient coal-fired power plants, while pushing ahead with decarbonisation of its existing plants by using clean fuels and technology. J-Power plans to scrap the 500MW Matsushima No.1 coal-fired unit by the end of March 2025 and the 250MW Takasago No.1 and No.2 coal-fired units by 2030, according to its 2024-26 business strategy announced on 9 May. It also aims to decommission or mothball the 700MW Takehara No.3 and the 1,000MW Matsuura No.1 coal-fired units in 2030. The combined capacity of the selected five coal-fired units accounts for 32pc of J-Power's total thermal capacity of 8,412MW, all fuelled by coal. While phasing out its ageing coal-fired capacity, J-Power is looking to co-fire with fuel ammonia at the 2,100MW Tachibanawan coal-fired plant sometime after 2030 and ensure it runs on 100pc ammonia subsequently. The company plans to increase the mixture of biomass at the 600MW Takehara No.1 unit, along with the installation of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology after 2030. The CCS technology will be also applied to the 1,000MW Matsuura No.2 unit, which is expected to co-fire ammonia, after 2030. J-Power plans to use hydrogen at the 1,200MW Isogo plant sometime after 2035. The company is also set to deploy integrated coal gasification combined-cycle and CCS technology at the 500MW Matsushima No.2 unit and the 150MW Ishikawa No.1 and No.2 units after 2035. The company aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions from its domestic power generation by 46pc by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year against 2013-14 levels before achieving a net zero emissions goal by 2050. This is in line with Tokyo's emissions reduction target. The company aims to expand domestic annual renewable output by 4TWh by 2030-31 compared with 2022-23, along with decarbonising thermal capacity. Its renewable generation totalled 10.4TWh in 2023-24. Tokyo has pledged to phase out existing inefficient coal-fired capacity by 2030, which could target units with less than 42pc efficiency. The country's large-scale power producers have reduced annual power output from their inefficient coal-fired fleet by 13TWh to 103TWh in 2022-23 against 2019-20, according to a document unveiled by the trade and industry ministry on 8 May. It expects such power generation will fall further by more than 60TWh to 39.700TWh in 2030-31. Global pressure against coal-fired power generation has been growing. Energy ministers from G7 countries in late April pledged to phase out "unabated coal power generation" by 2035 or "in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with countries' net zero pathways". By Motoko Hasegawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts covering net zero markets around the globe.
Net Zero Transition: biomass markets- South America
Podcast - 24/04/24Chemical Conversations: Petcore Europe on Recycled Polymers Outlook for 2024
WhitePaper - 16/04/24Hydrogen: incentives and support initiatives lighten the load 2024
Argus and LSEG have collaborated on a new insight paper that unpacks a dynamic 2024 hydrogen landscape and looks at some key policies, incentives and related developments across the globe.
Explore our net zero products
Whether you’re looking for independent spot price assessments, the latest industry news or long-term market analysis, we have the solutions you need for biofuels, electric power, hydrogen, ammonia, battery materials, biomass and more. Explore our range of our services.
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.