China ETS: Emissions trading volumes, prices recover
Trading volumes in China's national emissions trading scheme (ETS) rose fivefold this week, while prices edged higher.
The total open-bid transaction volume over 13-17 September was 32,090t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), compared with 6,312t CO2e last week. Volumes surged to 21,900t today, ahead of the mid-autumn festival that will close markets on 20-21 September.
This week's weighted-average price increased by 1pc from a week earlier to 43.99 yuan/t ($6.81/t). The closing price today was Yn43.43/t, down by 1.3pc from 10 September.
There were no bulk agreements traded for a third straight week.
Chinese authorities have been calling for improvements to the carbon pricing mechanism. China should develop rules to set emissions caps, which would create the basic foundation for an effective carbon trading market, and also include more emissions sectors and third-party participants in the ETS, the government-backed China Council for International Co-operation on Environment and Development (CCICED) said in a 10 September report.
The national ETS initially covers only thermal fuel-based power generation. Allowances have been awarded for free by the government, based on relative carbon-intensity benchmarks rather than absolute emissions, reducing incentives to trade on the ETS.
Weekly policy review
China will improve its voluntary greenhouse gas emission offset trading mechanism, while also including offset projects such as forestry carbon sinks, renewable energy and methane utilisation in the national ETS, top governing body the state council said this week. The comments were part of a guidance document on reforming the ecological protection compensation system, with the aim of increasing incentives for low-carbon projects and initiatives.
Shanghai's ecology and environment agency said this week it had begun preliminary work to include the petrochemical, chemical, steel, metal and aviation sectors in the national ETS, including emissions data reporting and accounting.
China is intensifying measures to clamp down on industrial energy consumption after some provinces missed their energy use and intensity targets in the first half of this year. The government will set total energy consumption quotas for each year and tighten approvals for new projects with high energy use and intensity, as well as ban approvals for new energy-intensive projects if a provincial government misses its energy-control target for a certain period, top economic planning agency the NDRC said.
The NDRC will also raise the frequency of energy use reviews of each province to quarterly instead of annually for the 2021-25 period.
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Japan’s Shikoku to shut Ikata reactor for maintenance
Japan’s Shikoku to shut Ikata reactor for maintenance
Osaka, 12 July (Argus) — Japanese utility Shikoku Electric Power is planning to shut down the 890MW Ikata No.3 nuclear reactor on 19 July, to carry out regular maintenance works. The absence of Shikoku's sole reactor could prompt the utility to boost thermal power generation at coal-, gas- and oil-fired units to meet expected rises in electricity consumption for cooling purposes during the peak summer demand season. The Ikata No.3 reactor is set to close for a three-month turnaround, after around 13 months of continuous operations. Shikoku plans to start test generation in the final phase of the maintenance on 30 September and complete the entire turnaround process on 25 October. The potential fall in nuclear output could theoretically increase LNG demand by 170,270t over August-September, assuming an average gas-fired generation efficiency of 50pc. Shikoku operates four thermal power plants, including the 1,385MW Sakaide gas- and oil-fired plant, 750MW Saijo coal-fired plant, 700MW Tachibanawn coal-fired plant and 450MW Anan oil-fed plant. Thermal capacity accounts for around 60pc of the utility's power portfolio. By Motoko Hasegawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia's Climate Active program drives ACCU demand
Australia's Climate Active program drives ACCU demand
Sydney, 12 July (Argus) — The Australian federal government-backed Climate Active certification program continued to drive voluntary demand for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) last year, although future growth remains uncertain as the scheme will undergo a planned reform. Cancellations of ACCUs for Climate Active certification reached 592,837 units in 2022, down from an all-time high of 625,705 in 2021, according to estimated data that the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) recently disclosed to Argus . Figures for 2023 are not yet available, according to the department, but cancellations may have reached a new high between 650,000-700,000 units, according to Argus estimates ( see table ). Each ACCU represents 1t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) stored or avoided by a project. The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) said it does not have a dataset of ACCU cancellations for Climate Active certification, despite having disclosed figures in some of its quarterly carbon market reports in recent years. It mentioned late last year that the program accounted for around 0.5mn of a total 0.8mn cancelled for voluntary purposes in the first three quarters of 2023, and later reported total voluntary cancellations of 290,146 units in the fourth quarter alone. Voluntary cancellations reached nearly 1.1mn units in 2023 , a new record high. Certification under the Climate Active standards is awarded to businesses that measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality. More than 700 certifications have been provided to entities including large and small businesses, local governments, and non-profit organisations. But significant changes in climate science, business practices and international benchmarks since the program was established in 2010 prompted the federal Labor government to seek modifications aimed at driving a more ambitious voluntary climate action in Australia, following its separate reform of the compliance market's safeguard mechanism . The DCCEEW late last year launched a consultation with proposals to reform Climate Active, which would require more climate ambition from businesses seeking to be certified under the program. The use of carbon credits to offset emissions that have not been reduced by businesses would be tightened, with a requirement that all eligible international offset units meet a five-year rolling vintage rule, replacing the existing post-2012 vintage requirement. Other proposals include mandating a minimum level of gross emissions reductions and a minimum percentage of renewable electricity use. "The government is working through feedback on these proposals and will announce the consultation outcome later this year," a DCCEEW spokesperson told Argus . No expected changes in eligible offsets ACCUs have been representing a small share of the total offsets used for Climate Active certification at between 5.7-10.8pc in recent years, despite the estimated record high last year, according to DCCEEW estimates ( see table ). Organisations can currently use certified emissions reductions (CERs) and removal units (RMUs) under the program, as well as verified carbon units (VCUs) from the Verra registry and verified emissions reductions (VERs) from Gold Standard. The DCCEEW did not provide a breakdown of cancelled volumes per credit type. No minimum use of ACCUs and no changes to the list of eligible international units are expected in the near term, following advice from a review from Australia's Climate Change Authority (CCA) in 2022. But some market participants have been asking for the removal of CERs, which account for the "vast majority" of carbon offsets surrendered by Australian organisations, according to utility AGL. CERs are "outdated", utility Origin Energy said in its submission to the Climate Active consultation. "We consider it would be consistent with international carbon reduction mechanisms to introduce a clear end date to phase out the use of CERs from the program and ensure greater alignment with the more relevant Paris Agreement," Origin said. "This reform is considered an immediate priority, and of more urgent need than some of the other proposals in this consultation." Uncertainties over future demand More investor and activist pressure in recent years over the use of carbon offsets with perceived low levels of integrity have also been forcing companies to review not only their offset standards, but also claims of ‘carbon neutrality' and similar terms. One of the DCCEEW's proposals is to discontinue the use of ‘carbon neutral' to describe the certified claim and to choose a different description. "A lot of the voluntary demand for carbon offsets in Australia has traditionally come from Climate Active, but the landscape is indeed moving quickly and the concept of carbon neutrality is being replaced by net zero," said Guy Dickinson, chief executive of Australia-based carbon offset services provider BetaCarbon and head of carbon trading at sister company Clima. This should drive more price stratification between carbon removals and carbon avoidance credits, he noted. Telecommunications firm Telstra, one of the biggest companies in Australia, recently announced it will stop using carbon offsets to focus instead on reducing its direct emissions. It will no longer seek Climate Active certification as a result and will remove references that its plans are ‘carbon neutral' or ‘carbon offset'. This could prompt other businesses to follow suit, market participants said. Another source of uncertainty over future voluntary demand comes from a DCCEEWW proposal that abatement from all ACCUs used under Climate Active would count towards meeting Australia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The use of ACCUs under the program have so far been treated as ‘additional' to Australia's emissions reduction target through accounting under the Kyoto Protocol. If the government goes ahead with such a proposal, this could disincentivise participation in Climate Active as organisations might consider this as "paying to help the government meet its targets through the voluntary action of businesses," utility EnergyAustralia warned in its submission. There has been increased interest in emerging and alternate standards to those acceptable under Climate Active, such as the American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve and Puro.Earth offsets, according to environmental marketplace Xpansiv's vice president of carbon and Australian energy, Peter Favretto. But Climate Active has reported positive growth in certified brands since its inception and will likely continue to create demand for offsets in the international voluntary market and the Australian ACCU market, he said. "With the upcoming mandatory climate reporting legislation in Australia , and a similar atmosphere in other global jurisdictions such as the US and the UK, there is a growing demand that could lead to further growth in Climate Active certifications," Favretto added. By Juan Weik ACCUs used for Climate Active certification units Year Volume Total voluntary ACCU use Climate Active % 2019 243,105 329,145 73.9 2020 417,405 605,499 68.9 2021 625,705 844,445 74.1 2022 592,837 855,081 69.3 2023 650,000-700,000* 1,090,575 60-64* DCCEEW, CER *Argus estimates Total offsets under Climate Active unit Year ACCUs Total offsets ACCUs % 2019 243,105 4,230,011 5.7 2020 417,405 6,857,628 6.1 2021 625,705 5,796,466 10.8 2022 592,837 7,472,711 7.9 DCCEEW Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Boeing used less SAF in 2023 than planned
Boeing used less SAF in 2023 than planned
New York, 10 July (Argus) — US aerospace manufacturer Boeing used less sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2023 than it had initially planned, citing "supply chain issues." Boeing doubled its internal SAF consumption in 2023 compared with year-prior levels according to its latest sustainability report, with the fuel making up about 3pc of its total aviation fuel use over the year. But the company's use of around 478,000 USG neat SAF in its own operations was still less than its previously announced purchase commitments. Boeing early last year committed to funding 5.6mn USG of blended SAF from Finnish biofuels producer Neste over the course of 2023, with 2.6mn USG to be used directly by Boeing and another 3mn USG to support SAF use elsewhere as part of a book-and-claim accounting process. Since the Neste blend contains about 70pc conventional jet fuel, the Boeing commitment in essence was to purchase and use within its own operations about 780,000 USG neat SAF. But Boeing's direct SAF consumption last year, which reflects fuel used internally and not fuel it supported for use elsewhere, was around 61pc of its earlier purchase agreement. The company, confirming the discrepancy, said not all the planned 2.6mn USG were received because of "supply chain issues" but declined to elaborate further. Under the initial deal, Epic Fuels and its parent company Signature Aviation were supposed to supply 2.3mn USG of the Neste blend to Boeing, while Avfuel was supposed to supply 300,000 USG. Avfuel manager of alternative fuels Keith Sawyer told Argus that it ended up supplying more than the planned 300,000 USG at Boeing's request last year and that the fuel supplier is on track to meet its obligations to supply 1.5mn USG of blended SAF to Boeing this year. Epic Fuels and Neste declined comment. Boeing has set plans to use 4mn USG of the same Neste SAF blend in its own operations this year, with some coming from Epic and some from Avfuel, and to purchase SAF certificates associated with 5.4mn USG of blended SAF used elsewhere. Boeing added that SAF, which today mostly comes from hydrotreated vegetable oils and waste fats, is "the biggest lever for the industry to decarbonize by 2050." The company plans to use more of the fuel internally and to ensure that all the commercial airplanes it produces are compatible with 100pc SAF by 2030. In short supply Aviation companies see SAF as crucial for meeting climate goals, though usage to date has been limited by SAF's steep premium to conventional jet fuel. Though prices for SAF delivered to the US west coast have recently fallen on expectations of higher supply, it is still more than twice as expensive as conventional jet according to Argus assessments. The fuel's growth thus hinges on government policy, but low environmental credit prices in the US and uncertainty about a clean fuels tax credit kicking off next year have created a difficult investment environment for biofuels producers. Few potential suppliers and thin market liquidity then make it hard for prospective customers to rapidly scale up their SAF consumption. American Airlines for instance wants to replace 10pc of its jet fuel with SAF by 2030, but the US airline reported in its own sustainability report last week that it used 2.7mn USG SAF in 2023, an increase from the prior year but still less than 0.1pc of its total fuel use. Chief executive Robert Isom said that "we've signed commitments with multiple SAF producers, at a premium, to try to secure supply" but that "the volume of SAF available today and likely to be ready over the next several years is a tiny fraction of what's needed." By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Taiwan's Taipower ends Hsinta biomass conversion plan
Taiwan's Taipower ends Hsinta biomass conversion plan
Singapore, 10 July (Argus) — Taiwanese state-owned utility Taipower has terminated its plan to convert a coal-fired generation unit into a dedicated biomass unit at its Hsinta power plant in Kaohsiung city. Taipower had set up a task force in 2022 to facilitate the usage of biomass by converting the fuel used at the Hsinta unit 1 from coal to wood pellets. But Taipower has decided to terminate the plan to follow "government instructions", it said. The four coal-fired units at the Hsinta power plant will remain "at readiness" in line with national security reasons, following government instructions, Taipower said. Taipower's related sectors will continue to evaluate suitable locations for the use of wood pellets, the company added. The plan to convert the 500MW coal-fired unit was in March pushed back to up to 2030 . The coal-fired unit was part of two units decommissioned in late 2023. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 4.3GW. The unit was planned to be converted by 2025, but this was subsequently delayed to 2027. Taiwan has already decided to stop building new coal-fired power plants by 2025 and build a zero-carbon fuel supply system, according to Taiwan's Pathway to Net Zero Emissions in 2050 report. Taiwan currently generates over 40pc of its electricity from coal, with its coal-fired power plants generating 119.9TWh out of a total 281.4TWh in 2023, according to data from Taiwan's energy bureau. The country imported 58.9mn t of thermal coal last year, down by 6.9pc from 2022. Taiwan imported 4.99mn t of thermal coal in May , little changed from a year earlier but up from 4.91mn t in April, preliminary data released by Taiwanese customs last month show. Taiwan bought 22.7mn t of imported thermal coal between January-May, slipping from 23mn t a year earlier. By Andrew Jones Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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