Japanese firms develop hydrogen engines for large ships

Spanish Market: Emissions, Hydrogen, Oil products
27/04/21

Japanese engine manufacturers have teamed up to attempt develop hydrogen marine engines for large coastal and ocean-going ships by around 2025, as part of efforts to help the country's shipbuilders fast-track development of hydrogen-fuelled vessels.

Japanese firms Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Yanmar Power Technology and Japan Engine today agreed to form a consortium to develop hydrogen-fuelled engines for large commercial vessels operating on domestic and international routes. The group is also targeting to achieve system integration that brings together hydrogen storage and fuelling equipment with a hydrogen fuel propulsion system.

The companies are targeting to complete developing a line of products that can meet various requirements for use as a main or auxiliary marine engine or a power generator. KHI is planning to develop a medium-speed four-stroke engine. Yanmar will work at developing medium- and high-speed four stroke engines, while Japan Engine is to tackle completing low-speed two-stroke engines.

KHI and Yanmar are already participating in projects to develop small hydrogen-powered ferries for domestic routes. KHI and other Japanese firms, including shipping firm NYK Line, are planning to launch pilot operations of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell passenger ferry at Yokohama port in 2024. Yanmar is co-operating with Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Line's subsidiary Mol Techno-Trade in developing a small hydrogen-fuelled ferry.

Japan is awaiting the official launch of the HydroBingo, the first hydrogen-powered vessel to operate in the country. The 19 gross tonne hydrogen-fuelled ferry is developed by Belgian shipping firm CMB and Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Facilities & Craft.

Demand for hydrogen as a marine fuel is expected to expand as the international shipping industry strives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50pc by 2050 compared with 2008 levels. A number of countries, including Japan, have also toughened their greenhouse gas commitments to achieve decarbonisation by 2050, prompting Japanese shipbuilders to speed up a shift to greener and zero-emissions vessels and tap decarbonisation potential in competition against their Chinese and South Korean rivals.

By Rieko Suda

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15/11/24

Climate finance talks halt, parties fail to cut options

An ‘ambitious and realistically achievable' agreement in Baku seems unreachable at present, write Georgia Gratton and Caroline Varin London, 15 November (Argus) — Parties at the UN Cop 29 climate summit are tonight considering a third draft for a new climate finance goal, but it is lengthy, fails to bridge long-standing divisions and still lacks a position on the amount to be provided by developed countries. Agreement on finance is key to ensuring all countries can implement energy transitions and cut emissions in line with the Paris accord. Developed countries agreed in 2009 to deliver $100bn/yr in finance in 2020-25 to developing nations, and Cop 29 is focused on the next iteration of this — the new collective quantified goal. The draft is riddled with options and brackets — not uncommon in the first week of Cop negotiations. But it still has every opinion given in the past year on offer, so parties have a long road ahead to reach agreement. "We cannot afford to leave too much ground to be covered later in the summit," Cop 29 lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev said this week. Developed nations have not yet settled on a sum, but are promoting a "multi-layered goal" and want to expand the contributor base. Developing countries are now pushing for sub-targets of $220bn/yr for least developed countries and $39bn/yr for small island developing states, while broadly calling for climate public finance of over $1 trillion/yr, mostly in grant and concessional finance. EU negotiator Jacob Werksman struck a pessimistic tone earlier this week, saying parties are far apart and that it is hard to see where the landing zone lies. Parties stuck to their guns at a high-level meeting. "The support goal should be both ambitious and realistically achievable," the US negotiator said — echoing Belgium's representative almost word for word. Developed countries called for more contributors, including from developing countries in a position to contribute. UN climate body the UNFCCC works from a list of developed and developing countries from 1992 — delineating 24 countries plus the EU as developed — and many of these note that their economic circumstances have changed over the past 32 years. Parties such as the UK called for increased mobilisation of private-sector finance, through multilateral development banks, whose reforms should be accelerated, while Sweden called for enhancing the mobilisation of domestic finance. But these issues are largely outside Cop's remit, although they might get more of a platform at next week's G20 discussions. Panama's representative called for trillions, Guatemala said that "finance must be more accessible", with Colombia saying that it is currently "entangled" in development agencies. Zimbabwe told fellow negotiators that it was crucial that developing countries' debt burdens were not increased. Ministerial progress Werksman is hoping for some compromise next week, when ministers join negotiations. Parties had in October reached some convergence after a series of ministerial meetings ahead of Cop 29. He pointed to a finance report released this week by a UN-mandated group that, he said, could guide policy makers. Private finance could meet around half of the funds that developing countries need — $1 trillion/yr by 2030 and $1.3 trillion/yr by 2035 — the group said. The possibility of levies — on shipping and air travel — as well as on fossil fuel producers, is likely to be floated too. Many jurisdictions, including the EU, have previously called for taxes and levies to be imposed to provide further climate finance. Colombia called for increased action on global taxation. But "that requires very careful consideration before we stunt some of our industries", Egypt's representative said. Tanzania and Marshall Islands delegates reiterated that finance for fossil fuel development should not be part of the goal. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Parties start talks on third finance goal draft

15/11/24

Cop: Parties start talks on third finance goal draft

Baku, 15 November (Argus) — Parties at the UN Cop 29 climate summit in Baku have dived into a new round of informal consultations tonight armed with a fresh, but still hefty, draft that few seem to have the time to read. Country representatives are seeking to agree on a new climate finance goal for developing nations, following on from the current — broadly recognised as inadequate — $100bn/yr target. The new draft text still fails to bridge the huge divide between developed and developing countries on key issues such as an amount for the goal, the contributor base and what the funds should be used for. "We must be honest, we believe that the current pace of work is too slow, we cannot afford to leave too much ground to be covered later in the summit," Cop 29 lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev said today. Parties continue to stick to their positions. Developed countries have still not come forward with a number for the goal, and want the contributor base broadened. One observer noted that the possibility of the US leaving the Paris agreement is putting added pressure on the EU. Developing countries remain broadly united in calling for climate public finance of over $1 trillion/yr. Options show that developing country parties seek a new finance goal that serves mitigation — actions to reduce emissions — adaptation and loss and damage. Adaptation refers to adjustments to avoid global warming effects where possible, while loss and damage describes the unavoidable and irreversible effects of such change. Developed nations are also pushing for sub-targets of $220bn/yr for least developed countries (LDCs) and $39bn/yr for small island developing states (Sids), in which money for adaptation should come in the form of grants and highly concessional finance and funding for loss and damage "primarily in grants". The multi-layered approach in the draft, mostly supported by developed countries, does not mention loss and damage. On broadening the contributor base, it has options calling on "parties in a position to contribute" or "all capable parties" to "mobilise jointly $100bn/yr for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries by 2035. The UN climate body the UNFCCC works from a list of developed and developing countries from 1992 — delineating 24 countries plus the EU as developed — and many of these note that economic circumstances have changed in some countries, including China, over the past 32 years. China between 2013 and 2022 provided $45bn in climate finance to developing countries, equivalent to 6.1pc of climate finance provided by all developed countries in the period, according to think-tank WRI. A few options in the multi-layered approach in the draft talk about "investments" and "investing trillions "from all sources, public, private, domestic and international". "A commitment on investment undermines the principles of the Paris Agreement, shifting the burden of climate finance onto the private sector," Samoa's environment minister and chair of the Alliance of Small Island States Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster said. Some parties on both sides are calling for the reforms of multilateral development banks, key to leverage billions in private sector finance, to accelerate. But these issues are largely outside of the remit of the Cop, even though they may get a boost from the upcoming G20 leaders summit at the start of next week. By Caroline Varin, Tng Yong Li and Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Chile to submit updated NDC after deadline

15/11/24

Cop: Chile to submit updated NDC after deadline

Singapore, 15 November (Argus) — Chile will not submit its nationally determined contribution (NDC) — emissions reduction plan — for 2035 by the February deadline set by the UN climate body the UNFCCC, but in the middle of next year, the country's environment minister Maisa Rojas told Argus at the UN Cop 29 climate summit today. Rojas said that this is because the country wants to make sure that its updated NDC is "strong". Cop parties are expected to submit their NDCs in November-February, as part of a cycle that requires countries to "ratchet up" their commitments every five years. Chile last updated its emission pledge under its NDC at Cop 27, in Egypt, in 2022. The country committed to to carbon neutrality by 2050 and peaking of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2025. Its carbon neutrality goal is legally binding as it is part of its climate law. Chile is not the only one facing challenges in providing updated 2035 target, with southeast Asian nations also flagging headwinds . Host country Azerbaijan also pointed to the "difficulties of developing ambitious NDCs" earlier this year . The IEA at the start of this year indicated that ahead of the next round of NDCs, it had received "several requests" from countries asking for help on data, analysis and policy advice, and that the agency would provide some support. Earlier this week, Chile, alongside Germany, launched a global management platform aimed at providing emerging and developing countries with access to international technical and financial resources to reduce carbon emissions, including assistance to incorporate industrial decarbonisation into the design of NDCs. Rojas today also announced that some Latin American countries, including Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Chile will work towards including methane emission reduction in the waste management sector in their new NDCs, in line with the global methane pledge. Brazil on 13 November announced the country aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 67pc by 2035, compared with 2005 levels. By Tng Yong Li and Jacqueline Echevarria Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Climate summits need reform, former UN chief says

15/11/24

Cop: Climate summits need reform, former UN chief says

Singapore, 15 November (Argus) — Climate advocates including former UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon today submitted an open letter to the UN calling for a reform of the Cop climate change summit as it has failed to deliver change at the speed and scale required. Signatories also include former executive secretary of the UN climate body the UNFCCC Christiana Figueres, and former president of Ireland Mary Robinson. They suggested excluding countries that do not support the "phase-out/transition away" from fossil fuel energy. The president of Cop 29 host country Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev drew criticism after stating earlier this week that oil and gas is a "gift of god" . Several media organisations reported earlier today that the letter mentioned the Cop system was not "fit for purpose". The phrase is not included the latest version. "It has become clear that constructive, supportive ideas developed some time ago on the international climate negotiations have been misinterpreted in today's context," Figueres said. She added that the Cop process was an essential and irreplaceable vehicle for supporting the change that is urgently needed. Other suggestions from the signatories include streamlining Cop summits for speed and scale. "We need a shift from negotiation to implementation, enabling the Cop to deliver on agreed commitments and ensure the urgent energy transition and phase-out of fossil energy," stated the letter, whose signatories also The Cop process should also be strengthened with mechanisms to enforce accountability, such as enhanced reporting and benchmarking, independent scientific oversight and transparent tracking of pledges and action. The letter also pointed out that a record number of 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists were allowed to attend Cop 28, almost four times more than Cop 27. "The fact that there were far more fossil fuel lobbyists than official representatives from scientific institutions, indigenous communities and vulnerable nations reflects a systemic imbalance in Cop representation." Other concerns include the necessity for more robust tracking of climate financing as well as climate Cops not sufficiently integrating latest scientific evidence. There is no permanent scientific advisory body that is a formal part of the Cop structure. This year's Cop has been plagued by diplomatic issues and poorer attendance by heads of state, including from G7 countries, compared with previous years. Papua New Guinea prime minister James Marape pulled out of Cop 29 just before the summit and has sent a streamlined delegation this year, complaining about the lack of global commitment, especially from "large industrial countries" to rainforest conservation. French energy minister Agnes Pannier-Rauncher on 13 November cancelled her planned visit to the summit, because of what she called host Azerbaijan's "unacceptable remarks" on France and Europe. French negotiating teams will work as usual at the conference, but this week marked the first time that the French president was not represented in high-level meetings since the Cop 21 conference in Paris in 2015. Argentina also on 13 November withdrew its delegation from the summit, with the country's foreign affairs ministry confirming that the delegation had been told to leave the event. No reason was given for this, but it was in line with the general policies of president Javier Milei, who has expressed skepticism about climate change. Cop 29 lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev on 15 November acknowledged that "the multilateral process is under pressure" and faces "challenges and external complexities" but said the presidency considers Cop 29 a "litmus test for the global climate architecture". "Parties have to come together," he said. By Prethika Nair and Tng Yong Li Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Adv Fame marine blend premiums to fossil hit year lows

15/11/24

Adv Fame marine blend premiums to fossil hit year lows

London, 15 November (Argus) — The premiums of advanced fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) 0 ARA marine biodiesel blends to fossil fuel counterparts were marked at 2024 lows on 14 November, according to Argus assessments. Calculated B30 Advanced Fame 0 dob ARA prices fell by $31.54/t to $623.25/t, the lowest since March 2023. Calculated B100 Advanced Fame 0 dob ARA values tumbled by $102.77/t to just over $820/t, their lowest since 22 November last year. Consequently, the outright premium held by the B30 blend against very-low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) dob ARA narrowed by $30.54/t on the day to $123.25/t on 14 November — its narrowest since 29 December 2023. B100 held a $158.52/t premium to marine gasoil (MGO) dob ARA, down by $106.77/t on the day and its lowest premium this year. EU emissions trading system (ETS) prices were assessed at $71.79/t on 14 November. Accounting for EU ETS costs on the same day, ETS-inclusive premiums held by Advanced Fame blends against their fossil counterparts hit their lowest since the introduction of EU ETS into maritime at the turn of the year. B30 Advanced Fame 0's ETS-incorporated premium against VLSFO narrowed by $31.27/t to $96.11/t on the day to 14 November. B100 Advanced Fame 0's premium against MGO dropped by $109.28/t to $66.45/t when ETS costs were accounted for. Advanced Fame marine biodiesel blend values declined with thin spot demand owing to a shift in voluntary demand east of Suez. As a result, containerships seeking to deliver proof of sustainability (PoS) documentation to their customers, to offset the latter's scope 3 emissions, shifted their marine biodiesel demand to Singapore when feasible. PoS can be obtained on a mass-balance system, allowing shipowners flexibility with regards to the port at which a blend can be bunkered. Lacklustre demand for the blends was complimented by soaring values for Dutch renewable tickets. The calculated Advanced Fame dob ARA range prices incorporate a deduction for HBE-Gs. These are a class of Dutch renewable fuels units, or HBEs, used by companies that bring liquid or gaseous fossil fuels into general circulation and are obligated to pay excise duty/energy tax on fuels. Dutch renewable HBE-G tickets were marked at €22/GJ on 14 November, their highest since Argus assessments began. Soaring HBE-G values were attributed](https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2628738) to gains in European hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) prices, tight supply because of a decline in tickets from biofuels used in shipping and less overall biofuel blending in the fourth quarter. By Hussein Al-Khalisy Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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