In this market update, Argus Biomass editor Erisa Senerdem, looks at how spot prices have developed since the beginning of the year, examines how supply and demand balances have shifted trade flows since the start of the energy crisis, and what the short-term holds for pellets in the wider fuel generation mix.
Agenda
• Spot prices drop in 2024
• Supply and Demand balance
• Shift in trade dynamics
• Pellets in the wider generation fuels mix
• Concluding thoughts
Spotlight content
Related news
Trump taps Vance as running mate for 2024
Trump taps Vance as running mate for 2024
Washington, 15 July (Argus) — Former president Donald Trump has selected US senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his vice presidential pick for his 2024 campaign, elevating a former venture capitalist and close ally to become his running mate in the election. Vance, 39, is best known for his bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy that documented his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and his Appalachian roots. In the run-up to the presidential elections in 2016, Vance said he was "a never Trump guy" and called Trump "reprehensible." But he has since become one of Trump's top supporters and adopted many of his policies on the economy and immigration. Vance voted against providing more military aid to Ukraine and pushed Europe to spend more on defense. Trump said he chose his running mate after "lengthy deliberation and thought," citing Vance's service in the military, his law degree and his business career, which included launching venture capital firm Narya in 2020. Vance will do "everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump said today in a social media post. Like Trump, Vance has pushed to increase domestic oil and gas production and criticized government support for electric vehicles. President Joe Biden's energy policies have been "at war" with workers in states that are struggling because of the importance of low-cost energy to manufacturing, Vance said last month in an interview with Fox News. Trump made the announcement about Vance on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and just two days after surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign event in Pennsylvania. Earlier today, federal district court judge Aileen Cannon threw out a felony indictment that alleged Trump had mishandled classified government documents after leaving office. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Panama clears $10bn biofuels project
Panama clears $10bn biofuels project
Kingston, 15 July (Argus) — Panama's government has approved the construction of a $10bn biofuels project owned by US firm SGP BioEnergy. The project is now waiting a final investment decision that the firm expects will be reached by the end of this year. Japan's industrial conglomerate Sumitomo Group will build the Ciudad Dorada biorefinery on 130 hectares (ha) in the Colon free zone, SGP BioEnergy said. The project will produce 180,000 b/d of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be exported mainly to the US market and 405,000 t/yr of low-carbon hydrogen. "For the national government, it is important to promote fair and inclusive processes that lead us to migrate to systems dominated by renewable energy or energy from clean sources for the benefit of the country" Panama's commerce and industry minister Julio Molto said. The plant will be developed in three phases of 60,000 b/d each. The first phase is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027 and the following phases within 15-18 months each. By Canute James Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
France's Annecy Haute-Savoie airport will offer SAF
France's Annecy Haute-Savoie airport will offer SAF
London, 15 July (Argus) — Global airport operator Vinci Airports and TotalEnergies have partnered to provide sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electric charging stations at France's Annecy Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc airport. TotalEnergies will supply SAF made from waste and residues such as used cooking oil (UCO) to be blended up to 35pc with conventional aviation fuel. It will also install an electric charging station for light aircraft with minimum power of 22 kW. The installation is expected to be completed by October. Vinci Airports first made SAF available to users of Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne airport in France in 2021. The SAF, produced from UCO, is supplied by Air BP under a refuelling contract with Vinci Airports. The company said five of its airports now offer biofuels. By Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s Erex cuts biomass-fired power output in June
Japan’s Erex cuts biomass-fired power output in June
Tokyo, 15 July (Argus) — Japanese renewable electricity producer Erex reduced its biomass-fired power generation output in June compared with a year earlier, according to the company data. Erex's combined biomass-fired output across the 50MW Saiki, the 75MW Buzen, and the 49MW Nakagusuku power plant in June fell by 8.5pc from a year earlier to 108GWh. The company does not publish output data for its 75MW Ofunato plant, while the 20MW Tosa plant has been under periodic maintenances since March. Erex operates a total of 269MW of biomass capacity in Japan, including Ofunato, burning mainly imported wood pellets and palm kernel shells. The company aims to start coal and biomass co-firing generation at the 149MW Itoigawa plant that has only consumed coal so far. The company plans to start operations at two more biomass plants, the 75MW Sakaide Hayashida in 2025 and the 300MW Niigata Mega Bio around 2029-2030. Erex is also accelerating biomass projects in southeast Asia, aiming to build up to 19 generation plants in Vietnam and five in Cambodia that will burn mainly wood residue and chips, in addition to several wood pellet plants in both countries. By Takeshi Maeda Erex's biomass generation in June 2024 Capacity(MW) Generations(GWh) Start of Operations Tosa 20.0 0.0 Jun-13 Saiki 50.0 31.0 Nov-16 Buzen 75.0 46.0 Jan-20 Nakagusuku 49.0 31.0 Jul-21 Ofunato 75.0 - Jan-20 Total 269.0 108.0 Source: Erex Erex biomass generation (MWh) Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
