Carbon Removal News - December 26
Abu Dhabi carbon MRV programme; Taiwan readies carbon fee collection system; DoE funding for DAC; Sustainable Biomass sourcing; Mitsubishi x Heirloom;
In this newsletter
Abu Dhabi Launches International Standard Carbon MRV Programme
Taiwan readies carbon fee collection system for 2025
DOE Announces $1.8 Billion for Direct Air Capture Technologies
Japan establishes CO2 transport tank supply chain for CCS
Technip Energies & LanzaTech Awarded $200M for CO2 to Ethylene Tech
Oxfordshire Council Aims to Go Beyond Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Vicat secures $500M for US Net-Zero Cement Plant
AGR and deepC Store Partner for Australian Offshore CO2 Storage
New titanium molecules improve carbon capture ability
Roadmap for Sustainable Biomass Sourcing and the EU CRCF
Maine’s Oldest Forests to Store More Carbon
Mitsubishi Corporation Invests in Heirloom’s Direct Air Capture Technology
Voluntary Carbon Market Standards: Impact on Project Developers
Netherlands Emissions Authority: Changes to CBAM
Heterogeneous Effects of Carbon Pricing: Macro and Micro Evidence
Study: EU ETS price 25 times higher than UN’s CORSIA
Abu Dhabi Launches International Standard Carbon MRV Programme
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) launched an international standard carbon Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) programme. The MRV programme aims to enable accurate tracking of greenhouse gas emissions, laying the groundwork for a successful carbon pricing mechanism and aligning local efforts with global best practices. Large carbon-emitting facilities will be required to monitor, report, and verify their emissions annually, with the first reports due in 2026.
Taiwan readies carbon fee collection system for 2025
Taiwan will implement a carbon pricing system starting January 1, 2025. The initial fees will be levied on approximately 281 power, gas suppliers, and manufacturing firms emitting over 25,000 tons of CO2 annually. Preferential rates are available for entities submitting self-determined reduction plans, aiming for a 37 million ton reduction in collective carbon emissions by 2030.
DOE Announces $1.8 Billion for Direct Air Capture Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) opened applications for up to $1.8 billion in funding for the design, construction, and operation of mid- and large-scale commercial direct air capture (DAC) facilities and infrastructure access platforms. This funding will support an ecosystem of projects to provide DAC technology and project developers with support and spur the growth of additional DAC Hubs. The funding is divided into three topic areas: Infrastructure Access Platforms (up to $250 million per project), Mid-Scale Commercial DAC Facilities (up to $50 million per project), and Large-Scale Commercial DAC Facilities (up to $600 million per project).
Japan establishes CO2 transport tank supply chain for CCS
Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers AS, and JFE Shoji Corporation have completed a feasibility study and established a supply chain for cargo tanks transporting liquefied CO2 at elevated pressure. The companies aim to advance the social implementation of CCS projects through joint development and large-volume supply network for the tanks. The tanks are made of carbon steel and can be produced using automatic welding machines.
Technip Energies & LanzaTech Awarded $200M for CO2 to Ethylene Tech
US-based Technip Energies and LanzaTech have been awarded up to $200 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) for their Sustainable Ethylene from CO2 Utilization with Renewable Energy Project (Project SECURE). The project aims to create a commercial process that recycles captured carbon dioxide to produce sustainable ethanol and ethylene, starting with deployment in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Phase 1, funded with nearly $20 million, will focus on Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and community engagement.
Oxfordshire Council Aims to Go Beyond Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Oxfordshire County Council in the UK has become the first local authority to set a target of going beyond net zero by removing carbon emissions. The council committed to extending its carbon neutral target and moving into carbon dioxide removal, focusing on afforestation, reforestation, biochar, and soil carbon sequestration. They will also work with partners to explore benefits for rural economies and climate adaptation.
Vicat secures $500M for US Net-Zero Cement Plant
US-based Vicat's subsidiary, National Cement Company of California Inc., has finalized a cooperation agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, for the Lebec Net Zero project. The DOE will fund 50% of phase 1, up to $500 million, for carbon capture, transport, and storage. The project aims to reduce emissions by approximately 950,000 tons of CO2 annually.
AGR and deepC Store Partner for Australian Offshore CO2 Storage
Australian-based deepC Store Pty Ltd has signed an agreement with AGR to design the appraisal well drilling and injectivity testing program for a large-scale CO2 storage site in the Browse Basin, offshore Australia. The project, located in the G-14-AP permit area, aims to store approximately 1 billion tonnes of CO2 and is a key activity to demonstrate large-scale CO2 storage potential. The well engineering work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
New titanium molecules improve carbon capture ability
Oregon State University researchers have synthesized new titanium peroxide molecules that can capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. The research, funded in part by the Department of Energy and the Murdock Charitable Trust, resulted in a new potassium tetraperoxo titanate structure with roughly double the carbon capture capacity of vanadium peroxide.
Roadmap for Sustainable Biomass Sourcing and the EU CRCF
The European Union officially approved the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation (EU CRCF), introducing the first EU-wide framework for certifying carbon dioxide removal activities. The CRCF is expected to align with biomass sustainability criteria outlined in Article 29 of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), prioritizing sustainable sourcing to ensure environmental integrity. ClimeFi has published a report, \"Demystifying Biomass Carbon Dioxide Removals\", providing a roadmap for sustainable biomass sourcing and managing risks associated with CDR projects.
Maine’s Oldest Forests to Store More Carbon
The U.S. Forest Service awarded a $4.3 million grant to the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) and partners to protect Maine’s oldest forests and implement carbon-storing practices. NEFF will partner with landowners to defer harvesting in forests at least 150 years old and provide payments for climate-smart forestry practices on other lands. This project aims to conserve ecologically exceptional forests, compensate landowners, and make a real difference for the climate, building on recent mapping of late-successional old-growth (LSOG) forests in northern Maine.
Mitsubishi Corporation Invests in Heirloom’s Direct Air Capture Technology
Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation announced a significant investment in US-based Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc., a company operating the first commercial Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility in the United States. This investment follows an earlier investment in Heirloom through convertible securities and supports Heirloom’s commercialization and global expansion of its DAC technology, which uses limestone to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. Heirloom’s first project in Tracy, California, captures about 1,000 tons of CO2 per year, while a second project in Louisiana aims to capture about 17,000 tons annually.
Voluntary Carbon Market Standards: Impact on Project Developers
The article discusses the evolving voluntary carbon market (VCM) standards and their impact on project developers. Several key standards are highlighted, including UNFCCC’s Article 6.4, ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles, ICROA endorsements, EU’s CRCF regulation, and CORSIA. The increasing convergence of voluntary and compliance markets is noted, along with the growing demand for high-quality, standardized carbon credits.
Netherlands Emissions Authority: Changes to CBAM
The Netherlands Emissions Authority (NEa) has proposed changes to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) implementation starting January 2026. The current threshold of €150 for CBAM goods imports is deemed too low, creating disproportionate administrative burden for small importers. NEa has suggested switching to a weight-based threshold system, as analysis shows more than half of current importers under CBAM would report less than 10 tons of CO2 annually. The mechanism applies to cement, iron, steel, aluminum, fertilizers, and hydrogen imports.
Dutch Emissions Authority | Nederlandse Emissieautoriteit
Heterogeneous Effects of Carbon Pricing: Macro and Micro Evidence
Researchers at the Bank of England have found that unexpected increases in carbon prices lead to declines in GDP and equity prices, and increases in consumer prices and interest rates. These effects are larger in countries and firms with higher CO2 emissions intensity. The study used data from 15 European countries and the UK, and considered both macro and micro evidence.
Study: EU ETS price 25 times higher than UN’s CORSIA
A study commissioned by Carbon Market Watch has revealed that the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) imposes a carbon price 25 times higher than the UN's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), with EU ETS charging €80 per tonne compared to CORSIA's €3.20 per tonne in 2022.
