Carbon Removal Roundup - February 7
Industrial decarbonization through high temperature electrification; EU ETS allowances to fund SAF; Japan's first dairy-based carbon credits; U.S. DoE funds carbon utilisation tech
EU ETS allowances to fund sustainable aviation fuels
(February 06)
The European Union has revised the EU ETS Directive to establish a support mechanism for eligible aviation fuels, committing 20 million EU ETS allowances worth around €1.6 billion to incentivize the use of alternative fuels. This initiative aims to reduce emissions from the aviation sector by covering the price difference between fossil kerosene and sustainable aviation fuels for airlines. Airlines are required to report the use of these fuels by 31 March 2025, and the Commission will publish the fuel price differences by 31 May 2025.
Significant Decrease in Diesel Cars not Meeting Environmental Standards in Denmark
(February 06)
Denmark has seen a 34% reduction in the number of diesel cars not complying with environmental zone requirements within a year. This change is particularly notable in major cities like Copenhagen, where non-compliant diesel cars fell by 71%. The Danish municipalities expanded environmental zone requirements in October 2023 to include diesel passenger cars, resulting in a decreased number of non-compliant vehicles despite an overall increase in the car population, particularly electric vehicles.
Electrifying Industry for a Greener Future
(February 06)
The EU-funded ELECTRA project is developing innovative solutions to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral industry, specifically targeting energy-intensive sectors like cement, lime, and paper production. By replacing fossil fuels with renewable electric energy, the project aims to reduce emissions by millions of tons of CO₂ annually.
ELECTRA develops and validates in real life emission-free, electrically heated cement, lime and lime mud production process in MW scale capable of reaching temperature up to 2000°C. By using low-emission electricity instead of combustion for decomposing calcium carbonate, and by capturing the carbon dioxide produced in the production process, it is possible to run plants with close to zero carbon dioxide emissions providing even negative-emission products for the society.
Key technologies include plasma heating, enabling processing at temperatures above 2000°C without fossil fuel emissions.
Captura opens new Direct Ocean Capture pilot plant in Hawaii
(February 06)
US-based Captura has commenced operations at its new Direct Ocean Capture pilot plant in Kona, Hawaii, capable of capturing 1,000 tons of CO2 annually.
DOC technology works by extracting CO2 directly from the upper ocean, thereby enhancing the ocean’s natural ability to absorb additional CO2 from the atmosphere. By leveraging natural oceanic processes, requiring no feedstock, and generating no waste, the DOC approach to carbon removal offers an inherently scalable and efficient way to remove vast quantities of atmospheric CO2.
Captura’s DOC technology achieves this by combining innovations in electrodialysis and gas extraction with widely available water and gas handling systems. These modular technologies have been successfully demonstrated at two prior pilot plants in Los Angeles, and the Hawaii pilot will now validate them at the scale and performance level that can be replicated in larger plants.
Developed in partnership with Equinor, this facility represents a significant milestone in the commercial deployment of Direct Ocean Capture technology. The captured CO2 will be utilized in local industries such as aquaculture to reduce carbon intensity.
ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2025 to Promote Sustainable Aviation
(February 06)
The UAE will host the 4th ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2025 (GISS 2025) from 10-12 February 2025, focusing on promoting alternative and low-carbon fuels for the aviation sector. The event aims to attract over 1,500 global participants, including industry leaders and representatives from ICAO's 193 member states. Additionally, it will include the inaugural Global Sustainable Aviation Marketplace (GSAM 2025), showcasing 75 companies specializing in sustainability in aviation.
China Briefing 6 February 2025: Emissions halt; ‘Green’ Asian Winter Games; US-China tariff war
(February 06)
China's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were kept "below the previous year’s levels in the last 10 months of 2024" due to a "record surge of clean energy". Clean energy is expected to accelerate in 2025 as large-scale wind, solar, and nuclear projects race to finish. Coal generation is set to fall in 2025 for the first time in a decade, driven by soaring renewable expansion and a trend towards non-fossil energy supply. Approximately 357 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind capacity was built in China last year, reaching 1,889GW by the end of 2024, accounting for about 56% of the total capacity.
Green Carbon Announces Japan's First Program-Based Registration for Dairy-Derived J-Credits
(February 07)
Japan-based Green Carbon Inc. has announced the completion of the country's first program-based registration for dairy-derived J-Credits, partnering with Hokkaido Bank, Hokuriku Bank, Hokuyo Bank, and Megafarm Dairy. The company aims to generate approximately 7,000 tons of J-Credits in the first year, making it the largest initiative of its kind in Japan. They also plan to target a reduction of 1 million tons of carbon emissions annually, particularly focusing on Hokkaido.
Carbon Market Experts Forecast Industry Transformation Through 2025
(February 06)
Canada and the United States have seen significant transformations in the carbon market as governments launch programs to stimulate demand for carbon credits. The Government of Canada has announced a CAD$10M credit purchase from carbon removal projects through its Low-carbon Fuel Procurement Program. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Energy initiated a carbon removal credit purchase program to boost market demand. These actions reflect a growing governmental involvement in ensuring alignment with national climate goals and stimulating the economy towards sustainable practices.
Twelve Selected for $6M Grant from U.S. Department of Energy for Carbon Transformation Innovation
(February 06)
US-based Twelve has been selected for $6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Office. This funding will support the advancement of large-scale CO2 conversion into products that are economically valuable and environmentally responsible. The financial support will accelerate R&D and deployment efforts for Twelve’s breakthrough carbon transformation technology, which includes products like E-Jet® SAF and CO2Made® materials.
Pioneering tool expanding to analyse agricultural pollution and support water-quality interventions
(February 06)
The British Geological Survey has expanded its first-of-its-kind online tool, Road Pollution Solutions, to now include methods for assessing pollution from agricultural areas. The expanded tool predicts road runoff pollutants and evaluates how pollutants from agricultural activities are transported into rivers. Funded by the Government Office for Technology Transfer, this project will be tested across the upper River Thames catchment, covering predominantly arable crops and grassland.
ISWIM project develops wetland for stormwater treatment
(February 06)
The ISWIM research project in western Lund, Sweden has completed the construction of an innovative wetland designed for stormwater treatment from one of the city's most polluted areas. The wetland will enable measurements of purification performance compared to biofilters and membranes, targeting contaminants such as metals, nutrients, and organic substances. The second phase will involve using activated carbon to remove PFAS, creating a customizable toolkit of treatment technologies to benefit water and sewage systems across Sweden.
Transatlantic Experts Discuss Carbon Dioxide Removal Policies
(February 06)
Experts from the USA, UK, Germany, and the EU convened for a webinar organized by Carbon Market Watch to discuss the importance of separate climate targets for carbon dioxide removals (CDR) and emissions reductions. Participants agreed on the necessity of defining separate policies for gross emissions cuts, biogenic sequestration, and permanent carbon removals. The EU has the opportunity to set an example by adopting these approaches in their 2040 climate goals.
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