Daily Climate News - March 8
Water credits; UK green jobs statistics; Ammonia emissions
In this newsletter:
Who’s working on water? - The UK!
UK Statistic on Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy and Jobs
Ammonia: How one emission control system is leading to other emissions
Top Stories
Who’s working on Water?
After reading hundreds of articles on low carbon electricity and controlling emissions, I’ve been wondering if anyone’s thinking about global water supply deficits.
UK has come out with a draft Water Resource Management Plan for the Cambridge Area. The country is home to 85% of the world’s chalk streams - “rivers that rise from springs in landscapes with chalk bedrock” - which arise from an aquifer located to the southeast of Cambridge. The government has now announced a 4.5 million water credit pilot in the area. In the pilot, costs for retrofitting water-saving devices, such as aerators, will be offset by issuing water credits that will be traded through a market (yet to be implemented).
Carbon Pulse | UK Govt Guidance
UK Statistics on Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy and Jobs
UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) released datasets upto 2022, on turnover and employment in the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE). LCREE includes energy efficient products, low carbon electricity, low-emission vehicles and infra, low carbon heat, low carbon services, and energy from waste and biomass. Top findings:
LCREE turnover and employment estimates are both at their highest level since the first comparable figures in 2015.
LCREE turnover (in current prices) increased by an estimated 28.0% between 2021 and 2022, from £54.2 billion to £69.4 billion.
LCREE employment also increased, by an estimated 8.0% between 2021 and 2022, from 252,300 to 272,400 full-time equivalents (FTEs).
OGV Energy | ONS Bulletin (with links to final datasets) | Other environmental datasets from ONS | ONS experimental estimates for UK green jobs
Ammonia: How one emission control system is leading to other emissions
High Ammonia levels in the atmosphere contribute to increase in particular matter (PM), specifically PM2.5. The gas molecules can condense together to form new particles when concentrations are high, or they can increase the size of existing particles by condensing on them. Previously, most atmospheric ammonia was believed to originate from fertilisers in agricultural areas. However, ammonia levels have risen in urban areas and the cause is believed to be another emission control technology. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems were introduced in diesel vehicles to control emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). These systems use a solution of urea and water which is sprayed in to the engine exhaust -
the urea(NH2CONH2) is decomposed into ammonia(NH3) and carbon dioxide(CO2)
the ammonia reacts with nitrogen oxides(NOx) in the exhaust to form nitrogen(N2) and water(H2O)
This system has also been called De-NOx. But like most chemical systems, it has its flaws
The reaction between NOx and NH3 is never perfect, although it can achieve efficiency rates often higher than 95%. There is a waste stream of un-reacted NH3 that goes into the atmosphere. This excess NH3 is known as Ammonia Slip.
Ammonia slip from newer diesel vehicles is responsible for rise in urban levels of atmospheric ammonia in Europe, new research shows. Pollution control standards will need norms not just for NOx, but NH3 as well.
The Guardian | Study in Elsevier’s Environment International | ACS Article
Top Stories:
Japan’s NISSAN has begun trials for a stationary power generation system that combines hydrogen generated from biofuels with a solid-oxide fuel cell to achieve 70% efficiency in power generation. For comparison, the polymer electrolyte fuel cells have 60% efficiency. The bio-ethanol used in hydrogen production is obtained from sorghum. Innovation News | NISSAN Press Release
Schematic showing solid-oxide fuel cell system that uses hydrogen obtained from bio-ethanol. Src: NISSAN website Discussions are underway for Australia’s proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
A New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (or fuel efficiency standard), incentivises car companies to supply new cars that use less fuel per kilometre. Under a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, each vehicle manufacturer has a set average CO2 target for the vehicles they produce, which they must meet or beat. Over time, the CO2 target is lowered and in order to continue to meet or beat the target, companies must provide more choices of fuel-efficient, low or zero emissions vehicles.
The Guardian | NVES FAQs | Consultation Impact Analysis Paper for NVES released February 2024
California-based Rondo Energy has signed a deal with Portugal’s EDP to deploy its Heat Batteries with EDP’s upcoming wind & solar installations. Rondo’s heat batteries use electricity to heat thousands of tonnes of bricks to nearly 1500℃. When required, the bricks can discharge heat as hot air or steam. Rondo claims the bricks have a lifespan of 50 years, can be heated and deliver heat simultaneously, and can be integrated easily into existing infrastructure. Recharge | Rondo - How it works
UK’s Ofgem announced projects that will receive funding under Round 3 of its Strategic Innovation Fund for the Electricity System Operator, Electricity Transmission, Electricity Distribution, Gas Transmission and Gas Distribution sectors. Ofgem announcement | Funding Decision (PDF)
Netherlands’ DGB Group has announced plans for a biodiversity credit pilot in Australia in Q3 2024. In December 2023, the Nature Repair Act came into effect into Australia which established a framework for a national, voluntary biodiversity market. Consultations are underway to establish the Nature Repair Market. Carbon Pulse | How the Nature Repair Market will operate | Nature Repair Bill 2023
New study on restoration of coral reefs finds similar levels of carbonates 4 years into restoration, but differences in biodiversity. Carbon Pulse | Study in Current Biology
UN estimates a $2.5 trillion funding deficit to address climate change in Africa by 2030. ECEEE
Nuclear energy is again gaining favor in EU. The France-led EU Nuclear Alliance now has 12 member states that are advocating for all types of EU funding to be available for building more nuclear power. The first ever Nuclear Energy Summit will be held on March 21st in Brussels. ECEEE | Declaration of EU Nuclear Alliance
New Reports:
BESS Quality Risks: A summary of the most common Battery Energy Storage System manufacturing defects, Clean Energy Associates. PDF (via Recharge)
Draft Update to Poland’s National Energy and Climate Action Plan 2030. PDF (via Euractiv) Poland’s NECP 2030
West Bengal’s Energy Transition: A ₹62,000 crore opportunity, Climate Risk Horizons. PDF (via ET Energy)
You can read more than 200 stories from March 8 on Telborg.
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Best,
Soumya Gupta
Founder, Telborg.com | SummaryWithAI.com