India’s power minister on Saturday asked officials to consider diverting coal to power plants with extremely depleted stocks as shortages at some plants push several utilities to the verge of running out of fuel. Power minister R.K. Singh asked officials to “streamline the stock and supply of coal”, including a …
Read More »China Coal Approvals Seen Adding to Confusion on Climate Action
Approvals for major new coal power plants by China’s local authorities show the tension in the nation’s efforts to meet climate goals, even as the overall total of projects given the go-ahead falls, according to campaigners. Local authorities approved 24 plants with a combined capacity of 5.2 GW, a 79% …
Read More »UK Launches Hydrogen Strategy
The UK Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched August 17 the national hydrogen strategy. The UK is hosting the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in November and the government is keen to show what it is doing to reach its net zero carbon goal. BEIS said the …
Read More »US Coal and Oil Demand on the Rise again in Blow to Climate Goals
America’s appetite for fossil fuels has come roaring back as the economy cranks into gear, providing a boost to energy groups but flying in the face of Washington’s drive to slash emissions. Motorists’ return to the roads following the loosening of pandemic restrictions is pushing up fuel demand and the …
Read More »Can Carbon Capture Tech Save North Sea Oil Production?
As North Sea oil exploration and production will continue for years to come, oil companies look at ways to reduce emissions following significant criticism from environmentalists. But will cutting emissions sway public opinion on Britain’s ongoing oil and gas activities? This month, the U.K. government announced $22.8 million for projects …
Read More »Blue Hydrogen 20% Worse for Environment than Burning Natural Gas
Blue hydrogen – which could form a key part of the government’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – may be up to 20% worse for the environment than burning natural gas, researchers have claimed. Scientists at Cornell and Stanford Universities found blue hydrogen causes more pollution than burning coal …
Read More »China Restarts Coal Mines to Keep Up with Power Demand
Operations at 53 shuttered coal mines in China will once again come to life, as China struggles to keep up with increased power demand, according to a statement by the National Development Reform Commission in China. Last week, China announced it would restart 38 coal mines in Inner Mongolia. Now, …
Read More »Japan’s ‘Hydrogen Olympics’ the Latest Stumble for Hydrogen Energy
It took some chemical wizardry, but the Olympic cauldron in Japan leapt to life not with natural gas or some other traditional fuel. It burned hydrogen and its flame was intended as a marker not just of an Olympic spirit, but of national ambition. The Tokyo Games “will leave a …
Read More »The World Is on the Brink of Catastrophe
Failure to act now on climate change will result in “catastrophic” consequences for the world, the leader of the United Nation’s next climate talks has warned. “I don’t think there’s any other word for it,” Alok Sharma, the British minister in charge of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), …
Read More »The Real Reason Big Oil is Betting on the Hydrogen Boom
Japan has been making headlines with its plans to significantly increase its reliance on hydrogen to satisfy its energy needs. Right now, it is demonstrating its transformation into a hydrogen economy by showcasing hydrogen buses and cars used in the Olympics. But there is a problem with that for those …
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