IAN ADAMSON - Waste interpreter, writer and Account Manager specialising in universities, research campuses and complex organisations - exploring the point where legislation, sustainability, economics and common sense meet.
born at 321.89 PPM CO2
Saturday, 5 March 2022
(ALJ) GREENWASHING - KHALED DIAB - ALJEEZERA
Greenpeace activists hold a protest in the action zone on November 12, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland [File: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images]
Climate action is in the air. Like governments around the world, major corporations are falling over themselves to issue climate pledges and, in keeping with being responsible global citizens, setting off on a course towards apparently ambitious climate action … or at least that is what they claim to the outside world.
At least a fifth of the world’s largest 1,000 corporations had already made “net zero” emissions pledges by March 2021, according to Oxford University’s Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.
So how are these corporations faring?
The first-ever Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, a joint initiative between NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch, where I work, aimed to answer that question.
The results shocked even the researchers, and not pleasantly. “We set out to uncover as many replicable good practices as possible, but we were frankly surprised and disappointed at the overall integrity of the companies’ claims,” said NewClimate’s Thomas Day, the lead author of the report.
Despite ambitious-sounding pledges to become “carbon neutral” and even “carbon positive”, the researchers discovered that the future emissions reductions the companies have actually committed to was, on average, just 40 percent. Moreover, many of these cuts are to be delivered decades from now, in 2040 or 2050, leaving the burden squarely on the shoulders of future generations.
Of the 25 corporations evaluated, a mere three were actually found to have committed to reducing their full-value chain emissions by more than 90 percent: Maersk, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom.
One favourite technique corporations use to wash their image with a greener than green sheen is to employ accounting tricks so creative they deserve their very own literature prize. For instance, consider the case of Apple. The iconic tech firm proudly proclaims: “We’re carbon neutral. And by 2030, every product you love will be too.”
This is bound to make users of Apple’s many products feel comfortable about their consumption habits. But the corporation here is singing a very misleading iTune because its assertion covers only a tiny bite of the corporation’s proverbial emissions apple. The company’s carbon-neutrality claim currently includes only direct operations, which account for a microscopic 1.5 percent of its carbon footprint.
The corporations featured in the report are able to mask their inaction and lack of ambition by utilising the elusive concept of “net zero”, which may sound like zero but is not zero because it includes not only emissions reductions but also carbon offsets and removals.
One entertaining example of this involves IKEA. Although the furniture behemoth is by far not the worst-intentioned performer in the pack, it nonetheless currently applies some sneaky accounting tricks to arrive at its targets. For example, it counts the solar panels it sells to customers towards its own emissions reductions.
IKEA also counts the carbon stored in some of its furniture. However, there is a slight snag here. For that stored carbon to make a difference to the climate, it will have to remain in IKEA’s chairs and beds for centuries, implying that it would need to shift its business model away from flatpack fast furniture to designing the ancient antiques of the distant future.
The ludicrous lengths to which top corporations go to give their images a green facelift is rich material to mine for satire, but the consequences of this comedy of erroneous claims are anything but funny. “Greenwashing is not a victimless crime as consumers and decision-makers are fooled into thinking that companies are doing all they can to address their climate impact,” explains Carbon Market Watch’s Gilles Dufrasne.
Given the elasticity and ambiguity of terms like “net zero” and “carbon neutral” and their potential to be exploited for greenwashing, we at Carbon Market Watch are urging governments to step in and ban corporations from making such claims and to compel them to report their actual emissions reductions. Governments must also set strict criteria to regulate whether and how specific climate-related claims can be made. Aljazeera - link - Khaled Diab - link - more like this - link - more like this (Apple) - link
(H2V) HYDRE TO CREATE 50 H2 FUELLING SITES
Finnish start-up commits to 50 hydrogen station developments by 2030
Finland-based start-up HydRe wants to take the hydrogen mobility market by storm, having unveils plans to develop 50 hydrogen stations across the country by 2030.
Helsinki, Turku and Tampere have been named as the locations for HydRe’s first stations, with these sites expected to be fully operational by 2024.
It is hoped that the Helsinki, Turku and Tampere stations will enable early-adapter trucking and shipping companies to implement hydrogen powered vehicles.
The high-capacity stations will also be available for public use and light vehicles.
Only locally produce clean hydrogen will be offered at each of the refuelling sites, a move which is set to benefit the local hydrogen economy. H2VIEW - link - the brilliant Molly Burgess - link - more like this (Finland) - link - more like this - link
Friday, 4 March 2022
(GUA) ACCEPT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES NO IFS NO BUTS
A banner calls on the UK government to help Ukrainian refugees at a protest in London against the Russian invasion. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock
An extended visa scheme to allow more people from Ukraine to join relatives in the UK has been launched by the government, but plans for a humanitarian refugee scheme to help those without family ties in Britain have yet to be announced.
The Home Office said it had increased its weekly visa processing appointments in the region from 500 to 6,000 a week to speed up applications from individuals hoping to join relatives in Britain, and increased the amount of time people will be allowed to stay in Britain from one to three years. Officials said it was too soon to say how many people would apply.
With the UN reporting that 1 million people have already left their homes in Ukraine, and warning that 4 million could flee the country if the conflict escalates, refugee organisations called on the government to speed up the announcement of a wider humanitarian scheme.
Officials have promised that an “unlimited sponsorship route” will open soon for Ukrainian’s without family ties here, allowing communities, local authorities and others to sponsor and support those in need to come to the UK, but say that details of how it will operate are still being worked out. The Guardian - link - Amelia Gentleman - link - Diane Taylor - link - more like this - link
(H2V) WORLD'S FIRST - H2 RACING TRUCK
Gaussin, creators of an innovative hydrogen racing truck, has revealed a new world tour after its success during the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia in January.
Throughout this tour, the H2 Racing Truck, also recognised as the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing truck the company said, will make several stops across Europe from March before entering the US in April.This will provide a basis to exhibit the technology and hydrogen’s role in paving forward a hydrogen fuelled future in the mobility sector.
The racing truck feature 380kW of fuel cells with a capacity of 80kg of hydrogen able to be stored in the truck.
A speed limit of 140km/h is also in compliance with regulations as well as a 250km range when under race conditions whilst also being capable of being refuelled in 20 minutes.
Christophe Gaussin, CEO of the Gaussin Group, said, “The interest in our truck is enormous, from journalists, public authorities, connoisseurs of the challenges of the energy transition, and above all from many industry players, enthralled by our technology.” H2VIEW - link - George Heynes - link - more like this - link
(GUA) UNISON DOCKERS BACKING UKRAINE
Liquefied natural gas storage tanks at the Isle of Grain in Kent. Terminal operator National Grid said it no longer expected deliveries of Russian gas. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images
Dockers who vowed not to unload a tanker of Russian gas that was due to arrive at a Thames Estuary port in the early hours of Friday morning have scored a victory, after the ship was diverted, the Guardian understands.
The Boris Vilkitskiy was on its way to the Isle of Grain with a consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Centrica, the owner of British Gas, owing to an apparent loophole on Russian-associated ships imposed by the Department for Transport.
But after dockers represented by the trade union Unison warned they would rebel against any instruction to help bring the gas onshore, the ship will no longer dock at the Kent facility.
Tankers carrying oil and gas are still arriving at or heading towards ports around the country, including Foyle Port in Derry and Liverpool. But National Grid, which operates the Isle of Grain LNG terminal, confirmed it was now no longer expecting any deliveries of Russian gas.
“This will come as a relief to the Grain terminal workers,” said Matt Lay, Unison’s national officer for energy. “But while it looks like the union’s intervention has been successful in seeing these ships turned away, a more fundamental problem remains.”
He pointed out that ships carrying Russian oil and gas are still able to dock at British ports because the DfT’s ban does not cover the origin of vessels’ cargo, despite the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, saying earlier this week that the measure extended to “all ships with any Russian connection whatsoever”. The Guardian - link - Rob Davies - link - more like this - link
Thursday, 3 March 2022
(AUC) HYUNDAI'S £12 BILLION EV STRATEGY
The new Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) will be used for both passenger and 'purpose-built' commercial vehicles and is promised to improve driving range over the current E-GMP platform, used by the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60.
It will replace the E-GMP's variable battery packs with standardised cell-to-pack units, which can be 'flexibly' integrated according to the vehicle's needs. This construction method boosts energy density, Hyundai claims, and thus charging times.
The new platform was detailed as part of Hyundai's Investor Day presentation, at which the company outlined an ambitious £12 billion strategy to increase its annual EV sales to 1.87 million units, equating to a 7% market share, by 2030. Previously, the company said it planned to be selling 560,000 EVs by 2025.
The plan has three key tenets: "strengthening BEV line-ups, optimising manufacturing capacity and securing hardware and software competitiveness."
As well as ushering in a new EV platform, Hyundai said it will introduce 17 battery-electric cars – of which 11 will be badged Hyundai and six from luxury brand Genesis – in the next eight years.
Three of the Hyundai EVs will be saloon cars (one of which is the upcoming 2022 Ioniq 6), six will be SUVs, one will be a light commercial vehicle and another will be a "new type model" - with no further details given as to its positioning. The Hyundai Ioniq 7, a large flagship SUV, has been confirmed for a 2024 launch.
Genesis, meanwhile, will launch two low-slung cars and four SUVs, beginning with the Electrified GV70 later this year. The brand will launch only pure-electric cars from 2025. Autocar - link - Felix Page - link - more like this - link
(TIM) UA DYNAMICS ELECTRIC DRONES DELIVERING
The drones have completed up to 60 “successful” missions since the invasion began
The Ukrainian military has been using “Punisher” drones that can target fuel storage, ammunition supplies and electronic warfare stations up to 30 miles behind enemy lines.
Eugene Bulatsev, an engineer with the Ukrainian designer UA-Dynamics, said that the electric drones were “game-changing” and had completed up to 60 “successful” missions since the invasion began.
Speaking from Kyiv, where he is about to go and join the fight, he told The Times: “This is the cheapest and easiest way to deliver a punch from a long distance, without risking civilian lives.” The Times - link - Larisa Brown - link - more like this - link
(OFF) HYWIND TAMPEN WIND FARM
The first turbine nacelles for the 88 MW Hywind Tampen wind farm arrived at the Wergeland Base in Gulen in western Norway, Equinor, the developer of what will be the largest floating wind farm in operation, said.The wind farm’s 11 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbines will be assembled here and towed to the installation site located about 140 kilometres off the Norwegian coast.
The wind turbines will be installed on concrete SPAR-type floating foundations and will power the Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil & gas platforms off Norway.
Equinor plans to start towing the fully assembled wind turbines in early summer 2022 and complete the offshore work by the end of the year.
Once commissioned, Hywind Tampen is expected to cover about 35 per cent of the annual power needs on the Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B, and C.
Besides being the largest floating wind farm in operation, Hywind Tampen will also be the first floating offshore wind farm to deliver electricity to oil and gas installations. offshoreWIND.biz - link - Adnan Durakovic - link - more like this - link
Wednesday, 2 March 2022
(MOL) LONG DISTANCE GEOTHERMAL
A geothermal energy start-up plans to invent a wave drill, that can penetrate 12.4 miles in the Earth's crust, releasing virtually unlimited amounts of clean energy.
Quaise Energy, a startup out of MIT, based in Boston and Houston, recently secured $40 million in funding to help it get the first drilling rig off the drawing board.The system works by drilling down to base rock, then firing high-power millimeter waves into the ground, without the need for complex mechanical drills that are limited by the pressure and intense heat deep into the crust.
Regular metal drills get broken or just melt beyond a certain depth, when the heat and pressure becomes too much for them to handle.
The goal is to be able to repurpose existing fossil fuel power plants, replacing burning coal with 900F heat from miles below the surface of the Earth.
The firm hope to have the first drilling platform live by 2024, the first wells producing up to 100 megawatt of geothermal energy by 2026, and fossil power plants repurposed by 2028, delivering clean energy around the world. Mail Online - link - Ryan Morrison - link - more like this (USA) - link - more like this - link
(REU) FORD TO SEPARATE EV FROM ICE
A Ford all-electric F-150 Lightning truck prototype is seen at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. September 16, 2021 REUTERS/Rebecca Cook
The EV and ICE businesses will have separate names but will remain under the Ford corporate umbrella, in the same way the company operates its Ford Pro commercial business for corporate customers, said the people, who asked not to be identified.
The U.S. automaker will name executives to lead each business and Ford will also outline updated profit margin targets for the company overall, the sources said. The idea is for Ford to eventually report separate financial results for the EV and ICE businesses, one of the sources said.
Ford spokesman T.R. Reid declined to comment on the report. "We're focused on carrying out our Ford+ plan to transform the company and thrive in this new era of electric and connected vehicles," he said. Reuters - link - Paul Lienert - link - Ben Klayman - link - David Shepardson - link - more like this (USA) - link - more like this - link
(SKY) GUTLESS FIA OVERRULED BY MOTORSPORT UK
Mazepin will not be able to compete at the British Grand Prix in July. Pic AP
Russian and Belarusian licensed drivers have been banned from motorsport events in the UK.
Motorsport UK has announced sanctions after the International Olympic Committee recommended athletes from Belarus and Russia should be banned or told to compete under a neutral flag.David Richards, Chair of Motorsport UK, along with the board of the organisation, said: "The entire Motorsport UK community condemns the acts of war by Russia and Belarus in Ukraine and expresses its solidarity and support towards all those affected by the ongoing conflict.
The ban on Russian drivers means Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin will be barred from racing at Silverstone for Haas on 3 July.
On Tuesday, it looked likely Mazepin would be allowed to compete in F1 this season after the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) confirmed Russian and Belarusian drivers could race under a neutral flag.
But Mr Richards, along with the board of organisation, confirmed that he would not be able to race in the UK. Sky News - link - Amar Mehta - link - more like this - link
(EUR) UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS TARGETED - DAY 6
A member of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine stands inside the damaged Kharkiv regional administration building in the aftermath of a shelling in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine, 1 March 2022. [EPA-EFE/SERGEY KOZLOV]
The sixth day of the war in Ukraine did not bring any significant successes to Putin’s army of war criminals. Aggressors did not manage to capture any of the prominent Ukrainian cities. Instead, they engaged in the maximum destruction of civilian infrastructure.
By Tuesday, the Russian aggressors had already killed more than 20 children and ruined 80 kindergartens, schools, colleges and social-educational objects.
They are purposely aiming at hospitals, like in Kharkiv, to cause as many civilian deaths as possible. They have also shot the biggest city square in Europe with ballistic missiles – Kharkiv’s Square of Freedom, killing innocent people. euractiv - link - Roman Rukomeda - link - more like this - link
Tuesday, 1 March 2022
(MAU) BEHOLD - THE MULLEN SOLID STATE EV
Mullen Five
An electric vehicle startup by the name of Mullen has joined the race to develop solid-state batteries, a technology that has the potential to significantly improve range, charge times, and safety.
Mullen on Monday said it is developing a solid-state battery cell that could deliver a range of more than 600 miles from a battery pack with a 150-kilowatt-hour capacity. DC fast charging would also enable 300 miles of range to be added in just 18 minutes, the company said.
It's still early days, though. Mullen doesn't plan to start testing its solid-state battery in a vehicle until 2025, or one year after its first model, the Five crossover, goes on sale. And even if the testing is successful, Mullen doesn't see its solid-state battery being made available to customers until the arrival of a second-generation Five crossover—presumably around the end of the decade.
A number of major automakers are also developing solid-state batteries, though most are working with companies that specialise in battery development. Volkswagen Group has said it aims to introduce the technology after 2025. Nissan has announced a set date of 2028, while the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz have said the end of the decade. Perhaps the first with the technology will be Toyota, as it plans to introduce it first in hybrid vehicles.
While solid-state batteries aren't a new technology, hurdles remain when it comes to automotive applications, particularly manufacturing the batteries at the scale and durability required for cars.
Mullen's Five crossover due in 2024 will arrive with current liquid-type battery technology. The Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4 rival is based on a modular EV platform and in standard guise will offer a 95-kilowatt-hour battery good for a claimed 325 miles of range. The base model is also claimed to pack enough grunt for a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Mullen said pricing will start at about $55,000. Motor Authority - link - Viknesh Vijayenthiran - link - more like this (USA) - link - more like this - link
(AUT) FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC JEEP REVEALED
Jeep has taken its first steps towards an all-electric future by revealing the design of its first fully-electric Jeep model, which will be launched in Europe in the first half of 2023.
“Electrification will amplify Jeep’s core attributes”, claimed Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares during the brand’s 2021 earnings presentation. Tavares used the earnings call to set out the group’s long-term strategy, which will include 100 per cent of Stellantis sales being fully-electric in Europe by 2026.The new, as yet unnamed Jeep is a significant marker of this intent, as it showcases how Stellantis brands without any fully-electric models will transform rapidly into having a full EV range.
“This new model will launch during the first half of next year and is the first of a comprehensive fully-electric Jeep line-up that will cover every SUV segment by 2025”, he added.
The new model is expected to sit below the Renegade in terms of size. It evolves Jeep’s chunky contemporary design language into something more typical of a fully-electric model, with a shallower, more aerodynamic windscreen, and a closed-off interpretation of the brand’s traditional grille.
As part of Jeep’s celebrations for its 80th anniversary last year, brand boss Christian Meunier announced that there would be a “fully emissions-free Jeep in every segment by 2025”. However, Jeep’s head of exterior design, Mark Allen, hinted to Auto Express of a possible range expansion to tie in with the electrification: “We’re looking at every segment possible”, he said.
When asked if Jeep’s line-up could extend beyond the Wagoneer at the top end and Renegade at the bottom, Allen said, “Absolutely – we’re looking beyond those projects. Auto Express - link - James Brodie - link - more like this (USA) - link - more like this - link