Tag Archives: european
America’s New Energy Export Is…Trees?
By ERICA PETERSON Enlarge image Credit Σ64 / Wikimedia Commons When we talk about exporting energy sources to other countries, the conversation tends to center on fossil fuels. Here in Kentucky, it’s all about coal, and even as the nation cuts back on coal burning, many mines are hoping that burgeoning economies in Asia will help fill in the economic gaps. But the BBC Newshour had an interesting story this morning about another fuel that America is exporting: wood. Trees that are grown in the Southeast are being sent to Europe to fuel biomass boilers, and there’s a debate about whether that process actually helps the European Union further its stated goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The EU has a renewable energy standard, mandating that 20 percent of energy has to come from renewable sources. And biomass–and wood-burning–technically fits that definition. As the BBC reports , some of the trees being turned into wood pellets and exported to the United Kingdom come from tree plantations. These farms mainly raise trees for timber, but the twisted trees that don’t make good boards can be ground up and turned into pellets. But BBC Correspondent Roger Harrabin reports that if the market grows enough, it could attract wood from other places. I drove with environmentalists at dawn to a gorgeous swamp forest in North Carolina. The birdsong was entrancing, and a scarce prothonatory warbler – known as the swamp canary – danced before our TV lens. The wood fuel industry has not advertised that it also takes trees from natural forests like this to boil kettles in Britain – but that’s what happens. Most of the swamp forests in south-east US are in the hands of small private landowners and they face few restrictions on what they do with their assets. And environmentalists argue that the ultimate irony is that a renewable energy standard that was meant to help slow and reduce the effects of climate change could end up contributing to the problem. The British government will shortly announce its rules for the sustainability of “biomass” burning for power. It will set a standard for emissions created from the cutting, drying and shipping and timber but it will make a working assumption that burning the wood has nil CO2 emissions as new trees will suck up the CO2 emitted by wood burning. Critics say this is simplistic as it fails to recognise that it will take maybe 50 years for new trees to absorb the CO2, whilst politicians agree that emissions need to be cut immediately to prevent carbon over-heating the planet. It also fails to account for the fact that in the US the forest stock has been increasing and this process offsets the growth in carbon emissions from homes and industry. Burning American trees in the UK reduces America’s “carbon sink”. Foresters argue that this doesn’t matter much as long as the total biomass sent for export is no greater than the wood used in a single large pulp mill. But these numbers will grow fast. Plus, whenever anything is exported via ocean liner, there are carbon emissions associated with transportation. While Louisville is lacking the trees it needs (and this fact landed the city the #2 spot on Grist’s list of the top 10 American cities most “screwed by climate change”), Kentucky has a lot of forest land. Some groups like the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance say biomass could be one way to help move the state away from coal (but it’s important to note that the term “biomass” could mean anything from mature trees to switchgrass ). Meanwhile, the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development has a program that incentivizes forest owners to maintain their forests by paying them for all of the carbon dioxide their trees sequester. Continue reading
Jirau : The World’s Largest Renewable CDM Project Obtains Registration At The United Nations
WEBWIRE – Monday, May 27, 2013 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) registered the Jirau Hydropower Plant on May 17, 2013 under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The renewable energy produced by Jirau will allow a reduction of up to six million tons of CO2 emissions annually as it will reduce the need to dispatch (or build new) fossil fueled power plants. The Jirau hydropower plant is the largest renewable energy plant ever registered and it demonstrates that the Clean Development Mechanism, when applied in tandem with national greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and enabling policies, is capable of promoting major infrastructure projects. Gérard Mestrallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ declared: “The Jirau CDM project stands as a key element in Brazil’s efforts to promote sustainable economic growth based on renewable power. This recognition by the United Nations illustrates the strong commitment of GDF SUEZ to develop renewable energy around the world and in Brazil.” The Jirau project is a key element in Brazil’s National Policy on Climate Change, which promotes expansion based on hydroelectricity and other renewable technologies, such as wind and biomass. This policy encourages a balance between low GHG emissions, energy security, environmental protection and social development. GDF SUEZ has been a pioneer of CDM since its participation as a founding member of the Prototype Carbon Fund in 2001 and is actively using the program to promote clean energy investments. To date, the Group has registered a portfolio of 15 CDM projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America, using wind, water, geothermal and biomass as sustainable sources of renewable energy. The CDM registration is effective as of December 26, 2012, which enables the project to sell its credits to the European emission trading scheme (EU ETS). About the Jirau Project The Jirau project, which is under construction on the Madeira River in the state of Rondônia in Brazil, is currently jointly owned by GDF SUEZ (60%)(1), Eletrosul (20%) and Chesf (20%). Designed as a run-of-the-river facility with a small reservoir, the plant will have an installed capacity of 3,750 MW and potential to meet the electricity demand of 10 million Brazilian households. The commissioning of the project is expected to start in mid 2013. About CDM The CDM was set up by the Kyoto Protocol as one of the flexibility mechanisms to complement emissions trading between developed countries that accepted targets as listed under Annex 1 of the Protocol(2). Carbon credits from CDM are granted when companies from such developed Annex 1 countries undertake investments enabling the reduction of CO2 emissions in developing countries to support their clean and sustainable development. As the emission reductions obtained can be used to meet part of the obligations, the CDM is a first step towards a global carbon market. About GDF SUEZ in Latin America GDF SUEZ Energy Latin America provides innovative energy and gas solutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru, supporting this emerging continent in its economic growth, respecting the environment and providing essential services to its people. It has 3,300 employees in the region and 12.2 GW capacity in operation and an additional 4.7 GW under construction. Two thirds of the electricity it generates is renewable. It also transports, distributes and sells gas in addition to regasifying LNG and has a share in more than 45 Mm3 per day in natural gas operations through generation companies, marketing and infrastructure operators. For more information, please visit www.gdfsuezla.com —- (1) On May 13, GDF SUEZ and Mitsui announced a partnership where Mitsui will take a 20% equity interest in the project, expanding the long-term partnership between the two Groups. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur during the second half of 2013, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining approvals from Brazilian authorities (ANEEL – Electricity Energy Regulatory Agency and CADE – Brazilian anti-trust entity) and lenders (BNDES and local commercial banks). (1) As defined by UNFCC About GDF SUEZ GDF SUEZ develops its businesses (electricity, natural gas, services) around a model based on responsible growth to take up today’s major energy and environmental challenges: meeting energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, fighting against climate change and maximizing the use of resources. The Group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas-supply sources, flexible and low-emission power generation as well as unique expertise in four key sectors: liquefied natural gas, energy efficiency services, independent power production and environmental services. GDF SUEZ employs 219,300 people worldwide and achieved revenues of €97 billion in 2012. The Group is listed on the Paris, Brussels and Luxembourg stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, ASPI Eurozone, Vigeo World 120, Vigeo Europe 120 and Vigeo France 20. Continue reading
UK To Vote Against 2030 EU Renewable Target – Davey
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 UK to vote against 2030 EU renewable target – Davey The UK government is likely to oppose an EU renewables target for 2030 which is considered “inflexible and unnecessary”, energy secretary Ed Davey said. He made the comment after the European Parliament on Monday extended a deadline for the submission of amendments to a proposal to intervene in the carbon market. “Whilst we strongly support renewables to 2020 and beyond, the uncertainties at this time are too large to set hard numbers in a binding EU Renewables target, which we do not believe would be cost effective or fit well with our electricity market reforms,” Davey said. Britain would, however, will continue to support a 40% cut in the emissions 2030 target, from 1990 levels, and would even endorse increasing that target to 50% -– if the UN was to adopt an ambitious global reduction in emissions target by 2015. The EU currently has a 2020 target to both cut emissions by 20% and increase renewables by the same amount. The European Parliament on Monday extended a deadline for the submission of amendments to a proposal to intervene in the carbon market by six hours, giving MEPs six hours more time to submit amendments to the proposal on backloading. The proposal, tabled by the European Commission, is intended to provide a short-term boost to carbon prices on the EU ETS by delaying the release of 900m allowances until the end of the decade. The extension of the vote was intended to support efforts of independent observers to broker a potential compromise on the proposal, which the parliament rejected in April. Ultimately, the backloading proposal is set to be voted on in the Parliament’s environment committee on 19 June. Read more: http://gastopowerjou…y#ixzz2Uh9j9k9P Continue reading
