Press release from Topsoe

In a new consortium, Topsoe will team up with companies and university researchers to help the rising global challenges with food insecurity and greenhouse-gas emissions from agriculture.  

According to a recent UN-led report, 250 million people faced severe hunger during 2022, which was an increase of 65 million compared to the year before.  

The consortium aims to provide a more sustainable way of producing proteins through fermentation. Through biological and electrochemical processes, it is possible to utilize CO2 to produce proteins that can be used directly in food for humans. Topsoe will provide technical expertise and insights as well as its SOEC electrolysis technology.  

“The technologies are estimated to be able to produce enough protein for more than 1 billion people every year, creating a stable source of nutritious food for people living in areas with limited potential for conventional agriculture, such as in low- or middle-income countries,” says Poul Georg Moses, Chief Technology Officer, Power-to-X at Topsoe. 

While supplying nutritious food to a growing world population, this will also enable a decoupling of our food production from land use and be a major contribution to a more sustainable society.  

In the consortium, funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Novo Nordisk Foundation, Topsoe will work with Novozymes A/S, Washington University in St. Louis, USA, Lectrolyst LLC and the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC) at Aarhus University in Denmark.  

The total funding from the two foundations is up to DKK 200 million (€27 million) and covers a two-year period. If the work of the consortium is successful, it will be possible to continue the support for later stages of the project.
 

About Topsoe 
Founded in 1940, Topsoe is a leading global developer and supplier of decarbonization technology, catalysts, and services for the energy transition.  

Our mission is to combat climate change by helping our partners and customers achieve their decarbonization and emission-reduction targets, including those in hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping, and the production of raw materials. From carbon reduction chemicals to renewable fuels and plastic upcycling, we are uniquely positioned to aid humanity in realizing a sustainable future.  

Topsoe is headquartered in Denmark, with over 2,400 employees serving customers all around the globe. To learn more, visit  www.topsoe.com.

For more information, please contact: 
Ulrik Frøhlke, Media Relations Manager
Phone: +45 27 77 99 68 
Mail: [email protected]

Press release from Aker Solutions

September 19, 2023 — Aker Solutions has secured a sizeable1) contract from Shell to provide brownfield modifications services and maintenance support for the Nyhamna facility in Norway.

Press release from BotH2nia

A research consortium led by the University of Oulu, which aims to achieve a fair hydrogen transfer, is boosting hydrogen research communication in Finland. Together with the BotH2nia hydrogen network, the consortium will start producing general-interest articles on hydrogen research, in addition to future research articles and conference presentations.

As part of the project, many meetings and interviews will be organised with those whose lives will be affected in practice by the green transition. With BotH2nia, the consortium also organises regular events where researchers meet officials from municipal, regional and national governments. The Hydrogen Impact Forum, which meets four times a year, uses scientific findings to address issues raised by both the private and public sectors. The aim is to generate, develop and disseminate hydrogen best practice across the country.

Funding has been secured for a new communication effort. The Strategic Research Council (STN) of the Academy of Finland has allocated €27 million for research into a just green revolution. The STN awarded funding of almost €3 million to the JustH2Transit project, a small part of which will be used for new hydrogen communication.

The multidisciplinary consortium brings together the University of Oulu, the Natural Resources Institute of Finland (LUKE), the University of LUT and VTT. The project aims to lead the change in Finnish society related to the increasing use of hydrogen on the basis of researched knowledge.

The project will map the current situation of hydrogen transition in Finland and the related system-level bottlenecks. In parallel, the environmental, techno-economic and social impacts of hydrogen transition will be examined. The linkages of the hydrogen economy to the bio- and circular economy will be assessed from the perspectives of resource use and sufficiency. Answers and alternatives to these themes will be sought to strengthen our societies’ resilience, resilience and equity.

Read more: Nearly €3 million for a just hydrogen transition research project

Further information:

Marko Huttula, Director of the Just H2 Transit research consortium, Professor, University of Oulu

p. +358 40 056 6218

Originally published on 15 September. 

Press release from NYAB

NYAB begins the earthworks at Talgas’ new battery anode refinery located in Luleå Industrial Park. The facility will be powered by renewable electricity and is part of Talgas’ investment in climate-smart battery anodes, using natural graphite from the Vittangi mine in Kiruna municipality. Preparations for the construction of the refinery will start with this agreement and will begin in September.

The green industrial transition continues in northern Sweden

Northern Sweden is experiencing a significant investment boom and only in Luleå there are plans for 100 billions of kronors. Luleå Industrial Park is a hub for green transition, where cluster of heavy industrial companies such as Talga invest.

Talga AB develops green graphite battery anode products, technology and advanced materials. Talga is now establishing its first commercial facility in Luleå, where the planned annual production of battery anode material will be sufficient for approximately 200,000 new electric cars each year.

“We are very pleased that with this agreement with NYAB we are able to start our significant investment in Luleå. Facilities like this are crucial to the transition to a more sustainable future. By using natural graphite from Vittangi, green energy and proprietary process technology, we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the production of battery anodes by as much as 92%”, says Peder Enoksson, Project Director at Talga.

NYAB’s works include necessary earthworks. Excavation, filling, pipe laying and soil coatings for civil engineering installations and buildings within the property. Work will begin immediately. The signed contract includes an option for additional land and infrastructure-related works, which is intended to be started no later than spring 2024. The parties have agreed not to disclose the contract value.

“NYAB is founded in Luleå and has a deep understanding of, and close connection to, the regions where we operate. To now be established with another important project in Luleå Industrial Park puts us in a good position to capture future business opportunities. We want to continue to contribute to the green and industrial transition. We are proud of the trust Talga shows us”, says Magnus Granljung, Managing Director of NYAB Sverige AB.

Further information

Magnus Granljung
MD, NYAB Sweden
Phone: +46 70 293 90 95

NYAB is building a clean future with decades of experience from complex and challenging projects. We enable the green transition in the Nordic region by offering engineering, construction and maintenance services in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure to customers in the public and private sectors. NYAB is headquartered in Oulu and has over 400 employees in Finland and Sweden.

Originally published on 11 September. 

(Reuters) – Alberta, Canada’s largest oil-producing province, will finalize an investment incentive program for emissions-cutting technologies like carbon capture and storage in “coming months,” the province’s energy minister, Brian Jean, said on Tuesday.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen as a key tool in helping Canada’s high-polluting oil and gas industry slash emissions without cutting back on production, but companies are holding back on final investment decisions because of the high costs involved and have been lobbying for more government support.

An Alberta incentive program, which would work alongside a federal government investment tax credit first announced last year, would be a key step forward for Canada’s nascent CCS industry and could spur projects forward.

Jean said the incentives, which will be similar to the existing Alberta Petrochemical Incentives Program, should be designed properly, and he is having conversations with stakeholders.

“We’re going to make sure we do a robust consultation to get it right,” Jean told Reuters in an interview. “If we get it right, that means that we’re going see another economic boom here in Alberta.”

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal government is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. But oil producers in Canada, the world’s fourth largest producer, are also the country’s biggest polluters.

A number of companies including Enbridge Inc, TC Energy and a group known as the Pathways Alliance, consisting of Canada’s six largest oil sands producers, are proposing to build major CCS storage hubs.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith instructed Jean in a mandate letter in July to develop an incentive program for technologies including CCS, lithium for batteries and geothermal development.

However Alberta, which also has a net-zero 2050 target, has repeatedly clashed with Ottawa over interim targets and a promised cap on oil and gas emissions that is supposed to be announced later this year.

Since last year, Ottawa and the Alberta government have been urging each other to contribute more public funding to support CCS technology.

(Reporting by Nia Williams, editing by Timothy Gardner)

Press release from Ocean Hyway Cluster

Enova held a webinar on the upcoming support program for hydrogen and ammonia powered vessels. We have summarized the key highlights of the new funding scheme.

Thursday 24th August, Enova invited all interested parties to join the webinar on the upcoming support program for hydrogen and ammonia powered vessels. The aim is to reduce network and cost barriers, contribute to cost reductions and further support the development of technology.

Contract for Difference is challenging
Many are talking about the need for contract for difference in development of hydrogen and ammonia value chains. Enova have evaluated contract for difference to be very challenging in the current immature market where we don’t have established cost estimates and are lacking a clear market price. By guaranteeing a difference we risk manipulation of market price which will make it harder to create functioning market mechanisms. However, they acknowledge that this can change quickly as ships start entering the market and comment that operational support is something that is continually evaluated. As for now, this support program is the greatest contribution to getting zero emission vessels into the market.

New for this support program is the use of competitive bidding, allowing Enova to support up to 80% of the additional costs of investing in a hydrogen/ammonia vessel compared to a conventional vessel. This requires the process to be based on competition where cost-efficiency is the most important criteria for awarding support. 75% will be based on cost-efficiency (Support (NOK)/DWT(tons)), and 25% will be based on grade of innovation. This type of process requires a strict competitive regulation which deviates from other Enova support schemes.

Enova has defined two sets of criteria for support, one for hydrogen and one for ammonia. However, the general terms are identical and there are only a few technical differences related to the use of pilot fuels in ammonia vessels.

Key highlights
We have summarized a few key highlights from the support schemes, but encourage all to watch the recording from the webinar and read the two programs for more details:

Additional costs directly related to the ship can include both the propulsion system (all technologies) and technologies related to energy efficiency. Costs related to infrastructure are not included.

Applicants need to be a registered in Norway and document sufficient execution abilities related to financial, technical, and organizational aspects. These are further described in the program and are additions defined by Enova.

The project can include up to three vessels, which can be new builds or retrofit of existing vessels.

Final investment decision within 12 months of received commitment letter and execution/operation within 36 months.

The project must include a credible plan for bunkering location and provider of hydrogen/ammonia and document a positive cash-flow in operation.

There is an upper limit of support set to 150 MNOK and the project cannot have received any support from Enova previously.

The vessel needs to be able to fully operate on zero-emission fuels (exception for ammonia engine requiring a pilot fuel). During normal operation, there is set a minimum of 50% of energy consumption which shall be possible to cover by hydrogen/ammonia.

There are no requirements from Enova that the vessel shall operate on zero-emission fuels. Please note there are no requirements stating that the hydrogen/ammonia should be either blue or green.

Compared to an equivalent fossil fuel vessel, the vessel shall reduce the total CO2-emission onboard by 25% during the first 5 years to qualify for support.

The vessel shall be commercially operated.

The vessel shall be registered in NIS/NOR or operate at least 1/3 of the time in Norway/Norwegian economic zones, or document 1/3 of arrivals in Norwegian ports.

A minimum of 50% of the bunkered ammonia/hydrogen in the first 5 years of operation shall be bunkered in Norway.

Share your opinion
To ensure the support scheme is targeted, easy to understand and lead to actual vessels running on zero emission fuels in Norway, Enova is asking for feedback on the support program. We highly encourage all our members to contribute with your insights. Enova is asking for one response per company which can be uploaded as a PDF file by 06.09.2023.

Originally published on 31 August.