CLIMATE CHANGE

Eight in ten oil and gas majors on track to breach Paris Agreement

An analysis of the emissions and climate plans of 58 oil and gas giants has found that most are failing to decarbonise in line with climate science, with Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil and Chevron among the worst offenders. The analysis from the Transition Pathway Initiative confirmed multiple oil and gas firms are now operating in line with 1.5ºC, namely Eni, TotalEnergies and Occidental, and that Imperial Oil and Tatneft were aligned with 2ºC. This means that, ultimately, 48 of the 58 assessed companies are set to generate emissions higher than their carbon budget in a Paris-aligned world. This cohort includes some notable firms which claim their net-zero frameworks are robust, including BP and Royal Dutch Shell. A particular weakness is the disclosure of Scope 3 emissions and credible reduction targets. (edie)

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Vodafone dials up plans for UK rollout of self-powered mobile masts

Telecoms company Vodafone is hoping to deploy mobile communications masts across the UK which power themselves using built-in wind, solar, and battery technologies. In partnership with Crossflow Energy, the firm has developed the new 'Eco-Towers' to be entirely self-reliant on their own renewable energy systems, enabling them to bring mobile communications to the UK's most remote locations without facing the challenges and costs of connecting to the electricity grid. The final design has yet to be fully deployed, but working in collaboration with network partner Cornerstone, the firms now plan to run a proof of concept with a view to then installing the Crossflow Turbine technology at rural mobile sites across the UK. The rollout would also support Vodafone's target to achieve net-zero emissions across its UK operations by 2027. (Business Green)

LOBBYING 

New Hydrogen UK urges government to ramp up hydrogen infrastructure

Trade body Hydrogen UK has called on the British government to step up its efforts to develop and deploy hydrogen projects. Hydrogen UK officially launched as a trade association this week with a remit of representing and supporting the development and deployment of the fledgling UK hydrogen industry. The association released its inaugural report urging the government to now look beyond its August Hydrogen Strategy and begin the practical work of scaling up hydrogen infrastructure. The report also identified barriers to development currently faced by the growing number of firms working to deliver low-carbon hydrogen production and applications. In related news, trade body RenewableUK announced it has submitted responses to the government's consultations on low-carbon hydrogen, urging Ministers to ensure green hydrogen projects are not side-lined in net-zero strategies. (Business Green)

STRATEGY

China plans methane emission control action plan in key industries

China will look into methane emissions in key industries, including coal mining, agriculture and petroleum, and publish a nationwide methane emission control action plan. China and the United States, the world's two biggest greenhouse gases emitters, unveiled a deal earlier this month to ramp up cooperation tackling climate change, including by cutting methane emissions. China will roll out thorough research on its methane emission control situation, and set effective emission reduction measures targeting coal mining, agriculture, solid waste and sewage water treatment, as well as petroleum and natural gas sectors. It will also set standards for the reduction and utilisation of methane emissions at coal and petroleum industries, and will encourage companies to cut methane emissions via market trades. The plan is scheduled to be published in 2022. (Reuters)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

New German coalition aims for 80% renewable power by 2030

The new German government coalition – formed by the German Greens, the SPD and FDP – has announced big plans to accelerate the energy transition. The coalition announced aims to "ideally" exit coal by 2030, quadruple solar PV installations on all rooftops and push renewable energy capacity to 80% of the country's electricity mix by 2030. However, it did not specify how much that transition will rely on gas, with a planned 50% increase in gas power generation to replace the coal and nuclear plants that are being phased out. To achieve this target, the incoming Minister of Energy, Economy & Climate aims to reserve 2% of land for onshore wind power, more than triple that of offshore wind capacity (to 30GW) and quadruple solar PV installations (to 200 GW). (edie)

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