Articles tagged with "decarbonization"
The Aviation Industry and the Stall in Aircraft Innovation - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights a concerning stall in aircraft innovation that threatens the aviation industry’s ability to meet decarbonisation targets. Despite the critical need for more efficient and zero-emission aircraft to reduce the sector’s high emissions, major manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing have largely focused on incremental improvements, such as re-engined versions of existing models, rather than breakthrough technologies. Innovative projects have faced delays or pauses, and no new aircraft models are expected from these OEMs in the next decade. This slowdown is attributed to a lack of market competition and insufficient policy incentives pushing manufacturers toward radical innovation. Modeling presented in the article suggests that with ambitious but achievable innovation, European aviation could improve efficiency by up to 13% by 2050, potentially saving enough renewable electricity to power 27 million heat pumps. If manufacturers push further, efficiency gains could reach 17%, underscoring the significant role aircraft technology can play in meeting EU climate goals. To unlock this potential, the article recommends strengthening
energyaviationdecarbonizationsustainable-aviation-fuelsaircraft-innovationemissions-reductiongreen-technologyWeak Aircraft Innovation Undercutting Aviation’s Green Transition - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights concerns that the aviation industry's reliance on conventional fossil-fuel-powered aircraft and slow technological innovation are jeopardizing its decarbonization goals. Despite the Paris Air Show showcasing new aircraft, most are incremental updates of older models rather than breakthrough designs. A new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that if manufacturers accelerated innovation—particularly in zero-emission technologies such as hydrogen propulsion—European aviation could improve efficiency by up to 13-17% by 2050 compared to a business-as-usual scenario. This improvement could reduce cumulative CO₂ emissions by 123 million tonnes, equivalent to removing 62 million petrol and diesel cars from European roads for a year. The article emphasizes that innovation in aircraft design has stagnated over the past decade, with no new models expected in the next ten years. Airbus and Boeing, the dominant players, have delayed or paused the introduction of disruptive technologies, instead opting to update older airframes like the Airbus A320neo and
energyaviationgreen-transitiondecarbonizationaircraft-innovationrenewable-electricityhydrogen-aircraftDirect Air Carbon Capture Is Scaling Up, With Mineralization
The article discusses the evolving landscape of carbon capture technologies, with a particular focus on direct air capture (DAC) and mineralization as promising approaches for long-term carbon sequestration. While federal support for carbon capture in the US is declining—highlighted by the Department of Energy’s recent cancellation of a $3.7 billion decarbonization demonstration program—global efforts continue to advance. The article contrasts various carbon capture methods, noting that biofuels and electrofuels recirculate carbon but depend heavily on supportive public policies. More durable sequestration options include reforestation and reforming captured carbon into solid products, such as incorporating it into cement. Mineralization emerges as a key solution for sustainable, long-term carbon storage by chemically locking carbon dioxide into stable carbonate minerals through reactions with reactive igneous or metamorphic rocks. This method offers advantages over traditional underground sequestration in porous sedimentary rock, where carbon can potentially escape. The US Geological Survey estimates significant underground sequestration capacity, but
energycarbon-capturedirect-air-capturemineralizationdecarbonizationcarbon-sequestrationsustainable-technologyWeak Aircraft Innovation Undercutting Aviation’s Green Transition - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights concerns about the aviation industry's slow progress in innovating greener aircraft technologies, which threatens its ability to meet decarbonization targets. Ahead of the Paris Air Show, analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that reliance on conventional fossil-fuel-powered aircraft and incremental improvements, such as re-engining older models, are insufficient. T&E’s modeling suggests that with ambitious innovation—such as the development and deployment of zero-emission aircraft—European aviation could improve efficiency by up to 13-17% by 2050, potentially reducing CO₂ emissions by 123 million tonnes. This reduction equates to removing 62 million petrol and diesel cars from European roads for a year and would significantly contribute to the sector’s green transition. However, the article points out that aircraft innovation has stalled over the past decade, with no new models expected in the next ten years. Major manufacturers Airbus and Boeing dominate the market but have largely focused on incremental updates rather than disruptive
energyaviationgreen-technologydecarbonizationaircraft-innovationrenewable-energyhydrogen-aircraftStartup Sneaks More Solar Energy Into The Grid
The article highlights a Virginia-based startup, Earthrise, which is advancing the US solar energy sector despite federal policy challenges posed by the “Big Beautiful Bill” that includes provisions unfavorable to renewables. Earthrise recently secured financing for the 270-megawatt Gibson City Solar project in Illinois, notable for its size amid growing local opposition to solar developments. The project’s financing is unique, involving a “first-of-its-kind” tax equity and debt deal coordinated by major international banks BBVA, Intesa Sanpaolo, and NORD/LB, alongside a tax equity commitment from a Fortune 500 telecommunications company. This deal also leverages a new Indexed Renewable Energy Credit offtake agreement authorized by the Illinois Power Agency, signaling innovative state-level support for solar. What sets Earthrise apart is its strategic business model of acquiring existing gas peaker plants and their grid interconnections—totaling about 1.7 gigawatts—and repurposing these connections for solar projects, including over
energysolar-energyrenewable-energysolar-power-plantenergy-financingdecarbonizationclean-energyFrance’s €520/Ton CO₂ Problem: Hydrogen Is Too Expensive For Transport - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the findings of a French audit on the economics of decarbonized hydrogen production via electrolysis, revealing that the cost of avoiding CO₂ emissions through this method is approximately €520 per ton. This figure far exceeds typical societal costs for CO₂ reduction technologies, highlighting that electrolytic hydrogen remains economically unviable without substantial public subsidies. France’s National Hydrogen Strategy (SNH2), launched in April 2025, aims to rapidly expand electrolytic hydrogen production with over €9 billion allocated for this purpose. However, the Cour des comptes report underscores that even optimistic assumptions about energy prices do not significantly improve the economic outlook, and the reported €9 billion in subsidies likely underestimates the true financial burden due to unaccounted infrastructure costs and indirect subsidies. The audit also reveals a complex web of overlapping subsidies that effectively lower the cost burden for hydrogen producers. These include mechanisms like the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which, by increasing carbon costs for fossil-fuel-based hydrogen
energyhydrogendecarbonizationelectrolyzersrenewable-energypublic-subsidiesCO2-reductionReassessing Steel: How Falling Cement Use Alters Future Projections - CleanTechnica
The article "Reassessing Steel: How Falling Cement Use Alters Future Projections" explores a revised outlook on global steel demand, prompted by insights from Scott Norris, a structural steel expert. Initially, the author anticipated steady steel demand growth driven by ongoing infrastructure expansion in developing countries. However, after examining cement industry trends and their close link to steel consumption—since about half of steel demand is tied to construction—the author now believes previous steel growth projections were overly optimistic. The World Cement Association’s forecast that global cement demand will peak and then decline by mid-century, due to completed urbanization in developed economies and changing building methods, significantly impacts steel demand expectations. China’s massive past infrastructure build-out, which accounted for half of global steel and cement demand, is winding down, and other regions like India and Southeast Asia are unlikely to replicate China’s scale of growth. Despite this, Norris highlights that developing regions, particularly India and parts of Southeast Asia, will see near-term steel demand increases due to ongoing infrastructure projects and new blast furnace steel plants, which have long operational lifespans extending into the late 21st century. India aims to double steel production by 2030, with potential further growth by mid-century, while Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia also anticipate rising demand. Nonetheless, the author remains skeptical that these regional increases will offset the broader global decline driven by cement displacement and decarbonization trends, suggesting a more cautious long-term outlook for steel demand than previously assumed.
materialssteel-industrycement-demandconstruction-materialsinfrastructure-developmentdecarbonizationglobal-steel-demandTransforming Canada: Mapping A 100% Electrified Energy Economy - CleanTechnica
The article "Transforming Canada: Mapping A 100% Electrified Energy Economy" explores Canada’s critical juncture in transitioning its energy system toward full electrification and renewable integration. Drawing on the author's experience with Ireland’s 2050 energy roadmap and collaboration with Canadian energy leaders, the piece highlights the opportunity for Canada to adopt a similarly ambitious, clean, secure, and affordable energy framework. Despite differences in scale, Canada and Ireland share challenges like decarbonization, energy independence, and affordability. Canada’s abundant renewable resources and technological capacity position it well for this transformation. Currently, Canada’s energy system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, primarily oil and natural gas exports to the U.S. and increasingly Asia, which creates economic vulnerabilities amid global market and geopolitical uncertainties. Domestically, fossil fuels dominate heating, transportation, and industry, resulting in significant inefficiencies and energy waste—about 1,500 TWh of the roughly 2,500 TWh primary energy consumed annually is lost, mainly as waste heat from combustion processes. The author presents Sankey diagrams illustrating current energy flows and envisions a fully decarbonized, electrified Canadian energy economy. While the diagrams are preliminary, they underscore the scale of inefficiency in the current system and the potential gains from electrification and renewable integration. The article serves as an initial reflection and call to action for inclusive, forward-looking energy planning in Canada.
energyrenewable-energyelectrificationdecarbonizationenergy-policyclean-energyenergy-transformationIndia's Coal & Gas Decline Signals Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition - CleanTechnica
The article highlights a significant shift in India’s energy landscape, marked by a steep decline in coal usage as of May 2025—the largest year-over-year drop since the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline is driven by economic slowdowns, rapid expansion of renewables, and increasingly cost-competitive solar and wind projects, signaling a potential tipping point toward decarbonization. Despite coal’s entrenched role in powering India’s industrial sectors and accounting for nearly half of the country’s primary energy input in 2023, its inefficiencies—where about two-thirds of coal’s energy content is lost as waste heat—underscore the urgency for a transition to cleaner, more efficient energy sources. Renewables, while growing, still made up less than a quarter of electricity generation in 2023, reflecting the substantial scaling challenges ahead. Looking toward 2050, the article envisions a fully electrified Indian economy predominantly powered by renewables such as wind, solar, and hydro, with nuclear energy maintained at current levels. This future energy system would leverage the efficiency gains of electrification, particularly through widespread adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, which significantly reduce energy demand in transport, residential, and commercial sectors. The strategic use of ambient environmental heat via heat pumps and the integration of geothermal energy could further reduce electricity needs, transforming India’s energy consumption into a highly efficient and sustainable model. This transition offers not only environmental benefits but also economic resilience by addressing inefficiencies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
energyrenewable-energycoal-declinesolar-powerwind-energydecarbonizationIndia-energy-transitionUnlocking e-SAF’s Potential for the EU Competitiveness & Energy Independence - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the European Union’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) as a critical opportunity to unlock the potential of e-SAF (electro-sustainable aviation fuel), which is considered the greenest and most scalable sustainable aviation fuel. E-SAF, or e-kerosene, has the capacity to reduce aviation CO₂ emissions by over 90%, making it a vital solution for long-term decarbonization of the aviation sector. Despite supportive regulatory frameworks like the Fit for 55 package and ReFuelEU Aviation, e-SAF projects in the EU have struggled to reach final investment decisions due to high costs, lack of long-term purchase agreements, and market uncertainties. To address these challenges, the article proposes that the STIP should prioritize e-SAF by implementing mechanisms such as a European Hydrogen Clearing House (EHCH). This clearing house would facilitate double-sided auctions to match fuel producers with buyers, ensuring price stability and aggregated demand. Such a system would de-risk investments in e-SAF production through long-term contracts and contracts for differences, fostering scale-up while aligning with the EU’s goals for industrial competitiveness, energy independence, and job creation. Ultimately, prioritizing e-SAF under the STIP is framed not only as an environmental necessity but also as a strategic move to position Europe as a global leader in sustainable aviation fuels and clean energy innovation.
energysustainable-aviation-fuele-SAFEU-energy-independenceclean-energydecarbonizationhydrogen-economyDutch firm eyes nuclear power propulsion for greener cargo fleet
energynuclear-propulsioncarbon-emissionssmall-modular-reactorsoffshore-vesselssustainable-shippingdecarbonizationElectric HyBrid Passenger Plane In Development: The ES-30 - CleanTechnica
energyhybrid-electricaviationdecarbonizationelectric-aircraftbattery-technologyclimate-changeIdeology Accidentally Aligns with Reality: US $3.7B CCS Cancellation Explained - CleanTechnica
energycarbon-capturehydrogen-fuelsdecarbonizationfossil-fuelsclean-energyCCSThe World Hit Another Clean Power Record Last Year
energyclean-powersolar-energydecarbonizationrenewable-resourcesclimate-goalsIcelandWhy Shipping’s Low-Carbon Future Relies More on Batteries & Biofuels Than Methanol - CleanTechnica
energylow-carbonmaritime-shippingdecarbonizationbiofuelsbatteriesmethanolWizz Air’s Sewage-to-Fuel Deal Helps Blow Up Five Energy Myths - CleanTechnica
energydecarbonizationaviationbiofuelsliquid-fuelselectrificationclimate-changeBeyond the Harbor: Electrifying Short-Sea Routes and Hybridizing Blue-Water Shipping - CleanTechnica
energyelectrificationmaritimedecarbonizationbattery-technologyshippingsustainable-transport7% Of All New Motorcycle Registrations In Kenya In 2024 Were Electric! - CleanTechnica
electric-vehicleselectric-motorcyclesAfricatransportationdecarbonizationclean-energyelectric-mobilityRooftop solar, EV batteries could meet 85% of Japan's energy needs
energysolar-energyelectric-vehiclesrenewable-energydecarbonizationenergy-self-sufficiencyrooftop-solarAgrivoltaics Makes The Leap From Rural To Urban Farming
energyagrivoltaicssolar-powerurban-farmingcommunity-solardecarbonizationsustainabilityFrom Coal Dominance To Renewables: How Poland Changed Its Energy Story - CleanTechnica
energyrenewable-energyhydrogenenergy-transitionPolanddecarbonizationelectricity-gridPowering Ports: Electrifying Harbor Craft & Ferries For Lower Costs & Emissions
energyelectrificationdecarbonizationmaritime-industrybattery-electric-solutionsemissions-reductionharbor-tugsJob posting: Policy Advisor
clean-energyrenewable-energyclean-transportationclimate-actionpolicy-analysisdecarbonizationelectric-vehiclesPowering the Future: A 30-Year Roadmap to Zero-Emission Port Operations
energydecarbonizationelectrificationshippingport-operationsrenewable-energycarbon-emissionsWhy Modern Cities Are Embracing Trolleybuses Again
energysustainable-transportationelectric-busesurban-transitdecarbonizationsmart-technologyregenerative-brakingHySpeed Green Hydrogen Play Will Lead To Stranded Assets & Fiscal Losses
energyhydrogendecarbonizationgreen-energyrenewable-energyinfrastructureemissions-reductionGlobal Ferry Electrification Accelerates: 70% Of New Orders Go Electric
electric-ferriesmaritime-electrificationclean-transportationbattery-systemsdecarbonizationsustainable-shippinggreen-technologyChina Zorrilla: How The World’s Largest Electric Ferry Changes Maritime Electrification
electric-ferrymaritime-electrificationsustainable-transportbattery-electricdecarbonizationrenewable-energyArgentina-Uruguay-connectionSAF Takes Off & Ticket Prices Follow: The Real Cost Of Greener Air Travel
energysustainable-aviation-fueldecarbonizationelectric-aviationcarbon-emissionsaviation-industrygreen-hydrogenAra Partners’ new $800M fund will decarbonize old industrial assets
energydecarbonizationclimate-techindustrial-assetsinfrastructure-fundcarbon-emissionsinvestmentUK Councils To Government: Rooftop Solar Should Be Required On All New Homes
energysolar-energyrooftop-solardecarbonizationbuilding-standardsrenewable-energyUK-councilsThe Geopolitics Of Critical Minerals: China’s Grip & The West’s Response
energycritical-mineralsdecarbonizationrenewable-energyindustrial-policiesgreen-hydrogenbattery-technologies