Seawater-splitting system could scale-up renewable hydrogen production

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Saltwater could be used to produce green hydrogen using a system that combines electrochemical water splitting with forward osmosis. The approach could allow up-scaling of hydrogen fuel production using the planet’s predominantly salty natural water sources without pre-treatment or purification.

Using solar energy to electrochemically split water into oxygen and hydrogen, akin to how plants photosynthesise, shows much promise for renewable energy. The hydrogen that’s liberated can then be mixed with carbon dioxide to make hydrogen fuels.

FedEx pledges to be carbon neutral by 2040

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Global logistics giant FedEx on Wednesday announced a goal to be carbon neutral by 2040. The plan includes a $2 billion investment across electric vehicles, clean energy for operations and a new academic center with Yale focused on capturing carbon.

FedEx — which uses over 180,000 vehicles to deliver packages across continents and operates the world’s largest cargo airline — has been implementing sustainability practices for years, but the announcement represents a major acceleration of the company’s commitments. FedEx generates close to $70 billion in annual revenue and has seen its business grow in recent years partly thanks to the boom in global e-commerce.

The fossil fuels used to power the company’s vehicle and airline fleets contribute to 92 percent of FedEx’s carbon footprint, according to its most recent sustainability report. That fuel also accounts for 6 percent of its annual operating budget.

RNG: Drive Clean in 2021 or Drive Clean (Maybe) Later?

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Last week in a television interview, former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State John Kerry, and President Biden’s U.S. special envoy for climate, definitively told CBS News’ Ben Tracy that we have nine years left to avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis. Nine years.

Some who agree wholeheartedly with his timeline advocate for nothing less than the immediate wholesale electrification of every aspect of the transportation sector in order to reduce its global emission impact. The problem? Battery-electric heavy-duty trucks have not reached high enough volumes for mass commercial use.

There is a buzz around electric trucks, and Wall Street has responded to it. But most currently available options are light- and medium-duty, which make them preferably suited for short routes or last-mile delivery.

Carbon Capture Coalition releases policy blueprint

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The Carbon Capture Coalition on Feb. 24 released a national policy blueprint that includes near-term recommendations the group says policymakers should adopt in order to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of carbon capture projects.

The blueprint represents a consensus of the CCC’s more than 80 energy, industrial and technology companies, labor unions, and conservation, environmental, and clean energy organizations. Those groups include coalition participants Air Liquide, Alto Ingredients, Archer Daniels Midland Co., LanzaTech, National Famers Union, NRG Energy, Summit Agricultural Group, White Energy, along with coalition observers Algae Biomass Organization, Biomass Power Association, Growth Energy, and Renewable Fuels Association.

REG produces record 519 million gallons of biofuel in 2020

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Renewable Energy Group Inc. released fourth quarter financial results on Feb. 25, reporting the company produced a record volume of biofuel in 2020. Company officials also detailed adjustments it is making to correct an error related to fuel blending.

“REG’s resilient business model enabled us to deliver strong financial results, with $120 million of net income from continuing operations available to common stockholders, supported by record production, despite the array of externally driven challenges we faced in 2020,” said Cynthia (CJ) Warner, REG president and CEO. “In the face of the pandemic, we were able to adjust operations to ensure safety while fulfilling customer demand for our essential transportation fuels. We used our flexible feedstock approach to sustain margins and profitability even as the pandemic dramatically impacted feedstock supply and pricing. The adjusted EBITDA of nearly $200 million exemplifies the soundness of our strategy and underscores our belief that REG can sustainably deliver earnings over the long term.”

Liberty Public Schools Transitions Bus Fleet to Propane Autogas

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The Missouri Propane Education & Research Council (MOPERC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to propane education and public awareness, has awarded Liberty Public Schools a check for $20,000 for its purchase of 10 new Blue Bird propane autogas school buses.

The emissions- and cost-reducing propane school buses are currently in service for the district’s daily and activity routes, which have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantum Fuel Systems Secures Natural Gas Virtual Pipeline Trailer Orders

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Certarus Ltd., a provider of low-carbon energy solutions, has selected Quantum Fuel Systems to deliver virtual pipeline trailers for natural gas with a total value of approximately $22 million.

Certarus will receive Quantum’s VPLite45/40′ trailers, which have a gaseous capacity of approximately 472,000 standard cubic feet and weigh less than 59,000 pounds fully loaded. The VPLite45/40′ is certified for use in the U.S. and Canada. The company says the trailers are optimal for customers who need a smaller, lighter trailer that can be more easily maneuvered in tight areas while still hauling the most gas in the industry in a 40-foot container.

Nikola Two Truck Will Run 900 Miles on Tank of Hydrogen, Company Says

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Nikola Corp. announced updates on its zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell electric commercial truck program as the company vied for attention beside other truck makers in an increasingly crowded space it helped create in 2016 with its introductory announcement.

The updates include its longhaul Nikola Two fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV), now with a range of up to 900 miles.

The Nikola Two FCEV sleeper model is expected to be ready to launch in late 2024. It will be based on a new chassis custom-designed for North American routes, according to the Phoenix-based truck maker.

What you should know: the Advanced Clean Trucks and Heavy-Duty Omnibus rules

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The trucking industry has an outsized impact on toxic air pollution and carbon emissions. Luckily, states can adopt two new regulations to address the issue: the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which ensures more zero-emission electric trucks are sold each year, and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) rule, which cuts toxic air pollution from new fossil fuel trucks.

The rules will bring big economic, environmental and health benefits to states that choose to adopt them. However, transformational regulations always come with some uncertainty and misinformation. To inform states’ decision making, let’s clear the air and dispel the myths surrounding the two rules.

Large-scale CCS project will sequester CO2 from ethanol plants

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Summit Agricultural Group and Green Plains Inc. on Feb. 18 announced the launch of a large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the Midwest that will lower the carbon footprint of biorefineries and other carbon dioxide emissions sources.

As part of that effort, Summit Agricultural Group has launched Summit Carbon Solutions, a new business platform that will develop the CCS project. When fully developed, Summit Carbon Solutions said it will have an infrastructure network capable of capturing and permanently storing more than 10 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road per year.