1. France returns to Nuclear
France will invest €1B in nuclear power by the end of this decade.
What’s clear: As energy prices across Europe have skyrocketed, EU leaders are looking to find solutions.
- Wholesale electricity prices in Europe have increased by 200% compared to the 2019 average due to low natural gas supply.
- Currently, more than 70% of France’s electricity is produced using nuclear energy--a resource with a stable price.
Plug in: France is looking at developing small modular reactors to help with their energy mix.
- “The number one objective is to have innovative small-scale nuclear reactors in France by 2030 along with better waste management,” Macron said.
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2. Oil & gas company sets net-zero aspiration
Chevron set a target to cut operational emissions to net zero by 2050, the latest to join a list of energy companies taking steps to reduce emissions.
What’s clear: Chevron expects to achieve its emission reduction goals through carbon capture technology, hydrogen and renewables.
- They recently pledged to invest $10 billion to reduce their carbon emissions footprint, and plans to cut emissions by more than 5% by 2028 from 2016 levels.
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3. Mega blue hydrogen complex coming to Louisiana
A $4.5 billion mega-project will produce over 750 million standard cubic feet per day of blue hydrogen in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.
- Air Products will build, own and operate the project.
- Production will be ~1000 metric tonnes a day.
What’s clear: Hydrogen has the potential to connect the electricity, industrial, and transportation sectors to maximize resources in the overall clean energy system. ‘
- ‘Blue hydrogen’ is produced using hydrocarbons, like natural gas, as a feedstock, with the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the production process captured for permanent sequestration.
Plug in: ClearPath recently published a report, American Clean Hydrogen: A Tremendous Export Opportunity.
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4. Midwest CO2 pipeline investment deal
A milestone investment deal was reached to move forward on a carbon capture project that will transport and sequester up to 15 million metric tons of CO2 per year across five midwestern states.
What’s clear: Capturing carbon dioxide from natural gas and coal power plants, industrial facilities and ethanol plants is essential for decarbonization goals.
- The work isn’t done once the CO2 is captured, it must be transported to the final sequestration site.
- The Heartland Greenway project is a partnership between Navigator, Valero, and Blackrock.
- The project will go through Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, and South Dakota, with ultimate sequestration in Illinois.
Plug in: The project plans to begin public outreach starting in late 2021 and submit its Class VI application “in the near future” with commissioning in late 2024/early 2025.
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5. Global Status Report: CCS
Check out the latest carbon capture trends, policy developments and technology innovations in the Global Status of CCS 2021 report.
What’s clear: Recent momentum, such as 45Q and demonstration programs, is moving policy in the right direction, but the report calls for more urgency with deployment of the technology to reach clean energy goals.
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6. Coming down the pipeline
Nuclear Science Week is October 18-22. The week-long, D.C. event will draw local, regional and international interest on all aspects of nuclear science.
Plug in: Great events to attend next week if you’re in DC.
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7. ICYMI
The Nuclear Innovation Alliance published two reports:
The largest U.S. aluminum producer, Alcoa, announced a new target to achieve net-zero emissions globally by 2050.
Rich Powell joined The Future of Energy | 2021 Middle East Futures Forum to discuss America’s cutting edge clean energy innovation that will help shape the Middle East for years to come.
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