Energy Exchange

From Production to Propulsion: Effective Shipping Regulations Should Account for the Full Lifecycle Emissions of Marine Fuels

By Natacha Stamatiou

The Posidonia shipping exhibition in Greece put innovation on display, yet what stood out was the industry’s cautious approach to decarbonization, particularly the absence of discussions on lifecycle analysis of marine fuels. This is crucial as we approach the 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting at the International Maritime Organization in September, where negotiations to account for the full lifecycle of marine fuels will be key to designing measures to achieve essential emissions reductions goals and decarbonize the sector.

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EU Green Deal in Action: Critical choices ahead for the EU Low-carbon Hydrogen Definition

Image credit: © European Union, 2024

By Anna Lóránt and Léa Pilsner

The EU is finalising its Delegated Act on Low Carbon Fuels, a critical piece of its hydrogen policy. This is more than just a low-stakes technical step. If done right, it could significantly advance the EU’s decarbonisation agenda, showing the ‘Green Deal in action’. The details matter because this act will lay the foundation for Europe’s hydrogen industry and shape how effectively the EU meets its climate goals.

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The call for accelerating the supply of sustainable shipping fuels

By Marie Cabbia Hubatova and Angie Farrag-Thibault

At a time when it is critical to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels, the shipping industry is endeavoring to do its part to decarbonize and keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Its success depends on there being sufficient clean fuel supply to substitute fossil fuels — but we are not on track. We need robust near-term decisions at the International Maritime Organization and in member states to bring investment security to steer the industry transition onto course.

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Why science, not hype, must inform how we use hydrogen in Europe

Image courtesy of © Audioundwerbung | Dreamstime.com

By Helen Spence-Jackson

The EU’s hydrogen ambitions are facing a reality check. Despite an ambitious strategy launched in 2020 and ongoing work to establish a comprehensive policy framework, recent forecasts suggest hydrogen deployment is lagging behind initial targets. However, this moment offers an opportunity for reflection and provides valuable lessons not just for Europe, but also for other regions.

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Mapping the maze: data reveals the need for protective standards for all gas gathering pipelines

Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, 2020.

By Magdalen Sullivan & Kate Roberts

As the U.S. oil and gas industry expands, the vast network of largely unregulated pipelines that transport unprocessed natural gas —known as gathering pipelines — has crept closer and closer to residential communities. Most gathering pipelines are currently exempt from regular inspection, which means that leaks and other problems in these pipes can, and routinely do, go undetected.

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New research uncovers a climate blindspot for Canada’s oil and gas industry

Analyzing methane emissions in Canada's oilfield

By Scott Seymour and Ari Pottens

The Canadian government is likely overlooking an important source of climate pollution.  Surface casing vent flow and gas migration (types of underground leakage from oil and gas wells) has the potential to leak a lot of methane, but according to new research, neither governments nor companies know how much.

Canada has made a pledge to reduce 75% of the oil and gas industry’s methane emissions by 2030 as way to help combat climate change, but poor data and inaccurate estimates on well leakage makes it increasingly difficult to know if that goal is in sight.

New research reveals that across Alberta and British Columbia oil and gas well leakage could represent anywhere between 2-11% of the industry’s emissions. This huge range means policy makers can’t reliably know how this problem stacks up against other emission sources making it nearly impossible to set priorities or to craft regulations.

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