Foreword
We begin with some good news from
(though not necessarily for) the coal sector, as reports are indicating that
2019 will have seen a record reduction in global coal usage for energy
generation. The overall reduction is around 3%, or around 300TWh. The USA,
China, India, and Europe are most responsible for the drop. Particularly in
India’s case, this is an almost unprecedented drop, as the country has not seen
a year-on-year decrease in fossil fuel generation for 30 years. Reducing coal generation is important not just
in terms of carbon emissions – even though coal does result in greater carbon
emissions than other fossil fuels – but for air quality too, as coal is
responsible for significant particulate emissions, which can be damaging to
human health. The switch away from coal could well be a boon for the bioeconomy
too.........
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- Capacity Market Mechanism opens to wind and
solar
Markets
- Biomass power shows little growth prospects
in US
- Renvas Biomass plant in Japan reaches
financial closure
- Coal use in decline worldwide
- UK tops biomass pellet use in EU
Research & Development
- Zero Carbon Humber Launch
- Broadening biomass feedstock supply
- UN calls for urgent action to curb domestic
biomass use in Africa
- Drop in coal use cannot prevent annual rise
in global emissions
Biomass Heat and Power
- Denmark increases biomass use
- Drax to expand its pelleting capability
- 3 million homes powered by Yorkshire biomass
plants
- Drax aims for carbon-negativity by 2025
Biogas
- Global biogas partnership
- ADBA reiterates pre-election call for AD
support from UK Government
Energy from Waste
- EU incineration legislation comes into
effect
Events
ROC Prices