Jera, Petronas aim to create green ammonia supply chain
Japanese thermal power producer Jera and Malaysian state-owned oil firm Petronas are planning to study producing and shipping green ammonia and hydrogen produced in Malaysia, possibly for co-firing at thermal power plants in Japan.
Jera and Petronas have signed an initial agreement to start considering co-operation on the development of a green ammonia and hydrogen supply chain, part of their strategies to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The deal also covers their possible collaboration on setting up a global LNG bunkering supply network.
The companies plan to produce green ammonia and hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as hydropower without releasing carbon emissions. Petronas is currently manufacturing grey ammonia, Jera said, which produces the fuel from fossil fuels. Further details such as production capacity and targeted commissioning date will be discussed later.
Jera has been stepping up its efforts to introduce more clean energy sources to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050, while looking into closing inefficient coal-fired power plants by 2030. The company aims to operate an ammonia-dedicated power plant during the 2040s, after realising a commercial use of the fuel by 2030. The commercial burning of hydrogen at thermal power plants is also targeted for the 2030s.
Japan's 2050 decarbonisation target declared in last October has urged the government to strengthen its energy strategy. The trade and industry ministry on 8 February drafted a roadmap to 2030 and 2050 to boost a use of ammonia as a fuel for power generation and for ships, with 3mn t/yr of use targeted by 2030.
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Japanese bank Mizuho boosts support for H2, ammonia
Japanese bank Mizuho boosts support for H2, ammonia
Tokyo, 17 May (Argus) — Japanese bank Mizuho Financial aims to provide ¥2 trillion ($12.8bn) in financial support for domestic and overseas cleaner fuel projects by 2030 to support Japan's plan to build a hydrogen supply chain. Private-sector Mizuho is offering financing to low-carbon hydrogen, ammonia and e-methane projects related to production, import, distribution and development of hydrogen carriers. Mizuho said it has in the past offered project financing for large-scale overseas low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing projects, as well as transition loans. Japan is focusing on cleaner fuel use in the power sector and hard-to-abate industries, as part of its drive to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Japanese firms are getting involved in overseas hydrogen projects because domestic production is bound to be comparatively small and costly. They are looking to co-fire ammonia at coal-fired power generation plants to cut CO2 emissions and examining use of the fuel as a hydrogen carrier . Japanese companies have also partnered with several overseas firms on e-methane. Mizuho has to date offered $1bn for cleaner fuel projects. The bank has set a goal to accelerate the setting up of a clean fuel supply chain by addressing the financial challenge faced by projects requiring large investments. Mizuho has attempted to help Japan's decarbonisation push by tightening biomass and coal financing policies. Mizuho has also stopped investing in new coal-fired power projects, including existing plant expansions. The bank has a plan to reduce the ¥300bn credit available for coal-fired power development projects by half by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year and to zero by 2040-41. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sinking crop values weigh on US farmer profits in 2024
Sinking crop values weigh on US farmer profits in 2024
Houston, 16 May (Argus) — The cycle of above-average profits that has defined the US agricultural economy in recent seasons is fraying this year as crop prices slacken against elevated expenses. The domestic agricultural sector is forecast to endure a 24pc drop in net cash income this season — the sharpest year-over-year decline in the last decade — underpinned by a 6pc slump in crop sales revenue and modest growth in projected expenses, according to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) latest industry income statement. This retraction, which kicked off in 2023, forced many growers in key agricultural districts this season to augment non-real estate loans, slow debt repayment and restructure existing loans to meet liquidity requirements thanks in part to sliding global grain and oilseed prices. Lenders within the seventh and 10th Federal Reserve districts, which represent farmers across major growing regions, reported stronger loan demand and tightened working capital during the first quarter — signaling deteriorating farm finances. Working capital is measured as the difference between the value of assets that can be easily converted to cash and debt due within the next 12 months. Lower working capital valuation signals the ability to pay down debt could be challenged. Domestic agricultural working capital this year is estimated 17pc lower from 2023 and 6pc lower than the five-year average, according to USDA data. "Conditions in the US farm economy have tightened alongside lower prices for many key products and higher financing costs," the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reported in its quarterly Ag Credit Survey . "Many lenders highlighted growing concerns about deterioration in working capital as a result of low prices, particularly for crop producers." US row-crop growers are expected to endure another season of price deterioration as global markets adjust to supply shocks stemming from the ongoing war in Ukraine that rattled wheat values and key input prices for corn and soybeans. Domestic corn, soybean and wheat farm cash prices are projected to slump for a second consecutive season by 5pc, 11pc and 15pc, respectively, according to the latest projections from the USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand (WASDE) report. Corn growers, specifically, face losses this season amid a 4.6mn-acre cut in planted area from last season in tandem with sinking crop values. Margins are estimated -$65.75/acre, based on the latest new-crop contract close and early-season production volume estimates, after benefiting from peak earnings at $242.33/acre in 2022. Corn is a fertilizer-intensive crop, and changes in farmer profitability can erode input prices. Urea, the most widely traded fertilizer globally, is strongly tied to front-month corn futures and domestic barge prices have sunk to levels last seen in January 2021, tracking lower front-month corn futures since the start of the 2023-24 fertilizer season. Fertilizer expenses account for nearly 40pc of annual operating costs for domestic corn growers on a per-acre basis, with seed costs comprising an average 25pc, according to Argus analysis of USDA data. Plant nutrition expenses, though, surged in 2022 and remained above average in 2023 — reflecting historically elevated fertilizer prices during the same period. The USDA forecasts a 15pc dip in fertilizer costs in 2024 for corn growers, providing some reprieve compared with the last two years despite higher seed and various overhead expenses. "Factors like the rising costs of seeds, fertilizers and other inputs as well as more strict environmental regulations, specifically on water usage, have added to the financial and administrative burden for farmers," said Donnie Taylor, Agricultural Retailers Association senior vice-president of membership and corporate relations. By Connor Hyde Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
New Dutch government to cut funds for green H2
New Dutch government to cut funds for green H2
Hamburg, 16 May (Argus) — The Netherlands' new government could reduce the budget of the country's climate fund by €1.2bn, primarily through cuts to renewable hydrogen support measures. Four parties announced an agreement to form a coalition government on 16 May and outlined broad policy measures. The agreement includes a "budget supplement" which foresees the climate fund's budget being cut by €300mn in each of the next four years compared with existing plans. This will be achieved by cutting funds available for the development of batteries and renewable hydrogen "in proportion to the current budget", according to the text. The majority of the cuts could be for renewable hydrogen given that the earmarked budget for this was much larger than for battery-related projects. Around €9bn of the fund's €35bn budget was set aside for renewable hydrogen support measures, with the bulk to go towards subsidising production projects . The coalition agreement was reached between the far-right PVV, the centre-right VDD party of outgoing prime minister Mark Rutte, the centre-right NSC, which was formed just shortly before the election last November, and the farmer's citizen movement BBB. The PVV, led by Geert Wilders, won most seats in the election but had to tone down some of the demands and promises from its election manifesto during the negotiations. In its manifesto, the PVV had pledged to abolish the climate fund entirely , saying that climate policies should "go straight through the shredder". The parties have retained a general commitment to support renewable hydrogen through the climate fund and note that low-carbon hydrogen made from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be used as a "transitional step" towards reducing emissions "if necessary". The agreement also says a planned increase in the national CO2 tax will be scrapped and outlines plans to open new nuclear power plants. The four parties have yet to decide on who will become the new prime minister. By Stefan Krumpelmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Austria advances hydrogen subsidy law
Austria advances hydrogen subsidy law
Hamburg, 16 May (Argus) — Austria's government has agreed on a law for subsidising renewable hydrogen production. The law foresees €400mn being allocated to projects through a competitive bidding system this year as fixed-premium subsidies over a 10-year period, with another €420mn to be made available in 2025-26 . Funds could be made available by utilising the European hydrogen bank's "auction-as-a-service" scheme, which allows EU member states to use the mechanism to allocate funds to projects on their territory. A second European hydrogen bank auction is due to launch towards the end of this year. Austria could use this to allocate funds, but the law also leaves the option open of conducting auctions outside of the hydrogen bank mechanism. In a supplementary text, the government said that the projects supported through the law could start operations between 2027 and 2030. The government estimates that the €820mn budget could support some 18,000-40,000 t/yr of renewable hydrogen production, assuming subsidies come in at an average €2-4.50/kg. Under the hydrogen bank auction mechanism, funds are allocated to the projects requesting the least amount of support. In the hydrogen pilot auction, for which results were announced in late April, five Austrian projects participated, but they were all unsuccessful. Subsidies went to plants in Spain, Portugal, Norway and Finland instead . The Austrian projects represented a combined 278MW of electrolyser capacity with anticipated production of around 33,200 t/yr. A single project made up well over half of this and with a bid of around €0.60/kg was not far off the clearing price. Meanwhile, bids for the other, much smaller projects were close to the auction's ceiling price of €4.50/kg. Germany was the only country to use the "auction-as-a-service" mechanism for the pilot auction, but other countries, such as Belgium , are also considering using it in the future. Austria's hydrogen subsidy law has now been passed to parliament for review. By Stefan Krumpelmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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