Japan's Tsuneishi completes hydrogen-powered ferry

Spanish Market: Emissions, Hydrogen
13/07/21

Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Facilities and Craft has completed delivery of a hydrogen-powered passenger ferry for Japanese-Belgium joint venture JPN H2YDRO.

The 80-passenger ferry HydroBingo, built by Tsuneishi at its Urasaki plant in Hiroshima prefecture's Onomichi, was commissioned yesterday. The 19 gross tonne catamaran is equipped with two dual-fuel hydrogen-diesel combustion engines and with a portable hydrogen tank that can store around 100kg of compressed hydrogen. It has received a safety clearance by the Japan Craft Inspection Organisation.

Hydrogen-diesel dual fuel combustion is expected to halve carbon dioxide emissions when compared with a conventional diesel engine. The ship was developed jointly by CMB Tech, a group company of Belgium shipping firm CMB and Tsuneishi.

JPN H2YDRO is 50pc held by CMB Tech, with the other 50pc shared by Tsuneishi and Kanbara Kisen, group companies of Japanese shipbuilding and shipping firm Tsuneishi. The partners have agreed to develop a hydrogen-powered tug for operation by Kambara Kisen's tug operating arm.

HydroBingo is expected to start trial operations next month at Tokuyama-Kudamatsu port in west Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture, targeting to monitor detailed safety, operational and technical data on the vessel. Japanese chemical and cement producer Tokuyama will supply hydrogen for the trial operation using by-product hydrogen from its caustic soda production at its plant located at Tokuyama-Kudamatsu port.

Tokuyama-Kudamatsu port, home to a chemical industry complex, has been selected by Japan's transport ministry as one of the six key candidate ports for development of a carbon-neutral port. The port is projected to have hydrogen demand potential of 1mn t/yr, or up to 2mn t/yr if the port is able to become a hydrogen supply hub for the west Japan region.

Japanese oil firm Idemitsu and plant engineer IHI have expressed interest in jointly developing an ammonia import terminal at Tokuyama-Kudamatsu port, using existing facilities at the site of a 120,000 b/d refinery that closed in 2014.

By Rieko Suda

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

28/10/26

Mali authorises carbon projects for Article 6

London, 28 October (Argus) — The government of Mali has authorised 11 mostly small-scale carbon mitigation projects under Article 6 of the Paris agreement, for which it is identifying buyers. The projects could ensure greenhouse gas reductions or avoidance of over 10mn to of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), Argus calculations show (see table) . A third of the projects involve clean cooking activities and have lifespans ranging between 2014 and 2041. Most are authorised under Article 6.2, while some will use the more regulated approach under the UN's centralised Paris agreement carbon mechanism under Article 6.4. Mali acts as both host and transferring party until an acquiring party is defined, the government said in its initial report on the authorisations submitted to the UN climate arm UNFCCC published this week. A rural electrification programme running between 2016-26 will generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings of 46,000 t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) a year. A solar energy project "for rural development", running during 2026-30, will save 10,239 t CO2e a year. A small pilot project aiming to develop hydropower in combination with distributing clean cooking equipment, and using the Article 6.4 approach, will run between 2026-31 and generate annual savings of 1,352 t CO2e. A sustainable energy programme will run from 2024-27 and generate annual emissions reductions of 179,008 t CO2e. Four clean cooking projects with different focuses have also been authorised. A project supporting the promotion and dissemination of clean cooking equipment, and using the Article 6.4 approach, will run during 2026-30 and to generate annual emissions reductions of 210,000 t CO2e. A second clean cooking project focuses on the production and distribution of clean cooking equipment. This project will also use the Article 6.4, approach and start in 2026, but has an unlimited lifespan. The project is expected to generate reductions of 150,000 t CO2e a year. Two clean cooking projects will support the production and dissemination of Banco cookstoves manufactured by women in rural areas. The first Banco project uses the Article 6.2 approach and runs from 2014-35. The project aims to cut annual emissions by 101,700 t CO2e. The second Banco project, to run under the Article 6.4 approach from 2026-41, is expected to generate annual savings of 179,008 t CO2e. None of the clean cooking projects authorised under the Article 6.4 approach aim for any non-permanence provisions, as would be expected under the stricter rules of Article 6.4, the initial report shows. Three projects focus on land use. A forestry and land-use project running from 2026-30, and using the Article 6.4 approach, aims to restore degraded land and undertake reforestation, to generate 406,684 t CO2e a year. A forestry programme focused on developing and utilising non-timber forest products will run from 2026-30 and aims to achieve annual savings of 60,769 t CO2e. The project seeks to manage forest resources and strengthen carbon sinks in Mali. An environmental programme aimed at restoring mining sites for biodiversity conservation will run under the Article 6.4 approach, between 2026-31. The programme is expected to generate annual emissions savings of 50,769 t CO2e. By Chloe Jardine Projects in Mali authorised under Article 6 Project type Start date End date Savings (t CO2e/yr) Credit generation years Estimated total savings Rural electrification 2016 2026 46,000 11 506,000 Solar energy for rural development 2026 2030 10,239 5 51,195 Hydropower and clean cooking pilot 2026 2031 1,352 6 8,112 Sustainable energy programme 2024 2027 179,008 4 716,032 Clean cooking promotion and dissemination 2026 2030 210,000 5 1,050,000 Clean cooking production and distribution 2026 na 150,000 na na Banco cookstoves — first project 2014 2035 101,700 22 2,237,400 Banco cookstoves — second project 2026 2041 179,008 16 2,864,128 Land restoration and reforestation 2026 2030 406,684 5 2,033,420 Non-timber forest products 2026 2030 60,769 5 303,845 Mining-site restoration for biodiversity 2026 2031 50,769 6 304,614 Total savings* 10,074,746 *Estimated total savings excluding the clean cooking production and dsitribution project which does not have a defined end date. Source: Mali government Initial Report, Argus calculations Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Atmospheric GHG levels reached new highs in 2025: WMO

27/10/26

Atmospheric GHG levels reached new highs in 2025: WMO

London, 27 October (Argus) — Levels of major greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere rose to "unprecedented highs" in 2025, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said today. The WMO data refer to measured GHG concentrations, or the GHGs that accumulate, rather than new annual emissions. The high levels are "locking in more long-term temperature increase for the planet", the WMO said. Data from individual monitoring stations suggest that CO2 levels continue to rise this year, the organisation added. The global average surface concentration of CO2 in 2025 was 426.8 parts per million (ppm), or 153pc of the 1750 pre-industrial baseline, the WMO found. The average methane concentration in 2025 was 1,948 parts per billion (ppb) and for nitrous oxide it was 339.1 ppb — 267pc and 126pc above 1750 levels, the WMO said. Of long-lived GHGs, CO2 made the biggest contribution to the increase in global radiative forcing — the warming effect on the world's climate — from the pre-industrial era to 2025, at 66pc, WMO data show. Methane accounted for 16pc and nitrous oxide 6pc. Growth rates in CO2 have trebled since the 1960s, increasing from an annual average rise of 0.8 ppm to 2.4 ppm in the decade from 2011-2020, the WMO said. The global average concentration of CO2 went up by 2.8 ppm in 2024-25, it added. This is a "more modest" growth rate compared to the "exceptional surge" from 2023-24, the WMO said. It "reflects recovery of the land carbon sinks and reduced fire carbon emissions in 2025 after the strong 2023/2024 El Nino", WMO senior scientific officer Oksana Tarasova said. Tarasova expects a further increase in CO2 concentrations in 2026, owed to "fossil fuel burning and the development of a powerful El Nino which will impact land carbon sinks", she said. Of the CO2 emitted each year, around half remains in the atmosphere, while the rest is "absorbed by land ecosystems and oceans", the WMO said. The Paris climate agreement seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels — using an 1850-1900 baseline — and pursues a 1.5°C limit. Climate action is typically centred around mitigation, or cutting emissions, to avoid a further increase in temperature. The global increase in temperature since the pre-industrial era is 1.4°C, WMO data show, while an "overshoot" of the 1.5°C goal is likely in the next few years, the UN said in September . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Fossils fuel firm climate levy difficult: EU commission

27/10/26

Fossils fuel firm climate levy difficult: EU commission

Brussels, 27 October (Argus) — Requiring fossil fuel companies to contribute to climate resilience measures is a "hugely complicated" conversation, EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said today, when presenting a climate resilience law that would require member states to draw up adaptation plans and assess climate risks by 31 December 2030. Hoekstra said there was a "clear case" for fossil fuel companies to contribute to the cost of climate resilience measures. "At the same time, it is complicated to then just, off the cuff, add something on top of the ETS," he said. The European Commission pointed to estimated economic losses from climate damage of €200bn ($220.5bn) over 2022-25, or around €50bn/yr. Officials estimate the cost of adapting Europe's infrastructure and economy to future climate conditions at about €70bn/yr. "The estimated return on investments in climate adaptation can reach more than 10 times their value in avoided loss and damage," the commission said. Loss and damage refers to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The commission pointed at "prolonged heatwaves and droughts" over the summer which drove some of Europe's biggest rivers to historically low water levels. This action is central for the EU's energy security because it will help authorities manage risks and safeguard energy supplies, EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said today. "We need to prepare our energy systems for climate impacts, ranging from low river levels that disrupt fuel transport and the functioning of power plants, to heatwaves that strain our electricity grids," he said. Low Rhine water levels have left fuel terminals in Germany short of diesel and HVO as barges cannot use the key waterway. Low Danube water levels also impaired shipments of commodities such as oil products , fertilizers or wheat and disrupted nuclear power generation capacity . Under the draft law, the commission would also have to present a strategic plan on climate resilience by 30 September 2028. The proposal is based on the assumption that existing global climate commitments will result in around 2°C of warming by 2050 and 3°C by 2100. Officials expect Europe to warm by 4-5°C over the same period. Hoekstra said that the 1.5°C Paris agreement temperature limit remains the EU's goal, but he added that it would be unwise not to prepare for other scenarios. The Paris accord seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursues a 1.5°C limit. The Commission said it will "soon" present a European heatwave plan, a climate insurance alliance and a new European water initiative. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Netherlands pledges $500mn to Brazil's TFFF

27/10/26

Netherlands pledges $500mn to Brazil's TFFF

Sao Paulo, 27 October (Argus) — The Netherlands will allocate up to $500mn over a 10-year period to Brazil's Tropical Forest Forever Facility to help finance the fund in its mission to preserve tropical forests. "Forest conservation is essential for combating climate change and preserving biodiversity," the Dutch government said. "However, without a financial reward for maintaining tropical forests, it quickly becomes more attractive to cut down trees than to preserve them". TFFF — launched at the UN Cop 30 climate summit in 2025 — aims to preserve tropical global forests and help pay around 80 developing countries $4/hectare (ha) for preserved tropical forests. The goal is to raise $125bn to protect 1bn ha (10mn km²) of tropical forests globally. The fund can protect 800mn-900mn ha, the Dutch government said. Mature tropical forests are key natural carbon sinks, as well as crucial for biodiversity and regulating regional and local climate. Tropical forest loss fell in 2025 , albeit from a record high level in 2024. The fund drew financial commitments from several countries at Cop 30 . Germany pledged €1bn ($1.2bn), Brazil and Indonesia $1bn each, France €500mn and Colombia $250mn. Norway pledged up to 30bn Norwegian kroner ($3.2bn) over 10 years, based on several conditions. Portugal and the Netherlands made smaller contributions, of €1mn and €5mn, respectively, to cover the fund's operational costs, and Luxembourg earlier this year committed €50mn. The UK also plans to loan £400mn ($533.1mn) to the fund. Brazil's deforestation figures, including in the Amazon, hit record lows from August 2025 to July 2026, according to data from national space institute INPE. Deforestation has fallen in the last four years during the administration of president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who reversed policies set forth by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Lula on 25 October defeated challenger Flavio Bolsonaro — Jair Balsonaro's son — in a runoff to secure re-election. He will continue pushing for lower deforestation, according to his government plan. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

International fossil fuel finance down under Cop pledge

27/10/26

International fossil fuel finance down under Cop pledge

Edinburgh, 27 October (Argus) — International fossil fuel project finance from countries in the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) dropped by 72-80pc to $3.3bn last year compared with a 2019-21 baseline, but Italy, Germany and Switzerland are still not meeting the goal, according to a report by think-tank the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Under the CETP, signed in 2021 on the sidelines of the UN Cop 26 climate summit in Glasgow, 40 countries and jurisdictions pledged to end international public finance for fossil fuels by the end of 2022. The signatories include Canada, Norway, the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. The US left the alliance in February 2025. The commitment covers public finance provided through development finance institutions, export credit agencies and multilateral development banks. "The CETP is an example of how international agreements with time-bound commitments, combined with ongoing monitoring and accountability efforts, can shift international energy finance away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy, although scaling clean energy financing has been slow," IISD said. But clean energy finance from the CETP countries in the same period only rose by 28pc to $5.6bn and only 42pc of the funding removed from fossil fuel investments has been going towards clean energy, according to IISD. Some countries have yet to meet their Cop 26 pledge. Italy has provided $6bn in international fossil fuel finance since the end of 2022, when countries were due to meet their CETP target, while Germany and Switzerland provided $2.5bn and $1.6bn, respectively. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more