Brazil to use battery, solar power in Amazon

Spanish Market: Battery materials, Electricity, Emissions, Oil products
29/09/25

Winning projects in Brazil's distributed generation supply auction totaled R312mn ($58mn) in investments for solar power and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the Amazonian states of Para and Amazonas, mines and energy ministry (MME) and power regulator Aneel sAID.

The projects include a 30MW bess system and an 18MW solar power plant in the city of Jacareacanga, in Amazonas, MME said.

"This hired battery solution will be the largest in the country," national energy transition secretary Gustavo Ataide said. "We also had a 50pc discount in the auction, which reflects the sector's competitiveness," he added.

The auction also comprised diesel supplies for thermoelectric plants.

"Our priority is to provide power security while also looking for innovation and sustainability," MME's energy transition director Karina Souza said.

The Amazonian states have over 3mn residents who are not connected to Brazil's power grid because of infrastructure challenges, despite the region having four out of Brazil's five largest hydroelectric plants, according to the government. It relies heavily on regional diesel-powered electric plants to serve remote communities.

Brazil approved earlier this month 14 projects aimed at revamping the power grid in the Amazonian region to lower its reliance on diesel.

The energy sector in the Amazon alone was responsible for 29.6mn t of CO2 emissions in 2023, representing 4.5pc of CO2 emissions in the region, according to greenhouse gases tracking platform SEEG.

By Maria Frazatto

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14/11/25

Cop: 10 countries pledge to align transport with 1.5ºC

Belem, 14 November (Argus) — A group of 10 countries led by Chile called for a global effort to cut energy demand from the transport sector by 25pc by 2035, aligning it with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The coalition was formed at the UN Cop 30 climate summit, which is underway in Belem, northern Brazil. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain are the other signatory countries so far. "We are committed to making transport a key pillar of climate action, agreeing a shared framework for resilient and low emissions transport systems", Chile's transport minister Carlos Abogabir told journalists at Cop 30. Cutting energy demand from transport — the second-largest emitting sector — allows for "a clear measurable direction towards a net zero scenario in the transport sector in 2050", he added. Chile is a natural leader for the coalition as it is a global leader in efforts to electrify its public transport fleet. The country's capital Santiago is the city with most electric buses outside of China, Abogabir said. It had around 3,000 electric buses in 2024, according to a report by Agora Verkehrswende, a non-governmental organisation focused on climate neutrality in transport. But it will have 4,400 by March, Abogabir added. The coalition will now work to create a roadmap to reach the pledge's goal and measure progress for future Cops, according to Slocat, a global partnership that promotes sustainable, low-carbon transport. Sustainable fuels, renewable sources Although the pledge will heavily rely on electrification, it also calls on countries to shift one-third of energy powering transport to sustainable biofuels and renewable sources. Brazil is the second-biggest biofuel producer globally, trailing only behind the US. But it will consider any route that both decarbonizes its fleet and drives national industry, Brazilian minister of cities Jader Barbalho Filho told Argus , mentioning specifically liquid nitrogen and biomethane. Including existing and expected projects, Brazil could have 2.4mn m³/d of biomethane capacity by 2027, data from hydrocarbons regulator ANP show. The shift to sustainable biofuels and renewables sources plays well into Brazil's Belem 4x pledge , which calls for a global effort to quadruple global output and use of sustainable fuels by 2035, Filho added. "The Chilean government looked for us [to present the transport pledge] exactly because we already have [Belem 4x]", he said. The Belem 4x pledge now has 23 country signatories, Cop 30 chief executive Ana Toni said today. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

More oil, gas firms have emissions action plans: OGDC

14/11/25

More oil, gas firms have emissions action plans: OGDC

London, 14 November (Argus) — Oil and gas firms that are signatories to the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter (OGDC) have increasingly set out plans to address their operational emissions, methane emissions and flaring, a report from the OGDC said today. Of the companies signed up to the charter in 2024, 36 reported having "interim action plans" for scope 1 and 2 emissions reductions for 2030, 31 reported that they had methane action plans and 33 reported having flaring action plans — up from 31, 20 and 22, respectively, in 2023. Of the signatories, 36 have third-party verification systems in place, the report found. The charter was signed at Cop 28 in 2023 and now has 55 signatories, representing around 40pc of global oil production and around 35pc of global oil and gas output. Of the signatory companies, around two-thirds are state-owned. OGDC signatories produced nearly 59mn b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d) in 2024. The OGDC estimated that total operated scope 1 and 2 emissions for all charter signatories stood at around 1bn t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2024. The estimate was based on submissions for operated scope 1 and 2 emissions from 41 signatories, which totalled just above 800mn t/CO2e in 2024. Scope 1 and 2 emissions usually make up a minority of oil and gas producers' total emissions. But scope 3, or end-use, emissions represent the vast majority of oil and gas producer emissions, with estimates in the range of 80-95pc of the total. A report from a group of more than 130 scientists on 13 November found that emissions from fossil fuels are projected to reach a record high of 38.1bn t/CO2 this year. Global emissions from "human activities" stood at 53.2bn t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2024, without factoring in emissions from land use, land use change and forestry, the EU's Edgar programme found in September. Charter signatories invested around $32bn in "low-carbon solutions" which include renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen and "low-carbon fuels" in 2024, according to the report. Signatories agree to aim for net zero operations by 2050, "near-zero upstream methane emissions" by 2030, zero routine flaring by 2030 and to "set and share" a 2030 goal for scope 1 and 2 emissions. TotalEnergies, a signatory to the charter, today committed $100mn to a fund which supports technologies to cut emissions "across the oil and gas value chain". The fund — Climate Investment — is partnered with the charter and will help signatories "on their decarbonisation path", within the charter's scope, TotalEnergies said. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Norway confident power Norgepris is EEA compliant

14/11/25

Norway confident power Norgepris is EEA compliant

London, 14 November (Argus) — Norway's energy ministry is confident that its fixed price for electricity scheme — Norgepris — complies with its European Economic Area (EEA) obligations and is not "subject to notification" to the European Surveillance Authority (ESA) for review, it told Argus . Norway is currently responding to questions submitted by the ESA — a body responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules governing the EU's European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — in October. It confirmed that it will respond in full by 15 December. The questions also detail ESA's view that the scheme should have been notified for review to measure its effect on national and international market competition, in line with Article 3 of the Electricity Directive, as stated in a letter ESA shared with Argus . The energy ministry has since "had a constructive meeting with ESA", during which it made clear that it considers Norgepris "to be fully in line with [its] EEA obligations", the ministry's state secretary Marte Grindaker told Argus . Norgepris has been adopted by more than 1mn electricity meters since its launch in October, representing around 35pc of homes and 48pc of holiday homes. That share increases in Norway's most expensive power areas, up to 43pc in NO1 and 58pc in NO2. And two NO2 communes — Bykle and Aseral — registered sign-up rates of above 80pc. Norgepris consumers increased their power consumption by 3.8pc on the year in October, while demand from consumers retaining regular tariffs increased by just 1.7pc, according to distribution system operator Elvia data. Despite Norgepris consumers outpacing their regular tariff counterparts, the ministry maintains that "it is too early to draw conclusions from the consumption data", Grindaker told Argus , noting that the "household consumption in question represents only a limited share of total national electricity use". Total electricity use from households reached 3.3TWh last month, up by 1.9pc, representing 30pc of all consumption, according to data from Statistics Norway. By Daniel Craig Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: US lawmaker pushes for CBAM support

14/11/25

Cop: US lawmaker pushes for CBAM support

Belem, 14 November (Argus) — A senior US lawmaker is hoping to convince delegates at the UN Cop 30 climate summit to preserve the use of a carbon boarder adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. US senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) arrived at the conference in Belem, Brazil, on Friday, the sole US federal official to attend the talks so far. Whitehouse said that one of the main messages he wants to convey to delegates is that the CBAM, a carbon fee for imports that do not meet certain emissions benchmarks, may be "our last lifeboat" to avoid severe consequences from climate change. "There is no pathway to climate safety without CBAM, and we must protect that pathway at all costs", he said. While US lawmakers have yet to give serious consideration to creating a CBAM-type mechanism, there have been signs of some bipartisan interest in the idea. Some Republicans view the policy as one way to limit imports from China. Whitehouse, the senior Democrat on the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has also sponsored his own legislation for carbon border fee. The CBAM originated with the EU, which adopted it in 2023, and will launch next year. But countries outside the bloc also plan to enact their own border fees, something Whitehouse said he hopes will encourage others to follow suit. "The fact that the UK is lining up to join and Australia is lining up to join and others could come along behind them is a good signal", he said. The UK plans to introduce its CBAM from 1 January 2027 . The issue of trade measures has been a major one in Belem, one of four non-agenda items that are the focus of ongoing discussions across the first week. Some developing countries have expressed concern that unilateral trade measures, including the CBAM, will harm their ability to fulfil their climate policy goals. Whitehouse questioned the authenticity of some of the opposition, some of which has come from major oil producing countries, attributing it mainly "to the fossil fuel industry." "If we don't do the CBAM, if we don't get a pathway to climate safety, the consequences for many countries will be far worse than anything that can come from CBAM", he said. Whitehouse also said he wants to use his time at the Cop to let other countries know that the policies of President Donald Trump's administration do not reflect the views of most Americans when it comes to climate change. "In fact, they're not even close. What they represent is the fossil fuel industry," he said, echoing comments made at the Cop earlier in the week by California governor Gavin Newsom (D). By Michael Ball Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

S Korea expands car support, plans trade-in EV policy

14/11/25

S Korea expands car support, plans trade-in EV policy

Singapore, 14 November (Argus) — The South Korean government has announced a wide range of financing and support for its automobile industry, while raising its electric vehicle (EV) subsidies budget and disclosing plans for a trade-in scheme to spur EV purchases. Over 15 trillion South Korean won ($10.31bn) of policy financing will be earmarked by the country for its car and auto parts makers in 2026, said the country's trade and industry ministry (Motie) on 14 November. It comes as intensifying competition in artificial intelligence autonomous driving technology and impacts on the domestic automobile manufacturing base threatens the country's auto sector that is its manufacturing stronghold, Motie said without providing more details, adding to the potential burden from earlier US-South Korea tariff deal . The country is looking to maintain a domestic car production of 4mn units/yr while improving the production quality. The government will also raise its budget for EV subsidies to around W936bn next year, up from an estimated W715bn this year. It is looking to establish a new purchase financing program for electric and hydrogen buses. It also plans to introduce a trade-in subsidy of up to W1mn for new EV buyers who scrap their old cars starting in 2026, in a similar fashion to China's efforts to spur Chinese EV purchases. "Considering the South Korean government's previous policy trajectory, a gradual reduction in EV subsidies would have been the more expected approach," Beomseok Kim, analyst at South Korean market intelligence firm SNE Research told Argus today. But the government appears to have determined that stronger stimulus is needed to re-energise domestic demand given a slower pace of electrification than initially projected, Kim added. The package expanding incentives beyond the 2025 levels signals the government's commitment to keep the momentum alive. South Korea's battery EV domestic sales hit an all-time-high earlier in September, riding on its current eco-friendly vehicle domestic sales uptrend. The South Korean government is expecting an accelerated eco-friendly vehicle adoption trend and it is planning ahead by supporting internal combustion engine (ICE) car parts makers' transition. Financial and R&D support will be focused on its industrial green transformation strategy, while designating 200 "future vehicle specialised companies" by 2030 and having 70pc of its ICE parts companies transition to future vehicles parts firms. The country is eyeing mass production of autonomous vehicles by 2028, with institutional improvements supporting the ambition to be potentially achieved by the end of 2026. South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor earlier in October unveiled its goal of turning India into an export hub through a planned Indian investment of $5.1bn through to 2030. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Brazil to use battery, solar power in Amazon

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Cop: 10 countries pledge to align transport with 1.5ºC

Cop: 10 countries pledge to align transport with 1.5ºC

More oil, gas firms have emissions action plans: OGDC

More oil, gas firms have emissions action plans: OGDC

Norway confident power Norgepris is EEA compliant

Norway confident power Norgepris is EEA compliant

Cop: US lawmaker pushes for CBAM support

Cop: US lawmaker pushes for CBAM support

S Korea expands car support, plans trade-in EV policy

S Korea expands car support, plans trade-in EV policy

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