Ammonia afloat – Aragon, a subsidiary of Singapore-based engineering group Seatrium, has secured approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping for its Bluebell floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit, which is designed to lower zero-carbon ammonia costs and increase gas monetisation fourfold, Offshore Energy reported. The FPSO will use natural gas reforming with more than 95% carbon capture to produce refrigerated blue ammonia for export, incorporating syngas purification, Haber-Bosch ammonia processing, CO₂ capture and liquefaction, and onboard air separation systems.

An expert panel working on methodological elements of the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) has proposed a 0.5-2.5% range over a 100-year period to define a "negligible" risk of reversal, in a bid to define a threshold for what is considered acceptable levels of permanence under new UNFCCC carbon crediting rules.

Signs of life flickered in the CORSIA carbon futures market in the first week of September, while prices ticked higher in the voluntary emissions avoidance and reduction sectors although retirement of credits remained low.

Getting started – Delorean Corp., one of three companies in Australia operating a biomethane project registered to generate ACCUs, has signed an agreement with Origin Energy to sell 200 TJ of biomethane from its SA1 facility per year to 2036, with the buyer securing an option to extend the deal by two more years. According to a statement from Origin, the renewable gas offtake arrangement will include Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin (RGGOs) that it can use towards its Scope 1 emissions targets.

And miles to go - China’s ETS is unlikely to cover aviation in the near term, despite signals that broader sectoral expansion is a government priority, according to David Ma, an independent consultant on energy transition and climate change. A recent policy directive confirmed that by 2027 the ETS will cover all major emitting sectors in the industrial domain, sidelining transportation, including aviation for now, given its rising emissions, complex MRV requirements, and relatively small share of national GHG output, Ma wrote. While regional pilots in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing are experimenting with inclusion of aviation, structural and regulatory barriers exist at the national level. He argued that robust MRV systems, stable baselines, and stronger policy alignment will be required before the sector can join the ETS. In the meantime, the voluntary offset market - especially CCER - can serve as a transitional mechanism, enabling airlines to manage emissions and meet international obligations.

Global carbon emissions rise with economic growth but begin to fall once countries reach higher development levels, with policies like carbon taxes and emissions trading key to speeding up this shift, a study published Monday has found.

The third sale for Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs) is currently open for airlines who want to secure supply for Phase 1 (2024-26) of the CORSIA international aviation offsetting scheme, with a pool of 1 million credits available for bidders, the organisers confirmed to Carbon Pulse.

An association representing air transport operators has ramped up its carbon credit demand outlook for the Phase 1 (2024-26) of the CORSIA international aviation emissions offsetting scheme, with the updated forecast placing expected requirements at between 146 mln and 236 mln over the three-year period.

Clean new deal - Clean hydrogen and graphite junior Hazer said Monday it has signed an offtake agreement with a buyer for the latter product. The Australian Securities Exchange-listed company plans to create hydrogen via splitting methane and sequestering the carbon in graphite created using iron ore as feedstock. The non-binding MoU was signed with First Graphene in Perth and uses graphite as a feedstock for its high purity graphene. The two will explore the feasibility of using Hazer’s product.

Biochar partnership - Japanese project developer Green Carbon has entered into a strategic partnership with two companies to launch a large-scale biochar-based carbon removal project in India, it announced Monday. Through collaboration with Varhad Capital and Carbonfuture, around 120,300 carbon removal credits will be generated, Green Carbon said. Varhad Capital will build two industrial-scale biochar production facilities in Maharashtra, which will convert more than 6,000 tonnes of agricultural residues into biochar per year.    

First of its kind - An emissions reduction project proposed by waste management company Toa Xible has become the first registered initiative under Japan's J-Credit scheme that features the switch from fossil fuel to waste-derived fuels (EN-S-019), according to a company statement. The programme-based project is supported by voluntary exchange operator Carbon EX, which said the project sets a new model for decarbonisation in the industrial waste treatment and renewable fuel sectors. No further project details were given by the two companies.    

Most coal-fired power plants in South Korea will no longer be economically viable after 2035 if only current energy policies are maintained and no additional measures are taken, according to a report released Monday.

Appointing a COP31 co-president from Pacific countries and securing new green iron deals with China are some of the ideas that should be on Australia’s agenda if it successfully secures its bid to host COP31, according to a report released this weekend.

Australian mining companies in the Pilbara region of Western Australia risk slowing down their decarbonisation progress if they don't adopt common-user infrastructure approaches to renewable energy to power emissions reduction technology, a government agency report warned Monday.

Building regional hubs for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production could help overcome challenges stymieing the sector’s growth, a conference heard on Monday.

Sail away - Japanese shipping major MOL has obtained approval in principle (AiP) from classification society Lloyd's Register for two new design proposals of a membrane-type LNG carrier equipped with four units of Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system, it announced Monday. Wind Challenger - capable of automatic extension, retraction, and rotation - can help reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions by harnessing wind power while maintaining safe navigation, MOL said. As part of its net zero strategy, the company aims to install the system on 25 vessels by 2030 and 80 by 2035.  

Landmark legislation - The Western Australian state government has announced legislation to unlock strategic precincts, and fast-rack approvals for clean energy projects. This will help WA retire its fleet of coal-fired power stations faster than any other state, the statement said. The bill will allow the premier to declare state development areas and priority projects, supported by a nominated coordinator general, who will be granted statutory powers to coordinate across agencies.

The South Korean government has decided to consolidate the country's energy and environment policy under a single ministry as part of its recent restructuring.

New Zealand should take stronger action to meet its 2030 and 2035 international climate targets, including its politically vexing offshore mitigation issue, as it could boost the country's diplomatic and economic standing and competitive advantages, a conference heard Monday.

Biofuels boost – New Zealand Bioforestry has entered into a heads of agreement with North American private equity firm Pegasus Capital to explore ways to advance biochemicals, bioplastics, biofuels, and biomaterials, as scalable renewable alternatives, the company announced. The two entities will collaborate on the delivery of environmental, economic, and social benefits across APAC, NZ Bioforestry said in the statement, adding that its representatives would travel to New York to work with Pegasus Capital on finalising development plans.

The creation of a park in New South Wales to protect iconic endangered koalas will be contingent on an Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) method being successfully developed, the state government announced.