Italy could become the European hub of green hydrogen produced in Africa and Saudi Arabia. This according to John Kerry, US President Biden’s Special Environmental Adviser. The statement came during a meeting organized by the Gedi group a few days ago. Hydrogen would help to solve the problem of renewables that having non-programmable production peak (think of the windy or very cloudy days), today they need traditional plants ready for use that are, among other things, expensive to maintain. The energy transition remains a dream if at least two elements of the equation are not resolved: the storage of energy produced from renewable sources and, alternatively, a clean energy source that is scalable and always ready for use. Green hydrogen therefore plays a key role in any serious talk of decarbonisation. For Italy, Snam has identified the same role as Kerry: a hub with both import and export potential. In this sense, Snam’s effort to create an Italian supply chain in the sector is also part of the effort to discharge all the economic and employment potential of this revolution on the territory. Snam’s investment in De Nora, which produces electrolysers, is a part of this project.

The price of the WTI, the reference US barrel, is under pressure on rumors that Washington has proposed to other oil consuming countries such as China and Japan to consider a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves, as a solution to lower prices. The lease sale is a major reversal of Biden’s commitment to shut down new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters and comes just days after the president’s pledge to slash emissions during the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. The lease sale has the potential to emit more than 516 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere — the equivalent to annual emissions of 130 coal-fired power plants or 112 million cars, according to the Center of Biological Diversity. To increase the supply, Washington suggests a coordinated global action. Brent returns to 80 dollars per barrel.

Italy has joined Boga (Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance) at the Glasgow global warming summit COP26.
The initiative brings together first-mover countries to create an international platform to give visibility to and create momentum for policy decisions to end the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and phase out existing production. Boga bans new license and concessions for exploration of oil and gas on national soil. The launch of Boga is the first international climate process that has always focused on limiting emissions from fossil fuels rather than turning off the tap. Minister Cingolani has announced from Glasgow: “Italy is ahead and we have clear ideas: great plans for renewables for the next 9 years to reach 2030 with 70% of clean electricity”.

The formal opening of the authorization process of the “Tyrrhenian Link – East Branch”, the section of the submarine power line of Terna that connects Campania and Sicily, was signed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition. At the end of the public consultation phase with the administrations and citizens affected by the intervention, On July 22, the company that manages the national electricity network submitted to the Ministry of Ecological Transition formal request for the issue of authorization to build and operate the East Branch. The East section joins the Sicilian port of Fiumetorto, in the municipality of Termini Imerese, to Torre Tuscia Magazzeno, located in the municipality of Battipaglia, in Salerno.

Exxon, Chevron, & Toyota are the largest anti-climate lobbyists. This according to the London based organization Influencemap, that studies the influence of lobbyists on government decisions. The mentioned companies are accused of being the most active to condition climate policies and strategies that are taken at international conferences on global warming, such as the one being held in Glasgow. In the report, released shortly before the start of the conference, the two largest American oil companies are judged the most influential companies in “manipulating governments” to direct them to take “incredibly dangerous paths” in the approach to solutions to climate problems.

Norwegian gas deliveries to Europe has reached 10.1 billion cubic metres in October, showing well above the average of the last five years. Suppliers have tried to ride the energy crisis benefiting from the soaring gas prices in Europe, looking at exports as a great opportunity for profit. State-owned company Equinor intends to produce more gas from its main fields of Troll and Oseberg in autumn and winter thanks to an increase in permits of 1 Bcm. The permit for Troll went from 36 Bcm to 37 Bcm and that of Oseberg from 5 Bcm to 6 Bcm. It should be noted that Norwegian gas supplies in October increased compared to September in all European countries, except the Netherlands.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has revealed its intent to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060. According to Salman, the first wave of initiatives would deliver against the targets under the Saudi Green Initiative and include programs that aim to achieve more than 278 Mtpa carbon emissions reduction by 2030. This is more than doubling delivery against the emissions reduction target set forth at the announcement of the Saudi Green Initiative earlier this year. The kingdom will also plant 450 million trees and rehabilitate 8 million hectares of degraded lands by 2030, reducing 200 million tons of carbon emissions. It’s about the transformation of the capital city Riyadh into one of the world’s most sustainable cities is already underway. In addition, an increasing surface of land is being designated for protection in the coming years, to achieve the first 20 percent of the goal to protect over 30 percent of the Kingdom’s total land area. The transition to net-zero emissions will be done by preserving the country’s leading role in enhancing the security and stability of global energy markets.

Russian oil&gas companies Lukoil and Gazprom Neft have reached an agreement to team up in the implementation of oil recovery enhancement projects. According to Lukoil, the agreement provides for joint work on improving chemical methods of enhanced oil recovery. It will allow best practices exchange and collaboration in lab research, as well as for researches of surface-active agents and production stimulation chemicals. The companies plan to collaborate on the development of national production of chemical agents and equipment for manufacturing surfactant-polymer and polymer solutions for oil recovery enhancement. They also aim to test and introduce new chemical compounds when developing mature reserves in their fields. Lukoil and Gazprom Neft will also evaluate prospects for the creation of competence centres that would apply innovative equipment to select surfactant and polymer formulae.

Honeywell and Saipem have announced a collaboration for the product development and commercialisation of a ‘Digital Twin’ as part of Saipem’s Snamprogetti urea technology.
Honeywell Forge will develop the solution to enable customers to improve the production of urea through virtual simulation of key processes. On the other side, Saipem will be responsible for the management and technical support of the digital tool. Honeywell’s digital twin solution will also be used as a virtual model to guide engineers with actionable insights into machine performance and maintenance needs in order to optimize plant production of urea. With the Honeywell Forge solution, Saipem will be able to provide real-time response on plant operational management. Also, it will allow the company to collect data for monitoring and predictive maintenance. Furthermore, with this solution, Saipem will remain in close contact with its clients, even after plant delivery, to modernize its offering as a licensor and to collect feedback regarding plant performance.

The UK government has announced its strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The Net-Zero Strategy sets out how the UK will secure 440,000 well-paid jobs and unlock near $125 billion in investment in 2030 on its path to ending its contribution to climate change by 2050. The UK Government said that this would provide certainty to businesses to support the UK in gaining a competitive edge in the latest low carbon technologies – from heat pumps to electric vehicles – and in developing thriving green industries in our industrial heartlands – from carbon capture to hydrogen, backed by new funding. UK’s Net-Zero Strategy sets out a comprehensive economy-wide plan for how British businesses and consumers will be supported in making the transition to clean energy. As part of the strategy, the new investment includes an extra $482 million to support the electrification of UK vehicles and their supply chains and another $853.5 million for targeted electric vehicle grants and infrastructure. The country is also working to kick-start the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel made from sustainable materials such as household waste, flue gases from industry, carbon captured from the atmosphere, and excess electricity.