Todays Latest Updates: - 1 April2025

Hydrogen: Japan. Developers of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (Hesc) project are changing plans to source hydrogen domestically in Japan, amid prolonged delays encountered with Australian authorities. The project was being led by two consortiums, with J-Power and Sumitomo Corporation planning to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year from Latrobe Valley coal with carbon capture in the Bass Strait. KHI and Iwatani’s Susio Energy would purchase the hydrogen and handle liquefaction at Hastings before exporting to Japan. The Japanese Government had pledged over $1.4bn to Hesc’s commercial development to ensure it’s completed by 2030. However, the project has now been relocated to Japan to meet this deadline and remain competitive. Link 01/04/2025

Marine fuels: Australia. HyFuel Solar Refinery, a subsidiary of Vast Renewables Limited, was awarded $441,000 through the Australia-Singapore Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET) initiative for maritime and port operations. The funding will progress the development of South Australia Solar Fuels (SA Solar Fuels), a sustainable fuels project collaboration between Vast and global energy company Mabanaft. SA Solar Fuels, previously known as Solar Methanol 1, or SM1, is being developed to meet the rapidly growing demand for sustainable fuels by the maritime and aviation industries. The SA Solar Fuels demonstration plant will be capable of producing 7,500 tons per annum of green methanol. Preliminary front-end engineering and design (pre-FEED) for SA Solar Fuels has been completed by global engineering firms Fichtner and bse Methanol. Link 01/04/2025

Methanol: Japan. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company announced it has commenced construction of a methanol production demonstration facility within its Mizushima Plant. The facility will utilize diverse gases, including CO2 and industrial by-product gases as raw materials. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 100 tons of methanol and is expected to begin demonstration operations in fiscal year 2026. Link 01/04/2025

Recycling plastic: USA. Brightmark LLC announced that its subsidiaries operating a recycling facility in Ashley, IN, have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the intention of selling their assets. The San Francisco–based company, which converts plastic waste into fuel, has filed motions to continue operations during the bankruptcy proceedings and to pursue an auction and sale process under Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Link 01/04/2025

Textiles: Canada. lululemon announced a multi-year collaboration with Califirnia-based biotechnology pioneer ZymoChem to help expand the company’s use of bio-based nylon. Together, lululemon and ZymoChem will sustainably transform a key building block of nylon 6,6 – a foundational material used in many of lululemon’s iconic products including its Align and Wunder Train leggings. lululemon’s work with ZymoChem began last year with an initial investment to support innovative technologies used to create a bio-based version of adipic acid. The next phase of this partnership will focus on scaling ZymoChem’s technologies to support the commercialization of this bio-based alternative. Link 01/04/2025

 Subscribe to receive our daily latest updates - direct to your mailbox each day