Latest news with #dioxide
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Decarbonisation and digitalisation will redefine the nation's maritime industry
LETTERS: The Malaysia Maritime Week 2025 concluded successfully last week, marking a pivotal achievement in promoting national maritime agendas, encompassing sustainability, digital innovation and gender inclusivity within the industry. Currently, the maritime industry is experiencing a significant transformation, notably due to rising technology and growing demands for sustainability. The transformation necessitates that every industry player adapts, since it is no longer merely a matter of sustaining momentum, but rather of boosting performance. Currently, the Malaysian maritime industry is at a critical juncture, where two cutting-edge forces, decarbonisation and digitalisation are redefining the national maritime landscape. As global converge towards a more green and smart future, a critical debate persists, which should come first, decarbonisation or digitalisation? Decarbonisation denotes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, originating from maritime operations. This directly addresses the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) aim to attain net-zero emissions in maritime industry by or approximately 2050. On the other hand, digitalisation entails the implementation of digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and big data to improve operational efficiency, safety, and transparency within the maritime operations. Although both elements are vital to the industry's future, their prioritisation for implementation is frequently contested due to economic and regulatory challenges. Many assert that prioritising decarbonisation is crucial given the urgency of the climate agenda. Shipping activities account for around three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and without immediate action, this percentage may increase significantly as global trade expands. Moreover, regulatory pressure is mounting. The IMO has implemented a set of compulsory measures, including the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), compelling shipowners to utilize alternative fuels such as LNG, hydrogen, ammonia and methanol, retrofit vessels and so on. In this perspective, digitalization is auxiliary but not primary. Digitalisation is seen as the catalyst for decarbonisation. It serves merely as an instrument for quantifying and regulating emissions, rather than being the fundamental element of emission reduction. Digital technology can mitigate carbon emissions by enhancing energy efficiency and fostering green technology innovation. Viewing decarbonisation and digitisation as competing targets presents a misleading distinction. The maritime industry could benefit more from a simultaneous approach, driven by strategic phasing instead of favouring one option over another. In short, it needs the mutual dependency between digitisation and decarbonisation and all stakeholders i.e. governments, port authorities, and shipping companies must collaborate to expedite low-carbon solutions by enhancing technological capacity. By doing so, the industry can remain competitive, resilient, and sustainable amid ongoing global uncertainty. DR IZYAN MUNIRAH MOHD ZAIDEEN Senior lecturer Faculty of Maritime Studies
Observer
6 days ago
- Business
- Observer
China cuts electricity emissions to record lows in 2025
LITTLETON, Colorado: Surging clean power supplies have allowed China's utilities to reduce their emissions from electricity production to record lows during the opening half of 2025. Carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity averaged 492 grammes during the opening half of 2025, according to data from energy portal That was the first ever reading below 500 grammes per kWh, and is down from 514g/kWh during the same period in 2024 and 539g/kWh from January to June 2023. A nearly 23% rise in clean power generation from January to June 2024 was the main driver behind the reduction in emissions intensity, as higher volumes of clean energy allowed power firms to reduce output from coal and gas power plants. Total power generation from thermal power plants — mainly coal — dropped by 4% from a year ago to just under 7,000 terawatt hours (TWh), data from LSEG shows. Output from clean energy sources from January to June totalled 2,400 TWh, highlighting that fossil fuel power sources still account for a 75% share of China's power generation mix. But the growth of clean energy supplies continues to sharply outpace growth in fossil fuel power generation, suggesting that China's power mix looks set to keep getting cleaner. Total Chinese clean power output during the first half of 2025 was 200% more than during the first half of 2019, according to LSEG. In contrast, total Chinese thermal power output from January to June 2025 was 20% greater than during the same period in 2019. China's power sector emissions from fossil fuel generation have declined in line with the cleaner mix. Total emissions from fossil fuels used in electricity production from January to May were 2.24 billion metric tonnes of CO2, according to data from energy think tank Ember. That total is 60.5 million tonnes less than during the same months of 2024, and is an indication that some progress is being made against Beijing's goals of reducing energy sector pollution. However, the enduring economic drag caused by a lingering property downturn as well as the uncertainty surrounding tariffs charged by the United States on Chinese goods is also impacting China's power needs and emissions totals. The pace of construction in China has slowed sharply so far this decade following a debt crisis among property developers, which in turn has choked off demand for energy-intensive goods such as cement, piping, glass and construction steel. More recently, the fresh tariffs on Chinese goods set by US President Donald Trump this year have hit demand for China-made products, and slowed production lines across several manufactured items. — Reuters
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
China cuts electricity emissions to record lows in 2025
LITTLETON, Colorado, July 16 (Reuters) - Surging clean power supplies have allowed China's utilities to reduce their emissions from electricity production to record lows during the opening half of 2025. Carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity averaged 492 grams during the opening half of 2025, according to data from energy portal That was the first ever reading below 500 grams per kWh, and is down from 514g/kWh during the same period in 2024 and 539g/kWh from January to June 2023. A nearly 23% rise in clean power generation from January to June 2024 was the main driver behind the reduction in emissions intensity, as higher volumes of clean energy allowed power firms to reduce output from coal and gas power plants. Total power generation from thermal power plants - mainly coal - dropped by 4% from a year ago to just under 7,000 terawatt hours (TWh), data from LSEG shows. Output from clean energy sources from January to June totalled 2,400 TWh, highlighting that fossil fuel power sources still account for a 75% share of China's power generation mix. But the growth of clean energy supplies continues to sharply outpace growth in fossil fuel power generation, suggesting that China's power mix looks set to keep getting cleaner. Total Chinese clean power output during the first half of 2025 was 200% more than during the first half of 2019, according to LSEG. In contrast, total Chinese thermal power output from January to June 2025 was 20% greater than during the same period in 2019. China's power sector emissions from fossil fuel generation have declined in line with the cleaner mix. Total emissions from fossil fuels used in electricity production from January to May were 2.24 billion metric tons of CO2, according to data from energy think tank Ember. That total is 60.5 million tons less than during the same months of 2024, and is an indication that some progress is being made against Beijing's goals of reducing energy sector pollution. However, the enduring economic drag caused by a lingering property downturn as well as the uncertainty surrounding tariffs charged by the United States on Chinese goods is also impacting China's power needs and emissions totals. The pace of construction in China has slowed sharply so far this decade following a debt crisis among property developers, which in turn has choked off demand for energy-intensive goods such as cement, piping, glass and construction steel. More recently, the fresh tariffs on Chinese goods set by U.S. President Donald Trump this year have hit demand for China-made products, and slowed production lines across several manufactured items. Slower activity on construction sites and factory production lines has in turn reduced the overall power needs of both those industries, and allowed power generation firms to cut back on production as a result. If a recovery unfolds in the construction and manufacturing sectors going forward, China's overall power needs will increase in tow, and will likely spur a rebound in generation from pollution-emitting fossil fuels. But if China's economy remains chilled by construction debt and tariff worries, the country's use of fossil fuels will remain subdued, which could set the stage for further reductions in power sector emissions. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters. Enjoying this column? Check out Reuters Open Interest (ROI), your essential new source for global financial commentary. ROI delivers thought-provoking, data-driven analysis of everything from swap rates to soybeans. Markets are moving faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, opens new tab and X, opens new tab.
Business Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
China speeds up renewables building spree: report
[SHANGHAI] China is accelerating its record-breaking renewable energy drive, installing 1.5 times more wind and solar this year than last - three-quarters of global capacity under construction, a report said on Wednesday. China emits more than twice as much planet-warming greenhouse gas than the world's next biggest polluter, the United States, though its historical contributions to climate change remain lower. But it is also a global leader in renewable energy, adding capacity at a faster rate than any other country. This year alone it has 510 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind power under construction, according to the US-based Global Energy Monitor (GEM) - 57 per cent more than last year, when its installation far outstripped that of its closest peers. Beijing has announced plans for 1.3 terawatts worth of projects so far, nearly equivalent to its existing solar and wind energy capacity of 1.4 terawatts. China now accounts for three-quarters of all solar and wind capacity being built around the world, the report said. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up The wind capacity currently under construction alone would be 'enough to power about 120 million United States households', according to the GEM report. The report comes after a separate group of researchers said in May that China's emissions fell in the first quarter of 2025 despite rapidly growing power demand, thanks to soaring renewable and nuclear energy. Beijing has sought to position itself as a global leader on tackling climate change while its main rival the United States retreats from global cooperation under the administration of President Donald Trump. The Chinese government has pledged to achieve a 65 per cent reduction in carbon intensity - or carbon emissions relative to GDP - by 2030 from 2005 levels. President Xi Jinping pledged this year China's efforts to combat climate change 'will not slow down' despite a changing international situation. He also said China would announce 2035 greenhouse gas reduction targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions, before COP30 in November and that it would cover all planet-warming gases, not just carbon dioxide. However, China continues to invest heavily in coal power infrastructure, although analysts say much of it is intended as backup to renewable sources. China began construction on 94.5 gigawatts of coal power projects in 2024, 93 per cent of the global total, according to a February report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and GEM. REUTERS
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Living near coal plants? You may be inhaling 10 times more sulphur dioxide, says IIT Delhi study
New Delhi: If you live near a coal-fired power plant, the air you breathe may carry ten times more sulphur dioxide than in areas far from such facilities, a new study by IIT Delhi has found. The report reveals that cities located within 10 kilometres of thermal power plants recorded an annual average SO₂ concentration of 16.4 micrograms per cubic metre, sharply higher than the 1.5 micrograms recorded in cities beyond 25 kilometres. The study, conducted by the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, categorised cities into three groups based on their distance from thermal power plants and analysed SO₂ concentrations using Central Pollution Control Board's Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) data between 2019 and 2022. The findings show a consistent trend of rising sulphur dioxide levels in cities that are closer to coal-fired units. 'Results indicate that cities in closer proximity to thermal power plants have significantly higher annual average SO₂ concentrations,' the report said. The analysis attributes this disparity to direct emissions from coal-based thermal units, where pollution control technologies like flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) are either absent or yet to be implemented. The findings come at a time when implementation deadlines for sulphur dioxide emission standards, initially finalised in 2015, have been extended to as late as 2027 in several regions. The report adds that thermal power plants located near dense population centres should be prioritised for early installation of emission control systems to reduce exposure levels. The study aims to support policymakers in refining location-based emission strategies and emphasises the need for urgent intervention in coal plant clusters situated near large urban populations.
