Latest news with #greenEnergy
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Asean-GCC-China partnership can kick-start shift away from US-centric trade
When the leaders of Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China gathered for an inaugural summit in Kuala Lumpur last week, it marked a historic convergence – the three economic powerhouses represent over 2 billion people and a combined economy of nearly US$25 trillion. Advertisement Emphasising deeper cooperation in trade, supply chains, infrastructure and finance, the summit's key areas of focus included green energy, the digital transformation, connectivity and sustainable agriculture to address climate change and food security. This trilateral partnership aligns with China's Belt and Road Initiative , leveraging the consumer markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the GCC's energy wealth and China's manufacturing and technological prowess. With Asean-China trade worth US$1 trillion and GCC-China trade of over US$288 billion last year, the summit underscored a collective ambition to foster regional stability and economic globalisation, with vast potential for trade expansion. It is also a transformative opportunity to reduce their reliance on the US market by diversifying supply chains and focusing on complementary strengths, enhanced connectivity, trade agreements and regional production in critical sectors. First, Asean's resources, the GCC's financial clout and China's manufacturing dominance constitute complementary strengths that can forge a robust supply chain ecosystem. Raw materials such as Indonesia's nickel and Malaysia's palm oil complement China's manufacturing capacity, while the GCC's sovereign wealth funds, worth a collective US$5 trillion, can finance critical projects. Advertisement Cooperation has begun. In April, the Qatar Investment Authority and sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia announced a joint US$4 billion fund to invest in renewable energy, healthcare and technology in Indonesia. A practical model could see Asean supplying raw materials for China's electric vehicle battery production with GCC funding.
Malay Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Sarawak eyes biofuel revenue from palm oil waste through legal reforms
KUCHING, May 24 — The Sarawak government is currently reviewing existing legal provisions in a bid to put palm oil waste to better use, with the aim of promoting downstream activities and increasing revenue for the state. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said he had directed Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom to discuss the matter with state Attorney-General Datuk Seri Saferi Ali. 'Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi will discuss with the Sarawak Attorney-General regarding amendments to our laws so that we can manage palm oil waste, turning it into a new source of income for Sarawak. 'From this waste, we can produce green energy,' he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report today. He made these remarks during a press conference after launching the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) kernel crushing plant in Lubok Antu, Sri Aman. Abang Johari said this move will serve to strengthen Sarawak's role in the regional economy. At present, Sarawak has 85 palm oil processing mills, from which palm oil waste can be collected and sent to a central processing facility for biofuel production. According to him, these 85 mills can work together to ensure proper disposal and management of palm oil waste, facilitating the production of biofuel. 'In this way, we will be able to produce large-scale by-products such as biofuel which is the basis for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 'If this can be materialised, then Sarawak can become an SAF producer in the region, further boosting our revenue,' added Abang Johari. — The Borneo Post
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State lawmakers move to undo critical energy policy as outrage builds: 'What about individual rights?'
Proposed legislation in Michigan could make it more difficult for green energy projects to get off the ground and for the state to reach its renewable energy goals. In early May, WEMU public radio reports, the Michigan House voted to undo key parts of a previous law and prohibit the state from overriding local zoning regulations to approve more renewable energy projects. Under a 2023 state law, if local governments rejected a renewable-energy project, utilities could go directly to state officials to seek approval. That law was enacted to help Michigan reach legislated goals of 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 60% by 2035. State Rep. Gregory Alexander, R-Carsonville, sponsored the new legislation, saying that the 2023 law took power away from communities and, therefore, voters. "I'm not opposed to wind and solar to the communities that want to host them," Alexander told WEMU. "But when they're not supported by the communities, we're taking away their voice." House Democrats voted to keep the 2023 bill in place, with state Rep. Sharon MacDonell, D-Troy, saying on the House floor that the original legislation would help keep energy costs down. "I met and spoke to farmers who wanted to use solar to earn extra income on their farms to save their family farms. But their local government said no," MacDonell said. "What about individual rights?" Although the Michigan House passed this repeal, it seems unlikely to even come up for a vote in the state Senate, whose Democratic leadership is opposed to it. Simply put, renewable energy is the future of energy. Wind, solar, green hydrogen, and other sources prove that energy can be sustainable and doesn't have to pollute our planet. This matters because, for generations, our energy has come from dirty energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. These are called "dirty" sources because the drilling, mining, and burning of fossil fuels causes massive amounts of pollution that gets trapped in our atmosphere, warming the planet and causing more extreme weather. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. A 2024 report showed that, if the world were able to triple its amount of clean energy usage by 2030, 11 billion fewer tons of pollution would be pumped into the atmosphere. It would also cut energy costs worldwide by about 10%. In 2022, the state passed the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which aims to get Michigan to carbon-neutrality by 2050. That plan provided funding for several clean-energy projects, such as MI Solar for All, which increased access to rooftop and community solar energy for thousands of low-income families. The state also purchased 15 electric recycling trucks to be used across three counties, as part of its effort to move away from diesel and other dirty energy sources. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miliband considers fewer pylons amid net zero backlash
Ed Miliband is considering scaling back plans to erect thousands of pylons across the countryside to reach net zero. The Energy Secretary has ordered electricity grid planners to examine whether fewer overhead wires would be required throughout the countryside if the power market were broken up, The Telegraph understands. Sir Keir Starmer previously argued that building new pylons in rural areas was a necessary step to bring down the cost of electricity as part of the drive to reach net zero emissions by 2050. However, the Government has already diluted other green policies, including a ban on new non-electric cars by 2030, amid a growing backlash from voters, unions and Labour MPs. The decision to commission a government study comes as Labour faces pressure in rural areas from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which has accused the Government of spoiling swathes of countryside with a 'spider's web' of pylons and cables. In Lincolnshire, where Reform has seized control of the local mayoralty and the county council in May's local elections, Mr Farage and his deputy, Richard Tice, have vowed to wage legal warfare against planned green energy projects. Mr Tice warned ministers last week: 'We will attack, we will hinder, we will delay, we will obstruct, we will put every hurdle in your way. It's going to cost you a fortune, and you're not going to win.' The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has estimated that £60bn worth of upgrades are needed across the electricity network under Labour's plan for a clean power system, including 4,000 miles of new undersea cables and another 1,000 miles of overland power lines. This is expected to add up to £30 a year to consumer bills. Neso has now been told to examine whether the scope of this work can be dramatically cut by switching to a regional, or so-called zonal, electricity pricing system. This would see households pay different prices for electricity based on supply and demand in their area, in an effort to encourage investment in green power near to where it is needed most. Zonal pricing supporters say this would cut down the distance between power stations and homes and businesses, lessening the need for cables spanning the country, while also lowering the cost of net zero as fewer cables would be needed. Mr Miliband is understood to have already been shown an analysis by private sector consultants that claimed zonal pricing would result in savings of 'tens of billions of pounds' and almost 2,000 fewer miles of wires. A Neso spokesman did not deny it was looking at the issue, adding that the quango 'continues to provide advice to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on a range of topics including on the review of electricity market arrangements'. Ministers have previously vowed to 'back the builders, not the blockers', with Sir Keir Starmer telling the public to expect more pylons as a 'trade-off' for cheaper power. However, the prospect of slashing the number of pylons needed to reach Labour's goal would allow Mr Miliband to claim he was reducing both the impact on rural areas and the cost to bill payers. Whether or not Britain should break-up its electricity market and shift to zonal pricing has become the subject of a fierce battle within the energy industry. Opponents including wind farm owners Scottish Power and SSE have warned Mr Miliband that the reforms risk plunging their investment plans into uncertainty and endangering his target to have a clean power system by 2030. But advocates including Octopus Energy, the country's biggest gas and electricity supplier, claim it would cut prices for all households overall. Under the current national electricity pricing system, power is sold for the same price everywhere on the wholesale market. However, experts say the price is inflated by bottlenecks in the grid, which lead to wind farms being paid to switch off in one part of the country and a gas plant fired up in another – at great expense. This has cost households and businesses £437m so far this year already, or about £3.2m per day, according to data compiled by the Wasted Wind website. Advocates of zonal pricing say it would send wholesale prices plummeting in areas such as Scotland, where wind power is abundant, although it would also risk higher prices in London and the South East. The Telegraph previously revealed that officials have advised Mr Miliband to back the reform, although sources close to the Energy Secretary have insisted he has yet to make up his own mind on the matter. He is expected to make a decision within weeks, although the study by Neso raises the prospect of delays. A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect consumers from future energy price shocks is by moving towards homegrown power. 'We are considering reforms to Britain's electricity market arrangements, ensuring that these focus on protecting bill payers and encouraging investment. 'We will provide an update in due course.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Miliband considers fewer pylons amid net zero backlash
Ed Miliband is considering scaling back plans to erect thousands of pylons across the countryside to reach net zero. The Energy Secretary has ordered electricity grid planners to examine whether fewer overhead wires would be required throughout the countryside if the power market was broken up, the Telegraph understands. Sir Keir Starmer previously argued that building new pylons in rural areas was a necessary step to bring down the cost of electricity as part of the drive to reach net zero emissions by 2050. However, the Government has already diluted other green policies, including a ban on new non-electric cars by 2030, amid a growing backlash from voters, unions and Labour MPs. The decision to commission a government study comes as Labour faces pressure in rural areas from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which has accused the Government of spoiling swathes of countryside with a 'spider's web' of pylons and cables. In Lincolnshire, where Reform has seized control of the local mayoralty and the county council in May's local elections, Mr Farage and his deputy, Richard Tice, have vowed to wage legal warfare against planned green energy projects. Mr Tice warned ministers last week: 'We will attack, we will hinder, we will delay, we will obstruct, we will put every hurdle in your way. It's going to cost you a fortune, and you're not going to win.' The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has estimated that £60bn worth of upgrades are needed across the electricity network under Labour's plan for a clean power system, including 4,000 miles of new undersea cables and another 1,000 miles of overland power lines. This is expected to add up to £30 a year to consumer bills.
