According to Open Access Government, Canada Nickel Company is pioneering net-zero mining at its Crawford Project by integrating carbon mineralization directly into its workflow. The site, expected to produce over 48,000 tonnes of nickel and 500,000 tonnes of 304-grade stainless steel annually, utilizes ultramafic rocks to permanently sequester CO2. Through patent-pending In-Process Tailings (IPT) carbonation and a recent successful in-situ underground pilot funded by the US DOE, CO2 is converted into stable carbonate minerals. This dual approach not only offsets emissions but naturally fractures the rock, lowering energy and grinding costs. This positions Crawford as a scalable template for a net-zero industrial cluster, turning carbon management into a core value driver.

[SMM Steel] Tata Steel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) to co-develop scalable low-carbon steelmaking technologies. The collaboration focuses on four strategic areas: scrap-based steelmaking, steel waste valorization, carbon capture and utilization (CCUS), and end-product performance. By leveraging USTB’s pilot-scale facilities and Tata Steel’s engineering strengths, the partnership aims to accelerate the transition of sustainable metallurgical research into practical industrial applications.

Recently, the European Commission has approved a €400 million state aid scheme for Greece aimed at supporting the country's clean technology manufacturing sector. The scheme aligns with the Net Zero Industrial Act (NZIA) and has been authorised under the Clean Industries Agreement State Aid Framework (CISAF). It will promote domestic manufacturing of technologies including solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolysers, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) through direct grants and tax incentives.

India’s Union Budget 2026-27 emphasizes domestic manufacturing competitiveness and long-term energy resilience, allocating INR 22,000 crore for the PM Surya Ghar rooftop scheme and INR 5,000 crore for PM-KUSUM. The budget bolsters the supply chain by extending customs duty exemptions on capital goods for lithium-ion battery production and critical mineral processing, while removing the 7.5% duty on sodium antimonate for solar glass. Additionally, it earmarks INR 20,000 crore over five years for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) technologies and proposes dedicated "rare earth corridors" in four states to secure input materials. However, duty exemptions for silicon used in wafers and cells are set to lapse in April 2026, signaling a push for deeper domestic value addition.

【SMM Steel】The North Sea Transition Authority has launched its second carbon capture licensing round, offering 14 sites in Scottish and English waters for exploration and assessment. These sites have potential to store up to 2 gigatons of CO2, providing capacity support for future industrial decarbonization in the UK and Europe. The offered areas include depleted hydrocarbon fields selected by NSTA and saline aquifer sites identified after a public nomination call in early 2025. Carbon capture and storage plays a crucial role in decarbonizing major UK industrial centers, involving transport of CO2 captured from industrial processes to offshore areas for deep geological storage. The licensing round will run until March 24, 2026, with permits potentially awarded in early 2027.

On June 6, the Yangquan Municipal Energy Bureau issued a notice on the "Implementation Plan for Carbon Peak in the Energy Sector of Yangquan City." The document states that efforts should be made to explore and promote the development and utilisation of various energy forms, including hydrogen, biomass, and geothermal energy. It calls for active exploration of renewable energy-based water electrolysis projects for hydrogen production, such as those using wind and solar power, to gradually transition from grey hydrogen to green hydrogen. The promotion of "geothermal energy +" multi-energy complementary heating methods is encouraged, with geothermal energy utilisation tailored to local heating (and cooling) needs, and active exploration of clustered utilisation of shallow geothermal energy. Biomass energy comprehensive utilisation should be promoted according to local conditions, with the development of power generation and heating using agricultural crop straw, municipal solid waste, and livestock and poultry manure encouraged. The implementation of biomass cogeneration and municipal solid waste incineration power generation projects, as well as the promotion of pilot biomass cogeneration projects, is advocated. By 2030, the installed capacity of biomass energy power generation in the city is expected to reach 15,000 kW. The growth rate of oil consumption should be reasonably controlled, with the development of multimodal transportation in the transportation sector guided to promote the shift of bulk cargo from road to rail. The promotion of EVs, LNG heavy-duty trucks, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is encouraged to gradually reduce gasoline and diesel consumption. Efforts should focus on advancing basic and cutting-edge technologies in green development and clean utilisation of fossil energy, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS/CCS), new-type power systems, hydrogen energy, digitalisation and intelligence of energy systems, energy storage, high-efficiency PV, large-capacity wind power, biomass fuel substitution, and zero-carbon energy supply.

The National Energy Administration organized the first batch of pilot work for new-type power system construction. It proposed focusing on cutting-edge directions related to new-type power systems, conducting single-direction pilots through typical projects and multi-direction comprehensive pilots through representative cities, exploring new technologies and models for new-type power system construction, and promoting breakthroughs in this field. Emphasis will be placed on key breakthroughs, initially covering seven directions: grid-forming technology, system-friendly new energy power stations, smart microgrids, computing-power-electricity coordination, virtual power plants, large-scale high-proportion new energy transmission, and next-generation coal power. The principle of adapting to local conditions will be followed, selecting suitable directions for pilot projects based on regional realities and reasonably determining their scale and scope. Innovation leadership will be prioritized, encouraging the adoption of new technologies and models, supporting pilot projects to apply achievements from national major smart grid technology projects and energy equipment "shortcomings improvement" initiatives, while simultaneously advancing institutional reforms. It specifically proposed focusing on national hub nodes and non-hub node regions with abundant energy resources such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Heilongjiang. Based on scientific integration of source-load-storage resources, the plan coordinates regional existing and incremental data center green electricity demands with new energy resource conditions, jointly planning computing-power and electricity projects. By exploring the "green electricity aggregated supply" model featuring nearby new energy power supply, aggregated transactions, and local consumption, the proportion of green electricity in data centers will be increased. Through technologies like joint forecasting of computing load and new energy power, flexible control of computing load, and intelligent dispatching, source-load coordination will be enhanced, reducing power grid capacity requirements during peak periods. Data center waste heat recovery will be strengthened to improve energy efficiency. The joint operation of solar thermal power with wind and PV power will be explored to enhance stable supply capacity. Notice of the National Energy Administration on Organizing the First Batch of Pilot Work for New-Type Power System Construction NEA Power [2025] No. 53 To provincial (autonomous region, municipality) energy bureaus, relevant provincial (autonomous region, municipality) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps development and reform commissions, Beijing Municipal Urban Management Commission, dispatched agencies of the National Energy Administration, and relevant central state-owned enterprises: To implement the requirements of the Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission, National Energy Administration, and National Data Bureau on Issuing the Action Plan for Accelerating the Construction of New-Type Power Systems (2024-2027) (NDRC Energy [2024] No. 1128), typical and representative directions have been selected for pilot exploration. Relevant matters are hereby notified as follows. I. General Requirements Focus on cutting-edge directions related to new-type power systems, conduct single-direction pilots through typical projects and multi-direction comprehensive pilots through representative cities, explore new technologies and models for new-type power system construction, and promote breakthroughs in this field. We will persist in making breakthroughs in key areas by initially carrying out pilot work in seven directions: grid-forming technology, system-friendly new energy power plants, smart microgrids, collaborative computing and power systems, virtual power plants, large-scale and high-proportion new energy transmission, and the new generation of coal-fired power. We will persist in adapting measures to local conditions by selecting suitable directions for pilot projects based on the actual situations of different regions, and reasonably determining the scale and scope of the pilot projects. We will persist in innovation-driven development by encouraging the adoption of new technologies and models, supporting the application of major national science and technology projects in smart grids and the "short-board-filling" achievements in energy technology and equipment in pilot projects, and simultaneously carrying out institutional and mechanism reforms. We will persist in whole-process management by effectively managing the entire process of pilot projects, including application selection, organization and implementation, effect evaluation, and promotion and application, to ensure the implementation effect and play a leading role. II. Pilot Directions (1) Grid-forming technology. We will focus on applying new energy/new-type energy storage grid-forming control technologies in weak power grid areas with a high proportion of new energy access and in large-scale new energy transmission areas in "desert, gobi, and wasteland" bases to effectively address issues such as reduced short-circuit capacity, decreased inertia, and wide-frequency oscillations, thereby enhancing the new energy grid connection and transmission capabilities. In areas with weak power grid structures and isolated island operation systems, we will apply grid-forming control technologies to improve the system's voltage, frequency, and power angle stability capabilities, and enhance the level of power supply security and system stable operation. (2) System-friendly new energy power plants. We will focus on constructing or renovating a batch of new energy power plants in regions with tight power supply or significant consumption pressure. Through long-term and high-precision power forecasting, as well as intelligent joint regulation and operation of wind and solar power and energy storage systems, we will enhance the system-friendly performance of these power plants, increasing their confident output capacity during peak periods (no less than 2 hours) to over 10%. These power plants will sign collaborative dispatching agreements with dispatching institutions, clarifying the collaborative dispatching operation mode, as well as the reliable capacity and support duration included in the power balance. The power plants will declare their collaborative operation power forecasting results and power generation plan suggestions one day in advance, and the dispatching institutions will improve the dispatching operation rules to incorporate the power plants into the intraday power balance based on the data reported by the power plants. Priority will be given to constructing or renovating projects with a new energy installed capacity of over 200,000 kW. (3) Smart microgrids. We will select typical application scenarios and, in combination with new energy resource conditions, construct a batch of smart microgrid projects. By relying on technologies such as flexible regulation and control of load-side resources, generation-grid-load-storage networking, and collaborative operation control, we will improve the self-peak-shaving and self-balancing capabilities of smart microgrids, increase the proportion of self-generated and self-consumed new energy, and alleviate the consumption pressure on the large power grid. Smart microgrids will clarify the interfaces with the large power grid in terms of assets, management, etc., as well as the rights and obligations in terms of dispatching control, interactive operation, and the use of regulatory resources in the grid connection agreements. (IV) Synergy between computing power and electricity. The focus will be on national hub nodes and non-hub node regions with favorable energy resource conditions, such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Heilongjiang. On the basis of scientifically integrating source, load, and storage resources, we will coordinate the green electricity demand of existing and incremental data centers in the region with the conditions of new energy resources, and plan and layout computing power and electricity projects in a coordinated manner. By exploring the "green electricity aggregated supply" model, which involves nearby power supply from new energy sources, aggregated transactions, and local consumption, we will increase the proportion of green electricity in data centers. Through technologies such as joint forecasting of computing power load and new energy power, flexible control of computing power load, and intelligent dispatching, we will enhance the level of source-load coordination and reduce the demand for power grid security capacity during peak load periods. We will strengthen the recycling and utilization of waste heat resources from data centers to improve energy use efficiency. We will explore the joint operation of solar thermal power generation with wind and PV power generation to enhance the level of stable supply. (V) Virtual power plants. Focusing on scenarios such as aggregating decentralized power resources, enhancing flexible regulation capabilities, reducing power supply gaps, and promoting the consumption of new energy, we will build or retrofit a number of different types of virtual power plants according to local conditions. By aggregating various decentralized resources on the load side, such as distributed power sources, controllable loads, and energy storage, and through coordinated and optimized control, we will fully leverage flexible regulation capabilities. We will continue to enrich the business models of virtual power plants by participating in the electricity market and demand response, providing comprehensive energy services such as energy-saving services, energy data analysis, energy solution design, and carbon trading-related services, and generating corresponding revenues. (VI) Large-scale and high-proportion transmission of new energy. The focus will be on the transmission needs arising from the development of the "desert, gobi, and barren land" bases in north-west China and the integrated wind, solar, and hydro bases in the main river basins of south-west China. In conjunction with the national planning and construction of cross-provincial and cross-regional power transmission channels, we will reasonably configure the type and scale of supporting power sources at the sending end, optimize the scheme for connecting to the power system, adopt advanced technologies such as integrated power source coordinated control, flexible DC, multi-source adaptive commutation DC (SLCC), low-frequency transmission, and grid-forming technologies, and reasonably deploy reactive power compensation and energy consumption devices. This will improve the safe, stable operation, and flexible control level of the transmission channels, increase the proportion of green electricity transmitted through the channels, and explore methods for transmitting pure new energy, thereby promoting the consumption of a higher proportion of new energy through transmission. (VII) New-generation coal-fired power. In line with the pilot indicator requirements for new-generation coal-fired power plants outlined in the Implementation Plan for the Special Action on Upgrading New-Generation Coal-Fired Power (2025-2027), we will actively promote pilot projects for existing and new units that meet the conditions, targeting two categories of indicators: clean and low-carbon emissions, and efficient regulation. We will encourage the launch of pilot projects for new-generation coal-fired power plants that meet both categories of indicators simultaneously. In terms of clean and low-carbon emissions, we will significantly reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants by adopting carbon reduction measures such as co-firing with zero-carbon and low-carbon fuels, and CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage), taking into account regional characteristics and resource endowments. In terms of enhancing efficient regulation capabilities, it is necessary to meet all technical indicator requirements for efficient regulation, carry out technological innovation applications for main and auxiliary equipment, and optimize system integration. The focus is on improving the rapid load-changing, deep peak shaving, and wide-load efficient regulation capabilities of coal-fired power units in regions with high demand for rapid power grid regulation and insufficient peak shaving capacity. Units should possess the capability for safe and reliable start-stop peak shaving. III. Organization and Implementation (1) Pilot Project Application. For pilot projects in a single direction, applications shall be submitted by provincial energy authorities or the headquarters of central state-owned enterprises (excluding next-generation coal power pilot projects). Next-generation coal power pilot projects shall be uniformly submitted by provincial energy authorities, and a project support letter from the headquarters of the affiliated enterprise is required. For comprehensive pilot projects, provincial energy authorities shall organize energy authorities at the prefecture-level city level to select multiple pilot directions based on local conditions, forming a comprehensive pilot plan with prefecture-level cities as units, considering the construction of new-type power systems in the region, and submit the application to the National Energy Administration. Among them, comprehensive pilot projects led by central state-owned enterprises shall be jointly submitted by provincial energy authorities and central state-owned enterprises with prefecture-level cities as units. Provincial energy authorities and the headquarters of central state-owned enterprises shall widely solicit pilot projects, conduct reviews of similar projects based on application requirements, project feasibility, technical and economic viability, etc., and submit pilot project applications to the National Energy Administration on this basis. The construction or renovation commencement time of the applied projects must be after August 2024. If relevant approval, authorization, or filing procedures are required, the relevant procedures shall be obtained at the time of application (excluding next-generation coal power pilot projects). Next-generation coal power pilot projects must ensure the fulfillment of project element guarantee conditions. Provincial energy authorities and central state-owned enterprises shall organize the completion of application forms (see the appendix for details) and submit the stamped paper materials to the National Energy Administration (Department of Electricity) by June 30, 2025, with electronic materials sent simultaneously to the email address sunhe@nea.gov.cn. (2) Pilot Project Review. The National Energy Administration shall formulate a work plan for pilot project reviews, refine review criteria and procedures, and, upon receipt of application materials, entrust qualified third-party professional institutions to conduct reviews in accordance with the work plan. After review, a batch of projects and cities will be selected and included in the first batch of pilot projects and announced in a document. Subsequent pilot project applications and reviews will be conducted as appropriate. For newly planned and constructed next-generation coal power pilot projects, further implementation of project approval (filing) and other documents will be carried out after inclusion in the pilot scope. The relevant materials for the pilot projects determined through review will be simultaneously transferred to the relevant dispatched institutions of the National Energy Administration. (3) Project Implementation. After the pilot projects are determined, local energy authorities and project units shall strictly adhere to the plans proposed during the pilot project application for construction or renovation work. If significant changes to the plans occur, an application must be submitted to the National Energy Administration through provincial energy authorities or the headquarters of central state-owned enterprises. Energy authorities at all levels and central state-owned enterprises should track the implementation of projects throughout the process, coordinate to resolve relevant issues, and ensure the smooth progress of projects. During this process, provincial energy authorities and central state-owned enterprises should promptly report the phased progress to the National Energy Administration (NEA). The dispatched offices of the NEA should, in line with their responsibilities, strengthen tracking, supervision, and services for the pilot projects, and promote the implementation of the pilot plans. (IV) Supportive Policies. Energy authorities at all levels, the dispatched offices of the NEA, and central state-owned enterprises should, based on the needs for pilot exploration and innovation, actively carry out institutional and mechanism reforms, address policy bottlenecks, and create a policy environment conducive to the implementation of pilot projects. They should make coordinated use of funding channels such as ultra-long-term special treasury bonds to support pilot projects that meet the support directions and policy requirements. The achievements of pilot projects should be incorporated into the evaluation system for the construction of a new-type power system as an important component for assessing the effectiveness of its construction. The required coal-fired power generation capacity for the new-generation coal-fired power pilot projects should be prioritized and arranged by the NEA within the coal-fired power planning and construction capacity formulated by the state based on total volume control. Support should be given to the joint operation of upgraded units of existing coal-fired power plants, newly built units, and new-generation coal-fired power pilot units with new energy, and the new energy projects involved in joint operation should be encouraged to be connected to the grid on a priority basis. (V) Evaluation and Promotion. The NEA should organize comprehensive evaluations of the pilot projects in a timely manner, promptly summarize and promote advanced technologies, mature models, and supporting policy mechanisms, and give full play to the leading and driving role of the pilot projects. Pilot projects that fail to make progress should have their pilot titles revoked. National Energy Administration May 23, 2025

According to a report by Mining Weekly citing Reuters, Canada's new Minister of Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, recently announced plans to expedite approvals for major projects. Oil and gas executives have welcomed this move, hoping that Canada will re-establish a regulatory framework that supports energy development. This marks Hodgson's first speech in Calgary, the capital of Alberta, a major oil-producing province in Canada, since joining the new cabinet under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's successor, Pierre Poilievre. The oil and gas industry has had a strained relationship with the previous government led by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which prioritized climate action over economic development. However, Poilievre has pledged to help diversify energy export markets amid strained relations with the US, Canada's largest trading partner. "In the new economy we are building, Canada will no longer be known for delays. We will be known for delivery," Hodgson said at an event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. As a former Goldman Sachs banker who won his election in Toronto, Hodgson has promised to advocate for Western Canada and help improve relations between the energy sector and the government. He said he would identify and expedite projects of national interest to help Canada become a superpower in both traditional and clean energy. Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer. "There will be no more approval processes that take over five years. All project approvals will be completed within two years," Hodgson said. Hodgson noted that while Canadian oil is produced responsibly, infrastructure is needed to transport energy to ports for export to markets beyond the US. In recent years, major oil pipelines in Canada have faced years of delays and legal challenges, leading to the cancellation of some projects and soaring costs for others, such as the expansion of the Trans Mountain (TM) pipeline. Many CEOs of Canadian oil and gas companies said they were encouraged by Hodgson's banking background and his pro-oil and gas statements. "We welcome and sincerely appreciate this new sense of collaboration," said John Whelan, CEO, President, and Chairman of Imperial Oil, after Hodgson's speech. Hodgson also said that the federal government, the province of Alberta, and industry leaders must work together to establish an oil sands carbon capture and storage project. Six of Canada's largest oil sands companies have proposed investing 16 billion Canadian dollars to build a carbon capture network to reduce the industry's carbon emissions, but negotiations between the two levels of government have stalled. Kendall Dilling, President of the Pathways Alliance, which supports the project, expressed optimism on the 23rd that the project would move forward under Canada's new government. "I think it's the right time now," said Dearing.

The pressure to decarbonize the aviation industry continues to escalate, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) emerging as a core solution. This article analyzes the current market situation, core challenges, and key growth points of SAF based on data from the SMM industry database and global authoritative institutions.

The document points out that efforts should be made to vigorously develop offshore wind power and hydrogen energy equipment. Taking the Fujian Three Gorges Offshore Wind Power Industrial Park as the main cluster area, efforts will be made to fill in the gaps in the upstream industry chain, such as reinforcing fibers, resins, castings and forgings, and bearings, as well as in the midstream, such as submarine cables, to create a complete industry chain for wind power equipment. Large-power offshore wind power equipment will be developed, and Fuzhou will be built into a national-level offshore wind power detection center and a manufacturing base for wind power equipment along the southeast coast. Relying on the hydrogen energy demonstration circle in the Fuqing Port-Industrial Zone, efforts will be made to promote the integrated development of hydrogen production, storage, refueling, and hydrogen energy equipment, and to advance the large-scale and high-end manufacturing of hydrogen energy equipment across the "entire chain." Actively develop clean energy sources such as hydrogen energy, offshore wind power, and PV power generation. Encourage enterprises and industrial parks to utilize clean energy sources nearby, explore direct supply of green electricity, and support qualified enterprises in constructing captive power plants and power supplies, such as those integrating "PV + ESS." Build a zero-carbon energy supply system, develop the "direct green electricity supply model," establish a multi-energy complementary energy supply system integrating "electricity, heat, cold, gas, and hydrogen," encourage the configuration of new-type energy storage on the user side, enhance the capacity for local grid connection and consumption of new energy, and promote the cascading utilization of energy, the recovery of waste heat and pressure, and green cooling and heating. Encourage qualified enterprises to use renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen and optimize the hydrogen production structure from raw materials for synthetic ammonia. Encourage the lawful and regulated import of recycled raw materials to enhance the supply capacity of recycled resources. Guide and support innovative entities such as local universities, scientific research institutes, and high-tech enterprises to strengthen the R&D of key technologies for low-carbon, zero-carbon, and negative-carbon technologies. Deploy a number of scientific and technological projects in key areas such as large-capacity wind power, high-efficiency PV, high-efficiency ESS, hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, and the resourceful utilization of carbon dioxide under mild conditions. Relying on R&D institutions such as the Dongfang Electric Innovation Research Institute, the National Engineering Research Center for Fertilizer Catalysts at Fuzhou University, and the Hydrogen Power Equipment Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province at Snowman Co., Ltd., accelerate the R&D of core equipment components such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells, fuel cell engines, hydrogen circulation pumps, diaphragm compressors for hydrogen refueling stations, high-pressure hydrogen storage pressure vessels, and heat exchangers. Strengthen the construction of platforms for low-carbon technological innovation carriers. Promote the establishment of a low-carbon, zero-carbon, and negative-carbon technological innovation system with enterprises as the mainstay, featuring collaboration among industry, academia, and research, as well as coordination between upstream and downstream sectors. Deepen innovation-driven development, construct multi-level and diversified innovation platforms, accelerate the aggregation of innovative elements such as talents, technologies, and funds, support the construction of a hydrogen energy industry technology and product analysis and detection service platform, and cultivate and establish a number of leading national and provincial key laboratories, engineering research centers, manufacturing innovation centers, and enterprise technology centers in fields such as next-generation information technology, new materials, new energy, NEVs, biomedicine, and marine high-tech, to enhance low-carbon technological innovation capabilities. Green and low-carbon products support the low-carbon development of the transportation sector. We will vigorously promote energy-efficient and new energy vehicles (NEVs), strengthen technological innovation in vehicle integration, and enhance the concentration of the NEV industry. We will encourage enterprises to update and use NEVs, promote the electrification of freight, urban public service, and industrial and mining enterprise internal vehicles, drive enterprises to use electric transport vehicles, carry out the R&D and application of electric heavy-duty trucks and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, encourage individuals to consume NEVs, and increase the proportion of NEVs. We will accelerate the construction of charging piles and innovation in battery swapping models, and build a convenient, efficient, and moderately advanced charging network system. We will vigorously develop green and intelligent ships, strengthen the R&D of low-carbon and clean energy equipment such as marine hybrid power, LNG power, battery power, ammonia fuel, and hydrogen fuel, promote the renewal and transformation of old inland and coastal ships, and accelerate the development and application of a new generation of green and intelligent ships.