Energy Transition, Renewables, Emissions, Carbon
July 22, 2026
ET Highlights: Taiwan, South Korea’s SAF push; environment groups file lawsuit in US; proposed redesign of EU ETS
Energy Transition Highlights: Our editors and analysts bring together the biggest stories in the industry this week, from renewables to storage to carbon prices.
Top story
Taiwan, South Korea push alcohol-to-jet as Asia next SAF pathway
Alcohol-to-jet technology is gaining commercial traction in Taiwan and South Korea, as both markets position uel as the pathway best suited to overcoming domestic feedstock constraints. Policy developments and industry engagement are accelerating across the region, even as analysts warn that demand-side mandates remain the critical missing piece.
Taiwan's sustainable aviation fuel demand could reach 182,000 mt by 2030 under a 5% blending mandate, while South Korea hosted a July 2-3 conference on biofuels and SAF that highlighted alcohol-to-jet's role in meeting the country's 2030 blending targets, according to the US Grains and BioProducts Council.
The parallel momentum in both markets reflects a broader strategic shift across Asia-Pacific, where rising electric vehicle adoption is expected to free ethanol currently blended into gasoline and ease concerns over future waste-based oil-derived feedstock constraints that threaten to limit hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids production.
Taiwan has completed its national standard for E10 ethanol-blended gasoline, establishing a regulatory framework that could accelerate bioethanol adoption in its transport sector as policymakers seek to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security.
Benchmark of the Week
$2,475/mt
Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed sustainable aviation fuel HEFA-SPK FOB Straits on July 17.
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New Zealand introduces amendments to climate change act
New Zealand has amended its Climate Change Response Act, which would expand the scope of its emissions trading scheme to recognize additional carbon removal activities beyond forestry and remove some industrial allocation review requirements, according to the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport. The Climate Change Response Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament on July 15, proposes adding "carbon removal activities" as a category that can be recognized under the New Zealand ETS, while removing allocative baseline and eligibility reviews for industrial allocation. Forestry is already a part of New Zealand's approach to removing greenhouse gases; however, the government also wants to ensure businesses and organizations can explore other ways, the ministry said.
Environmental, tribal groups sue to block Trump ESA rule changes to habitat
Environmental and tribal groups filed three federal lawsuits July 14 challenging a Trump administration rule that removes habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act, creating regulatory uncertainty for energy project developers seeking permits despite industry support for the changes. The rule — announced July 10 and published in the Federal Register July 14 — eliminates the definition of "harm" to species habitat without providing a replacement, prompting attorneys who represent energy clients to warn that companies could face litigation over how federal agencies interpret the law going forward. The lawsuits allege that the rule defies the text and purpose of the ESA.
INTERVIEW: RepAir targets modular electrochemical CO2 capture to cut energy use
Startup RepAir Carbon is developing a modular electrochemical approach to carbon capture designed to work at low CO2 concentrations, expanding the range of industrial applications where carbon capture and storage could be deployed, and dramatically lowering energy use for the capture process. The technology uses a solid-state electrochemical cell to capture CO2 at concentrations below 5%, where more established technologies can struggle. The technology is at the crossroads between batteries and fuel cells, but applicable to carbon capture, RepAir Vice President for Strategy & Growth Jean-Philippe Hiegel told Platts in an interview.
IHI starts ammonia-fueled engine demo for land power generation
IHI Power Systems and IHI Corp. commenced demonstration of a land-based power generation plant powered by a 6,000 kW-class ammonia-fueled reciprocating engine at Ota Works in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, according to IHI. Leveraging its work on ammonia-fueled marine engines, IPS is advancing the development of a land-based ammonia-fueled reciprocating engine capable of achieving ammonia fuel ratios and greenhouse gas emissions reductions of more than 90%, it said. Through this demonstration program, IPS will verify the safety and operability of the complete power generation system, including auxiliary facilities, it added.
Brussels redesigns 'business-friendly' ETS with slower emissions cuts
The European Commission proposed a substantial redesign of the EU Emissions Trading System on July 17, slowing the pace of emissions reductions beyond 2030, delivering Eur6 billion ($6.9 billion) in additional free permits to manufacturers, and introducing controlled access to carbon removals and international credits while deploying more than Eur100 billion toward industrial decarbonization through a new financing instrument. "Today's proposal on the ETS brings together three key goals: sustained truly ambitious climate action, much more competitiveness and a huge boost for our independence," Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said, calling the approach more "business-friendly."
US Commerce begins circumvention inquiry into solar imports from Ethiopia
The US Department of Commerce initiated a countrywide circumvention investigation on solar cell and module imports from Ethiopia at the request of a group of US solar manufacturers. A notice on the investigation was dated July 13 and is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on July 17. Commerce will determine whether crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from Ethiopia are "circumventing the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on solar cells from China," the filing said. The circumvention inquiry will look at solar cells that are completed in Ethiopia using Chinese-origin parts and components and exported to the US directly.