Daily Digest for

US-based HIF Global has been awarded the first U.S. approval for an e-Fuels pathway under the California Air Resource Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program. This certification includes e-SAF, e-Naphtha, and e-Diesel as opt-in fuels, allowing producers to generate credits. HIF Global is developing a 1.4 mtpa e-Fuels project in Matagorda County, Texas, and is also active in Chile, Uruguay, and Australia. The company anticipates a global demand for e-Fuels reaching over 250 mtpa by 2035, with potential capital investment opportunities exceeding $1 trillion.

The UK and Malaysia have strengthened their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for a semiconductor partnership. This agreement was witnessed by UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West during her visit to Malaysia. It comes shortly after the UK joined Malaysia in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement aims to enhance trade relations valued at £5.7 billion annually and emphasizes mutual growth and a green transition amid bilateral talks on economic and security priorities.

Norway-based Nel ASA has signed a collaboration agreement with SAMSUNG E&A to offer complete hydrogen plants using Nel’s electrolysers. SAMSUNG E&A will purchase 10% of newly issued Nel ASA shares, becoming the largest shareholder with a 9.1% stake. The agreement allows SAMSUNG E&A to develop hydrogen plant designs based on Nel’s technology, enhancing global delivery capabilities. The transaction is valued at NOK 353 million, with shares priced at NOK 2.1125 each. SAMSUNG E&A will also nominate a member to Nel’s Board of Directors.

Italy-based Hera Group has inaugurated FIB3R, the first industrial-scale plant in Europe to regenerate carbon fibre, located in Imola. The plant is expected to produce 160 tonnes of recycled carbon fibre annually, achieving a 75% energy saving compared to virgin fibre. The European Union has allocated over 2.2 million euros to FIB3R as part of NextGenerationEU for its innovative technology. The total investment for the plant is 8 million euros. The project aims to promote circular economy by recovering and reusing carbon fibre, reducing environmental impact.

US-based EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the termination of the Biden-Harris Administration’s $20 billion ‘gold bar’ grants. The decision was made due to concerns about the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) program’s integrity, including issues of fraud, waste, and misalignment with agency priorities. The EPA aims to reallocate funds with enhanced controls for better governance and accountability. This move follows investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI into financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest related to the program.

Canada-based Prodigy Clean Energy and Lloyd’s Register announced a collaboration to develop lifecycle requirements for Transportable Nuclear Power Plants (TNPPs) with a CAD $2,750,000 investment from the Government of Canada. The project aims to deploy TNPPs in Canada by 2030, enhancing power plant modularity and reducing environmental impact. Prodigy is working with a multinational mining company to supply power to a remote critical minerals cluster in Canada, offsetting diesel generation with carbon-free electricity. The initiative is expected to strengthen critical minerals value chain activities and promote economic development in isolated Indigenous communities.

US-based Project InnerSpace launched a new data center module in its GeoMap TM tool to identify promising locations for geothermal development. The Rhodium Group’s report indicates that next-generation geothermal energy can power up to 64% of the expected data center growth in the US by the early 2030s. The GeoMap TM tool highlights development hotspots in Texas, federal lands in the western US, and internationally in Hungary, Indonesia, and Australia. Geothermal energy offers high capacity factor output and can significantly reduce the levelized cost of electricity for data centers.

Sri Lanka’s 2022 debt default, prompted by unsustainable borrowing, plunged the country into an economic crisis. The government is considering debt-for-climate-and-nature swaps as a promising solution to ease its financial burden while addressing climate challenges. This innovative approach aims to increase domestic investment in climate action while restructuring its external debt.

The UK Parliament has introduced a landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill aimed at accelerating the connection of clean power projects by 2030, replacing the outdated ‘first come, first served’ system. This Bill is expected to unlock £200 billion of investment while cutting the waiting time for new grid connections by up to seven years. It aims to prioritize at least 150 major infrastructure projects, including solar, wind, hydrogen, and carbon capture projects to bolster energy security and drive economic growth.

Wacker Chemie AG, based in Norway, has committed to replacing coal with biogenic carbon in its silicon production at the Holla site. The company signed a long-term supply contract with Aymium, a Minnesota-based producer, to supply biogenic carbon, which will significantly reduce CO2 emissions from the production process. This initiative is a crucial step towards achieving climate-neutral silicon production and is part of WACKER’s goal to lower absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. Additionally, WACKER aims for net zero emissions by 2045, with the conversion to green electricity already implemented since 2022.

London-based Standard Chartered has issued its first-ever Social Bond worth EUR1 billion to support sustainable development across low-income countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The issuance aims to facilitate lending to SMEs, ensuring access to finance, creating jobs, and empowering women-owned businesses. Proceeds will finance access to essential services in healthcare and education and invest in affordable basic infrastructure, emphasizing inclusive growth. The bond is a key step in addressing the USD4.2 trillion annual investment needed to facilitate sustainable development in these emerging markets.

The analysis from the Bank of Italy examines the issue of energy poverty affecting millions of families across Europe, based on data from household expenditure surveys for the years 2010, 2015, and 2020. In 2015, approximately 14% of the European population was affected by energy poverty, with notable figures of almost one-fifth in France, Germany, and Spain, while Italy had around 7%. The report emphasizes the need for improved harmonization of data on energy expenditures and calls for efforts to enhance the quality of data collected in household surveys.

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has initiated discussions about positioning itself as a potential hub for the regional green hydrogen market. Prime Minister Drew highlighted the importance of sustainable energy solutions, emphasizing the country’s commitment to explore renewable energy options and technological advancements in green hydrogen production. This effort aims to boost energy independence and create new economic opportunities for the nation. Discussions are ongoing regarding partnerships and investments to support this initiative, which aligns with broader goals of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), as part of the Department of Energy’s $107 million initiative on fusion technology, is spearheading the development of fusion blanket technologies essential for future fusion reactors. This collaborative project involves five national laboratories and several universities, intending to create an operational fuel cycle within a decade. General Atomics is contributing engineering and advanced modeling, while Tokamak Energy is focused on ensuring commercial relevance. The project aims to test fusion blanket materials in real-world conditions, addressing significant challenges in achieving reliable and sustainable fusion energy production.

The ASEAN Member States (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) developed or implemented sustainable finance taxonomies to align with the regional ASEAN Taxonomy. This initiative began with Malaysia’s taxonomy in April 2021 and concluded with Thailand’s recent publication consultation in January 2025. The taxonomies aim to categorize sustainable economic activities to aid in achieving climate and environmental commitments. The ASEAN Taxonomy was first introduced in November 2021, and significant overlap in sector coverage among national taxonomies has been observed as they adapt their criteria to align with the ASEAN framework.

The UN Human Rights Council, led by Independent Expert Attiya Waris, highlighted the issue of developing countries facing debt distress that limits their ability to invest in climate resilience. It was reported that 61 countries are in or nearing debt distress, constraining fiscal space for climate investments. Waris indicated that developing nations spent approximately $443.5 billion on external debt servicing in 2022, which is five times more than their spending on climate actions. The need for $2.4 trillion annually to meet climate change goals highlights the urgency of addressing this financial disparity.

The Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company managed by Ninety One, has contributed US$45 million to CrossBoundary Energy Holdings. This funding aims to accelerate the development of renewable energy projects across Africa, focusing on solar, wind, hybrid energy, and battery energy storage systems. EAAIF’s investment is part of a broader US$300 million senior debt facility aimed at strengthening energy infrastructure in key sectors such as manufacturing and telecommunications, ensuring business growth and sustainability in regions facing power shortages.

This dialogue involved discussions between Japan and Indonesia on promoting cooperation in digital sectors, green industries, and human resource development based on the Asia Future Investment Initiative. The meeting sought to strengthen collaborative projects aligned with Indonesia’s governmental policies. Both nations announced a commitment to enhance their cooperation in the energy sector, which is crucial for Indonesia’s economic growth.

India’s trucking industry, which comprises 68 percent of road freight, is transitioning to zero-emission trucks (ZETs), including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. This change, supported by RMI, aims to significantly improve air quality, reduce logistics costs by cutting fuel expenses, and enhance energy security while saving up to ₹116 lakh crore ($1.5 trillion) in oil costs by 2050. Policies such as the PM E-DRIVE scheme and the Production Linked Incentive for advanced chemistry cells have been established to promote ZET adoption and local EV battery production.

UK-based Mosa Meat has been selected by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to participate in its Regulatory Sandbox, an initiative to facilitate collaboration on cultivated meat regulatory processes. Mosa Meat aims to streamline the approval of their cell-cultivated products by engaging with the FSA to enhance safety assessments and regulatory pathways. The company recently raised £3.2 million in crowdfunding and has submitted market authorization requests in the EU and Switzerland, reinforcing their commitment to safety standards in cultivated meat.