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Microsoft’s history of dominating the market for carbon removal continued when the tech giant announced late last week it was buying 4.9 million tons of removal credits from Vaulted Deep, a startup that buries organic waste underground. Here’s what prospective buyers and other carbon credit players need to know about the deal. It’s not all about human waste The Wall Street Journal described the deal thus: “Microsoft wants your poop to lower its emissions.”  That’s not quite right, according to Vaulted co-founder and CEO Julia Reichelstein. The startup takes multiple types of organic waste, including manure and sludge from paper mills, and injects it hundreds or thousands of feet below the ground. This “bioslurry” contains carbon that was removed from the atmosphere by plants before being eaten by animals or used in paper processing, making the process carbon negative. But, yes, excrement is involved. Vaulted’s bioslurry injection technology was originally developed as means of disposing of waste from a water treatment plant in Los Angeles, and human fecal matter will be an important input going forward. Will the credits deliver real climate value? One of the biggest problems in carbon markets is proving “additionality”— knowing that credit revenue is essential to making a project work. Some forest conservation schemes, for example, have been criticized for selling carbon credits to protect forests that were really not at risk.  Vaulted’s process is clearly additional, said Reichelstein, because the vast majority of the organic waste it’s targeting in the U.S. is spread on land, incinerated or sent to landfill, releasing carbon dioxide and methane in the process. Without a commercial incentive or regulatory requirement to do otherwise, credit revenues are needed to fund the removal. Buyers will want that and other claims — including guarantees that the carbon will not seep back into the atmosphere — to be verified by an independent third party. At present, no carbon credit rating agencies have assessed Vaulted’s projects. But the startup does have important proof points. It follows a methodology developed by Isometric, a credit registry with a reputation for thoroughness. Microsoft is also known for doing extensive due diligence on prospective sellers, as is Frontier, a coalition of removal buyers that purchased a total of slightly more than 150,000 credits from Vaulted in 2023 and 2024. “Having them do months and months and months of diligence on us and deciding to purchase from us is good industry validation,” argued Reichelstein. What you can expect to pay for a Vaulted credit The cost of the Microsoft deal was not disclosed, but Frontier paid $58 million for its credits, putting the per-ton price just over $380. For comparison, other recent deals involving “durable” removal — defined as locking away carbon for hundreds or thousands of years — include direct air capture, which costs $500 per ton or more, biomass electricity generation with carbon capture ($350/t) and carbon capture at pulp and paper plants (less than $200/t). Prices of all these credit types are expected to fall, however. Frontier is willing to pay high prices to back emerging technologies, but the coalition only backs projects that can demonstrate a plausible path to reducing costs to less than $100/t. Reichelstein said she expected Vaulted’s costs to come “dramatically down” and to be competitive with other methods for storing biomass. Where buyers can find Vaulted credits Vaulted’s operations are relatively small scale at present: The company has generated 18,000 credits from a facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, that has been operating since August 2023. Thanks to the deals with Frontier and Microsoft, it’s scouting other sites to fulfill those contracts and bring more credits to market. Vaulted is already developing a site in Monarch Fields, Colorado, and has applied for permits to develop a facility at an undisclosed location on the East Coast, said Reichelstein. The challenge is in part about finding sites that are close enough to bioslurry sources for the process to make economic sense. The supply of waste itself shouldn’t be an issue: Reichelstein said the U.S. produces around 1 billion tons of “unused or unusable” organic waste annually, enough to generate hundreds of millions of tons of removal credits. Companies interested in purchasing credits can explore offtake agreements such as the one signed by Microsoft or purchase in smaller amounts direct from the Vaulted Deep website. Jim Giles Jim Giles is Vice President, Editor-at-Large at Trellis Group. Read More

The opinions expressed here by Trellis expert contributors are their own, not those of Trellis.​ The Global South — home to most of the world’s population — is where most of the planet’s economic growth and greenhouse gas emission growth is taking place. In the runup to COP30 in Brazil later this year, we explore how a sample of these economies are shaping climate financing. Kenya is known as the Pride of Africa, thanks to its wildlife tourism, successful marathoners and bustling economy. And when it comes to climate financing, that moniker also rings true due to a clean electric grid and thriving climate innovation culture. While the average electricity access for East Africa hovers around 56 percent, electricity access is at 90 percent in Kenya, with 20 percent of households using solar mini grids or standalone renewable energy systems for their electricity needs. Thanks to leveraging geothermal resources and growing solar and wind capacity, Kenya’s grid is 90 percent clean. The government of Kenya has set a goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2030. This goal makes Kenya stand out as a gem to locate low-carbon manufacturing, attracting companies such as Enda running shoes and East African Cables. The major challenge in transforming Kenya’s electricity system to support massive clean manufacturing and livelihoods is increasing the reliability and capacity of the grid. The government has set a goal to expand grid capacity to 100 GW – up from its current 3.3 GW – by 2040, which could require an estimated $40 billion in investment. Last year, new regulations opened up access to private companies to invest and run transmission and distribution networks. Like in the case of Indonesia, expanding and reinforcing the capacity of the grid could be an attractive investment for both local and global investors. A new wave for land use and food systems The land use side of the climate equation– where climate investors and corporations often look to invest — hasn’t progressed as quickly as the energy side of Kenya: over 75 percent of Kenyan soil is degraded and forest cover remains low. Goals to improve both exist, with the goal of a minimum forest cover of 10 percent by 2030 and strategies for agroecology that centers community-driven innovation. This is critical, as Kenya is home to a number of commodity industries and food crops that are important in global trade, including cut flowers, avocados, coffee and black tea, for which Kenya is the world’s largest exporter. Land use thus presents opportunities to align with agroecology and regenerative principles. Special credit providers in East Africa such as SHONA Capital are increasingly supporting climate-friendly food systems’ small and medium-sized enterprises. An investor-friendly environment for climate mitigation There’s a plethora of climate action opportunities for retail and institutional investors in Kenya. Credit unions, known as Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs), are increasingly providing loans for climate-friendly activities, such as solar energy for rural customers. Reform is underway to insure SACCO deposits, which could further attract retail capital. Some SACCOs even specialize in attracting diasporic capital, tapping into the approximately 3 million Kenyans who live overseas. The diaspora can be thought of even wider than that if one includes the 350 million Afro-descendent people living outside of the African continent. A number of incentives exist to attract investment across Kenya’s sustainable development goals, including climate action. Export processing zones provide a 10-year corporate tax holiday and exemptions on import duties and VAT for export-oriented firms; special economic zones allow investors tax holidays of up to 10 years, duty-free capital imports, and simplified licensing. Looking ahead Kenya is arguably the tech capital of East Africa. Nairobi is home to many startup incubators, accelerators, venture studios and venture capital funds, including those dedicated to pursuing sustainability and climate action. Foreign and domestic firms including Persistent Energy, Melanin Kapital and DRK Foundation have chosen Nairobi as regional headquarters for such activity. Agriculture fintech providers such as Apollo Agriculture have enabled smallholder farmers to improve land productivity outcomes through instant credit. Pay-as-you-go solar providers, such as Kenya-founded M-KOPA, have helped unlock the solar market in Kenya and many other African countries. Motorcycles are increasingly electric and companies such as BasiGo are expanding electric bus networks along with charging stations along key routes. Fixing high-emission landfills is another climate investment opportunity. Kenya hosts the largest landfill in East Africa of Dandora. Converting this landfill into a waste-to-energy operation, for example, would be a useful public-private partnership. The opportunities for multinational and local investors to take action by leveraging Kenya’s unique climate position are abundant. Whether through sustainable bond issuances, the stock market or bank and credit union products, investors would be remiss to overlook Kenya. Read More

The hacker collective known as Scattered Spider is once again dominating headlines with a wave of high-profile cyberattacks that span multiple industries. According to threat intelligence sources, the group has pursued a sector-by-sector strategy, recently hitting retail organizations like Marks & Spencer, moving on to insurance firms, and now targeting the aviation and transportation sectors. This surge in high-profile attacks has brought renewed attention on who Scattered Spider is and how they operate. The group’s operations rely heavily on detailed PII, including employee names, job titles, dates of birth, SSN fragments, and phone numbers, leveraged for social engineering, SIM swapping, and doxxing threats. In this article, we explore evidence that data brokers are a primary source of the personal information Scattered Spider exploits in their campaigns. Who Is Scattered Spider? Scattered Spider is not a single tight-knit gang but rather a loose umbrella for threat actors who favor certain techniques, especially social engineering, MFA fatigue “bombing,” and SIM swapping to gain entry into large organizations.  The group is also tracked under other names like 0ktapus, UNC3944, Octo Tempest, Scatter Swine, Starfraud, and Muddled Libra. These attackers are reputedly young, English-speaking individuals (often teenagers or in their early 20s) who congregate on the same hacker forums, Telegram channels, and Discord servers to plan and execute attacks in real time. Uniting them is a common playbook of tricking human targets: impersonating employees or IT staff, tricking help desks, stealing one-time passwords, and SIM-swapping phone numbers to bypass SMS-based 2FA. Scattered Spider actors have partnered with major ransomware groups (e.g. Dragon Force, BlackCat/ALPHV, Ransom.House/RansomHub, Qilin) to monetize breaches.  They’ve been linked to a string of prominent incidents, including attacks on MGM Resorts, Marks & Spencer, Co-op, Twilio, Coinbase, DoorDash, Caesars Entertainment, MailChimp, Riot Games, and Reddit, among others. U.S. officials estimate the broader Scattered Spider community may number up to around 1,000 members, loosely organized under an underground scene called “The Community” (or “the Com”). This amorphous structure makes it hard to pin down all members, but it’s clear they share tools, data, and services for fraud and hacking.  Their modus operandi is to gather as much information about a target organization (and its people) as possible, then exploit this data to defeat security. Key to this preparation is the harvesting of personal data – and this is where data brokers come into play. Data Brokers Fueling Scattered Spider’s Reconnaissance Multiple investigations from 2022 through 2025 suggest that Scattered Spider heavily leverages commercial data broker services as part of their reconnaissance efforts to select targets and craft believable lures.  Early evidence came during the notorious “0ktapus” phishing campaign of 2022. In that attack, Scattered Spider (tracked by Okta as Scatter Swine) blasted SMS phishing texts to thousands of employees at over a hundred companies, including Twilio and Cloudflare. Okta’s security team analyzed the incident and assessed that the attackers “likely harvest[ed] mobile phone numbers from commercially available data aggregation services that link phone numbers to employees at specific organizations.” This explains how the smishing messages were so precisely targeted – even family members of employees received the fake texts.  Armed with those curated lists of numbers (tied to company names), the attackers also called some victims on the phone, impersonating IT support to further pry into the companies’ authentication systems.  Threat researchers have described Scattered Spider’s reconnaissance as highly detailed and methodical. Investigators infer from the group’s detailed impersonation attempts that they are leveraging data brokers, including full personal profiles and professional data commonly found on platforms like ZoomInfo. According to threat intelligence analyst Zach Edwards of Silent Push, Scattered Spider members will buy complete personal dossiers from data brokers to aid in impersonation. In a Financial Times interview, Edwards explained:  “They’re picking a target — maybe a senior developer — to be the person [they’re] impersonating, so they may know their maiden name, their home address, they may have already bought a data broker profile on somebody.” In practice, this means if Scattered Spider decides to impersonate John Doe (a software engineer at Company X) in a help-desk call, they might spend a few dollars on an aggregated background report for John Doe. That report could yield his phone numbers, past addresses, relatives, and other biographical details — all invaluable for convincingly masquerading as John in an IT support scenario. Threat researchers at ReliaQuest assess that Scattered Spider is leveraging both social media platforms and data broker services to build detailed employee profiles for targeting. “Using platforms like LinkedIn and ZoomInfo, the group digs into the lives of key employees within a target organization, piecing together everything from job titles to contact details,” ReliaQuest noted in a June 2025 profile.  ZoomInfo (a business contact aggregator) in particular offers direct phone numbers, corporate emails, org charts, and employment histories – a goldmine for attackers seeking to learn who’s who in a company. By scraping LinkedIn profiles and combining that with data broker info, Scattered Spider can map out an org chart of high-privilege employees and understand exactly how to reach them.  The end result is that when Scattered Spider is ready to approach a target (whether by email, text, or phone call), they have already compiled details about selected employees – from work roles and colleagues’ names to home addresses, birthdates, and hobbies. It’s the payoff of their reconnaissance efforts. How Scattered Spider Uses Personal Data to Breach, Impersonate, and Threaten Smishing, impersonation, SIM swaps, and doxxing threats all depend on having personal data, and Scattered Spider puts this data to work throughout their attacks. Smishing and Vishing Mandiant’s threat intelligence team reports that a hallmark of UNC3944 (their name for Scattered Spider) is SMS phishing (smishing) sent to employees to steal valid login credentials. The mass smishing attacks using phone numbers likely sourced from data brokers during the 0ktapus campaign is an example of this. Once they succeed, the attackers often impersonate those employees in phone calls to IT service desks, requesting password resets or MFA re-enrollment. During these calls, Scatter

Israel’s government has approved a ILS 34 million ($10.1 million) budget and granted construction permit exemptions to support rooftop solar deployment on publicly owned sports facilities nationwide. July 21, 2025 Patrick Jowett

By Alex Kimani – Jul 21, 2025, 7:00 PM CDT Rystad Energy: M&A dealmaking slumped in H1 2025. Rystad Energy: M&A was particularly weak in the first quarter. The slowdown in the U.S. M&A can largely be attributed to a dearth of opportunities in the Permian Basin, long considered North America’s M&A hotspot. Mergers and acquisitions in the global upstream oil and gas sector clocked in at just over $80 billion in the first half of 2025, good for a 34% year-over-year decline amid volatile oil prices and tariff concerns by the Trump administration. According to Rystad Energy, M&A was particularly weak in the first quarter, with deal value totalling just $28 billion compared to $66 billion in the first quarter of 2024. This was largely as a result of lackluster activity in North America, with the region’s share of global deal value dropping to 51% in the first half of the year, down from 71% in the first quarter. The slowdown in the U.S. M&A can largely be attributed to a dearth of opportunities in the Permian Basin, long considered North America’s M&A hotspot. Consequently, E&P companies are increasingly turning elsewhere as the Permian cools and asset values skyrocket: back in May, EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) acquired Utica heavyweight Encino Energy for $5.6 billion; Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC) bought Maverick Natural Resources for nearly $1.3 billion while Citadel paid $1.2 billion for Paloma Natural Gas.Canada has, however, continued on its hot M&A streak, with upstream M&A deal value hitting $11.9 billion in H1 2025–nearly equal to the country’s annual average over the past five years. Leading the charge was Whitecap Resources (OTCPK:WCPRF) acquisition of Veren for $15 billion, including net debt, as well as CNRL’s purchase of Shell Plc’s(NYSE:SHEL) stake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project. Further, Strathcona Resources (OTCPK:STHRF) divested all its Montney assets and proposed a takeover of MEG Energy (OTCPK:MEGEF) in a deal that will turn it into a pure-play heavy oil company. Related: Saudi Arabia’s Crude Oil Exports Hit 3-Month High in MayOutside North America, International M&A activity increased 37% year-on-year to $39.5 billion with a strong recovery in the second quarter overcoming a weak start to the year after deal values plunged nearly 60% Y/Y. Major transactions included ADNOC subsidiary XRG’s bid for Australia’s Santos Ltd (OTCPK:STOSF), accounting for nearly half of the total international deal value. A consortium led by ADNOC subsidiary XRG has made a $18.7 billion non-binding indicative offer to acquire Santos. The offer, valued at $5.76 per share, involves a potential scheme of arrangement for all of Santos’ issued shares. The consortium includes Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ) and Carlyle. Santos has granted XRG a six-week exclusive due diligence period to assess the proposal. Meanwhile, Italy’s National Oil Company (NOC), Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E) sold its upstream assets in Africa to giant oil and commodity trader, Vitol, for $1.65 billion; Norway’s DNO ASA (OTCPK:DTNOF) acquired Sval Energi for $1.6 billion while Spain’s Repsol (OTCQX:REPYY) and UK’s Nego Energy’s UK merged their North Sea upstream businesses to form Neo Next Energy. That said, a rumored-and-denied merger between BP Plc (NYSE:BP) and Shell (NYSE:SHEL) would no doubt seek to steal the M&A limelight, with deal value likely to approach $80 billion. Recent reports have emerged that Shell was considering a takeover of BP, potentially creating a European energy giant. However, Shell has explicitly stated it is not actively considering an offer for BP and has not held any talks with them regarding a possible acquisition. Shell has made a statement under Rule 2.8 of the UK Takeover Code, meaning the company is restricted from making an offer for BP for at least six months, except in specific circumstances.Interestingly, dealmaking in the natural gas sector has been robust, with deal values surging 30% in the first quarter. As Rystad notes, Big Oil companies are currently optimizing their portfolios to manage risk more effectively, a trend that is driving M&A in the gas sector. To wit, back in March, Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) sold a 70% stake in its East Texas gas assets to TG Natural Resources for $525 million. The deal includes $75 million in cash and a $450 million capital carry to fund Chevron’s Haynesville development. This transaction is part of Chevron’s plan to divest $10-15 billion of assets by 2028. TGNR will become the majority owner of the East Texas gas assets and Chevron will retain a 30% non-operated interest and an overriding royalty interest. Similarly, Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) acquired a non-operating stake in EQT Corp’s (NYSE:EQT) Marcellus assets, helping the Norwegian energy giant to gain exposure to robust gas production with minimal operational risks. “These non-operated joint ventures allow majors and international oil companies to focus on their core operational portfolios while maintaining exposure to US shale gas, which has a positive outlook due to upcoming liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and rising energy demand from data centers. Retaining non-operated stakes also allows majors to secure feed gas for planned off-grid power plants focused on artificial intelligence (AI),” noted Atul Raina, Rystad Energy’s Vice President, Upstream M&A Research. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinese Firm Secures Key Gas Block in Algeria Middle East Conflict Sparks Exodus of Foreign Oil Personnel Chevron Explores Sale of Singapore Refinery Stake Download The Free Oilprice App Today Back to homepage Read More

Tsvetana Paraskova Tsvetana is a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing for news outlets such as iNVEZZ and SeeNews.  More Info Premium Content By Tsvetana Paraskova – Jul 21, 2025, 6:00 PM CDT Chevron has completed its acquisition of Hess Corporation, gaining a 30% stake in Guyana’s Stabroek offshore block, where ExxonMobil operates with a 45% stake. The acquisition followed a year-long arbitration battle initiated by ExxonMobil, which ultimately ruled in favor of Chevron. Despite previous tensions, ExxonMobil and Chevron must now cooperate as joint venture partners to maximize production and profits from the high-potential Stabroek block. Following the completion of Chevron’s acquisition of Hess Corporation, the U.S. supermajor will need to overcome a previously strained relationship with its biggest competitor at home, ExxonMobil, and work together as joint venture partners in the hottest oil province in the world, Guyana’s offshore oil treasure trove.  Chevron’s foray into the fastest-growing exploration and production spot globally could also be a sign of what’s to come for the biggest international oil and gas majors. Big Oil may be looking to acquire smaller companies with prized assets to boost reserves amid lower spending on exploration within the industry over the past five years.  For Chevron, the acquisition of Hess, whose completion was announced last week, means the supermajor is now gaining 30% in Guyana’s Stabroek offshore block—where the operator ExxonMobil is leading the production of more than 660,000 barrels per day (bpd) from several projects in the block. Chevron’s deal was finalized after a more than a year-long arbitration battle initiated by Exxon, which challenged the Chevron-Hess deal, claiming it had a right of first refusal for Hess’s stake under the terms of a joint operating agreement (JOA) for the Stabroek block. Hess and Chevron claimed the JOA doesn’t apply to a case of a proposed full corporate merger.    The arbitration case has reportedly strained the relationship between the top executives of the two biggest U.S. oil firms.  In the legal fight, Chevron had much more to lose than Exxon because Guyana’s resources were the key reason for pursuing Hess Corp, more than the reason for adding producing assets in the Bakken shale basin in North Dakota.  With the arbitration ruling in favor of Chevron, the company announced the completion of the Hess acquisition, “following the satisfaction of all necessary closing conditions, including a favorable arbitration outcome regarding Hess’ offshore Guyana asset.” “The combination enhances and extends our growth profile well into the next decade, which we believe will drive greater long-term value to shareholders,” Chevron chairman and CEO Mike Wirth said in a statement.     Chevron now owns a 30% position in the Guyana Stabroek Block, which has more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent discovered recoverable resource.  Exxon is the operator of the Stabroek block with a 45% stake, and China’s state firm CNOOC has the remaining 25% stake.  The new shareholding composition of Guyana’s prized oil asset means that Exxon and Chevron must put hard feelings aside and cooperate to boost their production and profits from the Stabroek block.  The asset has a lot to offer, in terms of resources and money, to a company like Chevron, whose reserves replacement ratio has declined in recent years, and its oil and gas reserves have now reached the lowest level in at least a decade.  During the past 10-year period, Chevron’s reserves replacement ratio was 88%, it said at the Q4 earnings call in January.  A ratio below 100% means that Chevron is depleting reserves faster than it can replace them.  So far this year, Chevron has expanded production in Kazakhstan and started up production at the Ballymore oil project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Guyana’s offshore oil field is a top-performing asset with the potential to yield even more barrels and billions of U.S. dollars for the project’s partners. Both Chevron and Exxon will benefit from Stabroek even at relatively lower oil prices, because the Guyana block is estimated to have a breakeven oil price of about $30 per barrel.  Production capacity in Guyana is expected to surpass 1.7 million barrels per day, with gross production growing to 1.3 million barrels per day by 2030, Exxon says.   Following the bitter arbitration dispute, Exxon and Chevron now must work together in Guyana, as they do in Kazakhstan and Australia, for example.  “Partnership is one of our core values, and we pride ourselves on being a good partner around the world with many, many different companies,” Chevron’s Wirth told Bloomberg last week.  “We partner with Exxon on projects elsewhere in the world and have for many many years, and I’m sure we will find a way to move forward.” Exxon welcomed Chevron to the joint venture in Guyana, signaling that Big Oil will collaborate on multi-billion-dollar projects to maintain a high reserves replacement ratio, production, and profits.    By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Global Natural Gas Production Dropped in May U.S. Supermajors Discuss Development of Oilfields in Iraq Big Oil Rethinks Renewable Investments Download The Free Oilprice App Today Back to homepage Tsvetana Paraskova Tsvetana is a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing for news outlets such as iNVEZZ and SeeNews.  More Info Related posts Leave a comment Read More

Irina Slav Irina is a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing on the oil and gas industry. More Info Premium Content By Irina Slav – Jul 21, 2025, 5:00 PM CDT BP has sold its US onshore wind power business, indicating a strategic shift away from renewables and back towards its traditional oil and gas operations. This move by BP reflects a broader trend in the energy industry where major companies are re-evaluating the financial viability of low-carbon energy projects due to lower-than-expected returns. The article highlights challenges facing wind and solar companies, including political factors like President Trump’s energy agenda, which are impacting the sustainability of renewable energy projects. BP has sold its onshore wind power business in the United States. The news comes amid a steady flow of reports that both wind and solar companies are in major trouble, thanks to President Trump’s energy agenda and a small but meaningful Republican majority in Congress. It is the latest in a string of developments that raise questions about the financial sustainability of transition energy projects. For BP, the move represents another step away from wind and solar and back to oil and gas, as indicated by the company’s senior management repeatedly over the past year. In the broader industry context, it is indicative of the overall retreat of Big Oil from business ventures that do not yield the expected profits, even with the subsidies that governments are willing to shower over businesses involved in wind and solar. “We have been clear that while low carbon energy has a role to play in a simpler, more focused bp, we will continue to rationalize and optimize our portfolio to generate value.” BP’s vice president for gas and low-carbon energy, William Lin said in comments on the news of the divestment. It involved a portfolio of 1.3 GW in already existing capacity, which will now join the portfolio of LS Power, the buyer. Indeed, BP has been clear that it is going back to what it does best and what makes it money, especially at a time of rife speculation in the media that the company should put itself up for sale and let Shell buy it because that’s the tie-up that makes the most sense. Shell has denied the news, quite officially, but it is a fact that BP is not in as good a shape as it could be—and some are blaming its transition course, charted by now former CEO Bernard Looney. Under Looney, BP struck off into the green direction with determination and a whole new set of priorities. The company promised to decarbonize fast and furiously and go from being a Big Oil major to a Big Power major in a matter of a few short years. It did not work. Less than five years after the initial announcement of the green pivot, BP scrapped its ambition to boost its power generation from wind and solar 20-fold by 2030 and abandoned earlier plans to reduce oil and gas production to cut emissions this year. All this happened early in the year as evidence mounted that wind and solar may be a noble goal, but they are not a money-making business, at least not on the scale that oil and gas generate profits. Then the Trump factor came on stage, and it came with a bang. The U.S. president has made no secret of his aversion to wind power, and one of the first things he did when he came into office was to suspend new turbine construction, likely causing major panic among developers who assumed their projects would be secure. Indeed, there is sound reason for panic. A recent report by Enverus found that just 57% of wind power projects in the United States would survive the One Big, Beautiful Bill. This means that as much as 43% are under threat of getting destroyed by the end of subsidies, but solar is doing even worse – Enverus estimated that just 30% of solar capacity is resilient to the end of subsidies. It appears BP’s management is acutely aware of these developments. It is also on course to generate $20 billion from various divestments per strategic plans made public earlier this year. For this year, the divestment target is between $3 and $4 billion, with $1.5 billion already completed by April. The company did not disclose the size of the wind divestment deal. Meanwhile, BP is moving back to Libya, which it left along with other supermajors when the civil war broke out over a decade ago. Earlier this month, the company signed a preliminary deal with the National Oil Corporation for the redevelopment of two big fields in the Sirte Basin. BP will also reopen its office in the country by the end of the year, the Financial Times reported. Out of wind and solar and back to oil and gas, the course seems to be for Big Oil. Yet this is not the complete picture. The supermajors have invested heavily into their diversification into things like power generation from low-carbon sources, carbon capture, and other alternative energy sources, mostly under pressure from governments but also, probably, out a genuine desire to diversify in order to become more resilient in the long run. The problem with the wind and solar venture was that it did not generate the returns its advocates promised. Wind and solar energy were to be simultaneously cheap for the consumers and profitable for the producers, even though the two were mutually exclusive by definition. Big Oil has realized this. BP’s divestment is the latest acknowledgment of the fact. But not all is lost for the transition fans. TotalEnergies just announced a major wind power project in Kazakhstan. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com  More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia’s Crude Oil Exports Hit 3-Month High in May Global Natural Gas Production Dropped in May U.S. Supermajors Discuss Development of Oilfields in Iraq Download The Free Oilprice App Today Back

Leon Stille Leon Stille has a background in energy sciences (MSc and BSc) and is pursuing a PhD in energy policy. He currently runs his own company,… More Info Premium Content By Leon Stille – Jul 21, 2025, 4:00 PM CDT Biomethane is steadily gaining ground as a practical and scalable decarbonization tool. Europe leads with supportive policies and grid integration, while North America sees growth driven by transport credits and private investments. Beyond energy, biomethane contributes to circular sustainability by producing low-carbon fertilizers and capturing CO? for reuse. In the fast-paced world of clean energy innovation, biomethane is rarely the star of the show. It doesn’t sparkle like solar, boom like batteries, or stir geopolitical intrigue like hydrogen. But quietly, consistently, and with increasing impact, biomethane is doing exactly what many climate technologies still promise to do someday: replacing fossil fuels today. Produced from organic waste, agricultural residues, and even wastewater sludge, biomethane is essentially upgraded biogas with a methane content high enough to substitute fossil natural gas. It can be injected into existing gas grids, used in transport, or serve as a feedstock for chemicals and fertilizers. In a world scrambling to decarbonize gas use without rebuilding everything from scratch, biomethane is proving to be an invaluable bridge, and in some sectors, a long-term solution. Biomethane in Europe: From policy footnote to energy asset Europe has taken biomethane seriously for longer than most. France, in particular, has emerged as a leader, with a supportive feed-in tariff structure, regional planning, and grid injection mandates. The country now boasts over 600 biomethane plants, with a national target of 20 TWh of production by 2030. In practice, it could exceed that. The UK is also leaning in. Its Green Gas Support Scheme provides financial incentives for anaerobic digestion (AD) plants upgrading biogas into biomethane. The use of biomethane in transport, particularly heavy-duty vehicles, is receiving growing interest as a near-term alternative to diesel in hard-to-electrify fleets. Denmark, Germany, and Italy are similarly accelerating development, often linking biomethane to agricultural policy, waste management, and even rural economic development. It’s an example of what happens when climate goals and circular economy logic align. And importantly, biomethane is not just being blended. In some networks, particularly in rural or islanded areas, it is starting to replace fossil gas outright. This changes the game: from marginal substitution to full decarbonization. North America: From RNG hype to steady deployment Across the Atlantic, biomethane, typically referred to as renewable natural gas (RNG), is gaining traction in the United States and Canada, albeit along a different path. Driven largely by transport credits (like California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard), RNG has been growing steadily, especially in waste-to-fuel applications. In the U.S., major gas utilities are beginning to invest in RNG as part of their decarbonization pledges, and several states are introducing procurement targets. Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations and supportive provincial programs are creating space for biomethane to scale in both transport and stationary uses. Related: New Baltic Find Could Be Poland’s Largest Oil Discovery Ever The Inflation Reduction Act, while more prominently associated with hydrogen and CCS, also contains provisions that could bolster RNG. And private sector players, especially in agriculture-heavy states, are investing in manure-based biomethane, with co-benefits in methane mitigation and fertilizer production. Still, the U.S. faces some challenges that Europe has already begun to address: fragmented policy, uneven grid access, and limited visibility in national energy strategy. But the potential is undeniable, and the building blocks are there. Beyond energy: Biomethane’s circular bonus One of biomethane’s most powerful selling points is its integration with other sustainability goals. Anaerobic digestion not only produces gas, but also digestate, a nutrient-rich byproduct that can be used as a low-carbon fertilizer. As synthetic nitrogen fertilizers face rising costs, carbon scrutiny, and supply volatility, digestate offers a regenerative alternative. France and the Netherlands are already exploring large-scale fertilizer substitution through AD outputs. Meanwhile, the CO? released during biogas upgrading, normally considered a waste stream, is increasingly being captured and used in everything from beverage carbonation to greenhouses and even e-fuel production. CO? valorization turns what was once a liability into an asset, improving project economics and climate performance. In this way, biomethane is not just a fuel, it’s a node in a broader circular bioeconomy. It cleans up waste, produces energy, captures carbon, and replaces petrochemicals. Not bad for something that’s been hiding in plain sight. What’s next: Policy, scale, and recognition The next stage in biomethane’s evolution is all about scale and integration. That means: Clear targets: The EU has set a 2030 goal of 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of biomethane, roughly 10% of current gas demand. Achieving this will require robust national implementation and faster permitting. Infrastructure access: Streamlining injection into gas grids and securing blending rights is critical, especially in North America. Cross-sector planning: Linking biomethane strategies with agriculture, waste management, and fertilizer policy is essential to unlock its full potential. Carbon recognition: Accurately accounting for biomethane’s life-cycle benefits, including methane mitigation and soil health, can unlock additional funding streams and emissions credits. Conclusion Biomethane may not make headlines, but it is shaping the energy transition in very real, very measurable ways. In both Europe and North America, its growth reflects a shift in thinking: that decarbonization isn’t just about the next breakthrough, but about deploying the tools we already have and doing so smartly. In previous publications, I’ve explored how technologies like hydrogen and CCS can help us decarbonize industry and energy systems. Biomethane deserves a place in that same conversation. It’s practical, circular, and increasingly scalable. As policymakers look for fast, affordable, and systemic climate solutions, they shouldn’t overlook the quiet climber. Biomethane is already proving it can rise to the challenge one digester, one pipeline, one molecule at a time. By Leon Stille for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinese Firm Secures Key Gas Block in Algeria Middle East Conflict Sparks Exodus of Foreign Oil Personnel Chevron Explores Sale of Singapore Refinery

Rystad Energy Rystad Energy is an independent energy consulting services and business intelligence provider offering global databases, strategic advisory and research products for energy companies and suppliers,… More Info Premium Content By Rystad Energy – Jul 21, 2025, 3:00 PM CDT India added a record 22 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity in the first half of 2025, a 57% increase from the previous year, primarily from solar and wind. Despite significant renewable growth, fossil fuels still account for around 75% of India’s electricity generation, and the country plans to install an additional 80 GW of new thermal projects. India’s western states, led by Rajasthan and Gujarat, are at the forefront of the renewable energy rollout, while battery energy storage systems also saw a significant increase in awarded capacity. India added a record 22 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity in the first half of 2025 – a 57% jump from the 14.2 GW installed during the same period last year. The new capacity includes 18.4 GW of solar, 3.5 GW of wind and 250 megawatts (MW) of bioenergy, which is generated from plant and animal waste. This marks the country’s highest-ever addition in any six-month period. The surge was largely driven by developers moving quickly to take advantage of the government’s Interstate Transmission System charge waiver, which begins at 25% and increases annually until full implementation by June 2028, significantly lowering project costs and incentivizing developers to act now.India is now inching closer to its goal of sourcing 50% of its installed power capacity from clean energy sources, with a total of 234 GW in place, including large hydropower projects. While this growth is positive from a strict emissions reduction perspective, fossil fuels continue to dominate actual energy consumption in the country, accounting for around 75% of electricity generated in the first half of the year from coal, oil and gas-fired plants. Additionally, nuclear power is beginning to play a larger role, with the commissioning of Unit 7 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project – a 700-MW unit connected to the northern grid – and government approval for the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR) planned in the northern state of Bihar. However, reliance on coal remains a significant challenge and the role of nuclear energy continues to be debated due to concerns over costs, safety and waste management. India installed 22 GW of renewable energy capacity in the first half of 2025, a new record. However, the country is still banking heavily on coal to meet growing power demand, with plans to install an additional 80 GW of new thermal projects. India is not yet undergoing a true energy transition; instead, it is focusing on building up installed capacity from both conventional and renewable energy sources to ensure energy security. Without urgent action to improve affordability and sustainability, particularly through grid upgrades and energy storage, coal will remain central to electrification efforts, jeopardizing progress toward India’s net-zero goals Sushma Jaganath, Vice President, Renewables & Power Research, Rystad Energy Learn more with Rystad Energy’s Renewables & Power Solution.While India’s renewable energy capacity more than doubled in the first half of the year, battery energy storage systems (BESS) also saw a significant uptick, with 5.4 GW of collocated solar-BESS and 2.2 GW of standalone BESS awarded to developers, marking the country’s highest BESS allocation to date. The strong participation across auctions reflects a growing emphasis on grid stability and renewable integration, with Rystad Energy projecting accelerated growth in the sector over the coming years. Average quoted tariffs stood at around INR 4,000 ($48.02) per megawatt-hour (MWh) for standalone BESS and INR 3,208 ($38.50) per MWh for collocated solar-BESS projects – a downward trend in pricing that could encourage more developers to pursue integrated installations over standalone solar. Among the top developers, Jindal Group secured 990 MW of collocated solar and BESS capacity, while NTPC and ReNew each won 900 MW in the same category. In the standalone BESS segment, JSW Energy was allocated 625 MW and Reliance Power won 525 MW of collocated capacity. Adani Green also participated, securing a 510 MW collocated solar and BESS project, indicating a shift from its previous focus on standalone solar and wind. India’s western states remain at the forefront of the country’s renewable energy rollout. Rajasthan leads with 37.4 GW of installed capacity, driven by 32 GW of solar and 5.2 GW of onshore wind, supported by high solar irradiance and vast desert terrain. Gujarat follows with 35.5 GW, including 21.5 GW of solar and 13.8 GW of wind. Tamil Nadu ranks third, with 11.8 GW of wind and 10.6 GW of solar and is also a top performer in bioenergy, contributing 1 GW of the national total of 11.6 GW. Onshore wind also features prominently in several other states, including Karnataka (7.7 GW), Maharashtra (5.3 GW), Andhra Pradesh (4.4 GW) and Madhya Pradesh (3.2 GW). By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: EU Lowers Russian Oil Cap to $47.60 NEOM’s Future Hangs in Balance as Riyadh Tightens Fiscal Belt Unpacking Azerbaijan’s Controversial Energy Market Overhaul Download The Free Oilprice App Today Back to homepage Rystad Energy Rystad Energy is an independent energy consulting services and business intelligence provider offering global databases, strategic advisory and research products for energy companies and suppliers,… More Info Related posts Leave a comment Read More

SAN DIEGO, CA, July 22, 2025 – (ACN Newswire) – Source Intelligence has launched its EUDR solution to help companies simplify deforestation risk management and automate compliance workflows ahead of upcoming enforcement deadlines. Purpose-built for the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the SaaS-based solution enables businesses to streamline supply chain traceability, risk assessment, and due diligence reporting. As companies prepare for the regulation’s requirements, failure to comply could result in fines of up to 4% of annual turnover, making early action essential. Source Intelligence Logo Source Intelligence’s logo and “Trust your source” tagline Source Intelligence’s solution enables companies to implement an end-to-end EUDR due diligence workflow, from tracing product origins and validating supplier data to identifying deforestation risk and submitting due diligence statements. A direct integration with the EU TRACES platform allows Source Intelligence to submit statements on behalf of clients as an authorized representative, helping companies streamline final reporting requirements. With Source Intelligence’s EUDR solution, companies can: Enhance supply chain visibility by mapping sub-tier relationships and tracking sourcing activity in real time Identify deforestation risks faster using Article 9-aligned scoring and multi-source environmental datasets Improve efficiency through automation and a direct connection to EU TRACES Reduce compliance risk by proactively flagging high-risk suppliers and sourcing areas using satellite imagery and customizable risk models The platform’s satellite-powered deforestation detection tools assess land use change with precision and provide actionable insights for risk mitigation. These capabilities are bolstered by real-time data validation, customizable risk assessments, and centralized documentation-all designed to help companies operationalize the three-step due diligence process outlined by the European Commission. “The EUDR requires companies to reach deeper into their supply chains, gather more specific data, and act on risk with greater speed,” said Mike Flynn, Chief Product Officer at Source Intelligence. “Our solution is designed to make that process manageable-combining automation, advanced risk screening, and satellite monitoring to help businesses take control of their due diligence obligations before enforcement begins.” While the EUDR is already in force, operators and traders must fully implement the required due diligence process by December 30, 2025. Micro and small enterprises have until June 30, 2026. With deadlines fast approaching, Source Intelligence offers a streamlined path to readiness. Interested organizations are invited to schedule a demo and experience the advanced EUDR solution firsthand. About Source Intelligence Source Intelligence is the leading provider of AI-driven supply chain compliance and sustainability software. Built for mid-market and enterprise manufacturers, our configurable SaaS platform centralizes supply chain data, automates regulatory workflows, and scales with program maturity. Our software blends AI and in-house expert oversight to deliver efficiency without compromising accuracy. From product compliance and EPR to conflict minerals and component obsolescence, we help global compliance teams reduce risk, improve visibility, and meet evolving obligations with confidence. Learn more at www.sourceintelligence.com. Contact InformationAmanda LindbergDirector of Marketingamanda.lindberg@sourceintel.com SOURCE: Source Intelligence Topic: Press release summary Source: Source Intelligence Sectors: Legal & Compliance http://www.acnnewswire.com From the Asia Corporate News Network Copyright © 2025 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network. Read More