Zefiro Methane Corp. (ZEFI) announced that its subsidiary, Plants & Goodwin, Inc. (P&G), has successfully completed its first gas well remediation project in Oklahoma. The project involved a complex operation known as “plug and abandonment” on a deep gas well in Custer County, Oklahoma. The well, 15,000 feet deep, required the removal of 5,000 feet of casing to seal it permanently. This operation is expected to generate carbon offset products approved by the American Carbon Registry. 

Zefiro Methane’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer Talal Debs commented,

“Too many Oklahomans and Americans living across the south-central United States are still forced to navigate the public health threats posed by these vestiges of a bygone era. The completion of this project not only represents Zefiro’s successful entry into a key marketplace but also reinforces the Company’s forward momentum and total commitment to executing our growth strategy by helping more of our neighbors combat this legacy issue.”

Unplugged Wells: A Major Challenge Across the U.S.

For decades, fossil fuel companies in the United States have drilled oil and gas wells to boost production, consumption, and exports. Once these wells become unprofitable, they are often abandoned. Many are left unplugged or improperly sealed, leading to environmental risks and fueling climate change.

Zefiro Methane’s press release explained that in the U.S., millions of oil and gas wells remain unplugged. For example, Oklahoma has about 18,000 known abandoned wells, while Texas and Louisiana have thousands more.

• Experts estimate it could cost up to $158 billion just to plug the suspected 1.14 million unplugged wells in these three states alone.
• Nationwide, sealing all abandoned wells could cost as much as $435 billion.

Dangerous Methane Source

Abandoned and unplugged oil and gas wells are leaking methane which is a potent greenhouse gas. Methane is 25X stronger than carbon dioxide at trapping heat and is a powerful contributor to global warming. This gas causes climate change, pollutes water, and is harmful to human health.

• An ESSI (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) study revealed that the EPA estimated, in 2018, abandoned wells released 290 kilotons of methane which is equal to burning over 16 million barrels of oil. Experts warn that rapid action is needed to cut methane emissions and avoid severe climate impacts.

Source: EPA

Financial Burden on States

Unplugged oil and gas wells create significant environmental and financial risks. When these wells become orphaned, meaning abandoned without responsible parties, they pose a burden on taxpayers with the costly cleanup. The responsibility to manage these wells falls on the states. Moreover, funds from industry fees and bonding requirements might not cover the costs.

Due to improper management, they release harmful pollutants, leading to air pollution, groundwater contamination, and degraded soil quality. These environmental impacts are highly detrimental to ecosystems, wildlife, and the land.

Safety Hazards

Another significant hazard of these unplugged and abandoned wells is the risk of explosions. It then becomes a persistent threat to both communities and the environment. Thus, addressing these wells is crucial to minimizing their long-term impacts.

Source: Zefiro Methane

Let’s see what other leaders of Zefiro Methane remarked on this project.

Zefiro’s Chief Commercial Officer Tina Reine commented,

“Now more than ever, investors throughout the international voluntary carbon marketplace are seeking offset products that can immediately help clean up our critical air, land, and water resources. The expertise of the oil and gas well remediation specialists on this project have further diversified both Zefiro’s operational presence and unique portfolio of high-quality, verified carbon credits, and our entire team cannot be more excited to continue meeting this long-unaddressed sector demand.”

Senior Vice President of Business Development and Chief Executive Officer of P&G Luke Plants commented,

“The Custer County project is the largest leap forward that our environmental remediation and carbon markets teams have taken together to help solidify Zefiro as the methane abatement sector’s leading comprehensive service provider. This successful effort is indicative of our environmental service division’s drive to help plug more of these wells throughout the south-central United States and in every corner of the country by expanding technical capacity, making operations even more efficient, and helping generate high-quality carbon credits.”

Zefiro Methane Credits: Maximizing Climate Impact

Zefiro also noted that its methane abatement credits deliver immediate and impactful climate solutions. As said before, methane has a significantly higher global warming potential than CO2 and has contributed to 30% of global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution.

By focusing on methane reductions, Zefiro provides high-value credits that have significant demand for their ability to create measurable environmental benefits. These credits not only help bridge the gap for companies striving to meet net-zero goals but also play a crucial role in tackling the urgent challenge of climate change.

• RELATED: Zefiro Methane Works with Fiùtur to Boost Transparency in Carbon Credits

Expanding into New Regions

All said and done, the company is tackling the unplugged abandoned wells crisis seriously. It recently launched operations in West Virginia and acquired companies in Ohio and Pennsylvania to strengthen its capabilities nationwide. The company has partnered with federal and state agencies, including the National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to seal orphaned wells.

Additionally, it plans to expand its remediation efforts into other southern states like Texas and Louisiana within the next year. These regions also harbor thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells, many of which are not yet properly sealed.

By addressing methane leaks, which trap heat 25 to 85 times more than carbon dioxide, Zefiro is protecting communities and combating climate change efficiently.

Sources:

1. Zefiro Methane – News: Zefiro Methane Corp. Completes Its First Ever Oklahoma-Based Well Remediation Project
2. Zefiro Corporate Presentation 

• FURTHER READING: COP29: Launch of “An Eye on Methane”, Will Pledges Turn into Progress? 

The post Zefiro Methane Tackles Methane Emissions: Completes its First Oklahoma-Based Gas Well Remediation Project appeared first on Carbon Credits.

Indonesia has unveiled an ambitious plan to transition away from fossil fuels and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, a decade earlier than its previous target. Speaking at the G20 Summit in Brazil, President Prabowo Subianto announced a timeline to retire all coal-fired and fossil-fueled power plants within 15 years. 

From Coal to Clean: Indonesia’s 15-Year Plan for Energy Revolution

The Southeast Asian nation aims to replace its fossil fuel capacity with over 75 GW of renewable energy, utilizing its rich geothermal resources and expanding its solar and wind infrastructure. This commitment marks a significant shift for a country heavily reliant on coal and natural gas. These energy sources account for almost 80% of Indonesia’s electricity production. 

Indonesia’s coal-fired power emissions surpassed 185 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 2023. This makes the country a significant contributor to global power sector emissions. With coal dominating its electricity mix, Indonesia remains heavily reliant on this fossil fuel for energy production. 

As of the end of 2023, Indonesia’s combined wind and solar capacity was less than 1 GW, per BloombergNEF data above. This underscores the vast scale of transformation required to meet its targets. 

Despite these challenges, the country is determined to pivot towards renewable energy and be a regional leader in the green energy transition.

Building on Global Partnerships

Indonesia’s ambitious agenda builds on the $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal signed in 2022. This initiative, co-led by nations like the U.S., Japan, and European countries, aims to fund early coal plant retirements and accelerate renewable energy adoption. 

However, progress has been slow. Much of the pledged funding remains undelivered, with officials expressing the urgency of receiving the support to achieve its goals.

President Prabowo’s announcement underscores Indonesia’s intent to lead by example, revealing a more aggressive approach toward reducing carbon emissions. His predecessor initiated the JETP deal, but Prabowo’s leadership seeks to overcome the challenges that have stalled its progress.

Earlier this month, Indonesia inked a $10 billion agreement with China at the Indonesia-China Business Forum. The event focuses on economic growth in clean tech, biotechnology, water conservation, and mining. 

Indonesia’s nickel industry remained a focal point, with Chinese firms like GEM Co. partnering with PT Vale on a $1.42 billion HPAL plant. Investments by Tsingshan and Huayou Cobalt further affirm Indonesia’s vital role in supplying nickel for EVs, batteries, and green technologies.

Nickel and Nature: Leveraging Resources for Climate Goals

Indonesia plans to tap into its vast natural resources to drive its energy transition and reach net zero. The country is rich in geothermal energy, making it an ideal candidate for large-scale renewable energy projects. 

Alongside geothermal, the government plans to expand solar and wind capacity to bridge the gap left by retiring fossil fuel plants.

Additionally, biodiesel production will play a significant role in the transition. Indonesia has been using palm oil to produce biofuels, and President Prabowo emphasized its importance in reducing dependence on coal and gas. 

Beyond energy generation, Indonesia’s expansive rainforests offer a unique opportunity to generate carbon credits. The country aims to produce over 550 million tons of carbon credits, helping offset emissions and contributing to the global fight against climate change.

In September, President Prabowo unveiled plans for a $65 billion green economy fund by 2028. This innovative fund will leverage carbon credit sales from large-scale environmental projects, including forest preservation and reforestation. Managed by a “special mission vehicle,” the initiative will centralize sustainable activities nationwide. 

• READ MORE: $65 Billion Green Fund from Carbon Credits Sale? Says Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo Subianto

Bold Targets, Big Challenges: Will Indonesia’s Green Vision Succeed?

Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia’s climate envoy to COP29, outlined the nation’s target to install 100 GW of new energy capacity over the next 15 years. Of this, 75%—or 75 GW—will come from renewable energy sources. These projects will add to the country’s existing installed capacity of over 90 GW, of which coal currently dominates.

The plan involves a massive budget of $235 billion, technology, and scientific expertise.

However, the scale of these ambitions raises questions about feasibility. With renewables currently accounting for less than 15% of Indonesia’s energy mix, the road to 75 GW of renewable capacity will require significant investments in infrastructure, technology, and workforce training.

Moreover, the nation’s reliance on coal exports as a major revenue source adds economic complexity to the transition. Retiring coal plants will not only require financial support from international partners but also a clear strategy to manage the social and economic impacts on coal-dependent communities. Amid all these challenges, President Prabowo’s leadership signals a new chapter in Indonesia’s energy policy. 

With global eyes on its progress, Indonesia’s journey to net zero will be a litmus test for the feasibility of large-scale energy transitions in emerging markets. If successful, it will show that even coal-reliant economies can shift toward sustainable energy with the right policies and support.

• SEE MORE: China and Indonesia Bolster Ties with $10B Deal in Strategic Sectors. How will it Impact Indonesia’s Nickel Industry?

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Duke University achieved carbon neutrality in 2024, marking a significant milestone in its sustainability journey. However, achieving this status does not mean the university eliminated all its emissions. 

Instead, it represents a strategic balance between reducing emissions and offsetting those that remain. In Duke’s case, this included a $4 million investment in carbon offsets to neutralize its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Duke’s Path to Carbon Neutrality: Balancing Reductions and Offsets 

Duke University, under the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledged to achieve carbon neutrality across its emissions-generating activities. Its Climate Action Plan (CAP) categorizes emissions into three scopes: 

Duke’s approach aligns with GHG accounting standards from the World Resources Institute, ensuring comprehensive tracking and reduction strategies for all emission sources. The university has significantly cut GHG emissions through various levers including: 

• Eliminating coal use, 
• Boosting building and utility efficiency, and 
• Reducing commuting emissions. 

Future reductions are planned through off-site solar investments and campus upgrades like steam-to-hot-water conversions and heat recovery chillers. Duke remains on track to achieve its 2030 emissions goals. 

However, 2023 emissions rose 9% compared to 2022, primarily due to air travel nearing pre-pandemic levels. Despite this, energy-related emissions are down 41% since 2007, and 2023 levels remain 21% lower than in 2019. 

Duke’s progress toward carbon neutrality began in 2007 when it launched an institution-wide effort to measure and reduce emissions. By fiscal year 2022, Duke had reduced its emissions by 43%, with plans to reach a 45% reduction by its 2024 deadline. 

• However, emissions rose slightly, requiring Duke to offset nearly 69% of its 2007-level emissions instead of the planned 55%.

This reliance on carbon offsets underscores a critical reality: achieving net-zero emissions without offsets is nearly impossible for large institutions. Matthew Arsenault, Duke’s assistant director of carbon and sustainability operations, highlighted that: 

“No institution, no company is going to be carbon neutral without using carbon offsets. There’s literally no way to reduce your emissions actually to zero.” 

Carbon offsets provide a mechanism to balance emissions from essential activities, such as powering campus buildings and transportation. These activities, while minimized through efficiency measures, can only be partially eradicated. 

How Carbon Offset Credits Work 

Carbon offsets allow institutions to balance emissions by funding projects that either reduce GHG emissions or remove existing emissions from the atmosphere. Institutions like Duke use these tools to purchase carbon accounting units traded on carbon markets. These markets enable organizations to buy and sell surplus credits to meet their sustainability and net zero goals. 

For Duke, offsets became a practical and ethical way to achieve carbon neutrality, given the current limitations of emission reduction technologies. 

Carbon Offsets in Action: The Key to Duke’s Carbon Neutrality

Duke’s approach to carbon offsets has evolved over the years. In 2009, the university launched the Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI), the first university-based program of its kind. This initiative focused initially on developing new offset projects, such as a methane-capture effort at a North Carolina hog farm, where methane was converted into usable electricity instead of being released into the atmosphere. 

• RELATED: COP29: Launch of “An Eye on Methane”, Will Pledges Turn into Progress?
  

Other early projects included residential energy efficiency upgrades, urban tree plantings, and solar installations. These efforts were designed to both reduce GHG emissions and align with Duke’s broader sustainability values. 

As the 2024 carbon neutrality deadline approached, Duke University shifted its strategy to focus on larger, externally sourced projects to meet its offset needs.

Almost 80% of Duke’s carbon offset portfolio consisted of projects targeting ozone-depleting refrigerants, which contain potent GHGs that can leak into the atmosphere. These projects, developed in collaboration with international partners, represented a significant step in reducing emissions from refrigerants. 

The remaining offsets focused on methane capture from dairy farms and landfills, similar to Duke’s earlier hog farm project. By investing in these projects, Duke ensured its offsets addressed emissions effectively and sustainably. 

Ensuring Quality and Accountability 

Duke’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond simply purchasing offsets. The university employs a rigorous verification process to ensure the quality and ethical standards of its investments. This process involves collaboration with Ruby Canyon Environmental, a registered verifier on carbon markets, to vet prospective offset projects. 

To guide decision-making, Duke developed a comprehensive evaluation tool that includes detailed questions about each project. Criteria such as “additionality” (ensuring the emissions reductions would not occur without the project) and “permanence” (long-term commitment to emissions reductions) are prioritized. 

Projects that meet these standards are further reviewed by an advisory committee of faculty and students before purchase. Fewer than 10% of potential projects pass Duke’s initial evaluation, highlighting the university’s commitment to investing in high-impact and high-integrity carbon offsets. 

What’s Next? Duke’s Plan Beyond Neutrality

While offsets played a key role in Duke’s 2024 achievement, the university recognizes the importance of continuing to reduce its emissions. Efforts are ongoing to expand energy efficiency measures on campus and integrate more renewable energy sources into operations. 

Duke University’s carbon footprint will significantly decrease by mid-2025 when three off-campus solar facilities come online. They have a combined capacity of 101 megawatts. These projects will provide about 50% of the campus’s electricity and contribute renewable energy to North Carolina’s grid for decades. 

Additionally, Duke is exploring ways to include its health system and international campuses, such as Duke Kunshan University, in future emissions tracking. 

The university is now determining its “next-generation” climate goals, focusing on sustaining its carbon-neutral status and further reducing its offset dependency. This includes exploring innovative carbon offset projects, expanding renewable energy use, and encouraging campus-wide engagement in sustainability initiatives. 

Carbon offsets will remain an essential tool in the university’s strategy, but Duke aims to rely on them less as it continues to refine its emissions reduction efforts. With its comprehensive approach and commitment to quality, Duke serves as a model for other institutions seeking to balance sustainability goals with the practical realities of carbon offsetting.

• READ MORE: How Top U.S. Universities Cut Their Carbon Emissions to Help Fight Climate Change

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Nuclear fusion energy is clean, safe, and sustainable. It combines lighter atoms to release vast energy without high-level radioactive waste. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), the Massachusetts-based fusion giant aims to revolutionize the clean-energy space by generating infinite carbon-free power with its flagship fusion project SPARC. Since its inception in 2018, the company has secured over $2 billion in funding, which makes it the world’s largest private fusion company.

Recently CFS announced that it has built and tested a groundbreaking electromagnet, the Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC). This scientific innovation brings the company closer to using clean fusion energy for the grid. 

Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ Mighty Magnet Makes Fusion Feasible

The CSMC test, combined with the already tested (in 2021) and successfully existing Toroidal Field Model Coil (TFMC), proves the functionality of two essential high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. These magnets are crucial for SPARC, the tokamak machine which is designed to demonstrate net fusion energy.

Additionally, the TFMC validated magnets for steady electrical currents, while the CSMC confirmed the capability for pulsed electrical currents.

Brandon Sorbom, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer noted,

“This is an important milestone on the road to commercialization. When we hit the button and put current through the magnet, it performed like a champ and hit all its major test objectives. The fact that our team was able to develop this technology from benchtop to a fully integrated, at-scale superconducting magnet in just a couple of years is huge.”

The press release also mentioned that CFS developed PIT VIPER which is an advanced HTS cable technology. It aids in powering SPARC’s central solenoid (CS) and poloidal field (PF) magnets. PIT VIPER’s innovative design minimizes heating during rapid current changes, enabling high-performance magnets.

The CSMC Model

source: CFS

Key test results from the Central Solenoid Model Coil include:

• Handling electrical currents up to 50,000 amps, enough to power 250 modern homes.
• Generating a magnetic field of 5.7 teslas—100,000 times Earth’s magnetic strength.
• Releasing energy rapidly at 4 teslas per second, validating SPARC magnet behavior.
• Storing a record 3.7 megajoules of energy, equivalent to five pickup trucks traveling at 60 mph.
• Using fiber optics to detect overheating events, ensuring magnet safety.

CFS and MIT: Partners in Fusion Progress

The successful CSMC test showcases CFS’ leadership in magnet technology. The company scaled up PIT VIPER cable production and demonstrated its ability to design and operate magnets under SPARC-like conditions.

Experts from CFS and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated on this project and conducted the tests at MIT’s Plasma Science & Fusion Center (PSFC). Moving on, CFS plans to produce the first plasma with SPARC in 2026 and achieve net energy soon after. The company’s first power plant, ARC, is expected to deliver electricity to the grid in the early 2030s.

Ted Golfinopoulos, one of the principal investigators at MIT for the CSMC project said, 

“Where the mission of the TFMC was to demonstrate a steady strength, the CSMC needed to demonstrate speed.”

He also hailed the collective effort of the amazing team by remarking,

“Hundreds of hands have touched this coil, from its inception on the drafting board to its long and complicated test program. The ingenuity, perseverance, and heart shown by this close-knit team was as impressive as the coil that sprang from their labors.”

Notably, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA–E) and Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) programs supported the innovation.

• READ MORE: What Does the U.S. Need to Triple Its Nuclear Capacity by 2050? DOE Explains…

Commonwealth Fusion Systems Aims to Transform Coal Plants with Nuclear Fusion

From a recent Bloomberg report, we discovered that Tokamak designs were first developed in the 1950s and they already demonstrated the ability to trigger fusion reactions. However, their practical and commercial viability is still questionable. This is because these traditional electromagnets require a humongous amount of power to shift them from scientific experiments to practical energy solutions.

CFS’s blueprint electromagnets that we described earlier can keep the plasma under control and maintain the continuity of the fusion reaction. This is why Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems expressed his satisfaction, saying that this was the last major technology hurdle they needed to clear.  

The report further highlighted CFS’s plans to replace fossil fuel boilers with fusion power by harnessing the same energy source as the sun. The company is already assessing old coal and natural gas plant sites as potential locations for building its first commercial fusion systems. However, their demonstration device is still in the developmental phase.

Nonetheless, CFS is confident of its success and the shift from fossil fuels to clean, carbon-free energy using fusion.

The recently published Global Fusion Industry Report reveals a rapidly intensifying race to commercialize fusion energy. Currently, 45 companies are advancing diverse technologies and have collectively raised over $7 billion. Public-private partnerships are playing a pivotal role in the fusion development process and have brought a remarkable 50% increase in funding.

The investment figures are shown below:

Source: 2024 Global Fusion Industry Report

Industry reports and expert opinions confirm that the fusion industry is still in its development phase. Building commercial nuclear fusion systems will take time, but progress is accelerating with increased investments and scientific breakthroughs. In this space, Commonwealth Fusion Systems is driving the transition toward a global clean energy future with its groundbreaking innovations.

Sources:

1. Commonwealth Fusion Systems Magnet Success Propels Fusion Energy Toward the Grid | Commonwealth Fusion Systems
2. Nuclear Fusion Leader Wants to Build on Site of Old Coal Plants – BNN Bloomberg

• MUST READ: $7.1 Billion Investment Fuels Fusion Commercialization. Is Fusion the Future Energy? 

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