First Geely Auto Methanol Vehicles in Europe Arrive in Iceland

The First Geely Auto Methanol Vehicles in Europe where introduced today at a Symposium held by Carbon Recycling International (CRI) in collaboration with Geely Auto and Brimborg car deler in Iceland. Geely Auto Group's (Geely Auto) pure methanol vehicles will be taking to Icelandic roads in a 12-month fleet test, driving on Renewable Methanol produced by CRI.

Initially six Emgrand EC7 methanol vehicles, which utilize a pure methanol 1.8L engine developed by Geely Auto, will enter the fleet trial in Iceland. The vehicles have been previously tried and tested throughout China in various fleets in Shanghai City, Shanxi and Guizhou provinces.

The move follows an agreement signed last July by Geely Auto's parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group to invest a total of US $45.5 million in CRI.

CRI will use the EC7s to carry out further testing of methanol vehicles and fuels in Iceland to further explore methanol fuel technologies. The vehicles will operate on 'liquid electricity' from CRI's pioneering power-to-methanol process. Renewable methanol produced by CRI's process is sold in Europe under the registered brand name 'Vulcanol'.

Geely Auto Group President and CEO Mr An Conghui commented: "We're excited to see our methanol vehicles move from China to an international platform. By working directly with a fuel provider such as CRI we will be able to further expand our understanding of methanol in different climes and driving conditions."

Mr. KC-Tran, CEO of CRI, said: "Our cooperation with Geely is transitioning from an investor relationship into a wider partnership; we welcome Geely's vehicles into this test pilot program and we are looking forward to sharing the results of our findings. This will give researchers, policy makers and others a much needed insight into the untapped possibilities of methanol as sustainable transport fuel."

KC Tran, CEO and Co-Founder of CRI and Ragnheidur Elin Arnadottir Minister of Industry and Commerce of Iceland, with the Geely Emgrand EC7 methanol vehicle.

CEO of CRI invited to debate key business recommendations during COP21 meetings in Paris

Carbon Recycling International has been invited to attend the Caring for Climate Business Forum at Paris – Le Bourget, during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21), in Paris. The Forum is organized by UN Global Compact, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the secretariat of the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

KC Tran, CEO and co-founder of CRI will join other Chief Executives of Caring for Climate and UNEP-FI signatories with Government representatives for a high-level meeting, focusing on pricing carbon emissions and other key recommendations for Government actions that would help bring greater scale and quality to corporate climate leadership globally.

The Forum, which will be inaugurated by Ms. Ségolène Royal, French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Develpoment and Energy, is part of the much-anticipated COP21 conference, in Paris November 30 - December 11 2015, where world leaders will attempt to reach the first universal and legally binding climate agreement for all major emitters, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

Among the topics of discussion during the Business Forum is setting emission targets and pricing carbon emissions by industry, responsible policy engagement by private companies, how industry can adapt and finance the renewable energy transition.

CRI has become a member of the UN Global Compact and the Caring for Climate initiative, the largest global business organization to address climate change, endorsed by 400 companies from 60 countries.

As the first global company to offer commercial scale solutions for production of liquid renewable transport fuel from recycled CO2 and hydrogen or electricity, Carbon Recycling International is recognized as a world leader in carbon recycling and power-to-liquids technology.

Members of the US Senate Energy and Environment Commitees visit CRI

Lisa Murowski (R), Senior US Senator for the State of Alaska and Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with Senators John Barrasso (R) State of Wyoming, member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Mike Rounds (R) State of South Dakota, member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works visited Carbon Recycling International's renewable methanol plant on Friday September 25. The Senators were accompanied by US Ambassador Robert C. Barber, spouses and members of staff.

During the visit at CRI, the Senators learned about CRI's innovative technology for production of renewable methanol from hydrogen and carbon dioxide emissions and the potential role of renewable methanol in providing cleaner fuel for road transport as well as the marine sector.

The Senators will also meet with other representatives of the Icelandic energy sector, members of the Althing (parliament) and government ministers.

Carbon Recycling International expands market reach because of new rules in Renewable Energy Directive

An amended version of the Renewable Energy Directive and Fuel Quality Directive has been issued by the European Union and will enter into force on October 5 2015.  The amended directive creates new and stronger incentives for production and use of renewable methanol from non-biological sources and from carbon capture. The energy used contributed by renewable methanol will be given double weight in the calculation of the share of energy in transport fuels from renewable sources. This increases the market value of renewable methanol. Growth potential for incumbent biofuels will also be restricted.

The 28 EU member states in addition to Norway and Iceland must transpose the directive into laws, regulations and administrative provisions by September 10 2017.

The new directive defines the term renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin, which are liquid or gaseous fuels whose energy content comes from renewable energy sources other than biomass. It also places special emphasis on renewable fuels from carbon capture where the energy source is renewable.

The directive is the result of a prolonged debate in the European Parliament and Council of Ministers based on a proposal from the European Commission. The main purpose of the amendment was to limit the use of crop based biofuels due to their adverse impact on use of natural resources, set stricter standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the life-cycle of renewable transport fuels and to provide stronger incentives for production of fuels from waste products, carbon capture and non-biological energy sources.

The EU also introduces a quota for advanced renewable transport fuels, which should be adopted by Member States on a voluntary basis. Included under the definition of advanced renewable transport fuels are renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin and fuels from carbon capture, as well as fuels from waste biomass with the exception of fuels from used cooking oil and animal fats.

No crop based fuels are given advanced renewable transport fuel status and their contribution to the mandatory target of 10% share of energy in transportation from renewable sources, which must be reached by 2020, is limited to 7%.