This week in energy: Woodside's US expansion, coal use in focus and Singapore shortlists ammonia proponents

The Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA) regularly compiles a selection of stories from the energy world that have caught our eye.??? ??????????????????????????????

Given the region in which we operate –?and our purpose?– this collection of content is largely Asia-focused. But we also look further afield, knowing that developments, trends and technology from around the world also have an impact across our region.?

Woodside to buy Tellurian in US expansion

ANGEA member company Woodside Energy has provided another strong endorsement of the long-term importance of LNG - and grown its US footprint - with the announcement of a deal to purchase Tellurian Inc.

The acquisition would include the planned Driftwood LNG export facility in Louisiana, which is fully permitted and could have a capacity of 27.6 million metric ton per annum.

Woodside is looking to progress FID on phase 1 of the project, which has been in development since 2017.

Read more: https://reut.rs/4bNbjn6

Coal use to stay at record level through 2025

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its mid-year coal update during the week, with a record level of supply, demand and trade in 2023 likely to be maintained through the next two years.

As global annual coal production grew to nearly 9 billion tonnes, 80 per cent of coal use came in Asia, driven by increased electricity demand, mainly from China and India. Vietnam is now set to become the fifth biggest coal importer in the world.

Read more from Reuters: https://reut.rs/4c0wF0y

Access the full IEA report: https://bit.ly/46pa2BN

The potential of gas in a coal-dominated region

The IEA coal data demonstrates the challenging energy landscape faced by emerging Asian nations - and also the potential offered by natural gas, which ANGEA CEO Paul Everingham writes about in his latest blog.

As Paul notes, if Asia continues to use coal at anything like current rates, emissions reduction targets will not be achieved.

"On the other hand, if the likes of India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia are able to access a lower carbon yet still reliable alternative to coal, emissions can be significantly reduced even as strong economic and population growth continues.?

"Natural gas would be the best fit for that role and a logical choice for many countries. "

Read more: https://bit.ly/3Yjr6Xx

?Australia awards more offshore exploration acreage

Some positive news from Australia this week - with offshore gas exploration permits finalised on both sides of the country, alongside 10 permits for carbon capture and storage (CCS) exploration.

The gas permits could unlock resources that will be important to Australian and regional energy security, while the CCS exploration will benefit decarbonisation in Asia Pacific.

Australia's storage capacity and existing industrial and workforce capabilities make it a natural fit as a storage destination in cross-border CO2 transactions.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3LDiQu9

The requirement for transboundary CCS arrangements in the Asia Pacific is a major driver of ANGEA's Carbon Certification for Cross-Border CCS Study, which will design a framework for carbon certification that can be applied region-wide.

Learn more about our study: https://bit.ly/3R3Vem3

LNG offers energy security for the Philippines

AboitizPower Chief Investment Officer Joseph Lacson penned an insightful opinion article this week focused on the energy security challenges being negotiated by the Philippines.

These challenges will be brought into focus as the Philippines looks to reduce its reliance on coal and, as the article states, "the most expensive energy in the world is having no energy at all."

LNG, which the Philippines only started importing last year, offers a pathway to the country maintaining energy security and reducing emissions as it moves towards a lower-carbon energy future.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3xYzdhL

Singapore shortlists ammonia project proponents

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have shortlisted two consortia for a low or zero-carbon ammonia project on Jurong Island.

Keppel's Infrastructure Division and Sembcorp-SLNG will conduct engineering, safety and emergency response studies for the proposed project.

The project aims to generate 55-65MW of electricity from imported ammonia via direct combustion in a gas turbine or combined cycle gas turbine.

It will also facilitate ammonia bunkering at a capacity of at least 100,000 metric tonnes per year, starting with supplies from land followed by ship-to-ship bunkering.

Read more: https://reut.rs/3zWpt8h

Record gas-fired power offsets wind decline in the US

New data from the US demonstrates the ability of gas-fired power to be ramped up to supply reliable generation that balances out intermittent supply from renewable energy.

With US generation from wind falling off by 78 per cent over the first three weeks of July, gas-fired power lifted to supply more than 46 per cent of the country's electricity. This included 6.9 million megawatt-hours on July 9, which the U.S. Energy Information Administration identified as likely the highest day on record for generation from gas.

Natural gas has the potential to perform a similar role in Asia - providing countries with a highly dependable but lower emission alternative to coal as they continue to grow investments in renewable energy.

Read more: https://reut.rs/3WFggKt

ANGEA?is an industry association representing LNG and natural gas producers, energy buyers, suppliers and companies in APAC. Based in Singapore, it works in partnership with governments and societies across the region to deliver reliable and secure energy solutions that achieve national economic, energy security, social and environmental objectives and meet global climate goals.