Heat pumps are an alternative to gas boilers (hot water tanks) and wood stoves for indoor heating. They now feature in most proposals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by mid-century in order to meet the globally agreed aim of avoiding dangerous climate change. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says with high confidence that net-zero energy systems will include the electrification of heating “rely[ing] substantially on heat pumps” – with a possible exception only for extreme climates. Heat pumps significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions from building heat and are the “central technology in the global transition to secure and sustainable heating”, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Heat pumps are also a mature technology and are very popular in countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland, where they are the dominant heating technology. For the first time in 2022, heat pumps outsold gas boilers in the US – and they continued to do so in 2023. Yet, in major economies such as the UK and Germany, heat pumps are the subject of hostile and misleading reporting across many mainstream media outlets.Here, Carbon Brief fact checks 18 of the most common and persistent myths about heat pumps.......CLICK ON THE CAPTIONS BELOW

1. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps don’t work in existing buildings.’
2. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps only work in highly insulated buildings.’
3. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps only work with underfloor heating.’
4. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps won’t work in flats.’
5. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps don’t work when it’s cold.’
6. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps will always need a backup heating system to keep you warm.‘
7. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps won’t keep you warm.’
8. INCOMPLETE: ‘You will freeze during a power cut and be better off with a gas boiler.’
9. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps are noisy.’
10. INCOMPLETE: ‘Heat pumps cost more to run and will increase heating bills.’
11. FALSE. ‘Turning gas to electricity to heat via a heat pump is less efficient than burning gas in a boiler.’
12. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps will never offset the carbon emissions resulting from making them.’
13. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps devalue properties.’
14. INCOMPLETE: ‘Heat pumps are unaffordable.’
15. INCOMPLETE: ‘The grid cannot cope with heat pumps.’
16. INCOMPLETE: ‘Heat pumps don’t work with microbore piping.’
17. FALSE: ‘Heat pumps don’t last long.’
18. INCOMPLETE: ‘Heat pumps are new and untested technology.’             https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18-misleading-myths-about-heat-pumps/

China’s carbon emissions set for structural decline from next year. Emissions by world’s most polluting country could peak this year after a surge in clean energy investments. Emissions from the world’s most polluting country have rebounded this year after the Chinese government dropped its Covid restrictions in January, according to analysis undertaken for Carbon Brief. However, this rebound in fossil fuel demand emerged alongside a historic expansion of the country’s low-carbon energy sources, which was far in excess of policymakers’ targets and expectations. Beijing’s solar and wind installation targets for the year were met by September, according to the report, and the market share of electric vehicles is already well ahead of the government’s 20% target for 2025. “These record additions are all but guaranteed to push fossil-fuel electricity generation and CO2 emissions into decline in 2024,” Lauri Myllyvirta, a lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the author of the report. The most striking growth has been in solar power, according to Myllyvirta. Solar installations increased by 210 gigawatts (GW) this year alone, which is twice the total solar capacity of the US and four times what China added in 2020. The analysis, which is based on official figures and commercial data, found that China installed 70GW of wind power this year – more than the entire power generation capacity of the UK. It is also expected to add 7GW of hydro power and 3GW of nuclear power capacity this year, said the report.Myllyvirta said the boom in clean energy generation could trigger a decline in China’s emissions from next year despite a wave of new coal plants across the country. “This is because – for the first time – the rate of low-carbon energy expansion is now sufficient to not only meet, but exceed the average annual increase in China’s demand for electricity overall,” he said.“If this pace is maintained, or accelerated, it would mean that China’s electricity generation from fossil fuels would enter a period of structural decline – which would also be a first. Moreover, this structural decline could come about despite the new wave of coal plant permitting and construction in the country,” Myllyvirta added.   https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/13/chinas-carbon-emissions-set-for-structural-decline-from-next-year

Toyota Targets Hydrogen Trucks, Car Push in China, Europe July 11, 2023 The Japanese auto giant sold just over 3,900 fuel cell vehicles in 2022, less than half of 1% of its global sales of around 9.5 million vehicles. Toyota has set its sights on selling hydrogen-powered trucks and cars in Europe and China, in a critical switch away from its North American focus, and has targeted selling 200,000 of the vehicles by 2030. The decision, announced by executives on Tuesday, marks a shift in focus for the Japanese automaker, a major backer of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as an alternative to electric vehicles.  Until now Toyota’s focus has been on passenger cars and the North American market, an approach that had stalled. The strategy update was the first by Toyota since it set up a separate hydrogen-focused unit this month to expand the application of fuel-cell technology into wider applications, including industrial power generation and commercial trucks. Toyota sold just over 3,900 fuel cell vehicles in 2022, less than half of 1% of its global sales of around 9.5 million vehicles. By focusing on China and Europe, where hydrogen production and demand is higher, Toyota aims to bring costs down, Nakajima said, adding that the automaker would also look to strengthen ties with other companies. In May, Toyota and Daimler Truck Holding said they had agreed to cooperate on hydrogen technology and reached a preliminary deal to combine their truck businesses in Japan. Toyota launched its dedicated fuel-cell unit, the Hydrogen Factory, with 1,350 staff earlier this month.          https://www.asiafinancial.com/toyota-targets-hydrogen-trucks-car-push-in-china-europe    ......and......Toyota Hydrogen Factory scaling up its European activities......1. Hydrogen Factory Europe to further grow Toyota hydrogen business and stimulate a wider roll-out of the hydrogen eco-systems and infrastructure across Europe 2. Hydrogen as the key contributor to achieving Toyota’s goal of becoming a carbon-neutral business in Europe by 2040. 3. Toyota fuel cell systems are being adopted in a wide variety of mobility applications, from passenger cars to light-duty vehicles, heavy duty trucks, coaches and ships. 4. Next-generation Toyota fuel cell technology to be commercialised in 2026, offering longer lifecycles, increased driving range for vehicles and significantly reduced costs                                                                                                                                                                                      Brussels, 4 December 2023 – Toyota Motor Europe (TME) will establish a local business operation, the Hydrogen Factory Europe. It will ensure a co-ordinated approach to the commercialisation of hydrogen technology and systems – spanning everything from development and production, through to sales and aftersales. The Hydrogen Factory will be responsible for producing an increasing number of fuel cell systems and supporting a widening group of commercial partnerships, in line with the company’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040, ten years ahead of Toyota’s global target. Toyota expects Europe to be one of the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell markets by 2030, with steady acceleration of different mobility and power generation applications. Growing investment and regulatory measures are encouraging development and market growth. These include €45 billion investment from the European Commission’s Green Deal by 2027 and the EU’s transport infrastructure fund has awarded 284 million euros – or approximately one third of its budget - for the installation of hydrogen refuelling  fuel cell vehicle uses an electric motor like an EV but draws power from a fuel stack where hydrogen is separated by a catalyst to produce electricity.Toyota Predicts Global Fuel Cell Growth Consumer adoption of fuel-cells has been limited by high costs and a limited network of fuelling stations, but hydrogen-powered vehicles can refuel quickly and have a long range. Toyota launched the first fuel-cell vehicle nearly a decade ago with the Mirai, a niche car it has marketed in California. In Japan, where the government has backed hydrogen as an energy-security alternative, Toyota could work with local governments to transition diesel-powered fleets of vehicles such as ambulances and garbage trucks to fuel-cell technology, Nakajima said.Toyota said it expects the global market for fuel cells to grow to around $35 billion by 2030, up more than 15-fold from 2020 levels, citing a forecast frommarket research firm Fuji Keizai.    https://newsroom.toyota.eu/toyota-hydrogen-factory-scaling-up-its-european-activities/#:~:text=Brussels%2C%204%20December%202023%20%E2%80%93%20Toyota,through%20to%20sales%20and%20aftersales.

US government pauses new gas export terminals in ‘historic win’ for climate26/01/2024,The Biden administration is freezing approvals of new LNG export permits as climate considerations take centre stage. The US government is halting decisions over further expanding its gas exports until it can apply updated climate considerations to projects seeking new approvals. Announcing the move on Friday morning, President Joe Biden saidthe pause on all pending export permits for liquified natural gas (LNG) “sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time”. The decision comes after Biden faced mounting pressure from environmentalists and climate activists to apply the brakes on the US build-up of fossil fuel capacity. The groups represent an important voter base for Biden as he seeks reelection in November.The US is the world’s largest exporter of LNG and shipments are expected to keep soaring as a result of projects already approved and under construction. But the review will put on hold the planned development of at least four more gas export terminals on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. That includes the Calcasieu Pass 2 (or CP2), a facility in Louisiana described by campaigners as a “carbon bomb”. If built, it could ship up to 24 million tonnes of gas every year. Biden said his administration “will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America’s energy security and our environment”. A White House statement said the pause would allow the White House to integrate “critical considerations” that have emerged since the last analysis of gas export approvals was carried out five years ago. That includes the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. Gas supporters have historically promoted it as a “cleaner” fossil fuel because of its reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to coal. But LNG is primarily made of methane, a much more potent earth-warming gas. While burning it turns it into carbon dioxide, methane leaks during transport can push its lifetime emissions higher than those of coal, according to a new study by methane expert Robert Howarth currently undergoing peer review......read on         https://www.climatechangenews.com/2024/01/26/us-government-pauses-new-gas-export-terminals-in-historic-win-for-climate/?utm_source=Climate+Weekly&utm_campaign=a4da1980cc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_07_28_05_27_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6ff1db6665-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D