Gifford Consulting

Global Intelligence:  9-13 November 2026

Weekly Summary

In the United States, the USDA allocated $99.8 million to TalusAg to deploy 20 modular electrolytic hydrogen-based green ammonia systems across 11 sites, while Plug Power initiated a multi-year refresh of 20,000 warehouse fuel cell units for clients including Amazon and Walmart. Concurrently, BASF is expanding its Alkyl Polyglucoside surfactant manufacturing capacity in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Syklea entered the domestic market with its closed-loop, waterless ALIUM microalgae carbon capture platform in New Jersey. Agricultural feedstock innovations include the Bunge and GDM joint venture, Enerseed, developing novel biofuel oilseeds, alongside Switch Bioworks and Bayer Crop Science collaborating on root-colonizing, nitrogen-producing microbes. Furthermore, Clarksons Norway AS is advising Demeter Energy on commercializing 100,000 metric tons annually of low-carbon biomethanol in Florida.

Across Europe, green hydrogen infrastructure is scaling rapidly. Germany finalized €1.2 billion in subsidies for 590 MW of Danish electrolytic capacity developed by Everfuel, European Energy, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, while Repsol and Enagas Renovable approved a €400 million, 150 MW electrolyser in Spain. Energie Steiermark commenced hydrogen pipeline blending in Austria alongside a 5 MW production facility, and Anaergia secured a C$34 million contract to construct a Hungarian biomethane plant processing 140,000 tons of agricultural waste annually.

In Asia-Pacific, China Datang filed plans for a CNY 14.6 billion integrated renewable methanol facility in Hainan, Beijing targeted 35,000 tonnes of annual green hydrogen consumption by 2030, and HTWO Guangzhou partnered with Air Liquide China on hydrogen mobility. Elsewhere, India’s Greenjoules raised $28 million for an agricultural waste-to-biocrude plant, Thailand elevated its palm oil biodiesel mandate to B7, Malaysia delayed its 1% sustainable aviation fuel mandate to 2030, Calix secured AUD 10 million for its Australian green iron demonstration, and Pilbara Ports, Fortescue, and CMB.TECH completed Australia’s first ship-to-ship green ammonia bunkering operation

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekly Highlights - by Topic

1. Ammonia production: USA. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide almost $100m in funding to TalusAg as the firm looks to deploy decentralised green ammonia plants across the country. The $99.8m of USDA’s Fertiliser Investment and Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) programme funds will support TalusAG’s plans to deploy 20 modular electrolytic hydrogen-based ammonia systems across 11 locations in seven states. Link 09/11/2026
2. Biobased chemicals: USA. BASF is expanding its Alkyl Polyglucosides (APGs) production capacity at its Cincinnati, Ohio, site, further strengthening the company’s manufacturing footprint in the United States. First announced in 2023, the expansion reinforces Cincinnati’s role in BASF’s regional production network and strengthens the company’s position as a leading APG supplier in the United States. By increasing production close to its North American customers, BASF can combine a reliable regional supply point with its broad APG portfolio and formulation expertise. APGs, marketed by BASF under the trade names Glucopon®, Plantaren®, Agnique® PG and Disponil® APG, are bio-based, readily biodegradable (according to OECD 301), mild, non-ionic surfactants derived from 100 percent natural and renewable feedstocks. Their excellent performance and compatibility with other surfactants make them highly versatile ingredients for personal care, home care, industrial and institutional cleaning, industrial formulations, and agricultural applications. Link 09/11/2026.
3. Bioeconomy: Germany. The transition towards a climate-neutral bioeconomy requires a substantial increase in the use of biomass as a renewable carbon source. However, this expansion must take place within ecological boundaries. Biodiversity loss, soil degradation and ecosystem instability pose direct risks not only to environmental integrity but also to the long-term productivity and resilience of biomass supply systems. Contrary to popular belief, the production of biomass and the conservation of biodiversity are not mutually exclusive objectives. In fact, maintaining long-term productivity requires biodiversity conservation. Examples include landscape diversification and cover crops in agriculture, and mixed-species systems and soil protection in forestry. Such practices can support biodiversity and the ecosystem services on which reliable biomass production depends. Link 13/11/2026
4. Bioeconomy: Global. The updated edition of the Global Bioeconomy Policy Report 2026, produced by the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB), has been launched in Dublin on 20 October. The Global South, in particular, is increasingly recognizing the bioeconomy as a sustainable and equitable economic model. The report shows how countries and regions are driving economic transformation toward a bio-based economy that benefits both people and the environment. The strategies set out different priorities for achieving a sustainable bioeconomy, ranging from bioresources (34%) and biotechnology (32%) to bioecology (20%) and biosocial goals (14%). The growing share of biosocial approaches signals an increased focus on social inclusion and community benefits. Link 11/11/2026.
5. Biofuels: India. Greenjoules raised ₹150 crore ($16.8 million) in a Series B funding round co-led by Amazon’s Smbhav Venture Fund and Climate Pledge Fund, with participation from Rainmatter and Singularity. It also secured a ₹100 crore ($11.2 million) government loan, bringing total financing to ₹250 crore ($28 million). The funding will support a phased 2027 development of a Pune plant designed to produce 200,000 liters of biocrude daily from agricultural waste. The company plans to refine the biocrude into renewable diesel and expand into sustainable aviation fuel and green hydrogen. Link 13/11/2026.
6. Biofuels: Indonesia. Biobutanol has several technical advantages compared to ordinary bioethanol. For example, the energy content of biobutanol is around 29 megajoules/liter, almost the same as the energy content of fossil gasoline, which is 32 megajoules per liter and much higher than bioethanol which is only 19.6 megajoules per liter. In addition, because it has an octane number between 94-96, the fuel does not have high hygroscopic properties, namely it does not absorb water and also does not have steam pressure. The chemical characteristics of biobutanol make it less corrosive and not prone to vapor lock. Therefore, this fuel can be used as a drop-in fuel because it can be mixed with gasoline without the need to change the engine. Link 11/11/2026.
7. Biofuels: Thailand. In Thailand biodiesel production and consumption are forecast to increase by 22% in 2026 compared with 2025, supported by higher blending requirements and government incentives. The country raised its biodiesel blending mandate from B5 to B7 in March to reduce dependence on imported petroleum and support domestic palm oil demand. Palm oil remains the primary biodiesel feedstock, with export controls introduced to help secure domestic supplies. The government is also promoting investment in production capacity, including a planned 300,000-ton-per-year biodiesel plant in Chonburi. Link12/11/2026.
8. Biogas: Hungary. Anaergia entered an engineering, procurement and construction contract valued at approximately C$34 million for a new renewable natural gas facility in Hungary. The agreement represents an important commercial milestone for Anaergia and demonstrates continued demand for the Company’s integrated waste-to-value solutions and proprietary technology platform. The new facility is designed to process more than 140,000 tons of agricultural feedstock annually and produce more than 900 Nm³ per hour of biogas for upgrading to biomethane and injection into the natural gas grid. Engineering activities have already commenced, with procurement, construction and commissioning expected to be completed by mid-2028. Anaergia’s scope includes its proprietary Triton anaerobic digestion technology, FeedREX® feedstock reception system, digester mixing technology and digestate dewatering solutions. Together, these systems are designed to convert agricultural residues into pipeline-quality biomethane. Link 11/11/2026.
9. Biojet/SAF: Malaysia. Malaysia deferred its planned 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending mandate for international flights departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from January 2027 to 2030. The postponement will give airlines and other industry participants more time to prepare and adapt their operations, while allowing the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to develop an appropriate regulatory framework. Link 09/11/2026.
10. CO2 Removal: USA. Syklea announced its official entry into the U.S. market, opening its North American headquarters and research lab in Vineland, New Jersey. The expansion into the U.S. market allows Syklea to reach the industrial manufacturing and technology sectors across the country, to directly address the concentrated and ongoing emissions from the sector’s continuous operations. Syklea’s ALIUM. ALIUM is a microalgae-based platform that replicates a natural process at an industrial scale. By utilizing biosynthesis platforms and engineered microalgae processes, the immobilized microalgaes grows on supports that capture gas from industrial flumes to consume the CO2 and extract usable outputs. Syklea’s proprietary No Water Technology™ for ALIUM removes the high energy costs that have typically been associated with microalgae-based solutions, providing a closed-loop and liquid management system that eliminates the need for freshwater input. Link 12/11/2026.
11. Feedstock: China. China’s palm oil inventories nearly doubled year over year to 1.21 million metric tons in late October 2026, putting pressure on prices amid weak demand and abundant supplies from Southeast Asia. Average prices fell 3.03% during October to approximately $1,260 per metric ton. Competition from cheaper soybean oil and weaker biodiesel economics are further limiting demand. SunSirs expects Chinese palm oil prices to remain between approximately $1,236 and $1,306 per metric ton in November, with high inventories constraining recovery. Link 11/11/2026.
12. Feedstock: USA. Bunge and GDM, a global plant genetics company, announced a strategic joint venture, Enerseed, to develop high-quality, novel oilseeds as feedstocks for biofuels. The partnership will accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation, non-traditional oilseed crops for the growing low-carbon renewable fuels market. Enerseed will combine GDM’s expertise in plant genetics, breeding, R&D, trait development and gene editing with Bunge’s global scale, processing capabilities, and broad market access. The collaboration is designed to support an integrated, end-to-end global value chain, from innovative seed development to the efficient delivery of sustainable feedstocks to biofuel customers worldwide. Link 12/11/2026.
13. Feedstock: USA. Switch Bioworks, a deep tech company whose engineered microbes create nitrogen fertilizer on the plant root, announced today a strategic collaboration with Bayer Crop Science (Bayer) on Switch’s genetic switch technology and its potential to develop next-generation biologicals that deliver clear benefits to grower. Switch is pioneering and leading a new category of biofertilizer through programmable biology. Its genetically engineered microbes, first developed at Stanford, are designed to bypass that trade-off. They establish on the root first, then switch on nitrogen production once they’re established. In grow-room studies, that genetic programming produced five times more nitrogen than always-on control strains. Link12/11/2026.
14. Green Steel: Australia. Australian environmental technology company Calix (ASX:CXL) signed an agreement for a AUD-10-million (USD 6.90m/EUR 6.16m) strategic investment in its Zesty Green Iron Demonstration Project in Western Australia. Under the Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), the investor's cash contribution may be converted into shares in Zesty Pty Ltd, a Calix subsidiary established to commercialise the Zesty technology and license it to the iron and steel industry. The agreement does not set a fixed conversion price or include valuation caps or discounts. Link 11/11/2026.
15. Hydrogen: Austria. Austrian energy provider Energie Steiermark (ES) has started injecting hydrogen into a natural gas pipeline as it plans to build out a 200km network of 100% hydrogen-capable pipes. The injection began following the conversion of a section of natural gas pipeline to carry hydrogen and blend it into the wider gas network. The first customer is an animal processing plant that is already running on a 10% hydrogen blend, and this is expected to lift to 20% . The supply side is taking shape as well. In June, Energie Steiermark took a final investment decision on a €25 million, 5 megawatt green hydrogen plant in Bergla in western Styria, scheduled for completion in 2027. Link 10/11/2026.
16. Hydrogen: China. Beijing aims to build a hydrogen industry worth more than CNY 40 billion (USD 6bn/EUR 5.4bn) by 2030, expanding green hydrogen applications in industrial production, power generation and energy storage, according to a city government plan. The plan, issued by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, targets annual green hydrogen consumption of more than 35,000 tonnes, replacing fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen at local petrochemical facilities and supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects. The shift is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes annually. Link 13/11/2026.
17. Hydrogen: China. Hyundai Motor Group’s first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system production base, HTWO Guangzhou, is partnering with Air Liquide China to collaborate on China’s hydrogen mobility business. Through this agreement, the two companies plan to cooperate across the entire hydrogen mobility industry value chain by combining HTWO Guangzhou's hydrogen fuel cell system technology with Air Liquide China's capabilities in hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and infrastructure construction. Link 10/11/2026.
18. Hydrogen: Denmark. Danish company Everfuel A/S signed the grant agreement with the German government for the 200 MW of electrolyser capacity in the first phase of its Project Frigg. The company was awarded the support earlier this year under the European Hydrogen Bank Auctions-as-a-Service scheme. It will receive production support of EUR 0.98 (USD 1.09) per kg of RFNBO hydrogen produced, corresponding to EUR 245 million. Everfuel has also reserved capacity in both the Danish and German hydrogen pipelines equivalent to 400 MW of electrolyser capacity for Project Frigg’s initial phases. The project, designed to scale to 2 GW as the market develops, is dedicated to supplying RFNBO to German industry. Link 09/11/2026.
19. Hydrogen: Denmark. Germany finalised €1.2bn ($1.35bn) worth of subsidy agreements for three Danish green hydrogen projects backed by its national Auction as a Service (AaaS) scheme under the European Hydrogen Bank (EHB). The projects in Denmark by Everfuel, European Energy, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will have a combined capacity of 590MW and are set to supply German end-users via the planned Danish Hydrogen Backbone. Link 11/11/2026.
20. Hydrogen: Spain. Energy firm Repsol has taken a €400m ($443m) final investment decision on a 150MW green hydrogen plant at its Tarragona facility in Spain. Co-developed with transmission system operator (TSO) Enagas Renovable, the 150MW system will produce up to 22,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year and will become Repsol’s third large-scale electrolyser in the country. Link 13/11/2026.
21. Hydrogen: USA. Plug Power expects to refresh around 20,000 hydrogen fuel cell units across its material handling customer base over the next two to three years, including under existing deals with Amazon and Walmart.  Having supplied hydrogen fuel cells to major retailers for material handling warehouse operations for over a decade, the US hydrogen firm is now entering a replacement cycle as its earlier deployments age. Link 12/11/2026
22. Marine fuels: Australia Pilbara Ports, Fortescue and CMB.TECH transferred certified green ammonia from a bunker vessel to the Fortescue-chartered Mineral Europa at Port Hedland on Nov. 2, marking the country’s first such refuelling of an ammonia-powered dry bulk carrier. “Green ammonia can be bunkered safely, at scale at one of the world’s great bulk export ports. The two-hour operation was completed before the 300-meter Mineral Europa, the world’s first ammonia-powered dry bulk vessel, entered port to load Fortescue iron ore for customers in China. Link13/11/2026.
23. Marine fuels: United Kingdom. Alternative-fuel vessel orders are outpacing the development of the port infrastructure needed to support them, according to a new global study by Lloyd’s Register (LR), highlighting a growing gap between ship capability and fuel availability. LR’s new Fuel for Thought: Ports report finds that 1,942 alternative-fuel-capable vessels were on order in January 2026, with alternative-fuel ships representing 47% of global orderbook tonnage, according to Clarksons Research. Yet readiness differs sharply by fuel: LNG bunkering was available at 222 ports, compared with just 25 actively offering methanol. The gap is particularly stark for emerging fuels. LR identified 385 methanol-capable and 45 ammonia-capable vessels on order, while the infrastructure and low-carbon fuel supply needed to serve them remains concentrated among a relatively small number of ports. Link 09/11/2026.
24. Methanol: China. China Datang's subsidiary in Hainan completed regulatory filing for a CNY 14.6 billion (USD 2bn/EUR 2bn) integrated wind, solar, hydrogen and energy storage project to produce green methanol, with planned annual output of 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes. It will combine wind and solar power generation, electrochemical energy storage, water electrolysis for hydrogen production and agricultural and forestry biomass gasification for methanol synthesis. Planned facilities also include hydrogen production equipment, methanol synthesis and purification units, product storage tanks and environmental protection systems. Link 09/11/2026.
25. Methanol: USA. Clarksons Norway AS will provide Demeter Energy with commercial advisory and brokerage services supporting the marketing, sale and offtake of approximately 100,000 metric tons per year of low-carbon biomethanol from Demeter Energy’s planned commercial-scale biomethanol and carbon capture facility at SeaPort Manatee in Bradenton, Florida. Under the agreement, Clarksons will provide commercial market intelligence, pricing and freight analysis, regulatory guidance, introductions to prospective buyers and logistics counterparties, and broking and negotiation support for commercial transactions involving Demeter Energy’s low-carbon products. Link 09/11/2026.

For more information Link

Subscribe to receive our global intelligence news update- direct to your mailbox 

Global Intelligence - Insights

Molecular Focus, Financing Levels, and Capital Sourcing in the Bioeconomy

I welcome your thoughts and comments.