STX

Bart Wesselink, Chief Financial and Risk Officer and Jan Huijbregts, Finance Director at STX Group had the pleasure of speaking with Ralph Ivey at TXF about our continuous growth and ambitions in the climate finance space. Overcoming key challenges like risk perceptions, knowledge gaps and growing concerns around greenwashing, we’ve achieved financial progress and are paving the way for further innovation in sustainable finance. This achievement shows our commitment to building trust and transparency in the environmental commodities market, helping investors and stakeholders embrace a greener future with confidence. Read the full article here (requires subscription): https://lnkd.in/egSFQhuF

S&P Global Commodity Insights highlights certification and tracking systems in Europe and the U.S. provide a reliable framework for ensuring transparency and promoting the growth of RNG. "We welcome the publication of this study. Certification and tracking systems for biomethane and RNG are crucial parts of enabling the efficient use of sustainable energy sources in compliance markets, significantly contributing to robust decarbonization efforts globally,” said Sead Keric, Managing Partner for Renewable Gas at STX Group.” In the EU, Guarantees of Origin and Proof of Sustainability certification support biomethane capacity development. In the U.S., market-based policies, such as the Renewable Fuel Standard and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, are key drivers of RNG capacity development and GHG emission reductions. Also, further clarity from GHG Protocol on the use of these market instruments would boost uptake. As markets evolve, certificate values will increasingly drive biomethane growth in both compliance and voluntary markets, bolstering efforts to achieve ambitious emissions reduction targets in both regions." For further insights, you can read the EBA press release here: https://lnkd.in/eQpAjv_v

The U.S. biofuels industry hit a new milestone in 2023, with biofuel production capacity growing by 7% to 24 billion gallons per year. The standout? A 44% increase in renewable diesel and other biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable heating oil. This growth, driven by state and federal incentives and new plant expansions, is crucial to decarbonizing the transportation, heating and aviation sectors. As we move toward a low-carbon future, biofuels play a key role in reducing emissions and ensuring energy security. At STX Group, we’re committed to helping businesses capitalize on the momentum in biofuels through our expertise in bio-fuels and bio-certificates trading. As pioneers in this dynamic and evolving market, we provide tailored solutions that allow companies across sectors—renewable energy providers, utilities, industrial and oil companies—to meet their regulatory and voluntary climate targets. From sourcing liquid biofuels like HVO and biodiesel to supporting the integration of biomethane and green hydrogen, we empower our clients to make impactful strides toward a low-carbon future. https://lnkd.in/ehHSuCne

Our specialists had the pleasure of sharing their thoughts with Bunkerspot on how shipping companies can navigate maritime regulatory changes and develop a robust decarbonization plan.    The maritime industry is facing an era of unprecedented complexity. Geopolitics, shifting global demand and evolving trade tensions are now compounded by an increasingly stringent regulatory landscape.   With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) targeting net-zero emissions by 2050, the industry must adapt quickly, with sub-targets of 20% emission reductions by 2030 and 70% by 2040.  The EU has also stepped up, expanding its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to include maritime in 2024. These policies not only mandate significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but also impose penalties for non-compliance. For the shipping industry, flexibility is key. Dual-fuel engines, alternative fuels and innovative solutions are becoming essential strategies to reduce costs, manage volatile fuel prices and stay compliant. However, as the competition for green feedstocks across sectors intensifies, long-term planning is more crucial than ever. At STX, we understand the complexity of this transition and offer tailored strategies to help navigate the regulatory and market challenges ahead. 

As we reflect on the past six months, we are proud of the innovative solutions we have delivered, rethinking the boundaries of global decarbonization and environmental commodities. Innovation is at our core, driving us to break market inefficiencies, boost strategic collaboration and find new opportunities everywhere. Let's celebrate the achievements of the past half year and keep our sights set on creating a lasting, positive impact: 🔹 Securing transferable tax credits from a solar project in the US: by simplifying corporate access to renewable energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, we democratize tax equity benefits and empower companies to reinvest savings directly into sustainability initiatives, accelerating their path to net zero. 🔹 Delivering biogenic CO2 for sustainable e-fuel production: our partnership with Norsk e-Fuel is advancing carbon capture and scaling e-fuels production for aviation industry, which can reduce emissions by up to 99% and decarbonizing a key sector. 🔹 Completing the largest-ever ship-to-ship liquified biomethane delivery: collaborating with Hapag-Lloyd and Titan Clean Fuels, we enabled a major ship-to-ship bunkering operation, demonstrating it as a practical, scalable low-emission fuel and paving the way for low-carbon shipping worldwide. 🔹 Expanding our environmental credit facility up-to EUR 375 million: This significant increase from the previous EUR 150 million is evidence of the growing importance of environmental products in commodities trading and shows our commitment to support the growth of environmental commodities, enhancing our ability to finance sustainable projects and drive meaningful impact in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our innovations have been recognized by Energy Risk Awards 2024 as “Climate Risk Manager of the Year”, TXF awarding our Borrowing Base, initially launched last year, as “Green Energy Commodity Finance Deal of the Year” and our fast and sustainable growth earned us a spot in the list of top 250 fastest-growing companies in The Netherlands by the Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship. These achievements reflect our entrepreneurial spirit and determination to be a force for good that questions the status quo. Here’s for the next six months!

Today marks World Hydrogen Day and the industry finds itself on the brink of a new chapter – the one we’ve been building towards for years. The journey of hydrogen has taken us through curiosity, excitement, bold declarations and scepticism. While the call for immediate results and 'all or nothing' approaches have sometimes overshadowed real progress, the future of hydrogen is far more practical and promising than ever before. We all want a world where this energy dense, zero emission molecule can freely flow through vast pipeline networks, connecting low cost of production with high demand, but it’s unrealistic to think this is just around the corner. We need to be working on that in parallel to building out production. Synthetic fuels like e-methane give us an ideal; interim solution to our transport and use-case problem. Capturing carbon dioxide and producing hydrogen are essential for the long term. Temporarily bringing them together to give economic viability to projects derisks the investment and ensures when our hydrogen pipelines are ready, there will be ample supply to use them. Although giga projects have faced challenges, this has paved the way for solutions grounded in reality with practical routes to the market. While we work towards hydrogen’s full potential, synthetic fuels such as e-methane are providing an interim solution, capturing CO2 and producing hydrogen to ensure economic viability today. At STX, our commitment to low-carbon solutions is unwavering. We continue to build our RFNBO portfolio alongside biofuels, offering tailored and compliant energy options to clients across the globe.

We’re thrilled to see our announcement featured in Carbon Pulse! STX has successfully renewed and expanded its borrowing base facility up-to €375 million, marking a significant increase from the previous €150 million. This growth highlights the immense market interest in environmental products, underscoring their increasing importance in global commodities trading. As we continue to push the boundaries of environmental commodities, this facility enables us to further drive positive change and innovation in the global market. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dS5ZsFBT

As #ClimateWeekNYC is coming to an end, a major spotlight is on the path to 24/7 renewable energy—a vision that requires a fundamental shift in how we track, purchase and manage power. The launch of #247Coalition highlights the growing importance of granular energy tracking, with Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) playing a pivotal role in this transformation. Our key views on the granularity discussion: Supportive policies need to evolve quicker: While granular certificates are still primarily used in voluntary markets, policies like RED III in Europe and the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard are setting higher compliance standards. In the U.S., we’re seeing similar momentum as companies push for greater transparency in renewable energy usage. However, faster progress is needed to encourage widespread adoption of granular tracking. The path to hourly matching is incremental: The ultimate goal of 24/7 renewable energy is clear—hourly matching of consumption with renewable production. But we won't achieve this overnight. Recognizing and incentivizing interim steps like quarterly or monthly matching is crucial to keep momentum during this transition. Investments in supporting technologies are needed: To ensure the reliability of 24/7 carbon-free electricity, substantial investments in technologies like battery storage are necessary to ensure renewable energy is available when it’s needed most. At STX Group, we're at the forefront of EACs. In 2023, we facilitated the trading of over 300 TWh of green electricity and as the market embraces more granular matching, we're here to support our corporate partners in navigating this new landscape. Reach out to explore how we can support your journey!

We are thrilled to announce the renewal and expansion of the environmental commodities credit facility, now up to EUR 375 million. This substantial increase from the previous facility of up to EUR 150 million is a direct result of the overwhelming interest among market participants. It clearly indicates environmental products' increased and vital role in commodities trading. "This expanded facility shows our leadership in the environmental commodities market, our determination to maximize our positive impact, and the growing recognition of the value climate finance delivers," said Bart Wesselink, Chief Financial and Risk Officer at STX Group. Seven major banks collaborated to secure the expanded facility: Deutsche Bank, Garanti BBVA International, ING, KBC Bank & Verzekering, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, Rabobank and Societe Generale. The lenders were advised by Clifford Chance, STX Group by A&O Shearman. Follow the link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dZcF9T-9

Meet Simon Abendanon, Carbon Trader and Head of our UK Office. Simon’s extensive international experience has shaped his expertise as a carbon trader, allowing him to navigate and excel in diverse, global markets. As a key player in establishing our London office, he has been vital in further expanding our presence in this competitive market. Keep an eye out for more insights from STX, and don’t miss the full interview available here: https://lnkd.in/dndUBDZF #lifeatstx