U.S. regulators consider the issue of data centers in power plants
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission held a technical meeting on Friday to discuss the reliability and cost concerns associated with the growing trend of building data centers that are energy-intensive on the site of U.S. nuclear power plants. The technology industry is racing to build data centers to support technologies such as generative artificial intelligence. However, accessing the huge amounts of electricity required for these centers quickly has become a major problem.
Germany allocates $3 billion to decarbonisation subsidies
According to the German economy ministry, the German government has allocated up to 2.8 billion euro ($3.1 billion) for 15 industrial companies to help them decarbonise their operations under its first "climate protection contract" round. Berlin, as part of Germany’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2045 will provide 15-year subsides to companies such as those in the glass, paper, and chemical sectors in exchange for them reducing their carbon emissions during production.
MARA, a cryptominer, taps the power generated by U.S. Shale Patch in a new pilot program
MARA Holdings Inc. has announced that it is now producing electricity in the U.S. Shale Patch as part of a program pilot to power 25 megawatts for its mining operations using excess natural gas. The company said that the move was made in response to the intensifying competition between Big Tech AI data centers for electricity, which has caused the crypto industry to change its business strategy and either market AI or find a way around the power battle. Fred Thiel, Chief Executive Officer of MARA, said: "The AI guys will pay any price to meet their energy demand.
The UK has committed up to $28.5 billion for carbon capture projects
The government announced on Friday that it will invest up to 21.7 billion pounds (up to $28.5 billion) in 25 years for the development of carbon capture and storage technology to reduce emissions from energy, industry, and hydrogen production. Britain has set a target of achieving net zero emissions in 2050. CCS is needed to reduce emissions from industries that are energy-intensive and to create jobs. In a press release, Chancellor of Exchequer Rachel Reeves stated that "this game-changing technology" will bring 4…
Britain has pledged up to 21,7 billion pounds for cleaner energy
The government announced on Friday that it will invest up to 28.46 billion pounds (21.7 billion pounds) in the development of carbon capture and storage and hydrogen technology for northern England. Britain has set a target of achieving net zero emissions in 2050. CCS is needed to reduce emissions from industries that are energy-intensive and to create jobs. The Chancellor of Exchequer Rachel Reeves stated that "this game-changing technology" will create 4,000 jobs in communities in Merseyside, and Teesside.
BP Beefs Up Hydrogen Team in Bet on Fuel's Future
BP is beefing up its hydrogen management team as the energy company prepares to accelerate investments in the low-carbon fuel which it believes will play a key role in the world's shift away from fossil fuels.The revamp of the hydrogen team is the first clear sign of changes Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, a former head of RWE Renewables, has made since becoming BP's head of natural gas and renewables in March.It also comes as BP announces it has agreed to buy a 40.5% stake and become…
Offshore Wind to Hydrogen Project Progresses
The next phase of Gigastack, a renewable hydrogen project, has secured GBP 7.5 million funding as part of the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Hydrogen Supply Competition.The Gigastack project, led by ITM Power, Ørsted, Phillips 66 Limited and Element Energy, will show how renewable hydrogen derived from offshore wind can support the UK's 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emission target. Producing hydrogen has traditionally been associated with high carbon emissions, but by using renewable electricity, e.g.
Ørsted, Covestro Ink World's Largest Offshore Wind PPA
Polymer materials supplier Covestro has signed a 10-year corporate power purchase agreement with Ørsted to buy the output of 100MW from the planned Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm, expected to be fully commissioned in 2025, subject to Ørsted's final investment decision (FID).Covestro will offtake 100MW of the planned wind farm's 900MW total capacity for 10 years, which makes it the world's largest corporate PPA for offshore wind. The PPA will be effective from 2025.Covestro…
Waterborne Signs MoU with Hydrogen Europe
Hydrogen Europe and the Waterborne Technology Platform signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 13 May 2019 to foster opportunities of hydrogen based fuels as part of zero-emission waterborne transport.The European research and innovation platform for waterborne industries said in a press release that this MoU will help both parties to identify opportunities for hydrogen-related technologies in order to reduce the significant emissions of waterborne transport.Furthermore…
LNG Only Fills Niches in Europe
Although LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) provides a solid supplement to European gas supplies, the EU is and will remain a pipeline market – for good reasons, said Wintershall's new position paper.The report from Germany's largest crude oil and natural gas producer on the importance of liquid gas for Europe said that the liquefaction is highly energy-intensive – the energy consumption corresponds to about 13% of the gas transported.With an energy loss of less than five percent, pipelines are much more energy-efficient. Another argument for pipeline gas lay in its lower costs.
As Renewables Soar, BP sees China Hitting Brakes
Global demand for renewable power will soar at an unprecedented pace over the coming decades, BP said in a benchmark report on Thursday, while China's energy growth is seen sharply decelerating as its economic expansion slows.Still, China is set to remain the largest energy consumer by a long stretch into 2040 although India should overtake it in terms of demand growth beginning in the next decade, the British oil and gas giant said in its 2019 Energy Outlook.China's energy demand rose by 5.9 percent over the past 20 years…
DAVOS: Oil Majors Huddle in DAVOS to Mull Future
When the global oil industry held its biggest annual gathering this week in the Swiss town of Davos, it invited banking bosses and fund managers to discuss two key topics - climate change and pressure from investors.The conclusion of the discussions was worrying for those present - pressure is rising and the industry is losing a battle not to be seen as one of the world's biggest evils.The answer? Lure investors with higher returns and raise the PR game."There is no doubt - and…
ING Will Not Finance Major Canadian Pipeline Projects
Dutch lender ING Groep NV has said it would not finance any of Canada's major pipeline projects, including TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL and Energy East and Enbridge Inc's Line 3, after pressure from activists. The move came after ING earlier this month publicly disavowed Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd's Trans Mountain expansion project, but did not name any other Canadian projects. While ING has a policy of not financing the extraction of oil sands globally, it had been unclear whether that included the Canadian pipelines.
Australia in Talks With Gas Majors to Avert Local Shortage
Australian PM in crisis talks with gas majors; Australia faces gas shortage despite exports soaring. Australia's top gas producers, led by ExxonMobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell, agreed to boost supply to the country's domestic market to help avert an energy shortage following crisis talks with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Australia is on track to become the world's largest exporter of liquified natural gas (LNG), yet its energy market operator has warned of a domestic gas crunch from 2019 that could trigger industry supply cuts and broad power outages. "We are a massive gas exporter.
Poland Balks at EU Carbon Market Reform
Poland is challenging draft carbon market reforms agreed by most European Union governments this week, saying the deal is not-binding because it did not have the full backing of the bloc's 28 nations, the country's environment ministry said on Thursday. Poland does not rule out taking the issue to the European Court of Justice to unravel the legislation, once it is adopted, Environment Ministry spokesman Pawel Mucha told Reuters. Poland was among nine countries who opposed a deal backed by 19 EU environment ministers on long-awaited reforms of the Emission Trading System (ETS)…
Chile Eyes Further Energy Exports to Argentina
Chile is looking at boosting energy exports to Argentina and connecting with electricity grids in neighboring countries, as it seeks to capitalize on friendly relations to drive down prices, the energy minister said Thursday. Chile, which has almost no hydrocarbons of its own and an energy-intensive copper mining industry, has struggled for years with high power prices. But a shift towards renewables and warming relations with neighboring countries is starting to take some of the pressure off.
EU Postpones Carbon Market Reform Vote
Lawmakers still divided on proposed reforms. A vote by European lawmakers on an overhaul of the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) will be postponed until Dec. 15 because major parties remain divided over how far the reforms should go, EU sources said on Monday. The European Parliament's environment committee, which had been due to vote on Thursday, has the lead on reviewing the European Commission's proposal to reform the ETS. The cap-and-trade system is designed to make big polluters, such as power companies and industrial firms, pay for their emissions by buying carbon permits.
Oil Majors Pledge $1 bln to Fight Climate Change
OGCI to first focus on CCUS and reducing methane emissions. Some of the world's biggest oil companies, including Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell, pledged on Friday to invest $1 billion to help fight climate change as a global deal to wean the world off fossil fuels came into force. The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), which also includes Total, BP, Eni, Repsol , Statoil, CNPC, Pemex and Reliance Industries, has established the Climate Investments fund which will help develop carbon-reducing technologies over the coming ten years.
Chile to Choose from 84 Bids on Massive Energy Contracts
Chile is due to announce on Wednesday the winners of bids to provide around a third of the country's energy needs for two decades from the 2020s as the world's top copper miner seeks to encourage renewables and cut high prices. Divided into five blocks, the winners will supply a total 12,430 gigawatts per hour annually for 20 years from 2021 and 2022. The massive auction - the biggest in the country's history - has attracted 84 bids from home and abroad, including European firms Gas Natural, Ibereolica, Acciona Energia , AustrianSolar, wpd and Solairedirect.
Egypt's Launches Tender for Another FSRU
Egypt has launched a tender to hire a third floating and storage regasification unit (FSRU) to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), an official from state-run energy firm EGAS told Reuters. Egypt, a former energy exporter but now net importer due to falling production and rising consumption, began LNG imports last year to help avert blackouts on its overworked power grid. The official said the tender was launched on Tuesday seeking an FSRU with a capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day and would close in two weeks.
