Qcells claims that a new technology could reduce the space required for solar panels
Hanwha Corp.'s Qcells announced on Wednesday that it had made a significant breakthrough in a new solar technology. This has the potential of reducing the space needed by panels to generate electricity from the sun's light. The solar industry is facing a number of pressing challenges, including the need for more space. In some areas of the United States, large-scale projects that occupy vast tracts of land are being met with opposition. Qcells announced that it had achieved a record in the world for the efficiency and cost of large-area silicon cells with perovskite as the top layer.
Rystad reports that oil majors have over 40 biofuel projects planned by 2030.
Rystad, a consultancy, said that major oil and gas companies are investing more in biofuels, betting on sustainable aircraft fuel (SAF). By 2030, 43 projects should be completed, the report stated. Energy research firm says that industry giants like ExxonMobil and Shell could increase production by 286,000 barrels a day. SAF is produced by using wastes and residues like organic crops or used cooking oils. It emits the exact same amount of CO2 as kerosene. It is considered to be less polluting because it is made from plants or leftovers, rather than new oil that releases more greenhouse gases.
Brazil's mega dams were supposed to lead the way for a greener future. Climate change came next
The drought has exacerbated the problem of underperformance. When he first came to power in the early 2000s, Brazil's President Luiz inacio Lula da silva bet his green future on "run-of river" megadams - whose turbines move by natural river flow rather than cascading water from towering dams. Santo Antonio Jirau and Belo Monte have been built in the Amazonian rainforest despite the strong opposition of environmental groups. They are now among the five most powerful dams within the country. Belo Monte was built in 2016 and has the fourth largest capacity in the entire world.
Orsted and Iberdrola among the winners in record British renewable energy auction
Orsted and Iberdrola are among the winners in a British renewable energy auction that supported a record-breaking number of projects. The government announced this on Tuesday. The Labour government that came to power in July plans to decarbonise electricity by 2030. This will require an increase in renewable energy capacity, such as solar and wind. Ed Miliband, Energy Secretary, said in a press release that "today we achieved a record round of enough renewable energy for 11 million households. The auction will support projects that can generate almost 10 gigawatts, the majority of which are offshore wind and solar.
Brazil's fossil drive undermines Lula’s green ambitions
Brazil's government has invested heavily in fossil-fuels and plans to make the country the fourth largest oil producer by 2030. This month, President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law regulating the green hydrogen industry in the country. He will be hosting the United Nations COP30 Climate Summit next year. Which country can compete against us in energy transition? He asked this question at the signing ceremony. Lula said that he wants to make Brazil a global supplier of low-carbon fuels and the "Saudi Arabia" of renewable energy within 10 years.
Making Waves @ OSU: Energy Secretary, Senators, Governor tour Oregon State Wave Lab
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Oregon U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown visited the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at Oregon State University on Tuesday afternoon, with Granholm touting wave energy as “the elixir that we need” to address climate change by ending the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.The visit was organized by OSU and the Pacific Marine Energy Center, a consortium of universities including Oregon State that is focused on advancing marine renewable energy.“We’ve all been in the ocean…
Oil Trade; Asia Imports more Seaborne Russian oil than Europe
Almost four months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian crude oil, Urals, has seen a switch in flow from its traditional market of Europe to Asia. Since the start of the war, based on the average of March to May 2022, Indian imports of Urals crude have picked up by 658% compared to 2021 levels, while for China the increase is 205% and for Asia as a whole 347%, Rystad Energy research shows. India has emerged as the significant Urals importer in the region, prompted by the crude’s attractive margin in relation to Middle Eastern grades, which have traditionally been the country’s staple.
USA: Twelve Offshore Wind R&D Projects Selected for Funding
The U.S. National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC) has selected twelve projects for contract negotiation, completing its first solicitation for offshore wind research and development technology projects. The twelve awards totaling $10.3 million will support a variety of research areas, including comprehensive U.S. supply chain analyses, studying the impacts of offshore wind on the electric grid system, and innovations in anchoring structures.The Consortium, formed in 2018, was initially…
Aker Solutions, Cognite Win $2M Grant for Floating Wind Farm Tech
California Energy Commission has awarded Aker Solutions and Cognite a $2 million grant for a project called NextWind Real-Time Condition Monitoring.The project is focused on next-generation solutions in wind through digitalization and aims to develop a holistic digital solution that will enable monitoring the condition of an offshore floating wind farm and its impact on the environment via live data streaming.Aker Solutions, partnering with Cognite, was selected for the grant award as part of the California Energy Commission's Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC).
Oil Firms to Spend $53Bn at Stabroek Block
Global oil firms are preparing to spend more than $53 billion in Guyana’s coveted Stabroek Block during the coming decade.According to Rystad Energy research, recent discoveries in the Guyana-Suriname basin have proven a wider petroleum system and may cause an upgrade in resource estimates, drawing extra attention to upcoming wells.It said that with more than 8 billion barrels of recoverable oil discovered in Stabroek thus far, companies are set to boost their capital expenditure for the area, with ExxonMobil leading the way.The Liza field – the first and largest discovery in the block – has increased the oil major’s appetite…
Offshore Wind: Half Empty or Half Full?
As a new decade starts, offshore wind development continues to progress. Actually, it’s probably more accurate to write that the development of the development of offshore wind (OFW) continues to, uh, well, develop.Apologies for that mild sarcasm. But even a quick look-back at OFW always raises the same familiar question: is the glass half empty or half full?Consider developments in the east coast leader in offshore wind: New York.In a webinar in December New York’s NYSERDA – New York State Energy Research and Development Authority – provided an update and summary on the State’s 2019 offshore wind initiatives…
US Offshore Wind Capacity to Reach 20GW by 2030
Installed offshore wind capacity in US waters could reach 20 gigawatts by 2030 and annual investments in the sector could surpass $15 billion by the mid-2020s, according to new research by Rystad Energy.According energy research and business intelligence company, such a trajectory means capital expenditure in US offshore wind will likely exceed those in US offshore oil and gas within the next five years – a truly remarkable development.“There are currently 6 GW of offshore wind projects in the US that have been sanctioned for development, requiring collective investments of more than $20 billion over the next five years.
US Shale Sector Performs Well
U.S. shale operators are on track to grow 2019 oil production by around 16% over 2018 thanks to impressive operational execution so far this year.The third quarter earnings season revealed that shale companies increased their oil production by about two percent, all while cutting the midpoint guidance for yearly drilling and completions expenses, according to Rystad Energy.The energy research and consulting firm headquartered in Norway said that U.S. shale operators will continue expanding in the fourth quarter…
Southeast Asia Bullish on OFS Market
Offshore project sanctions in Southeast Asia could lift greenfield investments in the oilfield services market by nearly 70 percent in 2020, said Rystad Energy.According to Norwegian energy research firm, the growth will be driven by a handful of new mega-projects across Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam, according to the latest tally of project commitments in Southeast Asia by the Norwegian energy research and consulting firm.New final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2021 are expected to sound the starting gun for big contract awards in Vietnam…
Offshore Wind: New York Moves on Sunrise
Sunrise Wind, a joint venture of Ørsted A/S and Eversource Energy, has signed a 25-year OREC purchase-and-sale agreement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).Earlier in July 2019, New York selected Sunrise Wind as the preferred bidder for an 880MW offshore wind farm (OWF).The Sunrise Wind project has an average all-in development cost of USD80.64 per MWh (2018 prices) with an expected average OREC cost of USD22.62 per MWh.Sunrise Wind is the world’s leading offshore wind developer, and Eversource, New England’s largest energy company.
US Crude Exports Expected to Double by 2022
The U.S. could see its crude oil exports nearly double by 2022, according to energy research firm Rystad Energy. US crude exports could grow from current levels of 2.9 million barrels per day (bpd) to nearly 6 million bpd by 2022.With US production expected to increase by 1.2 million bpd year-over-year (y/y) in 2020, and with domestic refineries already maxing out capacity to absorb shale growth, Rystad Energy expects exports to balloon and reach 4.7 million bpd by the end of 2020 and nearly 6 million bpd by the end of 2022.“Crude exports will grow on the back of new infrastructure coming online in Corpus Christi…
Digitalization: Oil Industry Could Save up to $100Bln
The global oil and gas industry can save as much as $100 billion through automation and digitalization in the 2020s, energy research firm Rystad Energy said."As much as $100 billion can be eliminated from E&P upstream budgets through automation and digitalization initiatives in the 2020s. Service companies are reinventing themselves to help operators unlock these savings," said the study by Rystad.In 2018, $1 trillion was spent on operational expenditures, wells, facilities and subsea capital expenditures across more than 3,000 companies in the upstream space.
Equinor to be ‘Offshore Wind Major’
The multi-billion capital investment by Equinor at its new Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm will see it rival its major oil and gas projects, according to Rystad Energy."The offshore wind project Dogger Bank in the UK North Sea will not only be Equinor’s largest project through 2026, it will also rank as the sixth largest offshore development project in the world during this period," said the energy research firm.UK authorities announced on Friday that Equinor and joint venture partner SSE have been chosen to develop the world’s largest offshore wind farm…
US Shale to Peak at 14.5Mbpd in 2030
US shale supply will peak at approximately 14.5 million barrels per day (bpd) around 2030, said the energy research and business intelligence company Rystad Energy.In the past decade, crude oil coming from shale patches such as the Permian in the US has grown from a negligible contributor to an upstream behemoth, reshaping the industry and the oil market.US Light Tight Oil (LTO) represented less than 1% of global oil supply just nine years ago. Today, US LTO represents close to 10% of total global oil supply, a percentage which is expected to continue its ascent going forward. But by how much?
SE Asia to Expand Floating Solar Set to Grow
Floating solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are making a splash in Southeast Asia. Development of floating solar PV power plants is expected to increase 100-fold in the region over the next five to 15 years, according to energy research firm Rystad Energy. Projects plans are in the works in Thailand and Vietnam as large-scale floating PV installations, with smaller utility-scale floating PV developments being proposed in Indonesia, Singapore and Myanmar.Rystad Energy expects large-scale floating PV developments…
