Monday, December 23, 2024

S Energy Security News

Germany waives gas storage fees outside of the country starting Jan. 1, 2025

The German lower house of Parliament passed on Friday a change in energy law that will waive the domestic market storage fee at border points and virtual trading centers, effective Jan. 1, 2025. This will free foreign consumers from a costly element of price. Parliament approved the law change based on its incompatibility with European…

Biden's DoE LNG Export Study Tepid on New Permits

(c) alexyz3d Adobestock

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden released a long-awaited study on the economic and environmental impacts of liquefied natural gas exports on Tuesday, saying the results underscored the need for a cautious approach to new permits.Biden in January had paused the Department of Energy's approvals of U.S. LNG exports to big…

Japan aims to reach 40-50% of its power needs from renewable sources by 2040

According to a draft version of the revised basic energy policy of Japan, it wants nuclear power to make up 20% of its mix of electricity by 2040, while renewable energy will account for 50%. This is part of a push to promote clean energy and meet rising demand. Japan's basic energy plans, as the second largest importer of natural…

Sources say that the US study is likely to refrain from concluding that LNG exports are not in the public interest.

Two industry sources familiar with the matter said that the administration of President Joe Biden will release a report on Tuesday regarding the export of liquefied gas. The study is not expected to conclude that the trade does not serve the public's interest. Biden halted in January the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. LNG imports to major consumers in Asia…

Britain announces plan to encourage the development of clean energy projects

The UK launched on Friday a plan that will make it easier for developers and investors to build clean energy project, which they hope will help them meet their climate targets as well as create jobs. The UK has set a goal to decarbonise the power sector largely by 2030. This will reduce its dependence on gas-fired plants and increase its renewable energy capacity rapidly.

Eastern Canadian provinces replace controversial Churchill Falls Hydropower deal

On Thursday, the Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its neighboring Quebec to create a deal for hydroelectric generation in Labrador. This agreement is expected to generate revenue of approximately C$200 billion (US$140.97 billion). The agreement will replace the contentious 1969 contract…

US solar industry's strategy for Trump's era downplays climate

The U.S. Solar Industry unveiled their lobbying strategy on Thursday for the incoming Trump Administration. They promoted themselves as a domestic employment engine that could help meet soaring demand for power, without mentioning its role in fighting climate change. The new policy agenda is a dramatic shift for the solar industry…

Document shows EU is looking to geothermal energy in its drive for energy security

A draft EU document revealed that the European Union plans to promote geothermal power as it searches for ways to replace Russian natural gas and lower energy prices. According to a draft document, the 27 EU member states will endorse geothermal power for the first-time at the meeting of EU energy Ministers in Brussels, next week.

NOIA Reacts as BOEM Announces Next Steps for GoM Oil & Gas

FOTOSTUDIO / Adobestock

National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito issued the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico:"We are pleased to see BOEM finally moving forward with the next step…

Equinor and Shell form UK Oil and Gas Joint Venture

The Norwegian group announced on Thursday that Equinor, a Norwegian oil company, and Shell would combine their British offshore assets in order to form a new entity owned by each party at 50%. The joint venture is expected to be the largest independent producer in the British North Sea by 2025, Equinor stated in a press release. Equinor…

EDF will extend the operational life of four British nuclear reactors

EDF said it would extend the lives of four British nuclear power plants and invest 1,34 billion pounds in the British fleet between 2025 and 2027. This will boost the energy security of the country and its efforts to achieve its climate goals. Britain's goal is to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030, and reduce its dependence…

Brazil will offer 91 oil blocks permanently

Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy said in a statement on Friday that it will sell 91 oil blocks permanently. This could result in signing bonuses of up to 2.4 billion Reis ($394.11m) at the next auction. The government will offer 39 blocks within the Sao Francisco Basin of Minas Gerais, 41 blocks, and a marginal accumulating field in Rio Grande do Norte's Potiguar Basin…

API Responds to Tariff Threats

pipeline file photo (c) Fottoo / Adobestock

Maintaining the flow of energy products across the borders of the U.S., Mexico and Canada is critical, the top U.S. oil and gas lobbying group said on Tuesday in response to President-elect Donald Trump's threat of tariffs on Canada and Mexico."Canada and Mexico are our top energy trading partners, and maintaining the free flow of…

Poland to Boost Offshore Wind, Energy Security

Offshore wind (c) artjazz / Adobestock

Poland is planning to assign new areas for offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea and is drafting additional measures to boost the security of its critical energy infrastructure, government officials said on Wednesday."Maritime offices will submit analyses any moment, which will give grounds to make a decision on designating new areas for offshore wind farms…

JOGMEC reports that Japan's LNG exports increased by 1% during FY23/24 due to an increase in external trade.

According to the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, (JOGMEC), the volume of liquefied gas (LNG), handled by Japanese companies increased 1% on an annual basis in fiscal 2023/24 due to the increase in external trade. Japan is the second largest importer in the world of super-chilled gasoline, behind China. In 2030/31…

US oil industry calls on Trump to abandon Biden's climate policies

The U.S. Oil and Gas Industry on Tuesday called for President-elect Donald Trump's revocation of many policies implemented by President Joe Biden to combat climate change. They said the measures threatened jobs, consumer choices and energy security. The American Petroleum Institute, the nation's largest oil and gas trade association…

US oil industry calls on Trump to abandon Biden's climate policies

The U.S. Oil and Gas Industry on Tuesday called for President-elect Donald Trump's revocation of many policies proposed by President Joe Biden to combat climate change. They said the measures threatened jobs, consumer choices and energy security. The American Petroleum Institute, the nation's largest oil and gas trade association,…

Shell and Equinor face off against UK North Sea oil, gas projects

Shell and Equinor urged on Tuesday an Scottish court to support Britain's approval of the development two vast North Sea gas and oil fields as environmental activists attempted to block these projects. Shell is fighting Greenpeace's legal challenge at the Court of Session of Edinburgh regarding Britain's approval of the Jackdaw Gas Field in 2022.

Net zero target needs $3.5 trillion in annual green energy investment, Wood Mackenzie says

Wood Mackenzie's report on Tuesday said that the investment in green energy must double every year to $3.5 trillion if we are to reach the Paris Agreement goal of net zero emissions by the year 2050. The consultancy's report said that, in addition to the investment gap, global efforts to switch to cleaner energy are under pressure due to concerns about energy security and tariffs and barriers to trade…

Southeast Asia must increase investments by five times to achieve climate goals by 2035, according to the IEA

International Energy Agency stated on Tuesday that Southeast Asia must increase its clean energy investment to $190 billion by 2035, or five times current levels, to achieve climate goals. The IEA stated in a recent report that increasing energy investments must be accompanied with strategies to reduce emissions at the relatively new fleet of coal-fired power plants.