Technip's chief claims that the floating wind market is'much smaller than expected'
Technip Energies CEO Arnaud Pietten said that the demand for floating wind turbines was much lower than it had been only three to five years ago. This reflects a broader concern across the wind industry. Ekwil is Technip and SBM Offshore's joint venture that focuses on "floating wind energy solutions". It will be there when projects are made. Pieton, in a call with reporters following the earnings announcement, said that there were very few projects at present.
US provides historic $26.5 billion loan to Southern Co subsidiaries
The?U.S. The Energy Department announced on Wednesday that it has provided a loan of $26.54 billion to'subsidiaries' of Southern Co in order to improve grid reliability. This is the largest loan ever offered by its loan office. According to the Energy Department, this financing will allow power customers in Georgia & Alabama to save more than $7 billion. Southern announced last year that it would freeze power bill increases for three years. Negotiations over loans made the company's decision possible, according to the?department.
The US AI boom is facing an electric shock
The race for artificial intelligence dominance by Big Tech may hit a snag soon as U.S. power grids struggle to keep up with hyperscalers who spend a lot of money. Microsoft, Amazon Alphabet, and Meta are among the technology giants in America that have announced in recent months plans to spend over $600 billion in AI by 2026. Investors are already unsure about the viability of this strategy due to the investment wave. The ambitious U.S.
The US imposes preliminary duties on solar imports originating from India, Indonesia and Laos
The U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday countervailing duty?on solar panels and cells imported by a?companies from India, Indonesia, and Laos?in an effort to counter subsidies supporting Asian industries. The decision was made by U.S. Trade officials who sided with the domestic solar factory owners, finding that the companies in the three countries had received government subsidies which rendered American products uncompetitive. This is the latest in an ongoing series of duties on solar imports that are mostly made by Chinese firms.
As global pressure increases, German Chancellor Merz travels to China in search of opportunities
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is visiting China this week. He's the latest European leader to seek a reset of relations with Beijing following a year which exposed the fragility in their supply chains and the collapse of their alliance with the U.S. Merz is making his first trip to China as a?chancellor' and leads a delegation that includes some of Germany’s top business leaders. This includes the heads of carmakers Volkswagen BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
As global pressure increases, German Chancellor Merz travels to China in search of opportunities
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is visiting China this week. He is the latest European leader to seek a reset of relations with Beijing following a year which exposed the 'crumbling' of their alliance with?the United States. The collapse of their alliance with the United States was exposed in a year that revealed vulnerabilities within their supply chains. Merz is leading a delegation that includes some of Germany's top business leaders. This includes the heads of Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Investors on edge as tensions over tariffs and inflation data keeps investors on edge
Investors remained 'cautious' ahead of important?domestic data and sought clarity about the latest tariff salvo. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed little changed at 9.022.30 points. The benchmark index had closed 0.6% lower Monday. Local markets remained in a wait-and see mode after U.S. president Donald Trump warned that he would increase duties on countries who reneged on recently negotiated trade deals. . Reserve Bank of Australia, the…
Premier Energies, India's solar company, is targeting Europe and the US, according to its executives
Two senior executives from India's Premier Energies said that the company plans to concentrate on exports, with buyers diversifying their supply chain away from China. This is a major change for the domestically focused solar equipment supplier. Western companies have been prompted to create new supply chains by tariff?concerns and concerns about over-reliance on a single manufacturing center. This has opened up opportunities for Indian manufacturers. Premier Energies has a fully-booked order book for the next 12-18 months.
NYT: Trump's ally Novatek signs deal with Russia on natural gas in Alaska
The New York Times reported that American financier 'Gentry Beach', who is a close friend of Donald Trump's family, had signed an agreement last fall with Russia's Novatek to develop natural gas for Alaska during the Western sanctions against Russia. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Alaska in August to end Russia's war against Ukraine. On the sidelines of negotiations, U.S. officials and Russian officials discussed a number of?potential deals in energy.
What is the current status of international oil companies operating in Venezuela?
Here are some key facts about the international oil companies operating in Venezuela. The country has vast oil reserves, but a dilapidated infrastructure. Hugo Chavez, the then president, expropriated foreign oil companies in the 2000s to strengthen the control of the PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, over the oilfields. The U.S., after capturing President Nicolas Maduro, eased sanctions against Venezuela's energy industry this month…
Solar industry shifts away from silver due to rising costs
Solar panel producers are intensifying their efforts to replace the silver in solar panels with copper, after the price of silver has risen?130% during the last year. This is putting pressure on margins, which were already under pressure due to overcapacity. Derek Schnee, Senior Commercial Solar Consultant at JK Renewables said that silver is the biggest contributor to the increase in the cost of manufacturing solar panel. He added that the cost has increased by 7-15% within the past year.
Minister says India aims to produce rare-earth permanent magnetic magnets by the end of the year
India hopes to produce rare earth permanent magnets by the end of this year, in partnership with the private sector. The 'federal mining minister' said that on Thursday. New Delhi approved in November a programme to manufacture permanent magnets made of rare earths worth 73 billion rupees ($802 millions). Magnets are used in industries from aerospace and electric vehicles to renewable energy and defence. Minister Kishan Reddy announced…
Indonesia and US firms sign trade, investment agreements worth $7 billion
The U.S. ASEAN Business Council reported that Indonesian & U.S. firms signed 'trade and investment agreements worth more than $7 bn? on Wednesday, a day before Indonesian President Prabowo?Subianto meets with U.S. president Donald Trump for a meeting to sign a final deal. According to a U.S. ASEAN Business Council fact sheet, the agreements were signed during a dinner hosted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Prabowo. They include Indonesian companies purchasing 1 million metric tonnes of U.S.
What's in the EU's proposed 'Made in Europe' law draft?
Next week, the European Commission will introduce a new law requiring a minimum percentage of products to be "made in Europe" when using public money to support 'key strategic technologies. Why do it? Why do it? Prioritizing European-made products in public contracts will allow the EU to leverage the financial power of public procurement, which is more than 2 trillion euro ($2.37 trillion), or 14% of EU output. What will the law do?
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could have a significant impact on markets in France and Benelux or individual stocks. Aeroports de Paris, the French airport operator, reported a 7.8 million passenger increase in January for Paris, while group traffic reached 29.5 millions passengers, an increase of 5.0 percent. EIFFAGE: French concessions and construction company Eiffage will strengthen its presence in Germany by acquiring the assets of Claus Heinemann Elektroanlagen.
Siemens Energy investors claim that the spin-off of wind units is premature
In response to an activist investor who called for a split-up, three major Siemens Energy shareholders said that the company should fix its?loss making wind turbine division first before considering a separation. Comments reflect the company's support for its strategy to stabilise the business before considering any strategic options. Ananym Capital, an activist shareholder from the United States, disclosed its stake in Siemens Energy in December.
Top Siemens Energy investors: Wind unit spin-off premature for now
Three of the largest Siemens Energy shareholders said that the company should fix its 'loss-making... wind turbine division, before considering a spin-off. They were responding to an activist investor who was pushing for a split-up. The comments show support for the current strategy of the company to stabilise the business and then look at strategic options. Ananym Capital, an activist shareholder in the United States, disclosed its stake in Siemens Energy in December.
US permits oil majors to resume Venezuelan operations and broadly approves new energy investment
The U.S. eased its sanctions against Venezuela's energy industry on?Friday. It issued two general licenses allowing global energy companies? to resume oil and?gas operations in the OPEC?member?and other companies?to negotiate??contracts? on investments in???new???energy operations?. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a license allowing Chevron BP Eni Shell Repsol and Repsol resume their oil and gas operations. The second license is for companies to invest in Venezuelan oil or gas.
China's biotech licensing boom will reach record levels in 2026, as pipelines swell
As global drugmakers cut costs before patents expire, they are increasing their search for China's experimental medicines. Industry analysts predict that licensing deals this year will reach a new record. According to Pharmcube, the value of such deals signed by companies within Greater China - including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan – rose tenfold from 2021, to an unprecedented $137.7 Billion. Mainland China is at the forefront of this search. Global drugmakers such as Novartis Merck and GSK signed major agreements in China last year.
Andy Home, Andy Home: The US and Canada are now working together to secure critical minerals.
The U.S. president Donald Trump just announced "Project Vault", an $12 billion stockpile of critical minerals intended to protect U.S. manufacturing companies from disruptions in supply. The U.S. will need help to fill the Vault with 60 minerals that are currently classified as "critical". The U.S. is reviving friend-shoring as it seeks to form a metal alliance with China to break its stranglehold on the metals at the heart of modern technology. The U.S. is more popular than ever.