MenuThe west coast of the United States is ablaze. Nearly 100 wildfires burning from San Diego to Seattle have devastated communities, killed at least 14 people, incited rolling blackouts, and caused billions of dollars in damages. California has seen a record-setting 2.5 million acres burned thus far in 2020, with the cooler and damper Pacific Northwest approaching
Category Archives: Energy Security
Solar Power Prices Sink In The Age Of COVID
Solar module prices in the US and around the world are plummeting, and this has far-reaching implications for humanity’s transition from the age of hydrocarbons to the age of electrification. I have repeatedly defended on these pages that renewables will win out once they become economically competitive with fossil fuels and nuclear. Continued
Get Smart: AI And The Energy Sector Revolution
Artificial intelligence is about to trigger explosive changes in our lives, work, and leisure, but few understand what the technology can do beyond Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. These are examples of virtual assistant or ‘weak AI’ technology — the most common example of AI application. But in the data-driven energy sector, sophisticated machine learning
Tesla Begins Construction Of World’s Largest Battery Storage Facility
Tesla and PG&E recently broke ground on a record-setting energy storage system in Moss Landing (Monterey) California that, once complete, will be the largest such installation in the world. The battery park will be able to dispatch up to 730 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy to the electrical grid at a maximum rate of 182.5 MW for up to
VENEZUELA’S FINEST HOUR: GUAIDO, TRUMP AND THE WEST CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE | OPINION
We may be approaching the finale of the power struggle between Venezuela’s illegitimate Chavista regime and the country’s beleaguered democratic opposition. If the opposition’s champion Juan Guaido can succeed in wresting authority from Nicholas Maduro, the consequences will reverberate well beyond Caracas, into global energy markets—and exacerbate the U.S.–Russia rivalry. Continued
Expert: U.S. weak response for Vitol’s violation could send message to other oil companies
Baku. 13 February. REPORT.AZ/ “Should the U.S. government issue a weak response for the violation by Vitol, it could send a message to other oil companies that violating sanctions for the sake of profit is worth the risk,” Ariel Cohen, PhD, Senior fellow, the Atlantic Council and founding principal, International market analysis LTD, said. Continued
As Global Markets Cool, Investors Find Warmth In Central Asia’s Infrastructure
The long-anticipated global market correction may now be upon us. Worldwide stocks extend their losses over the weekend, leaving little room for optimism of a macroeconomic rebound. Chinese goods-exports growth slowed to 5.4% year-over-year in November, down from 15.6% in October. S&P futures are now down 10% on the year and the Dow Jones is
GM Must Adapt Or Die: A Lesson For U.S. Automakers
General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced Monday that it would be closing down five of its facilities across the United States, ceasing the production of six of its sedan brands, including the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, XTS, Chevrolet Cruze, Impala, and hybrid-electric Volt. GM will also lay off some 15,000 workers. The car manufacturer claims that through
Kazatomprom IPO With Astana International Financial Center (AIX) Shows Global Appetite For Uranium
Some say nuclear energy is the stepdaughter of the energy industry. Many investors beg to differ. On November 14, Kazatomprom (KAP), the state-owned uranium production company of Kazakhstan made history by becoming the first initial public offering of a large Kazakh company in more than a decade. This is a dramatic finale for two important
Oil Markets Yawn As Iran Sanctions Come Into Effect
A U.S. economic sledgehammer is falling on the Islamic Republic of Iran and global energy markets couldn’t care less – at least for now. Brent crude oil futures are up a meager $0.62 from their $72.61 open – bringing the benchmark to $73.23 just 12 hours into the first official day of renewed sanctions. Brent’s