GLG News by Mr. Himadri Banerji, Chairman and Managing Director
GLG News is now G+ Insights
-
G+ is a community for professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to connect through online discussions and in-person meetings. You will continue to see G+ Insights (formerly GLG News) here as well as on the G+ website, where you can share and discuss the G+ Insights you read.
-
Land Ahoy...The Dawn of Concentrated Solar Power
November 18, 2008
"The technology that will save humanity" | www.salon.com
While defining solutions to carbon free electricity, the author outlines the criteria which according to him are eminently satisfied by Concentrated Solar Power i.e. affordable, non exhaustible, available to every country developed or underdeveloped, does not take much fresh water to produce or too much of arable land and available throughout the year, and easy to store; besides, it can be built quickly in hundreds of Giga Watts of Capacity per year. On the policy front, the author suggests that considering that CSP is capital intensive at start, government provides carbon linked loan guarantees and continues the thirty percent tax break till 2016. It mandates a minimum compulsory off take of renewable energy by all utilities, for exponentiation of a self regenerating market primarily arising out of the consequent economies of scale, supported by a positive carbon credit regime and supplemented by favorable learning curves of manufacturers.
-
Nuclear Energy Renaissance vs Renewable Solar, Wind and Hydro.
September 30, 2008
Nuclear Denial | www.renewableenergyworld.com
1. Unless pragmatism descends on energy costs of renewable like solar, wind etc, we need to seriously examine the nuclear energy options. 2. Carbon free alternative in India and China's power generation program can only come if the countries follow a credible nuclear energy program in the coming years. This is very evident by the data coming out of China at least. 3.We can't see renewable as practical to provide the bulk of our needs at the moment, or conservation, and needless to reiteratet fossil fuel shortages and global warming are even greater perils.
-
June 13, 2008
Edison Unit Cancels Suzlon Order | online.wsj.com
The news of the cancellation of the orders of 150 wind turbines, by an Edison company in US, following blade failures, placed on Suzlon an Indian Wind Turbine has triggered a debate, 1.Is the company's technology state of art ?And more significantly, 2. Has the management of Suzlon adopted state of art in the technology and processes in the entire value chain in the manufacture of large wind turbines including all critical components, while adopting technologies in Europe etc.(Does one see more in the recent spate of resignations of senior expatriate executives) 3.With the wind market growing apace around the world, opportunities are opening up for new turbine manufacturers and innovative machine concepts. Does not this pose insurmountable challenges to large manufacturers. 4.Above all the cardinal question is :Are the established players who can’t satisfy the demand on their own, are falling behind while adopting new technology?Is small beautiful.
-
The gas and oil prices on a roll..are hedgefunds going over the rail.
March 17, 2008
Natural Gas Rises as Inventories Decline, Crude Climbs to $111 | www.bloomberg.com
Speculators are driving prices of gas and oil to irrational levels. This is driven by demand supply gap driven alone. factors like the weak dollar is definitely accentuating the rise. Comprehensive data like hedge fund’s $104 billion invested at the end of 2007 is significantly higher than the $73 billion in the first seven months of last year, according to data from Singapore-based Research Company Eurekahedge is proof of this conclusion. There apparently is no downside and prices are expected to rise only accentuated by the sinking value of the dollar. The matter of deeper concern is that stabilization of the price is clearly not in sight.Imports of liquefied natural gas are running at about 50 percent of year-earlier amounts and prices in the U.S. will have to rise to compete with Asia and Europe.
-
Energy Security can we afford it to be a second cousin to Homeland Security
March 17, 2008
Shell Oil executive outlines 12-point energy plan | www.ogj.com
Hofmeister of Shell has outlined a twelve point action plan for achieving energy security, and called for attaching equal significance as given to homeland security. The plan needless to say needs national will, technological and human energy, and major financial investments. It is a pity that for a nation which has bred some of the world's leading thinkers and ideas in policy design and planning has never after the second world war designed a coherent and comprehensive energy plan that gives direction to the executive arm of the government for acjhieving energy security for the country.
-
Spot prices of coal to buck the trend...companies advised to hold
March 17, 2008
Citigroup: Perfect Storm or Perfect Swoon for Coal? | www.mineweb.com
The article as per Citigroup predicts a lowering of earnings for the coal industry in light of 1.Stabilization of production post snowstorm and flood related disruptions in China and Australia and extreme power shortages in South Africa. 2. Lowering of volumes owing to regulatory pressures. 3. Earnings will be hit because of predictions of higher input costs of fuel oil, steel and diesel. As per Merrill Lynch however, Japanese utilities, such as Chubu Electric Power Co may need to pay miners in Australia $135 a tonne for coal contracts in fiscal 2008 beginning April, up 143 percent from last year's agreed $55.65. Merrill Lynch had previously forecast 2008 thermal coal prices at $80 tonne. "There is now an obvious scramble for supply with industry sources confirming that Asian steel mills are begging for tonnes at close to any cost," Merrill Lynch said in a report led by Vicky Binns.
-
Limits to Growth in Energy Consumption..improve energy productivity or invite negative fedback
January 16, 2008
Curbing the Growth of Global Energy Demand | www.mckinseyquarterly.com
It is estimated that capturing the full range of energy saving opportunities, would improve global energy productivity by 135 Quadrillion BTUs (British Thermal Units) equivalent to 60 million barrels of oil per day or 150 percent of energy United States consumes today. What is more is that, it will have a spiralling effect on demand side innovation, Leading to a large pull-effect for products and services from manufacturers, utilities and other companies. Far from the conventional belief that conservation will retard economic development.
-
International Trade Regimes for Raw materials for Biofuel to accelerate progress.
October 31, 2007
Global Backlash on Biofuels Could Overshadow Future Potential, Says Worldwatch Institute | soyatech.com
As in the case of bio-ethanol, the biggest constraint for takeoff of the bio-diesel industry is insufficient supply of the raw material. For example, to fill this gap, vast wasteland areas, estimated at 38 to 187 million hectares in India, that include areas suitable for dryland-hardy bio-diesel crops needs to be made available to local communities. The requirement for US will be definitely higher. This may not be so easy to develop. Thus there is a portent world trade in raw materials for biofuel raw materials as a distinct commodity. Are we then to see the WTO stepping in to regulate the trade, and will this spell doom for biofuels or a boon.
-
Waiting for Godot: Or Is the Fuel Cell Sequel to the Microwave Real?
October 31, 2007
Wall Street upbeat on new breed of fuel | www.reuters.com
The combined market capitalization of the eight big listed players in the non-hydrogen fuelcell suppliers, at $1.428 billion, topped that of top 10 hydrogen fuel cell makers, at $1.311 billion, for the first time ever, Over the next three years, the share of hydrogen fuel cell makers will shrink to 30 percent of total global sales while the non-hydrogen will chalk up 70 percent, up from the present 50-50 split between the two sectors. In dollar terms, $1 billion in fuel cells, hydrogen and non-hydrogen, were sold worldwide in the past 10 years. Global annual sales stand at $250 million now but they can mushroom into a $10 billion-a-year industry if the non-hydrogen segment really takes off. Thus we are perhaps on the dawn of another revolution in home gadgetry. It is the non hydrogen natural gas fired fuel cell combined heat plant as a sequel to the microwave!!
-
October 15, 2007
Areva Forms Transformer Joint Venture With China's Sunten | www.bloomberg.com
Distribution transformers are the equipment which one sees at every nook and corner of the electricity supply network. Its purpose is to convert electricity at high voltage to low voltage somewhat safer electricity before electricity reaches the homes. Most of the world's distribution transformers are made with cores of high grade silicon steel. While converting from high voltage to low voltage there is a loss which is inevitable. The amorphous metal produces much lower losses.They are costly but have better efficiency and the extra costs are paid off within five to seven years. Utilities across the world have been reluctant to go all out with a major replacement plan, and as a result even today the adoption of the amorphous core technology for the distribution transformers is very minimal.China which has the world's largest number of distribution transformers has decided from 1990 onwards for introducing the low loss amorphous core transformers.
-
Coal to Liquid Can the US Government overlook any longer.
October 4, 2007
A Clean Car That Runs on Coal | www.msnbc.msn.com
Implications: Over the next thirty years, the most rapid increase in energy demand is expected to come from the transport sector (+2.1%/yr versus 1.7%/yr for total demand). At present, this sector relies almost exclusively on petroleum products, which brings up two key problems: oil dependence and the reduction of greenhouse gases. CTL has been touted as an alternative for reducing overdependence, and there is a considerable amount of support being dished out for accelerating the commercialization of the technology.
-
Mind your Carbon Footprint:Coal To Liquid or Coal Gasification?
September 28, 2007
Big Coal Tries to Recruit Military to Kindle a Market | online.wsj.com
Over the next thirty years, the most rapid increase in energy demand is expected to come from the transport sector (+2.1%/yr versus 1.7%/yr for total demand). At present, this sector relies almost exclusively on petroleum products, which brings up two key problems: oil dependence and the reduction of greenhouse gases. CTL has been touted as an alternative for reducing overdependence, and there is a considerable amount of support being dished out for accelerating the commercialization of the technology. The latest is to rekindle the market with subsidy for a risk free assured contract for US military. However, with the carbon emissions from the CTL technology being high,and unmanageable, CTL is definitely out of place in the present greenhouse-gas constrained world.
-
Carbon Future or Self Dependence
September 28, 2007
Obama Walks Away From Liquid Coal | climateprogress.org
Over the next thirty years, the most rapid increase in energy demand is expected to come from the transport sector (+2.1%/yr versus 1.7%/yr for total demand). At present, this sector relies almost exclusively on petroleum products, which brings up two key problems: oil dependence and the reduction of greenhouse gases. Coal to Liquid( CTL) does offer a viable alternative, at today's oil prices, however critics have been up against CTL, as CO2 emissions are higher with CTL than for conventional technologies. The question is however, long term commitment of resources in developing the CTL business through risk free contracts need to be pursued or not?
-
The bonanza in farm income: Are we seeing the emergence of farmoil in world trade
September 27, 2007
Biodiesel boom heads to Wall Street | money.cnn.com
The news definitely augurs well for the farmers and however sustenance of growth is dependent on the subsidy the Government gives to the bio fuels industry as a whole. US farm income which had been actually stagnating, will now grow due the boom in bio diesel and ethanol production. However application of World Trade Organization Rules to international trade of biofuels is a likely constraint which may restrain the growth inside US.
-
September 7, 2007
Idaho Transmission Dispute Settled | www.renewableenergyaccess.com
1.The Challenges in developing transmission capacity to met the goals of 15 % power through renewable by 2020 in US 2.Prevent transmission overload that could take place with the new projects 3.Finding a least-cost and reasonable solution to capacity and operational constraints on the transmission system that will benefit all the stake holders. 4.Existing transmission capacity insufficient to meet the required reliability standards during times of emergency, such as when redundancy in transmission lines reduced. 5.Advanced Network Study and Optimization a must for siting. 6.The cost per Km of transmission lines is prohibitively expensive if met by developer alone, jeopardizing economics and growth of renewable generation. 7.All ratepayers, not just developers, would benefit from the upgrades and should help pay for them.
-
Grass is not necessarily always green on the other side
March 29, 2007
Green Energy Enthusiasts Are Also Betting on Fossil Fuels | www.nytimes.com
For the brand seeking, cleantech only,venture capitalists, who are funding startups, taking positions in fossil fuel firms for spreading their portfolios is definitely required.
Considering the present uncertain state of the renewable industry, for example, investors may look at tech fossil firms whose businesses are in increasing efficiency in exploration of oil and gas, in developing petro product based coatings and polymers, or making fossil energy more efficient.
Investors also can screen out fossil fuel and nuclear energy companies while seeking to inject money into those outfits striving to improve their practices and develop cleaner technologies -
Dynamics of Ethanol Usage and Production by Himadri Banerji Reliance Energy EPC Noida
January 29, 2007
Springtime for Ethanol | www.nytimes.com
Dynamics of Ethanol usage and production forces major challenges on policy planners in the US government in light of the imperative to have an Ethanol Policy in place.Major investments will be required in Production Facilities and Infrastructure for delivery of 15 Billion gallons per year of E85 (15% ethanol and 85 % gasoline from retail petrol pumps) by 2012.
One has to realize that the Corn based Ethanol Industry is achieving a sense of maturity, while the alternative of cellulosic Ethanol is still under development.
The delay arising between planning a facility and its availability for commercial production results in requirement of large scale commitments of investments on plants and facilities under construction.
The investment to achieve the goals by 2012 is expected to be in the region of $ 5 billion to $ 6 Billion per year. Considering the state of maturity and the technology, it poses major challenges to investors in managing associated risks.One also has to consider the usability of the non ethanol producing portions of the crop. For example, deciding whether to use all of the corn, or just the corn cobs to produce ethanol must be factored. If you are able to sell off the corn kernels as food for human or animal consumption then this obviously will change your cost structure dramatically and thus impact the cost effectiveness of different alternatives
- Subscribe to Updates
-
Leading institutions connect with Himadri Banerji through GLG
Most Popular Energy & Industrials News
-
Chesapeake Energy bites the natural gas bullet
January 25, 2012
-
Flurry of newbuild drilling rig deliveries in 2012 may dampen rig rates
January 20, 2012
-
Talisman joins the ranks of cautious E&P companies
January 12, 2012
-
Early signs of caution begin to cloud frontier exploration and production
January 4, 2012
-
It's too early in the game to write off Shtokman
December 8, 2011
Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc. connects communities with knowledge through two distinct, yet complementary offerings: GLG Research and G+.