Financing ocean energy ventures in today's economic climate
September 20, 2011
The reality of today’s economic environment, combined with the world’s multiplying energy demand, creates enormous financial challenges for the offshore energy industry, governments and the investment community.
The Uneasy Relationship of Fossil and Renewable Energies
June 14, 2011
Big losses for Chevron's solar EOR project | www.upstreamonline.com
The fossil fuel industries have always looked askance at solar and other renewable energies. Conspiracy theories aside, there are significant economic and, yes, cultural issues at play in harvesting solar power versus mining petroleum. The Chevron solar EOR project can lead to success if it's realized that this is a demonstration project whose cost overruns can be solved by experience and replication.
Sustainable Solar Markets Post Fukushima
May 25, 2011
Japan May Require Solar Panels on All New Buildings By 2030 | cleantechnica.com
One challenge to the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster is coming up with replacement electricity, both new and long term. Short term answers will not be popular, like power curtailment in a humid Tokyo summer. Longer term policies, like a proposed mandatory solar requirement for new construction, can supplement new centralized power plant development and enable a more stable solar market with less reliance on subsidies..
Will this version of oil and silicon mix?
April 29, 2011
Total to Take Controlling Interest in SunPower | www.greentechmedia.com
The acquisition by French oil/energy company Total S.A. of a major portion of SunPower Corporation's shares may mark a new phase of involvement by a fossil-nuclear company in photovoltaic power. This phase is more passive and mundane. It might also result in greater staying power for the PV industry.
Get 3kW of PV with a Gallon Jar of Maraschino Cherries
April 20, 2011
Costco to Sell Home Solar Panel Kits | www.treehugger.com
Two interesting variations on the US residential photovoltaic market have come about. Costco, the land of bulk purchases and discounts, is selling PV kits of various sizes online and at various stores, with the panels coming from a contractor label, as opposed to the leading solar brands. Will this commercial institution persuade a more mainstream segment of American society to go solar?
Another example of the perfect being the enemy of good green
April 10, 2011
Rush to Use Crops as Fuel Raises Food Prices and Hunger Fears | www.nytimes.com
The US and world economies are shifting to a renewable based energy source gradually and griudgingly. Opposition to the reality, if not the abstract principle, of renewable sources like bioenergy create a wellspring of red herrings. The challenge is to navigate the course between "conventional wisdom" and business as usual, with my comments focused primarily on the US based situation.
Lower costs are half the battle for the growth of solar power
April 8, 2011
Solar Costs May Already Rival Coal, Spurring Installation | www.bloomberg.com
Improving economics of solar photovoltaic power put the technology on the verge of mainstreaming into the energy infrastructure. Lower costs are only part of the battle, however. A number of non-monetary policy changes will be needed at the national, regional and local level in markets like the US for the market share to become significant.
PV report maybe a little optimistic but in the ballpark
March 31, 2011
Solar Breaks Out of Niche to Match Apple’s iPad-Fueled Growth | www.bloomberg.com
I am progressive in thinking when it comes to solar and renewable energy, but regressive when it comes to filling out my NCAA brackets. I still favor the traditional powerhouses making it to the Final Four, and discount upstarts like VCU. The Bloomberg New Energy Report on photovoltaics shows that "small" energy technologies can make it past the "big" energy status quo.
Solar and other renewables is a marathon, not a sprint
March 22, 2011
Solar Rally Might Fizzle After Nuclear Accident ‘Hysteria,’ Investors Say | www.bloomberg.com
Hysteria works both ways, in the irrational exuberance of betting that solar or other renewables will be the dominant energy source in a decade or two, as well as panic peddling of nuclear when the inevitable disaster or near disaster occurs. Solar or any other energy infrastructure takes decades to transition. Investing in a shorter timeframe is essentially speculation, and subject to boom and bust conditions.
British Columbia May Have The Biggest Green Demonstration
January 11, 2011
It's No Joke in British Columbia - Time for a Carbon Tax | www.nxtbook.com
Feed-in-tariffs, power purchase agreements, renewable portfolio standards and the like have attracted most of the attention of green energy pundits. But a broader measure, the carbon tax, is starting to rear its head. The British Columbia Carbon Tax is starting to make itself felt and may become another tool in the fight against pollution and waste.
Shale gas abundance provides new options for energy companies
February 13, 2012
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