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☆ Column: TransWest line to recast Wyoming from coal villain to energy hero
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, Sept 11 (Reuters) - A 728-mile (1,172-km) transmission line connecting wind farms in rural Wyoming to power consumers in California and Nevada looks set to reshape Wyoming's reputation from coal stalwart to energy transition lynchpin. Wyoming is by far the largest coal producing state in the United States, accounting for more than 40% of total U.S. coal output in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsAs a result, Wyoming has the potential to generate large amounts of wind power that can be exported to more populous areas which lack their own clean energy supplies. RECORD DRIVERThe main engine behind the clean energy that will flow through the TransWest line will be the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind energy project, which when completed will be the largest wind farm in the United States. But if the TransWest line can deliver on its promise of efficiently channelling surplus clean power to distant, needy consumers, there is a good chance more such projects will gain the necessary backing.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S . Energy Information Administration, U.S, Reuters, TransWest, U.S . Department of Energy, TransWest Express, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Wyoming, California, Nevada, . Wyoming, United States, Texas, U.S, California , Arizona, Sierra Madre

☆ Column: US wind power generation breaks out of summer doldrums
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Sept 8 (Reuters) - After months of low wind speeds in several key wind farm areas, U.S. wind power generation hit its highest levels in nearly five months in early September as wind speeds picked up. The remaining states recorded an average wind generation drop of 7.1%, which contributed to a 3.1% decline in total national wind generation in the January to May period. The shortfalls in wind power have been evident in the output data of major U.S. power pool markets. Reuters Image Acquire Licensing RightsAs these markets cover over 30 U.S. states as well as the areas with the largest concentrations in wind power generation in the United States, the declines in wind power in these power pools had a direct impact on national level wind output, with knock-on effects for power generation mixes across the country. Similarly, any sustained recoveries in wind power generation totals from these key areas will lead to a commensurate rebound in U.S. power generation totals, and may allow for utilities to pare back use of natural gas and other sources of power to make way for more non-emitting wind power supplies.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Ember, El Nino, Gavin Maguire, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, LSEG, Reuters, Reliability, of Texas, El, Climate Impact, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, Thomson Locations: Big Spring , Texas, U.S, LITTLETON , Colorado, Texas, Texas , Iowa , Oklahoma , Kansas , Illinois, North Dakota, United States, pare, El Nino

☆ Column: India milestone shows its power emissions will surpass Europe's permanently
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

High-tension power lines are pictured outside a Tata Power sub station in the suburbs of Mumbai, India, August 8, 2017. At the same time, India's power emissions climbed 4.5% to new highs on the back of record use of high-polluting coal, which generates roughly 75% of India's electricity. SOFT PATCH/HIGH POINT OVERLAPDuring the April-June window, when India's emissions exceeded Europe's, India's total power use levels rose on high demand for air conditioning in the hottest months of the year. These conflicting approaches to energy sector management reflect the starkly different developmental phases of each market. India's government has established ambitious long-term goals for boosting renewable energy generation and lowering power sector emissions.

Persons: Shailesh Andrade, RC1F247F86F0, Gavin Maguire, Muralikumar Organizations: Tata Power, REUTERS, Union, Spain, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, LITTLETON , Colorado, Europe, pare, Ukraine

☆ Column: US offshore wind goals need policy help to reach potential
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The weak showing at the first auction for offshore wind development rights in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the critical role that policymaking must play in making ambitious long-term climate goals compatible with current commercial realities. SMALL SCALE IMPACTOne of the biggest faults of the Gulf of Mexico wind leases is the absence of a viable pathway for wind power generators to profitably sell their power to electricity providers given current market conditions. In contrast to several utilities in the Northeast, which have state-level mandates to purchase certain volumes of power from offshore wind generators, the power systems covering Texas and Louisiana do not allow for similar power purchase agreements to be drawn up. Currently, there is a policy planning chasm between the Gulf Coast's power market systems and the long-term strategies of that region's largest employers and tax payers. But if legislators and corporate planners can recognise they may both gain from the emergence of a vibrant offshore wind energy sector that could cut power sector emissions and generate green hydrogen in abundance, there may be scope for closer collaboration and planning.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Gavin Maguire, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Gulf, Mexico, United States, Joe Biden's U.S, Texas, Louisiana

☆ Column: US offshore wind sector faces key test after weak Gulf auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The low interest in the first-ever auction of offshore wind farm development rights in the Gulf of Mexico marks a potentially serious setback for U.S. President Joe Biden's green energy agenda, and the U.S. offshore wind sector in general. U.S. officials had touted the auction as a key milestone in Biden's agenda to make offshore wind a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to fight fossil-fuel-driven climate change. In addition to lower wind speeds and hurricane risks, potential wind farm developers in the Gulf waters must also accommodate relatively lower local power market prices than other parts of the United States, which greatly undermines wind power earning potential in the region. As offshore wind power systems are still in their relative infancy compared with other power sources, the average cost of power generated from offshore sites can be twice the cost of that from a gas-fired plant. Without a viable offshore wind sector, those industries may now struggle to secure the quantities of green hydrogen they may be anticipating in coming decades, and so could look for ways to support the wind sector's development in the years ahead.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden's, Biden, hesitancy, Gavin Maguire, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Coast Guard, REUTERS, Offshore, U.S ., Gulf, Shell, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rhode, LITTLETON , Colorado, Gulf, Mexico, U.S, Louisiana, Northeast, Texas, United States, U.S . East Coast , New York, New Jersey, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Littleton , Colorado

Natural gas is transferred into the SoCalGas system after being collected and purified at a Calgren collection facility in Pixley, California, U.S., October 2, 2019. Through July, the U.S. power sector emitted 495 million tonnes of CO2 from gas-fired generation, a 7.2% increase over the same period in 2022 and 26% more than produced by all of Asia's gas-fired power producers, data from think tank Ember shows. U.S. monthly gas-fired power sector emissionsU.S. gas power emissions are also 51% greater than those of Europe, where shortages of natural gas following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year has forced power producers to scale back output. In turn, this will likely result in a rise in mid-year emissions alongside continued growth in winter month emissions tied to power generation for heating. This suggests that U.S. gas-fired power emissions may continue to climb in the years ahead, even as clean energy capacity growth continues to accelerate.

Persons: Mike Blake, Gavin Maguire, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, United, International Energy Agency, European Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Pixley , California, U.S, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, Europe, Ukraine, Asia, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea

☆ Column: US power system gets gasier, but not much cleaner, in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Total power generation across the lower 48 states through Aug. 20, 2023 declined by 2.1% from the same period in 2022, data compiled by Refinitiv shows. All major U.S. power markets increased electricity generation from natural gas in Jan-Aug 2023 from the same period in 2022, and cut generation from coal. Output from clean power sources, including renewables and hydro, increased by 12%, despite drops in output from biomass and wind power sources, and a decline in imports from neighbouring states. Clean power sources accounted for a 57.4% share of the CAISO generation mix, up from 50.7% in January through Aug. 20 in 2022. THE NORTHWEST & THE RESTThe Pacific Northwest of the United States had the steepest decline in clean power generation of all the major power markets in the country.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Gavin Maguire, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Electric, of Texas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, LITTLETON , Colorado, Jan, National, TEXAS, Texas, CALIFORNIA, California, United States

☆ Column: China's shrewd grab for green energy recycling dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Wind turbines and solar panels are seen at a wind and solar energy storage and transmission power station from State Grid Corporation of China, in Zhangjiakou of Hebei province, China, March 18, 2016. GLOBAL REACH WITH BACKHAUL POTENTIALChina's recyclers also have strong international supply lines thanks to the country's vast export-oriented manufacturing sector and resulting dominance in global shipping container trade. ECO-FRIENDLY ECOSYSTEMSChina's plan to develop a large scale recycling sector for the renewables industry is in keeping with the country's practice of developing interdependent ecosystems around key industries. The country aims to develop similar strongholds in auto and electronics manufacturing, and may now extend that framework to the renewables energy sector, which Beijing has identified as a key industry for the remainder of this century. For recycling firms based elsewhere that had been planning to scale up their handling of older green energy equipment, the prospect of a government-backed competitor in China may be a cause for concern.

Persons: Jason Lee, recyclers, China's, Gavin Maguire, Jamie Freed Organizations: Grid Corporation of, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Grid Corporation of China, Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, China, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, Asia, Beijing

☆ Column: India's coal emissions set for new highs on low-grade imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Roughly 80% of India's thermal coal imports over the first half of 2023 came from Indonesia, South Africa and Russia, known for primarily exporting low-quality thermal coal which emits CO2 and sulphur dioxide when burned in power stations. India thermal coal imports from key supplierAround 7% of India's thermal imports came from Australia, supplier of some of the cleanest-burning coal on world markets. IMPORT SWINGSIndonesia has long been India's dominant supplier of energy coal, providing an average of 60% of the country's total thermal coal imports from 2017 through 2020, data from Kpler shows. That resulted in a rebound in India's total coal imports over the opening half of 2023 from the latter months of 2022. However, cost-sensitive power producers in India have prioritised ensuring coal supply over lowering coal-fired emissions, resulting in a deterioration in India's coal-fired power sector efficiency and a continuing climb in emissions.

Persons: Amit Dave, Ember, Gavin Maguire, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Indian, Ahmedabad, LITTLETON , Colorado, Indonesia, South Africa, Russia, India, Australia, China, Ukraine, New Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, South Asia

☆ Column: Can Spain & Portugal solve Europe's industrial power cost crisis? Maguire
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

These price caps in turn look set to result in widening power price discounts for consumers based in Spain and Portugal - known as Iberia - compared to Western European consumers, and may offer potential power price relief for industry. read moreSince then, the power price differences for Iberia-based consumers and those in Germany, Europe's largest power consumer, have been significant: Power prices in Spain for the second half of 2022 averaged less than half of those in Germany. For those firms, Spain and Portugal will likely emerge as potential locations for some production processes and operations, due mainly to lower energy costs. Spain and Portugal have not been entirely free from some power cost inflation even with the Iberian Exception. So far in 2023 Spain's power prices have averaged around 90% more than the average for 2018 through 2020.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Kim Coghill Organizations: International Energy, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Western Europe, Iberia, Europe, Europe's, Spanish, Asia, Africa, Northern, Southern Europe

☆ Column: Australia's energy transition stalled by stubbornly high demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Sustained growth in Australia's electricity demand has in turn meant that power producers must continue to heavily rely on coal for electricity generation on top of recent additions in supply of renewable energy sources. Even so, electric vehicles accounted for only 5.1% of total Australian car sales in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Heating and cooling for homes and businesses is another major energy demand driver in Australia, and accounts for roughly 40% of total electricity use in the country. To alleviate any potential power shortages Australian utilities are expected to continue rolling out more renewable energy supply capacity, likely at an accelerating pace. However, Australian power producers look set to remain substantially reliant on coal for baseload electricity generation for years, if not decades, more.

Persons: Gavin Maguire Organizations: International Energy Agency, Australian Bureau of Statistics, European Union, EV, New South, RENEWABLES, South, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Australia, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, New Zealand, New South Wales, Oceania and Pacific, South Korea

☆ Column: Turkey emerges as Europe's largest coal power producer in June
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

July 19 (Reuters) - Turkey overtook Germany and Poland to become Europe's top coal-fired electricity producer in June, and for the opening half of 2023 generated more coal power than Poland for the first time to emerge as Europe's second-largest coal user behind Germany. Even Poland, Europe's most coal-dependent economy, has seen a modest net capacity decline since 2018. Indeed, Turkey's electricity generation from all clean sources has risen by 40% since 2018, while generation from fossil fuels declined by more than 8% over that period. Further increases in coal-fired generation may in turn push Turkey farther ahead of Poland in terms of coal generation over the near term, and potentially narrow the gap more on Europe's top coal user, Germany. That should undermine coal's usage momentum in Turkey's energy system, and potentially result in Turkey making only a fleeting entry as one of Europe's main coal users.

Persons: Turkey's, Gavin Maguire, Robert Birsel Organizations: Germany, COVID, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Turkey, Germany, Poland, Europe, Turkey overtakes Poland, Southern Europe, Italy, Romania, Czech Republic, Ukraine

CLIMBING CAPACITYA major driver behind Europe's broad gains in solar generation has been the steep increases seen in capacity additions throughout the continent. Europe installed solar capacity in key European marketsThe Netherlands lifted installed solar capacity by a record 51.5% in 2022, and overtook Spain as the region's third-largest solar capacity nation, while number four nation Spain increased solar capacity by just over 28%. FULFILLING POTENTIALWhile installed solar capacity is a critical first step in ensuring increased solar power generation in any country, a nation's theoretical solar generation potential is another vital factor that determines overall solar output. Turkey (4.32 kWh/kWp), Greece (4.14) and Italy (3.99) all also ranked relatively high on the solar potential table. Such significantly lower solar potential scores indicate far lower efficiency levels at solar production sites compared with those located further south in locations such as Spain and Greece.

Persons: Ember, Gavin Maguire, David Holmes Organizations: The World Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Europe, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Greece

July 13 (Reuters) - High river temperatures that look set to restrict power output at two French nuclear plants that use river water to cool reactors may trigger increased fossil fuel-fired power output elsewhere due to Europe's extensive regional power trading. French power system in hot waterIn turn, any increased output from fossil fuel-fired power plants will likely lift regional power sector emissions, undermining regional efforts to accelerate cuts to all forms of industrial pollution. France is also Europe's second largest electricity generator behind Germany, producing roughly 470 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2022, compared to Germany's 582TWh, and 324TWh by Europe's third largest generator, the United Kingdom. France's high proportion of non-emitting nuclear power means that its power sector has by far the lowest carbon intensity of any major European economy, averaging around 85 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour of electricity produced. That compares to more than 385 grams in Germany, 257 in the United Kingdom, and 300 for Europe as a whole, Ember data shows.

Persons: Germany's 582TWh, Gavin Maguire, Jamie Freed Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, EDF, RTE, Reuters, Thomson Locations: France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Ember, Europe, Belgium, Luxembourg

☆ Column: Vietnam's coal emissions primed for surge after imports jump: Maguire
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

July 12 (Reuters) - Vietnam's thermal power emissions are primed for a steep climb this summer after the country's imports of thermal coal soared to their highest levels in three years in May and June. The recent import spree brings Vietnam's total imports for the first half of 2023 to roughly 13.5 million tonnes, which is the highest for that period since 2020, when Vietnam's full-year coal imports hit an all-time high. BACKSLIDINGThe sharp rise in thermal coal imports snaps a lengthy quiet spell by Vietnam, the 18th largest CO2 emitter globally in 2022, on international coal markets. EMISSIONS TRAJECTORYTo provide enough power for both elevated air conditioner use and higher production line output, Vietnam's power producers are likely to have increased power generation from coal plants. Data on power generation since March is not yet available, but historically there has been a clear relationship between the country's thermal coal imports and its subsequent thermal power output and emissions, with coal imports leading output and emissions by a few weeks to a month or so.

Persons: Ember, Gavin Maguire, Louise Heavens Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Vietnam, China, COVID, Beijing, Asia, Kpler

☆ Column: Europe's surging solar sector set for cannibalization risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

However, the rapid growth in solar supply capacity throughout Europe's electricity grids is already starting to erode producer profitability, as surplus power from solar sites depresses wholesale electricity prices and results in utilities earning shrinking revenues from renewables. However, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine snarled Europe's gas markets in 2022, Europe's power generators have accelerated the build-out of renewable energy capacity while cutting back on electricity generation from fossil fuels. However, those strong earnings may start to become harder to generate as additional volumes of solar capacity are brought online and compete with all other forms of generation to set wholesale electricity prices. California’s ‘Duck Curve’ electricity marketsEuropean solar power producers are not yet faced with anything like the problems seen in California, where solar can account for 40% of total electricity generation. But as more solar supply capacity gets added to Europe's generation system, solar producers must expect the extra competition from other solar sources to drive electricity prices lower for all electricity generators.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Europe, Ukraine, California, Germany

☆ Column: Hottest day on record puts fresh focus on top CO2 emitters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

July 6 (Reuters) - The world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases are coming under fresh scrutiny after global temperatures averaged 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit) on Monday, the highest ever recorded. PRESSURE POINTSChina, the world's single largest CO2 polluter since 2005, has come under particular scrutiny after the country generated over 30% of global CO2 discharge in 2022, according to the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy. CO2 emissions by key region since 1990India, already the world's third largest CO2 polluter in 2022, is seen increasing total CO2 discharge until 2040, while CO2 emissions in Indonesia - the seventh largest polluter last year - may not peak until 2050. Brazil, number 13 on the CO2 list in 2022, also looks set to keep CO2 discharge totals climbing over the coming years. However, each nation also has aggressive plans for reducing energy sector emissions and lowering reliance on fossil fuels.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Kim Coghill Organizations: El, Energy Institute, World Energy, Centre for Research, Energy, Clean, Oxford Economics, Reuters, Thomson Locations: South, Southeast Asia, Northern China, North Africa, North America, El Nino, China, Japan, South Korea, United States, Germany, Europe's, North East Asia, South East Asia, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, Nigeria, Egypt, Mexico, The Philippines

☆ Column: German electricity generation still stunted despite lower prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Germany January-June electricity generationBut unless power prices undergo a significant further and persistent decline, total German energy consumption - and output - may remain depressed and cause enduring economic harm. Despite persistently lower prices, German total electricity generation was 247 terawatt hours (TWh) in the first half, 12.4% lower than the 282 TWh generated over the same period in 2022. This shows the deep impact on total electricity consumption from sustained cuts to power use by certain production lines and smokestack plants. For German energy producers, subsidies are available to build renewable supply capacity from solar and wind sites, which can help lift total electricity supply relatively quickly and help end users decarbonise. And without further steep, sustained reductions in power costs in coming months, many of these businesses may risk permanent contractions or closure even though power costs have already retreated sharply from last year's peaks.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Germany

STEEP GROWTH, EVERYWHEREAsia dominates the global wind power market, accounting for just over 47% of the worldwide capacity growth in 2022, according to Ember. Annual wind power generation capacity growth by regionOutside of Asia, Europe was the fastest growing region in terms of wind capacity in 2022, where installed capacity expanded by close to 20 GW, or by 8.4%. North America was the next largest wind capacity developer, with 8.84 GW, followed by Latin America, which expanded capacity by 4.36 GW. WIND GROWTH MORE BALANCED THAN SOLARWith just over half of all wind capacity growth occurring outside of Asia in 2022, global wind turbine producers and installation firms have had a larger share of international opportunities than their counterparts in the solar business. In combination with continued strong demand for wind power supply capacity and substantially cheaper supply chain flows, the expected improvements in each firms' wind segment performance should also yield improvements in future financial metrics.

Persons: gigawatts, Vestas, Gavin Maguire, Kim Coghill Organizations: Germany's Siemens Energy, Electric Co, Science & Technology, Siemens, GE, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, Danish, Xinjiang, Asia, Ember, China, Europe, North America, America, Africa, Oceania, Freightos

And while South Africa may have topped the overall pile of major economies in 2022, the trajectory of its carbon intensity has been steadily lower for the past decade, with the latest carbon intensity level nearly 8% lower than that of 2010. Poland's carbon intensity is also on a steadily declining track, and has dropped 16% since 2010 due to greater use of renewables and cleaner-burning natural gas in energy generation. Carbon intensity of key Asian economiesIndia, which had a carbon intensity of 632 grams per KWh in 2022, also has a declining intensity trend, although at a much shallower slope than Poland given India's continued high reliance on coal in power generation. TRENDING LOWEROther key economies with significant carbon intensity trends include Japan, which was forced to sharply increase carbon intensity in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown by shuttering other nuclear plants and increasing use of coal and gas-fired plants to generate electricity instead. Some economies are increasing their carbon intensity, but most have reduced intensity since 2010Most other major economies are also undergoing steady carbon intensity declines, including Australia, which in the early 2000's had one of the highest carbon intensity ratings in the world thanks to its predominantly coal-fired power system, but has now cut that intensity through sharp increases in solar and wind power generation.

Persons: plumb, Gavin Maguire, Conor Humphries Organizations: United States, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, China, India, South Africa, Indonesia, Poland, Africa, Morocco, The Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Guinea, Bissau, Gambia, South Sudan, Japan, Australia

☆ Column: Reduced wind generation puts Texas power system to the test
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

However, even with those increases in capacity, recent wind power generation totals have slumped from year-ago levels as wind speeds dropped around the southern United States. Change in ERCT power generation in Jan-June 2023 from Jan-June 2022Combined with a roughly 25% drop in power generation from coal, and a 6.2% decline in nuclear output, the slump in wind generation has left ERCOT's total power generation roughly 3% down during the first half of June from the same period in 2022. RECOVERY DRIVEThe recent dip in wind power generation is clearly causing strain on the Texas power market, but steady increases in electricity generation capacity across the entire ERCOT system suggest the current stresses may only be temporary. In addition to the largest expansions to wind power capacity in the United States, Texas utilities are also expected to add around 7.7 GW of solar power capacity in 2023. Over the longer run, Texas' wind generation totals will play a decisive role in ERCOT system stability.

Persons: Refinitiv, Gavin Maguire, Jamie Freed Organizations: Electric, of Texas, Utilities, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Texas, Refinitiv, United States, Jan, California

☆ Column: Europe's clashes over coal may extend well beyond Poland
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

However, while Poland may be Europe's most coal-dependent economy with roughly 70% of electricity coming from coal, it is far from being Europe's only economy with a vested interest in extending the life of its power plants. HEAVY USERSGermany has the highest number of coal plants in Europe, with 53 facilities listed as participating in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), data from Ember shows. Poland is also home to the Belchatow Power Station, which is by far Europe's largest thermal coal plant, which alone spewed out over 35 million tonnes of CO2 in 2022. Czechia, formerly the Czech Republic, has 19 coal-fired plants in the EU ETS which emitted a collective 34 million tonnes of CO2 in 2022. Share of electricity from coal in select European countriesBulgaria, which depended on coal for 42% of electricity last year, has five plants in the EU ETS which emitted 23.8 million tonnes last year.

Persons: Ember, Belchatow, Gavin Maguire, Sonali Paul Organizations: Union, European Union, EU, Trading, ETS, EU ETS, World Bank, Belchatow, Southern, Global Energy Monitor, Western, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, Turkey, Czechia, Greece, Europe, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy

LITTLETON, Colorado, June 12 (Reuters) - A heat wave across China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea looks set to drive coal use for electricity generation to new highs over coming weeks, priming the region that accounts for more than 60% of world coal emissions to boost pollution further. Forecasts for Beijing, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea are all calling for temperatures well above local long-term averages in the coming weeks, according to Refinitiv data. This means power producers will expect greater electricity demand over the coming months from homes, apartments and businesses, and rack up power generation fuels accordingly. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have all reduced year-to-date coal imports compared to the same period in 2022, but China's sheer scale means its increased tonnage more than outweighs the decline in imports seen elsewhere in East Asia. A steep jump in China's thermal coal imports has lifted total East Asia coal imports to new highs in Jan-June 2023China's coal consumption will also set the overall tone for regional emissions, even if other countries continue to pare back coal use in power mixes.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Tom Hogue Organizations: Authorities, International Energy Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Asia, Korea, East Asia, pare

☆ Column: Emissions watchers wary of Japan's power saving pleas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, June 11 (Reuters) - The Japanese government has called for homes and businesses to curb power use this summer, but emissions trackers are still bracing for a sharp uptick in Japan's power pollution as higher temperatures trigger increased air conditioner use. Recent weather forecasts call for Japan's temperatures to average nearly 4% above normal in July and 3% higher than normal in August, according to Refinitiv. Japan seasonal coal use and coal emissionsThose same months are when Japan's use of coal for electricity generation also typically peaks, along with power sector emissions, data from think tank Ember shows. COAL IMPORTS LEAD POWER EMISSIONSThis year, those usage and pollution patterns look set to be repeated, regardless of the government's recent pleas to curb power use. Power production trends show Japan's energy usage tends to have two distinct periods of strength when the country's weather is at its most severe - during winter and summer.

Persons: Japan's, Gavin Maguire, Tom Hogue Organizations: Japan's Ministry, Economy, Trade, Industry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Japan, Kpler, Ukraine

Electricity generation from hydro power sources has fallen in Asia, Europe and North America over the opening months of 2023 from the same period in 2022, crimping a key source of clean power generation for electricity providers. China, the top global hydro power, alone has 30% of global capacity, but in the opening months of 2023 has seen hydro generation fall 7.2% from the same period in 2022 due to reduced precipitation and hot, dry conditions in key hydro hubs in the Yunnan province. In contrast, hydro output in Japan has increased by nearly 16% from year-before levels, Ember data shows. EUROPE'S MIXED BAGEurope has around 22% of global hydro generation capacity, and has had a mixed hydro output record so far in 2023. In contrast, hydro output in Latin America is trending above year-ago levels, with Brazil, the third largest hydro producer globally, seeing production run around 3.4% above 2022's levels, and Colombia experiencing a roughly 10% increase.

Persons: crimping, EUROPE'S, Ember, Gavin Maguire, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Hydro, Europe, SOUTH AMERICA, Global, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Nova, Ukraine, Asia, Europe, North America, Russia, China, U.S, India, Vietnam, Turkey, Yunnan, Asia's, Japan, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, SOUTH AMERICA Canada, North, Washington , Arizona , Nevada, Colorado, America, Brazil, Colombia

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