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☆ From GE to Siemens, the wind energy industry hopes billions in losses are about to end
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The wind farm includes 132 2-megawatt Gamesa G80 wind turbines along 12 miles of the Allegheny Front. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesIt's been a tough couple of years for the U.S. wind energy industry. Although 2023 is expected to remain sluggish, GE Renewable Energy, Siemens Energy and Vestas Wind Systems, the leading makers of wind turbines — outside of China, which has built the world's largest wind energy infrastructure — and their suppliers are banking on growth over the next decade, particularly in the nascent offshore wind niche. "The wind energy market is stuck in this very strange paradox right now," said Aaron Barr, an industry analyst at Wood Mackenzie. Comparatively, the U.S. offshore wind industry is just ramping up after years of delays in permitting, environmental approvals and power purchasing agreements with utilities that buy wind energy.

☆ Wind and solar power generators wait in yearslong lines to put clean electricity on the grid, then face huge interconnection fees they can't afford
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

The local utility in charge of overseeing the interconnection process told Pine Gate it would be more than $30 million. Pine Gate had to terminate the project because it couldn't afford the new fees, its vice president of regulatory affairs, Brett White, told CNBC. "Those projects ended up withdrawing from the queue or terminating, because they don't pencil anymore," White told CNBC. "There is Texas, and then there's the rest of the country with respects to interconnection," White of Pine Gate told CNBC. And that means getting those engineers out of some of the rote manual data entry and into the actual analysis," White told CNBC.

☆ Tesla has installed around 3,000 solar roofs since 2016, putting it well behind Elon Musk's goal, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new report says Tesla Solar is behind on its goal to install 1,000 solar roofs per week. Tesla Solar customers have complained of delays, and one woman alleged her faulty panels caught fire. Elon Musk has previously spoken about issues facing Tesla's Solar Roof project. A marketing image for Tesla's Solar Roof project. "The future potential of Tesla's Solar Roof will rely on the company's ability to simplify and streamline installations and tap into a broader customer base," Issokson said.

According to the industry analysis firm's report, Tesla's average installations per week were 21 in 2022, far lower than the company's 1,000-per-week target for 2021. loadingWood Mackenzie said its analysis on Tesla's Solar Roof relies on data from several states, but it captures the largest markets such as California - the state where most of the roofs have been installed - and "paints an accurate national picture". "GAF Energy's Timberline Solar roofing system is better-positioned to achieve widespread adoption," said Max Issokson, analyst at Wood Mackenzie. The potential of Tesla's Solar Roof will rely on the company's ability to simplify and streamline installations and tap into a broader customer base, Issokson added. Solar Roof and GAF Energy's Timberline Solar, which was launched last year, are roofing shingles that can produce solar power.

☆ Tesla has only installed 3,000 Solar Roof systems in the U.S., far below forecast, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla vehicles parked outside a home with a Tesla Solar Roof on Weems Street in Boca Chica Village, Texas, U.S., on Monday, June 21, 2021. Tesla has only installed 3,000 of its Solar Roof systems in the U.S. since touting the technology seven years ago, according to new research from Wood Mackenzie. That installation rate falls well shy of Tesla's guidance and ambitions for what it previously called its "solar glass" roof tiles. Average weekly Tesla Solar Roof installations reached just 21 in 2022, Wood Mackenzie said. A group of Tesla shareholders eventually sued Tesla and Musk over the deal.

☆ Indonesia's Merdeka Battery plans to build two nickel HPAL plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk PT FollowJAKARTA, March 30 (Reuters) - Indonesia's Merdeka Battery Materials plans to build two nickel processing plants to make products used in batteries for electric vehicles with a combined capacity of 240,000 tonnes, its chief executive said on Thursday. "We are planning to build two HPAL plants with 120,000 tonnes capacity each," Devin said, adding China's stainless steel giant Tsingshan Holding Group will be a strategic partner to develop an industrial park to house the HPAL projects. Development of the initial 60,000 tonnes capacity of the firs HPAL plant is underway, with $1.28 billion investment, and it is expected to start operations in 2025, he said. The company is now in negotiation with a potential partner for the second HPAL plant. Merdeka Battery would be the second nickel company to launch an IPO in Indonesia this year after PT Trimegah Bangun Persada, which is expected to raise $647 million through the shares sale.

LAUNCESTON, Australia, March 28 (Reuters) - China's crude oil imports will average 10.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023, matching the previous record high from 2020, according to the think tank of the country's leading energy group. What is interesting with the ETRI forecasts is that they would seem to show that China's refiners are still expecting to add crude oil to stockpiles over 2023. This is some 370,000 bpd more than the ETRI forecast for refinery throughput of 14.66 million bpd. China's crude oil imports seen rebounding to new high in 2023NEW REFINERIESIt's likely that some of the oil heading for storage will go to build working inventories for new plants expected to be commissioned this year. Flows in, or indeed out of, either commercial or strategic reserves are the biggest X-factor for China's crude oil imports.

☆ Oil dips after Fed comments, U.S. crude stock build
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jeslyn Lerh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Economic risks were being flagged out in the Fed meeting, while higher-than-expected U.S. crude oil stockpiles also dampened some optimism around demand outlook," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG. However, the weakness in the dollar has been a bright spot in promoting some resilience in oil prices, Yeap said, adding that there was still some upside room left in oil prices. Goldman Sachs said on Thursday that Chinese demand continued to surge across the commodity complex, with oil demand topping 16 million barrels per day. Crude inventories (USOILC=ECI) rose in the week to March 17 by 1.1 million barrels to 481.2 million barrels, the highest since May 2021. Gross U.S. exports of crude oil and oil products hit a new high just shy of 12 million barrels per day, way above any other country's supply levels, the analysts added, citing EIA data.

☆ China will make up nearly 40% of the rise in global oil demand in 2023, Wood Mackenzie says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesChina will make up a sizeable portion of the world's demand recovery for oil as the global economy braces itself for a slowdown in the wake of interest rate hikes, Wood Mackenzie said. That means 38.5% of global oil demand recovery would come from China. Our China high-growth scenario centers on the economy growing by 7% in 2023 and 5.5% in 2024. The firm is, however, optimistic about global growth this year — despite the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund warning of a bumpy road ahead. "Our China high-growth scenario centers on the economy growing by 7% in 2023 and 5.5% in 2024," the firm said in the report.

☆ China expected to account for 40% of this year's oil demand recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - China is expected to account for around 40% of the increase in global oil demand this year as its economy emerges from strict lockdowns, but the increased use will not take prices back to 2022 levels, consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Thursday. This would equate to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of a 2.6 mln bpd increase in global oil demand this year. A high-growth scenario, under which China's GDP rises by 7%, would add a further 400,000 bpd of Chinese demand, the report said. Global refining margins are set to decline to around $6/bbl in the fourth quarter compared with $11/bbl a year earlier, WoodMac said, as additions to global refining capacity outpace demand growth for transport fuels. The consultancy expects diesel profit margins to crude to average $30/bbl in the fourth quarter, while gasoline is expected to average around $5-6/bbl, Williams said.

☆ This could be Big Oil's last surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

The era of Big Oil could end sooner than its massive profits suggest, analysts told Insider. But the worst-case scenario for the environment — that oil and gas companies reinvest all their extra money to keep growing — isn't happening, Logan said. The role of oil and gas companies in the energy transition is an ongoing debate, analysts told Insider. The UK company cited the need for an "orderly" energy transition. And while Big Oil's finances may begin to show some cracks over the next decade, he doesn't expect them to "suffer financially" for another 25 to 35 years.

[1/2] The processing facility at an oil sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, September 17, 2014. The company joins Canada's biggest oil producers in urging policymakers to boost public funding for the costly technology that is seen as key to cutting emissions from the carbon-intensive oil sands. Until then, the company will pay Canada's carbon tax, set to rise to C$170 a tonne by 2030, Nicholson said. Canada's oil sands produced a record 3.15 million bpd in 2022 and are forecast to hit 3.7 million bpd by 2030, according to S&P Global. "The oil sands are long-life, low-decline assets," said Wood Mackenzie analyst Scott Norlin.

☆ U.S. solar installations fell 16% in 2022, but market rebounding -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Utility-scale solar installations fell by about a third year-over year to 11.8 gigawatts, the lowest since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the report said. The residential segment, meanwhile, rose by 40%, with a record 700,000 homeowners installing rooftop solar in 2022, the report said. The report projects steady growth, averaging 19% a year, until 2027. The greater availability of solar panels is expected to boost installations this year, after projects were slowed by U.S. restrictions on solar panels from China's Xinjiang over concerns about forced labor. Reuters reported this week that U.S. imports of Chinese solar panels are picking up after months of gridlock stemming from the forced labor protection law.

☆ Inside the fierce debate over clean hydrogen, with $100 billion in federal subsidies on the line
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The impact of the tax credit on emissions reductions depends on how federal agencies implement it. On one side of the debate, some energy providers say that making the rules too strict could kill the clean hydrogen industry before it ever gets off the ground. CERAWeek returned in-person to Houston celebrating its 40th anniversary with the theme "Pace of Change: Energy, Climate, and Innovation." This hourly approach to energy accounting has been adopted by Google, which has been a forerunner in adopting clean energy, for example. In the long run, Garabedian says, his stance is about protecting his company, the industry's reputation, and the tax credit.

☆ We expect oil prices to be largely influenced by demand in emerging economies: Wood Mackenzie
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe expect oil prices to be largely influenced by demand in emerging economies: Wood MackenzieSushant Gupta of Wood Mackenzie says China's reopening is a big factor.

"High spot LNG prices and dwindling domestic production will mean that Pakistan will continue facing issues with ramping up gas-fired power generation," said Poorna Rajendran, LNG consultant at FGE. Despite LNG prices having fallen from last year's record highs, the superchilled fuel is still expensive for South Asian buyers as their currencies have weakened sharply, making it hard for them to boost LNG imports this year. Ship tracking data from Kpler shows Pakistan's LNG imports in 2022 fell 17% from the previous year to a five-year low. Bangladesh's LNG imports in 2022 fell 14% from the previous year, according to Kpler, which drove down power output while demand was rising. LNG prices are unlikely to ease enough to help Bangladesh and Pakistan, with analysts expecting a rebound in Chinese purchases to push prices up in 2023.

☆ Europe's natural gas prices fall below €50
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Europe’s natural gas prices have tumbled to their lowest level in nearly 18 months in the latest sign the region has avoided a much-feared energy crisis. Benchmark wholesale gas prices fell almost 5% Friday to hit €49 ($52) per megawatt hour, their lowest level since September 2021 and a fraction of the all-time high of €320 hit in August last year, according to data from Independent Commodity Intelligence Service. The plunge in prices will further reduce the risk of a recession in Europe. Gas stores across the European Union were 65% full on Thursday, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe, an industry body. The bloc has also boosted imports of pipeline natural gas from Norway, and of liquefied natural gas (LNG) — a chilled, liquid form of gas that can be transported via sea tankers — mostly from the United States and Qatar.

☆ Factbox: Tesla CEO Musk signals Part 3 of Master Plan is ready
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. PART I (2006) - THE SECRET TESLA MOTORS MASTER PLAN (JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME):BUILD SPORTS CAR AND AFFORDABLE EVsBefore Tesla put out its first production car, Musk set expectations for three: a sports car, a cheaper four-door family car and an even more affordable third model. The plan was unveiled in 2006 and the first model, the Roadster sports car, rolled out in 2008 at a price of $89,000. Musk had first estimated in 2015 that Tesla vehicles would be able to drive themselves by 2018. But Tesla is yet to unveil a detailed plan for its ride-sharing and robotaxi services.

[1/3] Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. The plan was unveiled in 2006 and the first model, the Roadster sports car, rolled out in 2008 at a price of $89,000. Musk had first estimated in 2015 that Tesla vehicles would be able to drive themselves by 2018. ENABLE CAR TO MAKE MONEYHe said consumers will be able to summon their self-driving Teslas from anywhere. Last year, Musk said Tesla expects to mass-produce a robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedal by 2024, after missing his targets for self-driving vehicles multiple times.

☆ Why Processing Sweden’s Rare-Earth Haul Won’t Be Easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

The find is adjacent to the company’s Kiruna iron-ore mine, an operation that would eventually be expanded to extract the rare earths plus phosphorus, a critical mineral for fertilizers. The company said it would take 10 to 15 years to start recovering the rare earths. LKAB facilities in Kiruna, Sweden. Also, LKAB reported that its find has a total rare-earth oxide level of 0.18%, a low level of concentration. U.K.-based Pensana PLC aims to mine rare-earth concentrates in Angola, before separating and processing them in the north of England.

☆ Big Oil made $200 billion in profit last year. Shareholders won big, clean energy missed out
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But the flood of cash has not delivered a commensurate boom in renewable energy investments, despite clear evidence that the world needs to move much faster with efforts to address the climate crisis. The record-setting results mark a dramatic turnaround for a sector that suffered brutal losses and slashed shareholder payouts in 2020, when pandemic lockdowns sharply reduced demand for energy and oil prices collapsed. An aerial view of the BP oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana on August 29, 2019. Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockJust three years ago, BP unveiled a plan to slash oil and gas production by 40% from 2019 levels by 2030. It is also now aiming to cut carbon emissions from its oil and gas production by 20%-30% by 2030, down from the previous goal of 35%-40%.

☆ Premarket stocks: State of the Union, recession, crypto woes and more tech layoffs: What investors are watching
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Wall Street will also be watching closely for clues about the ongoing debt ceiling debate, tax policy, foreign relations and more. The unemployment rate ticked down a tenth of a percentage point to 3.4% — the lowest jobless rate since May 1969. European diesel prices fall as Russian ban kicks inEurope’s ban on Russian diesel arrived this week without inflicting more pain on the region’s economy. Russia accounted for 29% of the region’s total diesel imports last year, data from Rystad Energy shows. Countries have prepared for the latest ban by ramping up imports of Moscow’s diesel in recent months.

☆ There isn't enough copper in the world — and the shortage could last till 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A copper master and his copper products at the Coppersmith Bazaar in Baghdad, Iraq on March 15, 2022. The world is currently facing a global copper shortage, fueled by increasingly challenging supply streams in South America and higher demand pressures. A copper squeeze could be an indicator that global inflationary pressures will worsen, and subsequently compel central banks to maintain their hawkish stance for longer. "We're already forecasting major deficits in copper to 2030," said Wood Mackenzie's Vice President of Metals and Mining, Robin Griffin. He attributed it largely to ongoing unrest in Peru and higher demand for copper in the energy transition industry.

☆ Russian diesel prices fall in Europe despite latest ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Those stocks should act as a buffer against the immediate loss of Russian diesel imports,” Williams said. However, he added that the United States could redirect some of its current diesel exports to South America to Europe, with Russian diesel then “find[ing] a home” in South America. OilX’s Crosby noted that there are “many more” potential buyers of Moscow’s diesel compared with its crude exports. “Most Russian diesel barrels will manage to make it to global markets,” he said. “The notion that Russian diesel will have a very hard time finding new homes is beginning to lose credibility.”— Julia Horowitz contributed reporting.

☆ The world is creating more single-use plastic waste than ever, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —The world is producing a record amount of single-use plastic waste, mostly made from polymers created from fossil fuels, despite global efforts to reduce plastic pollution and carbon emissions, according to a new report released Monday. The second Plastic Waste Makers Index, compiled by the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation, found the world generated 139 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste in 2021, which was 6 million metric tons more than in 2019, when the first index was released. In recent years, governments around the world have announced policies to reduce the volume of single-use plastic, banning products like single-use straws, disposable cutlery, food containers, cotton swabs, bags and balloons. Many countries have banned single-use plastic plates and cutlery. In the developing world, it’ll lead to people who would not otherwise have any work, having work making sure there’s no plastic waste going into the ocean, there’s no plastic waste on streets, there’s no plastic waste poisoning wildlife,” he said.

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