STUFF

TOP STUFF

IEA: US oil production to top Sauds by '20. US energy independence by '30. (Well, we didn't know it would take 60 years.)

EU suspending enforcement of rule requiring airlines to pay for emissions generated on flights in and out of Europe. But will reinstate if intl org fails to deliver a global accord.

Chinese solar giants likely to get state bailouts.

Australia white paper says clean/renewable energy could expand to 40% of country's energy mix by '35. 85% by '50. And virtually eliminate coal-fired plants.

Global Wind Energy Council says installed wind turbines to > double to 493Gw globally by '16 from '11. Euro PV Industry Assoc forecasting solar installs to triple to 208Mw by '16 from < 70Mw last year. (I think they just mean Europe).

Potential developers of $880M tidal power project submitted ap to build on Welsh coast. 6-mile, 35-foot high semi-circular sea wall, turbines dotting the wall. 250-350Mw 16 hours/day. Could be online in '17.

China econ likely to overtake Eurozone this year. India jumping over Japan.

Orders for offshore wind turbines have come to abrupt halt in UK. (They have grid connect problem. And offshore is expensive, even though near 24/7 power.)

4 years after dike break, TVA says it will allow natural river processes to finish cleaning up coal ash. (Um, can we review that?)

OTHER STUFF

Shell shut 25Kb/d oil pipe in Nigeria due to theft damage.

Exxon LNG project cost ballooning to $19B.

Total still hopes to restart UK NG field production this year.

Natural undersea gas leaks discovered off Israel coast.

Rising CO2 levels at edge of space apparently reducing pull of Earth atmos on satellites, space junk. In highest atmos CO2 has cooling effect that contracts atmos, so less drag on sats, junk.

Cal PUC approved new pilot program to help finance energy efficiency upgrades for commercial buildings. Owners can pay through regular installments on utility bill instead of up front. E cost savings pay for loan payments on property's account, not owners'. 12 states offer similar programs.

Global coal demand expected to grow from 7.9B tons this year to 8.9B by '16. 700M tons of that growth from China. Peabody Energy study. China expected to add 240Gw of coal-fired plants. India to add 70Gw. Coking coal demand also expected to > double in China to ~1.7B metric tons. World coal use expected to increase 50% by '35. Within year or 2, coal to surpass oil as planet's primary fuel. (Can I just say, that's the wrong way, folks. Not just the global warming, but the mercury, lead, etc. pollution. But what can we do?)

IEA says clean energy set to rival coal as main generator of el by '35. They predict global clean/ren E subsidies to rise to $240B in '35 from $88B in '11. $523B subsidies paid fossil fuels industry last year. They further said $11.8T invested in existing E-efficiency techs could be offset by reduced need for fuels spending, and could help boost cumulative global econ by $18T over the period.

The 1 deepwater rig able to work Cuban waters to be removed within weeks after 3 dry holes. Rig built in China to get around US trade embargo.

India developers building more productive wind farms. Ditched biz model set up by Suzlon, Vestas that handed completed farms to investors seeking tax relief, not energy. India ended that policy in March. Suzlon, India's largest turbine maker, had 35% share of market last year, down from 50% 2 years earlier. Vestas was 5th biggest supplier, was 3rd 2 years before. GE, others gaining market share. World's 3rd largest wind power market.

Ukraine's state-owned NG comp secured deal with RWE (Germ) that may weaken Gazprom's grip.

Chevron Cal refinery that burned earlier this year to return to full production 1Q13.

Chevron subsid got UK OK to drill deepwater west of Shetlands.

Iraq finalized deal with Bashneft (Russ)-led consortium for oil development in the south. Exxon told Iraq it wants to leave huge oil field redevelopment project. Looks like the punishment for dealing directly with Kurds.

New Turkish state oil/gas comp negotiating with Iraq's Kurdistan to take stakes in several exploration blocks.

Libya now producing 1.6Mb/d of crude, hopes for 1.7M by end of 1Q13.

Energy comps cooperating with Greek Cypriots' offshore drilling plans will be banned from Turkey projects.

S Korea shut down 2 nuke plants over counterfeit parts problem. Another shut down over cracks in control rod tunnels.

Berkeley lab upgrading metabolic pathways for creating transportation fuels at close to theoretical yields - up to gal of fuel from 16 lbs of sugars from lignocellulosic biomass. Uses fermentation process that made cordite for WWI bullets, shells.

EU investigating biodiesel dumping allegations against Argentina, Indonesia. Those countries subsidize their biodiesel comps.

$113M that Exelon promised for innovative projects as condition for Constellation purchase going to groups planning to help low income customers, small biz lower their bills.

OK created energy czar.

Climate change expected to decimate bamboo grasses in region of China home to 270 giant pandas.