Earlier this month, Penn State researchers created world's 1st fiber optic solar cell. Thinner than hair. Can weave into cloth. Typical US soldier carries 16-20 lbs of batts.
MIT researchers looking at graphene as cheaper alternative for solar cells.
All the gold ever mined can fit into 2 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Venzuela sees '12 inflation @ 19.9%, below target. Great target, huh?
Shell's mobile oil rig said to be adrift again off Alaska coast. Crewmen had to be rescued from it Saturday.
Peabody Coal's claim to being "the global leader in clean energy solutions" struck from its online home page. Questions came up. Boggles the mind, donut?
Feds to shift cargo shipping lanes off Cal coast to reduce killings of whales in feeding, migration areas.
Bolivia nationalized 2 el distribution subsids of Iberdrola (Spain). In May, another Spanish utility was nationalized that controlled 74% of el transmission in Bolivia. I guess Spain is being kicked out of South America. Portugal next?
Exxon and Citgo among 26 comps going to trial in NH over MTBE groundwater contamination. 60% of NH residents rely on private water wells. State seeking $700M to test, monitor every private well and public drinking water system and provide cleanup costs where needed. Only state to have reached trial stage over MTBE. NYC won $105M settlement with Exxon in '09. On appeal now. EPA: "possible human carcinogen".
DOE announced $20M of new funds for 2 to 4 projects to integrate concentrating solar power with fossil fuel power plants.
Oji Holdings (Japan), world's largest corp user of renewable energy, plans to spend $234M to build 2 biomass power plants (wood-fueled) in Japan. Will sell el from the units within 3 yrs as part of 60B Yen investment in renewables.
Plasco (Canada) to build 150K ton/yr 15Mw waste to el plant in Ontario. Moisture in waste recovered, cleaned, made available for reuse. Ontario will pay $83/ton processed.
Conoco Phillips cut deal with Sinopec subsid (China) to jointly study shale gas development in China. 2-yr deal. Sichuan Basin.
Algerian-Euro NG pipeline deal delayed again.
Chevron made 2 more NG discoveries off coast of W Australia. But their JV to build LNG plant already 20% over initial budget of $54.4B.
NY Gov Cuomo ordered 20% more energy efficiency in state bldgs within 7 yrs. Would reduce GHG's over 8M metric tons/yr. NYPA committing $450M in low-cost finance for it.
Demand for clean energy credits in India more than doubled in Dec from Nov. Credits selling at floor prices of $27 each for 1Mwh of clean energy fed into grid.
Solarstrom (Germany) sold 5 PV solar plants in Germany to private investor. Total 12Mw built in '07-'08. "Double-digit million dollar range." They sold 4 other plants in Nov, planning to build 440Mw of solar in Spain plus projects in SE Europe and Chile.
Happy New Year pards.
Monday, December 31, 2012
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume about half normal. Oil up to $91. Cliffnomics.
BLDW up 32 on 3K shares. AMRS up 16. GWBU up 11.
WWPW down 25 on 100 shares. WTWO down 20. CERP, VLNCQ down 18. EWRL down 17. APWR down 14. INIS down 12. PRHL, PSPW, SOPW down 11. XSNX, CABN down 10. NGPHF down 9. NTCXF down 3. FSLR back below $30, near top (200-day) line.
Market flat and mixed. Volume about half normal. Oil up to $91. Cliffnomics.
BLDW up 32 on 3K shares. AMRS up 16. GWBU up 11.
WWPW down 25 on 100 shares. WTWO down 20. CERP, VLNCQ down 18. EWRL down 17. APWR down 14. INIS down 12. PRHL, PSPW, SOPW down 11. XSNX, CABN down 10. NGPHF down 9. NTCXF down 3. FSLR back below $30, near top (200-day) line.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
GRAPHENE REPORT
Graphene a 1-atom-thick sheet of carbon in hexagonic crystal lattice. 200x stronger than steel. Tougher than diamond. World's thinnest material. Flexible, transparent. Conducts el and heat very well. Stocks: AIXG, CVV, FCSMF, NGPHF, GTI, CHGI, PKX.
UK giving $34.7M more for graphene R&D. Imperial College in London getting largest sum - 4.5M Pounds - to look at aerospace aps. 4 other universities to collab with industrial partners who will invest another 12M Pounds.
MIT developed new solar PV cell made from several graphene sheets coated with nanowires. Flexible, transparent, light, mechanically strong, chemically robust. Could be made cheaply. Series of polymer coatings modify graphene properties, allowing them to bond a layer of zinc oxide nanowires. Then overlay of material that responds to light waves - lead-sulfide quantum dots or polymer called P3HT.
Euro NanoMaster project - 14 partners including UK - developing new graphite materials to produce high-quality graphene. Multiple-stage chem exfoliation process involving oxidative treatment, washing, filtration, reduction.
New book out: Graphite, Graphene and their Polymer Nanocomposites.
Aixtron (AIXG) announced China's Zhejiang U ordered BM 2-inch R&D system in 2Q12. Delivery this quarter. To be used for advanced CNT and graphene research.
U of TX Austin developing flexible graphene FETs. Record current densities, highest ever power and conversion gains. Transistors show near symmetric electron and hole transport. Most mechanically robust flexible graphene devices to date. Also water resistant. Made directly atop patterned dielectrics on plastic sheets using microelectronic lithography. Multi-finger metal gate electrodes embedded in plastic sheet. Graphene grown using CVD.
GA Tech researchers developing low-temp method to dope graphene films using self-assembled monolayers that modify interface of graphene and support substrate. Develops graphene p-n junctions. Graphene grown on copper film, then transferred to silicon dioxide substrates. Make fairly well doped p-type and n-type graphene controllably by patterning the underlying monolayer instead of modifying graphene directly. Previous methods had disrupted graphene lattice which reduced electron mobility and unstable devices.
Angstron Materials awarded new US patent for method that exfoliates layered graphene to produce nano graphene platelets thinner than 10nm down to under 1nm. No contaminated wastewater.
NASA developing graphene-based chem and strain nanosensors. Working on measuring amount of atomic ox in upper atmos to determine drag factor. When graphene oxidizes it changes its el resistance. Can be used to measure ox or other gases' density.
UK giving $34.7M more for graphene R&D. Imperial College in London getting largest sum - 4.5M Pounds - to look at aerospace aps. 4 other universities to collab with industrial partners who will invest another 12M Pounds.
MIT developed new solar PV cell made from several graphene sheets coated with nanowires. Flexible, transparent, light, mechanically strong, chemically robust. Could be made cheaply. Series of polymer coatings modify graphene properties, allowing them to bond a layer of zinc oxide nanowires. Then overlay of material that responds to light waves - lead-sulfide quantum dots or polymer called P3HT.
Euro NanoMaster project - 14 partners including UK - developing new graphite materials to produce high-quality graphene. Multiple-stage chem exfoliation process involving oxidative treatment, washing, filtration, reduction.
New book out: Graphite, Graphene and their Polymer Nanocomposites.
Aixtron (AIXG) announced China's Zhejiang U ordered BM 2-inch R&D system in 2Q12. Delivery this quarter. To be used for advanced CNT and graphene research.
U of TX Austin developing flexible graphene FETs. Record current densities, highest ever power and conversion gains. Transistors show near symmetric electron and hole transport. Most mechanically robust flexible graphene devices to date. Also water resistant. Made directly atop patterned dielectrics on plastic sheets using microelectronic lithography. Multi-finger metal gate electrodes embedded in plastic sheet. Graphene grown using CVD.
GA Tech researchers developing low-temp method to dope graphene films using self-assembled monolayers that modify interface of graphene and support substrate. Develops graphene p-n junctions. Graphene grown on copper film, then transferred to silicon dioxide substrates. Make fairly well doped p-type and n-type graphene controllably by patterning the underlying monolayer instead of modifying graphene directly. Previous methods had disrupted graphene lattice which reduced electron mobility and unstable devices.
Angstron Materials awarded new US patent for method that exfoliates layered graphene to produce nano graphene platelets thinner than 10nm down to under 1nm. No contaminated wastewater.
NASA developing graphene-based chem and strain nanosensors. Working on measuring amount of atomic ox in upper atmos to determine drag factor. When graphene oxidizes it changes its el resistance. Can be used to measure ox or other gases' density.
Friday, December 28, 2012
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 158/25/15. Naz just under bottom (200-day) line. Volume above half normal. Oil down under $91. East coast/GOM seaports strike likely averted (at least 30 days).
CSKH up 1,400. VNDB up 200. PRHL up 38. AMPD up 26. GERS up 22. JUHL up 17. PSPW up 15. VLNCQ, HOKU, AMTX up 14. CSOL up 13. WTWO up 12. AMEL, SOPW, TMEN up 11.
GWBU down 33. BLDW down 32. CWET, IFXY down 28. CPWY down 23. BOPO down 20. ECOS down 15. RSOL down 14. BFRE down 13. NENE, BLQN, EVSI, WEST down 11. SPIR down 10. NTCXF down 2. GRPH down 1. XSNX, ORYN flat, both came back off lows.
Market down 158/25/15. Naz just under bottom (200-day) line. Volume above half normal. Oil down under $91. East coast/GOM seaports strike likely averted (at least 30 days).
CSKH up 1,400. VNDB up 200. PRHL up 38. AMPD up 26. GERS up 22. JUHL up 17. PSPW up 15. VLNCQ, HOKU, AMTX up 14. CSOL up 13. WTWO up 12. AMEL, SOPW, TMEN up 11.
GWBU down 33. BLDW down 32. CWET, IFXY down 28. CPWY down 23. BOPO down 20. ECOS down 15. RSOL down 14. BFRE down 13. NENE, BLQN, EVSI, WEST down 11. SPIR down 10. NTCXF down 2. GRPH down 1. XSNX, ORYN flat, both came back off lows.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
EPA issued waiver to allow Cal to adopt emissions standards for vehicles far stricter than fed's. Applies to '17-'25 models.
At least 100K bls/yr of oil seep out of the ground naturally around the world. Much from sea floor.
Largest Kansas wind farm to begin ops. BP Wind Energy and Sempra. 438Mw. $800M. 274 1.6Mw turbines over 66K acres. 2nd best wind resource in US. State now has 2.2 Gw of wind capacity, counting this farm. Iowa has 4.5Gw capacity.
Best wind sites in US within connection distance to grid now about all developed. These sites can be profitable without current tax credit of 2.2 cents/Kwh generated (that expires at yearend).
German state bordering Denmark recently approved doubling land area devoted to wind power. Already has highest concentration in Germany. Wind currently provides near 50% of state's elgen from over 3.2Gw of capacity. Over 200Kw of wind elgen capacity per sq. km. Highest in Germany or US. Target of 4.8Gw wind by '15, 6.5Gw by '20.
EC formally published decision to nix plan to impose tariff on imported US ethanol.
New research shows W Antarctica warming near 2x as fast as thought. Avg. annual temps increased 2.4C (4.3F) since '50's. 3x global avg. increase. Accounts for faster rise in sea levels than predicted.
Every 41K years, Earth's axis changes. Tilts gradually away from sun, then back. Creates ice ages and warmer periods. Called "obliquity". 1 of 3 "Milankovitch Cycles" that occur over huge time periods. Large volcanic eruptions also occur in 41K year cycles. Earth's obliquity cycle is now about in middle of 2.4 degree range.
OTHER STUFF
Alexander & Baldwin completed 6Mw solar PV farm on Kana'i. Largest solar farm in Hawaii. Almost 10% of local utility's daytime load. 3Mw batt storage system.
Sempra, BP Wind Energy completed 21Mw wind farm on Maui. 10Mw batt storage system.
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) bought 2 solar projects totaling 24Mw from Sun Ed for $38M.
National avg. $119/mo for residential el customers for 1Mw of usage. Utilities use 1Mw/mo as standard.
Calpine sold 847Mw single-cycle, NG-fired S Carolina power plant for $427M+. 12-yr-old plant.
Iraq's Kurds have stopped exporting oil via the northern pipeline as dispute with Baghdad over payments continues.
EPA issued waiver to allow Cal to adopt emissions standards for vehicles far stricter than fed's. Applies to '17-'25 models.
At least 100K bls/yr of oil seep out of the ground naturally around the world. Much from sea floor.
Largest Kansas wind farm to begin ops. BP Wind Energy and Sempra. 438Mw. $800M. 274 1.6Mw turbines over 66K acres. 2nd best wind resource in US. State now has 2.2 Gw of wind capacity, counting this farm. Iowa has 4.5Gw capacity.
Best wind sites in US within connection distance to grid now about all developed. These sites can be profitable without current tax credit of 2.2 cents/Kwh generated (that expires at yearend).
German state bordering Denmark recently approved doubling land area devoted to wind power. Already has highest concentration in Germany. Wind currently provides near 50% of state's elgen from over 3.2Gw of capacity. Over 200Kw of wind elgen capacity per sq. km. Highest in Germany or US. Target of 4.8Gw wind by '15, 6.5Gw by '20.
EC formally published decision to nix plan to impose tariff on imported US ethanol.
New research shows W Antarctica warming near 2x as fast as thought. Avg. annual temps increased 2.4C (4.3F) since '50's. 3x global avg. increase. Accounts for faster rise in sea levels than predicted.
Every 41K years, Earth's axis changes. Tilts gradually away from sun, then back. Creates ice ages and warmer periods. Called "obliquity". 1 of 3 "Milankovitch Cycles" that occur over huge time periods. Large volcanic eruptions also occur in 41K year cycles. Earth's obliquity cycle is now about in middle of 2.4 degree range.
OTHER STUFF
Alexander & Baldwin completed 6Mw solar PV farm on Kana'i. Largest solar farm in Hawaii. Almost 10% of local utility's daytime load. 3Mw batt storage system.
Sempra, BP Wind Energy completed 21Mw wind farm on Maui. 10Mw batt storage system.
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) bought 2 solar projects totaling 24Mw from Sun Ed for $38M.
National avg. $119/mo for residential el customers for 1Mw of usage. Utilities use 1Mw/mo as standard.
Calpine sold 847Mw single-cycle, NG-fired S Carolina power plant for $427M+. 12-yr-old plant.
Iraq's Kurds have stopped exporting oil via the northern pipeline as dispute with Baghdad over payments continues.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 35/1/3. Naz bottom (200-day) line holding. Volume half normal. Oil up over $91.
CSKH up 1,700 on over 200K shares. VNDB up 200 on 47M shares. WTWO, GERS up 25. PRHL up 24. NGPHF up 20. Almost triple since mid-Dec. CSGH up 15.
CWET, WWPW down 25. GWBU down 15. BFRE down 14. SPIR down 12. EVSI down 11. CPWY down 10. NENE down 8. NTCXF down 4. XSNX down 1.
Market down 35/1/3. Naz bottom (200-day) line holding. Volume half normal. Oil up over $91.
CSKH up 1,700 on over 200K shares. VNDB up 200 on 47M shares. WTWO, GERS up 25. PRHL up 24. NGPHF up 20. Almost triple since mid-Dec. CSGH up 15.
CWET, WWPW down 25. GWBU down 15. BFRE down 14. SPIR down 12. EVSI down 11. CPWY down 10. NENE down 8. NTCXF down 4. XSNX down 1.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 18/4/1. Word that Congress doing Sunday session. Volume maybe 3/4 normal. Oil down under $91.
IFXY up 167 on 108K. GWBU up 70. PTOS, PPRW up 66. 20K to 100 shares. CPWY up 43. WWPW up 33. CERP, ORYN up 25. SPIR up 22. ASIUF up 19. VLNCQ up 16. BFRE up 15. WEST, QTMM up 12. NTCXF up 1.
VNDB down 66. I'm guessing they're out of business. Never know. SLMU down 52. PRHL down 31. BLQN down 26. BOPO down 25. LEOM, CABN down 22. GERS down 17. CSGH down 16. ECOS down 15. JUHL down 14. CHGI down 13. RSOL down 12. SENY, ZAAP down 11. SRWRF down 10. NENE down 8. XSNX, CWET down 4.
Market down 18/4/1. Word that Congress doing Sunday session. Volume maybe 3/4 normal. Oil down under $91.
IFXY up 167 on 108K. GWBU up 70. PTOS, PPRW up 66. 20K to 100 shares. CPWY up 43. WWPW up 33. CERP, ORYN up 25. SPIR up 22. ASIUF up 19. VLNCQ up 16. BFRE up 15. WEST, QTMM up 12. NTCXF up 1.
VNDB down 66. I'm guessing they're out of business. Never know. SLMU down 52. PRHL down 31. BLQN down 26. BOPO down 25. LEOM, CABN down 22. GERS down 17. CSGH down 16. ECOS down 15. JUHL down 14. CHGI down 13. RSOL down 12. SENY, ZAAP down 11. SRWRF down 10. NENE down 8. XSNX, CWET down 4.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
You know Christmas to New Years week. Not much work getting done. Much less reporting on much less work being done.
DTE Energy turned on 110Mw wind farm in Mich. 1.6Mw GE turbines. 10 full-time jobs. Comp will add another 110Mw in Mich by end of '13. ~$500M for both farms. For 20+ permanent jobs. They expect to add ~1Gw of more clean energy by '15.
Next Era Energy Canada completed 23Mw wind farm in Ontario. 10 Siemens turbines. 1st of 8 projects they are to bring online by '16 in Ontario for ~$1.5B. So, 60 more permanent jobs.
Forest Service: in US, forests absorb/store some 750M metric tons of CO2 annually, ~10% of country's emissions.
NY Gov says $250M available for broad range of clean/renewable energy projects in Energy Highway Blueprint program to upgrade energy infrastructure. Administered by NYSERDA through state's RPS. Recipient announcements expected by summer.
OTHER STUFF
Origin Oil (OOIL) (Cal) algae harvesting process reduces bacterial concentrations by up to 99%. Could extend shelf life of liquid algae concentrate from hours to days.
UAE comp teaming with Singapore's Algae Oil to produce biodiesel for region. Initial lab tests in '13.
Spain opened biodiesel import quotas to include any origin, including Argentina.
Basel banking council turning gold into tier1 asset Jan 1. Can be carried then at 100% of value v. 50% as tier 3. $2,400/oz gold predicted.
Derivative market est. at $1,200T. World GDP ~$60T.
You know Christmas to New Years week. Not much work getting done. Much less reporting on much less work being done.
DTE Energy turned on 110Mw wind farm in Mich. 1.6Mw GE turbines. 10 full-time jobs. Comp will add another 110Mw in Mich by end of '13. ~$500M for both farms. For 20+ permanent jobs. They expect to add ~1Gw of more clean energy by '15.
Next Era Energy Canada completed 23Mw wind farm in Ontario. 10 Siemens turbines. 1st of 8 projects they are to bring online by '16 in Ontario for ~$1.5B. So, 60 more permanent jobs.
Forest Service: in US, forests absorb/store some 750M metric tons of CO2 annually, ~10% of country's emissions.
NY Gov says $250M available for broad range of clean/renewable energy projects in Energy Highway Blueprint program to upgrade energy infrastructure. Administered by NYSERDA through state's RPS. Recipient announcements expected by summer.
OTHER STUFF
Origin Oil (OOIL) (Cal) algae harvesting process reduces bacterial concentrations by up to 99%. Could extend shelf life of liquid algae concentrate from hours to days.
UAE comp teaming with Singapore's Algae Oil to produce biodiesel for region. Initial lab tests in '13.
Spain opened biodiesel import quotas to include any origin, including Argentina.
Basel banking council turning gold into tier1 asset Jan 1. Can be carried then at 100% of value v. 50% as tier 3. $2,400/oz gold predicted.
Derivative market est. at $1,200T. World GDP ~$60T.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 90/21/10. Naz down to bottom (200-day) line. Volume a little over half normal. Oil down under $91. Geithner: US debt to hit ceiling Monday.
GWBU up 33. CLNT up 9 on patent news. HSOL up 5, $475M credit line from Chinese bank. NTCXF up 2.
ZAAP down 10. ORYN down 6. CSUN down 5, began manufacturing in Turkey. NENE down 4. XSNX down 3.
Market down 90/21/10. Naz down to bottom (200-day) line. Volume a little over half normal. Oil down under $91. Geithner: US debt to hit ceiling Monday.
GWBU up 33. CLNT up 9 on patent news. HSOL up 5, $475M credit line from Chinese bank. NTCXF up 2.
ZAAP down 10. ORYN down 6. CSUN down 5, began manufacturing in Turkey. NENE down 4. XSNX down 3.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 24/22/6. Naz back down into top lines. Volume a little above half normal. Oil up over $91.
APWR up 60. BOPO up 33. AMTX up 28. GWBU up 25. JUHL up 22. GRPH up 15. WEST up 13.
ASIUF down 27. CABN down 18. XSNX, CERP down 15. WTWO, ORYN, BFRE down 11. ABAT down 10. NENE down 4.
Market down 24/22/6. Naz back down into top lines. Volume a little above half normal. Oil up over $91.
APWR up 60. BOPO up 33. AMTX up 28. GWBU up 25. JUHL up 22. GRPH up 15. WEST up 13.
ASIUF down 27. CABN down 18. XSNX, CERP down 15. WTWO, ORYN, BFRE down 11. ABAT down 10. NENE down 4.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
DOI proposing 750Mw solar project on public lands in Cal desert. Admin has accredited 34 clean energy projects on public lands since '09. 10.4Gw potential generation.
EPA established 1st nationwide caps on mercury, other pollutants from industrial boilers. But gave comps more time to comply.
Under RFS targets Congress made in '07, cellulosic fuel production was supposed to hit 1B gal in '13, up from 500M this year. But so far output is still near zero. EPA waived most of cellulosic requirements in '12, but kept intact 2.75B gal quota for all biofuels.
Forthcoming fed report found public more likely to find oil/NG spills or leaks than pipeline comps' leak detection systems. Pipeline control rooms ID'd spills/leaks just 16-17% of time. They ID'd leaks in NG distribution lines into homes, buisinesses under 1% of the time.
USGS-led report: animals, plants flowering, laying eggs, migrating in different ways, different times than previous yrs. Pattern accelerating.
OTHER STUFF
Govt report: NYC's largest bldgs - 2% of its roughly 1M bldgs - account for 45% of energy use.
Clean Coal Tech (CCTC) moved to dissolve Good Coal JV.
Nuke energy back on Philippines' list for power sources.
Hitachi to supply 80Mw of 2Mw wind turbines for Japan wind farm. All online in '17.
NREL to partner with Johnson Mathey on 5-yr, $7M effort to economically produce drop-in fuels from non-food biomass sources.
Thai comp to invest $26.8M in Myanmar palm oil plant that will supply el to both countries. Online in '14.
N American biofertilizer market to hit $206M by '18: Frost & Sullivan. $133M in '11.
Biox no longer going forward with 100M liters/yr biodiesel plant planned for Port of NYC. "Change in market dynamics."
OPEC to cut crude exports 2.6% on low demand from N hemisphere winter.
Statoil (Norway) spending $590M to acquire acreage in Marcellus shale.
UK oil production down 32% yoy in Oct to 684Kb/d from planned maintenance on oil field, processing terminal.
DOI proposing 750Mw solar project on public lands in Cal desert. Admin has accredited 34 clean energy projects on public lands since '09. 10.4Gw potential generation.
EPA established 1st nationwide caps on mercury, other pollutants from industrial boilers. But gave comps more time to comply.
Under RFS targets Congress made in '07, cellulosic fuel production was supposed to hit 1B gal in '13, up from 500M this year. But so far output is still near zero. EPA waived most of cellulosic requirements in '12, but kept intact 2.75B gal quota for all biofuels.
Forthcoming fed report found public more likely to find oil/NG spills or leaks than pipeline comps' leak detection systems. Pipeline control rooms ID'd spills/leaks just 16-17% of time. They ID'd leaks in NG distribution lines into homes, buisinesses under 1% of the time.
USGS-led report: animals, plants flowering, laying eggs, migrating in different ways, different times than previous yrs. Pattern accelerating.
OTHER STUFF
Govt report: NYC's largest bldgs - 2% of its roughly 1M bldgs - account for 45% of energy use.
Clean Coal Tech (CCTC) moved to dissolve Good Coal JV.
Nuke energy back on Philippines' list for power sources.
Hitachi to supply 80Mw of 2Mw wind turbines for Japan wind farm. All online in '17.
NREL to partner with Johnson Mathey on 5-yr, $7M effort to economically produce drop-in fuels from non-food biomass sources.
Thai comp to invest $26.8M in Myanmar palm oil plant that will supply el to both countries. Online in '14.
N American biofertilizer market to hit $206M by '18: Frost & Sullivan. $133M in '11.
Biox no longer going forward with 100M liters/yr biodiesel plant planned for Port of NYC. "Change in market dynamics."
OPEC to cut crude exports 2.6% on low demand from N hemisphere winter.
Statoil (Norway) spending $590M to acquire acreage in Marcellus shale.
UK oil production down 32% yoy in Oct to 684Kb/d from planned maintenance on oil field, processing terminal.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Pike Research: private funding for EV comps drying up fast. Comps will be forced to exit market unless acquired on not-so-good terms. Most investment in '13 expected to flow toward batt component development. Cost of quick-charge stations likely to keep installs down, so will keep EV market down. VW, BMW to intro 7 new EV models in '13. German EV market expected to more than double in '13. E-bike sales in N America est. to grow over 50% in '13 to over 158K. Global market to grow to over 33M in '13. With cheap NG, interest in E trucks to decline.
25% or more of the energy in NatGas expended during process of liquifying it. (We don't want big LNG market/exports.)
Enhanced oil recovery market set to go from $3B in '05 to $1.3T in next 3 yrs. Solar-powered EOR cheaper, more effective than NG, CO2 or chem processes. EOR extracts remaining 2/3 of well reserves. Solar EOR can produce 16% more oil from "played out" well than NG (no fuel cost nor NG pipelines/other shipment to site). Glass Point Solar has enclosed trough CSP 300Kw project in Cal, another project close to completion in Oman. Seeking to expand to Kuwait, Bahrain.
EPA released progress report on fracking, but holding off on reporting effects on drinking water until '14.
OTHER STUFF
FNVRF (Finavera) to sell 300Mw Brit Columbia project portfolio for ~$40M. They maintain 10% share in 105Mw wind project.
210Mw wind farm now online in ND. 3Mw Siemens turbines.
Phase 1 of IN wind farm completed. 200Mw for $400M. Phase 2 to be 100Mw. Phases 3 and 4 to be 800Mw.
EDF Renewable Energy turned on 161Mw wind farm in TX. Siemens 2.3Mw turbines. 15-yr PPA with Excel Energy subsid.
Alliant Energy subsid turned on 100Mw Iowa wind farm. Cost ~$235M.
Alstom testing 6Mw offshore wind turbine off French coast. Exclusive supplier to consortium that will install 1.4Gw of wind power off France. No gearbox in turbine.
A JV and Sunpower (SPWR) subsid announced 2 South Africa solar projects totaling 33Mw. 1 already started build, other in weeks. 2Q14 completion.
Colo PUC rejected 100Mw solar plan for Xcel Energy. No more large scale solar farms through '18.
DOE's Joint BioEnergy Institute discovered enzyme to boost sugar in plant cell walls. Will help make cellulosic biofuels cost competitive.
Philippines considering raising biodiesel blend to 5%.
S Western El Power, an AEP unit, began ops at 600Mw pulverized coal-fired plant in Ark. 1st type of generating unit to burn at higher temps, requiring less coal, lowering emissions. Low sulfur coal.
Pike Research: private funding for EV comps drying up fast. Comps will be forced to exit market unless acquired on not-so-good terms. Most investment in '13 expected to flow toward batt component development. Cost of quick-charge stations likely to keep installs down, so will keep EV market down. VW, BMW to intro 7 new EV models in '13. German EV market expected to more than double in '13. E-bike sales in N America est. to grow over 50% in '13 to over 158K. Global market to grow to over 33M in '13. With cheap NG, interest in E trucks to decline.
25% or more of the energy in NatGas expended during process of liquifying it. (We don't want big LNG market/exports.)
Enhanced oil recovery market set to go from $3B in '05 to $1.3T in next 3 yrs. Solar-powered EOR cheaper, more effective than NG, CO2 or chem processes. EOR extracts remaining 2/3 of well reserves. Solar EOR can produce 16% more oil from "played out" well than NG (no fuel cost nor NG pipelines/other shipment to site). Glass Point Solar has enclosed trough CSP 300Kw project in Cal, another project close to completion in Oman. Seeking to expand to Kuwait, Bahrain.
EPA released progress report on fracking, but holding off on reporting effects on drinking water until '14.
OTHER STUFF
FNVRF (Finavera) to sell 300Mw Brit Columbia project portfolio for ~$40M. They maintain 10% share in 105Mw wind project.
210Mw wind farm now online in ND. 3Mw Siemens turbines.
Phase 1 of IN wind farm completed. 200Mw for $400M. Phase 2 to be 100Mw. Phases 3 and 4 to be 800Mw.
EDF Renewable Energy turned on 161Mw wind farm in TX. Siemens 2.3Mw turbines. 15-yr PPA with Excel Energy subsid.
Alliant Energy subsid turned on 100Mw Iowa wind farm. Cost ~$235M.
Alstom testing 6Mw offshore wind turbine off French coast. Exclusive supplier to consortium that will install 1.4Gw of wind power off France. No gearbox in turbine.
A JV and Sunpower (SPWR) subsid announced 2 South Africa solar projects totaling 33Mw. 1 already started build, other in weeks. 2Q14 completion.
Colo PUC rejected 100Mw solar plan for Xcel Energy. No more large scale solar farms through '18.
DOE's Joint BioEnergy Institute discovered enzyme to boost sugar in plant cell walls. Will help make cellulosic biofuels cost competitive.
Philippines considering raising biodiesel blend to 5%.
S Western El Power, an AEP unit, began ops at 600Mw pulverized coal-fired plant in Ark. 1st type of generating unit to burn at higher temps, requiring less coal, lowering emissions. Low sulfur coal.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume below half normal. Oil up near $91.
APWR up 106 on 43K. GWBU up 27. GRPH up 15. CBEH up 13. TMEN up 11. SOPW up 10. ORYN up 5. XSNX up 1.
ASIUF down 33 on 138 shares. BSRC down 16. ABAT, BLQN down 13. GERS down 12. LEOM down 11. NENE down 7.
Market flat and mixed. Volume below half normal. Oil up near $91.
APWR up 106 on 43K. GWBU up 27. GRPH up 15. CBEH up 13. TMEN up 11. SOPW up 10. ORYN up 5. XSNX up 1.
ASIUF down 33 on 138 shares. BSRC down 16. ABAT, BLQN down 13. GERS down 12. LEOM down 11. NENE down 7.
Monday, December 24, 2012
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 51/8/3. Volume holiday dead. Oil down under $89.
AEHI up 140. VLNCQ up 30. LEOM up 25. NENE up 13. Up about 50 in 2 days. XSNX up 12. NTCXF up 7. ORYN up 5.
APWR down 45. CERP down 17. CRCL, WEST down 11. CWET, FNVRF, ZAAP down 10. GRPH down 3.
Market down 51/8/3. Volume holiday dead. Oil down under $89.
AEHI up 140. VLNCQ up 30. LEOM up 25. NENE up 13. Up about 50 in 2 days. XSNX up 12. NTCXF up 7. ORYN up 5.
APWR down 45. CERP down 17. CRCL, WEST down 11. CWET, FNVRF, ZAAP down 10. GRPH down 3.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 34/8/3. Volume half normal. Market closes at 1. Oil down under $89.
VLNCQ up 53. LEOM, APWR up 25. WTWO up 22. NTCXF up 18. XSNX up 12. VSPC up 11. NENE up 9. SCTY up 1. ORYN, GRPH flat.
VNDB down 33. NGLPF down 30. BSRC down 13. CSGH down 12. ABAT down 11. FNVRF, XDSL down 10.
Market down 34/8/3. Volume half normal. Market closes at 1. Oil down under $89.
VLNCQ up 53. LEOM, APWR up 25. WTWO up 22. NTCXF up 18. XSNX up 12. VSPC up 11. NENE up 9. SCTY up 1. ORYN, GRPH flat.
VNDB down 33. NGLPF down 30. BSRC down 13. CSGH down 12. ABAT down 11. FNVRF, XDSL down 10.
Friday, December 21, 2012
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 120/29/13. Volume 2.5x normal (options Friday). Oil down under $89.
BLQN up 43 on 1,800 shares. NENE up 37 following news on breakthroughs, broke through 50-day lines. LIME, BBLU up 16. AMBT, SENY up 13. ZAAP, SOPW up 11. CRCL, NGLPF up 10. GRPH up 1. SCTY flat.
FNVRF down 34. ORYN down 15, new low. EWRL, LEXG, MMMW, SATCQ down 11. HSOL, ZNNMF down 10. XSNX, NTCXF down 4.
Market down 120/29/13. Volume 2.5x normal (options Friday). Oil down under $89.
BLQN up 43 on 1,800 shares. NENE up 37 following news on breakthroughs, broke through 50-day lines. LIME, BBLU up 16. AMBT, SENY up 13. ZAAP, SOPW up 11. CRCL, NGLPF up 10. GRPH up 1. SCTY flat.
FNVRF down 34. ORYN down 15, new low. EWRL, LEXG, MMMW, SATCQ down 11. HSOL, ZNNMF down 10. XSNX, NTCXF down 4.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
DOI intends to get permitting done by yearend for over 20 solar, wind, geothermal projects on fed lands.
LA and Burbank approved 20-yr agreement to buy 250Mw of solar power from Sempra US' proposed project outside Las Vegas.
1st large scale solar farms without subsidies seen ahead in Spain. Permits sought for 37.5Gw of projects. Probably only 1Gw are serious projects, may get built in '13, '14. Spain now has 4.2Gw of solar capacity, ~2.7% of total elgen. Total elgen capacity 100Gw. Solaria planning 150Mw farm for under $150M Euros. To sell the el for 5-6 Euro cents/Kw.
2 Taiwan solar cell makers merged to form world's 2nd largest cell maker. NSP now has near 2Gw capacity.
New Cal tax will bring in up to $550M/yr for efficiency and clean energy school projects. Voters approved closing of corporate tax loophole for out-of-state businesses.
Judge dismissed lawsuit over Cal trucking emissions.
Cal utilities benefiting from state's cap and trade system.
Expanding dust bowls worsening food prospects. 1 in N China, S Mongolia. Other south of Sahara. Caused by overgrazing. 40% of China is grassland. Cattle herds doubled to over 100M from '80 to '00. Sheep, goats went to 280M. US has comparable grazing capacity and has similar number of cattle, but only 9M sheep, goats. Desertification in S Sahara acute in Chad, Niger, Nigeria. Nigeria's number of sheep tripled to 36M from '90 to '10. Goats jumped to 56M.
OTHER STUFF
Norway boosting efforts to curb deforestation.
Atos, Bellore launched "My Car" - EV fleet powered by solar - in France.
IBM linking EV charging networks across Europe.
Duke got 2 $110M loans from N Am Development Bank to build 2 TX wind farms. 200Mw project to use Siemens turbines, provide the el to CPS Energy. 202Mw project to use Mitsubishi turbines, sell the el to Austin Energy.
Enbridge to invest ~$170M for 50% of 150Mw EDF EN wind project in Quebec. Enbridge's 2nd Quebec wind investment. Quebec's wind capacity target 4Gw by '15.
Vestas got order for 74Mw of 1.8Mw wind turbines in S Africa. 4Q13 delivery, farm online Feb '14.
Romanian unit of GDF Suez (France) investing $119M for 50Mw wind farm in Romania.
Fortum to invest 500M Euro in biofuel combined heat and power plant in Stockholm. Online in '16.
Cereplast (CERP) announced commercialization of algae bioplastics. Intro'd Biopropylene sooner than anticipated.
Viaspace (VSPC) tech approved for implementation on St Croix. Jan '14 start. 6Mw anaerobic generator will use the Giant King Grass feedstock.
Cuba opened 2nd biodiesel plant using jatropha feedstock. Plans 3 more plants using inedible feedstocks. Plans to provide 50% of energy needs with 4M tons of oil, gas.
Brit Geo Survey: 148TCF of shale gas in Britain. US has 500-1,000TCF of reserves.
Waste frack water treatment - 100B gal/yr - soon to be $9B industry.
Dominion, Caiman Energy forming $1.5B JV to provide midstream services to NG producers operating in Utica shale in OH, parts of PA.
Golden Spread El Coop (TX) chose GE combined-cycle NG-fired units for 3 new power plants. Build out '15-'17.
Com Ed (Chicago) el bills to rise $1/mo next yr. Will file for another rate update in May for '14.
Entergy Mississippi bills to rise ~5% in Jan. Residential rates will still be 16% lower than current national avg.
Underwater inspections at BP Gulf spill site failed to ID source of persistent sheen on surface.
Chevron signed deal to help YPF develop shale formation in Argentina. Believed to hold 3rd largest shale resources in world. Initial project cost $1B. Est. $15B may be needed for entire formation. Repsol (Spain) filed suit to stop the help for YPF. Deal won't be affected by Argentine embargo placed on all Chevron assets as part of Ecuador court case.
CNPC (China) may buy Exxon's stake in Iraq field.
DOI intends to get permitting done by yearend for over 20 solar, wind, geothermal projects on fed lands.
LA and Burbank approved 20-yr agreement to buy 250Mw of solar power from Sempra US' proposed project outside Las Vegas.
1st large scale solar farms without subsidies seen ahead in Spain. Permits sought for 37.5Gw of projects. Probably only 1Gw are serious projects, may get built in '13, '14. Spain now has 4.2Gw of solar capacity, ~2.7% of total elgen. Total elgen capacity 100Gw. Solaria planning 150Mw farm for under $150M Euros. To sell the el for 5-6 Euro cents/Kw.
2 Taiwan solar cell makers merged to form world's 2nd largest cell maker. NSP now has near 2Gw capacity.
New Cal tax will bring in up to $550M/yr for efficiency and clean energy school projects. Voters approved closing of corporate tax loophole for out-of-state businesses.
Judge dismissed lawsuit over Cal trucking emissions.
Cal utilities benefiting from state's cap and trade system.
Expanding dust bowls worsening food prospects. 1 in N China, S Mongolia. Other south of Sahara. Caused by overgrazing. 40% of China is grassland. Cattle herds doubled to over 100M from '80 to '00. Sheep, goats went to 280M. US has comparable grazing capacity and has similar number of cattle, but only 9M sheep, goats. Desertification in S Sahara acute in Chad, Niger, Nigeria. Nigeria's number of sheep tripled to 36M from '90 to '10. Goats jumped to 56M.
OTHER STUFF
Norway boosting efforts to curb deforestation.
Atos, Bellore launched "My Car" - EV fleet powered by solar - in France.
IBM linking EV charging networks across Europe.
Duke got 2 $110M loans from N Am Development Bank to build 2 TX wind farms. 200Mw project to use Siemens turbines, provide the el to CPS Energy. 202Mw project to use Mitsubishi turbines, sell the el to Austin Energy.
Enbridge to invest ~$170M for 50% of 150Mw EDF EN wind project in Quebec. Enbridge's 2nd Quebec wind investment. Quebec's wind capacity target 4Gw by '15.
Vestas got order for 74Mw of 1.8Mw wind turbines in S Africa. 4Q13 delivery, farm online Feb '14.
Romanian unit of GDF Suez (France) investing $119M for 50Mw wind farm in Romania.
Fortum to invest 500M Euro in biofuel combined heat and power plant in Stockholm. Online in '16.
Cereplast (CERP) announced commercialization of algae bioplastics. Intro'd Biopropylene sooner than anticipated.
Viaspace (VSPC) tech approved for implementation on St Croix. Jan '14 start. 6Mw anaerobic generator will use the Giant King Grass feedstock.
Cuba opened 2nd biodiesel plant using jatropha feedstock. Plans 3 more plants using inedible feedstocks. Plans to provide 50% of energy needs with 4M tons of oil, gas.
Brit Geo Survey: 148TCF of shale gas in Britain. US has 500-1,000TCF of reserves.
Waste frack water treatment - 100B gal/yr - soon to be $9B industry.
Dominion, Caiman Energy forming $1.5B JV to provide midstream services to NG producers operating in Utica shale in OH, parts of PA.
Golden Spread El Coop (TX) chose GE combined-cycle NG-fired units for 3 new power plants. Build out '15-'17.
Com Ed (Chicago) el bills to rise $1/mo next yr. Will file for another rate update in May for '14.
Entergy Mississippi bills to rise ~5% in Jan. Residential rates will still be 16% lower than current national avg.
Underwater inspections at BP Gulf spill site failed to ID source of persistent sheen on surface.
Chevron signed deal to help YPF develop shale formation in Argentina. Believed to hold 3rd largest shale resources in world. Initial project cost $1B. Est. $15B may be needed for entire formation. Repsol (Spain) filed suit to stop the help for YPF. Deal won't be affected by Argentine embargo placed on all Chevron assets as part of Ecuador court case.
CNPC (China) may buy Exxon's stake in Iraq field.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 113/34/13. Naz back to top day lines. Volume 4x normal, options Friday. Oil down under $89.
NENE up 17 on news release on breakthroughs, back to 50-day lines CWET up 16. BBLU up 12. QTMM, WTWO up 11. XSNX up 4. ORYN, GRPH, SCTY flat.
CRCL down 15. EWRL down 11. NTCXF down 6.
Market down 113/34/13. Naz back to top day lines. Volume 4x normal, options Friday. Oil down under $89.
NENE up 17 on news release on breakthroughs, back to 50-day lines CWET up 16. BBLU up 12. QTMM, WTWO up 11. XSNX up 4. ORYN, GRPH, SCTY flat.
CRCL down 15. EWRL down 11. NTCXF down 6.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 59/6/7. Volume a little light. Oil $90. US housing market to contribute to growth next year for 1st time since '05. US midwest manufacturing strengthening.
SLMU up 84. I know, who didn't see that coming. 30K shares. ASIUF up 50. 2.2K shares. LEOM, NGLPF up 25. ZNNMF up 17. ALGXY up 15. EWRL up 14. AMLM up 13. XSNX, GRPH up 8.
CSOL down 54 on 2.5K shares. BLQN down 26. PTOS down 25. CERP down 23. AEHI down 16. TMEN down 13. MMMW, MKTY down 11. ZAAP, SPIR, AONEQ, BFRE, AMPD, WTWO down 10. NENE down 9. Buy it. ORYN, SCTY down 4. NTCXF down 3.
Market up 59/6/7. Volume a little light. Oil $90. US housing market to contribute to growth next year for 1st time since '05. US midwest manufacturing strengthening.
SLMU up 84. I know, who didn't see that coming. 30K shares. ASIUF up 50. 2.2K shares. LEOM, NGLPF up 25. ZNNMF up 17. ALGXY up 15. EWRL up 14. AMLM up 13. XSNX, GRPH up 8.
CSOL down 54 on 2.5K shares. BLQN down 26. PTOS down 25. CERP down 23. AEHI down 16. TMEN down 13. MMMW, MKTY down 11. ZAAP, SPIR, AONEQ, BFRE, AMPD, WTWO down 10. NENE down 9. Buy it. ORYN, SCTY down 4. NTCXF down 3.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Fed appeals court declined to rehear GHG rule challenge, teed up case for Supreme Court.
EV's appealing to only 3% of US car market.
EU approved Czech, Hungarian carbon reduction systems.
Iraq President, a Kurd, suffered serious stroke.
Moscow sending ships to evac 5K Russians in Syria.
US oil production increase of 766Kb/d largest since 1st well in 1859. 6.41Mb/d current production. Petrol imports down to 41% from 60%. 1,432 rigs set up in '12, most since records began in 1987.
FERC to track impact of Calif cap and trade program on power prices.
Utilities starting to train workers for next gen reactors.
32% of folks say their own energy savings actions can make a difference in arresting global warming. Doubt growing that even widespread concerted action can make a difference. 60% now say energy saving habits could help curb climate change if adopted by most Americans.
DOI plan calls for half of 23M acre National Petrol Reserve in AK be opened up for oil/gas development.
OTHER STUFF
Retired Exxon engineer got $300K grant from Pay Pal co-founder's foundation to show how waste heat from power plants can create more el. Exhaust can create vortex of warm air to cause change in pressure at bottom to drive turbine. Vortex 200 meters wide, 10km high could produce 200Mw. Could boost power plant efficiency 20%. (Combined-cycle plants now at 60%.) Proof of concept end of summer.
30 Keystone XL 'tree sitters" face jail time in TX.
Report: US can store 2.4T metric tons of CO2.
AEP to shut down coal-fired units at Big Sandy KY. Plant dates from '60's. Too expensive to retrofit to meet new EPA regs.
Drax Group got $163M from Brit Green Investment Bank to help fund $1B plan to convert country's largest coal-fired power plant to burn wood pellets. $400M Pounds more credit from banks. Plans to switchover 1st of 6 units by June.
PSC of SC approved $97M increase in retail el revs for SCE&G.
Brit Green Investment Bank contributing to $365M loan for wind farm offshore England. 367Mw farm off Cumbria world's largest operating offshore wind farm. Lloyd's, RBS among lenders. GIB opened in Nov with 3B Pounds. Already announced investments in anaerobic digestion plant and fitting out energy efficient bldgs.
Strata Solar powered up 6.4Mw solar farm in NC. Power for 700 homes. 30 acres. 26K panels. Selling el to Duke. NC requires utilities to have 3% clean/ren this yr. 6% in '15. 12.5% in '21. Strata built 12 farms this yr. Plans 25 next yr.
Paradigm Bio Aviation (IL) plans to build $120M facility to turn muni solid waste into el and fuels. Construction start in '14. Power gen in '15. Full scale fuels production in '17. 5Mw elgen, 8M gal fuels/yr.
Neste Oil (Fin) joined av biofuels project funded by EU. 36-month project granted 10M Euro. Airbus, Embraer among those in consortium. Neste will make 4K tons bio-avfuel primarily from Spanish camelina oil, possibly also used cooking oil. 50/50 blend with fossil fuel then for Euro airlines.
Abengoa shut down 480M liters/yr ethanol plant - Europe's largest - in Rotterdam for up to 3 months for retrofits.
Neutral Fuels (UAE) to build biodiesel processing plant in Australia to supply fuel to McDonald's truck fleet from used cooking oil from McD restaurants. Plans to roll out 16 similar projects around world in next 3 yrs. (When will we see the TV ads?)
Brazil ethanol blend may jump back up to 25% as soon as May. Expected record sugarcane crop next yr.
Green Plains (GPRE) subsid began ops at 96-car train terminal in Ala. BNSF line. Capac 300M gal of ethanol per yr.
EC awarded UPM a 170M Euro grant for biorefinery project in France. Solid wood feedstock. Funds from emission allowance sales.
Petrobras' (Bra) transport arm to open shipyard to build 20 ethanol barges - $400M worth. To replace 80K truck round-trips (/yr?).
Thailand agency teaming with Japanese org to launch pilot project to use cassava pulp feedstock for ethanol. $9M R&D grant.
Cellufuel (Can) set to build demo facility for its biodiesel tech that should produce ~1M liters/yr. $500K govt grant.
Rice U researchers turning light into heat at point of need on nanoscale to trigger biochem reactions. Combines enzymes from thermophiles with plasmonic gold nano particles that heat up when exposed to near-IR light. Activates the enzymes.
Fed appeals court declined to rehear GHG rule challenge, teed up case for Supreme Court.
EV's appealing to only 3% of US car market.
EU approved Czech, Hungarian carbon reduction systems.
Iraq President, a Kurd, suffered serious stroke.
Moscow sending ships to evac 5K Russians in Syria.
US oil production increase of 766Kb/d largest since 1st well in 1859. 6.41Mb/d current production. Petrol imports down to 41% from 60%. 1,432 rigs set up in '12, most since records began in 1987.
FERC to track impact of Calif cap and trade program on power prices.
Utilities starting to train workers for next gen reactors.
32% of folks say their own energy savings actions can make a difference in arresting global warming. Doubt growing that even widespread concerted action can make a difference. 60% now say energy saving habits could help curb climate change if adopted by most Americans.
DOI plan calls for half of 23M acre National Petrol Reserve in AK be opened up for oil/gas development.
OTHER STUFF
Retired Exxon engineer got $300K grant from Pay Pal co-founder's foundation to show how waste heat from power plants can create more el. Exhaust can create vortex of warm air to cause change in pressure at bottom to drive turbine. Vortex 200 meters wide, 10km high could produce 200Mw. Could boost power plant efficiency 20%. (Combined-cycle plants now at 60%.) Proof of concept end of summer.
30 Keystone XL 'tree sitters" face jail time in TX.
Report: US can store 2.4T metric tons of CO2.
AEP to shut down coal-fired units at Big Sandy KY. Plant dates from '60's. Too expensive to retrofit to meet new EPA regs.
Drax Group got $163M from Brit Green Investment Bank to help fund $1B plan to convert country's largest coal-fired power plant to burn wood pellets. $400M Pounds more credit from banks. Plans to switchover 1st of 6 units by June.
PSC of SC approved $97M increase in retail el revs for SCE&G.
Brit Green Investment Bank contributing to $365M loan for wind farm offshore England. 367Mw farm off Cumbria world's largest operating offshore wind farm. Lloyd's, RBS among lenders. GIB opened in Nov with 3B Pounds. Already announced investments in anaerobic digestion plant and fitting out energy efficient bldgs.
Strata Solar powered up 6.4Mw solar farm in NC. Power for 700 homes. 30 acres. 26K panels. Selling el to Duke. NC requires utilities to have 3% clean/ren this yr. 6% in '15. 12.5% in '21. Strata built 12 farms this yr. Plans 25 next yr.
Paradigm Bio Aviation (IL) plans to build $120M facility to turn muni solid waste into el and fuels. Construction start in '14. Power gen in '15. Full scale fuels production in '17. 5Mw elgen, 8M gal fuels/yr.
Neste Oil (Fin) joined av biofuels project funded by EU. 36-month project granted 10M Euro. Airbus, Embraer among those in consortium. Neste will make 4K tons bio-avfuel primarily from Spanish camelina oil, possibly also used cooking oil. 50/50 blend with fossil fuel then for Euro airlines.
Abengoa shut down 480M liters/yr ethanol plant - Europe's largest - in Rotterdam for up to 3 months for retrofits.
Neutral Fuels (UAE) to build biodiesel processing plant in Australia to supply fuel to McDonald's truck fleet from used cooking oil from McD restaurants. Plans to roll out 16 similar projects around world in next 3 yrs. (When will we see the TV ads?)
Brazil ethanol blend may jump back up to 25% as soon as May. Expected record sugarcane crop next yr.
Green Plains (GPRE) subsid began ops at 96-car train terminal in Ala. BNSF line. Capac 300M gal of ethanol per yr.
EC awarded UPM a 170M Euro grant for biorefinery project in France. Solid wood feedstock. Funds from emission allowance sales.
Petrobras' (Bra) transport arm to open shipyard to build 20 ethanol barges - $400M worth. To replace 80K truck round-trips (/yr?).
Thailand agency teaming with Japanese org to launch pilot project to use cassava pulp feedstock for ethanol. $9M R&D grant.
Cellufuel (Can) set to build demo facility for its biodiesel tech that should produce ~1M liters/yr. $500K govt grant.
Rice U researchers turning light into heat at point of need on nanoscale to trigger biochem reactions. Combines enzymes from thermophiles with plasmonic gold nano particles that heat up when exposed to near-IR light. Activates the enzymes.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume a little light. Oil down a little under $90. Revised Q3 US GDP up 3.1%. US housing values up 6% in '12. US leading indicators down .2% for Nov. Philly region manufacturing an unexpected rise.
EFOI up 10. XSNX up 8. GRPH up 1.
MGLT down 62 on 1K shares. VNDB down 33. WWPW down 30 on 125 shares. BLQN down 26. CCTC down 11. SPIR down 10. ORYN down 4. NENE, NTCXF, SCTY down 3.
Market flat and mixed. Volume a little light. Oil down a little under $90. Revised Q3 US GDP up 3.1%. US housing values up 6% in '12. US leading indicators down .2% for Nov. Philly region manufacturing an unexpected rise.
EFOI up 10. XSNX up 8. GRPH up 1.
MGLT down 62 on 1K shares. VNDB down 33. WWPW down 30 on 125 shares. BLQN down 26. CCTC down 11. SPIR down 10. ORYN down 4. NENE, NTCXF, SCTY down 3.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 98/10/10. Volume normal. WTI oil up near $90.
MGLT up 77 on 500 shares. Who woulda thunk? PTOS up 66. VLNCQ up 45. MMMW up 26. IFXY up 25. AONEQ up 20. FCSMF up 19. MKTY, BLDW up 16, both on nominal volume. SPIR up 13. CSIQ, CSUN, GWBU, WTWO up 11. BFRE up 10. ORYN up 3. NTCXF up 1.
AMLM down 33. ASIUF, AQNM down 20. XDSL down 13. APWR down 12. XSNX down 10. GRPH, SCTY down 3. NENE down 2.
Market down 98/10/10. Volume normal. WTI oil up near $90.
MGLT up 77 on 500 shares. Who woulda thunk? PTOS up 66. VLNCQ up 45. MMMW up 26. IFXY up 25. AONEQ up 20. FCSMF up 19. MKTY, BLDW up 16, both on nominal volume. SPIR up 13. CSIQ, CSUN, GWBU, WTWO up 11. BFRE up 10. ORYN up 3. NTCXF up 1.
AMLM down 33. ASIUF, AQNM down 20. XDSL down 13. APWR down 12. XSNX down 10. GRPH, SCTY down 3. NENE down 2.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
US increased import duties on wind turbine towers from China, Vietnam. Chinese, Viet imports ~25% of US mart. ~$202M worth from China, $79M from Vietnam.
WTO ruled Ontario's subsidies for clean energy producers that use Canadian-made equipment is in breach of rules. Supports EU, Japan complaints.
Plans submitted for world's largest offshore wind farm. 1.2Gw off Anglia (Brit) coast. 325 turbines, 3 offshore collector stations, 2 offshore converter stations. Construction start possible in '16.
Iberdrola (SP) chose Areva (FR) to supply turbines for 400Mw wind farm offshore Germany. 5Mw turbines. Build start in '16.
Sandia Lab: US could produce 75B gal/yr (134B gal of all fuels consumed in '11) of cellulosic biofuels without displacing food and feed crops.
1st time ever, state-owned (SC) utility Santee Cooper to shut down 4 coal units at 2 plants at year end. Among their oldest, smallest power plants. Santee and SCE&G also building $10B expansion of nuke power plant north of Columbia. 2 new reactors due online in '17 and '18.
Dutch fund raised $614M from investors for clean/renewable energy, other infra projects.
OTHER STUFF
Energy efficiency programs in 6 New England states proved so effective the regional grid can put off building $250M of upgrades to transmission towers, lines. From '15-'20 the 6 states to spend $5.7B on E efficiency.
"Clean coal" facility opened in Australia.
Calif taking steps toward fracking regulation with draft rules.
NRC said it will probably be months for decision to restart San Onofre nuke unit 2 in Cal or not.
NY Times said DC should accelerate approval process for LNG exporting. Any "modestly negative impact" worth the risk.
Gazprom set to reduce NG prices for Europe. Euro sales ~80% of Gazprom revs. Set to sell NG for ~$370/1K cu meter. Been charging over $400 this year. They expect exports to increase from ~140B cu meter this year to 152B next.
Exelon to retire 58-yr-old 166Mw oil-fired power plant in Philly at year end. Used once in last year. Among 7 peaking units for area. 2 smaller oil units on site will stay available.
JV to build 655Mw NG-fired combined cycle power plant at Newark Energy Center. GE turbines. Online in '15.
DTE Energy subsid sued residents for removing smart meters. Customers replaced them with devices they bought. Possible felony.
NV Bureau of Consumer Protection allowing customers to keep existing analog meters. But costs $53 up front and $8/mo.
Toronto comp had a train haul biodiesel back and forth over US border without unloading it. Why? To make several million dollars generating Renewable Energy Credits under EPA program.
Japan-funded Green Future Innovations began ethanol production @ $146M, 50M liters/yr plant in Philippines. 19Mw of el power also to be produced.
Kibos Sugar (Kenya) investing $55.7M for 10M liters/yr of ethanol production, co-gen of power and paper production capacity. Eth to be exported to regional countries.
S Africa Dept of Energy expects ethanol prices to be set by mid-'13. Will be determined by break-even price for sorghum-based ethanol production at efficiently-sized plant. 2 sorghum-based eth projects in development.
Montana officials approved easements for Keystone XL pipeline to cross state-owned land and Missouri, Yellowstone Rivers.
"Strange substance" leaking near BP Gulf spill site.
US increased import duties on wind turbine towers from China, Vietnam. Chinese, Viet imports ~25% of US mart. ~$202M worth from China, $79M from Vietnam.
WTO ruled Ontario's subsidies for clean energy producers that use Canadian-made equipment is in breach of rules. Supports EU, Japan complaints.
Plans submitted for world's largest offshore wind farm. 1.2Gw off Anglia (Brit) coast. 325 turbines, 3 offshore collector stations, 2 offshore converter stations. Construction start possible in '16.
Iberdrola (SP) chose Areva (FR) to supply turbines for 400Mw wind farm offshore Germany. 5Mw turbines. Build start in '16.
Sandia Lab: US could produce 75B gal/yr (134B gal of all fuels consumed in '11) of cellulosic biofuels without displacing food and feed crops.
1st time ever, state-owned (SC) utility Santee Cooper to shut down 4 coal units at 2 plants at year end. Among their oldest, smallest power plants. Santee and SCE&G also building $10B expansion of nuke power plant north of Columbia. 2 new reactors due online in '17 and '18.
Dutch fund raised $614M from investors for clean/renewable energy, other infra projects.
OTHER STUFF
Energy efficiency programs in 6 New England states proved so effective the regional grid can put off building $250M of upgrades to transmission towers, lines. From '15-'20 the 6 states to spend $5.7B on E efficiency.
"Clean coal" facility opened in Australia.
Calif taking steps toward fracking regulation with draft rules.
NRC said it will probably be months for decision to restart San Onofre nuke unit 2 in Cal or not.
NY Times said DC should accelerate approval process for LNG exporting. Any "modestly negative impact" worth the risk.
Gazprom set to reduce NG prices for Europe. Euro sales ~80% of Gazprom revs. Set to sell NG for ~$370/1K cu meter. Been charging over $400 this year. They expect exports to increase from ~140B cu meter this year to 152B next.
Exelon to retire 58-yr-old 166Mw oil-fired power plant in Philly at year end. Used once in last year. Among 7 peaking units for area. 2 smaller oil units on site will stay available.
JV to build 655Mw NG-fired combined cycle power plant at Newark Energy Center. GE turbines. Online in '15.
DTE Energy subsid sued residents for removing smart meters. Customers replaced them with devices they bought. Possible felony.
NV Bureau of Consumer Protection allowing customers to keep existing analog meters. But costs $53 up front and $8/mo.
Toronto comp had a train haul biodiesel back and forth over US border without unloading it. Why? To make several million dollars generating Renewable Energy Credits under EPA program.
Japan-funded Green Future Innovations began ethanol production @ $146M, 50M liters/yr plant in Philippines. 19Mw of el power also to be produced.
Kibos Sugar (Kenya) investing $55.7M for 10M liters/yr of ethanol production, co-gen of power and paper production capacity. Eth to be exported to regional countries.
S Africa Dept of Energy expects ethanol prices to be set by mid-'13. Will be determined by break-even price for sorghum-based ethanol production at efficiently-sized plant. 2 sorghum-based eth projects in development.
Montana officials approved easements for Keystone XL pipeline to cross state-owned land and Missouri, Yellowstone Rivers.
"Strange substance" leaking near BP Gulf spill site.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. WTI oil up above $88.
NGLPF up 37. PSPW up 30. GWBU, WTWO up 22. FCSMF up 17. Graphite comps have been moving up. NGPHF up 15. Another one. CSGH up 13. CSUN up 11. Another good day for Chinese solars. CSIQ up 10. JASO up 8. VSPC up 9. XSNX up 6. ORYN, GRPH up 2. NTCXF flat.
GERS down 21. ASIUF down 13. SCTY down 2. NENE down 1.
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. WTI oil up above $88.
NGLPF up 37. PSPW up 30. GWBU, WTWO up 22. FCSMF up 17. Graphite comps have been moving up. NGPHF up 15. Another one. CSGH up 13. CSUN up 11. Another good day for Chinese solars. CSIQ up 10. JASO up 8. VSPC up 9. XSNX up 6. ORYN, GRPH up 2. NTCXF flat.
GERS down 21. ASIUF down 13. SCTY down 2. NENE down 1.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 115/43/16. Volume a little above normal. WTI oil up to $88.
CSOL up 118. VNDB up 50. GWBU up 28. NGPHF up 26. CHGI up 17. XDSL up 15. BOPO up 13. MXWL, KIOR, AMTX up 12. Rubber meeting road. AXAS, ZAAP up 11. FTEK up another 10. ALGXY up 10. XSNX up 1. NTCXF flat.
BHWX down 39. AMLM down 38. VLNCQ down 31. IFXY down 30. PTOS down 29. MMMW down 20. AMPD down 19. WTWO down 18. URRE down 17. WEST, AMEL down 16. SPIR down 12. GTAT down 11. VSPC, RNWEF down 10. SCTY down 6. GRPH down 5. ORYN down 2. NENE down 1.
Market up 115/43/16. Volume a little above normal. WTI oil up to $88.
CSOL up 118. VNDB up 50. GWBU up 28. NGPHF up 26. CHGI up 17. XDSL up 15. BOPO up 13. MXWL, KIOR, AMTX up 12. Rubber meeting road. AXAS, ZAAP up 11. FTEK up another 10. ALGXY up 10. XSNX up 1. NTCXF flat.
BHWX down 39. AMLM down 38. VLNCQ down 31. IFXY down 30. PTOS down 29. MMMW down 20. AMPD down 19. WTWO down 18. URRE down 17. WEST, AMEL down 16. SPIR down 12. GTAT down 11. VSPC, RNWEF down 10. SCTY down 6. GRPH down 5. ORYN down 2. NENE down 1.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Nov was 333rd consecutive month of global temps above 20th century avg. 5th warmest Nov on record. 10 warmest Nov's occurred in past 12 yrs. Last time any month below avg was Feb '85. Last Nov under avg was '76.
IEA: Coal to come close to surpassing oil as world's top energy source by '17. Coal consumption expected to grow 2.6%/yr. (Great news, A?)
Incoming chair of Senate Energy Committee Wyden suggests DOE should stop billing utilities for nuclear waste disposal while DOE spends little to nothing on it. $750M/yr collected, fund balance now $25B.
Brazil began swaps of forest credits to push Amazon forestation.
EU granted $1.58B in subsidies to 23 clean/renewable energy projects in 16 EU countries. Money comes from cap-and-trade sales in '11 and '12. 2 biggest subsidies going to advanced biofuels projects. 3rd for German offshore wind farm. No carbon capture/storage projects. EU allowances going for 6.77 Euros per metric ton of carbon emissions. System started in '05. (Where's US?!)
IEA chief economist says energy efficiency one of "few valuable options" left for humankind to reduce CO2 emissions. He expects no global climate agreement before '20. EU's Energy Efficiency Directive went into effect earlier this month. (Where's US?!)
DC Circuit Court nixed API suit v. EPA over '10 revision to RFS mandate of fines for not blending cellulosic biofuels into gas even though there were no cellulosic fuels. Court said suit filed too late.
EPA enforcement team targeting larger, more complex cases, fewer overall.
EU won't pursue anti-subsidy case against US ethanol imports. But dumping investigation to continue, results in Feb.
OTHER STUFF
CREE reached 200-lumen-per-watt LED milestone.
Frost & Sullivan: merger/acquisition activity in N Am clean/ren sector gaining pace. Number of deals up 67% in '11. But total deal dollars down 33% to $33.4B.
US geothermal capacity additions on track to top 100Mw this year. 1 of best years in last 10. Commercial lending coming back. Up to 872Mw of geothermal projects in early stages of development looking for capital.
1st floating wind turbine in US to be tested by U of Maine engineers next summer. Real turbines will be 8x the size. Equivalent of 150 nuke plants worth of wind blowing off Maine coast. 2 nukes could power the whole state. Floating turbs can be placed out of sight from shore. 80-turb project est. online by '30.
Brazil's new 361Mw hydropower plant now online. $675M. 2 units online, 3 more in Jan.
Bulgaria president opposing proposed build of new nuke plant recommended by IAEA. Jan referendum. Now 2 1Gw units online at country's only nuke plant. 4 440Mw units shut down for years.
Sauds calling on world powers to foster culture of nuke safety, compliance with standards, transparent regulatory reporting. Fukushima ministerial conference on nuke safety in Japan last weekend organized by IAEA.
FCC pondering charging fee for smart grid meters for using broadband spectrum.
US Defense Logistics Agency chose Constellation (Exelon subsid) to provide power for 6 DC area Navy facilities. $46.8M for 2 yrs.
Yara Company (Norway) teaming with Qatar govt on Sahara Forest project. Solar power, sea water to produce food crops, freshwater, algae for biofuel.
Tala Company (Saud) teaming with Nova Global (Can) on $650M sugarcane-to-ethanol and jatropha-to-jetfuel for mideast airlines in Sudan. 156K acres.
GOP state officials urging Obama to withdraw impending rules on fracking on fed land. Argue it would cost industry too much and oversight should be with states (so they can keep their grips on donations).
Industry group sues Colo city to overturn voter-approved ban on fracking.
Louisiana LNG export terminal landed 20-yr supply contract.
Utility group urging denial of Georgia LNG export terminal project.
Canadian crude trading ~$50/bl. Refining capacity behind, crude supply up, pipeline capacity tight. West Canada Select down to $42.50 after BP delayed for at least 3 months their project to refine the Canada crude at IN refinery.
1 of US' largest unregulated utility holding comps, Edison Mission Energy, filed bankruptcy. Cited aging coal-fired power plants, coal prices.
Chevron offering $150M to settle $20B of Brazilian spill suits.
BLM leasing acreage up in '12.
Nov was 333rd consecutive month of global temps above 20th century avg. 5th warmest Nov on record. 10 warmest Nov's occurred in past 12 yrs. Last time any month below avg was Feb '85. Last Nov under avg was '76.
IEA: Coal to come close to surpassing oil as world's top energy source by '17. Coal consumption expected to grow 2.6%/yr. (Great news, A?)
Incoming chair of Senate Energy Committee Wyden suggests DOE should stop billing utilities for nuclear waste disposal while DOE spends little to nothing on it. $750M/yr collected, fund balance now $25B.
Brazil began swaps of forest credits to push Amazon forestation.
EU granted $1.58B in subsidies to 23 clean/renewable energy projects in 16 EU countries. Money comes from cap-and-trade sales in '11 and '12. 2 biggest subsidies going to advanced biofuels projects. 3rd for German offshore wind farm. No carbon capture/storage projects. EU allowances going for 6.77 Euros per metric ton of carbon emissions. System started in '05. (Where's US?!)
IEA chief economist says energy efficiency one of "few valuable options" left for humankind to reduce CO2 emissions. He expects no global climate agreement before '20. EU's Energy Efficiency Directive went into effect earlier this month. (Where's US?!)
DC Circuit Court nixed API suit v. EPA over '10 revision to RFS mandate of fines for not blending cellulosic biofuels into gas even though there were no cellulosic fuels. Court said suit filed too late.
EPA enforcement team targeting larger, more complex cases, fewer overall.
EU won't pursue anti-subsidy case against US ethanol imports. But dumping investigation to continue, results in Feb.
OTHER STUFF
CREE reached 200-lumen-per-watt LED milestone.
Frost & Sullivan: merger/acquisition activity in N Am clean/ren sector gaining pace. Number of deals up 67% in '11. But total deal dollars down 33% to $33.4B.
US geothermal capacity additions on track to top 100Mw this year. 1 of best years in last 10. Commercial lending coming back. Up to 872Mw of geothermal projects in early stages of development looking for capital.
1st floating wind turbine in US to be tested by U of Maine engineers next summer. Real turbines will be 8x the size. Equivalent of 150 nuke plants worth of wind blowing off Maine coast. 2 nukes could power the whole state. Floating turbs can be placed out of sight from shore. 80-turb project est. online by '30.
Brazil's new 361Mw hydropower plant now online. $675M. 2 units online, 3 more in Jan.
Bulgaria president opposing proposed build of new nuke plant recommended by IAEA. Jan referendum. Now 2 1Gw units online at country's only nuke plant. 4 440Mw units shut down for years.
Sauds calling on world powers to foster culture of nuke safety, compliance with standards, transparent regulatory reporting. Fukushima ministerial conference on nuke safety in Japan last weekend organized by IAEA.
FCC pondering charging fee for smart grid meters for using broadband spectrum.
US Defense Logistics Agency chose Constellation (Exelon subsid) to provide power for 6 DC area Navy facilities. $46.8M for 2 yrs.
Yara Company (Norway) teaming with Qatar govt on Sahara Forest project. Solar power, sea water to produce food crops, freshwater, algae for biofuel.
Tala Company (Saud) teaming with Nova Global (Can) on $650M sugarcane-to-ethanol and jatropha-to-jetfuel for mideast airlines in Sudan. 156K acres.
GOP state officials urging Obama to withdraw impending rules on fracking on fed land. Argue it would cost industry too much and oversight should be with states (so they can keep their grips on donations).
Industry group sues Colo city to overturn voter-approved ban on fracking.
Louisiana LNG export terminal landed 20-yr supply contract.
Utility group urging denial of Georgia LNG export terminal project.
Canadian crude trading ~$50/bl. Refining capacity behind, crude supply up, pipeline capacity tight. West Canada Select down to $42.50 after BP delayed for at least 3 months their project to refine the Canada crude at IN refinery.
1 of US' largest unregulated utility holding comps, Edison Mission Energy, filed bankruptcy. Cited aging coal-fired power plants, coal prices.
Chevron offering $150M to settle $20B of Brazilian spill suits.
BLM leasing acreage up in '12.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 58/25/9. Volume normal. WTI oil up near $88.
PPRW up 33. LEOM up 21. NGPHF up 20, day 2 of climb off bottom to over 50-day lines. CWET up 14. CHGI up 10, same story as NGPHF. WTWO up 9. SCTY up another 3. NENE, ORYN, GRPH flat.
AMLM down 38. AMEL down 20. BLQN, URRE down 17. GTAT down 12 after forecasting loss. XSNX down 8. NTCXF down 4.
Market up 58/25/9. Volume normal. WTI oil up near $88.
PPRW up 33. LEOM up 21. NGPHF up 20, day 2 of climb off bottom to over 50-day lines. CWET up 14. CHGI up 10, same story as NGPHF. WTWO up 9. SCTY up another 3. NENE, ORYN, GRPH flat.
AMLM down 38. AMEL down 20. BLQN, URRE down 17. GTAT down 12 after forecasting loss. XSNX down 8. NTCXF down 4.
Monday, December 17, 2012
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 100/39/16. Hike. Volume a little up. Oil (WTI) up.
CSKH up 66. AMLM up 52. AMEL, URRE up 25. CGYV up 24. CHGI up 20. NGPHF up 19. GERS up 12. PALAF up 11. FTEK, INIS up 10. FTEK a big guy. From bottom to over 50-day lines. Maybe double bottom. I would go with that.
MGLT down 35. VNDB down 33. LEOM down 28. HOKU down 27. BLDW down 22. VLNCQ down 20. CABN down 20. AONEQ, SATCQ down 15. ZAAP down 14. GRPH down 12. Pumped and dumping. GSFVF, PRHL down 10. XSNX, NENE down 7. NTCXF down 5. ORYN down 2.
Market up 100/39/16. Hike. Volume a little up. Oil (WTI) up.
CSKH up 66. AMLM up 52. AMEL, URRE up 25. CGYV up 24. CHGI up 20. NGPHF up 19. GERS up 12. PALAF up 11. FTEK, INIS up 10. FTEK a big guy. From bottom to over 50-day lines. Maybe double bottom. I would go with that.
MGLT down 35. VNDB down 33. LEOM down 28. HOKU down 27. BLDW down 22. VLNCQ down 20. CABN down 20. AONEQ, SATCQ down 15. ZAAP down 14. GRPH down 12. Pumped and dumping. GSFVF, PRHL down 10. XSNX, NENE down 7. NTCXF down 5. ORYN down 2.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
AWEA proposed phase out of fed wind subsidy.
Con Ed evaluating undergrounding entire power distribution network post Sandy. Cost est. $40B.
4 energy developers agreed to sell power from 10 proposed wind farms in Brazil at cheapest rates ever in world. Avg price of $42.16/Mwh, 4.2cents/Kwh. Beats Brazil NG, hydro rates. Proposed farms total 282Mw. '17 completion.
Solazyme (SZYM) completed multiple initial fermentations in 500K-liter fermenters at Iowa facility, achieving commercial scale production of cellulosic biofuel. ~4x scale of fermenters at IL plant. Targeting annual production of 20K metric tons of bio-oil by early '14, expansion to 100K.
Lawsuit calling for DOI to halt deepwater oil/gas leasing plan.
US manufacturers have announced over $90B of capital investments to take advantage of cheap NG.
Bloomberg poll: 66% of Americans want more govt oversight of fracking, up from 56% in Sept.
OTHER STUFF
Coral farming taking off.
Mississippi River levels 20 ft below normal south of St Lou. Corps of Engineers started releasing water from south IL lake to help.
Taxes, energy reform forced closure of Spain's oldest nuke plant.
Businesses asked to phase out diesel vehicles due to health concerns in London.
KCP&L power rates going up 6.7%. Xcel Energy rates going up 9% in MN.
Advances in fullerene tech boosting organic solar cell efficiency. Scientists pinpoint fullerenes' availability of additional electron accepting states. Replication creates new class of "fullerene mimics". Euro Research Council funding.
Wales' National Coal Mining Museum putting up solar panels. Cost ~70K Pounds, will offset ~400K Pounds of power costs over next 25 yrs.
JV between ERG (Italy) and Lukoil (Russ) bought 84Mw wind project in Romania. $178M to build. Online 1H14. Funding hopefully from Euro Bank for Reconstruction, Development.
Greenko Group (India) sees $435M/yr of revs from bldg, buying 1Gw of clean/ren power facilites by '15. Now bldg ~190Mw of hydro, 350Mw of wind.
Repower Systems, German unit of India's Suzlon, to supply Wpd (Germany) with 105Mw of wind turbines for 6 projects in Canada. Suzlon also to open Repower blades factory in Ontario.
USDA announced $10M of research grants to universities to spur development of bio-energy, bio-based products.
DOE announced $12M for 5 R&D projects to improve C and H separation efficiencies in bio-oil production and upgrade process. Aim to boost biofuel yields from non-food biomass.
Johnson Matthey, NREL in 5-yr, $7M effort to develop economically produced drop-in gas, diesel, jet fuel from non-food biomass. Goal to improve vapor phase during pyrolysis. Feedstocks from fast-growing trees to switchgrass, forest and ag residue and muni waste.
German researchers from 5 institutes refuted thesis that organic components of soil are comprised mostly of decomposed plant material. Found 40% comes from dead bacteria.
McDonald's UAE fleet passed 800K miles driven on waste oil biodiesel. Reduced its truck-based CO2 emissions 80% on the fuel.
Owner of biodiesel comp accused of faking credits pled guilty to 79 counts.
InterGen (Mass) completed finance for 2 projects in Mexico. 205Mw NG plant for $217M. CNG station for $118M.
Regulators approved $700M expansion for Tampa El's NG-fired power plant. To add 460Mw by converting 4 simple-cycle units to combined-cycle. Treated wastewater for cooling.
Algeria's state energy comp Sonatrach pushing $80B 5-yr investment program to expand its oil/gas industry.
Oil production from Alaska North Slope expected to fall another 4.5% this fiscal year.
New discoveries, tech advances have increased oil industry's ability to reach global max production of 98Mb/d for longer than initially expected: Total's Chair, CEO.
Rosneft finalized deal for 50% of TNK-BP for $28B, pending approval from Russia and Euro regulators.
Tullow Oil started production off Ghana coast. 1st phase production over 16Kb/d. 5 phases completion by summer.
Another rig arrived in Cuba for offshore oil exploration.
Spilled fuel has spread into NY bird sanctuary.
BP won't release any info on possible Macondo well leaking.
Pemex sued Siemens and S Korea Engineering and Construction for $500M over claims of racketeering violations.
AWEA proposed phase out of fed wind subsidy.
Con Ed evaluating undergrounding entire power distribution network post Sandy. Cost est. $40B.
4 energy developers agreed to sell power from 10 proposed wind farms in Brazil at cheapest rates ever in world. Avg price of $42.16/Mwh, 4.2cents/Kwh. Beats Brazil NG, hydro rates. Proposed farms total 282Mw. '17 completion.
Solazyme (SZYM) completed multiple initial fermentations in 500K-liter fermenters at Iowa facility, achieving commercial scale production of cellulosic biofuel. ~4x scale of fermenters at IL plant. Targeting annual production of 20K metric tons of bio-oil by early '14, expansion to 100K.
Lawsuit calling for DOI to halt deepwater oil/gas leasing plan.
US manufacturers have announced over $90B of capital investments to take advantage of cheap NG.
Bloomberg poll: 66% of Americans want more govt oversight of fracking, up from 56% in Sept.
OTHER STUFF
Coral farming taking off.
Mississippi River levels 20 ft below normal south of St Lou. Corps of Engineers started releasing water from south IL lake to help.
Taxes, energy reform forced closure of Spain's oldest nuke plant.
Businesses asked to phase out diesel vehicles due to health concerns in London.
KCP&L power rates going up 6.7%. Xcel Energy rates going up 9% in MN.
Advances in fullerene tech boosting organic solar cell efficiency. Scientists pinpoint fullerenes' availability of additional electron accepting states. Replication creates new class of "fullerene mimics". Euro Research Council funding.
Wales' National Coal Mining Museum putting up solar panels. Cost ~70K Pounds, will offset ~400K Pounds of power costs over next 25 yrs.
JV between ERG (Italy) and Lukoil (Russ) bought 84Mw wind project in Romania. $178M to build. Online 1H14. Funding hopefully from Euro Bank for Reconstruction, Development.
Greenko Group (India) sees $435M/yr of revs from bldg, buying 1Gw of clean/ren power facilites by '15. Now bldg ~190Mw of hydro, 350Mw of wind.
Repower Systems, German unit of India's Suzlon, to supply Wpd (Germany) with 105Mw of wind turbines for 6 projects in Canada. Suzlon also to open Repower blades factory in Ontario.
USDA announced $10M of research grants to universities to spur development of bio-energy, bio-based products.
DOE announced $12M for 5 R&D projects to improve C and H separation efficiencies in bio-oil production and upgrade process. Aim to boost biofuel yields from non-food biomass.
Johnson Matthey, NREL in 5-yr, $7M effort to develop economically produced drop-in gas, diesel, jet fuel from non-food biomass. Goal to improve vapor phase during pyrolysis. Feedstocks from fast-growing trees to switchgrass, forest and ag residue and muni waste.
German researchers from 5 institutes refuted thesis that organic components of soil are comprised mostly of decomposed plant material. Found 40% comes from dead bacteria.
McDonald's UAE fleet passed 800K miles driven on waste oil biodiesel. Reduced its truck-based CO2 emissions 80% on the fuel.
Owner of biodiesel comp accused of faking credits pled guilty to 79 counts.
InterGen (Mass) completed finance for 2 projects in Mexico. 205Mw NG plant for $217M. CNG station for $118M.
Regulators approved $700M expansion for Tampa El's NG-fired power plant. To add 460Mw by converting 4 simple-cycle units to combined-cycle. Treated wastewater for cooling.
Algeria's state energy comp Sonatrach pushing $80B 5-yr investment program to expand its oil/gas industry.
Oil production from Alaska North Slope expected to fall another 4.5% this fiscal year.
New discoveries, tech advances have increased oil industry's ability to reach global max production of 98Mb/d for longer than initially expected: Total's Chair, CEO.
Rosneft finalized deal for 50% of TNK-BP for $28B, pending approval from Russia and Euro regulators.
Tullow Oil started production off Ghana coast. 1st phase production over 16Kb/d. 5 phases completion by summer.
Another rig arrived in Cuba for offshore oil exploration.
Spilled fuel has spread into NY bird sanctuary.
BP won't release any info on possible Macondo well leaking.
Pemex sued Siemens and S Korea Engineering and Construction for $500M over claims of racketeering violations.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 66/18/10. Volume a little up. Oil up over $87. NY region manufacturing contracted more than projected.
GERS up 19. CHGI, NGHPF up 15, both graphite comps. URRE up 13. ORYN up 2.
VNDB down 33. IFXY down 31 on 200 shares. HOKU down 27. VLNCQ down 20. TMEN down 16. ZAAP down 14. CABN down 11. PRHL down 10. NENE down 7. GRPH down 5. XSNX, NTCXF down 4.
Market up 66/18/10. Volume a little up. Oil up over $87. NY region manufacturing contracted more than projected.
GERS up 19. CHGI, NGHPF up 15, both graphite comps. URRE up 13. ORYN up 2.
VNDB down 33. IFXY down 31 on 200 shares. HOKU down 27. VLNCQ down 20. TMEN down 16. ZAAP down 14. CABN down 11. PRHL down 10. NENE down 7. GRPH down 5. XSNX, NTCXF down 4.
STUFF
Li-ion batts today sell for $500-600/Kwh. Expected to be $200 within 8 yrs. Now only ~23% of lithium production goes for batts. Last 2 yrs lith demand up 25%, expected to double by '20. Lithium carbonate now near $6K/ton.
FERC issued 40-yr license to Erie Boulevard Hydropower to operate 6 hydro dams on NY river.
Siemens got 126Mw wind turbine order from Irish utility. 42 direct-drive 3Mw turbines for 2 onshore wind farms. Online mid-'14. 1st order from Ireland for direct-drive turbines.
MidAmerican Wind completed 81Mw wind farm in IL. 50 GE 1.62MW turbines.
US National Research Council says scaling up biofuels from algae to 5% (~39B liters/yr) of US transport fuel needs would place unsustainable demand on energy, water, nutrients.
Cornell team got $910K DOE grant to work on biofuels production from algae. "Optofluidic reactor." 1 of 66 projects selected recently for $130M ARPA-E program.
U of Mich "pressure cooking" algae for as little as a minute to transform 65% into biocrude. Large scale production a big question.
Bielfeld U ground breaking discovery. Strain of algae can draw energy from other plants similar to bacteria, fungi and yeast.
Thailand plans to produce el from grass elephants eat. El from grass-based biogas to begin by '15. 7Gw elgen w/in decade. Similar to sugarcane. 45-day growing season. 1% of Thailand elgen now clean/ren. 65% from NG, 20% from coal, 5% hydro. El demand up 9% in last year. (What will the elephants eat?)
Thailand's 1st biomass power plant fueled by taramba tree expected online early '13. 1.8Mw. Taramba in nut family, so roots add nutrients to soil.
NG prices between $2 and $4 translate to 25-50 cents/gal gasoline equivalent. $1.75/gal refining cost makes pump price $2-2.25/gal gas equiv. Over 50% of trash trucks sold this year will run on NG. Dodge Ram option now. CLNE building 150 LNG fueling stations around US in 2 yrs. Shell building 100.
Plans for 300K tons/yr of NYC trash to be railed to Niagara Falls incinerator to produce el. $30M incinerator expansion project. $7M steam pipe to nearby paper mill. NG-fired boiler to back up incinerator. Rail transfer station and waste handling facility. Covanta burns ~800K tons/yr now, 60% of trash from Canada.
FERC issued 40-yr license to Erie Boulevard Hydropower to operate 6 hydro dams on NY river.
Siemens got 126Mw wind turbine order from Irish utility. 42 direct-drive 3Mw turbines for 2 onshore wind farms. Online mid-'14. 1st order from Ireland for direct-drive turbines.
MidAmerican Wind completed 81Mw wind farm in IL. 50 GE 1.62MW turbines.
US National Research Council says scaling up biofuels from algae to 5% (~39B liters/yr) of US transport fuel needs would place unsustainable demand on energy, water, nutrients.
Cornell team got $910K DOE grant to work on biofuels production from algae. "Optofluidic reactor." 1 of 66 projects selected recently for $130M ARPA-E program.
U of Mich "pressure cooking" algae for as little as a minute to transform 65% into biocrude. Large scale production a big question.
Bielfeld U ground breaking discovery. Strain of algae can draw energy from other plants similar to bacteria, fungi and yeast.
Thailand plans to produce el from grass elephants eat. El from grass-based biogas to begin by '15. 7Gw elgen w/in decade. Similar to sugarcane. 45-day growing season. 1% of Thailand elgen now clean/ren. 65% from NG, 20% from coal, 5% hydro. El demand up 9% in last year. (What will the elephants eat?)
Thailand's 1st biomass power plant fueled by taramba tree expected online early '13. 1.8Mw. Taramba in nut family, so roots add nutrients to soil.
NG prices between $2 and $4 translate to 25-50 cents/gal gasoline equivalent. $1.75/gal refining cost makes pump price $2-2.25/gal gas equiv. Over 50% of trash trucks sold this year will run on NG. Dodge Ram option now. CLNE building 150 LNG fueling stations around US in 2 yrs. Shell building 100.
Plans for 300K tons/yr of NYC trash to be railed to Niagara Falls incinerator to produce el. $30M incinerator expansion project. $7M steam pipe to nearby paper mill. NG-fired boiler to back up incinerator. Rail transfer station and waste handling facility. Covanta burns ~800K tons/yr now, 60% of trash from Canada.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
GRAPHENE REPORT
Graphene a 1-atom thick sheet of carbon in hexagonic crystal lattice. 200x stronger than steel. Tougher than diamond. World's thinnest material. Flexible, transparent. Conducts el and heat very well. Stocks: AIXG, CVV, FCSMF, NGPHF, GTI, CHGI, PKX.
GA Tech research creating eltronic bandgap in graphene nanoribbons. Coating bi-layer graphene on silicon carbide nanometer-scale steps. Still puzzle why bent graphene creates bandgap.
China's Harbin Inst of Tech using standard optical microscope in developing quick, cheap, efficient way of measuring graphene's thickness. Reflected light from surface, measure red, green and blue components.
AIST research using helium ion beam to control conductivity of graphene. Intro's crystal defects onto graphene sheet to modulate electron movement in graphene by applying voltage to gate electrode.
Northwest U developing simple method to make nanofluidic devices using graphene oxide. Channels transport ions (high el current). Applicable for batts, water purification. Stacked-up graphene sheets create flexible paper-like material. Gaps form between sheets. "Paper" encased in polymer, holes drilled at ends for electrolyte solution.
Hebrew U, Jerusalem using their coating tech developed a few years ago (uses nanometric metal oxide dots) to synthesize graphene-tin oxide composites based li-ion batt anodes. Collab with Singapore's National Research Foundation. Graphene-tin oxide has high charging capacity.
U of Wisc Milwaukee developing method to make ordered graphene oxide with good eltronic properties. Hoping for "ideal bandgap". Carbon-based devices to be used as transistors, sensors, optoeltronic devices. Layers of oxygen-poor graphene sandwiched between layers of graphene oxide, then annealed.
AZ Electronic Materials licensing Rice U's graphene nanoribbons for aps in eltronic and advanced optical devices. AZ gaining exclusive worldwide rights to several patent families.
Grafoid signed 3-yr R&D agreement with Hydro-Quebec's Research Inst for development of next gen rechargable batts using graphene with li-iron-phosphate materials. Aim to create patentable inventions.
Researchers from Germany, Russia and US increased graphene's conduction electrons' spin-orbit coupling by 10Kx. Could enable spintronics switch. Placed graphene on nickel substrate, atoms separated by same distance as graphene's hexmeshes. Then deposited gold atoms on the device end up between graphene and nickel sheets. Electrons in graphene layer had the 10Kx increased spin-orbit coupling. Switch would include 2 perpendicular spin filters controlled by el field.
Rice U developing hybrid material from carbon nanotubes with graphene. Tubes rise like towers from the graphene. May prove to be great supercapacitor electrode material. Grew graphene on copper, then tubes grown seamlessly on the graphene.
Monash U (Australia) grows 3D graphene "towers". Makes graphene more elastic. Supports 50Kx its own weight. Springs back into shape after being compressed by up to 80% and has very low density. Still retains graphene's conductivity. Ice crystal as templates to grow towers from graphene oxide flakes.
National Cheng Kung U (Taiwan) studying graphene flakes, creating conductive materials. Chemically treat graphite. Can make paper conductive. Current work on strain sensors for pipelines, bridges, engines, airplanes.
MIT showed graphene not as transparent to wetting as thought before. For materials with intermediate wettability, graphene preserves properties of underlying material. For more extreme cases - surfaces that intensely repel water - added graphene layer significantly changes way coated materials behave. Possible way of making eltronic circuits that would be protected from short-circuiting and corrosion in water.
China Carbon Graphite Group working with top Chinese institute in the field. Products so far include graphite electrodes, fine grain graphite blocks and high purity graphite.
GA Tech research creating eltronic bandgap in graphene nanoribbons. Coating bi-layer graphene on silicon carbide nanometer-scale steps. Still puzzle why bent graphene creates bandgap.
China's Harbin Inst of Tech using standard optical microscope in developing quick, cheap, efficient way of measuring graphene's thickness. Reflected light from surface, measure red, green and blue components.
AIST research using helium ion beam to control conductivity of graphene. Intro's crystal defects onto graphene sheet to modulate electron movement in graphene by applying voltage to gate electrode.
Northwest U developing simple method to make nanofluidic devices using graphene oxide. Channels transport ions (high el current). Applicable for batts, water purification. Stacked-up graphene sheets create flexible paper-like material. Gaps form between sheets. "Paper" encased in polymer, holes drilled at ends for electrolyte solution.
Hebrew U, Jerusalem using their coating tech developed a few years ago (uses nanometric metal oxide dots) to synthesize graphene-tin oxide composites based li-ion batt anodes. Collab with Singapore's National Research Foundation. Graphene-tin oxide has high charging capacity.
U of Wisc Milwaukee developing method to make ordered graphene oxide with good eltronic properties. Hoping for "ideal bandgap". Carbon-based devices to be used as transistors, sensors, optoeltronic devices. Layers of oxygen-poor graphene sandwiched between layers of graphene oxide, then annealed.
AZ Electronic Materials licensing Rice U's graphene nanoribbons for aps in eltronic and advanced optical devices. AZ gaining exclusive worldwide rights to several patent families.
Grafoid signed 3-yr R&D agreement with Hydro-Quebec's Research Inst for development of next gen rechargable batts using graphene with li-iron-phosphate materials. Aim to create patentable inventions.
Researchers from Germany, Russia and US increased graphene's conduction electrons' spin-orbit coupling by 10Kx. Could enable spintronics switch. Placed graphene on nickel substrate, atoms separated by same distance as graphene's hexmeshes. Then deposited gold atoms on the device end up between graphene and nickel sheets. Electrons in graphene layer had the 10Kx increased spin-orbit coupling. Switch would include 2 perpendicular spin filters controlled by el field.
Rice U developing hybrid material from carbon nanotubes with graphene. Tubes rise like towers from the graphene. May prove to be great supercapacitor electrode material. Grew graphene on copper, then tubes grown seamlessly on the graphene.
Monash U (Australia) grows 3D graphene "towers". Makes graphene more elastic. Supports 50Kx its own weight. Springs back into shape after being compressed by up to 80% and has very low density. Still retains graphene's conductivity. Ice crystal as templates to grow towers from graphene oxide flakes.
National Cheng Kung U (Taiwan) studying graphene flakes, creating conductive materials. Chemically treat graphite. Can make paper conductive. Current work on strain sensors for pipelines, bridges, engines, airplanes.
MIT showed graphene not as transparent to wetting as thought before. For materials with intermediate wettability, graphene preserves properties of underlying material. For more extreme cases - surfaces that intensely repel water - added graphene layer significantly changes way coated materials behave. Possible way of making eltronic circuits that would be protected from short-circuiting and corrosion in water.
China Carbon Graphite Group working with top Chinese institute in the field. Products so far include graphite electrodes, fine grain graphite blocks and high purity graphite.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Under court deadline, EPA issued new soot standards. 12 micrograms/cubic meter of air by '20. 15 micrograms set in '97.
Over 100 doctors, scientists, engineers in org for healthy energy urging admin not to approve construction of LNG export terminals until more known about health effects of fracking.
BLM sold oil/gas leases on over 17K acres of fed land in central Cal. Protests from enviros. State congressman asked for postponement until fracking concerns addressed. BLM also won't allow new mining claims on large swaths set for solar farms.
Last - the 175th - wind turbine of London Array offshore wind farm now erected. 55 now online. The rest by Spring. Plans to add 240Mw in 2nd phase.
Philippine out-of-season typhoon human toll expected to be 5x worse than Sandy.
Unprecedented strong storm off Black Sea damaged Romanian nuke plant and wind farm.
OTHER STUFF
Ag Dept launched pilot program aimed at freeing up water for livestock, irrigation to lessen effects of drought.
USDA awarding $10M in bioenergy research grants.
Utah abandoned their air pollution plan.
Wyoming lawmakers approved energy curriculum for schools.
Treasury launched probe of 3 solar installers.
Canada withdrew from Kyoto last year, but Toronto still pursuing Kyoto emission cuts.
Quebec may link up with Calif GHG market.
French parliament banned BPA in food packaging.
New index gauges nations' progress toward balanced energy architecture.
Stion Corp (Cal), thin film solar panel maker, got ~$25M from VCs to expand production to ~140Mw/yr from 100Mw at Miss factory. 6-year expansion plan may require up to $500M.
Shell and 3 VC firms pumping $26M into Glass Point Solar (Cal). Heats water for steam for enhanced oil recovery. Replaces NG.
Continental Wind (Delaware) seeking buyer for 232Mw wind project in Romania. Construction starts after sale. Continental developed 600Mw wind farm in Romania, Europe's largest onshore farm. Sold it to Czech utility in '08.
A Serb oil and gas comp controlled by OAO Gazprom Neft bought 50% stake in Serb wind farm project from Energowind. $209M, 102Mw. Summer construction start.
Total sales of EV's for '12 now up to 47,500.
Philippines green lighting tricycle EVs.
Ford says 47mpg for C-Max. Consumer Reports says 37. Green Car Reports says 40.
Wanxiang America picked up nearly all of A123's (AONE) assets for $256.6M. Navitas Systems (US) got the military contracts for $2.25M.
Dow Chem has cut energy costs by $9B. Spent $2B on it since '94.
New ceiling fan using just 35 watts intro'd in India.
Calif tested, OK'd B20 biodiesel by Solazyme (SZYM).
1.2% yoy increase in global corn output.
ND well spewed HC's, salt water into air.
Judge OK'd BP's $525M settlement with SEC.
Under court deadline, EPA issued new soot standards. 12 micrograms/cubic meter of air by '20. 15 micrograms set in '97.
Over 100 doctors, scientists, engineers in org for healthy energy urging admin not to approve construction of LNG export terminals until more known about health effects of fracking.
BLM sold oil/gas leases on over 17K acres of fed land in central Cal. Protests from enviros. State congressman asked for postponement until fracking concerns addressed. BLM also won't allow new mining claims on large swaths set for solar farms.
Last - the 175th - wind turbine of London Array offshore wind farm now erected. 55 now online. The rest by Spring. Plans to add 240Mw in 2nd phase.
Philippine out-of-season typhoon human toll expected to be 5x worse than Sandy.
Unprecedented strong storm off Black Sea damaged Romanian nuke plant and wind farm.
OTHER STUFF
Ag Dept launched pilot program aimed at freeing up water for livestock, irrigation to lessen effects of drought.
USDA awarding $10M in bioenergy research grants.
Utah abandoned their air pollution plan.
Wyoming lawmakers approved energy curriculum for schools.
Treasury launched probe of 3 solar installers.
Canada withdrew from Kyoto last year, but Toronto still pursuing Kyoto emission cuts.
Quebec may link up with Calif GHG market.
French parliament banned BPA in food packaging.
New index gauges nations' progress toward balanced energy architecture.
Stion Corp (Cal), thin film solar panel maker, got ~$25M from VCs to expand production to ~140Mw/yr from 100Mw at Miss factory. 6-year expansion plan may require up to $500M.
Shell and 3 VC firms pumping $26M into Glass Point Solar (Cal). Heats water for steam for enhanced oil recovery. Replaces NG.
Continental Wind (Delaware) seeking buyer for 232Mw wind project in Romania. Construction starts after sale. Continental developed 600Mw wind farm in Romania, Europe's largest onshore farm. Sold it to Czech utility in '08.
A Serb oil and gas comp controlled by OAO Gazprom Neft bought 50% stake in Serb wind farm project from Energowind. $209M, 102Mw. Summer construction start.
Total sales of EV's for '12 now up to 47,500.
Philippines green lighting tricycle EVs.
Ford says 47mpg for C-Max. Consumer Reports says 37. Green Car Reports says 40.
Wanxiang America picked up nearly all of A123's (AONE) assets for $256.6M. Navitas Systems (US) got the military contracts for $2.25M.
Dow Chem has cut energy costs by $9B. Spent $2B on it since '94.
New ceiling fan using just 35 watts intro'd in India.
Calif tested, OK'd B20 biodiesel by Solazyme (SZYM).
1.2% yoy increase in global corn output.
ND well spewed HC's, salt water into air.
Judge OK'd BP's $525M settlement with SEC.
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 35/20/5, Naz especially hit hard, now back under bottom (200-day) line. Volume light. WTI oil up near $87. (Shell across street gas at $3.19.)
MGLT up 133 on 1K shares. HOKU up 66. VNDB up 50. PSPW up 33. WTWO up 22. BLQN up 21. NPWZ up 17. ZAAP, SRWRF up 15. TMEN up 12. BLDW up 10. NENE up 1. NTCXF, GRPH flat.
WWPW down 34. CERP down 22. BOPO, GERS down 20. ECOS down 15. XSNX down 14. BFRE down 11. ORYN down 6.
Market down 35/20/5, Naz especially hit hard, now back under bottom (200-day) line. Volume light. WTI oil up near $87. (Shell across street gas at $3.19.)
MGLT up 133 on 1K shares. HOKU up 66. VNDB up 50. PSPW up 33. WTWO up 22. BLQN up 21. NPWZ up 17. ZAAP, SRWRF up 15. TMEN up 12. BLDW up 10. NENE up 1. NTCXF, GRPH flat.
WWPW down 34. CERP down 22. BOPO, GERS down 20. ECOS down 15. XSNX down 14. BFRE down 11. ORYN down 6.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
We have to keep going. With new devotion to stopping the violence. A close family member has friend from high school that lost a child at Sandy Hook. It can sure hit home. So. Onward and upward. Because we have to. Need to.
Friday, December 14, 2012
THE HELL
The hell is all over the globe. Syria. Pakistan. Gaza/Israel. Egypt. Libya. Afghanistan. Iraq. Africa. Places we don't even hear about. Philippines got hit by out of season killer typhoon. So going from hurricane Sandy in the US to Sandy Hook should be no big thing, A? US drones and bombs have hit off target, right? The US has killed children in "collateral damage". So why should it not happen back at home. It's the hell.
Our government causes the hell. Their governments cause the hell. And just people cause the hell. And we have to go on. We have to go on with what we believe in. Because we don't make hell. We don't believe in the hell. We read about it. Unfortunately we read about it and can't do anything about it. Sometimes even experience it personally or through others close to us. And, yea, we got caught up in the get the bastards back mentality after 9/11. And we got the bastards back. And killed some children and many innocents in the wake of this war. So. Where does the bastard show up next after Sandy and Sandy Hook? At least as the US is concerned. Because that's primarily the only news we get here in the US. US news. How does Sandy Hook affect Africans in war? Syrians in war? Afghanistanis in war? And the rest of the world experiencing war? Probably not much. A sigh. A shake of the head. And life goes on, God willing.
But for attentive Americans it stops the world for some hours. Then, as always, we will grieve and pause and then resume our journeys. Eventually. Sometimes the grief lingers. As I think it will some this time. For a while. These are our kids and grandkids, for Godssakes. Let's look around the world and see where this is happening elsewhere. And recognize when our own government is doing it to others. And tell our government to stop that.
So. Let's stop the world a while and bury these children in our grief. It wasn't al Qaida. It wasn't the communists. It was a home grown boy. Again. Who killed his mother who worked at the school before going to the school and killing as many kids as he could before killing himself. So the news reports. Sandy Hook. Started with Columbine in '99.
Where does the hell go from here? Sandy what?
Our government causes the hell. Their governments cause the hell. And just people cause the hell. And we have to go on. We have to go on with what we believe in. Because we don't make hell. We don't believe in the hell. We read about it. Unfortunately we read about it and can't do anything about it. Sometimes even experience it personally or through others close to us. And, yea, we got caught up in the get the bastards back mentality after 9/11. And we got the bastards back. And killed some children and many innocents in the wake of this war. So. Where does the bastard show up next after Sandy and Sandy Hook? At least as the US is concerned. Because that's primarily the only news we get here in the US. US news. How does Sandy Hook affect Africans in war? Syrians in war? Afghanistanis in war? And the rest of the world experiencing war? Probably not much. A sigh. A shake of the head. And life goes on, God willing.
But for attentive Americans it stops the world for some hours. Then, as always, we will grieve and pause and then resume our journeys. Eventually. Sometimes the grief lingers. As I think it will some this time. For a while. These are our kids and grandkids, for Godssakes. Let's look around the world and see where this is happening elsewhere. And recognize when our own government is doing it to others. And tell our government to stop that.
So. Let's stop the world a while and bury these children in our grief. It wasn't al Qaida. It wasn't the communists. It was a home grown boy. Again. Who killed his mother who worked at the school before going to the school and killing as many kids as he could before killing himself. So the news reports. Sandy Hook. Started with Columbine in '99.
Where does the hell go from here? Sandy what?
Shut Down
We're sorry, but normal blogging here is shut down after the Connecticut elementary school massacre. We can't say for how long. God bless you and God bless America.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume light. WTI oil up over $86. US manufacturing up 1.1% in Nov on Sandy rebound.
CGYV up 33 on 1K shares. WTWO up 22. PSPW up 21. EWRL up 14. SZYM up 13. NFEC, RSOL up 11. TMEN up 10. FCEL up 6 on 15Mw sale. FSLR up 3 more, near $33. XSNX, GRPH flat. NTCXF not even traded.
ORYN down 8. NENE down 4.
Market flat and mixed. Volume light. WTI oil up over $86. US manufacturing up 1.1% in Nov on Sandy rebound.
CGYV up 33 on 1K shares. WTWO up 22. PSPW up 21. EWRL up 14. SZYM up 13. NFEC, RSOL up 11. TMEN up 10. FCEL up 6 on 15Mw sale. FSLR up 3 more, near $33. XSNX, GRPH flat. NTCXF not even traded.
ORYN down 8. NENE down 4.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 74/21/9. Volume normal. WTI oil down near $86. Brent oil down near $108. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans blame extreme weather on "end times".
QTMM up 54, over top (200-day) lines. PTOS up 41 on 300 shares. BOPO, WWPW up 25. RNWEF up 23, up to 50-day lines. AMTX up 18. SENY, CLNT (push off top (200) line), BFRE up 14. APWR, MMMW up 12. NTCXF, ORYN up 9. NENE up 7, day 2 rise over 50's. GRPH up 1. SCTY ended up under $12.
CGYV down 52. PPRW, MGLT down 40. VNDB down 33. PSPW down 26. AMEL down 25. AONEQ down 19. CPWY down 18. HOKU down 17. BHWX down 15. SPIR, WEST down 14. ABAT, BSRC, CSGH down 12. DSTI down 11. CSUN, WTWO, JUHL, SLMU down 10. XSNX flat.
Market down 74/21/9. Volume normal. WTI oil down near $86. Brent oil down near $108. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans blame extreme weather on "end times".
QTMM up 54, over top (200-day) lines. PTOS up 41 on 300 shares. BOPO, WWPW up 25. RNWEF up 23, up to 50-day lines. AMTX up 18. SENY, CLNT (push off top (200) line), BFRE up 14. APWR, MMMW up 12. NTCXF, ORYN up 9. NENE up 7, day 2 rise over 50's. GRPH up 1. SCTY ended up under $12.
CGYV down 52. PPRW, MGLT down 40. VNDB down 33. PSPW down 26. AMEL down 25. AONEQ down 19. CPWY down 18. HOKU down 17. BHWX down 15. SPIR, WEST down 14. ABAT, BSRC, CSGH down 12. DSTI down 11. CSUN, WTWO, JUHL, SLMU down 10. XSNX flat.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
DOE awarding $28M of grants to 7 project developers to help kickstart offshore wind industry. Each recipient would get $4M to complete engineering, design, permitting of projects in 6 states - ME, NJ, VA, OH, TX, OR. 3 would then be selected to get up to $47M over 4 yrs, subject to Congress OK, to help in construction, installs. Goal of online by '17.
Britain gave go-ahead for exploratory fracking for shale gas.
China allocating another $1.1B in subsidies to solar sector. Also considering raising target for solar to 40Gw by '15. Near doubles target just raised in Sept.
Court dismissed coal plant developer's challenge to proposed EPA rule.
Deutsche Bank HQ raided in CO2 probe. 5 arrested.
OTHER STUFF
Solar City (SCTY) raised $92M in IPO. Opened today @ $9.20, hit $12.70, lately back under $12.
ACME Bikaner Solar Power won bid to build 25Mw solar plant in India state of Odisha. $37M.
Panasonic started solar panel production at Malay plant. 300Mw/yr capacity. Will also make wafers, solar cells. Will increase module production to 900Mw. $538M plant.
HelioVolt (TX), thin film solar panel maker, got another $12.2M VC funding to expand production, develop new products.
Ft Collins, Colo population has grown 13.5% since '05, but emissions down 14.7%. Experts from Russia, India, Denmark, UK and Japan have visited to find out how.
Subsid of Alliant Energy (Wisc) turned on near 100Mw wind farm in Iowa. ~$235M. Continues to seek buyer for power, meantime will sell to MISO market.
EC awarding eStorage consortium EUR13M grant to better integrate wind power into grid. Cornerstone of project will be upgrading EDF's fixed-speed pumped storage hydro plant to variable speed. That would provide 70Mw of additional nighttime steady power that will allow integration of several hundred Mw of intermittent clean power.
Sweep-twist (curved) blade designs for wind turbines could yield up to 20% reduction in fatigue loads, 12% increase in captured energy. Developing @ DOE's Wind Energy Research Program at Sandia Labs, collab with Knight & Carver Wind Grp (Cal) and NSE Composites (Wash).
Scotrenewables Tidal Power got $12.3M from VC investors to test 2Mw turbine. They will also use govt grant earlier received. They have OK to develop 30Mw project off Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Utility repaired cracks in SC nuke plant.
Fermentalg (France) successfully tested 3rd gen biodiesel production from microalgae in standard engine without modifications.
97% of UK's canola, 84% of its wheat, all its sugarbeet meet EU's sustainability criteria. Crops that don't could be priced at discount after April 1.
India oil marketing comps preparing to float global tender for up to 1.1M liters of ethanol to comply with country's E5 mandate.
Gazprom may beat Exxon this year in earnings, may post $37.9B. In '11, Gaz spent $53B on capital expenditures, beating Petro China's $46B and Exxon's $36.8B.
NG prices back down around $3.40. Mild wx in NEast.
DOE awarding $28M of grants to 7 project developers to help kickstart offshore wind industry. Each recipient would get $4M to complete engineering, design, permitting of projects in 6 states - ME, NJ, VA, OH, TX, OR. 3 would then be selected to get up to $47M over 4 yrs, subject to Congress OK, to help in construction, installs. Goal of online by '17.
Britain gave go-ahead for exploratory fracking for shale gas.
China allocating another $1.1B in subsidies to solar sector. Also considering raising target for solar to 40Gw by '15. Near doubles target just raised in Sept.
Court dismissed coal plant developer's challenge to proposed EPA rule.
Deutsche Bank HQ raided in CO2 probe. 5 arrested.
OTHER STUFF
Solar City (SCTY) raised $92M in IPO. Opened today @ $9.20, hit $12.70, lately back under $12.
ACME Bikaner Solar Power won bid to build 25Mw solar plant in India state of Odisha. $37M.
Panasonic started solar panel production at Malay plant. 300Mw/yr capacity. Will also make wafers, solar cells. Will increase module production to 900Mw. $538M plant.
HelioVolt (TX), thin film solar panel maker, got another $12.2M VC funding to expand production, develop new products.
Ft Collins, Colo population has grown 13.5% since '05, but emissions down 14.7%. Experts from Russia, India, Denmark, UK and Japan have visited to find out how.
Subsid of Alliant Energy (Wisc) turned on near 100Mw wind farm in Iowa. ~$235M. Continues to seek buyer for power, meantime will sell to MISO market.
EC awarding eStorage consortium EUR13M grant to better integrate wind power into grid. Cornerstone of project will be upgrading EDF's fixed-speed pumped storage hydro plant to variable speed. That would provide 70Mw of additional nighttime steady power that will allow integration of several hundred Mw of intermittent clean power.
Sweep-twist (curved) blade designs for wind turbines could yield up to 20% reduction in fatigue loads, 12% increase in captured energy. Developing @ DOE's Wind Energy Research Program at Sandia Labs, collab with Knight & Carver Wind Grp (Cal) and NSE Composites (Wash).
Scotrenewables Tidal Power got $12.3M from VC investors to test 2Mw turbine. They will also use govt grant earlier received. They have OK to develop 30Mw project off Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Utility repaired cracks in SC nuke plant.
Fermentalg (France) successfully tested 3rd gen biodiesel production from microalgae in standard engine without modifications.
97% of UK's canola, 84% of its wheat, all its sugarbeet meet EU's sustainability criteria. Crops that don't could be priced at discount after April 1.
India oil marketing comps preparing to float global tender for up to 1.1M liters of ethanol to comply with country's E5 mandate.
Gazprom may beat Exxon this year in earnings, may post $37.9B. In '11, Gaz spent $53B on capital expenditures, beating Petro China's $46B and Exxon's $36.8B.
NG prices back down around $3.40. Mild wx in NEast.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat, mixed. Volume normal. WTI oil steady under $87.
WWPW up 25 on 3K shares. RNWEF up 11. VLNCQ up 10. NTCXF up 2. NENE, XSNX flat.
AONEQ down 27. JUHL down 20 on 180 shares. HOKU down 17. XDSL down 4.
Market flat, mixed. Volume normal. WTI oil steady under $87.
WWPW up 25 on 3K shares. RNWEF up 11. VLNCQ up 10. NTCXF up 2. NENE, XSNX flat.
AONEQ down 27. JUHL down 20 on 180 shares. HOKU down 17. XDSL down 4.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat negative. Volume a tweak light. WTI oil stayed up near $87, Brent up near $110. Sauds cut production to lowest in a year. Fed started QE4 @ $45B/mo until unemployment hits 6.5%. China doubled solar subsidies. Russia's richest soul said US tech overvalued. He should know, huh?
PPRW up 65. CPWY up 61. DSTI up 41. SLMU up 30. SPIR up 29. CSUN, HOKU up 20. JASO up 19. NENE up 18. HSOL up 14. CSIQ up 13. AMPD, PSPW up 12. NTCXF up 3. ORYN, GRPH flat.
CSOL down 59. BLQN down 26. ECOS down 23. WWPW down 20. AONEQ down 19. WTWO down 16. RSOL, MMMW down 15. AMEL, EWRL down 14. INIS down 13. AMTX down 12. XSNX, APWR down 11. CABN down 10. VSPC, XDSL down 5.
Market flat negative. Volume a tweak light. WTI oil stayed up near $87, Brent up near $110. Sauds cut production to lowest in a year. Fed started QE4 @ $45B/mo until unemployment hits 6.5%. China doubled solar subsidies. Russia's richest soul said US tech overvalued. He should know, huh?
PPRW up 65. CPWY up 61. DSTI up 41. SLMU up 30. SPIR up 29. CSUN, HOKU up 20. JASO up 19. NENE up 18. HSOL up 14. CSIQ up 13. AMPD, PSPW up 12. NTCXF up 3. ORYN, GRPH flat.
CSOL down 59. BLQN down 26. ECOS down 23. WWPW down 20. AONEQ down 19. WTWO down 16. RSOL, MMMW down 15. AMEL, EWRL down 14. INIS down 13. AMTX down 12. XSNX, APWR down 11. CABN down 10. VSPC, XDSL down 5.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Enviro groups and API formally protesting DOI plan for oil shale R&D on ~677K acres of fed lands in CO, WY, UT.
7 states announced plan to sue EPA over failure to directly address methane emissions from oil/gas industry.
TX landowner won court victory and temp restraining order to stop build of section of Keystone XL pipeline on his land.
EIA/Bloomberg sees cellulosic ethanol production in US hitting 9.6M gal in '13, up 20x. RFS, tho, has mandated 1B gal. (Just a little short, A?)
$18B market for EV inverters predicted for '23.
WV NG pipeline explosion destroyed homes, parts of interstate.
OTHER STUFF
Sempra Energy subsid completed 1st phase - 92Mw - of solar PV project outside Vegas. Phase 2 -58Mw- completion in '15. Sempra also developed another 58Mw solar project nearby.
DOE to invest $29M in PV solar R&D. $21M to design quicker, cheaper installs. $8M for 2 projects to help utilities, grid operators better forecast elgen from solar power plants. Working with NOAA.
Solar City (SCTY) cut price of IPO to $8 from $13-15, increased offering to 11.4M shares from 10.1M. Comp booked $95M loss in 12 months thru Sept. Leases solar panels, installs them, charges below-market rates for the el generated.
SEIA says 684Mw solar installed in US Q3. 44% above year ago. 1st 3 Q's 1.99Gw added vs. 885Mw all of '11. Total now 5.9Gw installed, 6.4 Gw with concentrated solar added. System prices for utilities now $2.40/w, down 30% from year ago. Residential down to $5.21/w from $5.45, commercial fell 13 cents to $4.18/w.
Hawaii enviros sued governor over solar tax credit changes.
Jordan introducing FITs for clean/renewable techs. Shelving nukes. 2nd Arab Renewable Energy Congress in Ammon next week. Jordan subsidizes over half the cost of el for consumers. Target of 7% clean/ren elgen by '15, 10% by '20.
In '13, Great Brit, Italy will move from RPS to FITs. ~90 FIT programs now worldwide, 60 RPS programs.
India signed deal to help Iran develop clean/renewable sector. Iran has potential for 6.5Gw of power from solar, wind.
2 EV buses coming to Stockton, Cal in spring. $2.5M state grant. All 120 buses in fleet to be replaced with hybrids by end of '13. SC comp build the EV buses, just got $23M VC funding. 10-minute charge gives EV bus 2 hrs runtime. 17-29mpg equivalent. Each EV bus should save $300K over 12-year life. Fiberglass shell melded with balsa wood.
Indy shifting to alt fuels for city fleet.
Biomax (India) to jointly invest with local Saud comp to develop $40M biodiesel plant, Saud's 1st. Used cooking oil feedstock. Up to 2.5M metric tons/yr of oil will be available. Can also use acid oil, crude palm oil, sunflower oil.
Oil and gas has contaminated groundwater in 17% of 2,078 spills or slow releases that comps reported to Colo regulators last 5 yrs. In Weld County, 40% of spills reach groundwater. Most spills happening less than 30 ft underground. 49,236 active wells in state, up 31% since '08.
Sauds cut oil output to lowest level in year. Probably reason oil up today.
Exxon, Austria's OMV Petrom launching 3-D seismic study of Romania's deepwater Black Sea sector. At least 2 yrs before 1st well drilled.
Enviro groups and API formally protesting DOI plan for oil shale R&D on ~677K acres of fed lands in CO, WY, UT.
7 states announced plan to sue EPA over failure to directly address methane emissions from oil/gas industry.
TX landowner won court victory and temp restraining order to stop build of section of Keystone XL pipeline on his land.
EIA/Bloomberg sees cellulosic ethanol production in US hitting 9.6M gal in '13, up 20x. RFS, tho, has mandated 1B gal. (Just a little short, A?)
$18B market for EV inverters predicted for '23.
WV NG pipeline explosion destroyed homes, parts of interstate.
OTHER STUFF
Sempra Energy subsid completed 1st phase - 92Mw - of solar PV project outside Vegas. Phase 2 -58Mw- completion in '15. Sempra also developed another 58Mw solar project nearby.
DOE to invest $29M in PV solar R&D. $21M to design quicker, cheaper installs. $8M for 2 projects to help utilities, grid operators better forecast elgen from solar power plants. Working with NOAA.
Solar City (SCTY) cut price of IPO to $8 from $13-15, increased offering to 11.4M shares from 10.1M. Comp booked $95M loss in 12 months thru Sept. Leases solar panels, installs them, charges below-market rates for the el generated.
SEIA says 684Mw solar installed in US Q3. 44% above year ago. 1st 3 Q's 1.99Gw added vs. 885Mw all of '11. Total now 5.9Gw installed, 6.4 Gw with concentrated solar added. System prices for utilities now $2.40/w, down 30% from year ago. Residential down to $5.21/w from $5.45, commercial fell 13 cents to $4.18/w.
Hawaii enviros sued governor over solar tax credit changes.
Jordan introducing FITs for clean/renewable techs. Shelving nukes. 2nd Arab Renewable Energy Congress in Ammon next week. Jordan subsidizes over half the cost of el for consumers. Target of 7% clean/ren elgen by '15, 10% by '20.
In '13, Great Brit, Italy will move from RPS to FITs. ~90 FIT programs now worldwide, 60 RPS programs.
India signed deal to help Iran develop clean/renewable sector. Iran has potential for 6.5Gw of power from solar, wind.
2 EV buses coming to Stockton, Cal in spring. $2.5M state grant. All 120 buses in fleet to be replaced with hybrids by end of '13. SC comp build the EV buses, just got $23M VC funding. 10-minute charge gives EV bus 2 hrs runtime. 17-29mpg equivalent. Each EV bus should save $300K over 12-year life. Fiberglass shell melded with balsa wood.
Indy shifting to alt fuels for city fleet.
Biomax (India) to jointly invest with local Saud comp to develop $40M biodiesel plant, Saud's 1st. Used cooking oil feedstock. Up to 2.5M metric tons/yr of oil will be available. Can also use acid oil, crude palm oil, sunflower oil.
Oil and gas has contaminated groundwater in 17% of 2,078 spills or slow releases that comps reported to Colo regulators last 5 yrs. In Weld County, 40% of spills reach groundwater. Most spills happening less than 30 ft underground. 49,236 active wells in state, up 31% since '08.
Sauds cut oil output to lowest level in year. Probably reason oil up today.
Exxon, Austria's OMV Petrom launching 3-D seismic study of Romania's deepwater Black Sea sector. At least 2 yrs before 1st well drilled.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume light. WTI oil up near $87. IEA raised global demand forecast on China econ rebound.
DSTI up 72 on news Bill Richardson joined board. QTMM up 37 on 1K shares. HOKU up 20. SLMU up 16. HSOL, JASO up 12. Other Chinese solars up also. FSLR up over $32. NTCXF up 6. NENE up 5 on news. GRPH up 1.
WWPW down 34. BSRC down 12. CSGH down 11. GERS down 10. WTWO down 8. Completed install of processor at Ontario power plant. XSNX down 6. ORYN down 4.
Market flat and mixed. Volume light. WTI oil up near $87. IEA raised global demand forecast on China econ rebound.
DSTI up 72 on news Bill Richardson joined board. QTMM up 37 on 1K shares. HOKU up 20. SLMU up 16. HSOL, JASO up 12. Other Chinese solars up also. FSLR up over $32. NTCXF up 6. NENE up 5 on news. GRPH up 1.
WWPW down 34. BSRC down 12. CSGH down 11. GERS down 10. WTWO down 8. Completed install of processor at Ontario power plant. XSNX down 6. ORYN down 4.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 78/35/9. Volume a tweak voluminous (slightly heavy). WTI oil up cents above $86, Brent up over $108.
CRGE up 63. AMPD up 60. RSOL up 57. CSKH up 42. AONEQ up 37. Bounceback. Go figure. ENSL up 30. CSGH, WWPW up 25. LEOM up 23. VSPC up 20. MMMW up 18. GSFVF up 16. ULBI up 15. ACPW, BSRC, RNWEF up 13. LEXG, LSCG up 12. Watch LSCG. AMRS up 10. WTWO up 9. XSNX up 6. NTCXF flat.
MGLT down 27. HOKU down 26. ORYN down 16. JUHL down 15. NFEC down 14. GRPH, TMEN down 12. XDSL down 4. NENE down 1.
Market up 78/35/9. Volume a tweak voluminous (slightly heavy). WTI oil up cents above $86, Brent up over $108.
CRGE up 63. AMPD up 60. RSOL up 57. CSKH up 42. AONEQ up 37. Bounceback. Go figure. ENSL up 30. CSGH, WWPW up 25. LEOM up 23. VSPC up 20. MMMW up 18. GSFVF up 16. ULBI up 15. ACPW, BSRC, RNWEF up 13. LEXG, LSCG up 12. Watch LSCG. AMRS up 10. WTWO up 9. XSNX up 6. NTCXF flat.
MGLT down 27. HOKU down 26. ORYN down 16. JUHL down 15. NFEC down 14. GRPH, TMEN down 12. XDSL down 4. NENE down 1.
STUFF
DOE: $14.3B of wind power installs in US in '11 brought total to almost $100B since early '80's. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation found the wind Production Tax Cred will amount to $1.36B of tax savings - savings - tax SAVINGS - per YEAR between now and '15 if kept. AWEA estimates the tax break (2.2 cents/Kwh) helps leverage $15.5B/yr in private investment. (And they can't get that passed. Oy.)
Suntech (STP) to supply ~100Mw of solar panels for 2 projects by consortium led by Mainstream Renewable Power in S Africa. Design, construction by Siemens. Online in '14. Among 1st projects under S Africa program targeting 1.45Gw of solar by '15, 8.2Gw by '30.
Yingli Solar subsid supplied 25Mw of PV modules to AZ farm.
In survey of ~800 CEO's around world over 1/2 regard energy and raw materials costs as major threat to their growth. 7% jump up from last year. Most pronounced in developing countries in Asia, Africa.
China playing role in building 306 hydropower projects in 70 nations. Near half planned in SE Asia.
Serbia plans to increase incentives for small hydro, cut FITs for wind, solar. Hydro up to 30Mw, up from 10 now. Subsidies to go up ~1/3 to between 10 and 13.7 cents/kwh. Wind FIT to be reduced to 9.2 Euro cents from 9.5. Solar to be cut 30% to 16.25 EU cents.
Georgia to expand energy cooperation with Europe.
UK Energy Secretary: Scotland independence threatens to raise Scots' power bills. Billions of pounds needed to switch to clean energy will be borne by Scots instead of spread across Britain. Independence referendum in '14. Scotland spokeswoman said UK needs Scotland's clean el to meet its own clean targets and keep lights on. Scotland goal total clean E by '20.
Statkraft, Norway's biggest utility, to invest ~$113M for 66.7Mw onshore wind farm in Scotland. Early '14 finish. Enercon (Germany) turbines.
UK to make biz report emissions on just el and gas to shave $437M off costs of carbon reduction program. Reporting on 29 fuels original proposal.
Africa Development Bank loaning $115M to Kenya for power line between Kenya and Ethiopia to transfer power from hydropower plants. 1,068km 500Kv DC line and converter stations. Power capacity up to 2Gw. '17 finish.
Fed appeals court appears to be inching toward finding EPA's '12 cellulosic biofuel requirements unlawful.
Propel Fuels (Cal) got $11M in equity capital and secured $10M more in debt finance to continue build out of stations offering biofuels with conventional gas. Over 200 stations planned next 2 yrs. Currently in Cal, Wash State.
US Steel Canada teaming with Union Gas and Pond Biofuels to test algae production from CO2 emitted from Ontario power plant. Pond plans to use LEDs to supply enough light for algae growth in winter months.
Japan comp signed MOU with Cambodia for producing ethanol from cassava. Hopes to sell 200K kiloliters of eth/yr by '20's.
Brazil tech center investing $38.5M in 3M liter/yr cellulosic eth plant to be located at sugarmill next yr. They say their tech enables extra 30-50%/yr of eth production.
Argentina has finally complained to WTO over Europe allegedly blocking imports of its biodiesel.
TX oil and gas regulatory agency updating rules on fracking.
PA Superior Court panel to allow 2 newspapers to press for unsealing records in lawsuit against 4 NG comps and state's EPA over fracking.
EU looking to intro regs to control UK's fracking plans.
US universities likely to take 2nd look at conflict of interest guidelines as scrutiny increases over oil and gas industry funding academic research.
E mails show BP lied to authorities about Gulf oil spill.
Huge increase in shale oil production from Permian Basin - west TX - coupled with lack of pipeline in area has created bottleneck forcing down region prices. EIA says production of 1.29Mb/d in '07 could grow to 2.3M by '22. Similar probs in Bakken Shale (ND) and OK's midwestern pipeline hub (WTI price). Permian producers losing out on $1.2B of profits. (So. Why don't they build pipe? Or just ship it by train? What's up with that?)
Suntech (STP) to supply ~100Mw of solar panels for 2 projects by consortium led by Mainstream Renewable Power in S Africa. Design, construction by Siemens. Online in '14. Among 1st projects under S Africa program targeting 1.45Gw of solar by '15, 8.2Gw by '30.
Yingli Solar subsid supplied 25Mw of PV modules to AZ farm.
In survey of ~800 CEO's around world over 1/2 regard energy and raw materials costs as major threat to their growth. 7% jump up from last year. Most pronounced in developing countries in Asia, Africa.
China playing role in building 306 hydropower projects in 70 nations. Near half planned in SE Asia.
Serbia plans to increase incentives for small hydro, cut FITs for wind, solar. Hydro up to 30Mw, up from 10 now. Subsidies to go up ~1/3 to between 10 and 13.7 cents/kwh. Wind FIT to be reduced to 9.2 Euro cents from 9.5. Solar to be cut 30% to 16.25 EU cents.
Georgia to expand energy cooperation with Europe.
UK Energy Secretary: Scotland independence threatens to raise Scots' power bills. Billions of pounds needed to switch to clean energy will be borne by Scots instead of spread across Britain. Independence referendum in '14. Scotland spokeswoman said UK needs Scotland's clean el to meet its own clean targets and keep lights on. Scotland goal total clean E by '20.
Statkraft, Norway's biggest utility, to invest ~$113M for 66.7Mw onshore wind farm in Scotland. Early '14 finish. Enercon (Germany) turbines.
UK to make biz report emissions on just el and gas to shave $437M off costs of carbon reduction program. Reporting on 29 fuels original proposal.
Africa Development Bank loaning $115M to Kenya for power line between Kenya and Ethiopia to transfer power from hydropower plants. 1,068km 500Kv DC line and converter stations. Power capacity up to 2Gw. '17 finish.
Fed appeals court appears to be inching toward finding EPA's '12 cellulosic biofuel requirements unlawful.
Propel Fuels (Cal) got $11M in equity capital and secured $10M more in debt finance to continue build out of stations offering biofuels with conventional gas. Over 200 stations planned next 2 yrs. Currently in Cal, Wash State.
US Steel Canada teaming with Union Gas and Pond Biofuels to test algae production from CO2 emitted from Ontario power plant. Pond plans to use LEDs to supply enough light for algae growth in winter months.
Japan comp signed MOU with Cambodia for producing ethanol from cassava. Hopes to sell 200K kiloliters of eth/yr by '20's.
Brazil tech center investing $38.5M in 3M liter/yr cellulosic eth plant to be located at sugarmill next yr. They say their tech enables extra 30-50%/yr of eth production.
Argentina has finally complained to WTO over Europe allegedly blocking imports of its biodiesel.
TX oil and gas regulatory agency updating rules on fracking.
PA Superior Court panel to allow 2 newspapers to press for unsealing records in lawsuit against 4 NG comps and state's EPA over fracking.
EU looking to intro regs to control UK's fracking plans.
US universities likely to take 2nd look at conflict of interest guidelines as scrutiny increases over oil and gas industry funding academic research.
E mails show BP lied to authorities about Gulf oil spill.
Huge increase in shale oil production from Permian Basin - west TX - coupled with lack of pipeline in area has created bottleneck forcing down region prices. EIA says production of 1.29Mb/d in '07 could grow to 2.3M by '22. Similar probs in Bakken Shale (ND) and OK's midwestern pipeline hub (WTI price). Permian producers losing out on $1.2B of profits. (So. Why don't they build pipe? Or just ship it by train? What's up with that?)
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 107/39/12. Volume normal. Indeces all above top lines. WTI oil steady under $86. AIG rescue done, US made $22.7B.
CWET up 20. BIOF up 14, 3-day rise to 50-day lines. LEXG up 10. WTWO up 9. XSNX up 6. NENE up 1.
CSOL down 60 on 5K shares. CGYV down 40. VNDB down 33. HOKU down 26. GRPH down 9. ORYN down 8. NTCXF down 4.
Market up 107/39/12. Volume normal. Indeces all above top lines. WTI oil steady under $86. AIG rescue done, US made $22.7B.
CWET up 20. BIOF up 14, 3-day rise to 50-day lines. LEXG up 10. WTWO up 9. XSNX up 6. NENE up 1.
CSOL down 60 on 5K shares. CGYV down 40. VNDB down 33. HOKU down 26. GRPH down 9. ORYN down 8. NTCXF down 4.
Monday, December 10, 2012
LATE STUFF
TOP STUFF
Wendy's blames RFS for $174M in higher food cost. Each "restaurant" paying $20-30K more for food a year.
Could crop waste biomass briquette mills and improved cook stoves (half fuel use) undermine the Taliban for 1% of what US now spends? And poppy oil for biodiesel gives farmers more dollars than opium. Conversion to safflower even better. Avg cost of importing fuel to Afghan near $400/gal. Really. Most casualties from protecting convoys of fuel, water, supplies. "Not much luck convincing brass." (Well, replace the brass.)
Biomax Fuels, Middle East Environment Protection in 50/50 JV to build 1st biofuel plant in Saudi Arabia. $40M. Used cooking oil feedstock. Ready end of '13. To produce up to 2.5M tons biodiesel/yr. Biomax has similar plant in India producing 300K tons/yr.
Havana Energy (Cuba) invested $50M in sugarmill to convert marabou weed into biofuel.
BP committing $350M into Tropical ethanol Brazil project. 5M tons/yr by '15. 35K hectares, new mill for 2.5M tons of cane to sugar, eth.
Green Future Innovations opened eth facility in Philippines. Up to 160K liter/day by yearend. Full cap end of next year. Japan-based comp.
Mex Prez-elect talking privatizing Pemex. US largest import source.
Tuscaloosa Marine Shale similar geo age to Eagle Ford. Encana, Devon, Goodrich exploring. North of New Orleans TX to MS.
Chevron announced $36.7B capital spending budget for '13. Up 12%. 90% upstream. Australian LNG terminal, US deepwater.
Cap expenditure in Eagle Ford est. to reach $28B in '13. ~1/4 of all US exploration sans AK. Kazakhstan needs est. $116B.
Penn State researchers may have discovery to enable solar cell fabric.
'18 Owensboro KY muni utility doing nothing to lower op and maint costs or reduce debt or base rates over next 5 years. Will fall $70M short of covering costs.
Doosan (S Korea) signed $1.2B deal to build power and desal plant in Saudi Arabia.
Mid Am E (Buffet) completed 81Mw wind farm in Il. 50 GE 1.62Mw turbines.
Wendy's blames RFS for $174M in higher food cost. Each "restaurant" paying $20-30K more for food a year.
Could crop waste biomass briquette mills and improved cook stoves (half fuel use) undermine the Taliban for 1% of what US now spends? And poppy oil for biodiesel gives farmers more dollars than opium. Conversion to safflower even better. Avg cost of importing fuel to Afghan near $400/gal. Really. Most casualties from protecting convoys of fuel, water, supplies. "Not much luck convincing brass." (Well, replace the brass.)
Biomax Fuels, Middle East Environment Protection in 50/50 JV to build 1st biofuel plant in Saudi Arabia. $40M. Used cooking oil feedstock. Ready end of '13. To produce up to 2.5M tons biodiesel/yr. Biomax has similar plant in India producing 300K tons/yr.
Havana Energy (Cuba) invested $50M in sugarmill to convert marabou weed into biofuel.
BP committing $350M into Tropical ethanol Brazil project. 5M tons/yr by '15. 35K hectares, new mill for 2.5M tons of cane to sugar, eth.
Green Future Innovations opened eth facility in Philippines. Up to 160K liter/day by yearend. Full cap end of next year. Japan-based comp.
Mex Prez-elect talking privatizing Pemex. US largest import source.
Tuscaloosa Marine Shale similar geo age to Eagle Ford. Encana, Devon, Goodrich exploring. North of New Orleans TX to MS.
Chevron announced $36.7B capital spending budget for '13. Up 12%. 90% upstream. Australian LNG terminal, US deepwater.
Cap expenditure in Eagle Ford est. to reach $28B in '13. ~1/4 of all US exploration sans AK. Kazakhstan needs est. $116B.
Penn State researchers may have discovery to enable solar cell fabric.
'18 Owensboro KY muni utility doing nothing to lower op and maint costs or reduce debt or base rates over next 5 years. Will fall $70M short of covering costs.
Doosan (S Korea) signed $1.2B deal to build power and desal plant in Saudi Arabia.
Mid Am E (Buffet) completed 81Mw wind farm in Il. 50 GE 1.62Mw turbines.
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 14/8/.4. Volume light. WTI down under $86. Brent up over $107. China oil imports up.
CSOL up 137 on 1K shares. We report the froth here. BLDW up 120 on 500 shares. MGLT, CBWP up 37. HOKU up 28. CRCL up 20. RSOL up 16. NFEC up 15, back above all lines. GPRC, JUHL up 13. NTCXF up 10, jump back covering the recent gap. I think it's a buy here. GRPH up 4. XSNX, ORYN flat.
AONEQ down 66. The Chinese got it. Do they get the tech? SLMU down 33. BOPO down 32. CERP down 31, new low. WTWO down 21. AQNM down 20. BSRC down 19. LEOM down 16. CSGH down 15. BFRE down 14. AMLM down 13. LEXG, CHGI down 12. MMMW down 11. ECTY, ZAAP down 10. ECTY obvious profit taking. NENE down 2. Might be time to buy.
Market up 14/8/.4. Volume light. WTI down under $86. Brent up over $107. China oil imports up.
CSOL up 137 on 1K shares. We report the froth here. BLDW up 120 on 500 shares. MGLT, CBWP up 37. HOKU up 28. CRCL up 20. RSOL up 16. NFEC up 15, back above all lines. GPRC, JUHL up 13. NTCXF up 10, jump back covering the recent gap. I think it's a buy here. GRPH up 4. XSNX, ORYN flat.
AONEQ down 66. The Chinese got it. Do they get the tech? SLMU down 33. BOPO down 32. CERP down 31, new low. WTWO down 21. AQNM down 20. BSRC down 19. LEOM down 16. CSGH down 15. BFRE down 14. AMLM down 13. LEXG, CHGI down 12. MMMW down 11. ECTY, ZAAP down 10. ECTY obvious profit taking. NENE down 2. Might be time to buy.
EARLY STUFF
TOP STUFF
Obama seeking $60.4B for Sandy recovery, some bux for future climate risks.
Study: death rate of many of biggest, oldest trees around world increasing rapidly. At all latitudes, in most types of forest. Combo of factors from climate change to insects, diseases.
Over 62% of lower 48 states still in moderate to exceptional drought.
Deforestation talks at UN climate conference broke down on finance, verification.
Presidential panel warning US ag research not keeping pace with climate change, water shortages, new pathogens, etc. Call for $700M for new research. Fed ag research funding roughly same in real dollars for 30 years.
US carbon tax would be "disastrous": House GOP resolution.
Obama offering $6B of investment in clean energy in Asia-Pacific region. To help US exports.
China econ growth forecast 7.7% for '12, 8.2% for '13.
OTHER STUFF
NASA's measurements of plant stress anticipated this year's severe drought in US a month before drought monitor.
S Korea dropped plans to resume whaling.
Huge flows of vapor in atmos - "atmos rivers" - have unleashed massive flooding in Cal every 200 years, turning central valley into inland sea. Last time was 1861-2. Lasted 43 days.
China increased wind farm approvals 8% to meet '15 goal. Their installed wind capacity forecast to hit 150Gw by '15, 50% above govt goal.
India hopes to ramp up installed solar capacity to 9Gw by '17. Over 8x current cap. But higher interest rates and short-term lending add up to 32% to cost compared to US, Europe. Govt grants to come from National Clean Energy Fund. It taxes coal producers $.92/ton since mid-10.
Jinko Solar getting up to $1B finance from China Development Bank.
LDK slashed revenue forecast for year, laid off over 2.5K workers in Q3.
S Korea comps to build 45Mw solar farm in Japan. Cost est. $120M.
Solar Frontier (Japan) to supply 14Mw thin-film solar for 4 projects by Mitsui. Mitsui and partners planning $110M for 10 solar projects in Japan by early '14.
SunPower (SPWR) extended its supply contract to Toshiba to '18. Also forming JV with 3 Chinese comps to make, install its panels and trackers in China.
First Solar (FSLR) to ship 2Mw of panels for 1st-ever demo plant in China in early '13.
Admin OK'd 170-mile powerline through Utah.
Nepal El customers facing 10 hours daily power cuts now, more than before.
Wanxiang Group (China) won bid for A123. AONEQ was down 64% last I saw today.
Canada cleared $15B CNOOC (China) buy of Nexen. Also approved $5B buy of Progress Energy Resources by Petronas (Malay). Canada says that's the last of foreign govt investment in oil sands. $650B more of investment needed in oil sands development next 10 years. Canada can't finance all that themselves.
Oil sands emissions rose last year.
US has 1.7 failures per 1K miles per year on oil pipelines. 52,475 miles of pipe. Alberta has 2, higher occurrence thought to be from the oil sands' diluted bitumen.
Enbridge to spend $6.2B on pipeline expansion.
Colorado groundwater contaminated by drilling.
Brit N Sea oil output likely to increase next few years. Could reach 1.4Mb/d in '17.
Investments in Eagle Ford shale (TX) expected to top that projected for Kazakhstan's giant field.
Imperial Oil (Canada). BP, Exxon partnership may seek approval to start work in Beaufort Sea by summer.
China told Vietnam to stop unilateral oil exploration in disputed areas of S China Sea and to stop harassing Chinese fishing boats.
Kurd leader says over 3Mb/d could be flowing from their region with proper export infrastructure.
Russian crude and condensate production for Nov up .5%, post-Soviet record of 10.5Mb/d.
Much of forecasted world oil supply - like, out to '30 - has not yet been discovered or has no demo'd tech that can extract or produce it economically. A 43Mb/d gap by '30.
Gallon of premium gas costs Americans 3% of daily income, 55th of 60 nations. In Pakistan, a gallon costs 46% more than a worker's daily wage. (Count your blessings and consider the luck of birth.)
Houston-based utility canceled coal power plant upwind of Dallas, Ft Worth. (There's a good pard.)
Vietnam started build of $1.37B 1.24Gw coal power plant in Mekong Delta.
Kuwaitis demonstrating against newly-elected parliament, claiming it illegitimate.
Transponders on 31 Iran-owned oil tankers still signal Tanzania registration. Tanzania says nuh-uh, they de-registered all Iranian ships.
Obama seeking $60.4B for Sandy recovery, some bux for future climate risks.
Study: death rate of many of biggest, oldest trees around world increasing rapidly. At all latitudes, in most types of forest. Combo of factors from climate change to insects, diseases.
Over 62% of lower 48 states still in moderate to exceptional drought.
Deforestation talks at UN climate conference broke down on finance, verification.
Presidential panel warning US ag research not keeping pace with climate change, water shortages, new pathogens, etc. Call for $700M for new research. Fed ag research funding roughly same in real dollars for 30 years.
US carbon tax would be "disastrous": House GOP resolution.
Obama offering $6B of investment in clean energy in Asia-Pacific region. To help US exports.
China econ growth forecast 7.7% for '12, 8.2% for '13.
OTHER STUFF
NASA's measurements of plant stress anticipated this year's severe drought in US a month before drought monitor.
S Korea dropped plans to resume whaling.
Huge flows of vapor in atmos - "atmos rivers" - have unleashed massive flooding in Cal every 200 years, turning central valley into inland sea. Last time was 1861-2. Lasted 43 days.
China increased wind farm approvals 8% to meet '15 goal. Their installed wind capacity forecast to hit 150Gw by '15, 50% above govt goal.
India hopes to ramp up installed solar capacity to 9Gw by '17. Over 8x current cap. But higher interest rates and short-term lending add up to 32% to cost compared to US, Europe. Govt grants to come from National Clean Energy Fund. It taxes coal producers $.92/ton since mid-10.
Jinko Solar getting up to $1B finance from China Development Bank.
LDK slashed revenue forecast for year, laid off over 2.5K workers in Q3.
S Korea comps to build 45Mw solar farm in Japan. Cost est. $120M.
Solar Frontier (Japan) to supply 14Mw thin-film solar for 4 projects by Mitsui. Mitsui and partners planning $110M for 10 solar projects in Japan by early '14.
SunPower (SPWR) extended its supply contract to Toshiba to '18. Also forming JV with 3 Chinese comps to make, install its panels and trackers in China.
First Solar (FSLR) to ship 2Mw of panels for 1st-ever demo plant in China in early '13.
Admin OK'd 170-mile powerline through Utah.
Nepal El customers facing 10 hours daily power cuts now, more than before.
Wanxiang Group (China) won bid for A123. AONEQ was down 64% last I saw today.
Canada cleared $15B CNOOC (China) buy of Nexen. Also approved $5B buy of Progress Energy Resources by Petronas (Malay). Canada says that's the last of foreign govt investment in oil sands. $650B more of investment needed in oil sands development next 10 years. Canada can't finance all that themselves.
Oil sands emissions rose last year.
US has 1.7 failures per 1K miles per year on oil pipelines. 52,475 miles of pipe. Alberta has 2, higher occurrence thought to be from the oil sands' diluted bitumen.
Enbridge to spend $6.2B on pipeline expansion.
Colorado groundwater contaminated by drilling.
Brit N Sea oil output likely to increase next few years. Could reach 1.4Mb/d in '17.
Investments in Eagle Ford shale (TX) expected to top that projected for Kazakhstan's giant field.
Imperial Oil (Canada). BP, Exxon partnership may seek approval to start work in Beaufort Sea by summer.
China told Vietnam to stop unilateral oil exploration in disputed areas of S China Sea and to stop harassing Chinese fishing boats.
Kurd leader says over 3Mb/d could be flowing from their region with proper export infrastructure.
Russian crude and condensate production for Nov up .5%, post-Soviet record of 10.5Mb/d.
Much of forecasted world oil supply - like, out to '30 - has not yet been discovered or has no demo'd tech that can extract or produce it economically. A 43Mb/d gap by '30.
Gallon of premium gas costs Americans 3% of daily income, 55th of 60 nations. In Pakistan, a gallon costs 46% more than a worker's daily wage. (Count your blessings and consider the luck of birth.)
Houston-based utility canceled coal power plant upwind of Dallas, Ft Worth. (There's a good pard.)
Vietnam started build of $1.37B 1.24Gw coal power plant in Mekong Delta.
Kuwaitis demonstrating against newly-elected parliament, claiming it illegitimate.
Transponders on 31 Iran-owned oil tankers still signal Tanzania registration. Tanzania says nuh-uh, they de-registered all Iranian ships.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 18/10/.4. Volume light. WTI oil up dimes from $86.
MGLT up 39 on 2.5K shares. CBWP up 37 on 2.5K. NTCXF up 17. Mentioned their uber-soldness last week. GPRC up 15. NFEC up 14. NPWZ, PSPW up 12. NGLPF, ZAAP up 11. VSPC up 9. GRPH up 2.
AONEQ down 62. They're done. BSRC down 19 on 200 shares. CERP down 18. LEOM down 16. AMLM, ECOS, JUHL down 13. APWR, MMMW down 11. BOPO, EWRL down 10. ORYN down 8. XSNX down 6. NENE down 5.
Market up 18/10/.4. Volume light. WTI oil up dimes from $86.
MGLT up 39 on 2.5K shares. CBWP up 37 on 2.5K. NTCXF up 17. Mentioned their uber-soldness last week. GPRC up 15. NFEC up 14. NPWZ, PSPW up 12. NGLPF, ZAAP up 11. VSPC up 9. GRPH up 2.
AONEQ down 62. They're done. BSRC down 19 on 200 shares. CERP down 18. LEOM down 16. AMLM, ECOS, JUHL down 13. APWR, MMMW down 11. BOPO, EWRL down 10. ORYN down 8. XSNX down 6. NENE down 5.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
STUFF
TOP STUFF
UN climate conference extended Kyoto Protocol through '20. Limits GHG emissions of some rich countries, but only covers ~15% of global emissions. Vague promises of finance to help poor countries cope with climate change. Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Russia opted out. And US never joined Kyoto.
OTHER STUFF
Wattner (Germany) bought 17.1Mw of solar farms in Germany for EUR 27M.
Chevron Energy Solutions completed 1Mw single-axis solar PV system at Cal wastewater treatment plant. Expected to save $7M of el costs over project life, cutting usage near 50%. $1.6M rebate from Cal Solar Initiative.
20Mw solar farm got permit for go ahead in Yuma, AZ.
Sun Edison got $52.5M more finance for sale-leaseback solar PV projects in Cal.
NAM: compliance costs for 6 new EPA rules could total $111B by EPA estimates, up to $138B by industry estimates.
New England grid operator (6-state region) raising concerns about availability of adequate supplies of NG for power plants later this winter. Most of the NG-fired plants can also run on coal or oil.
EPA sued over emissions from MN coal power plant. Xcel Energy's Sherco emissions obscure scenery over 2 national parks, DOI said in '09. 1 of plaintiffs adds the haze also causes lung and heart disease (O, yea, by the way). 2.2Gw plant. Xcel says it's investing $50M on 2 of 3 (older) units that should cut SO2, NOx emissions by half.
OH Supreme Court 6-1 backed utility regulators that said AEP made enough profit in '09 to trigger $42M penalty based on '08 law. AEP's Columbus Southern Power had by far highest profit of any utility covered by the law, and among highest of any in US. $272M profit.
Marathon Oil earmarking 1/3 of next year's $5B capital budget for Eagle Ford (TX) development.
In '06, Americans were spending 24% of gross monthly income on home mortgages. Now it's 13%. 4Q11 was bottom of median existing home prices.
UN climate conference extended Kyoto Protocol through '20. Limits GHG emissions of some rich countries, but only covers ~15% of global emissions. Vague promises of finance to help poor countries cope with climate change. Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Russia opted out. And US never joined Kyoto.
OTHER STUFF
Wattner (Germany) bought 17.1Mw of solar farms in Germany for EUR 27M.
Chevron Energy Solutions completed 1Mw single-axis solar PV system at Cal wastewater treatment plant. Expected to save $7M of el costs over project life, cutting usage near 50%. $1.6M rebate from Cal Solar Initiative.
20Mw solar farm got permit for go ahead in Yuma, AZ.
Sun Edison got $52.5M more finance for sale-leaseback solar PV projects in Cal.
NAM: compliance costs for 6 new EPA rules could total $111B by EPA estimates, up to $138B by industry estimates.
New England grid operator (6-state region) raising concerns about availability of adequate supplies of NG for power plants later this winter. Most of the NG-fired plants can also run on coal or oil.
EPA sued over emissions from MN coal power plant. Xcel Energy's Sherco emissions obscure scenery over 2 national parks, DOI said in '09. 1 of plaintiffs adds the haze also causes lung and heart disease (O, yea, by the way). 2.2Gw plant. Xcel says it's investing $50M on 2 of 3 (older) units that should cut SO2, NOx emissions by half.
OH Supreme Court 6-1 backed utility regulators that said AEP made enough profit in '09 to trigger $42M penalty based on '08 law. AEP's Columbus Southern Power had by far highest profit of any utility covered by the law, and among highest of any in US. $272M profit.
Marathon Oil earmarking 1/3 of next year's $5B capital budget for Eagle Ford (TX) development.
In '06, Americans were spending 24% of gross monthly income on home mortgages. Now it's 13%. 4Q11 was bottom of median existing home prices.
Friday, December 7, 2012
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed. Dow up 81, Naz down 11, S&P up 4. Volume light. WTI near dead-on $86.
NGLPF up 260. Really. BOPO up 63 on 400 shares. CHGI up 42. BSRC up 27 on 100. ECTY up 18 more, day 4 of big rise. LTBR up 17. WTWO, BFRE up 16. XSNX up 15. INIS up 13. MMMW up 12. ORYN up 8. GRPH up 3. NTCXF up 1. NENE flat.
BLDW down 54. AEHI down 26. VNDB down 25. HOKU, PSPW down 22. VSPC, RSOL down 15. WWPW, GERS down 11. ZAAP, SLMU down 10.
Market mixed. Dow up 81, Naz down 11, S&P up 4. Volume light. WTI near dead-on $86.
NGLPF up 260. Really. BOPO up 63 on 400 shares. CHGI up 42. BSRC up 27 on 100. ECTY up 18 more, day 4 of big rise. LTBR up 17. WTWO, BFRE up 16. XSNX up 15. INIS up 13. MMMW up 12. ORYN up 8. GRPH up 3. NTCXF up 1. NENE flat.
BLDW down 54. AEHI down 26. VNDB down 25. HOKU, PSPW down 22. VSPC, RSOL down 15. WWPW, GERS down 11. ZAAP, SLMU down 10.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Soot from burning tundra may be speeding up Greenland's ice sheet melt.
China state energy comps won blocks in 2nd shale gas auction.
1st ARPA-E derived electrofuels patent. Gingko BioWorks. Chemoautotrophic production of organic compounds. $6.6M ARPA-E contract began in '10. Engineered microbes for biofuels.
EIA dropped WTI in favor of Brent as oil price reference for 1st time ever.
Kurdistan moved tanks to its undefined southern border with Iraq.
BLM studying massive WY gas field expansion on mostly public land.
Norway promising $1B each to Brazil, Indonesia to protect rainforests.
Facing EPA regulation, cable TV operators and appliance manufacturers announced voluntary program to improve energy efficiency of set-top boxes. They may use as much el as new energy-efficient refrigerator. Drives in devices running at full tilt, or near, even when not watching TV or recording. 160M boxes in US consume ~$3B of el/yr, 2/3 when not in use. New boxes as soon as Jan 1.
OTHER STUFF
2012 stands poised to go down as 3rd worst US fire season on record after 2006, 2007.
After a question on global warming, Ariz governor hit the reporter. Qatar deported climate activists who held up banner at UN climate talks.
Magazine says Ford inflated fuel economy ratings for hybrids.
Scotland to register over $1.6B of clean/renewable energy investment this year.
FERC dismissed JP Morgan's complaint that it was underpaid $3.7M for el last spring by Cal ISO (state grid operator). Still 2 larger fights. CISO says Morgan extracted $73M in excess profits. Another charging JPM with stonewalling power plant renovations that could be crucial to preventing blackouts next summer in S Cal.
ArcelorMittal, world's largest steelmaker, withdrew its French carbon capture project from 1st phase of $1.9B EC funding program. "Technical difficulties." But not abandoning plan to capture C from steel mill emissions. Project was to get C capture off the ground in Europe.
DSM (Neth) completed buy of Cargill's cultures and enzymes biz (for dairy and meat industries). Net sales EUR45M/yr. Overall world market over EUR1B, growing 5%/yr.
BP planning world's largest commercial supercomputer to find oil/gas.
Soot from burning tundra may be speeding up Greenland's ice sheet melt.
China state energy comps won blocks in 2nd shale gas auction.
1st ARPA-E derived electrofuels patent. Gingko BioWorks. Chemoautotrophic production of organic compounds. $6.6M ARPA-E contract began in '10. Engineered microbes for biofuels.
EIA dropped WTI in favor of Brent as oil price reference for 1st time ever.
Kurdistan moved tanks to its undefined southern border with Iraq.
BLM studying massive WY gas field expansion on mostly public land.
Norway promising $1B each to Brazil, Indonesia to protect rainforests.
Facing EPA regulation, cable TV operators and appliance manufacturers announced voluntary program to improve energy efficiency of set-top boxes. They may use as much el as new energy-efficient refrigerator. Drives in devices running at full tilt, or near, even when not watching TV or recording. 160M boxes in US consume ~$3B of el/yr, 2/3 when not in use. New boxes as soon as Jan 1.
OTHER STUFF
2012 stands poised to go down as 3rd worst US fire season on record after 2006, 2007.
After a question on global warming, Ariz governor hit the reporter. Qatar deported climate activists who held up banner at UN climate talks.
Magazine says Ford inflated fuel economy ratings for hybrids.
Scotland to register over $1.6B of clean/renewable energy investment this year.
FERC dismissed JP Morgan's complaint that it was underpaid $3.7M for el last spring by Cal ISO (state grid operator). Still 2 larger fights. CISO says Morgan extracted $73M in excess profits. Another charging JPM with stonewalling power plant renovations that could be crucial to preventing blackouts next summer in S Cal.
ArcelorMittal, world's largest steelmaker, withdrew its French carbon capture project from 1st phase of $1.9B EC funding program. "Technical difficulties." But not abandoning plan to capture C from steel mill emissions. Project was to get C capture off the ground in Europe.
DSM (Neth) completed buy of Cargill's cultures and enzymes biz (for dairy and meat industries). Net sales EUR45M/yr. Overall world market over EUR1B, growing 5%/yr.
BP planning world's largest commercial supercomputer to find oil/gas.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed. Dow up 22. Naz down 10. S&P flat. Volume light. WTI oil down around $86. 146K new jobs. German central bank cut country's '13 growth forecast to .4%.
BSRC up 27 on 100 shares. Really. WTWO up 16. XSNX, ECTY up 15. ECTY's been on a tear. XSNX looks like found the bottom recently. RVLT, WWPW up 11. LTBR up 9. NENE, ORYN flat.
BLDW down 54. VNDB down 25. LEOM down 24. RSOL, AMLM down 15. ZAAP, GERS down 11. NFEC down 9. GRPH down 5. NTCXF down 2, oversold on 2 indicators.
Market mixed. Dow up 22. Naz down 10. S&P flat. Volume light. WTI oil down around $86. 146K new jobs. German central bank cut country's '13 growth forecast to .4%.
BSRC up 27 on 100 shares. Really. WTWO up 16. XSNX, ECTY up 15. ECTY's been on a tear. XSNX looks like found the bottom recently. RVLT, WWPW up 11. LTBR up 9. NENE, ORYN flat.
BLDW down 54. VNDB down 25. LEOM down 24. RSOL, AMLM down 15. ZAAP, GERS down 11. NFEC down 9. GRPH down 5. NTCXF down 2, oversold on 2 indicators.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 39/15/4. Volume normal. WTI oil stayed down near $86. US household wealth up in Q3, highest since late '07.
AONEQ up 34. VNDB up 33. HOKU up 25. LMRMF up 21. VSPC up 18. ZNNMF up 14. GERS up 13. PEIX, ECOS, WWPW up 12. ECTY up 11. PANL up 10. ORYN up 9. XSNX up 4. NENE flat.
NGLPF down 79. MGLT down 28. APWR down 17. CSGH down 15. NTCXF down 14. CHGI down 13. ASIUF, IFXY down 11. AXAS down 10. GRPH down 1.
Market up 39/15/4. Volume normal. WTI oil stayed down near $86. US household wealth up in Q3, highest since late '07.
AONEQ up 34. VNDB up 33. HOKU up 25. LMRMF up 21. VSPC up 18. ZNNMF up 14. GERS up 13. PEIX, ECOS, WWPW up 12. ECTY up 11. PANL up 10. ORYN up 9. XSNX up 4. NENE flat.
NGLPF down 79. MGLT down 28. APWR down 17. CSGH down 15. NTCXF down 14. CHGI down 13. ASIUF, IFXY down 11. AXAS down 10. GRPH down 1.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
DOE study concluded national econ benefits of significant NG exports far outweigh potential for higher NG prices. More than dozen LNG export projects proposed, 1 approved so far in Louisiana. 1 LNG facility in MD is converting to exporting. Higher NG prices, though, would hit chem and fertilizer sectors hard. Dow Chem immediately challenged the study. "Fails to address the $80B of new spending, 3-5M new jobs already announced predicated on available and low-cost NG." NG exports, study says, could generate up to $47B/yr econ activity by '20.
NRDC plan featuring fed-state partnerships for reducing power plant pollution could save over $25B in climate, health costs while unleashing billions more in clean energy investments.
Euro energy comps considering participating in US offshore wind auctions.
India's Tamil Nadu state to auction 1Gw of solar power capacity next month. Projects must be 1Mw or more. 10 months to build or face fines. Developers pay for power lines to closest substation.
EIA (DOE) forecasts at least $8.68/gal gasoline, $9.86/gal diesel, $268/bl spot Brent crude ($162 in today's money) by '40. Assumes 2.5% annual inflation. Biomass use in '40 est. ~5Quad BTU. (2.7Quad in '11.) E85 will cost 20% less than gasoline. Energy use per capita to decline 15%, but population will increase 29%.
US military working with GE to dev new type of engine that could burn hydrogen or fossil fuels. 25% higher efficiency than combustion engines now converted for H. Could help wind industry. Wind turbines would power electrolyzers to make H. H would be stored and burned at steady rate in new engines with generators making el.
OTHER STUFF
Areva and EDF of France reported cost of Euro Pressurized Reactor up again to $10.6B. 1.65Gw reactor originally scheduled for completion this year for EUR3.3B. Cost doubled in '11, delayed to '16. Similar probs with Areva's EPR project in Finland. Capital costs now over $6.40/w.
Takes 8 years for a wind project to navigate French bureaucracy. 2 years in Germany.
Theolia (FR) began ops at 15Mw wind farm. Nordex (Germany) turbines. France wind capacity now ~6.8Gw.
Utah accuses BP subsid of filing fraudulent clean up claims.
PA city says $5.9M energy efficiency contract will save near $11M over 20 years. But review shows just $3.9M of that is guaranteed.
New head of Australia's $10.4B Green Fund sees 1st investment by July.
Germany and UK started $90.8M fund to finance projects that cut emissions, curb climate change. 1st project a Mexican govt program to build sustainable housing with grant funding, loans.
Orkney wave and tidal center in Scotland to help develop similar site in Taiwan. 200Mw capacity by '25.
Intl Institute for Sustainable Dev says biofuel subsidies often aren't best policy. A price on carbon more effective.
SavOn converting 4th NY gas station to ethanol-free.
Shell releasing oils meant to protect against biofuel engine damage.
Global Bioenergies and Synthos of France getting to biobased butadiene with R&D breakthrough. Butadiene a light olefin at heart of petrochem. 10M tons/yr produced now from oil. $20B market.
Turkey not reducing Iran oil imports. Say they haven't heard from US telling them to reduce.
Yemen struck deal with tribesmen. To repair oil pipelines.
Repsol filed court case to block Chevron from working with YPF in Argentina.
Shell's Arctic plans on hold again after containment dome failed test.
UN: world wild fish catch expected to fall 2% this year to 90M tons. All-time peak in '96 at 94M tons.
DOE study concluded national econ benefits of significant NG exports far outweigh potential for higher NG prices. More than dozen LNG export projects proposed, 1 approved so far in Louisiana. 1 LNG facility in MD is converting to exporting. Higher NG prices, though, would hit chem and fertilizer sectors hard. Dow Chem immediately challenged the study. "Fails to address the $80B of new spending, 3-5M new jobs already announced predicated on available and low-cost NG." NG exports, study says, could generate up to $47B/yr econ activity by '20.
NRDC plan featuring fed-state partnerships for reducing power plant pollution could save over $25B in climate, health costs while unleashing billions more in clean energy investments.
Euro energy comps considering participating in US offshore wind auctions.
India's Tamil Nadu state to auction 1Gw of solar power capacity next month. Projects must be 1Mw or more. 10 months to build or face fines. Developers pay for power lines to closest substation.
EIA (DOE) forecasts at least $8.68/gal gasoline, $9.86/gal diesel, $268/bl spot Brent crude ($162 in today's money) by '40. Assumes 2.5% annual inflation. Biomass use in '40 est. ~5Quad BTU. (2.7Quad in '11.) E85 will cost 20% less than gasoline. Energy use per capita to decline 15%, but population will increase 29%.
US military working with GE to dev new type of engine that could burn hydrogen or fossil fuels. 25% higher efficiency than combustion engines now converted for H. Could help wind industry. Wind turbines would power electrolyzers to make H. H would be stored and burned at steady rate in new engines with generators making el.
OTHER STUFF
Areva and EDF of France reported cost of Euro Pressurized Reactor up again to $10.6B. 1.65Gw reactor originally scheduled for completion this year for EUR3.3B. Cost doubled in '11, delayed to '16. Similar probs with Areva's EPR project in Finland. Capital costs now over $6.40/w.
Takes 8 years for a wind project to navigate French bureaucracy. 2 years in Germany.
Theolia (FR) began ops at 15Mw wind farm. Nordex (Germany) turbines. France wind capacity now ~6.8Gw.
Utah accuses BP subsid of filing fraudulent clean up claims.
PA city says $5.9M energy efficiency contract will save near $11M over 20 years. But review shows just $3.9M of that is guaranteed.
New head of Australia's $10.4B Green Fund sees 1st investment by July.
Germany and UK started $90.8M fund to finance projects that cut emissions, curb climate change. 1st project a Mexican govt program to build sustainable housing with grant funding, loans.
Orkney wave and tidal center in Scotland to help develop similar site in Taiwan. 200Mw capacity by '25.
Intl Institute for Sustainable Dev says biofuel subsidies often aren't best policy. A price on carbon more effective.
SavOn converting 4th NY gas station to ethanol-free.
Shell releasing oils meant to protect against biofuel engine damage.
Global Bioenergies and Synthos of France getting to biobased butadiene with R&D breakthrough. Butadiene a light olefin at heart of petrochem. 10M tons/yr produced now from oil. $20B market.
Turkey not reducing Iran oil imports. Say they haven't heard from US telling them to reduce.
Yemen struck deal with tribesmen. To repair oil pipelines.
Repsol filed court case to block Chevron from working with YPF in Argentina.
Shell's Arctic plans on hold again after containment dome failed test.
UN: world wild fish catch expected to fall 2% this year to 90M tons. All-time peak in '96 at 94M tons.
CLIMATE REPORT
Students growingly demand university endowment funds divest fossil fuel companies' stocks. Hope to bring climate change further onto national political agenda.
Senate passed defense bill that authorizes $150M for energy conservation projects and makes reforms to DOD enviro, energy policies.
House passed energy efficiency bill.
DOE: use of coal for US elgen will continue to decline over next 15 years.
Arctic ice and snow hit new record lows this year (Oct to Aug), scientists saying.
Expert says world has jumped the 2C degree "guardrail", moving to more dangerous climate.
Global emissions peaking around '20 is what is needed to stop world warming > 2C degrees.
World Bank: even if all existing pledges by nations to cut emissions are kept, there's still 20% chance world could warm 4C degrees. If we carry on as we are, temps could rise > 4C well before 2100, > 8C before 2150. (We won't be here. But our grandchildren's grandchildren will be, assuming the 2nd coming doesn't happen before. Which brings up the whole point: if the 2nd coming is near, we don't need to even bother cutting emissions or subsidizing clean energy or even discussing it. Except for the fact that pollution kills and maims now - whether from air or water or ground or from super storms, droughts, heatwaves.)
The longer we delay emissions cuts, the less difference they will make. By the time our emissions start falling, land and oceans won't be able to absorb any more carbon and will begin releasing it.
Study: methane from landfills overstated.
More companies pledging to reduce emissions.
UK called for major growth of gas-fired power plants. Green groups angry.
Japan's emissions up 3.9% since nukes shutdown.
Scientists agree on 3T metric ton CO2 emissions estimate from deforestation.
Indonesia OK'd rain forest conservation project.
Experts: climate change will lead to more malnurished children.
Years '01-'11 were all among warmest on record. '12 likely to be no exception: World Meteorological Org.
Report: wealthy nations spending 5x more - $58B in '11 - on fossil fuel subsidies than climate aid. US spent $13B in '11 on fossil subsidies, $2.5B on climate.
Happy trails, pards.
Senate passed defense bill that authorizes $150M for energy conservation projects and makes reforms to DOD enviro, energy policies.
House passed energy efficiency bill.
DOE: use of coal for US elgen will continue to decline over next 15 years.
Arctic ice and snow hit new record lows this year (Oct to Aug), scientists saying.
Expert says world has jumped the 2C degree "guardrail", moving to more dangerous climate.
Global emissions peaking around '20 is what is needed to stop world warming > 2C degrees.
World Bank: even if all existing pledges by nations to cut emissions are kept, there's still 20% chance world could warm 4C degrees. If we carry on as we are, temps could rise > 4C well before 2100, > 8C before 2150. (We won't be here. But our grandchildren's grandchildren will be, assuming the 2nd coming doesn't happen before. Which brings up the whole point: if the 2nd coming is near, we don't need to even bother cutting emissions or subsidizing clean energy or even discussing it. Except for the fact that pollution kills and maims now - whether from air or water or ground or from super storms, droughts, heatwaves.)
The longer we delay emissions cuts, the less difference they will make. By the time our emissions start falling, land and oceans won't be able to absorb any more carbon and will begin releasing it.
Study: methane from landfills overstated.
More companies pledging to reduce emissions.
UK called for major growth of gas-fired power plants. Green groups angry.
Japan's emissions up 3.9% since nukes shutdown.
Scientists agree on 3T metric ton CO2 emissions estimate from deforestation.
Indonesia OK'd rain forest conservation project.
Experts: climate change will lead to more malnurished children.
Years '01-'11 were all among warmest on record. '12 likely to be no exception: World Meteorological Org.
Report: wealthy nations spending 5x more - $58B in '11 - on fossil fuel subsidies than climate aid. US spent $13B in '11 on fossil subsidies, $2.5B on climate.
Happy trails, pards.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 19/17/3. Volume normal. WTI oil down to $86. ECB significantly lowered EU growth, inflation forecasts.
ECTY up 38 more. 3-day rise from bottom to over top line (200-day), more than doubled. AONEQ up 34. Their auction today. VSPC, ORYN up 13. AQNM, JUHL up 12. EVSI up 10. FSLR up 2, over $30, above top (200-day) line. GRPH, XSNX, NENE flat.
BLDW down 58. NGLPF down 16. CHGI down 13. IFXY down 11. NTCXF down 8.
Market up 19/17/3. Volume normal. WTI oil down to $86. ECB significantly lowered EU growth, inflation forecasts.
ECTY up 38 more. 3-day rise from bottom to over top line (200-day), more than doubled. AONEQ up 34. Their auction today. VSPC, ORYN up 13. AQNM, JUHL up 12. EVSI up 10. FSLR up 2, over $30, above top (200-day) line. GRPH, XSNX, NENE flat.
BLDW down 58. NGLPF down 16. CHGI down 13. IFXY down 11. NTCXF down 8.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market kind of weird. Dow up 82. Naz down 23. S&P up 2. Volume slightly light. WTI down under $88.
PRHL up 53. I just don't get it. But in comments, we saw comment on it recently. AEHI up 50. This one I really don't know. But it keeps moving around. RSOL up 39. A solar installer. Is it their turn? Especially with focus coming on Solar City IPO. LEXG up 23. Lithium. NGLPF up 20. Bankrupt geothermal. ECTY up 18. EV charging equipment. ZAAP up 18. EV's. WTWO up 16. ECOS, CSGH, AQNM up 14. AVAV up 13. Drones with good Q report. HYGS up 13. Fuel cells on big order. IFXY up 12. A mover. APWR up 10. Are they even in business? XDSL up 5. Nano batt tech.
BSRC down 27 on 974 shares. Yea, definitely, 482 toothpicks. Yea. MMMW down 18. CPWY down 19. I know, backtrack. XSNX, AONEQ down 16. Maybe recent optimism over XSNX was hype. ORYN down 15. Yea, they were supposed to go over $1 on the pump. Now still in the dump. NPWZ, QTMM down 13. LSCG down 12. LED's. NFEC, AMLM, VSPC down 11. GRPH down 9. The recent pump over. NENE, NTCXF down 2.
Market kind of weird. Dow up 82. Naz down 23. S&P up 2. Volume slightly light. WTI down under $88.
PRHL up 53. I just don't get it. But in comments, we saw comment on it recently. AEHI up 50. This one I really don't know. But it keeps moving around. RSOL up 39. A solar installer. Is it their turn? Especially with focus coming on Solar City IPO. LEXG up 23. Lithium. NGLPF up 20. Bankrupt geothermal. ECTY up 18. EV charging equipment. ZAAP up 18. EV's. WTWO up 16. ECOS, CSGH, AQNM up 14. AVAV up 13. Drones with good Q report. HYGS up 13. Fuel cells on big order. IFXY up 12. A mover. APWR up 10. Are they even in business? XDSL up 5. Nano batt tech.
BSRC down 27 on 974 shares. Yea, definitely, 482 toothpicks. Yea. MMMW down 18. CPWY down 19. I know, backtrack. XSNX, AONEQ down 16. Maybe recent optimism over XSNX was hype. ORYN down 15. Yea, they were supposed to go over $1 on the pump. Now still in the dump. NPWZ, QTMM down 13. LSCG down 12. LED's. NFEC, AMLM, VSPC down 11. GRPH down 9. The recent pump over. NENE, NTCXF down 2.
ARPA-E REPORT
Other ARPA-E awards from the recent $130M package:
Allylix got $4.5M to develop energy-dense terpenes for high-performance av fuels. Could increase flight range up to 20%.
U of Wash got $4M to develop microbes to convert methane into diesel. Enables small-scale conversion.
Pratt & Whitney got $3.8M to develop system to improve conversion of NG to liquid fuels. Would partially oxidize NG in turbine combustor, facilitating conversion to fuels. Could simultaneously gen el.
Colo State U $2M to develop system to rapidly intro new genetic traits into crops not now able to be engineered.
Plant Sensory Systems got $1.8M to produce enhanced energy sugar beet optimized for biofuel production.
U of Minnesota $1.8M to develop ultra-thin separation membrane to improve production of biofuels, plastics, other materials. Such a new class of membranes could reduce US energy consumption up to 3% if fully implemented.
Ceramatic $1.7M to develop small-scale membrane reactor for NG to fuels in 1 step. To capture oil well NG flaring. Global flaring burns off equivalent of 20% of annual US elgen.
Gas Tech Inst got $772K to develop process to convert NG into methanol and hydrogen. Metal oxide catalysts continuously regenerated in reactor. Ops at room temp.
Bio2Electric $601K to develop small-scale reactor for NG-to-fuel. Combines fuel cell tech with advanced catalysts. El byproduct.
MIT got $547K to develop compact reformer for NG to fuels.
U of Tenn $441K to develop transformable single cell line for rapid assessment of cell wall genes for biofuels. Focus on switchgrass.
U of Colo $380K to use nanotech to improve structure of gas-to-liquids catalysts. Would help to create small-scale reactor.
Allylix got $4.5M to develop energy-dense terpenes for high-performance av fuels. Could increase flight range up to 20%.
U of Wash got $4M to develop microbes to convert methane into diesel. Enables small-scale conversion.
Pratt & Whitney got $3.8M to develop system to improve conversion of NG to liquid fuels. Would partially oxidize NG in turbine combustor, facilitating conversion to fuels. Could simultaneously gen el.
Colo State U $2M to develop system to rapidly intro new genetic traits into crops not now able to be engineered.
Plant Sensory Systems got $1.8M to produce enhanced energy sugar beet optimized for biofuel production.
U of Minnesota $1.8M to develop ultra-thin separation membrane to improve production of biofuels, plastics, other materials. Such a new class of membranes could reduce US energy consumption up to 3% if fully implemented.
Ceramatic $1.7M to develop small-scale membrane reactor for NG to fuels in 1 step. To capture oil well NG flaring. Global flaring burns off equivalent of 20% of annual US elgen.
Gas Tech Inst got $772K to develop process to convert NG into methanol and hydrogen. Metal oxide catalysts continuously regenerated in reactor. Ops at room temp.
Bio2Electric $601K to develop small-scale reactor for NG-to-fuel. Combines fuel cell tech with advanced catalysts. El byproduct.
MIT got $547K to develop compact reformer for NG to fuels.
U of Tenn $441K to develop transformable single cell line for rapid assessment of cell wall genes for biofuels. Focus on switchgrass.
U of Colo $380K to use nanotech to improve structure of gas-to-liquids catalysts. Would help to create small-scale reactor.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Sasol (S Africa) plans to build 1st NG-to-fuels plant in US in Louisiana. Will be 2nd largest plant of kind in world after Shell's plant in Qatar. Cost $11-$14B. 96K bls/day capacity.
ENI (Italy) made new NG discovery offshore Mozambique. Added 6TCF to reserves. Region ranked 3rd in world of oil/NG discovered last year behind Santos Basin, Brazil and Iraqi Kurdistan.
Pollution levels in 70% of Asian cities examined exceed even most lax of several targets set by WHO.
Canada ranks worst on climate change among developed countries.
Asia-Pacific energy investments matched US for 1st time. Global Oil/NG spending expected to set records next year. N America expected to stay flat.
Norway put development of 1st planned offshore wind farm (350Mw) on hold, company citing lack of political support.
India released goal of 9Gw grid-connected solar power by '17. 8x current capacity. 1.6Gw next year.
OTHER STUFF
EPA sent final air standards for soot to White House review.
NOAA offering endangered species protection for 66 coral species affected by climate change.
Biofuels industry told EPA it's outdated emissions model overestimates GHG's associated with ethanol production.
Study: climate models overestimate CO2 absorption by plants, soils.
EPA spproved ethanol made from grain sorghum.
Ohio drillers falling short of state official's '12 well expectations.
U of IL researchers located bacterium in a garbage dump they think can breakdown cellulose and hemicellulose.
MIT has new chip with possibility to generate el from 3 sources - solar, heat and motion - simultaneously. Alternative to batts.
Brazil injunction against Chevron overturned.
Yemen military attacking tribesmen responsible for oil pipeline sabotage.
EDF (France), Europe's biggest power producer, to extend life of 2 British nuke plants 7 years. Ops till '23, at least. Advanced gas-cooled reactors.
Valero refinery accident in Tenn. 1 dead.
Some of top projects with new ARPA-E $130M: $2.6M for Yale research into use of low-temp waste heat for elgen, and difference in salt content in water streams for elgen through pressure-retarded osmosis or reverse electrodialysis. Another $2.3M to Texas A&M and eNova for waste heat projects. Metal hydride to produce flow of high-pressure H, gas compressor powered by waste heat.
Sasol (S Africa) plans to build 1st NG-to-fuels plant in US in Louisiana. Will be 2nd largest plant of kind in world after Shell's plant in Qatar. Cost $11-$14B. 96K bls/day capacity.
ENI (Italy) made new NG discovery offshore Mozambique. Added 6TCF to reserves. Region ranked 3rd in world of oil/NG discovered last year behind Santos Basin, Brazil and Iraqi Kurdistan.
Pollution levels in 70% of Asian cities examined exceed even most lax of several targets set by WHO.
Canada ranks worst on climate change among developed countries.
Asia-Pacific energy investments matched US for 1st time. Global Oil/NG spending expected to set records next year. N America expected to stay flat.
Norway put development of 1st planned offshore wind farm (350Mw) on hold, company citing lack of political support.
India released goal of 9Gw grid-connected solar power by '17. 8x current capacity. 1.6Gw next year.
OTHER STUFF
EPA sent final air standards for soot to White House review.
NOAA offering endangered species protection for 66 coral species affected by climate change.
Biofuels industry told EPA it's outdated emissions model overestimates GHG's associated with ethanol production.
Study: climate models overestimate CO2 absorption by plants, soils.
EPA spproved ethanol made from grain sorghum.
Ohio drillers falling short of state official's '12 well expectations.
U of IL researchers located bacterium in a garbage dump they think can breakdown cellulose and hemicellulose.
MIT has new chip with possibility to generate el from 3 sources - solar, heat and motion - simultaneously. Alternative to batts.
Brazil injunction against Chevron overturned.
Yemen military attacking tribesmen responsible for oil pipeline sabotage.
EDF (France), Europe's biggest power producer, to extend life of 2 British nuke plants 7 years. Ops till '23, at least. Advanced gas-cooled reactors.
Valero refinery accident in Tenn. 1 dead.
Some of top projects with new ARPA-E $130M: $2.6M for Yale research into use of low-temp waste heat for elgen, and difference in salt content in water streams for elgen through pressure-retarded osmosis or reverse electrodialysis. Another $2.3M to Texas A&M and eNova for waste heat projects. Metal hydride to produce flow of high-pressure H, gas compressor powered by waste heat.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 15/32/6. Volume light. Oil steady under $89. 118K private sector jobs added in Nov: ADP.
WTWO up 25. ZAAP, MKTY up 24. ECOS up 22. RSOL up 20. AVAV up 14 after reporting. HYGS up 9 on large order. NTCXF flat.
QTMM down 13. ORYN, PSPW down 11. GRPH down 10. XSNX down 6. NENE down 1.
Market down 15/32/6. Volume light. Oil steady under $89. 118K private sector jobs added in Nov: ADP.
WTWO up 25. ZAAP, MKTY up 24. ECOS up 22. RSOL up 20. AVAV up 14 after reporting. HYGS up 9 on large order. NTCXF flat.
QTMM down 13. ORYN, PSPW down 11. GRPH down 10. XSNX down 6. NENE down 1.
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