(stock #'s in %)
Market down 49/0/3. Volume got a little heavy. Oil I forgot.
AEHI up 73. PPRW up 59. CSOL up 44 more. GERS up 28. EVSI up 22. ZNNMF turned back up, up 16. BIOF, NGLPF up 13. AQNM, CRGE, INIS up 12. BFRE, WTWO up 11. ABAT up 9.
CPWY down 34. CSKH down 20. CERP, SATCQ down 18. EFOI down 17. ECOS down 16. AONEQ, JUHL down 15. LEXG down 14. AMEL, LMRMF down 12. BSRC down 11. XSNX down 9. NTCXF down 2. NENE down 1.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
STUFF
US GAO says govt officials in charge of inspecting pipelines should be required to provide necessary data so that monitors can help improve response times. Automated valves would permit NG comps to turn off flow within minutes of incident.
Intense floods continue in Australia.
Project helping Candian farmers reduce fertilizer-related emissions.
New NG-fired power plant planned in S TX.
NY officials dismissing earthquake threat from shale gas drilling, fracking as they develop state rules. Seismologist says that's a bad idea.
OH Supreme Court ruled drilling permits can't be appealed.
OH may accept solidified drilling waste at landfills.
Construction done on DONG Energy's 2 6Mw Siemens direct-drive wind turbines offshore England. Project expected to start elgen in spring. 1st offshore test. 2 prototypes onshore in Denmark. Siemens contract to deliver 300 6Mw turbines to DONG '14-'17.
Greece installed over 900Mw of PV solar in '12. Total cap over 1.5Gw. Solar association says practically every bank in Greece now offers up to 100% financing for residential installs.
13.1Gw wind power installed in US in '12. Up 28%. ~60Gw total cap.
Blue Sun Energy (MO) has new deals with ARA, Chevron Lummis Global and expects to produce biofuels for military before year end.
Valero idled 3 of its 10 ethanol plants in Q4. High ethanol inventories, high corn prices. 34 plants in US idle as of Monday.
Brazil's ETH Bioenergia teaming with Denmark's Inbicon to R&D cellulosic ethanol. Results expected in '15. ETH investing $200M thru '16 with various partners to bring down production costs for cellulosic ethanol.
Flax Energy (Canada) set to receive approval for flax biodiesel soon. 1st in world. Their plant processes 46 tons flaxseed/day.
Caritas (Swiss), Green Fuels (UK) installed 3K liter/day used cooking oil biodiesel facility in Bali. Now oil disposed of in rivers or cleaned with chems for cooking.
Cline Shale play in W TX Permian Basin could dwarf all others being drilled in US. Marathon Oil, Devon, Chesapeake on it. Est. reserves 30B bls, 10x Eagle Ford.
Pakistani energy minister embezzled $850M, arrested in Abu Dhabi.
NRC proposal would add bigger guns, more guards at PA nuke plant to protect storage.
IKEA plugged in S FL rooftop solar PV system. Largest solar install in S FL.
Brazil wind developer Bioenergy to issue $125M of inflation-linked bonds to finance 380Mw of projects.
Clean/renewable energy capacity in US almost doubled '09-'12. Reduced CO2 emissions in '12 to lowest since '94. 85.7Gw total clean/ren cap. CO2 emissions down 13% from '07 high of 6.02 gigatons. US energy consumption fell 6.4% '07-'12.
First Solar (FSLR) bought 50Mw solar project in NM. Completion next year. El Paso Power to buy power.
Court maintaining freeze on Chevron's Argentina assets. Chev also may pay record $1M fine for Cal refinery fire.
MN Power switching to NG.
Oil spill creating 1K-barge traffic jam on Mississippi.
Sacramento announced new program to help finance energy saving upgrades for bldgs. No upfront costs for owners. Payback through property tax bills (PACE). Program to open with $22M.
Intense floods continue in Australia.
Project helping Candian farmers reduce fertilizer-related emissions.
New NG-fired power plant planned in S TX.
NY officials dismissing earthquake threat from shale gas drilling, fracking as they develop state rules. Seismologist says that's a bad idea.
OH Supreme Court ruled drilling permits can't be appealed.
OH may accept solidified drilling waste at landfills.
Construction done on DONG Energy's 2 6Mw Siemens direct-drive wind turbines offshore England. Project expected to start elgen in spring. 1st offshore test. 2 prototypes onshore in Denmark. Siemens contract to deliver 300 6Mw turbines to DONG '14-'17.
Greece installed over 900Mw of PV solar in '12. Total cap over 1.5Gw. Solar association says practically every bank in Greece now offers up to 100% financing for residential installs.
13.1Gw wind power installed in US in '12. Up 28%. ~60Gw total cap.
Blue Sun Energy (MO) has new deals with ARA, Chevron Lummis Global and expects to produce biofuels for military before year end.
Valero idled 3 of its 10 ethanol plants in Q4. High ethanol inventories, high corn prices. 34 plants in US idle as of Monday.
Brazil's ETH Bioenergia teaming with Denmark's Inbicon to R&D cellulosic ethanol. Results expected in '15. ETH investing $200M thru '16 with various partners to bring down production costs for cellulosic ethanol.
Flax Energy (Canada) set to receive approval for flax biodiesel soon. 1st in world. Their plant processes 46 tons flaxseed/day.
Caritas (Swiss), Green Fuels (UK) installed 3K liter/day used cooking oil biodiesel facility in Bali. Now oil disposed of in rivers or cleaned with chems for cooking.
Cline Shale play in W TX Permian Basin could dwarf all others being drilled in US. Marathon Oil, Devon, Chesapeake on it. Est. reserves 30B bls, 10x Eagle Ford.
Pakistani energy minister embezzled $850M, arrested in Abu Dhabi.
NRC proposal would add bigger guns, more guards at PA nuke plant to protect storage.
IKEA plugged in S FL rooftop solar PV system. Largest solar install in S FL.
Brazil wind developer Bioenergy to issue $125M of inflation-linked bonds to finance 380Mw of projects.
Clean/renewable energy capacity in US almost doubled '09-'12. Reduced CO2 emissions in '12 to lowest since '94. 85.7Gw total clean/ren cap. CO2 emissions down 13% from '07 high of 6.02 gigatons. US energy consumption fell 6.4% '07-'12.
First Solar (FSLR) bought 50Mw solar project in NM. Completion next year. El Paso Power to buy power.
Court maintaining freeze on Chevron's Argentina assets. Chev also may pay record $1M fine for Cal refinery fire.
MN Power switching to NG.
Oil spill creating 1K-barge traffic jam on Mississippi.
Sacramento announced new program to help finance energy saving upgrades for bldgs. No upfront costs for owners. Payback through property tax bills (PACE). Program to open with $22M.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume above normal. Oil down near $97.
CSOL up another 44. PPRW up 36. AQNM up 20. VLNCQ up 16. EVSI up 11 on project news. NTCXF up 1.
ENSL down 13. LMRMF down 12. CERP down 11. XSNX down 3 more. Double bottom?
Market flat and mixed. Volume above normal. Oil down near $97.
CSOL up another 44. PPRW up 36. AQNM up 20. VLNCQ up 16. EVSI up 11 on project news. NTCXF up 1.
ENSL down 13. LMRMF down 12. CERP down 11. XSNX down 3 more. Double bottom?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 44/11/5. Apparently the Fed came up short. Volume normal. Oil up to $98.
CSOL up 130. AQNM up 58. BOPO up 49. AMPD up 47. LEOM up 37. CGYV, PSPW up 16. LEXG up 13. BLDW, ORYN, VSPC up 11. QTWW up 10. CERP up 2. NENE up 1.
SLMU down 36. WWPW down 30. PPRW down 26. GERS, MMMW, VNDB down 25. ASIUF down 24. XSNX down 22. Buy it. Double bottom. AONEQ, ZNNMF down 21. SATCQ down 19. SOPW down 14. FNVRF down 12. WTWO down 10. NTCXF down 9.
Market down 44/11/5. Apparently the Fed came up short. Volume normal. Oil up to $98.
CSOL up 130. AQNM up 58. BOPO up 49. AMPD up 47. LEOM up 37. CGYV, PSPW up 16. LEXG up 13. BLDW, ORYN, VSPC up 11. QTWW up 10. CERP up 2. NENE up 1.
SLMU down 36. WWPW down 30. PPRW down 26. GERS, MMMW, VNDB down 25. ASIUF down 24. XSNX down 22. Buy it. Double bottom. AONEQ, ZNNMF down 21. SATCQ down 19. SOPW down 14. FNVRF down 12. WTWO down 10. NTCXF down 9.
STUFF
Judge accepted BP's $4B criminal settlement for GOM explosion/spill. Civil trial opens Feb 25.
China burned 2.3B tons of coal in '11. Their coal use approaching half of world's.
Thawing permafrost a prob for massive maze of Russian oil/gas pipelines in Siberia, other far north climes. They can bend some. To a point.
Report: billions needed to safeguard oil/gas facilities from attacks. 7 reported dead in Tanzania pipeline riots.
Report: "paradigm shift" needed in fed, state oversight of oil/gas industry.
Over 450Mw grid-connected PV solar expected to be installed in Latin Am, Carib this year. 100Mw last year. Over 8.6Gw large-scale solar projects announced in past year for region. Annual installs should exceed 5.7Gw by '17. Cumulative grid-solar cap to reach 13Gw by then. Most of '13 installs to be in Mex, Chile. Chile has 6Gw in pipeline. 10.8Mw operating now, 22Mw in construction. Over 2Gw proposed in Brazil.
US Ex-Im Bank backing 500Kw rooftop solar project in Mex. $780K 10-yr loan guarantee. Suniva modules.
Nordex (Germany) to supply 21 turbines for 50Mw wind project in Uruguay.
Jamaica taking bids for 115Mw of clean energy cap.
Brazil bank to lend $734M for wind farms this year.
Plans for BP to begin drilling in Libya on hold after Algeria attack.
White Energy shut down TX ethanol plant because of drought, high corn prices. Restart maybe after corn harvest.
Ford, Renault-Nissan, Daimler to work together to accel development, commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Intend to launch "afFORDable mass market FCV's by '17. Ford expecting surge in hybrid sales.
Borders and Southern Petrol (Brit) says Falkland reserve of gas condensate commercially, technically viable. Liquid form of gas trades at premium to NG. $1.6-3.8B more needed to appraise drilling before production start probably in '17. (No close market. Surely Argentina wouldn't buy it.)
Dubai, China partnering up to explore opportunities in energy, el, water projects.
"HERO" Solar (FL) signed interconnect agreement with Progress Energy for 70Mw solar farm in FL. Now they need tax equity partner or comp to get it built. County set aside $350K econ dev grant for it.
Salina Kansas to install $3.1M of LED street lights. Johnson Controls lights. Expecting to save at least $3.4M over 30 yrs.
Wind, solar groups dropped out of American Legislative Exchange Council, citing ALEC efforts to wipe out state-level clean energy programs.
Dutch court ruled Shell must pay Nigeria pollution damage. No dollar figure yet. Shell acquitted on 4 of 5 charges.
Study: irrigation may affect Calif weather.
France to require offices, shops to turn off lights at night starting July 1. (Why not July 14?) Christmas season exception.
Alstom (FR) paid under $79M cash to Rolls Royce for Tidal Generation. Less than 1/2 DCNS paid for Open Hydro Group. Alstom gets 1Mw turbine at Euro Marine Energy Center in Scotland. They also bought 40% of AWS Ocean Energy in '11 and working with UK utility SSE to use wave power systems at 200Mw project offshore Scotland.
AEG Power Solutions got 240Mw order for inverters, transformers, monitoring systems from Eastern Europe. 9 PV solar plants to be built this year.
Study: if major oils meet intl climate goals they would lose up to 60% of stock market value. "Unburned reserves", tho, could be used for plastics and other products.
Honeywell, Opower intro'd tech targeting homeowners to join energy efficiency, demand response programs offered by utilities. Cloud-connected thermostat with web-based tools. Trial program with PG&E. Wi-fi connections. Honeywell has 2M connected thermostats in US, Can.
JA Solar (JASO) completed delivery of 9.5Mw of modules to VW plant in Tenn. 33 acre solar park. Largest solar install in TN.
Yingli (YGE) 1st Chinese comp, 1st PV solar maker to join WWF Climate Savers program. Pledged by '16 at least 4% of their el use will be clean. Really. What a stretch.
US beef herd at lowest level in 60 yrs.
China burned 2.3B tons of coal in '11. Their coal use approaching half of world's.
Thawing permafrost a prob for massive maze of Russian oil/gas pipelines in Siberia, other far north climes. They can bend some. To a point.
Report: billions needed to safeguard oil/gas facilities from attacks. 7 reported dead in Tanzania pipeline riots.
Report: "paradigm shift" needed in fed, state oversight of oil/gas industry.
Over 450Mw grid-connected PV solar expected to be installed in Latin Am, Carib this year. 100Mw last year. Over 8.6Gw large-scale solar projects announced in past year for region. Annual installs should exceed 5.7Gw by '17. Cumulative grid-solar cap to reach 13Gw by then. Most of '13 installs to be in Mex, Chile. Chile has 6Gw in pipeline. 10.8Mw operating now, 22Mw in construction. Over 2Gw proposed in Brazil.
US Ex-Im Bank backing 500Kw rooftop solar project in Mex. $780K 10-yr loan guarantee. Suniva modules.
Nordex (Germany) to supply 21 turbines for 50Mw wind project in Uruguay.
Jamaica taking bids for 115Mw of clean energy cap.
Brazil bank to lend $734M for wind farms this year.
Plans for BP to begin drilling in Libya on hold after Algeria attack.
White Energy shut down TX ethanol plant because of drought, high corn prices. Restart maybe after corn harvest.
Ford, Renault-Nissan, Daimler to work together to accel development, commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Intend to launch "afFORDable mass market FCV's by '17. Ford expecting surge in hybrid sales.
Borders and Southern Petrol (Brit) says Falkland reserve of gas condensate commercially, technically viable. Liquid form of gas trades at premium to NG. $1.6-3.8B more needed to appraise drilling before production start probably in '17. (No close market. Surely Argentina wouldn't buy it.)
Dubai, China partnering up to explore opportunities in energy, el, water projects.
"HERO" Solar (FL) signed interconnect agreement with Progress Energy for 70Mw solar farm in FL. Now they need tax equity partner or comp to get it built. County set aside $350K econ dev grant for it.
Salina Kansas to install $3.1M of LED street lights. Johnson Controls lights. Expecting to save at least $3.4M over 30 yrs.
Wind, solar groups dropped out of American Legislative Exchange Council, citing ALEC efforts to wipe out state-level clean energy programs.
Dutch court ruled Shell must pay Nigeria pollution damage. No dollar figure yet. Shell acquitted on 4 of 5 charges.
Study: irrigation may affect Calif weather.
France to require offices, shops to turn off lights at night starting July 1. (Why not July 14?) Christmas season exception.
Alstom (FR) paid under $79M cash to Rolls Royce for Tidal Generation. Less than 1/2 DCNS paid for Open Hydro Group. Alstom gets 1Mw turbine at Euro Marine Energy Center in Scotland. They also bought 40% of AWS Ocean Energy in '11 and working with UK utility SSE to use wave power systems at 200Mw project offshore Scotland.
AEG Power Solutions got 240Mw order for inverters, transformers, monitoring systems from Eastern Europe. 9 PV solar plants to be built this year.
Study: if major oils meet intl climate goals they would lose up to 60% of stock market value. "Unburned reserves", tho, could be used for plastics and other products.
Honeywell, Opower intro'd tech targeting homeowners to join energy efficiency, demand response programs offered by utilities. Cloud-connected thermostat with web-based tools. Trial program with PG&E. Wi-fi connections. Honeywell has 2M connected thermostats in US, Can.
JA Solar (JASO) completed delivery of 9.5Mw of modules to VW plant in Tenn. 33 acre solar park. Largest solar install in TN.
Yingli (YGE) 1st Chinese comp, 1st PV solar maker to join WWF Climate Savers program. Pledged by '16 at least 4% of their el use will be clean. Really. What a stretch.
US beef herd at lowest level in 60 yrs.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 13/0/2. Volume normal. Oil rising toward $98. US 4Q GDP down .1%. Deep defense cuts. '12 was up 2.2%, up from '11's 1.8%.
CSOL up 120. CGYV up 58. PSPW up 16. LEOM up 15. EVSI up 14.
VNDB down 25. AONEQ down 22. ZNNMF down 17. ENSL down 15. SOPW down 14. APWR down 12. WTWO down 10. NTCXF, XSNX down 4.
Market down 13/0/2. Volume normal. Oil rising toward $98. US 4Q GDP down .1%. Deep defense cuts. '12 was up 2.2%, up from '11's 1.8%.
CSOL up 120. CGYV up 58. PSPW up 16. LEOM up 15. EVSI up 14.
VNDB down 25. AONEQ down 22. ZNNMF down 17. ENSL down 15. SOPW down 14. APWR down 12. WTWO down 10. NTCXF, XSNX down 4.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 72 Dow, Zero Naz. Volume a little bit bizzy. Fed wait. Wait for what. Euro 14-month high v. dollar. Currency war coming? Musk offering helping hand to Boeing.
ZNNMF up 84. AMPD up 40. BLQN up 37. ECTY, WWPW, ENSL up 25. IFXY up 24. ASIUF up 23. BSRC up 18. GEVO up 17. EFOI up 15. RVLT up 15. LTBR up 14. NPWZ up 13. GRPH, MKTY up 12. SRWRF, VLNCQ up 10. XSNX up 8.
CGYV down 36. TRKP down 24. BLDW down 22. CABN down 19. Buy it on news. CRCL down 13. FNVRF, LEXG, CERP down 11. Buy CERP. (I own CERP). ASTI down 5. NTCXF down 2.
Market up 72 Dow, Zero Naz. Volume a little bit bizzy. Fed wait. Wait for what. Euro 14-month high v. dollar. Currency war coming? Musk offering helping hand to Boeing.
ZNNMF up 84. AMPD up 40. BLQN up 37. ECTY, WWPW, ENSL up 25. IFXY up 24. ASIUF up 23. BSRC up 18. GEVO up 17. EFOI up 15. RVLT up 15. LTBR up 14. NPWZ up 13. GRPH, MKTY up 12. SRWRF, VLNCQ up 10. XSNX up 8.
CGYV down 36. TRKP down 24. BLDW down 22. CABN down 19. Buy it on news. CRCL down 13. FNVRF, LEXG, CERP down 11. Buy CERP. (I own CERP). ASTI down 5. NTCXF down 2.
STUFF
Mac and cheese veggy pancakes. Think about it, pards. With soft boiled egg on top.
Smog persists in Beijing despite factory shutdowns, car removals.
Iran accusing BP of fouling Caspian.
"Charities" funneling millions to climate change denial.
Fed appeals court overturned EPA rule mandating refiners to generate or buy cellulosic biofuels. EPA set goal of 8.65M gal for '12. US production was 20K. That was exported to Brazil. EPA's '13 goal late in coming. 32 comps building or have built cellulosic ethanol plants in US. Projecting at least 308M gal capacity by '16.
Oak Ridge study (Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuke Future - co-chaired by DOE's Chu) determined if and when US ever decides to pursue tech to recycle nuke waste, it would take 20 yrs to develop. They suggest bury 98% of current stockpile and forget about it. 68 metric tons. 2% can be used for research into recycling, storage tech. Helen Caldicott Foundation: recycling is reprocessing is worst polluter of air and sea, direct conduit to proliferation, ups ante for reactor accident danger (MOX fuel has plutonium in it).
Scotland set goal to cut power industry emissions over 80% by '30. 50 grams CO2/Kwh. Criticized UK for not setting same goal. UK withholding until '16. Scots aiming to get all E from clean/ren by '20. They were 27% in '11. UK targeting 30%, 12% now.
US fed approved A123 sale to China.
Japan to better than double budget for clean E in FY start April 1 to $1B. $1B. 1st cut in total govt budget in 7 yrs.
Furukawa El (Japan) record volts through superconducting cable. 30 meter cable. 275Kv. (Where is US? AMSC?)
Chernobyl ('86) perhaps real cause of USSR collapse. Gorby agrees. But there was Reagan/Thatcher/Pope. Poland's Walesa. Afghanistan. But Chernobyl made citizens aware of the system's woeful ineptitude and lying about it compared to West. And the world changed.
USAID signed agreement with Georgia to help spur private development of hydropower projects by giving producers easier means of selling power to Turkey, other regional marts. Dollars not reported.
Smakraft (Norway) plans 6 hydro plants this yr for $49M. Total cap 25Mw. Norway '10 elgen ~95% hydro. Norway, Sweden common green certificate market last year to spur clean E.
Nevada Geothermal (NGLPF) seeks buyers, partners for 4 remaining geothermal power projects. Vancouver-based comp got $98.5M DOE loan guarantee in '10. Now name change to Alternative Earth Resources. No profit for at least 10 yrs.
JP Morgan bought interests in 8 Ormat geotherm plants in Cal and NV for $35.7M. Plans to pay $8.7M more for 25% of value of production tax creds for those plants through '16. JP invested $24.9M in 4 Ormat plants in '11.
Centrotherm Photovoltaics (German solar PV cell/panel maker) bankruptcy plan approved. 1 share for 5. May save 1K jobs.
Next Era Energy to add 900Mw of solar contracts by '17. Sees '13 being "down" year for wind power.
Study: Cal wind turbines kill fewer birds.
Exelon announced launch of Constellation Peak Response. Allows commercial, industrial, el supply customers to reduce future capacity, transmission costs by lowering el use during peak demand.
Guardian Energy bought BioEnergy's 60M gal/y ethanol plant in MN for $55M. Online in '07. 21M bu of corn/y. Lost $3M 1st 9 mo of '12.
Global Partners buying crude oil and ethanol plant in OR for $95M. 200K bl storage. Largest eth plant on west coast.
U of Leuven (Belgium) researchers show it would take 30 yrs to repay carbon debt from jatropha production on arid or semiarid land if yield reached 9-14 tons of seeds/hectare/yr.
Australia comp planning country's 1st ethanol plant to use forestry waste feedstock. $100M est. cost. Suppliers to get $75/ton of green forestry waste. Pilot plant already operating.
Biox resuming production at Ontario biodiesel plant. Suspended production in Oct. from lack of demand. 25% demand increase seen for '13 to 1.28B gal plus reinstatement of biodiesel blending credit.
German ethanol production from sugarbeet up 54% in '12. 253K metric tons from 2.7M tons of beets. Overall ethanol production up 7.4% to 613K tons. Increased demand for E10.
Argentina suspended complaint to WTO against Spain after Spain dropped biodies trade barrier.
EC recently proposed duties on imported US ethanol. Growth Energy, RFA joint answer: legally vulnerable on numerous grounds. Flies in face of over 30 yrs of consistent EC practice.
SG Biofuels (US), backed by Airbus and others, seeking to reduce costs, boost yields in jatropha biofuel.
Study backed by oil industry finds E15 damages auto (truck?) systems.
Russia says Ukraine owes $7B for NG not used in '12. Ukraine says "nuh uh."
Shell announced landing deal with Kinder Morgan to export LNG from Georgia. Facility still in construction. Only facility in region with permits to export. 500MCF of NG/d to countries with free trade agreements with US.
Saud prince assured us that Saud Arabia will maintain current crude export levels through '30.
Over 1/2 of coal power projects planned in Germany in '06 now abandoned. Coal plant coming online in '15 will never make money over 40-year life.
US's National Marine Fisheries Service (did you ever hear of them before?) proposal will allow US Navy to kill, injure or disrupt behavior for over 30M marine mammals over 5 yrs beginning Jan '14. Thursday's Fed Register. (What the FRACKING HELL?!)
EU stopped short of ban on bee-threatening insecticides.
Smog persists in Beijing despite factory shutdowns, car removals.
Iran accusing BP of fouling Caspian.
"Charities" funneling millions to climate change denial.
Fed appeals court overturned EPA rule mandating refiners to generate or buy cellulosic biofuels. EPA set goal of 8.65M gal for '12. US production was 20K. That was exported to Brazil. EPA's '13 goal late in coming. 32 comps building or have built cellulosic ethanol plants in US. Projecting at least 308M gal capacity by '16.
Oak Ridge study (Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuke Future - co-chaired by DOE's Chu) determined if and when US ever decides to pursue tech to recycle nuke waste, it would take 20 yrs to develop. They suggest bury 98% of current stockpile and forget about it. 68 metric tons. 2% can be used for research into recycling, storage tech. Helen Caldicott Foundation: recycling is reprocessing is worst polluter of air and sea, direct conduit to proliferation, ups ante for reactor accident danger (MOX fuel has plutonium in it).
Scotland set goal to cut power industry emissions over 80% by '30. 50 grams CO2/Kwh. Criticized UK for not setting same goal. UK withholding until '16. Scots aiming to get all E from clean/ren by '20. They were 27% in '11. UK targeting 30%, 12% now.
US fed approved A123 sale to China.
Japan to better than double budget for clean E in FY start April 1 to $1B. $1B. 1st cut in total govt budget in 7 yrs.
Furukawa El (Japan) record volts through superconducting cable. 30 meter cable. 275Kv. (Where is US? AMSC?)
Chernobyl ('86) perhaps real cause of USSR collapse. Gorby agrees. But there was Reagan/Thatcher/Pope. Poland's Walesa. Afghanistan. But Chernobyl made citizens aware of the system's woeful ineptitude and lying about it compared to West. And the world changed.
USAID signed agreement with Georgia to help spur private development of hydropower projects by giving producers easier means of selling power to Turkey, other regional marts. Dollars not reported.
Smakraft (Norway) plans 6 hydro plants this yr for $49M. Total cap 25Mw. Norway '10 elgen ~95% hydro. Norway, Sweden common green certificate market last year to spur clean E.
Nevada Geothermal (NGLPF) seeks buyers, partners for 4 remaining geothermal power projects. Vancouver-based comp got $98.5M DOE loan guarantee in '10. Now name change to Alternative Earth Resources. No profit for at least 10 yrs.
JP Morgan bought interests in 8 Ormat geotherm plants in Cal and NV for $35.7M. Plans to pay $8.7M more for 25% of value of production tax creds for those plants through '16. JP invested $24.9M in 4 Ormat plants in '11.
Centrotherm Photovoltaics (German solar PV cell/panel maker) bankruptcy plan approved. 1 share for 5. May save 1K jobs.
Next Era Energy to add 900Mw of solar contracts by '17. Sees '13 being "down" year for wind power.
Study: Cal wind turbines kill fewer birds.
Exelon announced launch of Constellation Peak Response. Allows commercial, industrial, el supply customers to reduce future capacity, transmission costs by lowering el use during peak demand.
Guardian Energy bought BioEnergy's 60M gal/y ethanol plant in MN for $55M. Online in '07. 21M bu of corn/y. Lost $3M 1st 9 mo of '12.
Global Partners buying crude oil and ethanol plant in OR for $95M. 200K bl storage. Largest eth plant on west coast.
U of Leuven (Belgium) researchers show it would take 30 yrs to repay carbon debt from jatropha production on arid or semiarid land if yield reached 9-14 tons of seeds/hectare/yr.
Australia comp planning country's 1st ethanol plant to use forestry waste feedstock. $100M est. cost. Suppliers to get $75/ton of green forestry waste. Pilot plant already operating.
Biox resuming production at Ontario biodiesel plant. Suspended production in Oct. from lack of demand. 25% demand increase seen for '13 to 1.28B gal plus reinstatement of biodiesel blending credit.
German ethanol production from sugarbeet up 54% in '12. 253K metric tons from 2.7M tons of beets. Overall ethanol production up 7.4% to 613K tons. Increased demand for E10.
Argentina suspended complaint to WTO against Spain after Spain dropped biodies trade barrier.
EC recently proposed duties on imported US ethanol. Growth Energy, RFA joint answer: legally vulnerable on numerous grounds. Flies in face of over 30 yrs of consistent EC practice.
SG Biofuels (US), backed by Airbus and others, seeking to reduce costs, boost yields in jatropha biofuel.
Study backed by oil industry finds E15 damages auto (truck?) systems.
Russia says Ukraine owes $7B for NG not used in '12. Ukraine says "nuh uh."
Shell announced landing deal with Kinder Morgan to export LNG from Georgia. Facility still in construction. Only facility in region with permits to export. 500MCF of NG/d to countries with free trade agreements with US.
Saud prince assured us that Saud Arabia will maintain current crude export levels through '30.
Over 1/2 of coal power projects planned in Germany in '06 now abandoned. Coal plant coming online in '15 will never make money over 40-year life.
US's National Marine Fisheries Service (did you ever hear of them before?) proposal will allow US Navy to kill, injure or disrupt behavior for over 30M marine mammals over 5 yrs beginning Jan '14. Thursday's Fed Register. (What the FRACKING HELL?!)
EU stopped short of ban on bee-threatening insecticides.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed, Dow up 38. Volume a little above normal. Oil up over $97. US home prices up most in 6 years.
ZNNMF up 80. LEOM up 33. ENSL up 25. ECTY up 21, news of expansion with Sears. PSPW up 16. SRWRF up 10.
TRKP down 24. AONEQ, JUHL, QTMM down 18. WTWO down 10. CERP down 7. NENE down 2.
Market mixed, Dow up 38. Volume a little above normal. Oil up over $97. US home prices up most in 6 years.
ZNNMF up 80. LEOM up 33. ENSL up 25. ECTY up 21, news of expansion with Sears. PSPW up 16. SRWRF up 10.
TRKP down 24. AONEQ, JUHL, QTMM down 18. WTWO down 10. CERP down 7. NENE down 2.
Monday, January 28, 2013
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market stayed flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil up over $96. Fed global shock stress test for big banks. Tripling of debt to $1.7T a drag on China. (Excuse me. China is borrowing?) Islamists damaged Timbuktu library before retreat. (Gotta love that, huh? Let's destroy history. Hoowah.) Timbuktu.
CGYV up 46. APWR up 40. MMMW up 36. LMRMF up 22. GERS up 20. GRPH up 15. WTWO up 11. NTCXF up 2.
EWRL down 25. ENSL down 20. CERP down 19. AONEQ down 18. LEXG down 16. HOKU down 14. LIME down 12. CWET, WEST down 11. BOPO down 10. XSNX down 4. NENE down 1.
Market stayed flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil up over $96. Fed global shock stress test for big banks. Tripling of debt to $1.7T a drag on China. (Excuse me. China is borrowing?) Islamists damaged Timbuktu library before retreat. (Gotta love that, huh? Let's destroy history. Hoowah.) Timbuktu.
CGYV up 46. APWR up 40. MMMW up 36. LMRMF up 22. GERS up 20. GRPH up 15. WTWO up 11. NTCXF up 2.
EWRL down 25. ENSL down 20. CERP down 19. AONEQ down 18. LEXG down 16. HOKU down 14. LIME down 12. CWET, WEST down 11. BOPO down 10. XSNX down 4. NENE down 1.
STUFF
Europe offshore wind power installs up 33% - 1.1Gw - in '12. May increase 20% more this year. Siemens had 74% of installs. Suzlon's REpower 19%. Total installed cap now just under 5Gw. 8-nation goal was 5.82 through '12. 14 projects - 3.3Gw - in development. Avg farm size rose 36% to 271Mw in '12. EWEA forecasting 1.4Gw this year, 1.9Gw next.
Juhl Wind (JUHL) to install, own, op 2 wind turbines at OH Honda plant. 2Mw turbs. Project cost $8M. To provide ~10% of plant's power needs.
Ormat Nevada, JPM Capital in $44.4M tax equity partnership involving 8 geotherm plants in Cal, NV.
Trina Solar predicts UK solar installs may be over 2x this year over last. Up to 2Gw new cap. Bloomberg predicts 1.1Gw this year, up from 830Mw in '12.
Atlantic Wind & Solar approved to build 2 PV solar plants in Ecuador. Total 58.4Mw for ~$150M.
Mitsubishi plans 3 solar plants in Japan. 95Mw total gen. 77Mw unit est. to cost over $220M.
India has 30-40% food spoilage from lack of el, refrig. U of Cincinnati biz students, engineers created small solar-powered refrigerated shed. (Little things that change people's lives for the better.)
V3 Solar, new start-up, says their "spin cell" tech can gen 5x more el than conventional solar. El would cost 8 cents/Kwh v. 10-15 cents. Specialized lensing, rotating conical shape. (I assume "rotating" means sun-following. Though it says "spin cell". What would rotation do? Beware flim flam.)
Lawrence Berkeley Lab developed new tech that enables microorganisms suitable for biofuel processing using ionic liquid pretreatment. May also enable fermentation under septic conditions.
Brit official said their oil/NG reserves able to meet 70% of country's energy needs to '40. (Good news for clime change?) Est. 20B bls+ still to be drawn from N Sea. Govt to approve 28 new oil/NG offshore projects in '13. 29 approved in '12. $17.3B spent on that.
1st decline in 5 years of foreign investment in Venezuela oil industry since Chavez absent. China, Russia, India withholding credit lines/investments. Private sector investors eager to buy in, speculating on post-Chavez.
Saud oil production down to 9.3Mb/d in Dec. Iraq exports slipping. Syria, Sudan, Yemen not exporting currently. Yemen main oil pipeline blown up again. Iran down to 1Mb/d. Libya production 1.1M, not 1.4-1.6 as generally thought. Beijing seemingly stepped up imports. Deutsche says China could increase demand up to 5% this year - 468Kb/d.
BP began delivery of LNG to Israel (Egypt NG pipeline can't be counted on). Israel begins drilling their own NG offshore this year.
Australia comp says they discovered potentially huge shale oil deposit in S Austral.
16 comps awarded exploration rights for shale gas reserves in China.
Irish comp announced 530M bl oil discovery off N Ireland. Close enough to coast for onshore drilling.
Con Ed asking for $400M rate hike for '14 to help pay for $1B infra upgrades to storm-harden the system.
Med facilities in ND sinking under flood of uninsured laborers working dangerous oil production jobs.
Study: waste heat from cities a factor in weather, climate change. That's science. A lot validating the obvious.
EC wants to fine UK over energy non comply.
Origin Oil (OOIL) says algae can ease fracking chem concerns.
Williams Partners, Cabot Oil & Gas filed for route approval to build NG pipeline from PA to New England.
White House considering feasibility of multiple Arctic drilling projects.
Dow Chem ditched TX LNG export project it co-owns. They like the cheap gas.
Juhl Wind (JUHL) to install, own, op 2 wind turbines at OH Honda plant. 2Mw turbs. Project cost $8M. To provide ~10% of plant's power needs.
Ormat Nevada, JPM Capital in $44.4M tax equity partnership involving 8 geotherm plants in Cal, NV.
Trina Solar predicts UK solar installs may be over 2x this year over last. Up to 2Gw new cap. Bloomberg predicts 1.1Gw this year, up from 830Mw in '12.
Atlantic Wind & Solar approved to build 2 PV solar plants in Ecuador. Total 58.4Mw for ~$150M.
Mitsubishi plans 3 solar plants in Japan. 95Mw total gen. 77Mw unit est. to cost over $220M.
India has 30-40% food spoilage from lack of el, refrig. U of Cincinnati biz students, engineers created small solar-powered refrigerated shed. (Little things that change people's lives for the better.)
V3 Solar, new start-up, says their "spin cell" tech can gen 5x more el than conventional solar. El would cost 8 cents/Kwh v. 10-15 cents. Specialized lensing, rotating conical shape. (I assume "rotating" means sun-following. Though it says "spin cell". What would rotation do? Beware flim flam.)
Lawrence Berkeley Lab developed new tech that enables microorganisms suitable for biofuel processing using ionic liquid pretreatment. May also enable fermentation under septic conditions.
Brit official said their oil/NG reserves able to meet 70% of country's energy needs to '40. (Good news for clime change?) Est. 20B bls+ still to be drawn from N Sea. Govt to approve 28 new oil/NG offshore projects in '13. 29 approved in '12. $17.3B spent on that.
1st decline in 5 years of foreign investment in Venezuela oil industry since Chavez absent. China, Russia, India withholding credit lines/investments. Private sector investors eager to buy in, speculating on post-Chavez.
Saud oil production down to 9.3Mb/d in Dec. Iraq exports slipping. Syria, Sudan, Yemen not exporting currently. Yemen main oil pipeline blown up again. Iran down to 1Mb/d. Libya production 1.1M, not 1.4-1.6 as generally thought. Beijing seemingly stepped up imports. Deutsche says China could increase demand up to 5% this year - 468Kb/d.
BP began delivery of LNG to Israel (Egypt NG pipeline can't be counted on). Israel begins drilling their own NG offshore this year.
Australia comp says they discovered potentially huge shale oil deposit in S Austral.
16 comps awarded exploration rights for shale gas reserves in China.
Irish comp announced 530M bl oil discovery off N Ireland. Close enough to coast for onshore drilling.
Con Ed asking for $400M rate hike for '14 to help pay for $1B infra upgrades to storm-harden the system.
Med facilities in ND sinking under flood of uninsured laborers working dangerous oil production jobs.
Study: waste heat from cities a factor in weather, climate change. That's science. A lot validating the obvious.
EC wants to fine UK over energy non comply.
Origin Oil (OOIL) says algae can ease fracking chem concerns.
Williams Partners, Cabot Oil & Gas filed for route approval to build NG pipeline from PA to New England.
White House considering feasibility of multiple Arctic drilling projects.
Dow Chem ditched TX LNG export project it co-owns. They like the cheap gas.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil under $96. Algeria pipeline explosion. US durable goods orders up more than forecast.
AMPD up 41. NGLPF up 25. WTWO up 22. APWR up 20. GERS, RVLT up 15. CSKH up 13. GRPH up 10. XSNX up 8. NTCXF up 2.
LEXG down 22. EVSI down 19. EWRL down 18. HOKU down 14. CERP down 11. BOPO down 10. NENE down 3.
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil under $96. Algeria pipeline explosion. US durable goods orders up more than forecast.
AMPD up 41. NGLPF up 25. WTWO up 22. APWR up 20. GERS, RVLT up 15. CSKH up 13. GRPH up 10. XSNX up 8. NTCXF up 2.
LEXG down 22. EVSI down 19. EWRL down 18. HOKU down 14. CERP down 11. BOPO down 10. NENE down 3.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
STUFF
Hay. Friends and strangers out there going through NFL withdrawal. Help where you can. (I kid. Folks out there going through war, starvation or worse. Help them. And sorry for the downer.)
Moving on,
Virginia had more green building construction (office buildings, etc.)/capita last year than any other state. Only DC higher.
AZ regulators further slashed Tucson utility incentives for residential rooftop solar, eliminated incentives for commercial installs. Cut installs budget to ~$750K for '13. Residential rooftop incentives now 10 cents/w. Solar hot water to get 40 cents/Kwh. Overall Tucson El '13 budget for clean energy increase to $35.8M from '12's $30M. Reflects larger outlays for utility-scale projects coming online.
Pub Svc NM started build of 8Mw $18M PV solar plant in NM. Great numbers for solar. Comp's largest solar plant to date. Sept online. 1 of 4 new solar projects planned this year to add 20Mw for $45M. (1st solar build I've seen at just over $2/w.) PNM also to procure 10Mw of geothermal elgen from facility to open in '14. PNM too to provide subsidies for 11 more Mw of customer-owned solar installs.
Constellation completed 5.7Mw solar plant for Portland Gen El, OR.
Lab thin-film solar:
GE Research new record 18.3% efficient CdTe solar cell.
EMPA (Swiss) tops CIGS tech on polymer @ 20.4%.
Solar Frontier has 19.7% for its copper-indium-selenium cells. Can get to 20.3%.
Germany's Heliatek at 12% for their organic solar cells. Vacuum-deposited oligomers (already used for OLEDs.)
Module production translates to avg. 10-20% efficiency loss from lab cell on all techs.
Soitec CPV module San Diego manufacturing plant started up last month. "Concentrix" modules. 140Mw of 280Mw plant capacity operational. 300Mw of contracts. $150M invested in plant so far. CPV tech uses optics to concentrate sunlight on highly-efficient PV cells. Best in strongest sun. Triple-junction cells. Fresnel lenses. Captures, concentrates sunlight 500x before reaching cells (~30% efficient). Soitec has 6 factories around world.
EDF (FR) subsid in talks on $100M stake in 40Mw solar power project in Israel.
Iberdrola (SP) added $700M worth of wind power in US by end of '12. 3 farms. 189Mw, 28Mw, 48Mw. (More costly per watt than that PNM solar. If all the figures are correct.)
Duke completed 36Mw batt storage system at 153Mw TX wind farm. $22M DOE grant match from stimulus.
EDF (FR) Canada subsid turned on 2 150Mw wind farms in Quebec. EDF will have built 1Gw of wind power in the province by '16. REpower 2Mw turbines. Total investment ~$700M.
To keep in mind: if NG were oil, it'd be $25/bl at present prices. (But, NG loses ~25% of its energy in conversion to LNG.)
World should know by mid-year if Higgs Boson was found or not at CERN.
Onward, upward and happy trails, pards.
Moving on,
Virginia had more green building construction (office buildings, etc.)/capita last year than any other state. Only DC higher.
AZ regulators further slashed Tucson utility incentives for residential rooftop solar, eliminated incentives for commercial installs. Cut installs budget to ~$750K for '13. Residential rooftop incentives now 10 cents/w. Solar hot water to get 40 cents/Kwh. Overall Tucson El '13 budget for clean energy increase to $35.8M from '12's $30M. Reflects larger outlays for utility-scale projects coming online.
Pub Svc NM started build of 8Mw $18M PV solar plant in NM. Great numbers for solar. Comp's largest solar plant to date. Sept online. 1 of 4 new solar projects planned this year to add 20Mw for $45M. (1st solar build I've seen at just over $2/w.) PNM also to procure 10Mw of geothermal elgen from facility to open in '14. PNM too to provide subsidies for 11 more Mw of customer-owned solar installs.
Constellation completed 5.7Mw solar plant for Portland Gen El, OR.
Lab thin-film solar:
GE Research new record 18.3% efficient CdTe solar cell.
EMPA (Swiss) tops CIGS tech on polymer @ 20.4%.
Solar Frontier has 19.7% for its copper-indium-selenium cells. Can get to 20.3%.
Germany's Heliatek at 12% for their organic solar cells. Vacuum-deposited oligomers (already used for OLEDs.)
Module production translates to avg. 10-20% efficiency loss from lab cell on all techs.
Soitec CPV module San Diego manufacturing plant started up last month. "Concentrix" modules. 140Mw of 280Mw plant capacity operational. 300Mw of contracts. $150M invested in plant so far. CPV tech uses optics to concentrate sunlight on highly-efficient PV cells. Best in strongest sun. Triple-junction cells. Fresnel lenses. Captures, concentrates sunlight 500x before reaching cells (~30% efficient). Soitec has 6 factories around world.
EDF (FR) subsid in talks on $100M stake in 40Mw solar power project in Israel.
Iberdrola (SP) added $700M worth of wind power in US by end of '12. 3 farms. 189Mw, 28Mw, 48Mw. (More costly per watt than that PNM solar. If all the figures are correct.)
Duke completed 36Mw batt storage system at 153Mw TX wind farm. $22M DOE grant match from stimulus.
EDF (FR) Canada subsid turned on 2 150Mw wind farms in Quebec. EDF will have built 1Gw of wind power in the province by '16. REpower 2Mw turbines. Total investment ~$700M.
To keep in mind: if NG were oil, it'd be $25/bl at present prices. (But, NG loses ~25% of its energy in conversion to LNG.)
World should know by mid-year if Higgs Boson was found or not at CERN.
Onward, upward and happy trails, pards.
Friday, January 25, 2013
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 70/19.8. Volume a tweak over normal. WTI oil dead-on $96 at Bloomberg.
AMEL up 49. CSOL up 33. SENY up 31. CERP up 28. SLMU, TMEN up 25. RVLT up 15. EWRL up 13. SATCQ up 11. EVSI, CABN, AEHI up 10. NTCXF up 5.
APWR down 37. TRKPD down 33. CGYV down 31. AMPD, SRWRF down 29. ASIUF down 27. MMMW down 26. GERS, NGLPF down 20. GRPH down 19. WTWO down 18. Released update. ENSL down 13. INIS, PTOS down 12. LEOM down 11. NENE down 7. XSNX down 6.
Market up 70/19.8. Volume a tweak over normal. WTI oil dead-on $96 at Bloomberg.
AMEL up 49. CSOL up 33. SENY up 31. CERP up 28. SLMU, TMEN up 25. RVLT up 15. EWRL up 13. SATCQ up 11. EVSI, CABN, AEHI up 10. NTCXF up 5.
APWR down 37. TRKPD down 33. CGYV down 31. AMPD, SRWRF down 29. ASIUF down 27. MMMW down 26. GERS, NGLPF down 20. GRPH down 19. WTWO down 18. Released update. ENSL down 13. INIS, PTOS down 12. LEOM down 11. NENE down 7. XSNX down 6.
STUFF
China's biggest coal producer took stakes in 3 wind power projects in Tasmania. Also potential investor in 600Mw, $2.1B offshore Tasmania wind farm. Australia's A$10B Clean Energy Finance Corp starts making loans in July. Australia Renewable Energy Agency has another A$2.2B for clean energy support. Australian unit of China's Goldwind began build on 165Mw wind farm in Austral. Looking at further projects.
Global investment in wind energy fell to $78.3B in '12, down 13% for 2nd straight yearly decline. New investment in China slowed to $27.5B, down 11% from '11.
Fraunhofer Inst (Germ) developing ways to automate manufacturing rotor blades for wind turbines. (Once more, why isn't the US working on this and leading the world on another tech?) Blades ~1/4 of total cost. 5-yr project funded by Germ govt (Euro8M). Spain project seeks to reduce cost of offshore wind turbines by ~30% by development of compact superconductor-based generator. (Remember AMSC's theft by Sinovel? When the heck does US wake up?) Aiming for 10Mw turbines. Conventional gear or direct-drive permanent magnet generators hard to scale up any further. Size and weight. Euro5.4M budget funded by EC. (Where is the US?!)
Hanwha (S Korea) (HSOL) invested $30M more in OneRoof Energy (NH) to help expansion into new markets. OneRoof a solar leasing comp. 5-25% savings for customers.
VW flipped switch on solar power at TN plant.
Yellowstone National Park's new 230Kw hydropower plant online. $80K/yr savings. $1.1M grant from stimulus part of funding. 1st hydro plant in Park since '03 (that one long gone). (Maybe I'm naive, but isn't there a super volcano load of geotherm reserve there? Can't US develop that?)
OR zoned its coast for wave energy development.
In '80's, US was largest producer of uranium in world. 43M lbs/yr. Now 4M. Megatons to Megawatts program ends this year (U from Russia). TX comp now plans to frack for U. But U is 400-800ft blw ground, where aquifers exist.
Electric motorcycle using lithium-polymer batt made trip around world for $400.
UK, Ireland signed pact on clean/renewable energy trading.
Novozymes (Denmark) says biofuel could supply 90% of its revenues by '30 if more govts promote biofuels. Now world's biggest maker of enzymes for laundry soap, 16% from biofuels, under 1% from enzymes for cellulosic ethanol. $2B/yr revenues.
PA to step up monitoring of naturally occurring radiation levels in water, rock cuttings, drilling wastes associated with oil/NG drilling in peer-reviewed year-long study. Will also assess radiation in pipes, casings, storage tanks, treatment systems and trucks used by NG industry. PA EPA already checking radioactivity in drilling wastes. So far found only "very low levels of natural radiation in landfills, streams". State auditor also to scrutinize shale drilling oversight.
Shell signed $10B contract to frack NG in Ukraine. Could be 4TCF reserves, produce 8-11 cubic meters/yr (~20% of Ukraine's use). Chevron negotiating for shale gas acreage in Ukraine, drilling in Poland.
Chesapeake Energy opened the door to EPA for fracking study.
Colo town mulls putting fracking ban on ballot.
Halliburton deployed 1st bacteria-fighting truck in Australia to clean fracking water. Intro'd 2 yrs ago in US. UV light instead of biocides.
Energy comps mounting new opposition to Cal's plan to lower fuels' avg carbon content by 10% by '20 for fuel sold in state.
Fed appeals court won't reopen challenge to DOI '09 decision to cancel 77 oil and NG leases near fed lands in Utah.
Fed appeals court refused to reconsider its decision that tossed out EPA program for air pollution that drifts across state lines.
Fed appeals court threw out EPA mandates for cellulosic standards.
BLM agreed to re-eval drilling plan for Colo Roan Plateau.
Russia surveying nuke waste sites in icy waters now opening up for drilling.
This year, majority of fish we eat will be farmed, not wild.
McDonald's switched to sustainable seafood. (Farmed?)
2 UN agencies opened global campaign to address 1.3B tons of food wasted/yr while hundreds of millions go hungry. Calling for changes in harvesting, storage, transport, processing, marketing. 1/4 of annual waste would feed the hungry.
New data show Amazon deforestation accelerating.
Global investment in wind energy fell to $78.3B in '12, down 13% for 2nd straight yearly decline. New investment in China slowed to $27.5B, down 11% from '11.
Fraunhofer Inst (Germ) developing ways to automate manufacturing rotor blades for wind turbines. (Once more, why isn't the US working on this and leading the world on another tech?) Blades ~1/4 of total cost. 5-yr project funded by Germ govt (Euro8M). Spain project seeks to reduce cost of offshore wind turbines by ~30% by development of compact superconductor-based generator. (Remember AMSC's theft by Sinovel? When the heck does US wake up?) Aiming for 10Mw turbines. Conventional gear or direct-drive permanent magnet generators hard to scale up any further. Size and weight. Euro5.4M budget funded by EC. (Where is the US?!)
Hanwha (S Korea) (HSOL) invested $30M more in OneRoof Energy (NH) to help expansion into new markets. OneRoof a solar leasing comp. 5-25% savings for customers.
VW flipped switch on solar power at TN plant.
Yellowstone National Park's new 230Kw hydropower plant online. $80K/yr savings. $1.1M grant from stimulus part of funding. 1st hydro plant in Park since '03 (that one long gone). (Maybe I'm naive, but isn't there a super volcano load of geotherm reserve there? Can't US develop that?)
OR zoned its coast for wave energy development.
In '80's, US was largest producer of uranium in world. 43M lbs/yr. Now 4M. Megatons to Megawatts program ends this year (U from Russia). TX comp now plans to frack for U. But U is 400-800ft blw ground, where aquifers exist.
Electric motorcycle using lithium-polymer batt made trip around world for $400.
UK, Ireland signed pact on clean/renewable energy trading.
Novozymes (Denmark) says biofuel could supply 90% of its revenues by '30 if more govts promote biofuels. Now world's biggest maker of enzymes for laundry soap, 16% from biofuels, under 1% from enzymes for cellulosic ethanol. $2B/yr revenues.
PA to step up monitoring of naturally occurring radiation levels in water, rock cuttings, drilling wastes associated with oil/NG drilling in peer-reviewed year-long study. Will also assess radiation in pipes, casings, storage tanks, treatment systems and trucks used by NG industry. PA EPA already checking radioactivity in drilling wastes. So far found only "very low levels of natural radiation in landfills, streams". State auditor also to scrutinize shale drilling oversight.
Shell signed $10B contract to frack NG in Ukraine. Could be 4TCF reserves, produce 8-11 cubic meters/yr (~20% of Ukraine's use). Chevron negotiating for shale gas acreage in Ukraine, drilling in Poland.
Chesapeake Energy opened the door to EPA for fracking study.
Colo town mulls putting fracking ban on ballot.
Halliburton deployed 1st bacteria-fighting truck in Australia to clean fracking water. Intro'd 2 yrs ago in US. UV light instead of biocides.
Energy comps mounting new opposition to Cal's plan to lower fuels' avg carbon content by 10% by '20 for fuel sold in state.
Fed appeals court won't reopen challenge to DOI '09 decision to cancel 77 oil and NG leases near fed lands in Utah.
Fed appeals court refused to reconsider its decision that tossed out EPA program for air pollution that drifts across state lines.
Fed appeals court threw out EPA mandates for cellulosic standards.
BLM agreed to re-eval drilling plan for Colo Roan Plateau.
Russia surveying nuke waste sites in icy waters now opening up for drilling.
This year, majority of fish we eat will be farmed, not wild.
McDonald's switched to sustainable seafood. (Farmed?)
2 UN agencies opened global campaign to address 1.3B tons of food wasted/yr while hundreds of millions go hungry. Calling for changes in harvesting, storage, transport, processing, marketing. 1/4 of annual waste would feed the hungry.
New data show Amazon deforestation accelerating.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 37/12/3. Volume a little above normal. Oil up above $96.
CSOL up 132, its spread. AMEL up 41. RVLT up another 35. CABN, AEHI up 10. CERP up 4.
MMMW down 26. APWR, VNDB down 25. SRWRF, NGLPF down 20. ENSL down 13. BLDW down 11. WTWO down 9. NENE down 3. NTCXF down 1.
Market up 37/12/3. Volume a little above normal. Oil up above $96.
CSOL up 132, its spread. AMEL up 41. RVLT up another 35. CABN, AEHI up 10. CERP up 4.
MMMW down 26. APWR, VNDB down 25. SRWRF, NGLPF down 20. ENSL down 13. BLDW down 11. WTWO down 9. NENE down 3. NTCXF down 1.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Dow up 46, S&P flat, Naz down 23. Volume a little above normal. Oil just over $96. Bernanke pressing ahead with stimulus. Senate filibuster rule changed. Bigger news than reported. US EV sales may surge 130%: Barron's. Peugeot Citroen "air hybrid" prototype gets 117mpg.
CPWY up 50. RVLT up 31. PTOS up 25. SOPW up 20. SYNM, JUHL up 19. ENSL up 15. GSFVF, APWR up 14. CWET, ASIUF up 12. AMEL up 11. LIME up 4. SCTY up 1.
ECOS down 28. IFXY down 21. WWPW down 20. TMEN, EFOI down 17. WTWO down 15. AMPD down 12. NTCXF down 11. CERP down 5. NENE flat.
Dow up 46, S&P flat, Naz down 23. Volume a little above normal. Oil just over $96. Bernanke pressing ahead with stimulus. Senate filibuster rule changed. Bigger news than reported. US EV sales may surge 130%: Barron's. Peugeot Citroen "air hybrid" prototype gets 117mpg.
CPWY up 50. RVLT up 31. PTOS up 25. SOPW up 20. SYNM, JUHL up 19. ENSL up 15. GSFVF, APWR up 14. CWET, ASIUF up 12. AMEL up 11. LIME up 4. SCTY up 1.
ECOS down 28. IFXY down 21. WWPW down 20. TMEN, EFOI down 17. WTWO down 15. AMPD down 12. NTCXF down 11. CERP down 5. NENE flat.
STUFF
Salt Lake City smogged in for most of Jan. Temp inversion cloud. People warned to stay inside, appeals for lower speed limits, industrial cutbacks.
China says they're on track to get 3Gw from city waste-to-energy plants by '15. Malaysia planning their 2nd such plant. India having equipment failures, turf wars, demands for bribes at their 6 facilities that turn waste into fuel.
LED sales grew faster than other lighting last year. Now ~3% of residential mart. 33M units shipped in '12. '16 N Am shipments expected to be ~370M. Problem for manufacturers - bulbs last 9-10 yrs, so long-term sales growth to be challenge.
Researchers linked infant brain infections to central Africa rainfall.
Study: Greenland may contribute less than Antarctica to sea level rise.
Study: warmer, wetter climate could benefit most subarctic mammals (humans be one of them?).
Idaho Power pondering coal plant closures.
Report: wholesale power in NY a lot cheaper in '12. (So, how are profits at utilities?)
WY senator wants industry to test groundwater in state before oil/NG drilling. (Common sense).
DOE: 24% of all energy used in US (including trans) used in heating/cooling, water heating in buildings. EPA says geothermal heat pumps among most efficient tech for it. Over 45% more efficient than standard options. 25-50% less el use. Of 30 states with renewable energy portfolio standards, only 2 include GHPs as "renewable" (clean). Kaiser Foundation financially supports GHP installs in Habitat for Humanity homes. Avg. energy costs for those homes under $1/day.
Ormat Tech taking $230M charge because S Cal geothermal plant production ~1/2 of expected power. 20-33Mw instead of 50. Ormat's Israeli parent also expects $30-40M charge for NV plant operating at 7Mw instead of 12.
Oil pipe from Cushing to Gulf restricted to 175Kb/d due to "unforseen constraints". Can carry 400K.
EIA predicts by '20 world crude & condensates production will hit 99.7Mb/d. '12 was 89.2M. Liquid HC production to be almost 7Mb/d in '20.
Medvedev says Gazprom may have monopoly status rescinded as long as that doesn't reduce prices in Europe or damage Russian econ.
Green Growth Action Alliance and World Econ Forum report ~$700B/yr must be invested in low (or no) carbon projects around world to prevent climate change (catastrophe) and secure development of "green" econ. Aiming to limit temp increase to 2C above pre-industrial levels.
Los Angeles moving ahead with $100M program to pay property owners for solar power.
Solar power coming to 49'ers stadium.
Clean Green Energy (Mich) secured $25M for projects for their vertical axis wind turbines. No capital costs upfront for customers.
Praj got $20M contract to build Columbia ethanol plant.
Dems formed congressional task force on climate change. "Climate change impacts turning out worse than expected and our window to act is closing." Urging admin to develop comprehensive plan as soon as possible.
RBS may lend $631M this year to clean/renewable projects. Focus on biomass. Wood chips, organic waste. 50-150Mw projects. Bulk of RBS clean/ren lending last year on wind, solar.
Exxon, Dow Chem going head-to-head over LNG exports.
Investments in smart grid tech up 7% globally in '12 to $13.9B. Driven by China - 14% more spending to $3.2B. Forecast China to spend more than US in '13. US down 16% in '12 to $4.3B. Total investments may reach $25.2B by '18. Asia, Europe to spend most. Asia was $5.6B in '12. Europe was $1.4B. UK expects to install 53M smart meters by '19.
Mitsubishi plans to get 10% share of global offshore wind power market by '17. As yet unproven tech to boost efficiency, lower costs. Siemens, Vestas have ~80% of mart now. Mitsu zero. Mitsu tech hydraulic drive train instead of mech gears. Smaller nacelles, more elgen in lower wind. Testing 1.5Mw. Developing 7Mw for UK install this year. Hyd train drive based on UK tech Mit bought in '10.
Japan refiner set up wood biomass power gen venture. 5Mw project online in '15.
Enviro Defense Fund Climate Corps program uncovered over $1B in energy savings since '08 at comps like Google, Facebook, Verizon. Each year EDF trains 100 grad students on energy efficiency, then places them in internships around US.
US biodiesel comps set record production record in '12.
GAO recommends improved data collection to avoid pipeline incidents.
Steam from PA nuke plant created snowstorm.
Utah drilling rig fire continues to burn.
Toyota, BMW teaming up on lithium-air batts.
MD gov pushing offshore wind - again. AK gov proposing more lenient rules for cruiseship waste.
ND firm bought Neb ethanol plant at auction for $22M. Only bid.
U Cal Santa Barb study says solar more efficient for cars than biofuels.
Mitsui Chems signed licensing agreement with $2B Fin comp for acrylamide tech. Raw material for wastewater treatment, shale gas recovery process. Bio-catalysts rather than copper.
China says they're on track to get 3Gw from city waste-to-energy plants by '15. Malaysia planning their 2nd such plant. India having equipment failures, turf wars, demands for bribes at their 6 facilities that turn waste into fuel.
LED sales grew faster than other lighting last year. Now ~3% of residential mart. 33M units shipped in '12. '16 N Am shipments expected to be ~370M. Problem for manufacturers - bulbs last 9-10 yrs, so long-term sales growth to be challenge.
Researchers linked infant brain infections to central Africa rainfall.
Study: Greenland may contribute less than Antarctica to sea level rise.
Study: warmer, wetter climate could benefit most subarctic mammals (humans be one of them?).
Idaho Power pondering coal plant closures.
Report: wholesale power in NY a lot cheaper in '12. (So, how are profits at utilities?)
WY senator wants industry to test groundwater in state before oil/NG drilling. (Common sense).
DOE: 24% of all energy used in US (including trans) used in heating/cooling, water heating in buildings. EPA says geothermal heat pumps among most efficient tech for it. Over 45% more efficient than standard options. 25-50% less el use. Of 30 states with renewable energy portfolio standards, only 2 include GHPs as "renewable" (clean). Kaiser Foundation financially supports GHP installs in Habitat for Humanity homes. Avg. energy costs for those homes under $1/day.
Ormat Tech taking $230M charge because S Cal geothermal plant production ~1/2 of expected power. 20-33Mw instead of 50. Ormat's Israeli parent also expects $30-40M charge for NV plant operating at 7Mw instead of 12.
Oil pipe from Cushing to Gulf restricted to 175Kb/d due to "unforseen constraints". Can carry 400K.
EIA predicts by '20 world crude & condensates production will hit 99.7Mb/d. '12 was 89.2M. Liquid HC production to be almost 7Mb/d in '20.
Medvedev says Gazprom may have monopoly status rescinded as long as that doesn't reduce prices in Europe or damage Russian econ.
Green Growth Action Alliance and World Econ Forum report ~$700B/yr must be invested in low (or no) carbon projects around world to prevent climate change (catastrophe) and secure development of "green" econ. Aiming to limit temp increase to 2C above pre-industrial levels.
Los Angeles moving ahead with $100M program to pay property owners for solar power.
Solar power coming to 49'ers stadium.
Clean Green Energy (Mich) secured $25M for projects for their vertical axis wind turbines. No capital costs upfront for customers.
Praj got $20M contract to build Columbia ethanol plant.
Dems formed congressional task force on climate change. "Climate change impacts turning out worse than expected and our window to act is closing." Urging admin to develop comprehensive plan as soon as possible.
RBS may lend $631M this year to clean/renewable projects. Focus on biomass. Wood chips, organic waste. 50-150Mw projects. Bulk of RBS clean/ren lending last year on wind, solar.
Exxon, Dow Chem going head-to-head over LNG exports.
Investments in smart grid tech up 7% globally in '12 to $13.9B. Driven by China - 14% more spending to $3.2B. Forecast China to spend more than US in '13. US down 16% in '12 to $4.3B. Total investments may reach $25.2B by '18. Asia, Europe to spend most. Asia was $5.6B in '12. Europe was $1.4B. UK expects to install 53M smart meters by '19.
Mitsubishi plans to get 10% share of global offshore wind power market by '17. As yet unproven tech to boost efficiency, lower costs. Siemens, Vestas have ~80% of mart now. Mitsu zero. Mitsu tech hydraulic drive train instead of mech gears. Smaller nacelles, more elgen in lower wind. Testing 1.5Mw. Developing 7Mw for UK install this year. Hyd train drive based on UK tech Mit bought in '10.
Japan refiner set up wood biomass power gen venture. 5Mw project online in '15.
Enviro Defense Fund Climate Corps program uncovered over $1B in energy savings since '08 at comps like Google, Facebook, Verizon. Each year EDF trains 100 grad students on energy efficiency, then places them in internships around US.
US biodiesel comps set record production record in '12.
GAO recommends improved data collection to avoid pipeline incidents.
Steam from PA nuke plant created snowstorm.
Utah drilling rig fire continues to burn.
Toyota, BMW teaming up on lithium-air batts.
MD gov pushing offshore wind - again. AK gov proposing more lenient rules for cruiseship waste.
ND firm bought Neb ethanol plant at auction for $22M. Only bid.
U Cal Santa Barb study says solar more efficient for cars than biofuels.
Mitsui Chems signed licensing agreement with $2B Fin comp for acrylamide tech. Raw material for wastewater treatment, shale gas recovery process. Bio-catalysts rather than copper.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Dow up 80, S&P up 5, Naz down 2. Volume a little above normal. Oil under $96. US leading indicators up .5%. China, Euro manufacturing picking up. Spain unemployment 26% (they need some help).
INIS up 21. RVLT, SOPW up 20. BLDW up 16. CERP up 11 more. XSNX up 1.
ECOS down 14. ASIUF, GERS down 12. WTWO down 7. NTCXF down 2.
Dow up 80, S&P up 5, Naz down 2. Volume a little above normal. Oil under $96. US leading indicators up .5%. China, Euro manufacturing picking up. Spain unemployment 26% (they need some help).
INIS up 21. RVLT, SOPW up 20. BLDW up 16. CERP up 11 more. XSNX up 1.
ECOS down 14. ASIUF, GERS down 12. WTWO down 7. NTCXF down 2.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 67/10/2. Volume probably normal range. WTI oil down some.
CGYV up 90. BHWX up 85. BLQN up 72. IFXY up 57. AONEQ up 54. WWPW up 42. LEDS up 24. ENSL up 23. WTWO, NPWZ up 18. CERP up 17, coming back. APWR up 16. MMMW, XDSL up 15. LEOM up 10. EFOI up 9. NENE up 6. NTCXF up 1. XSNX flat.
MGLT down 41. VLNCQ down 23. LMRMF down 22. CSGH down 20. BSRC down 19. BLDW down 17. JUHL down 14. GRPH down 10.
Market up 67/10/2. Volume probably normal range. WTI oil down some.
CGYV up 90. BHWX up 85. BLQN up 72. IFXY up 57. AONEQ up 54. WWPW up 42. LEDS up 24. ENSL up 23. WTWO, NPWZ up 18. CERP up 17, coming back. APWR up 16. MMMW, XDSL up 15. LEOM up 10. EFOI up 9. NENE up 6. NTCXF up 1. XSNX flat.
MGLT down 41. VLNCQ down 23. LMRMF down 22. CSGH down 20. BSRC down 19. BLDW down 17. JUHL down 14. GRPH down 10.
STUFF
Canadian NG production stabilized in '11. Despite decrease in drilling. Shale plays up. Exports to US declining since '08. US exports to Can up 55% same time.
By '35, mined bitumen in Can could reach just under 2Mb/d. Insitu bitumen could get to 5Mb/d.
Brit Columbia has shale gas. Horn River 78-96TCF, Liard next door. Apache Oil.
Ongoing discovery of links between Mafia and Italy's wind, solar industries.
Study: speedup of glacier melt in Andes threathens freshwater supplies in Peru, Bolivia.
Study: "chasm" between big comps, suppliers over climate risks.
Musk: "govt inaction on clime "Russian roulette".
Report: small farmers need research, investments to reduce clime impacts on food production.
UN SecGen making clime change a top priority this yr.
Study: airlines reaped profits from EU's carbon law.
EU carbon permit prices reached new low.
US State Dept: Keystone XL decision delayed to after March.
Survey: energy M&A activity seen picking up this yr.
Halliburton testing tech using fracked gas to power fracking.
Alta Devices (US) expects military aps for drones, tents, backpaks to gen 80% of revs this yr. Targeting mobile phone mart. That could gen $20B of sales through '16 for industry. Their tech gallium-arsenide thin-film solar. 28.8% efficient. (FSLR 17.3%). 2Mw pilot plant now operating. 40Mw factory scheduled online next yr. But they have to sell all that. Investors include Sumitomo, Dow Chem, GE.
Brightsource shelving 500Mw solar thermal project in S Cal desert, but proceeding with 2 similar projects further along in development. (The project bought from Solar Millenium last year.) Molten salt storage.
IKEA to double clean energy investment to $4B by '15. Still aiming for 100% clean E by '20. Now ~34%.
US fed investment tax cred for solar goes from 30% to 10% in '16. Look ahead.
Newport, OR to be site of 1st utility-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in US. Pacific Marine Energy Center. $4M from DOE last year.
China consumed 1/3 of global PV solar panel shipments in 4Q12. 2 yrs ago, China was under 10%. Global demand increased to 8.3Gw in Q4. China demand expected to fall below 20% in 1H13.
OH nuke reactor shut down after blown fuse.
Wash DC topping green bldg (LEED) rankings.
Analysts: NG cars could soon make up 20% of fleet in US.
Indy utility to spend $511M for EPA mercury emissions compliance.
Oil flowing again through N Iraq to Turkey pipeline after bomb last weekend.
S Korea started prelim concept design for nuke fusion demo reactor (K-DEMO). Collab with DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. SK already developing "K-STAR" Tokamak and contributing to ITER ($20B project in France). K-DEMO to gen 1Gw for several weeks vs. ITER goal of 500Mw for 500 seconds by late '20's.
FARC back to bombs in Columbia after 2-month ceasefire produced no deal. Blew up 2 southern oil pipes, planted bomb on top coal exporter's north railway.
BG Group possible merge or takeover candidate. Stock down 50% last 2 yrs. $60B comp. Project delays in N Sea, US, Brazil, Egypt. Reducing LNG supply to Chile.
Swiss scientists at Empa have developed CIGS thin-film solar cells on flexible polymer foils at 20.4% efficiency. Beat their '11 record of 18.7%.
Canada considering nuke reactors to power oil sands extraction.
Demand for oil supertankers down. 22% surplus next 30 days.
Anchoring offshore wind turbines with "upside-down bucket" anchors could save over 5% of estimated 90B Pounds of spending on offshore wind farms. Universal Foundation. Tests soon in N Sea.
New geoengineering study suggests sprinkling mineral dust into oceans will assuage global warming. Olvine can make oceans more alkaline, 10% more able to absord CO2. Would require coal industry level mining. And could change biology of oceans. 100 huge ships would be needed to dump the dust year around. 3B tons of olvine/y. 1/3 of CO2 saved added from mining, distribution. But more permanent solution than spraying sulphate particles into atmos.
Solon (Tucson) turned on 10Mw PV solar plant in AZ. Duke owns. UniSource E Svcs buying the power.
Swinerton Renewable E expanding their services to offer them to any solar facility in N Am. 100% employee owned.
Ontario to shut down last coal-fired plants this year. 1 year ahead of schedule. They now get 56% of elgen from nuke, 22% from hydro, 4% from clean/ren.
OH gets 82% of its elgen from coal.
FCEL got service contract for fuel cell plant in Switzerland operating since '10. 1st carbonate fuel cell installed in Switz. Uses NG.
Renewable Energy Generation got $20M loan from HSBC for 3 2Mw wind turbines from Gamesa for onshore project in England. (Looks like extra closing funds deal to me.)
Average polysilicon spot price up to $16/kg. 3rd weekly increase off all-time low. Price down ~43% past yr. Below production costs at most producers.
Swiss Re: up to $41.7B/yr losses by '30 from weather disasters. Investments in biofuels, clean E, etc could reach $3.1T/yr by then. "Strong case for clean E investments."
EV probs: thebatts. Reduced driving ranges, recharges no match for gas stations, fast charges reduce batt life, batts cost almost as much as rest of cars, short life, and resale car value depends on batt life left. Answer: KNDI. Lease batt and car. Beijing smog crisis may help.
DAVOS talk centering on how to build econs that can grow without bubbles and without gobbling up irreplacable resources.
70% of firms fear climate threat to revs. 2.4K firms surveyed.
Green Growth Alliance tasked by G20 to consider green growth. They say spend on infrastructure now. And save. Govts need to spend $130B/yr now. If well directed, it would garner $570B more/yr from private finance. GGA chaired by former Mex prez Calderon.
Ecotech Inst (Denver) has "clean jobs index". Aggregates all available clean E jobs in US. Over 3M in '12.
Ukraine bioenergy industry stalled by corruption, policy flux.
N Korea vowing to expand arsenal.
Pentagon opening combat jobs to women. They aren't as strong as men. Hello. Can be raped. Hello.
By '35, mined bitumen in Can could reach just under 2Mb/d. Insitu bitumen could get to 5Mb/d.
Brit Columbia has shale gas. Horn River 78-96TCF, Liard next door. Apache Oil.
Ongoing discovery of links between Mafia and Italy's wind, solar industries.
Study: speedup of glacier melt in Andes threathens freshwater supplies in Peru, Bolivia.
Study: "chasm" between big comps, suppliers over climate risks.
Musk: "govt inaction on clime "Russian roulette".
Report: small farmers need research, investments to reduce clime impacts on food production.
UN SecGen making clime change a top priority this yr.
Study: airlines reaped profits from EU's carbon law.
EU carbon permit prices reached new low.
US State Dept: Keystone XL decision delayed to after March.
Survey: energy M&A activity seen picking up this yr.
Halliburton testing tech using fracked gas to power fracking.
Alta Devices (US) expects military aps for drones, tents, backpaks to gen 80% of revs this yr. Targeting mobile phone mart. That could gen $20B of sales through '16 for industry. Their tech gallium-arsenide thin-film solar. 28.8% efficient. (FSLR 17.3%). 2Mw pilot plant now operating. 40Mw factory scheduled online next yr. But they have to sell all that. Investors include Sumitomo, Dow Chem, GE.
Brightsource shelving 500Mw solar thermal project in S Cal desert, but proceeding with 2 similar projects further along in development. (The project bought from Solar Millenium last year.) Molten salt storage.
IKEA to double clean energy investment to $4B by '15. Still aiming for 100% clean E by '20. Now ~34%.
US fed investment tax cred for solar goes from 30% to 10% in '16. Look ahead.
Newport, OR to be site of 1st utility-scale, grid-connected wave energy test site in US. Pacific Marine Energy Center. $4M from DOE last year.
China consumed 1/3 of global PV solar panel shipments in 4Q12. 2 yrs ago, China was under 10%. Global demand increased to 8.3Gw in Q4. China demand expected to fall below 20% in 1H13.
OH nuke reactor shut down after blown fuse.
Wash DC topping green bldg (LEED) rankings.
Analysts: NG cars could soon make up 20% of fleet in US.
Indy utility to spend $511M for EPA mercury emissions compliance.
Oil flowing again through N Iraq to Turkey pipeline after bomb last weekend.
S Korea started prelim concept design for nuke fusion demo reactor (K-DEMO). Collab with DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. SK already developing "K-STAR" Tokamak and contributing to ITER ($20B project in France). K-DEMO to gen 1Gw for several weeks vs. ITER goal of 500Mw for 500 seconds by late '20's.
FARC back to bombs in Columbia after 2-month ceasefire produced no deal. Blew up 2 southern oil pipes, planted bomb on top coal exporter's north railway.
BG Group possible merge or takeover candidate. Stock down 50% last 2 yrs. $60B comp. Project delays in N Sea, US, Brazil, Egypt. Reducing LNG supply to Chile.
Swiss scientists at Empa have developed CIGS thin-film solar cells on flexible polymer foils at 20.4% efficiency. Beat their '11 record of 18.7%.
Canada considering nuke reactors to power oil sands extraction.
Demand for oil supertankers down. 22% surplus next 30 days.
Anchoring offshore wind turbines with "upside-down bucket" anchors could save over 5% of estimated 90B Pounds of spending on offshore wind farms. Universal Foundation. Tests soon in N Sea.
New geoengineering study suggests sprinkling mineral dust into oceans will assuage global warming. Olvine can make oceans more alkaline, 10% more able to absord CO2. Would require coal industry level mining. And could change biology of oceans. 100 huge ships would be needed to dump the dust year around. 3B tons of olvine/y. 1/3 of CO2 saved added from mining, distribution. But more permanent solution than spraying sulphate particles into atmos.
Solon (Tucson) turned on 10Mw PV solar plant in AZ. Duke owns. UniSource E Svcs buying the power.
Swinerton Renewable E expanding their services to offer them to any solar facility in N Am. 100% employee owned.
Ontario to shut down last coal-fired plants this year. 1 year ahead of schedule. They now get 56% of elgen from nuke, 22% from hydro, 4% from clean/ren.
OH gets 82% of its elgen from coal.
FCEL got service contract for fuel cell plant in Switzerland operating since '10. 1st carbonate fuel cell installed in Switz. Uses NG.
Renewable Energy Generation got $20M loan from HSBC for 3 2Mw wind turbines from Gamesa for onshore project in England. (Looks like extra closing funds deal to me.)
Average polysilicon spot price up to $16/kg. 3rd weekly increase off all-time low. Price down ~43% past yr. Below production costs at most producers.
Swiss Re: up to $41.7B/yr losses by '30 from weather disasters. Investments in biofuels, clean E, etc could reach $3.1T/yr by then. "Strong case for clean E investments."
EV probs: thebatts. Reduced driving ranges, recharges no match for gas stations, fast charges reduce batt life, batts cost almost as much as rest of cars, short life, and resale car value depends on batt life left. Answer: KNDI. Lease batt and car. Beijing smog crisis may help.
DAVOS talk centering on how to build econs that can grow without bubbles and without gobbling up irreplacable resources.
70% of firms fear climate threat to revs. 2.4K firms surveyed.
Green Growth Alliance tasked by G20 to consider green growth. They say spend on infrastructure now. And save. Govts need to spend $130B/yr now. If well directed, it would garner $570B more/yr from private finance. GGA chaired by former Mex prez Calderon.
Ecotech Inst (Denver) has "clean jobs index". Aggregates all available clean E jobs in US. Over 3M in '12.
Ukraine bioenergy industry stalled by corruption, policy flux.
N Korea vowing to expand arsenal.
Pentagon opening combat jobs to women. They aren't as strong as men. Hello. Can be raped. Hello.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 47/8, S&P down 2. Never have seen that before. Volume normal. Oil over $96. IMF cut '13 global growth forecast to 3.5% from 3.6%. US bank deposits dropped most since 9/11. US home prices up 5.6% 12 months through Nov.
CERP up 37 more. Triple in 2 days. News out on new revenue today. MGLT up 28 on 1K shares. WTWO up another 27. CREE up 17 after reporting, beating estimates, new high. APWR up 16. MMMW up 15. LEDS up 13. EVSI up 11. SATCQ up 10. NTCXF up 5 more. NENE, XSNX up 3.
EFOI down 15. BSRC down 11. HOKU down 10.
Market up 47/8, S&P down 2. Never have seen that before. Volume normal. Oil over $96. IMF cut '13 global growth forecast to 3.5% from 3.6%. US bank deposits dropped most since 9/11. US home prices up 5.6% 12 months through Nov.
CERP up 37 more. Triple in 2 days. News out on new revenue today. MGLT up 28 on 1K shares. WTWO up another 27. CREE up 17 after reporting, beating estimates, new high. APWR up 16. MMMW up 15. LEDS up 13. EVSI up 11. SATCQ up 10. NTCXF up 5 more. NENE, XSNX up 3.
EFOI down 15. BSRC down 11. HOKU down 10.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 62/8/6. Volume normal. Oil up over $96. Bank of Japan doubled inflation target to 2%.
CERP up 115 on that news. WTWO up 22. BSRC up 21 on 800 shares. Give a break. Give one, get one. JUHL up 19 on 2K. NTCXF up 18. Breakout over all lines with volume. SYNM up 17. Up to 50-day lines with volume. JASO up 10. Above top (200-day) line. Slow climb out. Like FSLR, despite someone's constant sell suggestion that gets into news list. NENE up 3.
AEHI down 50. 1 day up, next day down. IFXY down 38. APWR, MKTY down 23. EWRL, PTOS down 20. AMEL down 15. PRHL, ASIUF, AMPD, AMLM down 11. SENY down 10. XSNX down 7.
Market up 62/8/6. Volume normal. Oil up over $96. Bank of Japan doubled inflation target to 2%.
CERP up 115 on that news. WTWO up 22. BSRC up 21 on 800 shares. Give a break. Give one, get one. JUHL up 19 on 2K. NTCXF up 18. Breakout over all lines with volume. SYNM up 17. Up to 50-day lines with volume. JASO up 10. Above top (200-day) line. Slow climb out. Like FSLR, despite someone's constant sell suggestion that gets into news list. NENE up 3.
AEHI down 50. 1 day up, next day down. IFXY down 38. APWR, MKTY down 23. EWRL, PTOS down 20. AMEL down 15. PRHL, ASIUF, AMPD, AMLM down 11. SENY down 10. XSNX down 7.
STUFF
Japan may cut solar feed-in tariff 12% as install costs continue to drop. Could fall to 37 yen/Kwh. Avg system costs down to 280K yen/Kwh, down 14% since Oct. Solar panel prices down to 80 cents/w from 99 cents last Jan.
Admin approved AZ plan establishing new solar energy zone. ID's thousands of acres of public land already disturbed or with low natural resource values as suitable for large-scale solar or wind development.
IRS ruling imminent on classifying solar farms as REITs. Would reduce solar development costs, reduce need for subsidies.
Belgium plans to build island to store excess offshore wind power with pumped hydro system. Belgium had over 1Gw of wind cap as of '11. ~3% of el use. Want 2.3Gw from N Sea farms alone. Their nuke power was over 1/2 of elgen as of '11. Plan to retire fleet by '25.
DCNS, French marine engineering comp, spending $173M to raise stake in Open Hydro, Irish tidal turbine maker, to 60% from 11%. Open Hydro working with EDF (France) in projects off Brittany coast.
Global LED lighting market projected to grow 32% by '20.
Study: warming could prevent soils from holding carbon.
Greenpeace warning of "climate change cliff".
Study: oil field equipment significant smog source in Colo.
Beijing proposing rules to raise fines for vehicle emissions, force more factories to shut down when smog reaches dangerous levels.
Fed appeals court sided with Sierra Club in challenge to EPA exempting some new facilities from air monitoring, emissions requirements.
Supreme Court declined to hear challenge to SO2 rule. Court of appeals ruled EPA didn't act unlawfully in new SO2 standard of 75 ppb avg'd over an hour.
Neb gov approved new Keystone XL route.
Sen Boxer: admin already has tools needed to fight global warming.
5% of Kabul homes connect to sewage systems. Most household waste flows straight into open roadside drains. (All the money US spent there, surely some could have been spent on sewage system.)
Scientists report willow trees cultivated as feedstock can yield up to 5x more biofuel if they grow diagonally or in windy conditions.
MarketsandMarkets: global biofertilizer market to be worth $10.2B by '17. '11 was ~$5B.
Brazil development bank taking 15% stake - $294M - in Graal Bio cellulosic ethanol venture and added $137M in financing. Plant online early '14. 21M gal/yr. Enzyme partnership with Novozymes. Initially, sugarcane bagasse, straw the feedstock.
Moldova Energy and Biomass Project - $19.4M program to heat public bldgs - extended to cover all of country. '15 completion. UN funds, EU provided most funds.
Oil workers around Algeria evac'd.
Global grain stocks dangerously low. '12 consumption exceeded production. 2.24T tons produced, down 75M tons - 3% - from '11. Drought in US, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Australia. Nearly half of global grains grown in China, US, India. US '12 harvest down 8%. Global stocks down to 60 days of consumption.
Admin approved AZ plan establishing new solar energy zone. ID's thousands of acres of public land already disturbed or with low natural resource values as suitable for large-scale solar or wind development.
IRS ruling imminent on classifying solar farms as REITs. Would reduce solar development costs, reduce need for subsidies.
Belgium plans to build island to store excess offshore wind power with pumped hydro system. Belgium had over 1Gw of wind cap as of '11. ~3% of el use. Want 2.3Gw from N Sea farms alone. Their nuke power was over 1/2 of elgen as of '11. Plan to retire fleet by '25.
DCNS, French marine engineering comp, spending $173M to raise stake in Open Hydro, Irish tidal turbine maker, to 60% from 11%. Open Hydro working with EDF (France) in projects off Brittany coast.
Global LED lighting market projected to grow 32% by '20.
Study: warming could prevent soils from holding carbon.
Greenpeace warning of "climate change cliff".
Study: oil field equipment significant smog source in Colo.
Beijing proposing rules to raise fines for vehicle emissions, force more factories to shut down when smog reaches dangerous levels.
Fed appeals court sided with Sierra Club in challenge to EPA exempting some new facilities from air monitoring, emissions requirements.
Supreme Court declined to hear challenge to SO2 rule. Court of appeals ruled EPA didn't act unlawfully in new SO2 standard of 75 ppb avg'd over an hour.
Neb gov approved new Keystone XL route.
Sen Boxer: admin already has tools needed to fight global warming.
5% of Kabul homes connect to sewage systems. Most household waste flows straight into open roadside drains. (All the money US spent there, surely some could have been spent on sewage system.)
Scientists report willow trees cultivated as feedstock can yield up to 5x more biofuel if they grow diagonally or in windy conditions.
MarketsandMarkets: global biofertilizer market to be worth $10.2B by '17. '11 was ~$5B.
Brazil development bank taking 15% stake - $294M - in Graal Bio cellulosic ethanol venture and added $137M in financing. Plant online early '14. 21M gal/yr. Enzyme partnership with Novozymes. Initially, sugarcane bagasse, straw the feedstock.
Moldova Energy and Biomass Project - $19.4M program to heat public bldgs - extended to cover all of country. '15 completion. UN funds, EU provided most funds.
Oil workers around Algeria evac'd.
Global grain stocks dangerously low. '12 consumption exceeded production. 2.24T tons produced, down 75M tons - 3% - from '11. Drought in US, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Australia. Nearly half of global grains grown in China, US, India. US '12 harvest down 8%. Global stocks down to 60 days of consumption.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 6/10/3. Volume normal. Oil under $96.
CERP up 47 on financial news. BLDW up 41 on volume. WTWO up 22. CSGH up 14. ENSL up 13. CBWP up 10. XSNX up 9. NTCXF up 2. NENE up 1.
ASIUF down 27. EWRL down 23. GWBU down 15. AMPD down 11.
Market down 6/10/3. Volume normal. Oil under $96.
CERP up 47 on financial news. BLDW up 41 on volume. WTWO up 22. CSGH up 14. ENSL up 13. CBWP up 10. XSNX up 9. NTCXF up 2. NENE up 1.
ASIUF down 27. EWRL down 23. GWBU down 15. AMPD down 11.
Monday, January 21, 2013
STUFF
Inauguration coverage pretty awesome. A great day for America. What's the alternative?
U of PA toxicologists organized working group with researchers from other top universities including Columbia, Johns Hopkins, UNC to investigate, analyze reports of nausea, headaches, breathing difficulties, other ills from people who live near NG drilling sites, compression stations or wastewater pits.
Inaugural wx: temp 13F warmer than '08. Is that global warming or just wx? What is mean temp of inaugs? Maybe we will find out.
EPA giving Navajo AZ coal plant 5 more years - to '23 - to install emissions control equipment. 2.2Gw plant. 39 yrs old. Kayenta coal mine feeds the plant. 1K local jobs. Placation.
Researchers found despite ravaged appearance of forests in Colo - 80-90% of canopy in many watersheds gone - streams and lakes remarkably healthy. Small trees that pine beetles left alone drastically increased their uptake of nitrate, thereby protecting watersheds.
Bill intro'd to VA General Assembly to lift moratium on U mining. Issue dividing state's southern region.
Former admin officials (Clinton's, Obama's) appealing prez suspend Shell's Arctic drilling plans.
US wind power 6% of total elgen cap at yearend. 13.2Gw installed in '12. Total now ~60Gw. Equipment prices down over 21% since '10.
New state studies across US make financial case for greater deploy of distributed solar generation and net metering. Recent NY report found PV solar delivers between 15 to 40 cent/KWh benefit to ratepayers and taxpayers. TX report found adding solar valued at over $520M. Net metering in VT up 4x since '08, solar 88%.
PV equipment spending, including thin-film, forecast to decline to 8-yr low this yr. Projected $2B. $12B in '11.
US oil demand at lowest level in 16 yrs. Goldman Sachs analyst won't be surprised to see $150/bl oil this summer. US looking for 1.2M b/d jump in oil production next 2 yrs. But new wells expensive, depletion must faster. Active US drilling rigs at 22 month low.
Oil price in '12 avg'd $112/bl. Highest year avg: IEA.
Global prices of LNG rising toward record high.
SUNY Buffalo researchers demo'd H generation from ultra-small Si nanoparticles (10 nm diameters) proceeding much more rapidly than expected from extrapolation of rates using larger particles. Ultra-small particles react with water to gen H 1Kx faster than bulk Si, 100x faster than previously reported Si structures, 6x faster than competing metal formations.
Russia swtae-owned energy firms preparing to move into polar regimes.
NG withdrawals from UK storage hitting record highs. Cold temps.
U of PA toxicologists organized working group with researchers from other top universities including Columbia, Johns Hopkins, UNC to investigate, analyze reports of nausea, headaches, breathing difficulties, other ills from people who live near NG drilling sites, compression stations or wastewater pits.
Inaugural wx: temp 13F warmer than '08. Is that global warming or just wx? What is mean temp of inaugs? Maybe we will find out.
EPA giving Navajo AZ coal plant 5 more years - to '23 - to install emissions control equipment. 2.2Gw plant. 39 yrs old. Kayenta coal mine feeds the plant. 1K local jobs. Placation.
Researchers found despite ravaged appearance of forests in Colo - 80-90% of canopy in many watersheds gone - streams and lakes remarkably healthy. Small trees that pine beetles left alone drastically increased their uptake of nitrate, thereby protecting watersheds.
Bill intro'd to VA General Assembly to lift moratium on U mining. Issue dividing state's southern region.
Former admin officials (Clinton's, Obama's) appealing prez suspend Shell's Arctic drilling plans.
US wind power 6% of total elgen cap at yearend. 13.2Gw installed in '12. Total now ~60Gw. Equipment prices down over 21% since '10.
New state studies across US make financial case for greater deploy of distributed solar generation and net metering. Recent NY report found PV solar delivers between 15 to 40 cent/KWh benefit to ratepayers and taxpayers. TX report found adding solar valued at over $520M. Net metering in VT up 4x since '08, solar 88%.
PV equipment spending, including thin-film, forecast to decline to 8-yr low this yr. Projected $2B. $12B in '11.
US oil demand at lowest level in 16 yrs. Goldman Sachs analyst won't be surprised to see $150/bl oil this summer. US looking for 1.2M b/d jump in oil production next 2 yrs. But new wells expensive, depletion must faster. Active US drilling rigs at 22 month low.
Oil price in '12 avg'd $112/bl. Highest year avg: IEA.
Global prices of LNG rising toward record high.
SUNY Buffalo researchers demo'd H generation from ultra-small Si nanoparticles (10 nm diameters) proceeding much more rapidly than expected from extrapolation of rates using larger particles. Ultra-small particles react with water to gen H 1Kx faster than bulk Si, 100x faster than previously reported Si structures, 6x faster than competing metal formations.
Russia swtae-owned energy firms preparing to move into polar regimes.
NG withdrawals from UK storage hitting record highs. Cold temps.
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.
Lux Research: global graphene market to grow to $120M by '20. $9M in '12. Most growth from graphene nanoplatelets (NGP) for composite, energy storage aps. Graphene sheets to stay mostly in lab. Leading comps XG Sciences, Vorbeck Materials. Startups Graphene Tech, Grafoid, National Nanomaterials, Xolve, Haydale.
New research into graphene grain boundaries. Resistors in series with conductor.
China leading graphene patent race. US 2nd. Then S Korea. 7,351 patents and aps.
UK Graphene Center to be finished in '15. 38M Pounds. At U of Manchester.
UK govt announced extra funding of 21.5M Pounds to boost graphene R&D. Focus on new graphene production methods, aps. Most exciting in biofuels creation.
UK project to develop graphene-based remote explosives, drugs detection. 21.5M Pound R&D investment. Focus on single-sheet graphene to develop new equipment to operate at THz-level freqs.
Graphene used in new plasmonic research device that can lead to virus, drug, explosive detectors. Optical device can analyze single molecule quickly. Plasmonics studies vibrations of electrons in different materials, topological properties of light phase. Graphene one of best materials to measure molecular sensitivity. Device basically like single-molecule microscope.
Rice U, Lomonosov Moscow State U researchers found graphene oxide can quickly remove radioactive material from contaminated water. Binds quickly to natural and human-made radionuclides, then condenses them into solids. Can be useful in fracking, rare earth mineral mining besides nuke cleanup.
"Graphene: Fundamentals and Emergent Aps" a new book.
Molybdenum can make graphene's mobility higher. Australia researchers found moly oxides can improve graphene's charge-carrying capabilities using exfoliation.
Northwestern U researchers found new way to amp signals in hybrid graphene oxide and CNT elchem sensors. Using magneto-elchem immunoassay process. Correlates available metal ions with analyte concentration. Mag particles encapsulated in inert coating of siO2, later coated with gold.
Lux Research: global graphene market to grow to $120M by '20. $9M in '12. Most growth from graphene nanoplatelets (NGP) for composite, energy storage aps. Graphene sheets to stay mostly in lab. Leading comps XG Sciences, Vorbeck Materials. Startups Graphene Tech, Grafoid, National Nanomaterials, Xolve, Haydale.
New research into graphene grain boundaries. Resistors in series with conductor.
China leading graphene patent race. US 2nd. Then S Korea. 7,351 patents and aps.
UK Graphene Center to be finished in '15. 38M Pounds. At U of Manchester.
UK govt announced extra funding of 21.5M Pounds to boost graphene R&D. Focus on new graphene production methods, aps. Most exciting in biofuels creation.
UK project to develop graphene-based remote explosives, drugs detection. 21.5M Pound R&D investment. Focus on single-sheet graphene to develop new equipment to operate at THz-level freqs.
Graphene used in new plasmonic research device that can lead to virus, drug, explosive detectors. Optical device can analyze single molecule quickly. Plasmonics studies vibrations of electrons in different materials, topological properties of light phase. Graphene one of best materials to measure molecular sensitivity. Device basically like single-molecule microscope.
Rice U, Lomonosov Moscow State U researchers found graphene oxide can quickly remove radioactive material from contaminated water. Binds quickly to natural and human-made radionuclides, then condenses them into solids. Can be useful in fracking, rare earth mineral mining besides nuke cleanup.
"Graphene: Fundamentals and Emergent Aps" a new book.
Molybdenum can make graphene's mobility higher. Australia researchers found moly oxides can improve graphene's charge-carrying capabilities using exfoliation.
Northwestern U researchers found new way to amp signals in hybrid graphene oxide and CNT elchem sensors. Using magneto-elchem immunoassay process. Correlates available metal ions with analyte concentration. Mag particles encapsulated in inert coating of siO2, later coated with gold.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
STUFF
Solar installs to grow over 18%/yr through '20.
Expansion of Nicaragua geothermal project online. 72Mw to replace old 10Mw plant. 3-yr build. ~17% of country's total el needs. Nicaragua's '13 goal 50% clean/renewable elgen.
Chile launched bidding process for CSP (concentrated solar power) project. Latin America's 1st CSP. Near $400M goal in funds, loans from Chile, intl sources.
US Fed transcripts released on 5-yr delay. Did not know that. So we're just now learning about their response to the real estate crash.
Barnett (TX) NG production - largest US onshore NG field at the time, est. 40TCF at start - declined in '12, 1st time since '93. Drilling permits way down.
Haynesville shale - Louisiana, Ark, TX - 60 TCF - overtook Barnett early '11. Drilling was down on cheap NG prices.
Marcellus (WV-PA-NY) 84-141TCF. S&P estimates holds near 1/2 proven US NG reserves.
Alstom selected as HVDC tech advisor for NJ phase of Atlantic Wind Connection.
Climate change report got cold reception from US House Energy, Commerce Committee Repub leaders. What's new?
S&P 6.3% off all-time high ('00, '07). Current P/E 16.7. A little high from 15 classic avg. Forward P/E ~13. Avg growth projected 1.5% this year. Market cap $9.8T. Looks like head and shoulders formation busted to upside last week.
CPS Energy 200Mw wind farm on TX coast now online. 25-yr PPA with Duke. 30K acres. 86 Siemens 2.3 Mw turbines.
Total US toxic air releases in '12 down 8% from '10: EPA. Drop mostly from decreases in hazardous emissions, notably hydrochloric acid and mercury (power plants). Total air, land, water toxic chem releases up 2nd yr in row.
Expansion of Nicaragua geothermal project online. 72Mw to replace old 10Mw plant. 3-yr build. ~17% of country's total el needs. Nicaragua's '13 goal 50% clean/renewable elgen.
Chile launched bidding process for CSP (concentrated solar power) project. Latin America's 1st CSP. Near $400M goal in funds, loans from Chile, intl sources.
US Fed transcripts released on 5-yr delay. Did not know that. So we're just now learning about their response to the real estate crash.
Barnett (TX) NG production - largest US onshore NG field at the time, est. 40TCF at start - declined in '12, 1st time since '93. Drilling permits way down.
Haynesville shale - Louisiana, Ark, TX - 60 TCF - overtook Barnett early '11. Drilling was down on cheap NG prices.
Marcellus (WV-PA-NY) 84-141TCF. S&P estimates holds near 1/2 proven US NG reserves.
Alstom selected as HVDC tech advisor for NJ phase of Atlantic Wind Connection.
Climate change report got cold reception from US House Energy, Commerce Committee Repub leaders. What's new?
S&P 6.3% off all-time high ('00, '07). Current P/E 16.7. A little high from 15 classic avg. Forward P/E ~13. Avg growth projected 1.5% this year. Market cap $9.8T. Looks like head and shoulders formation busted to upside last week.
CPS Energy 200Mw wind farm on TX coast now online. 25-yr PPA with Duke. 30K acres. 86 Siemens 2.3 Mw turbines.
Total US toxic air releases in '12 down 8% from '10: EPA. Drop mostly from decreases in hazardous emissions, notably hydrochloric acid and mercury (power plants). Total air, land, water toxic chem releases up 2nd yr in row.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed, but Dow up 53. Volume heavy (options Friday). Oil over $95.
AEHI up 100 on 1.5K shares. CBWP up 88. MGLT up 75. ASIUF up 28. CSGH, NGLPF up 25. APWR up 20. CERP up 15. EWRL up 13. WTWO up 12. QTMM up 10. SCTY up 4. NENE up 3.
PTOS down 28. BLDW down 24. VNDB down 20. JUHL down 18 on 100 shs. LEOM down 14, on bottom. XSNX, ASPW, ECOS down 10.
Market mixed, but Dow up 53. Volume heavy (options Friday). Oil over $95.
AEHI up 100 on 1.5K shares. CBWP up 88. MGLT up 75. ASIUF up 28. CSGH, NGLPF up 25. APWR up 20. CERP up 15. EWRL up 13. WTWO up 12. QTMM up 10. SCTY up 4. NENE up 3.
PTOS down 28. BLDW down 24. VNDB down 20. JUHL down 18 on 100 shs. LEOM down 14, on bottom. XSNX, ASPW, ECOS down 10.
Friday, January 18, 2013
STUFF
Northwest Africa up for grabs. Mali, Algeria, et al. The new Afghanistan? And France leading the West?
EIA '13 Annual Energy Outlook early release forecasts US GHG emissions in '40 well above '90 levels. Climate experts call for '50 emissions 80% below '90 to avoid catastrophe. US elgen system responsible for 40% of emissions.
Pew report: increased competition abroad, uncertain policies at home putting ability of US to compete in global energy marketplace at risk. Private investment, manufacturing, deployment of clean energy held back by lack of long term consistent US policy. To say it twice. Also tight credit markets hurt.
NRC found nuke plant in Conn had no gauge in place before Sandy to determine critical flood water level. Also reactor fission level probe out of service over 31 days. (7-day limit.) Storm surge reached 8 ft above normal high tide. 19 ft critical level. But point made. Painted lines on intake pipes.
Salazar approved major new clean energy development plan for AZ.
DOE goal 2.5K gal/acre algae biomass demo by '18. Funding up to $10M.
Tree seeds could be abundant biofuel feedstock: India research.
Study: US land could provide 25% of advanced biofuels requirement without carbon debt.
Dyadic (Neth) to commercialize powerful new enzymes from EU-funded DISCO project.
Report: enviro impacts of Keystone XL pipe worse than previously estimated. Petroleum coke wasn't included in emissions calculus. Also, pipeline would bring rapid expansion of tar sands production, greatly increasing emissions.
NOAA: drought conditions could worsen in Midwest. (These things run many years at a time.)
3/4 of Chesapeake Bay "impaired" by chems: report.
Thousands of dead fish washed onshore SC beach.
Tug carrying 4K gallons of diesel sank in Mississippi.
EPA finalized haze rules for iron facilites, proposed Navajo compromise on 4 Corners coal plant emissions.
Report: $8.2B invested globally on watersheds rather than infrastructure (in '12?).
NJ fracking moratorium expired.
NJ residents sue over toxins released from train crash.
Mass bill would punish seafood mislabels.
WY bill would legalize road kill as meat. Deer?
Vietnam, Cambodia blasting Laos' Mekong River dam plan.
India's southern states planning wind farms on wastelands, forming "green energy corridor". Kamatka potential 50Gw, Andhra Pradesh 88Gw.
Army dedicated 4.1Mw PV solar install at White Sands Missile Range. 42 acres. Army's largest system. Est. $930K savings/yr. But Siemens charging same as utility for the power. And who paid? Go figure savings. Also a 375Kw solar carport. Solaria single-axis tracking 30% more efficient than no tracking. $16.8M cost close to $4/w. Not bad for solar. No boondoggle. But no reduction in el costs?! I don't get it. Unless Siemens paid for it.
Teams from Navy Research Lab, Imperial College London and others developed new triple junction solar cell with potential 50% efficiency. Can absorb energy from 3 different wavelength bands. Group awarded ARPA-E grant for 3-yr development program.
FERC proposing rule to speed up, lower cost of solar grid connects for projects from 5-20Mw.
Cushing OK oil inventory at 52M bls. Last year 28M bls at same time.
Enviro groups filed suit against NC Enviro Mgmt Commission. Appealing decision to not fine or stringently monitor potential groundwater contamination from coal ash ponds at 14 power plants.
African lion endangered?
EIA '13 Annual Energy Outlook early release forecasts US GHG emissions in '40 well above '90 levels. Climate experts call for '50 emissions 80% below '90 to avoid catastrophe. US elgen system responsible for 40% of emissions.
Pew report: increased competition abroad, uncertain policies at home putting ability of US to compete in global energy marketplace at risk. Private investment, manufacturing, deployment of clean energy held back by lack of long term consistent US policy. To say it twice. Also tight credit markets hurt.
NRC found nuke plant in Conn had no gauge in place before Sandy to determine critical flood water level. Also reactor fission level probe out of service over 31 days. (7-day limit.) Storm surge reached 8 ft above normal high tide. 19 ft critical level. But point made. Painted lines on intake pipes.
Salazar approved major new clean energy development plan for AZ.
DOE goal 2.5K gal/acre algae biomass demo by '18. Funding up to $10M.
Tree seeds could be abundant biofuel feedstock: India research.
Study: US land could provide 25% of advanced biofuels requirement without carbon debt.
Dyadic (Neth) to commercialize powerful new enzymes from EU-funded DISCO project.
Report: enviro impacts of Keystone XL pipe worse than previously estimated. Petroleum coke wasn't included in emissions calculus. Also, pipeline would bring rapid expansion of tar sands production, greatly increasing emissions.
NOAA: drought conditions could worsen in Midwest. (These things run many years at a time.)
3/4 of Chesapeake Bay "impaired" by chems: report.
Thousands of dead fish washed onshore SC beach.
Tug carrying 4K gallons of diesel sank in Mississippi.
EPA finalized haze rules for iron facilites, proposed Navajo compromise on 4 Corners coal plant emissions.
Report: $8.2B invested globally on watersheds rather than infrastructure (in '12?).
NJ fracking moratorium expired.
NJ residents sue over toxins released from train crash.
Mass bill would punish seafood mislabels.
WY bill would legalize road kill as meat. Deer?
Vietnam, Cambodia blasting Laos' Mekong River dam plan.
India's southern states planning wind farms on wastelands, forming "green energy corridor". Kamatka potential 50Gw, Andhra Pradesh 88Gw.
Army dedicated 4.1Mw PV solar install at White Sands Missile Range. 42 acres. Army's largest system. Est. $930K savings/yr. But Siemens charging same as utility for the power. And who paid? Go figure savings. Also a 375Kw solar carport. Solaria single-axis tracking 30% more efficient than no tracking. $16.8M cost close to $4/w. Not bad for solar. No boondoggle. But no reduction in el costs?! I don't get it. Unless Siemens paid for it.
Teams from Navy Research Lab, Imperial College London and others developed new triple junction solar cell with potential 50% efficiency. Can absorb energy from 3 different wavelength bands. Group awarded ARPA-E grant for 3-yr development program.
FERC proposing rule to speed up, lower cost of solar grid connects for projects from 5-20Mw.
Cushing OK oil inventory at 52M bls. Last year 28M bls at same time.
Enviro groups filed suit against NC Enviro Mgmt Commission. Appealing decision to not fine or stringently monitor potential groundwater contamination from coal ash ponds at 14 power plants.
African lion endangered?
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 5/8/2. Volume 2x normal, options Friday. Oil steady over $95.
INIS up 23. CERP up 14. GEVO up 9. GWBU up 7. SCTY up 2.
VNDB down 20. MGLT down 13. AMEL down 12. EVSI down 10. XSNX down 8, still following 50-day lines down. FSLR down 1, back on top 3 lines.
Market down 5/8/2. Volume 2x normal, options Friday. Oil steady over $95.
INIS up 23. CERP up 14. GEVO up 9. GWBU up 7. SCTY up 2.
VNDB down 20. MGLT down 13. AMEL down 12. EVSI down 10. XSNX down 8, still following 50-day lines down. FSLR down 1, back on top 3 lines.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 84/18/8. Volume a tweak light. Tomorrow options Friday. Oil up over $95.
CPWY up 78. GSPI up 45. MKTY up 30. PTOS up 29. BHWX up 27. ASPW up 15. GWBU up 14. URRE up 11. CCGI, ZAAP up 10. NENE up 9. SCTY up 8. CSIQ up 6. NTCXF up 5.
AEHI down 33. ASIUF down 22. ENSL, MGLT, NGLPF, NPWZ down 20. APWR down 18. CERP, AONEQ, VNDB down 16. HOKU down 13. RNWEF down 10. FSLR, XSNX flat.
Market up 84/18/8. Volume a tweak light. Tomorrow options Friday. Oil up over $95.
CPWY up 78. GSPI up 45. MKTY up 30. PTOS up 29. BHWX up 27. ASPW up 15. GWBU up 14. URRE up 11. CCGI, ZAAP up 10. NENE up 9. SCTY up 8. CSIQ up 6. NTCXF up 5.
AEHI down 33. ASIUF down 22. ENSL, MGLT, NGLPF, NPWZ down 20. APWR down 18. CERP, AONEQ, VNDB down 16. HOKU down 13. RNWEF down 10. FSLR, XSNX flat.
STUFF
FERC report says clean/renewable energy accounted for 49% of all new US elgen capacity installed in '12. Almost 13Gw. 25% came online in Dec. alone. Wind led with 10.6Gw. Solar 1.4Gw. Biomass 543Mw. Geothermal 149Gw. Nuclear 125Mw (they don't include in clean/ren for some reason). Hydro 99Mw. Fossil was led by NG's 8.7Gw. Coal 4.5Gw. Oil 49Mw. 8.5Gw clean/ren added in '11. Total C/R now 15% of US elgen capacity. Nuke 9% (again, not included, so true C/R is 24% as I see it). Hydro 8.5%. Wind 5%. Biomass 1.3%. Solar and geothermal each .3%.
Pew Charitable Trust says developers, financiers to invest $1.9T in clean energy worldwide next 5 yrs. Est. $327B investment in '18 from $200B in '12. (Bloomberg says $268B invested in '12. And to get $1.9T in 5 yrs near $400B/yr must be invested. So how accurate is Pew?)
Mitsubishi investing $765M in German offshore wind projects. Help with grid connections. Taking 49% stake in 4 projects. Total investment 2.9B Euros. 2.8Gw to be connected to onshore grid.
UK expects UAE, other Gulf countries to be major investors in Britain's $321B clean/ren energy plans.
Japan planning 1Gw wind farm offshore Fukushima. Current largest offshore wind farm in world 504Mw offshore Britain.
Bechtel hired to build NJ phase of Atlantic Grid Development's offshore transmission spine.
Electrobras (Brazil) to boost Brazil wind capacity 30% in '13. 535Mw addition to current 1.8Gw.
Planta Solar (Chile) to build $105M 30Mw PV solar plant in Chile.
Japan plans to open nuke fuel reprocessing plant this year. They would join France as only countries to do so.
China investing $350M to start up thorium-powered nuke project. Far less toxic waste, can't blow up.
Experts okayed restart of 2 Belgian nuke plants despite signs of micro cracks in reactors.
UN: African clean/renewable eneergy projects stagnating due to investment risk. ~$4.3B invested in '12 out of (Bloomberg's figure of) $268B worldwide.
Court found European countries squandered EU's 5B Euro in energy efficiency investments.
Sweetwater Energy, Front Range Energy in $100M cellulosic biofuels deal. Up to 3.6M gal/yr production.
Aemetis (AMTX) idled ethanol production at Cal plant, citing corn prices. Seeking restart as "advanced biofuel producer" using sorghum with biogas tech.
Study: marginal farmland a potential boon for ethanol crops, CO2 reduction.
Report: 3 pesticides threaten honeybees.
Biogen (UK) planning 4-5 foodwaste-to-energy plants this year. Rising landfill taxes increasing costs of burying waste. Plans to raise 30M Pounds.
US senators angry at EPA for 8-month delay investigating groundwater contamination from fracking in Wyoming.
Initial productivity of newly-drilled Bakken (ND) wells has been dropping. Indicates best sites already drilled. Rate of production increases may start to slow.
Shell 1 step close to $10B deal to develop Ukraine shale gas reserves, Europe's 3rd largest after France, Norway. Ukraine pays $430/thousand cubic meters for NG. US power comps pay ~$172.
CNPC (China) to install 5 3.34Mw NG-fired GE cogen systems to power new data center.
Chevron inked deal for oil exploration in S China Sea.
In past 22 yrs, half of all oil ever burned was. Also in every calorie of food eaten, 10 calories of fossil fuels used in food chain from fields to tables.
Pew Charitable Trust says developers, financiers to invest $1.9T in clean energy worldwide next 5 yrs. Est. $327B investment in '18 from $200B in '12. (Bloomberg says $268B invested in '12. And to get $1.9T in 5 yrs near $400B/yr must be invested. So how accurate is Pew?)
Mitsubishi investing $765M in German offshore wind projects. Help with grid connections. Taking 49% stake in 4 projects. Total investment 2.9B Euros. 2.8Gw to be connected to onshore grid.
UK expects UAE, other Gulf countries to be major investors in Britain's $321B clean/ren energy plans.
Japan planning 1Gw wind farm offshore Fukushima. Current largest offshore wind farm in world 504Mw offshore Britain.
Bechtel hired to build NJ phase of Atlantic Grid Development's offshore transmission spine.
Electrobras (Brazil) to boost Brazil wind capacity 30% in '13. 535Mw addition to current 1.8Gw.
Planta Solar (Chile) to build $105M 30Mw PV solar plant in Chile.
Japan plans to open nuke fuel reprocessing plant this year. They would join France as only countries to do so.
China investing $350M to start up thorium-powered nuke project. Far less toxic waste, can't blow up.
Experts okayed restart of 2 Belgian nuke plants despite signs of micro cracks in reactors.
UN: African clean/renewable eneergy projects stagnating due to investment risk. ~$4.3B invested in '12 out of (Bloomberg's figure of) $268B worldwide.
Court found European countries squandered EU's 5B Euro in energy efficiency investments.
Sweetwater Energy, Front Range Energy in $100M cellulosic biofuels deal. Up to 3.6M gal/yr production.
Aemetis (AMTX) idled ethanol production at Cal plant, citing corn prices. Seeking restart as "advanced biofuel producer" using sorghum with biogas tech.
Study: marginal farmland a potential boon for ethanol crops, CO2 reduction.
Report: 3 pesticides threaten honeybees.
Biogen (UK) planning 4-5 foodwaste-to-energy plants this year. Rising landfill taxes increasing costs of burying waste. Plans to raise 30M Pounds.
US senators angry at EPA for 8-month delay investigating groundwater contamination from fracking in Wyoming.
Initial productivity of newly-drilled Bakken (ND) wells has been dropping. Indicates best sites already drilled. Rate of production increases may start to slow.
Shell 1 step close to $10B deal to develop Ukraine shale gas reserves, Europe's 3rd largest after France, Norway. Ukraine pays $430/thousand cubic meters for NG. US power comps pay ~$172.
CNPC (China) to install 5 3.34Mw NG-fired GE cogen systems to power new data center.
Chevron inked deal for oil exploration in S China Sea.
In past 22 yrs, half of all oil ever burned was. Also in every calorie of food eaten, 10 calories of fossil fuels used in food chain from fields to tables.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 56/12/5. Volume a little light. Oil up over $95. Philly area manufacturing down. US housing starts up, 4-year high. Tomorrow options Friday.
NGLPF up 50. PPRW, MKTY up 30. ECOS up 13. XSNX up 9, up over 50-day lines. NTCXF up 5. SCTY up 3. Opened up on Long Island, offering power for less than grid. ENOC up 2.
VNDB down 33. AEHI down 26. APWR down 23. ENSL down 20. RNWEF down 11. AONEQ down 10. CERP down 9 more. PWER down 8. Prediction of 4Q loss, guided revs down.
Market up 56/12/5. Volume a little light. Oil up over $95. Philly area manufacturing down. US housing starts up, 4-year high. Tomorrow options Friday.
NGLPF up 50. PPRW, MKTY up 30. ECOS up 13. XSNX up 9, up over 50-day lines. NTCXF up 5. SCTY up 3. Opened up on Long Island, offering power for less than grid. ENOC up 2.
VNDB down 33. AEHI down 26. APWR down 23. ENSL down 20. RNWEF down 11. AONEQ down 10. CERP down 9 more. PWER down 8. Prediction of 4Q loss, guided revs down.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed. Dow down 23. Volume a little light. Oil up over $94. Fed found econ held back by fiscal concerns. But sees econ picking up across country. Manufacturing going up, inflation tame, recovery accelerating, and room to expand QE to lower unemployment.
AEHI up 50. NGLPF up 25. VNDB, ASIUF up 20. ADES, HOKU up 16. WTWO up 14. ENSL up 12. PSPW up 11. CRCL, LEXG up 10. SCTY up 2. CERP flat. Buy?
MGLT down 38. BLQN, PPRW down 25. BHWX down 15. AMEL down 14. MMMW down 13. PLUG, WWPW down 12. ZNNMF, MKTY down 11. PTOS down 10. NENE down 9. FSLR, ENOC down 3. XSNX down 2.
Market mixed. Dow down 23. Volume a little light. Oil up over $94. Fed found econ held back by fiscal concerns. But sees econ picking up across country. Manufacturing going up, inflation tame, recovery accelerating, and room to expand QE to lower unemployment.
AEHI up 50. NGLPF up 25. VNDB, ASIUF up 20. ADES, HOKU up 16. WTWO up 14. ENSL up 12. PSPW up 11. CRCL, LEXG up 10. SCTY up 2. CERP flat. Buy?
MGLT down 38. BLQN, PPRW down 25. BHWX down 15. AMEL down 14. MMMW down 13. PLUG, WWPW down 12. ZNNMF, MKTY down 11. PTOS down 10. NENE down 9. FSLR, ENOC down 3. XSNX down 2.
STUFF
Clean/renewable "advanced energy" products, services generated $1.1T in global econ activity in '11. Larger than pharma industry.
US solar industry installed record est. 3.2Gw in '12.
UK Green Bank plans to allocate all of $4.8B provided by govt by as early as '15. Prioritizing offshore wind, waste treatment, recycling, energy from waste and energy efficiency.
Brit Crown (owner of UK seabed) plans to offer 20M Pounds ($32M) for wave, tidal energy projects, each over 3Mw.
DOE sued for $675M by XP Vehicles and Limnia over abuses in $25B Advanced Tech Vehicle Manufacturing loan program. "DOE steered money to political cronies." DOE made 5 loans under program. None since Solyndra bankruptcy. $16B remains undistributed.
Hong Kong to offer subsidies to get rid of older vehicles. (Cash for Clunkers lives.)
LA Dept of Water and Power FIT (feed-in tariff) is for 100Mw at 17 cents/Kwh. 20Mw tranches every 6 months. 50Mw expansion look-see in March.
Study: net metering (customer-owned solar) in Calif a financial benefit, not burden, to ratepayers. Savings ~$92M/yr across 3 large utility territories in state. Solar owners only getting ~4 cents/Kwh for surplus generation. Utilities still attacking net metering. 43 states have net metering policies. Calif participation doubled in each of last 2 yrs. Installed capacity over 1.4Gw at end of '12.
If 5% of US households would invest in 3Kw share of community solar systems (typical rooftop install), we'd have over 17Gw more solar capacity. Community systems less costly because of econ scale.
Sungevity (Cal) raised $85M in round plus $40M from VC round to finance solar installs and expand presence in 9 states. Also planning energy services (possibly batt storage systems like Solar City).
Canadian consortium signed PPA for 50Mw solar PV plant in Ecuador.
SunPower (SPWR) installed 7.5Mw of solar at Phoenix water treatment plant. To save city $4M over 20 yrs. Wells Fargo owns system. Provides 70% of plant's el use.
Conergy (Germany) developing 1st solar plant in Romania. 2.2Mw.
Cosmo Oil, Showa Shell, Development Bank of Japan to form JV to build, op solar plants in Japan. Plans 8 farms for 26Mw. Solar Frontier panels.
GM to begin production of Caddy EV (ELR) later this year. Nissan to offer a Leaf EV $6K cheaper than current model. GM sold 23K Volts last yr. Nissan sold 9.8K Leafs. Still $7.5K fed tax cred for EV purchase, some state creds. GM likely to build 2-3K ELR's/yr.
Global warming effects of black carbon (soot) 2x as potent as previously thought.
EPA finalized new emission standards for backup generators.
Calif, Australia talking linking their emissions trading.
Google increasing lobbying, giving to promote clean energy.
Study: chems in plastic threaten marine life. (Let alone ours.)
Group of US oil pipeline operators headed by Plain All American Pipeline planning $1B spending on rail depot projects to transport crude from oil fields to coastal refineries. Railroads investing too in oil cars, depots.
Repsol (Spain) to sell 4.5B Euro of assets by '16 to salvage debt rating. Now selling LNG assets for est. 2B Euro. Buyer could be GDF Suez (France).
EPA reversed TX well contamination order after fracking driller protested. Not explaining why. (I know. What the hell is that?)
Pipeline leak shut down up to 27 UK oil fields.
Iraq cabinet agreed to replace Turkey's TPAO with Kuwait Energy for oil exploration bloc in Basra. (What was that war called?) Worsening relations between Iraq, Turkey over Iraq vice president being hunted for allegedly running death squads hiding in Turkey.
Enviro groups filed suit to block discharge permit renewal for Dominion's '50's-era Yorktown coal plant in VA. State failed to eval enviro impact, required under Clean Water Act. Permits renewed every 5 yrs. Arsenic, mercury, other metals not tested for.
US solar industry installed record est. 3.2Gw in '12.
UK Green Bank plans to allocate all of $4.8B provided by govt by as early as '15. Prioritizing offshore wind, waste treatment, recycling, energy from waste and energy efficiency.
Brit Crown (owner of UK seabed) plans to offer 20M Pounds ($32M) for wave, tidal energy projects, each over 3Mw.
DOE sued for $675M by XP Vehicles and Limnia over abuses in $25B Advanced Tech Vehicle Manufacturing loan program. "DOE steered money to political cronies." DOE made 5 loans under program. None since Solyndra bankruptcy. $16B remains undistributed.
Hong Kong to offer subsidies to get rid of older vehicles. (Cash for Clunkers lives.)
LA Dept of Water and Power FIT (feed-in tariff) is for 100Mw at 17 cents/Kwh. 20Mw tranches every 6 months. 50Mw expansion look-see in March.
Study: net metering (customer-owned solar) in Calif a financial benefit, not burden, to ratepayers. Savings ~$92M/yr across 3 large utility territories in state. Solar owners only getting ~4 cents/Kwh for surplus generation. Utilities still attacking net metering. 43 states have net metering policies. Calif participation doubled in each of last 2 yrs. Installed capacity over 1.4Gw at end of '12.
If 5% of US households would invest in 3Kw share of community solar systems (typical rooftop install), we'd have over 17Gw more solar capacity. Community systems less costly because of econ scale.
Sungevity (Cal) raised $85M in round plus $40M from VC round to finance solar installs and expand presence in 9 states. Also planning energy services (possibly batt storage systems like Solar City).
Canadian consortium signed PPA for 50Mw solar PV plant in Ecuador.
SunPower (SPWR) installed 7.5Mw of solar at Phoenix water treatment plant. To save city $4M over 20 yrs. Wells Fargo owns system. Provides 70% of plant's el use.
Conergy (Germany) developing 1st solar plant in Romania. 2.2Mw.
Cosmo Oil, Showa Shell, Development Bank of Japan to form JV to build, op solar plants in Japan. Plans 8 farms for 26Mw. Solar Frontier panels.
GM to begin production of Caddy EV (ELR) later this year. Nissan to offer a Leaf EV $6K cheaper than current model. GM sold 23K Volts last yr. Nissan sold 9.8K Leafs. Still $7.5K fed tax cred for EV purchase, some state creds. GM likely to build 2-3K ELR's/yr.
Global warming effects of black carbon (soot) 2x as potent as previously thought.
EPA finalized new emission standards for backup generators.
Calif, Australia talking linking their emissions trading.
Google increasing lobbying, giving to promote clean energy.
Study: chems in plastic threaten marine life. (Let alone ours.)
Group of US oil pipeline operators headed by Plain All American Pipeline planning $1B spending on rail depot projects to transport crude from oil fields to coastal refineries. Railroads investing too in oil cars, depots.
Repsol (Spain) to sell 4.5B Euro of assets by '16 to salvage debt rating. Now selling LNG assets for est. 2B Euro. Buyer could be GDF Suez (France).
EPA reversed TX well contamination order after fracking driller protested. Not explaining why. (I know. What the hell is that?)
Pipeline leak shut down up to 27 UK oil fields.
Iraq cabinet agreed to replace Turkey's TPAO with Kuwait Energy for oil exploration bloc in Basra. (What was that war called?) Worsening relations between Iraq, Turkey over Iraq vice president being hunted for allegedly running death squads hiding in Turkey.
Enviro groups filed suit to block discharge permit renewal for Dominion's '50's-era Yorktown coal plant in VA. State failed to eval enviro impact, required under Clean Water Act. Permits renewed every 5 yrs. Arsenic, mercury, other metals not tested for.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed, Dow down 20. Volume slightly light. Oil up near $94. US factory output up .3%, 2nd month of growth. World Bank cut global growth forecast.
CPWY up 60. ENSL up 29. AONEQ up 20. BLQN up 16. WTWO up 14. BOPO up 13. SOPW up 11. NTCXF, XSNX, SCTY up 1.
PPRW down 25. WWPW down 19. HOKU down 17. NENE down 9, back below 200-day lines. ENOC down 7. FSLR down 2.
Market mixed, Dow down 20. Volume slightly light. Oil up near $94. US factory output up .3%, 2nd month of growth. World Bank cut global growth forecast.
CPWY up 60. ENSL up 29. AONEQ up 20. BLQN up 16. WTWO up 14. BOPO up 13. SOPW up 11. NTCXF, XSNX, SCTY up 1.
PPRW down 25. WWPW down 19. HOKU down 17. NENE down 9, back below 200-day lines. ENOC down 7. FSLR down 2.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market mixed. Dow up 27. Volume normal. Oil down under $94.
MGLT up 150. You knew that was coming. The spread. 2.5K shares. Crazy stock. AONEQ up 79. Did not see that coming. What's up with this bankruptcy? Real check? IFXY up 65. IF the first 2 letters. I guess. All of 17K shares. APWR up 41. Another what the hay?! Bankrupt, right? ENOC up 24. Here's reality. New EPA rule. Big 3-yr jump. Big volume. Wait for the come back or jump on now. Rule must have hurt LIME. They were down 14. WWPW up 21. CHGI up 17. Jump off top (200-day) lines. SPIR, CWET up 10. FSLR up 1. 3 line support. Buy it for slow gain if that's what you want. Remember, Walmart family behind it. (I bought at $16.)
CPWY down 44. NGLPF down 42. VNDB down 28. BOPO down 26. INIS down 25. AMEL down 14. HOKU down 13. NPWZ, SATCQ down 11. BLDW down 10. NENE down 9. Keep an eye on it. XSNX down 6. Eye on them. SCTY down 5. CERP, NTCXF down 4. Looking for CERP's bottom.
Market mixed. Dow up 27. Volume normal. Oil down under $94.
MGLT up 150. You knew that was coming. The spread. 2.5K shares. Crazy stock. AONEQ up 79. Did not see that coming. What's up with this bankruptcy? Real check? IFXY up 65. IF the first 2 letters. I guess. All of 17K shares. APWR up 41. Another what the hay?! Bankrupt, right? ENOC up 24. Here's reality. New EPA rule. Big 3-yr jump. Big volume. Wait for the come back or jump on now. Rule must have hurt LIME. They were down 14. WWPW up 21. CHGI up 17. Jump off top (200-day) lines. SPIR, CWET up 10. FSLR up 1. 3 line support. Buy it for slow gain if that's what you want. Remember, Walmart family behind it. (I bought at $16.)
CPWY down 44. NGLPF down 42. VNDB down 28. BOPO down 26. INIS down 25. AMEL down 14. HOKU down 13. NPWZ, SATCQ down 11. BLDW down 10. NENE down 9. Keep an eye on it. XSNX down 6. Eye on them. SCTY down 5. CERP, NTCXF down 4. Looking for CERP's bottom.
STUFF
Atlantic Wind Connection announced plans for 1st phase of offshore wind power transmission spine. 189-mile segment from off Jersey City to south of Atlantic City. Est. cost $1.3B.
Norway needs new power lines to allow it to double hydropower capacity, boost el exports. Country now gets 99% of its el from hydro. Produced 146Twh last yr, exported 18Twh. 29Gw installed hydro capacity. Capacity could be boosted 5-10Gw. Another 10-20Gw could be harnessed from pumped water storage facilities.
IRENA set goal to double global clean energy capacity by '30. Now ~15% of energy mix. Installs will have to increase 110-150Gw/yr. China announced intent to become full member.
French president called for investment in clean energy at World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. French Energy Minister signed deal with Masdar (Abu Dhabi) for cooperation with French clean energy comps.
Sauds to form company to buy power from clean/ren power generators, cover cost differences between purchase and sale prices.
Abu Dhabi National Energy Comp (Taqa) bought minority stake in India comp developing 100Mw hydro run-of-river plant expected online this yr. Plans to buy all of comp later. Taqa 75% owned by govt. Also buying 50% of Minnesota wind project from French comp, investing $12B in 17Gw coal power generation project in Turkey.
LA launched FIT (feed-in tariff) to help switch to solar power.
China looking to curb vehicle emissions to combat record smog levels.
Maine looking to block ethanol blends higher than 10% in regional ban.
Vinerna (Brazil) investing $354M for cereal feedstock ethanol plants. 1st in country.
Indonesia pushing harder for domestic palm oil biodiesel use.
Seaweed-based ethanol tech getting boost in Vietnam.
Portugal researchers looking at carob waste pulp as biofuel feedstock.
MIT engineers developed new polymer film that can generate energy from water vapor. Film made from polypyrrole, polyol-borate. Polymer connected to piezoel material to power nanoel devices.
Lawrence Livermore started incubator to accel development of innovative energy techs. Access to some of world's most powerful computers. 6 applicants selected. To work on problems in oil/NG exploration, grid operational planning, improving energy efficiency and advanced ICE's.
Electric Gen Auth of Thailand signed deal with Laos counterpart to invest in power and related sectors in Laos. Strong protests in Thailand against power plant construction prompting country to buy more el from Laos.
Colo enacted some of most stringent laws on oil/NG ops in US. Comps required to test up to 4 nearby groundwater wells before and after drilling. Only 2 states have groundwater programs. Colo 1st to require post-drilling samples. (That's the whole point, isn't it? Sometimes it's hard to believe what the news is.)
Range Resources "never caused any impacts" on water wells outside Ft Worth. The driller says testing results provided to EPA show methane levels consistent with historical water quality in region.
EIA expects Brent oil prices to fall to avg $105/bl in '13, $99 in '14. WTI should fall slightly next 2 yrs.
Dynegy (TX) completed $1B of enviro upgrades at 4 IL coal plants last month. Over 100 coal generation units mothballed in US since '09. Dynegy settled with EPA in '05 over these plants. In next year, Edison Intl's Midwest Generation, Ameren have promised to invest $1B each to clean up their 9 IL coal plants.
Coal ash at 3 MD landfills to be cleaned up. $2.2M in penalties to be paid.
Tata Power (India) seeks to add 1.6Gw to 4Gw coal plant to sell power in open market.
Norway needs new power lines to allow it to double hydropower capacity, boost el exports. Country now gets 99% of its el from hydro. Produced 146Twh last yr, exported 18Twh. 29Gw installed hydro capacity. Capacity could be boosted 5-10Gw. Another 10-20Gw could be harnessed from pumped water storage facilities.
IRENA set goal to double global clean energy capacity by '30. Now ~15% of energy mix. Installs will have to increase 110-150Gw/yr. China announced intent to become full member.
French president called for investment in clean energy at World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. French Energy Minister signed deal with Masdar (Abu Dhabi) for cooperation with French clean energy comps.
Sauds to form company to buy power from clean/ren power generators, cover cost differences between purchase and sale prices.
Abu Dhabi National Energy Comp (Taqa) bought minority stake in India comp developing 100Mw hydro run-of-river plant expected online this yr. Plans to buy all of comp later. Taqa 75% owned by govt. Also buying 50% of Minnesota wind project from French comp, investing $12B in 17Gw coal power generation project in Turkey.
LA launched FIT (feed-in tariff) to help switch to solar power.
China looking to curb vehicle emissions to combat record smog levels.
Maine looking to block ethanol blends higher than 10% in regional ban.
Vinerna (Brazil) investing $354M for cereal feedstock ethanol plants. 1st in country.
Indonesia pushing harder for domestic palm oil biodiesel use.
Seaweed-based ethanol tech getting boost in Vietnam.
Portugal researchers looking at carob waste pulp as biofuel feedstock.
MIT engineers developed new polymer film that can generate energy from water vapor. Film made from polypyrrole, polyol-borate. Polymer connected to piezoel material to power nanoel devices.
Lawrence Livermore started incubator to accel development of innovative energy techs. Access to some of world's most powerful computers. 6 applicants selected. To work on problems in oil/NG exploration, grid operational planning, improving energy efficiency and advanced ICE's.
Electric Gen Auth of Thailand signed deal with Laos counterpart to invest in power and related sectors in Laos. Strong protests in Thailand against power plant construction prompting country to buy more el from Laos.
Colo enacted some of most stringent laws on oil/NG ops in US. Comps required to test up to 4 nearby groundwater wells before and after drilling. Only 2 states have groundwater programs. Colo 1st to require post-drilling samples. (That's the whole point, isn't it? Sometimes it's hard to believe what the news is.)
Range Resources "never caused any impacts" on water wells outside Ft Worth. The driller says testing results provided to EPA show methane levels consistent with historical water quality in region.
EIA expects Brent oil prices to fall to avg $105/bl in '13, $99 in '14. WTI should fall slightly next 2 yrs.
Dynegy (TX) completed $1B of enviro upgrades at 4 IL coal plants last month. Over 100 coal generation units mothballed in US since '09. Dynegy settled with EPA in '05 over these plants. In next year, Edison Intl's Midwest Generation, Ameren have promised to invest $1B each to clean up their 9 IL coal plants.
Coal ash at 3 MD landfills to be cleaned up. $2.2M in penalties to be paid.
Tata Power (India) seeks to add 1.6Gw to 4Gw coal plant to sell power in open market.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 31/18/3. Volume normal. Oil down under $94. US retail sales up more than expected in Dec. NY region manufacturing down 6th month in row.
AMLM up 64. ASIUF up 12. CERP up 11. CSGH up 10. GRPH up 5. XSNX up 4.
NGLPF down 42. BLDW down 40. ENSL down 34. HOKU down 31. ZAAP down 17. VNDB down 14. GERS down 10. SCTY down 6. NTCXF down 3. NENE flat.
Market down 31/18/3. Volume normal. Oil down under $94. US retail sales up more than expected in Dec. NY region manufacturing down 6th month in row.
AMLM up 64. ASIUF up 12. CERP up 11. CSGH up 10. GRPH up 5. XSNX up 4.
NGLPF down 42. BLDW down 40. ENSL down 34. HOKU down 31. ZAAP down 17. VNDB down 14. GERS down 10. SCTY down 6. NTCXF down 3. NENE flat.
Monday, January 14, 2013
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil up over $94.
VNDB up 133. ENSL up 70. BLDW up 42. NGLPF up 40. BOPO up 19. ZAAP up 18. HOKU up 16. XSNX, SATCQ up 13. PALAF up 10.
MGLT down 60 on 500 shares. IFXY down 39 on 1.3K. BLQN down 26. APWR down 25. ECOS down 13. SOPW down 12. AMTX down 11. GWBU down 10. SCTY down 5. CERP down 4. (I think may be closing in on bottom.) NENE, NTCXF down 3. NENE surge, obviously, taking a break. Keep eye on it.
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil up over $94.
VNDB up 133. ENSL up 70. BLDW up 42. NGLPF up 40. BOPO up 19. ZAAP up 18. HOKU up 16. XSNX, SATCQ up 13. PALAF up 10.
MGLT down 60 on 500 shares. IFXY down 39 on 1.3K. BLQN down 26. APWR down 25. ECOS down 13. SOPW down 12. AMTX down 11. GWBU down 10. SCTY down 5. CERP down 4. (I think may be closing in on bottom.) NENE, NTCXF down 3. NENE surge, obviously, taking a break. Keep eye on it.
STUFF
Beijing's air pollution a "suffocating siege": People's Daily.
Historic drought in Brazil has left hydro dams short of water for elgen.
Officials cited PG&E for high chromium levels in Hinkley bottled water.
U of Vermont banned bottled water.
EPA says Shell violated air permits for 2 Arctic drill ships. Excess N oxides escaped during drilling. DOI still to investigate the entire ops.
Cal GHG emissions fell in '11 for 3rd straight year.
DOA: US corn inventory to be at lowest point in 17 yrs by Sept. Current inventory 17% below last yr at this time.
Study: planting corn acres with biofuel crops reduces nutrient runoff.
Ohio PUCO nixed AEP's 50Mw solar project. Denied permission to assess ratepayers for it.
2 German banks lending $107M for 24Mw of solar plants in France. Development by Aquila Capital (Germany).
Kedco (Ireland) to build 25Mw biomass heat and power plant in N Ireland. Plans 5 biomass plants in UK for 59M Pounds.
Pacific Ethanol (PEIX) partnering with Edeniq to expand production.
AlgaeTec (ALGXY) approved for $12.8M refund on development of algae bioreactor facilities.
Global clean/renewable energy investment down 11% in '12 because govts cut subsidies. $268.7B invested. Down 32% in US, 51% in Italy, 68% in Spain, 44% in India. 20% gain in China to $67B. US was $44B. All energy segments dropped except small hydro - up 17% to $7.6B. Solar got $142B, wind $78B, EVs and E efficiency $18.8B. Biomass, waste-to-E down 27% to $9.7B. VC, private equity investment down 34% to $5.8B
Ameren (IL) getting out of power gen biz (~15% of their revs). "Market price for power has dropped significantly in past few years." More efficient appliances, drop in manufacturing, more efficient manufacturing. El demand from manufacturing down 18% from '98-'10. To focus on state utility biz and el transmission.
El use over TX's largest grid (over 80% of state) down 2.7% in '12 after 5% jump in '11.
Greece energy regulator approved 2nd clean/renewable energy tax increase in 5 months. Levy to avg 9.30 Euros/Mwh from 7.50. Valid for 6 mo. Households to pay 9.53 Euros/Mwh, up from 8.74.
Saud sovereign wealth fund and public pension agency bought 19% of ACWA Power Intl (Saud) as part of plan to build solar capacity. ACWA ops 5 power plants in Saud, 13Gw capacity, and desalinates 2.37M cubic meters/day of seawater. Developing 2 concentrated solar plants in Morocco and S Africa. Saud $727B econ grew 6.8% in '12.
Qatar Airways making 1st commercial flights fueled by NG-to-liquid tech.
Lebanon, Cyprus agreed to increase cooperation in offshore NG development.
Utah challenging admin's scaled-back oil sands development plan.
Ecuador's avg crude oil output up ~1% in '12 to 504Kb/d. Below 510K target. Expects 525-530K this yr, ~550K in '14.
Norway oil production (world's 8th biggest exporter) to fall to 25-yr low this yr. Slow recovery in future threatened by rising costs, bottlenecks.
UAE plans to raise oil production to 3Mb/d from 2.8M now.
China's crude oil imports up 6.8% in '12. Up 6.1% in '11. Up 17.5% in '10.
Coal ash dump leaking into WV neighborhood.
Historic drought in Brazil has left hydro dams short of water for elgen.
Officials cited PG&E for high chromium levels in Hinkley bottled water.
U of Vermont banned bottled water.
EPA says Shell violated air permits for 2 Arctic drill ships. Excess N oxides escaped during drilling. DOI still to investigate the entire ops.
Cal GHG emissions fell in '11 for 3rd straight year.
DOA: US corn inventory to be at lowest point in 17 yrs by Sept. Current inventory 17% below last yr at this time.
Study: planting corn acres with biofuel crops reduces nutrient runoff.
Ohio PUCO nixed AEP's 50Mw solar project. Denied permission to assess ratepayers for it.
2 German banks lending $107M for 24Mw of solar plants in France. Development by Aquila Capital (Germany).
Kedco (Ireland) to build 25Mw biomass heat and power plant in N Ireland. Plans 5 biomass plants in UK for 59M Pounds.
Pacific Ethanol (PEIX) partnering with Edeniq to expand production.
AlgaeTec (ALGXY) approved for $12.8M refund on development of algae bioreactor facilities.
Global clean/renewable energy investment down 11% in '12 because govts cut subsidies. $268.7B invested. Down 32% in US, 51% in Italy, 68% in Spain, 44% in India. 20% gain in China to $67B. US was $44B. All energy segments dropped except small hydro - up 17% to $7.6B. Solar got $142B, wind $78B, EVs and E efficiency $18.8B. Biomass, waste-to-E down 27% to $9.7B. VC, private equity investment down 34% to $5.8B
Ameren (IL) getting out of power gen biz (~15% of their revs). "Market price for power has dropped significantly in past few years." More efficient appliances, drop in manufacturing, more efficient manufacturing. El demand from manufacturing down 18% from '98-'10. To focus on state utility biz and el transmission.
El use over TX's largest grid (over 80% of state) down 2.7% in '12 after 5% jump in '11.
Greece energy regulator approved 2nd clean/renewable energy tax increase in 5 months. Levy to avg 9.30 Euros/Mwh from 7.50. Valid for 6 mo. Households to pay 9.53 Euros/Mwh, up from 8.74.
Saud sovereign wealth fund and public pension agency bought 19% of ACWA Power Intl (Saud) as part of plan to build solar capacity. ACWA ops 5 power plants in Saud, 13Gw capacity, and desalinates 2.37M cubic meters/day of seawater. Developing 2 concentrated solar plants in Morocco and S Africa. Saud $727B econ grew 6.8% in '12.
Qatar Airways making 1st commercial flights fueled by NG-to-liquid tech.
Lebanon, Cyprus agreed to increase cooperation in offshore NG development.
Utah challenging admin's scaled-back oil sands development plan.
Ecuador's avg crude oil output up ~1% in '12 to 504Kb/d. Below 510K target. Expects 525-530K this yr, ~550K in '14.
Norway oil production (world's 8th biggest exporter) to fall to 25-yr low this yr. Slow recovery in future threatened by rising costs, bottlenecks.
UAE plans to raise oil production to 3Mb/d from 2.8M now.
China's crude oil imports up 6.8% in '12. Up 6.1% in '11. Up 17.5% in '10.
Coal ash dump leaking into WV neighborhood.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil down near $93. Euro leaders say wors of debt crisis over. Hedge funds' leverage highest since '04.
VNDB up 133. HOKU up 20. TMEN up 15. CERP up 5. XSNX up 4.
ENSL down 17 more. GERS down 16. INIS down 13. BSRC, EWRL down 9. NTCXF down 8. SPWR down 5 on downgrade. SCTY down 3. NENE down 2.
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil down near $93. Euro leaders say wors of debt crisis over. Hedge funds' leverage highest since '04.
VNDB up 133. HOKU up 20. TMEN up 15. CERP up 5. XSNX up 4.
ENSL down 17 more. GERS down 16. INIS down 13. BSRC, EWRL down 9. NTCXF down 8. SPWR down 5 on downgrade. SCTY down 3. NENE down 2.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
STUFF
Pattern Energy (Cal) announced 265Mw wind project in Imperial Valley Calif the 1st to transmit el over Sunrise Powerlink, the 117-mile 500Kv line linking the Valley and San Diego. 112 Siemens turbines. Towers made in Cal, blades in Iowa, nacelles in Kan. Powerlink to eventually carry 1Gw.
Sempra US Gas & Power completed 150Mw 1st phase of PV solar farm in AZ. PG&E buying the power. Future phases could put up 700Mw more.
First Solar (FSLR) started on 139Mw solar farm in Imperial Valley. Expected completion this year.
Recurrent Energy turned on last of 4 PV solar farms to provide total 88Mw to Sacramento Muni Utility District. Investments from Google and Sun Tap Energy (formed by KKR). Recurrent now has 138Mw online of their 600Mw contracted solar portfolio.
Duke completed 10Mw solar farm in AZ.
Cedarville U (OH) building 2.1Mw PV solar array on campus. Melink Corp to build.
Largest solar farm in MN - 2Mw - turned on by Ecos Energy (majority-owned by Allco Renewable Energy). 2x as much solar capacity installed in MN in '12 than '11.
Wattner (Germany) bought 2 new solar farms in Germany. 15.4Mw total. Putting them in their Sun Asset fund. ~26M Euros.
NREL created interactive buildings, industry, transportation, el scenarios. Allows users to explore how changes in energy demand/supply can impact CO2 emissions and energy trajectory. bites.nrel.gov
U Cal Davis researchers finding cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) so far produced largest amount of chems for fuels, plastics yet. Best enzymes transplanted into bacteria's DNA. Then 3-way path built for bacteria to convert CO2 into 2,3butanediol.
Fermentalg (France) unveiled vehicle that runs on algae biodiesel with no specific adjustments. Also has optimized algae harvesting tech, capacity to increase production from lab to large-scale commercial levels.
DOE $10M for 5 biofuel, bio-based projects. $1.2M to Craig Venter Inst to develop new techs to produce enzymes to more efficiently deconstruct biomass for biofuel. $2.5M to Novozymes (NOVO) to expand capabilities to find new sources of enzymes for deconstructing biomass. $2.4M to PNNL to increase production of fuel molecules in fungi growing on lignocellulosichydrolysate. $2.4M to TX AgriLife Research to develop platform for converting lignin (compound of all lignocellulosic material) into biofuel precursors. $1.8M to Lygos to develop methods, tools to convert biomass into chems.
5 trends for '13:
1, oil majors doubling down on NG, narrowing investments in advanced biofuels;
2, US biorefinery production capacity expected to reach 38.3B gal/y, exceeding mandates by 1.2B gal, actual production expected to lag mandates by 3.7B gal;
3, renewable biodiesel continues to spearhead advanced biorefinery scale-up, should account for over 50% of build out in '13;
4, muni solid waste, waste industrial gas projects will continue to gain traction globally;
5, feedstock sustainability concerns will continue to erode biofuel mandates.
Frustrated by hurricane response, NY gov seeking more state power over utilities.
Sempra US Gas & Power completed 150Mw 1st phase of PV solar farm in AZ. PG&E buying the power. Future phases could put up 700Mw more.
First Solar (FSLR) started on 139Mw solar farm in Imperial Valley. Expected completion this year.
Recurrent Energy turned on last of 4 PV solar farms to provide total 88Mw to Sacramento Muni Utility District. Investments from Google and Sun Tap Energy (formed by KKR). Recurrent now has 138Mw online of their 600Mw contracted solar portfolio.
Duke completed 10Mw solar farm in AZ.
Cedarville U (OH) building 2.1Mw PV solar array on campus. Melink Corp to build.
Largest solar farm in MN - 2Mw - turned on by Ecos Energy (majority-owned by Allco Renewable Energy). 2x as much solar capacity installed in MN in '12 than '11.
Wattner (Germany) bought 2 new solar farms in Germany. 15.4Mw total. Putting them in their Sun Asset fund. ~26M Euros.
NREL created interactive buildings, industry, transportation, el scenarios. Allows users to explore how changes in energy demand/supply can impact CO2 emissions and energy trajectory. bites.nrel.gov
U Cal Davis researchers finding cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) so far produced largest amount of chems for fuels, plastics yet. Best enzymes transplanted into bacteria's DNA. Then 3-way path built for bacteria to convert CO2 into 2,3butanediol.
Fermentalg (France) unveiled vehicle that runs on algae biodiesel with no specific adjustments. Also has optimized algae harvesting tech, capacity to increase production from lab to large-scale commercial levels.
DOE $10M for 5 biofuel, bio-based projects. $1.2M to Craig Venter Inst to develop new techs to produce enzymes to more efficiently deconstruct biomass for biofuel. $2.5M to Novozymes (NOVO) to expand capabilities to find new sources of enzymes for deconstructing biomass. $2.4M to PNNL to increase production of fuel molecules in fungi growing on lignocellulosichydrolysate. $2.4M to TX AgriLife Research to develop platform for converting lignin (compound of all lignocellulosic material) into biofuel precursors. $1.8M to Lygos to develop methods, tools to convert biomass into chems.
5 trends for '13:
1, oil majors doubling down on NG, narrowing investments in advanced biofuels;
2, US biorefinery production capacity expected to reach 38.3B gal/y, exceeding mandates by 1.2B gal, actual production expected to lag mandates by 3.7B gal;
3, renewable biodiesel continues to spearhead advanced biorefinery scale-up, should account for over 50% of build out in '13;
4, muni solid waste, waste industrial gas projects will continue to gain traction globally;
5, feedstock sustainability concerns will continue to erode biofuel mandates.
Frustrated by hurricane response, NY gov seeking more state power over utilities.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
STUFF
UK backing France's military intervention in Mali.
Darfur fighting displacing 30K folks.
UN says Saud execution of maid broke intl law.
US near bottom in world health rankings.
At least 21 Nigerian crude cargoes - 31% of output - ready for Feb loading still unsold. Cause: increased oil shale production in US, lower Euro refining margins.
Wasted food Part II: 30-50% of world's food is thrown away. ~2B tons/yr. Overly cautious sell-by dates, buy 1, get 1 free deals, obsession with perfect looking produce some of reasons. Also waste of water, energy, arable land.
Innergex (Canada) got enviro approval to build 3 hydropower dams in BC. 113Mw total capacity. 74Mw, 23Mw, 16Mw. 40-yr PPA from BC Hydro.
EDF unit got contract to supply power from its nuke plants for UK railroads. Britain increasing use of el trains. Plans 3/4 of passenger miles to be el powered by '20. Working on electrifying over 2K miles. EDF operates 8 nuke plants in Brit. Proposing to add reactors. El trains 35% less carbon emissions than diesel.
NORD LB providing $46M for 30Mw solar plant in Germany. Trina Solar modules.
EnBW's offshore wind farm project gained $664M loan from Euro Investment Bank.
Google's recent $200M wind investment was in 161Mw TX farm built by EDF (France).
Japan planning clean energy fund. $11.2M slated for next FY.
Darfur fighting displacing 30K folks.
UN says Saud execution of maid broke intl law.
US near bottom in world health rankings.
At least 21 Nigerian crude cargoes - 31% of output - ready for Feb loading still unsold. Cause: increased oil shale production in US, lower Euro refining margins.
Wasted food Part II: 30-50% of world's food is thrown away. ~2B tons/yr. Overly cautious sell-by dates, buy 1, get 1 free deals, obsession with perfect looking produce some of reasons. Also waste of water, energy, arable land.
Innergex (Canada) got enviro approval to build 3 hydropower dams in BC. 113Mw total capacity. 74Mw, 23Mw, 16Mw. 40-yr PPA from BC Hydro.
EDF unit got contract to supply power from its nuke plants for UK railroads. Britain increasing use of el trains. Plans 3/4 of passenger miles to be el powered by '20. Working on electrifying over 2K miles. EDF operates 8 nuke plants in Brit. Proposing to add reactors. El trains 35% less carbon emissions than diesel.
NORD LB providing $46M for 30Mw solar plant in Germany. Trina Solar modules.
EnBW's offshore wind farm project gained $664M loan from Euro Investment Bank.
Google's recent $200M wind investment was in 161Mw TX farm built by EDF (France).
Japan planning clean energy fund. $11.2M slated for next FY.
Friday, January 11, 2013
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume light. Oil down under $94.
WTWO up 40. VLNCQ up 35. ASIUF up 23. XSNX up 21. JUHL up 19. ECOS up 18. WEST up 17. PTOS up 15. BBLU, CABN up 13. APWR, SLMU up 11. NENE, AEHI, CCGI up 10.
ENSL down 28. VNDB down 25. SATCQ, SOPW, WWPW down 17. CGYV down 15. NPWZ down 14. GERS down 13. AMEL down 12. URRE down 11. OOIL down 9. CERP down 5.
Market flat and mixed. Volume light. Oil down under $94.
WTWO up 40. VLNCQ up 35. ASIUF up 23. XSNX up 21. JUHL up 19. ECOS up 18. WEST up 17. PTOS up 15. BBLU, CABN up 13. APWR, SLMU up 11. NENE, AEHI, CCGI up 10.
ENSL down 28. VNDB down 25. SATCQ, SOPW, WWPW down 17. CGYV down 15. NPWZ down 14. GERS down 13. AMEL down 12. URRE down 11. OOIL down 9. CERP down 5.
EARLY STUFF
TOP STUFF
NY Times axed environment desk. Repeating. The NY Times axed the environment desk.
Homeland Security: 40% of 198 cyber attacks on US infrastructure in '12 targeted energy sector.
Overfishing has reduced Pacific Tuna stocks 96%: report.
NASA launched new Earth-observing satellite.
Ontario phasing out entire coal power fleet.
3 Euro nations donating $180M for forest protection.
Jerusalem shut down by rare snowstorm.
Study linked high food costs to biofuel mandates. Huh.
Report: 1/2 of world's food goes to waste. (Well, that could be another reason for high food costs. You think?)
China warning folks to stay indoors as Beijing smog worsens.
OTHER STUFF
Study: efforts to address ag runoff failing to improve Iowa's lakes.
NY county banning BPA for cash register receipts. (Wash your hands after handling receipts.)
Oregon county to vote on GM crop ban.
AEP financing dried up for OH solar project.
Apple has wind energy storage patent. Converts friction from rotating blades into heat. Stored in low-heat fluid (mercury, ethanol). Transferred to "working fluid" when wind lulls, brought to boil for steam.
China making progress connecting idle wind farms to grid. 25% idle in '11. Could fall to 10% this year. Country plans to add 49Gw clean energy this yr.
Scientists warning against India dam-building binge.
US EcoGen (FL, MO) agreement with FPL to provide 180Mw of elgen from Eucalyptus biomass via synchronous steam turbine generators. Plans for 3 power plants for $900M. 4th $300M plant would deliver 64Mw. FPL says would save customers $167M over 30 yrs. (What, some over $5M/yr? Not a big deal. But, something.) Metrics: BTU's/acre/yr or tons/acre/yr. 10K acres/power plant, 4-yr harvests. $900M for 180Mw. About same as offshore wind these days. 2x+ onshore wind. More than solar.
Citrus waste to ethanol gaining attention in FL. Otherwise used for low-value cattle feed. FL has ~5M tons waste/yr. Could produce 60M gal ethanol/yr. Viable @ $120/bl oil.
Poll: Americans wary of pollution risks from fracking.
Turkey overtaking Norway as Europe's biggest oil driller.
Shell hit with multiple EPA air violations from Arctic offshore drilling.
Alaska state tax factored into Shell's rig move before grounding.
NY Times axed environment desk. Repeating. The NY Times axed the environment desk.
Homeland Security: 40% of 198 cyber attacks on US infrastructure in '12 targeted energy sector.
Overfishing has reduced Pacific Tuna stocks 96%: report.
NASA launched new Earth-observing satellite.
Ontario phasing out entire coal power fleet.
3 Euro nations donating $180M for forest protection.
Jerusalem shut down by rare snowstorm.
Study linked high food costs to biofuel mandates. Huh.
Report: 1/2 of world's food goes to waste. (Well, that could be another reason for high food costs. You think?)
China warning folks to stay indoors as Beijing smog worsens.
OTHER STUFF
Study: efforts to address ag runoff failing to improve Iowa's lakes.
NY county banning BPA for cash register receipts. (Wash your hands after handling receipts.)
Oregon county to vote on GM crop ban.
AEP financing dried up for OH solar project.
Apple has wind energy storage patent. Converts friction from rotating blades into heat. Stored in low-heat fluid (mercury, ethanol). Transferred to "working fluid" when wind lulls, brought to boil for steam.
China making progress connecting idle wind farms to grid. 25% idle in '11. Could fall to 10% this year. Country plans to add 49Gw clean energy this yr.
Scientists warning against India dam-building binge.
US EcoGen (FL, MO) agreement with FPL to provide 180Mw of elgen from Eucalyptus biomass via synchronous steam turbine generators. Plans for 3 power plants for $900M. 4th $300M plant would deliver 64Mw. FPL says would save customers $167M over 30 yrs. (What, some over $5M/yr? Not a big deal. But, something.) Metrics: BTU's/acre/yr or tons/acre/yr. 10K acres/power plant, 4-yr harvests. $900M for 180Mw. About same as offshore wind these days. 2x+ onshore wind. More than solar.
Citrus waste to ethanol gaining attention in FL. Otherwise used for low-value cattle feed. FL has ~5M tons waste/yr. Could produce 60M gal ethanol/yr. Viable @ $120/bl oil.
Poll: Americans wary of pollution risks from fracking.
Turkey overtaking Norway as Europe's biggest oil driller.
Shell hit with multiple EPA air violations from Arctic offshore drilling.
Alaska state tax factored into Shell's rig move before grounding.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 20/5/3. Volume light. Oil down under $94. $110B stimulus proposed in Japan. China inflation growing.
WTWO up 40. XSNX, ECOS up 23. JUHL up 19. PTOS up 15. ASPW up 13 on 200 shs. EVSI up 12. BBLU up 10. NENE up 7 more, over top 200 line.
ENSL down 28. That ride over. WWPW down 17. CERP down 13 more. URRE down 12. EWRL down 10.
Market down 20/5/3. Volume light. Oil down under $94. $110B stimulus proposed in Japan. China inflation growing.
WTWO up 40. XSNX, ECOS up 23. JUHL up 19. PTOS up 15. ASPW up 13 on 200 shs. EVSI up 12. BBLU up 10. NENE up 7 more, over top 200 line.
ENSL down 28. That ride over. WWPW down 17. CERP down 13 more. URRE down 12. EWRL down 10.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 80/15/11. Volume light. Oil back under $94. Calif to post $851M budget surplus.
NGLPF up 25. SOPW up 19. MMMW up 17. PLUG up 15. NENE up 14. NTCXF, LSCG up 12. RVLT up 11. BSRC up 10. URRE up 9.
WTWO down 37. ECOS down 27. VLNCQ down 26. ENSL down 22. VNDB down 20. SPIR, XSNX down 18. ASPW, EVSI down 11. CERP down 6.
Market up 80/15/11. Volume light. Oil back under $94. Calif to post $851M budget surplus.
NGLPF up 25. SOPW up 19. MMMW up 17. PLUG up 15. NENE up 14. NTCXF, LSCG up 12. RVLT up 11. BSRC up 10. URRE up 9.
WTWO down 37. ECOS down 27. VLNCQ down 26. ENSL down 22. VNDB down 20. SPIR, XSNX down 18. ASPW, EVSI down 11. CERP down 6.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
First Solar (FSLR) bought Solar Chile, giving it 1.5Gw of projects.
Chile approved over 3.1Gw of solar PV in '12 through Nov. 908Mw more waiting approval. All clean/ren projects approved came to 6.7Gw, 3.8Gw more wait approval. ~1.27Gw - 10 projects - added in Nov, up 530Mw from Oct.
NJ plan to put PV solar atop 175K power poles for $200M drawing flak. What if wind blows hard? And they would need cleaning. A little grafty?
Google invested $200M into TX wind farm.
EDF announced 150Mw TX wind farm went online Dec 26. GE 1.5Mw turbines, over 12K acres.
GA Power expected to ask approval to retire 15 coal- and oil-fired gen units. Total 2Gw. Switch to NG at some units. 1 maybe to biomass. GA Power ops 11.3Gw of coal gen at 10 plants. Overall 18.6Gw. Largest sub of Southern Comp.
Australia recorded highest ever temp - over 104F - Tuesday.
Risk experts see climate change as 1 of world's biggest business threats. Twin threats of econ upheaval, accelerating climate change could collide over next decade, delaying crucial adaptation efforts while exposing nations to unpredictable financial losses from disasters.
Study: no pause in Himalayan glaciers melt.
UN report: mercury concentrations in top layer of oceans have doubled (didn't say since when).
EU carbon permits surplus may push prices down further.
TransCanada to build $5B oil pipeline in BC.
Alt energy mutual funds grew avg 9% in '12. Top 2 up 20% - AWTAX, PGRNX. GAAEX, ALTEX performed best in past month.
World food prices down 7% in '12: UN. (Have you seen that at the stores?) Most decline in sugars, oils, dairy. Grains down 2.4%. (Well, someone's making money then.)
OTHER STUFF
NY Gov wants to raise regional carbon emissions cap. Also proposing "Green Bank" to spur private investment in clean/ren energy. Also called for major expansion of NY-Sun Initiative. Original program last year called for doubling solar installs in '12, quadrupling '11 level in '13. Now wants to expand to 10-yr, $150M/yr.
NREL, Stanford teaming up on "peel-and-stick" solar cells. Also called water-assisted transfer printing. Now using thin-film soalr cells.
Japanese refining unit of Shell, Development Bank of Japan setting up venture to finance utility-scale solar plants in Japan. Up to $454M/yr, 100Mw/yr target. Solar Frontier, unit of Showa Shell, to supply thin-film CIGS solar panels.
Lightsource Ren E (UK) got $87M loan from RBS/NBIC Bank to refinance 6 UK solar farms. Total cap 23Mw.
Duke completed 12.5Mw solar farm in NC. Their largest in east US.
BP Wind's $250M PA wind farm now online. PA's largest. 88 turbines, 9K acres. Sempra partnered. 10-15 permanent jobs. Power to be sold to VA, MD co-ops.
Estonia to keep annual cap on wind energy development eligible for subsidies. Retracted last year's pledge to clean/ren energy lobby to remove it in exchange for cutting size of support.
Brit branch of Domino's Pizza added 2 EV's to delivery fleet. Renault Twizys ~7K Euros ea. 60-mile range on 3.5-hr charge.
Scientists in EU reverse engineering lightning bugs to improve LED efficiency.
ISO says Brazil ethanol exports hit 3B liters in '12. 3-yr high.
Indiana railyard to boost ethanol transport capacity. Pipeline operator Buckeye Partners restarting yard ops. 4 new sets of tracks.
Noble Energy planning NV's 1st fracking ops. Public and private land. Large scale.
Colorado prelim OK on rule to move drilling rigs farther from homes, schools.
USGS: no contamination from fracking early in Ark ops.
EIA: US NG output hit record 2TCF in Oct.
OH moving to dereg NG prices.
US crude production climbed to 7Mb/d last week. EIA forecasting avg. 7.3M in '13, 7.9M in '14. Mastercard: US gasoline use down to 7.8Mb/d last week, lowest since records started in '04. Dropping steadily since Mar '11. US crude imports in '12 avg 8.65Mb/d. Lowest since '97, down 2.9% yoy.
Seaway Pipeline to begin moving 400Kb/d from Cushing, OK to Houston this week. Up from 150K. Cushing inventory hit record 50M bls last week.
Phillips 66 making 5-yr commitment to ship Bakken crude by rail.
Court ruled BP must inform public about toxics released in Gulf spill.
BLM proposing to lease over 600 acres public land in NM for coal mining.
Mexico's most feared drug cartel - los Zetas - now in coal mining biz.
First Solar (FSLR) bought Solar Chile, giving it 1.5Gw of projects.
Chile approved over 3.1Gw of solar PV in '12 through Nov. 908Mw more waiting approval. All clean/ren projects approved came to 6.7Gw, 3.8Gw more wait approval. ~1.27Gw - 10 projects - added in Nov, up 530Mw from Oct.
NJ plan to put PV solar atop 175K power poles for $200M drawing flak. What if wind blows hard? And they would need cleaning. A little grafty?
Google invested $200M into TX wind farm.
EDF announced 150Mw TX wind farm went online Dec 26. GE 1.5Mw turbines, over 12K acres.
GA Power expected to ask approval to retire 15 coal- and oil-fired gen units. Total 2Gw. Switch to NG at some units. 1 maybe to biomass. GA Power ops 11.3Gw of coal gen at 10 plants. Overall 18.6Gw. Largest sub of Southern Comp.
Australia recorded highest ever temp - over 104F - Tuesday.
Risk experts see climate change as 1 of world's biggest business threats. Twin threats of econ upheaval, accelerating climate change could collide over next decade, delaying crucial adaptation efforts while exposing nations to unpredictable financial losses from disasters.
Study: no pause in Himalayan glaciers melt.
UN report: mercury concentrations in top layer of oceans have doubled (didn't say since when).
EU carbon permits surplus may push prices down further.
TransCanada to build $5B oil pipeline in BC.
Alt energy mutual funds grew avg 9% in '12. Top 2 up 20% - AWTAX, PGRNX. GAAEX, ALTEX performed best in past month.
World food prices down 7% in '12: UN. (Have you seen that at the stores?) Most decline in sugars, oils, dairy. Grains down 2.4%. (Well, someone's making money then.)
OTHER STUFF
NY Gov wants to raise regional carbon emissions cap. Also proposing "Green Bank" to spur private investment in clean/ren energy. Also called for major expansion of NY-Sun Initiative. Original program last year called for doubling solar installs in '12, quadrupling '11 level in '13. Now wants to expand to 10-yr, $150M/yr.
NREL, Stanford teaming up on "peel-and-stick" solar cells. Also called water-assisted transfer printing. Now using thin-film soalr cells.
Japanese refining unit of Shell, Development Bank of Japan setting up venture to finance utility-scale solar plants in Japan. Up to $454M/yr, 100Mw/yr target. Solar Frontier, unit of Showa Shell, to supply thin-film CIGS solar panels.
Lightsource Ren E (UK) got $87M loan from RBS/NBIC Bank to refinance 6 UK solar farms. Total cap 23Mw.
Duke completed 12.5Mw solar farm in NC. Their largest in east US.
BP Wind's $250M PA wind farm now online. PA's largest. 88 turbines, 9K acres. Sempra partnered. 10-15 permanent jobs. Power to be sold to VA, MD co-ops.
Estonia to keep annual cap on wind energy development eligible for subsidies. Retracted last year's pledge to clean/ren energy lobby to remove it in exchange for cutting size of support.
Brit branch of Domino's Pizza added 2 EV's to delivery fleet. Renault Twizys ~7K Euros ea. 60-mile range on 3.5-hr charge.
Scientists in EU reverse engineering lightning bugs to improve LED efficiency.
ISO says Brazil ethanol exports hit 3B liters in '12. 3-yr high.
Indiana railyard to boost ethanol transport capacity. Pipeline operator Buckeye Partners restarting yard ops. 4 new sets of tracks.
Noble Energy planning NV's 1st fracking ops. Public and private land. Large scale.
Colorado prelim OK on rule to move drilling rigs farther from homes, schools.
USGS: no contamination from fracking early in Ark ops.
EIA: US NG output hit record 2TCF in Oct.
OH moving to dereg NG prices.
US crude production climbed to 7Mb/d last week. EIA forecasting avg. 7.3M in '13, 7.9M in '14. Mastercard: US gasoline use down to 7.8Mb/d last week, lowest since records started in '04. Dropping steadily since Mar '11. US crude imports in '12 avg 8.65Mb/d. Lowest since '97, down 2.9% yoy.
Seaway Pipeline to begin moving 400Kb/d from Cushing, OK to Houston this week. Up from 150K. Cushing inventory hit record 50M bls last week.
Phillips 66 making 5-yr commitment to ship Bakken crude by rail.
Court ruled BP must inform public about toxics released in Gulf spill.
BLM proposing to lease over 600 acres public land in NM for coal mining.
Mexico's most feared drug cartel - los Zetas - now in coal mining biz.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 16/0/3. Volume light. Oil up to $94.
URRE up 12 more, up to 200-day lines. ENSL up 11 more. NENE up 10, up to top 200-day line. NTCXF up 4. LIME up 3.
ECOS down 31. VNDB down 20. SPIR down 18. BSRC down 17. EVSI down 11. XSNX down 6.
Market up 16/0/3. Volume light. Oil up to $94.
URRE up 12 more, up to 200-day lines. ENSL up 11 more. NENE up 10, up to top 200-day line. NTCXF up 4. LIME up 3.
ECOS down 31. VNDB down 20. SPIR down 18. BSRC down 17. EVSI down 11. XSNX down 6.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 61/14/3. Volume slightly light. Oil slightly over $93.
ECOS up 197, back over a penny. XSNX up 28. PRHL up 27. EWRL up 24. BLDW up 23. ENSL up 20 more. CSIQ up 18. Over double since Nov. URRE up 17. Over double so far this month. RNWEF up 14. SLMU up 12. BYDDF, PLUG up 9. NENE up 6. SCTY up 5. NTCXF up 1.
CGYV down 31. ASIUF down 27. IFXY down 24. CERP, WWPW down 20. SATCQ down 18. LEOM, APWR down 15. NPWZ down 13. SRWRF down 12. LIME down 4. OOIL down 2.
Market up 61/14/3. Volume slightly light. Oil slightly over $93.
ECOS up 197, back over a penny. XSNX up 28. PRHL up 27. EWRL up 24. BLDW up 23. ENSL up 20 more. CSIQ up 18. Over double since Nov. URRE up 17. Over double so far this month. RNWEF up 14. SLMU up 12. BYDDF, PLUG up 9. NENE up 6. SCTY up 5. NTCXF up 1.
CGYV down 31. ASIUF down 27. IFXY down 24. CERP, WWPW down 20. SATCQ down 18. LEOM, APWR down 15. NPWZ down 13. SRWRF down 12. LIME down 4. OOIL down 2.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
'12 was hottest ever in contiguous US. 55.3F avg topped '98 by 1 full degree. Over 34K daily high records set. 6.6K record lows.
Brit researchers lowered their 5-yr temp forecast.
Internet a growing source of GHG emissions, comparable to airlines: report.
EIA: US crude production avg 6.4Mb/d in '12. 800K above '11. Largest annual increase since birth of US oil industry in 1859.
CEO of API: N America could become self-sufficient in liquid fuels in ~12 yrs. But warns govt not to raise taxes on oil comps or impose new regs on fracking or refineries. Also optimistic admin will approve Keystone XL.
Neb state agency report: Keystone XL would involve "minimal" risks to state's overall environment. Also says oil sands crude no more corrosive than light crude. (Other experts differ.) Governor to soon approve pipe. State earlier rejected. Parts of pipe already going forward in ND, other areas.
Fire shut down TX nuke reactor.
NYU study: BPA may be linked to early indicator for kidney, heart disease.
NY Times slammed US, Euro biofuel policies for creating hunger in Guatemala.
EIA: US NG prices to rise slightly in '13-'14.
OTHER STUFF
Chinese hydrodam builder Hanergy bought MiaSole (Cal), a thin-film solar maker. Hanergy bought thin-film solar unit of QCells (Germany) in Sept. They now have 6 thin-film solar factories and 3 more in construction. Reportedly bought Mia for $30-120M. Investors (mostly VC's) had put in over $550M. Mia factory 160Mw/yr production capacity.
FSLR bought Chilean solar comp.
JASO started mass production of 5" high-efficiency monocrystalline solar modules.
Yingli prelim tally '12 solar module shipments over 2.2Gw. Record high, up 37% over '11.
Solar installs continue to grow in Germany despite subsidies cuts.
On Dec 29, wind power in France covered record 10% of country's el demand. For all Dec, wind met 4%. '12 avg was 3%. End of '11, total wind capacity 6.8Gw. Target 25Gw by '20, including 6Gw offshore.
First Wind (Mass) wants to increase portfolio of projects 50% or more, using fed tax credit extension. Now ops 980Mw in 6 states.
Mitsui (Japan) to buy 50% of EDF's $399M, 164Mw wind farm project in Mexico.
Invenergy (IL) got $500M investment from Canadian fund for minority stake in 13 operating wind farms. 2 in Canada, 11 in US. Total capacity ~1.5Gw.
Finland hydropower comp majority owned by govt got 12-yr $26M loan from Nordic Investment Bank to build new 25Mw dam. '16 completion. Comp ops 20 hydro plants, total capacity 1.14Gw.
Cisco teaming with AT&T on home energy management with wireless control panel.
UPS, USPS teaming on new way to measure carbon footprint of transportation and delivery ops.
Russian wildlife conservation project to generate carbon credits for Germany. I didn't look further, but seems a little odd.
Cardinal Ethanol (Ind) may reduce or cease production due to corn shortage.
India biofuel board to set up cashew apple-based biofuel pilot plants.
DOE awarded TX A&M $2.3M to study how to convert lignin into biofuel.
UK researchers find delaying flowering in miscanthus can boost production 50%.
Green Fuel in Zimbabwe re-started ethanol production after govt approved E5 blending.
Iran added 2 new NG-fired power plants totaling 650Mw for $367M. They're world's 14th leading el producer: IEA. 1st in mideast. 67Gw. Target 70Gw by yearend.
DOI, Coast Guard to review Shell's Arctic drilling problems.
Ukraine to work toward coal gasification with $3.65B 19-yr credit line deal with China Development Bank. Wants to reduce NG (Gazprom) use ~4BCM/yr, saving up to $1.5B. 4 investment programs. Their coal market could grow to 10M tons/yr. Coal slurry fuel 30-70% cheaper than NG/oil. Not that bad GHG emissions.
'12 was hottest ever in contiguous US. 55.3F avg topped '98 by 1 full degree. Over 34K daily high records set. 6.6K record lows.
Brit researchers lowered their 5-yr temp forecast.
Internet a growing source of GHG emissions, comparable to airlines: report.
EIA: US crude production avg 6.4Mb/d in '12. 800K above '11. Largest annual increase since birth of US oil industry in 1859.
CEO of API: N America could become self-sufficient in liquid fuels in ~12 yrs. But warns govt not to raise taxes on oil comps or impose new regs on fracking or refineries. Also optimistic admin will approve Keystone XL.
Neb state agency report: Keystone XL would involve "minimal" risks to state's overall environment. Also says oil sands crude no more corrosive than light crude. (Other experts differ.) Governor to soon approve pipe. State earlier rejected. Parts of pipe already going forward in ND, other areas.
Fire shut down TX nuke reactor.
NYU study: BPA may be linked to early indicator for kidney, heart disease.
NY Times slammed US, Euro biofuel policies for creating hunger in Guatemala.
EIA: US NG prices to rise slightly in '13-'14.
OTHER STUFF
Chinese hydrodam builder Hanergy bought MiaSole (Cal), a thin-film solar maker. Hanergy bought thin-film solar unit of QCells (Germany) in Sept. They now have 6 thin-film solar factories and 3 more in construction. Reportedly bought Mia for $30-120M. Investors (mostly VC's) had put in over $550M. Mia factory 160Mw/yr production capacity.
FSLR bought Chilean solar comp.
JASO started mass production of 5" high-efficiency monocrystalline solar modules.
Yingli prelim tally '12 solar module shipments over 2.2Gw. Record high, up 37% over '11.
Solar installs continue to grow in Germany despite subsidies cuts.
On Dec 29, wind power in France covered record 10% of country's el demand. For all Dec, wind met 4%. '12 avg was 3%. End of '11, total wind capacity 6.8Gw. Target 25Gw by '20, including 6Gw offshore.
First Wind (Mass) wants to increase portfolio of projects 50% or more, using fed tax credit extension. Now ops 980Mw in 6 states.
Mitsui (Japan) to buy 50% of EDF's $399M, 164Mw wind farm project in Mexico.
Invenergy (IL) got $500M investment from Canadian fund for minority stake in 13 operating wind farms. 2 in Canada, 11 in US. Total capacity ~1.5Gw.
Finland hydropower comp majority owned by govt got 12-yr $26M loan from Nordic Investment Bank to build new 25Mw dam. '16 completion. Comp ops 20 hydro plants, total capacity 1.14Gw.
Cisco teaming with AT&T on home energy management with wireless control panel.
UPS, USPS teaming on new way to measure carbon footprint of transportation and delivery ops.
Russian wildlife conservation project to generate carbon credits for Germany. I didn't look further, but seems a little odd.
Cardinal Ethanol (Ind) may reduce or cease production due to corn shortage.
India biofuel board to set up cashew apple-based biofuel pilot plants.
DOE awarded TX A&M $2.3M to study how to convert lignin into biofuel.
UK researchers find delaying flowering in miscanthus can boost production 50%.
Green Fuel in Zimbabwe re-started ethanol production after govt approved E5 blending.
Iran added 2 new NG-fired power plants totaling 650Mw for $367M. They're world's 14th leading el producer: IEA. 1st in mideast. 67Gw. Target 70Gw by yearend.
DOI, Coast Guard to review Shell's Arctic drilling problems.
Ukraine to work toward coal gasification with $3.65B 19-yr credit line deal with China Development Bank. Wants to reduce NG (Gazprom) use ~4BCM/yr, saving up to $1.5B. 4 investment programs. Their coal market could grow to 10M tons/yr. Coal slurry fuel 30-70% cheaper than NG/oil. Not that bad GHG emissions.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 75/16/6. Volume normal. Oil up over $93.
ENSL up 20 more. Day 3 of surge, almost quadruple. SOPW up 16. XSNX up 12. BYDDF up 9. SCTY up 7. NENE, ORYN up 2. NENE up to bottom 200-day line. NTCXF, GRPH up 1.
IFXY down 56. CPWY down 42. CGYV down 31. LEOM down 26. CERP down 15.
Market up 75/16/6. Volume normal. Oil up over $93.
ENSL up 20 more. Day 3 of surge, almost quadruple. SOPW up 16. XSNX up 12. BYDDF up 9. SCTY up 7. NENE, ORYN up 2. NENE up to bottom 200-day line. NTCXF, GRPH up 1.
IFXY down 56. CPWY down 42. CGYV down 31. LEOM down 26. CERP down 15.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 55/7/4. Volume slightly light. Oil slightly over $93.
CSKH, WWPW up 66. BLQN, CGYV up 46. ENSL up 36. LEOM up 35. BOPO up 30. CSGH up 25. EWRL up 24. BSRC up 20. FNVRF, NGPHF up 15. GSFVF up 14. URRE up 12 more. WEST, VLNCQ up 11. NENE up 7. XSNX up 2. LIME, OOIL up 1.
BLDW down 43. ZAAP down 18. VNDB, RNWEF, CERP, AMEL, IFXY down 16. AMLM down 12. NGLPF down 10. SCTY, ORYN down 7. GRPH down 5.
Market down 55/7/4. Volume slightly light. Oil slightly over $93.
CSKH, WWPW up 66. BLQN, CGYV up 46. ENSL up 36. LEOM up 35. BOPO up 30. CSGH up 25. EWRL up 24. BSRC up 20. FNVRF, NGPHF up 15. GSFVF up 14. URRE up 12 more. WEST, VLNCQ up 11. NENE up 7. XSNX up 2. LIME, OOIL up 1.
BLDW down 43. ZAAP down 18. VNDB, RNWEF, CERP, AMEL, IFXY down 16. AMLM down 12. NGLPF down 10. SCTY, ORYN down 7. GRPH down 5.
STUFF
TOP STUFF
Global clean energy investment down to $6.46B in '12 from $9.61B in '11.
Natural disasters cost world $160B in '12. US 67% of it. "If not for Sandy, losses would have been very low." US corn/wheat belt drought cost $20B. '11 cost was $400B - Japan's quakenami, New Zealand quake, Thai floods, etc.
France doubling target for new solar to at least 1Gw in '13. Aimed at restarting country's solar sector. Tender this month for 400Mw from large-scale roof or ground installs. 1/2 will have to use "innovative tech". Winners to be announced early '14. '13 target for residential installs double to 400Mw. FIT's will be 10% higher if equipment made in Europe. France had ~4Gw solar capacity grid connected in late '12, up from 2.95Gw end of '11.
UK pledged $16M and 7 other Euro nations pledged funds to help spur up to $130M of bioenergy projects in the 8 nations.
Euro Investment Bank considering $131M loan for energy-efficient projects under $25M each in Czech Rep. Grant also expected.
Growing evidence corals may grow more adept at adapting to warmer temps.
Harmful algae blooms increasing as water warms in world's major lakes.
Brazil facing energy rationing amid hot, dry summer.
Australia so hot (with wildfires), country's Bureau of Meteorology had to add new color - deep purple - to index.
More evidence of water contamination near Canada oil sands operations.
US govt warning hackers zeroing in on energy sector.
Iran spent $25B in '12 to retain its position in OPEC. Wants to boost refining capacity, sell finished fuels. May need $400B investment next 5 yrs. Sanctions hurting their crude sales.
Japan signed 1st of kind agreement with Mongolia to help offset GHG emissions. Looking to Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh for other agreements.
Individuals can take part in Cal carbon trading.
Feds proposing minimum sound standards for hybrids, EV's.
Fiat 500e clocks in at 108MPG.
OTHER STUFF
First Solar (FSLR), Intermolecular pushing thin-film solar PV materials R&D. FSLR manufacturing costs $.67/w in Nov. Module efficiency 12.7%. Goal 14-15% by '15. New laser scribing process comes online mid-'13. Other production improvements in '13, '14. Target $.59/w soon.
Japan's wind installs to rise 8.2% to 92Mw by yearend March 31. 85Mw previous year. 256Mw year before that.
India waste management comp - Ranky Enviro Engineers - plans $200M IPO to finance 48Mw waste-to-energy plant. JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America among underwriters. India's urban areas generate ~55M tons muni waste/yr.
New charging algorithm could extend lead-acid batt life for 1st all-el, batt-powered locomotive in US. Norfolk Southern #999. Reduces sulfation, able to stop charging before other forms of degradation occur. Successfully reviving dead cells, increasing capacity almost back to new. Cell cap up 41%, batt cap up 30%. DOE funded study.
Philippine comp announced $220M plan to build 9 small run-of-river hydropower plants over next 5 yrs. Combined capacity 50Mw.
Germany's KfW IPEX lending $30M to build energy efficient hospital in Germany. 30% less energy use. Geothermal HVAC 1 step.
Eco-Energy to market ethanol from Corn Plus Ethanol's 49M gal/yr MN plant.
EPA, DOI, DOE joint statement promising closer cooperation to reduce pollution at 4 Corners coal plant in AZ while protecting econ development.
780Mw NG, diesel or fuel oil-fired power plant nearing completion in Azerbaijan. Toyo Engineering (Japan) constructing, '11 start. Azerenergy elgen capacity over 6Gw.
Colo county calls on feds for stronger fracking regs.
Utah oil output at highest level since '88.
Shell leading way in Norway seas to move offshore production process to seabed. 1K ton gas compressor among the tech.
Global clean energy investment down to $6.46B in '12 from $9.61B in '11.
Natural disasters cost world $160B in '12. US 67% of it. "If not for Sandy, losses would have been very low." US corn/wheat belt drought cost $20B. '11 cost was $400B - Japan's quakenami, New Zealand quake, Thai floods, etc.
France doubling target for new solar to at least 1Gw in '13. Aimed at restarting country's solar sector. Tender this month for 400Mw from large-scale roof or ground installs. 1/2 will have to use "innovative tech". Winners to be announced early '14. '13 target for residential installs double to 400Mw. FIT's will be 10% higher if equipment made in Europe. France had ~4Gw solar capacity grid connected in late '12, up from 2.95Gw end of '11.
UK pledged $16M and 7 other Euro nations pledged funds to help spur up to $130M of bioenergy projects in the 8 nations.
Euro Investment Bank considering $131M loan for energy-efficient projects under $25M each in Czech Rep. Grant also expected.
Growing evidence corals may grow more adept at adapting to warmer temps.
Harmful algae blooms increasing as water warms in world's major lakes.
Brazil facing energy rationing amid hot, dry summer.
Australia so hot (with wildfires), country's Bureau of Meteorology had to add new color - deep purple - to index.
More evidence of water contamination near Canada oil sands operations.
US govt warning hackers zeroing in on energy sector.
Iran spent $25B in '12 to retain its position in OPEC. Wants to boost refining capacity, sell finished fuels. May need $400B investment next 5 yrs. Sanctions hurting their crude sales.
Japan signed 1st of kind agreement with Mongolia to help offset GHG emissions. Looking to Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh for other agreements.
Individuals can take part in Cal carbon trading.
Feds proposing minimum sound standards for hybrids, EV's.
Fiat 500e clocks in at 108MPG.
OTHER STUFF
First Solar (FSLR), Intermolecular pushing thin-film solar PV materials R&D. FSLR manufacturing costs $.67/w in Nov. Module efficiency 12.7%. Goal 14-15% by '15. New laser scribing process comes online mid-'13. Other production improvements in '13, '14. Target $.59/w soon.
Japan's wind installs to rise 8.2% to 92Mw by yearend March 31. 85Mw previous year. 256Mw year before that.
India waste management comp - Ranky Enviro Engineers - plans $200M IPO to finance 48Mw waste-to-energy plant. JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America among underwriters. India's urban areas generate ~55M tons muni waste/yr.
New charging algorithm could extend lead-acid batt life for 1st all-el, batt-powered locomotive in US. Norfolk Southern #999. Reduces sulfation, able to stop charging before other forms of degradation occur. Successfully reviving dead cells, increasing capacity almost back to new. Cell cap up 41%, batt cap up 30%. DOE funded study.
Philippine comp announced $220M plan to build 9 small run-of-river hydropower plants over next 5 yrs. Combined capacity 50Mw.
Germany's KfW IPEX lending $30M to build energy efficient hospital in Germany. 30% less energy use. Geothermal HVAC 1 step.
Eco-Energy to market ethanol from Corn Plus Ethanol's 49M gal/yr MN plant.
EPA, DOI, DOE joint statement promising closer cooperation to reduce pollution at 4 Corners coal plant in AZ while protecting econ development.
780Mw NG, diesel or fuel oil-fired power plant nearing completion in Azerbaijan. Toyo Engineering (Japan) constructing, '11 start. Azerenergy elgen capacity over 6Gw.
Colo county calls on feds for stronger fracking regs.
Utah oil output at highest level since '88.
Shell leading way in Norway seas to move offshore production process to seabed. 1K ton gas compressor among the tech.
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