energy
-
Renewables
European Pumped Storage Plants Are in Crisis
A number of baseload generators across Europe have decried the fall in average European wholesale power prices, which some peg to additions of subsidized low-marginal-cost renewable generation to an already
Tagged in: -
Legal & Regulatory
Analysis Shows U.S. Nuclear Plants Losing $2.9 Billion Annually
Increased use of less-expensive natural gas and renewable sources of energy for power generation is putting financial pressure on U.S. nuclear power plants, according to an analysis of electricity costs from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). Nicholas Steckler, an analyst for BNEF, in a June 14 report said nuclear operators are losing about $2.9 billion […]
Tagged in: -
Legal & Regulatory
Coal Is Back
Although I’m sure some readers will consider the title of this column hyperbole, coal is back. It’s back in the public discourse, and that’s largely due to the Trump administration. President Trump was
-
Commentary
Energy R&D Is Essential to Any Great Country
Bill Gates is taking on another global challenge: “Reliable, affordable energy for the world.” On December 11, the richest man in the world announced yet another commitment to effecting radical change. It’s called Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV). Together with fellow investors, Gates is betting that private money can help create “a carbonless future” by spurring […]
-
Gas
Enbridge, Spectra to Merge, Create Energy Infrastructure Giant
A merger proposed between Canadian firm Enbridge and Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. could create the largest energy infrastructure company in North America. The companies announced on September 6 that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in a stock-for-stock merger transaction that has an enterprise value of $127 billion. The transaction was reportedly […]
Tagged in: -
Press Releases
GE Joins With the MIT Energy Initiative to Develop Advanced Technology Solutions for Transforming Global Energy Systems
GE commits to a five-year, $7.5 million membership with MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) GE will become a Sustaining Member of the MITEI and participate in MITEI’s Low-Carbon Energy Centers Furthers GE’s commitment to the Boston area and expertise focused on solutions to carbon reduction CAMBRIDGE, Mass., August 30, 2016–GE (NYSE:GE) announced it will […]
Tagged in: -
Renewables
GE’s Acquisition of Alstom’s Power and Grid Business Is Official
Following regulatory approval of a $10.6 billion transaction in over 20 countries and regions, GE’s acquisition of Alstom’s energy activities is now complete. GE and Alstom sealed the deal first proposed in early 2014 with the signing of a 1,500-page “master agreement.” GE had initially proposed buying Alstom’s lucrative business for €12.35 billion, but following […]
-
Renewables
10 Quotes Concerning Energy Transformation from the ARPA-E Summit
The sixth annual ARPA-E Summit wrapped up on Wednesday, and though there were too many sessions to cover in depth, here is a mini-summary by way of selected interesting comments. Speaker photos (where available) follow the comment. “Any disruptive technology will not fit an existing market.” —Brian Janous, Director of Energy Strategy, Microsoft “[The energy […]
Tagged in: -
Renewables
ARPA-E Summit Takes the Pulse of Energy Technology Innovation
“The coolest thing on Earth” is, according to its new director, a young federal agency that has a unique focus on pushing technology frontiers and an “unblinking attention” to market realities. One thing you can say for sure about the energy world, said Dr. Ellen Williams (Figure 1), incoming director of ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects […]
Tagged in: -
Renewables
IEA: 40% of World’s Power Fleet Will Need to Be Replaced by 2040
Events over the past year—turmoil in the oil-rich Middle East and the Russian-Ukraine gas crisis—along with uncertainty for nuclear power and pervading energy poverty worldwide show that the energy system is “under stress,” the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in its freshly released World Energy Outlook 2014 (WEO-2014). Despite technology and efficiency improvements, without actions […]
Tagged in: