Subsidies under Fire The headlines have not been favorable, particularly for solar programs, over the last month, as Germany, Italy, and France (up to 60% of 2010 demand) have publicly debated the size and cost of their ambitions. Over the weekend, Italy proposed a cap on installations which could limit sales into that market …
Gee, we didn’t see this Coming !!!!! Well, actually, what the locals are calling the ‘internet intifadah,’ a seismic recipe of: Youth – 50-70% of populations under 30 Unemployment – 10-30%, depending on age and location Inflation – Food “consumes” up to 60% of income in some population segments Inequality – High per …
Batteries – Momentum builds for both electric vehicles and backup storage With the launch of the Nissan LEAF and the Chevy Volt, the newsflow actual performance and market interest in electric vehicles is building. The VOLT was (surprisingly?) well reviewed in the New York Times, and the roster of new vehicle launches is building. …
Building Boom on the Horizon Spot uranium prices have doubled over the past year, as Chinese buyers continue to stockpile product to fuel 25 plants (over 20 GW) now in construction, and part of 60 worldwide in-process projects. With significant additional plans in place, both in China and many other markets (India, Middle …
An ‘Exciting’ Transition Year for Solar First Solar was, well, first, in 2009, to point out a multi-year transition from scarcity through oversupply and ‘parity’ with conventional electricity sources in an unsubsidized environment. The company had already chosen a ‘go slow’ approach to expanding European capacity, already a wise decision. Despite a very strong …
Global (but Regional) Natural Gas and the Gas-Coal Paradox From recent conversations with leading onshore oil/gas producers, it seems that there is almost no US shale (with favorable seismic data) that cannot be frack-ed to produce hydrocarbons. It’s just a matter of time until, in the face of a mature services, pipeline, and processing …
Middle East Overall, production is stable around 29 million b/d, but marginally higher, as reported, as some producers take advantage of higher prices to add more crude to global supply. Spare capacity remains around 5.5 million b/d. A couple weeks ago, the risk to oil prices seemed to be to the upside, neglecting seasonal effects, …
Crude and Product Price Rally Overdone? The seasonally unusual spikes in crude and gasoline accompanied more bullish views of global economic fundamentals, despite shorter term year-end and other inventory effects (some of which have reversed in January). As well, along with gold, energy prices probably participated in the ongoing ‘QE2’ trade. However, January data …
Coincident with the near-formal demise of Carbon Legislation as one of many ‘intended consequences’ from the US mid term elections, a number of carbon-related topics seem to present themselves this month. Fossil Fuels and Carbon – New perspective on an ongoing issue How should Countries of the World allocate the responsibility for cutting carbon emissions …
Solar A few months ago, I wrote of my own plan to go (nearly) off grid by August. Well, the bureaucrats got in the way, but, two months later, I am 85% off grid with a 5 kw solar PV system. Thanks to the combination of Federal and State subsidies, plus the ‘certificate’ value …