Threat to Whales Complicates US Research into Seaweed for Biofuel
In Cape Cod Bay, 10-year-old Pilgrim and her calf skim the water's glassy surface alongside the Shearwater research vessel to feed on tiny crustaceans.The two are among the last surviving 340 or so North Atlantic right whales left migrating along the U.S. East Coast – down from 480 right whales in 2010.The biggest threats they face include being struck by passing ships or getting entangled in ropes used for lobster fishing off the U.S. East Coast - scientists have recorded 98 such injuries or deaths of whales since 2017.Now, the whales face another threat as the U.S.
Next US Energy Boom Could Be Wind Power in the Gulf of Mexico
With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains US$370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean electricity generation. One source that’s poised for growth is offshore wind power.Today the U.S. has just two operating offshore wind farms, off of Rhode Island and Virginia, with a combined generating capacity of 42 megawatts. For comparison, the new Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma has 356 turbines and a 998-megawatt generating capacity.
Repsol, Brittany Extend LNG Supply Deal
French shipping company Spanish energy giant Repsol have reached an agreement for the extension of the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the ferry operator’s Spanish operations.Repsol will supply LNG to Brittany Ferries’ operations in Spain. Under the agreement, the energy company will build two LNG bunker terminals at the ports of Bilbao and Santander, where Brittany Ferries conducts its Spanish operations.Each terminal will include an intermediate storage tank of 1,000 m3 to guarantee an uninterrupted supply.Repsol will supply LNG bunker fuel to Brittany Ferries’ Salamanca and Santoña during the ships’ regular visits on routes linking Portsmouth, UK and northern Spain, beginning in 2022.
Europe Invests in African Renewable Energy
The provider of testing and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy management, DNV GL has joined European signatories including ABB, EDP Renewables, Enel Green Power, Ge Renewable Energy, Pöyry, Prysmian, PwC, Siemens Gamesa and Vestas."DNV GL has signed a ‘declaration of intent’ to commit its interest and participation to the initiative renewAfrica, aimed at boosting renewable energy investments in Africa, alongside leading players in the African and European renewable energy market," said a statement.The renewAfrica launch event was hosted by RES4Africa and reflects the need for a strong joint effort…
Severe U.S. winter leaves questions for gas, power markets
Natural gas pipelines and power utilities across the United States struggled for several weeks to keep lights on and homes warm through the coldest winter in decades, but it may take many months for the cost and the fallout of the so-called "polar vortex" to work through the energy chain. As sub-freezing temperatures spread in January and February, spot natural gas prices spiked at many gas delivery points in the Midwest, Northeast and New York, pushing wholesale power prices above $100 per megawatt-hour for days at a time. Customers will soon receive gas and electric bills, reflecting the higher cost of gas in January. In unregulated power markets, January bills will present a "double whammy," said Nick Akins, chief executive of American Electric Power Co, one of the largest U.S.
Natural gas industry ready to rebuild depleted U.S. supply
U.S. utilities have withdrawn a record amount of natural gas from underground storage to meet heating and power needs during an extremely cold winter, but gas producers say they are confident they can rebuild inventory. "We believe North America has the capacity to supply far more natural gas than we are doing now at a reasonable price," said William Maloney, Statoil's executive vice president of development and production for North America, speaking at the IHS CERAWeek conference in Houston, an annual meeting of global energy leaders. Some traders have expressed doubts that inventories would be rebuilt in time for next winter, but Maloney said the biggest challenge is not supply, but demand.
Tidal Energy Leaders to Collaborate
CEOs of the world’s leading tidal device developers to meet & collaborate at upcoming summit. CEOs from Atlantis Resources Corporation, Andritz Hydro Hammerfest, Marine Current Turbines, Tidal Generation (Rolls Royce) and Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies have again committed in 2012 to help push forward the tidal energy industry by continued collaboration and information sharing. They will be joined for the first time by Christopher Sauer, the President and CEO of the USA’s Ocean Renewable Power Company. The ORPC has made headlines this year by securing a PPA agreement with the Maine Public Utilities Commission to sell grid-connected power from their TidGen project in Eastport, giving a boost to device developers and manufacturers.
Global Energy Leaders to Appear at Gastech 2012
Leaders representing their governments and the international energy community will come together later this year to tackle key challenges and examine the role for gas in the future energy mix at Gastech 2012, to be held October 8-11, 2012, in London. The Gastech 2012 Conference Program will highlight the major issues defining what has been termed the ‘Golden Age for Gas,’ with key technical and commercial sessions. Led by the most influential business leaders and engineering experts from across the supply chain…
