Energy Advisory News

The Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) has launched a Request for Proposals (RfP) for 600,000 TEUs over a three-year period on ocean vessels powered by zero-emission fuels.This will help its member companies reduce nearly one million metric tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking 215,000 cars off the road. The RfP is the first major buyer-led initiative to accelerate the transition to zero-emission maritime fuels. ZEMBA was launched as a nonprofit membership organization in March 2023 by the Aspen Institute…

Set to Soar, Taking Offshore Support Industry With it.Offshore energy development is opening a new front in the United States -- the Atlantic seaboard, with strong winds, a shallow continental shelf and a proximity to dense population centers is driving strong interest in offshore wind development. The offshore oil and gas supply chain stands to benefit in a big way from billions in coming investment. In fact, it is already playing a role. Companies in the Gulf of Mexico, which traditionally support the offshore oil and gas sector…

Maersk Supply Service has signed a three-year contract extension with Inmarsat for its new dedicated bandwidth service Fleet Xpress, including a a dedicated bandwidth charterer service agreement.The Danish company, which has a fleet of 40 anchor handlers, subsea support vessels and platform supply vessels deployed in Europe, the Americas, West Africa, South East Asia and Australia, is also an advocate for digital solutions that use data to optimize vessel operations, recently adopting a new energy advisory system in support of an initial target to reduce fuel consumption by 5% by 2020.Eric Griffin, VP of Offshore Energy, Inmarsat Maritime…

The energy advisory and certification body DNV GL has awarded Iberdrola Renovables Offshore Deutschland GmbH the project certificate for its Wikinger offshore wind farm.The 350 megawatt offshore wind farm project located in the German Baltic sea is fully certified for safe and reliable power generation.The certification was carried out according to the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH – Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie) and covers all stages of the design assessment and implementation phase of the wind turbines, offshore substation including their support structures and the array power cables.The wind farm is located in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic sea…

Maersk Supply Service (MSS) announced it will equip its vessels to use data to optimize operations and save fuel in real time.The offshore services company said on Friday it signed a contract earlier this month with Eniram, a Wärtsilä company, to install Energy Advisory Systems on two of its vessels, with potential to equip four additional vessels, and eventually its entire fleet, after performance testing.Proof of concept trials will be carried out during summer 2019 on one M-class Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel (AHTS) and one I-class Subsea Support Vessel (SSV).After testing…

DNV GL calls on industry stakeholders to join a new Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop Recommended Practice on wind turbine design methodologies for cyclones and earthquakes.The world’s largest independent energy advisory and certification body said in a press release that the ACE (Alleviating Cyclone and Earthquake Challenges for Wind farms) Joint Industry Project is aiming to gather experiences from cross-industry players to align wind turbine design methodologies for those extreme weather conditions.Seismic and cyclone impacts on wind turbines is of critical importance in emerging offshore markets such as the Asian Pacific region like Taiwan…

DNV GL, the world’s largest independent energy advisory and certification body, has launched a new Global Operations & Analytics Centre for renewable assets located in Bengaluru, India.The new centre will work in tandem with DNV GL’s existing UK Operations Control Centre in Glasgow, to offer seamless 24/7 monitoring services that aim to strengthen performance and operational efficiencies of renewable assets alongside detecting, analysing and predicting failures.DNV GL’s recently published Energy Transition Outlook report forecasts that by 2050, 80% of global electricity production will come from renewables. The transition to clean and renewable sources of energy has seen unprecedented growth in recent years…

DNV GL, the world’s largest independent energy advisory and certification body, has appointed wind energy professional Peter Brun as Global Offshore Wind Segment Leader. Brun is responsible for stakeholder management, alliance building and promoting offshore wind development throughout the world. Brun brings more than 26 years of experience in the wind energy industry and international diplomacy. His rich and varied expertise in the wind industry, includes holding dual Vice Chairman roles at EWEA (now WindEurope) and Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) between 2009 to 2013. He was also Chairman of the Danish Wind Energy Association from 2007 to 2011.

Saudi Crown Prince takes bullish stance on supply cut deal; U.S. crude inventories show surprise build even as crude exports hit new record four-week average. Brent crude closed at a 27-month high on Thursday as the market focused more on comments from Saudi Arabia about ending a global supply glut instead of an unexpected increase in U.S. crude inventories and high U.S. production and exports. Brent futures gained 86 cents, or 1.5 percent, to settle at $59.30 a barrel, its highest close since July 3, 2015. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude, meanwhile, rose 46 cents, or 0.9 percent, to settle at a six-month high of $52.64, its highest close since April 17.

U.S. shale drilling slowdown may be temporary. Oil prices rose to an eight-week high on Thursday, as a rally in U.S. gasoline futures spurred further gains this week that came after key OPEC members pledged to reduce exports and the U.S. government reported a sharp decline in crude inventories. U.S. gasoline futures were the biggest percentage gainer in the petroleum complex, up 1.6 percent to their highest since May 30. "Today's buying rotation back to the front of the (gasoline) curve is a healthy sign that augers in favor of additional price gains," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Chicago-based energy advisory firm Ritterbusch & Associates, said in a note. Benchmark Brent futures were up 50 cents, or 1 percent, at $51.47 a barrel by 12:54 p.m. EDT (1654 GMT). U.S.

Once considered the future of gas production, floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) projects have been firmly relegated to the backburner as global gas producers seek cheaper ways to compete with a surge in U.S. shale supplies and slumping prices. FLNG projects - mega tankers fitted with gas extraction and liquefaction facilities - allow producers to tap offshore gas wells and ship LNG without having to build costly pipelines to onshore plants. Owners can move the vessels to new fields when production at an old one ends, slashing asset end-of-life costs.

Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday as forecasts for record production out of Russia in 2017 helped offset earlier gains related to a decline in the U.S. dollar and Saudi Arabia saying it would adhere to OPEC's commitment to cut output. Brent futures were up 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $55.91 a barrel by 11:26 a.m. EST (1626 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 32 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $52.69. Both contracts were up by $1 earlier Tuesday. Earlier gains were capped by forecasts for rising U.S. and Russian production and scepticism that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a whole would comply with its commitment to reduce supplies.

Oil prices were little changed on Monday, with little news to influence a market waiting to see whether U.S. production from shale fields will grow enough to offset planned output cuts by OPEC, Russia and other producers next year. Brent futures for February delivery were down 24 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $54.97 a barrel by 11:43 a.m. EST (1643 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for January rose 6 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $51.96 per barrel on its last day as the front-month. "Implied U.S. output increases...will offset a significant portion of the planned OPEC production cuts especially since we don't anticipate sustained strong compliance," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Chicago-based energy advisory firm Ritterbusch & Associates, said in a note.

DNV GL’s Ellen Crivella was honored with the 2016 Rising Star Award at the Women of Wind Energy (WoWE) luncheon at the 2016 AWEA Windpower Conference and Exhibition. Each year, the Rising Star Award recognizes a woman relatively new to wind energy who has already made significant professional contributions and shown unusual talent, dedication and innovation in their wind industry work. As DNV GL’s global head of practice for environmental and permitting services, Ellen has been involved in the siting, permitting and financing of over 10,000 MW of renewable energy projects. Ellen has recruited key talent and quickly established DNV GL as an expert advisor in avian and other wildlife issues for wind power.

With the Paris U.N. Conference on Climate Change nearing an end, it has again put the spotlight on companies who have opportunity to make positive changes to their overall environmental footprint. “Developing environmental practices and creating sustainability is a growing focus for many global companies,” explains Craig Dickman, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of Breakthrough Fuel, a global supply chain management and transportation energy advisory firm. Dickman adds that the focus on sustainability isn’t just a reaction to stricter emissions requirements that some world leaders are pressing for at the annual Climate Change Conference. “It’s a change in attitude that’s happened over the past decade or more,” explains Dickman.

Statoil and Repsol announce transactions in Norway, UK, US and Brazil. These transactions increase the number of Statoil’s operatorships in priority areas, providing greater control of asset development and costs through shared efficiencies. * Statoil farms down to Repsol a 15% interest in the Gudrun field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Statoil remains the operator and largest equity holder with a 36% interest. * Pending Repsol partner approval, Statoil will acquire a 31% equity share in the UK licence for Alfa Sentral, a field which spans the UK-Norway maritime border. * Statoil acquires from Repsol a 13% interest in the Eagle Ford joint venture and becomes its sole operator.

“Set it and forget it” may work well for rotisserie cookers, but that approach can be disastrous for shipboard HVAC systems. It’s not uncommon to find that the last time an HVAC system’s settings were checked on board is when it is was first set – upon installation. Typically, claims energy advisory firm utiliVisor, the ships’ engineers set the parameters and then go on their merry way. “A lot of marine companies mostly look at engine and generator performance, but no one is taking a look at chilled water…

In the power sector DNV GL supports the industry in delivering a secure, sustainable, available and affordable energy supply. In his new role Hans Tormod Hansen will be responsible for offering energy advisory services to the Scandinavian market, assisting power transmission and distribution companies with strategic advice, planning, implementation and energy delivery optimization – from policy to use. “Having started my career at DNV, I’m fascinated by how the company has evolved over the years,” said Hans Tormod. “Scandinavia’s current energy transition offers many opportunities and I am excited to share DNV GL’s expertise in transmission and distribution, risk management and renewables with the energy industry in the region.

The New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) and DNV GL (formerly DNV KEMA) today announced the opening of the new state-of-the-art Battery and Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Testing and Commercialization Center in Rochester, New York. The Center’s services include a suite of test, validation and independent certification capabilities that are necessary to introduce new energy storage technologies into the marketplace and accelerate integration of renewable and distributed energy. Created through a partnership between NY-BEST and DNV GL with seed funding from New York State, the BEST Test and Commercialization Center is an independent global testing and commercialization facility.

utiliVisor, a provider of energy monitoring and submetering services, has formed a partnership with SUNY Maritime College that will facilitate the implementation of energy efficiency measures at SUNY facilities while creating training and mentoring opportunities for Maritime cadets. utiliVisor is an energy advisory firm providing oversight solutions to large commercial offices, hospitals, institutional and educational buildings, and mission critical facilities nationwide. The firm offers solutions for continuous energy oversight of central utility plant environments and utility submetering systems. Its third party independent measurement and verification services enable owners to achieve significant savings on energy costs.

Statoil ASA has signed an agreement to divest minority interests in the Gullfaks and Gudrun fields offshore Norway and exit the non-core, non-operated Schiehallion and Rosebank fields, West of Shetlands. In addition to the cash consideration of USD 2.65 billion, the transaction with Austrian oil and gas company OMV includes a contingent payment and involves a partnership between the two companies. Statoil reduces its ownership share in Gullfaks from 70 % to 51 % and from 75 % to 51 % in Gudrun, and retains its operatorships on both fields. "Through this transaction, Statoil captures value created through asset development and unlocks capital for investment in high return projects in core areas. This includes our recent discoveries on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Jose Femenia, former Head of Engineering and Director of the Master of Marine Engineering Program at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, has been named a consultant at utiliVisor. UtiliVisor is an energy advisory firm that offers comprehensive energy monitoring and analysis services for the marine industry, providing accurate, reliable solutions to boost the fuel efficiency of vessels. Mr. Femenia will serve as a technical advisor for utiliVisor clients on shipboard propulsion and power systems. “Jose’s background at the U.S.

World crude production may rise and fall, but the historical trend shows a steady increase in the price of a barrel of oil, and with it, the price of a ton of fuel. Add the demands of shareholders and charterers to increase operational efficiency and profitability, as well as increasing international pressure to reduce fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. It is no wonder that ship owners have seen a steady rise, as well, in the availability of technologies — from ship design to propulsion and HVAC systems to hull coatings — that are purported to reduce fuel consumption.