Energy Sector News

[petit_bateau]

WTI $77 /bbl
Brent $84 /bbl
NL TTF gas €53 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Europe is heading close to the end of the winter season with storage about 69% full, much above the 10-year average of 54% for this time of the year.

Not mankind's first rodeo, (spolier alert : previous ones ended badly)

Drought may have doomed ancient Hittite empire, tree study reveals

Examination of trees alive at the time shows three years of severe drought that may have caused crop failures and famine

www.theguardian.com

Big oil, big profits

Big Oil profits soared to nearly $200bn in 2022

The combined profits of some of the world’s biggest oil companies amount to over $199 billion in 2022, hitting records.

www.energymonitor.ai

Genuine vehicle packs, not often done, more talked about

B2U reaches 25 MWh storage capacity at California facility with 1,300 used Honda and Nissan EV batteries

In addition to deploying the Honda and Nissan batteries at scale, B2U Storage Solutions said it has tested GM Bolt and Tesla Model 3 battery packs, showing that its system can be configured to operate any EV battery.

www.utilitydive.com

Astroturf inbound

BP CEO describes Archaea acquisition as a ‘game changer’ for boosting biogas volumes

In their first earnings call since completing the purchase of a leading landfill gas project developer, BP executives outlined plans to ramp up capital spending and pursue new offtake options for the Archaea platform.

www.utilitydive.com

More of that 536 GW of solar per year

Tongwei to set up 120,000 MT of additional polysilicon capacity

Tongwei has revealed plans to set up a new polysilicon facility with a production capacity of 120,000 metric tons (MT) in Leshan, in China's Sichuan province.

www.pv-magazine.com

see also

Global polysilicon capacity could hit 536 GW by end of 2023

Clean Energy Associates said in a new report that it expects polysilicon production capacity to exceed PV installations next year.

www.pv-magazine.com

Circular blades breakthrough (not just applicable to wind)

Newly Discovered Chemical Process Renders All Existing Wind Turbine Blades Recyclable

A new chemical process discovered as part of a Vestas-led project allows for epoxy-based blades to be broken down into raw material that can be reused in new wind turbine blades.

www.offshorewind.biz

Inverter failure rates keep falling

Survey shows 34.3% failure rate for residential inverters over 15 years

The Bern University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland has published the initial results of a survey on the durability and performance of residential PV inverters and power optimizers over a 15-year period. They found that more than 65% of the inverters did not present yield-relevant faults by...

www.pv-magazine.com

The other big dig

9 years until the Brenner Base Tunnel: let’s look at where we are

With a length of 64 kilometres, including the bypass of Innsbruck, the Brenner Base Tunnel will be the longest underground railway connection in the world. With construction works hitting important milestones, this is a good time to look back at those developments and, more in general, at the...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $79 /bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €53 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

IMF wants understanding

Support for Climate Action Hinges on Public Understanding of Policy

Novel survey shows how concerned people are about climate change, how they view mitigation polices, and what drives support for climate action

www.imf.org

EU committee stage approval

EU gas market reforms approved

Measures to phase out fossil gas and support the development of a hydrogen backbone approved by the EU’s ITRE Committee.

www.smart-energy.com

Russian oil production cut

Russia to cut oil output by 500,000 bpd in March

Russia will cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day, or around 5% of output , in March, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday, after the West imposed price caps on Russian oil and oil products.

www.reuters.com

Even more Chinese solar production capacity, 35GW this time

Trina Solar to expand n-type ingot capacity by 35 GW

In response to growing demand, Trina Solar has revealed plans to ramp up ingot capacity at a new factory in Xining, in China's Qinghai province.

www.pv-magazine.com

Russian rail shunning

Russian Railways chief charged for using rail in war

The head of Russian Railways, Oleg Belozyorov, has been charged in absentia by the Ukrainian Security Service. The authority said they gathered evidence that he “organised the delivery by rail of Russian armored vehicles and personnel in the direction of the state border of Ukraine and to the...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $79 /bbl
Brent $86 /bbl
NL TTF gas €52 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

China-Qatar gas deal inbound

Exclusive: China's CNPC set to seal mega Qatari LNG deal - sources

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) is close to finalising a deal to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from QatarEnergy over nearly 30 years from the Middle Eastern exporter's massive North Field expansion project, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

www.reuters.com

Dutch switch

Dutch parliament approves proposal to phase out net metering

The House of Representatives of the Netherlands has voted to end net metering. If the Dutch Senate approves the proposal, it could usher in a new era for rooftop PV, with storage becoming crucial for the country's energy transition.

www.pv-magazine.com

German offshore grid moves

TenneT Considering Sale of German Activities to German State

TenneT is investigating the possible sale of its German activities to the German state in order to achieve the energy transition objectives, the Dutch-German transmission system operator (TSO) said.

www.offshorewind.biz

BP blocking offshore wind ........ (imho)

UK Delays Development Consent Decision on 2.6 GW Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm

The UK's Planning Inspectorate has delayed a final decision on granting approval for Ørsted's 2.6 GW Hornsea Four offshore wind farm by nearly five months.

www.offshorewind.biz

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $78 /bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €53 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Sanctions matter

What China Has Learned From the Ukraine War

Even great powers aren’t safe from economic warfare—if the U.S.-led order sticks together.

www.foreignaffairs.com

US-EU

In green subsidy race with US, EU lacks focus

Cleantech companies call for greater clarity on EU green subsidies announced in response to US Inflation Reduction Act.

www.energymonitor.ai

2022 EV sales info

DEEP DIVE: EV Sales of 2022, listed per country

Caution! High Voltage! ⚡

www.evuniverse.io

Estonia SMR

BWRX-300 selected for Estonia's first nuclear power plant : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Estonia's Fermi Energia has selected GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 small modular reactor for potential deployment in the Baltic country by the early 2030s. Two other SMR designs had been under consideration.

www.world-nuclear-news.org

US nacelles up

Siemens Gamesa Plans Producing 'Made in USA' Offshore Wind Turbine Nacelles in New York

Siemens Gamesa has revealed plans to build a major manufacturing facility for offshore wind turbine nacelles at the Port of Coeymans, in New York, if wind farms comprising its turbines are selected by the state in the third offshore wind solicitation.

www.offshorewind.biz

US coal down

Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate US coal plant retirements

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is expected to move forward the retirement of coal-fired power plants in the U.S., according to a forecast from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

www.spglobal.com

Ukraine - Poland rail

New Poland-Ukraine railway connection via emerging hub will be the fastest

The Polish Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) and Ukrainian Railways (Uz) have agreed to start developing a new railway line connecting Poland and Ukraine. Accordingly, it will be the fastest route between the two countries serving both freight and passenger services. The agreement was concluded...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $78 /bbl
Brent $84 /bbl
NL TTF gas €55 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Sadly as predicted, still so

Rising seas threaten ‘mass exodus on a biblical scale’, UN chief warns

António Guterres calls for urgent action as climate-driven rise brings ‘torrent of trouble’ to almost a billion people

www.theguardian.com

Buckets of cash, global scale

Markets ride $1 trillion global liquidity wave

The explanation for the whoosh higher in risk assets this year may be as simple as it is surprising: eye-popping liquidity from central banks.

www.reuters.com

US grid wranges, follow the money

NextEra, renewable trade group urge FERC to keep competitively bid East Texas transmission project alive

Entergy supports the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s plan to cancel the $115 million project, which has been delayed by a right-of-first-refusal law.

www.utilitydive.com

US licensing wedge ......

Georgia lawmakers seek to regulate solar panel installers

Georgia lawmakers are looking to regulate the installation of rooftop solar panels, saying some companies are ripping off consumers.

www.renewableenergyworld.com

Looser hydrogen eligibility rules, who would have guessed that might happen !

The Hydrogen Stream: Europe introduces new green hydrogen rules

The European Commission has presented the final version of its new rules for green hydrogen, with looser requirements to qualify hydrogen as "green."

www.pv-magazine.com

Solar business cycle, reading the runes

After hitting rock bottom, polysilicon will rebound to a sustained price level

A variety of factors led to the drop in polysilicon prices over the past year, but JinkoSolar notes that this decrease has slowed amid a short-term bump in supplies that still lags behind strong levels of wafer manufacturing capacity.

www.pv-magazine.com

€2bn, small change in a world of floaters

France's EUR 2.08 Billion Aid for Floating Offshore Wind Project Gets EU Nod

The European Commission (EC) has approved, under EU State aid rules, a EUR 2.08 billion measure to support the construction and operation of a floating offshore wind farm in France.

www.offshorewind.biz

Trans-Russia rail : total destruction ? (except Hungary, duh)

China-Europe trains in 2022: east-west imbalance and drops in volume

It has become an indisputable fact that the freight volume of railway operations between China and Europe has plummeted in 2022, but how steep was the decline? A look at the recent data of UTLC ERA, the main operator on the New Silk Road via Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia, gives a good...

www.railfreight.com

UK rail Con wreck continues

Transport Secretary actually includes freight in major UK rail speech

Mark Harper, the UK transport secretary, has affirmed his commitment to the rail sector and has outlined plans to modernise the industry. That message has met with mixed responses. The freight industry has given it a thumbs up, but the rail unions have been more inclined to point in the other...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $78 /bbl
Brent $85 /bbl
NL TTF gas €52 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Trumper going

Trump pick for World Bank chief makes early exit after climate stance misstep

David Malpass’ decision comes after running afoul of White House for failing to say whether he accepts global warming consensus

www.theguardian.com

Tesla partially opens up US charger network

Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

www.utilitydive.com

Testing 15MW

Finland to Test 15 MW Offshore Wind Turbines in Freezing Sea Conditions

Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted EUR 30 million to Suomen Hyötytuuli, the owner and operator of the country's only offshore wind farm, to support the development of the Tahkoluoto demonstration project off Pori.

www.offshorewind.biz

New electrolyser

Longi releases new alkaline electrolyzer

China's Longi claims that its new ALK Hi1 electrolyzer can produce hydrogen with an energy content of 4.3 kWh per normal cubic meter. It says the levelized cost of hydrogen could be up to 2.2% lower than other electrolyzers on the market.

www.pv-magazine.com

Iron-chromium flow battery

Iron-chromium flow battery for renewables storage

Researchers in China have successfully prepared cobalt oxide-modified graphite felt as an electrode material for an iron-chromium flow battery. The electrode performance significantly improved due to the effects of cobalt, which in turn boosted the energy efficiency and overall performance of...

www.pv-magazine.com

More US-IRA consequences

Australia regretting belated transition as IRA sparks global race for renewables

When US President Joe Biden signed the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act into law in August, it was lauded as the world's most significant policy to combat climate change. However, some international critics and competitors claim the landmark bill thwarts their plans to foster green...

www.pv-magazine.com

China solar

China solar power capacity could post record growth in 2023

China is expected to add 95 to 120 gigawatts (GW) of solar power in 2023, or as much as 30%, a solar manufacturing association said on Thursday, in what would be a record annual rise in capacity.

www.reuters.com

Doom loop reports

World risks descending into a climate ‘doom loop’, warn thinktanks

Report says simply coping with escalating impacts of climate crisis could override tackling root cause

www.theguardian.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $75 /bbl
Brent $82 /bbl
NL TTF gas €49 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Natural gas futures in Europe touched €49.5 a megawatt-hour on Friday, the lowest intraday level since September 1st 2021, and are heading to end the week nearly 7% lower, as Europe's energy crisis seems to be over for now. Europe is heading close to the end of the winter season with storage about 65% full, much above the 10-year average of 54% for this time of the year, due to warmer-than-usual temperatures, record LNG imports, and a rise in power generation from alternative energy sources including wind and nuclear. Also, energy-saving efforts by homes and factories helped to avoid an energy deficit. Fresh data showed gas demand in Germany was around 8% lower at the beginning of February than the four-year average while in 2022. Meanwhile, Europe continues to look for alternatives to Russian gas supplies, including Qatar and Oman while the second-largest US LNG exporter Freeport resumed shipments.

Another hydrogen bait and switch

Why LNG terminals will not be transporting hydrogen any time soon

Political promises that new LNG terminals can be switched to transporting hydrogen are likely to remain unfulfilled.

www.energymonitor.ai

EU shows teeth

Croatia, Hungary, Portugal to face EU sanctions for not promoting renewables

The European Commission has decided to refer three member states to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to turn the EU Renewable Energy Directive into national legislation. The commission is now requesting financial sanctions.

www.pv-magazine.com

1.2 GW for Chile

Enel Green Power Chile to commission Campos del Sol project

Enel Green Power Chile has received approval to begin commercial operations of its Campos del Sol photovoltaic (PV) power plant.

www.power-technology.com

Tax, banks, money ......... (all this is in a sense linked to the ongoing post-Bretton Woods revisiting that is underway)

The Unfinished Business of International Business Tax Reform

Most countries in the world agreed on a major tax reform in 2021. Now it’s time to follow through with implementation

www.imf.org

US SPR

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12110

Auctions drive batteries

UK power capacity auction delivers 627 MW of battery storage

Britain’s T-1 Capacity Auction for delivery in the 2023-24 period saw battery energy storage technology emerge as the third-biggest winner in terms of secured contracts, following gas and nuclear. Batteries accounted for more than a half of the new build capacity.

www.pv-magazine.com

SMR blurb

We were promised smaller nuclear reactors. Where are they?

Small modular reactors could be quicker and cheaper to build. Now, they’ve reached a major milestone.

www.technologyreview.com

Trad utilities will fight

Judge recommends that California regulators reject Sunnova's micro utility bid

In his proposed ruling, Rizzo said the exemptions sought by Sunnova are unauthorized and the company failed to provide required information.

www.renewableenergyworld.com

Australian big wind

EDF Renewables Acquires Multi-Gigawatt Floating Wind Project Offshore Australia

EDF Renewables has acquired the Newcastle Offshore Wind (NOW) floating offshore wind project that is under development in New South Wales, Australia.

www.offshorewind.biz

Spanish big wind

RWE, Ferrovial Plan to Jointly Develop Floating Wind Projects in Spain

Spanish company Ferrovial and German offshore wind developer RWE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the joint development, construction and operation of floating wind farms in Spain, where Ferrovial has so far submitted expressions of interest (EoIs) for four projects...

www.offshorewind.biz

Heat pump complexity

Solar-thermal heat pump configurations for buildings

Italian researchers have reviewed different system configurations for photovoltaic-thermal solar-assisted heat pumps in buildings. They say that using the PV-thermal collector as the heat pump’s evaporator results in the highest heat recovery, but a dual-source system with a separate heat...

www.pv-magazine.com

Belarus rail under pressure

Lithuania closes rail border with Belarus, too much smuggling

Starting on 16 February, Lithuania is closing the Stasylos-Byenyakoni rail border crossing with Belarus because of too many smuggling cases. Currently, therefore, the only rail border crossing left open between the two countries is Kena-Gudogai. Moreover, Lithuania is pulling out of the...

www.railfreight.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $77 /bbl
Brent $83 /bbl
NL TTF gas €51 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Motor vehicle manufacturing transition may be over by 2030

Moderators' Choice: Posts of Particular Merit

So Farley thinks that dealer network is an asset and not a burden!! 🤣🤣 Elon Musk has made so many big mistakes. First he bet on a kind of car that no one wanted, ones powered by batteries. Ha ha. Then he decided to bet against dealer networks by running his own delivery/service centers...

teslamotorsclub.com

China produced 288.7 GW of modules, 827,000 MT of polysilicon, 357 GW of wafers and 318 GW of solar cells, in 2022

China produced 288.7 GW of modules, 827,000 MT of polysilicon in 2022

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) says Chinese manufacturers produced 357 GW of wafers and 318 GW of solar cells in 2022.

www.pv-magazine.com

UK struggles to actually make stuff

Saipem and Harland & Wolff Terminate Offshore Wind Contract

UK ship repair, shipbuilding, and offshore construction company, Harland & Wolff, has terminated a contract with Saipem for the manufacture and delivery of jacket foundations for the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe wind farm offshore Scotland.

www.offshorewind.biz

Heat pumps are go

Dutch Heat Pump Association reports surge in residential installations in 2022

The Dutch heat pump market grew by 57% in 2022, with 70,000 heat pumps installed in new buildings and 40,000 in existing homes. The Dutch Heat Pump Association (DHPA) now wants to focus on investing in solar-thermal heat pumps and bringing the technology to low-income households.

www.pv-magazine.com

Linear solar growth graphs abound

Global trends for solar in 2023

Component cost declines, local manufacturing and distributed energy are the three big trends for the renewable energy sector this year, according to S&P Global.

www.pv-magazine.com

German hydrogen nexus

The Hydrogen Stream: Novel design for high-power PEM fuel cells

South Korean researchers have revealed a scalable production method for platinum-based fuel cell catalysts, while Germany moved forward on its hydrogen strategy by signing agreements with Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

www.pv-magazine.com

Shingle solar

Tongwei unveils 21.7%-efficient shingled solar panels for residential PV

Tongwei is offering six versions of its monofacial monocrystalline panels, with power outputs ranging from 400 W to 430 W and power conversion efficiencies between 20.1% and 21.7%.

www.pv-magazine.com

 

[nativewolf]

So I have just caught up on your most excellent Post on EV production, batteries, and Tesla growth prospects. Very nice. Not sure that we don’t see LFP production move into stationary storage at very high rates by end of next year. So much so that it accounts for more of the mix . All good though.

Many thanks!

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $77 /bbl
Brent $83 /bbl
NL TTF gas €48 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Next winter is coming

IEA's Birol warns of tighter energy supply next winter

International Energy Agency (IEA) head Fatih Birol has warned of possible energy shortages next winter as relatively little new liquefied natural gas (LNG) is coming to the market while China's consumption is set to rise this year.

www.reuters.com

West fully for Ukraine, Biden inc

Presidents Day: Biden holds surprise meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv

The U.S. president spent more than five hours in the Ukrainian capital.

www.militarytimes.com

.... and Italy Meloni

Italian PM Meloni in Kyiv amid tensions over war within her coalition

PM to reassert support for Ukraine after coalition partner Silvio Berlusconi blamed Volodymyr Zelenskiy for Russia’s invasion

www.theguardian.com

Chinese wind big offshore

China Leads in New Offshore Wind Capacity Second Year in Row, Likely to Preserve Top Position in 2023

In 2022, 9.4 GW of offshore wind capacity was installed worldwide and China alone installed 6.8 GW of this. The country's top position in adding new offshore wind capacity will likely be preserved in 2023, as well, as China is also leading in projects currently under construction, according to a...

www.offshorewind.biz

India still not doing it on wind and solar

India invokes emergency law to force coal-based power plants to up output

India on Monday invoked an emergency law to force power plants that run on imported coal to maximise output ahead of an expected record surge in power usage this summer, according to an internal power ministry notice seen by Reuters.

www.reuters.com

Finnish VPP, not Tesla it seems

Finland invests in 150MWh VPP

Fingrid has invested in a digital/telecomms service provider to develop and 150MWh VPP, what they are calling the largest in Europe.

www.smart-energy.com

UK solar installs doubling despite no subsidies; and almost all with a battery system (again unsubsidised) - and very little Powerwall
UK added 555 MW of new solar in 2022

Koper port double track rail - this may in the future assist Tesla imports that use this port

Port of Koper: the new line to Divaca will be a double-track

The new rail section connecting the Slovenian port of Koper with Divaca will have a double track. The new project is expected to divert significant volumes from the road to a new, modern rail connection that can provide shorter transit times and higher capacity on the route. The 27-kilometre...

www.railfreight.com

Long duration keeps coming

Weekend Read: A long time coming

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is essential for decarbonizing the grid but gigawatt-hour scale systems continue to be tricky for companies with big ideas. Here are some of the latest innovations across a flourishing array of new – and old – ideas.

www.pv-magazine.com

CATL tries it on

The world's largest EV battery maker will cut costs for Chinese automakers – but not for Tesla

China's CATL, the world's largest EV battery maker, is reportedly offering significantly lower battery costs to some Chinese EV makers.

electrek.co

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $76 /bbl
Brent $82 /bbl
NL TTF gas €50 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

START suspended

Russia suspends only remaining major nuclear treaty with US

Speaking in his state-of-the-nation address, President Vladimr Putin said Russia should stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. does so.

www.defensenews.com

Russia sanctions

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1286

National state of disaster : South Africa

Ramaphosa declares state of disaster to tackle electricity crisis : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

Measures outlined by the South African president in his State of the Nation Address include market reforms and the appointment a Minister of Electricity to assume full responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the electricity crisis response. The government has declared a national state of...

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Hydrogen rules

EU sets out rules for green hydrogen – inviting promise and peril

The European Commission has adopted long-awaited EU rules for how and when green hydrogen can count toward the EU’s climate targets.

www.energymonitor.ai

Dodos in sight ?

Are the oil majors destined for extinction?

Investors are rewarding oil majors BP and Shell for doubling down on fossil fuels while backsliding on climate targets. But for how long?

www.energymonitor.ai

Mercury versus coal

EPA reverses Trump-era decision on power plant mercury standards, paving way for stricter limits

The decision on Friday was needed for any future tightening of mercury and other emissions limits for power plants.

www.utilitydive.com

Portugal (and Spain) will be an interesting case study

Storage key to Portugal’s solar targets, says GlobalData

The isolation of Portugal’s electrical grid is hindering the growth of renewables, according to GlobalData’s latest report. Storage will play a pivotal role if the country hopes to achieve its solar and renewable installation goals, it says.

www.pv-magazine.com

and

Column: More to Spain and Portugal's power markets than Iberian Exception

Spain and Portugal stood out among European peers in 2022 after successfully implementing a natural gas price cap that shielded consumers from much of the electricity cost surge that hammered households and businesses across the rest of the continent.

www.reuters.com

Unlimited nuke lifetimes !

NRA approves use of Japanese reactors beyond 60 years : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved draft legislation to extend the operating life of the country's nuclear power reactors beyond 60 years. It also approved an amendment to the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law to remove the rule specifying the operational periods of reactors.

www.world-nuclear-news.org

Big nukes, big losses

EDF posts record loss in France due to reactor outages : Corporate - World Nuclear News

France's EDF has reported record annual losses of EUR17.9 billion (USD19.0 billion) for 2022, largely due to nuclear power reactor outages in its French fleet for maintenance and repair work. However, output from the company's UK fleet of reactors increased last year.

world-nuclear-news.org

Widespread heat

China starts building long-distance nuclear heating pipeline : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Construction has begun of a 23-kilometre-long pipe that will transport nuclear-generated heat from the Haiyang nuclear power plant in China's Shandong province to a wider area, State Power Investment Corp announced. The plant started providing district heat to the surrounding area in November 2020.

world-nuclear-news.org

75% reduction for Kalingrad, ouch

LTG Cargo reduces Kaliningrad transit volumes in 2023

LTG Cargo, the freight subsidiary of Lithuanian Railways, is set to reduce rail-borne volumes transiting to and from Kaliningrad via Lithuania in 2023. The company, which transported eight million tonnes of cargo to and from the Russian exclave in 2022, will reduce this amount to roughly 2,6...

www.railfreight.com

Trieste runs increase (might also affect Tesla, perhaps)

The port of Trieste increases rail connections to Austria

Rail connections between the port of Trieste and Austria recently increased in number as well as quality. As of Monday 13 February, there have been two direct trains a week from the Trieste Marine Terminal (TMT) to Linz and two to Vienna. These new direct connections replace the former EVO...

www.railfreight.com

Go Ukraine rail

Ukrainian Railways to set up European freight branch in 2023

Oleksandr Kamyshin, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways, disclosed plans to establish a rail freight branch dedicated to cargo transport in Europe. The new subsidiary could be ready by the end of 2023; despite the many challenges entailed in setting it up. Kamyshin also underlined that establishing a...

www.railfreight.com

Long term trends
(see The Resource Angle )

 

[nativewolf]

So we know that CATL is selling cells at price points below the graph, but how does the cell costs translate into pack costs?

 

[petit_bateau]

So we know that CATL is selling cells at price points below the graph, but how does the cell costs translate into pack costs?

Remember the yellow line is the average, whereas the blue is likely to be more representative of best price to biggest client.

Cell : Pack was 70:30 now heading towards 80:20

Lithium-ion Battery Pack Prices Rise for First Time to an Average of $151/kWh | BloombergNEF

BloombergNEF’s annual battery price survey finds prices increased by 7% from 2021 to 2022 New York, December 6, 2022 – Rising raw material and

about.bnef.com

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $74 /bbl
Brent $81 /bbl
NL TTF gas €50 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

--- EDIT - to add ---:
Eskom CEO gone early, apparently he objected to political corruption too publically

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter leaves with immediate effect

Following a special board meeting.

www.moneyweb.co.za

or

Eskom clarifies De Ruyter exit, says board not pleased with conduct in interview

In the interview, Andre de Ruyter spoke up about corruption within the utility, with the African National Congress (ANC) and officials implicated in benefitting from Eskom.

ewn.co.za

or

CEO of South Africa's utility Eskom to leave with immediate effect

Andre de Ruyter, the chief executive of South Africa's state power utility Eskom, will leave the company with immediate effect, Eskom said on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

----------------------

Fraccers back off

Chesapeake Energy to reduce drilling amid natgas price slump

U.S. natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp on Wednesday said it would pull back on drilling and completing wells this year as natural gas prices have crashed to a quarter of what they were last summer.

www.reuters.com

US-IRA tempts Tesla (and doing three things at once was a bit too much)

Tesla's Reported Battery Issues In Germany Accelerate Move To Texas

Tesla is reportedly moving most of its battery equipment away from its German factory and into Giga Texas as it temporarily shifts its battery production plans.

insideevs.com

or

Tesla shifts its own battery cell production capacity from Germany to the US

Tesla is shifting its battery cell production capacity from Germany to the US as it expects that it is going...

electrek.co

Long wait for commercial floaters

Industry Expects Floating Wind to Hit Commercialisation Point in 2035, DNV Research Finds

Floating offshore wind could reach full commercialisation by 2035, said 60 per cent of respondents in the latest research that was done by DNV, with 25 per cent believing it will be as early as 2030.

www.offshorewind.biz

Utlities ask for extra dosh for storage

Developing a revenue model is the next challenge as storage as a transmission asset advances: experts

Will the grid operator or utility pay for electricity not immediately discharged, asked Gabe Murtaugh, storage sector manager at CAISO. “Do we need to split this up somehow?”

www.utilitydive.com

Working EV chargers wanted, what a surprise

EV charging infrastructure is ‘inadequate and plagued with non-functioning stations’: J.D. Power

Roughly one in five public charging attempts fails, with 72% of the failures attributed to malfunctioning or out-of-service equipment, a J.D. Power executive said.

www.utilitydive.com

Fossil blocks, unblocking now wanted by incumbents

EEI calls for ‘urgency’ in siting and permitting reform to aid booming energy industry

Executives at the association say they are working with Congress from a ‘blank slate’ after permitting reform failed to pass last year.

www.utilitydive.com

Awfully small seeds

Iberdrola to open PV module factory in Spain

Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has joined forces with PV module maker Exiom Solution to build a factory in northern Spain. The facility is set to begin commercial operations by the end of this year.

www.pv-magazine.com

Clearly the UK subsidy wasn't enough

UK government to help reduce some industry energy costs to remain competitive

The British government set out plans on Thursday to help reduce electricity costs for energy intensive industries from next year to ensure they can remain internationally competitive.

www.reuters.com

.... to keep the Chinese interested

British Steel announces 260 job losses at Scunthorpe works

Firm’s owner says closure of coking ovens is down to global economic challenges and rising energy bills

www.theguardian.com

or

Warning over future of British Steel as it cuts jobs

The Chinese-owned company is proposing cuts at its Scunthorpe site amid economic challenges.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[nativewolf]

At the heart of the Tesla news is that the 4680 process woes continue. I had hoped the the semi announcement was a proxy for Tesla having solved the 4680 problem and shifting 2170 at Reno to the semi. Now it seems we will see more LFP in Tesla’s lower range models. They have some 4680 production it is just not clear how much- what it does have has underwhelmed from an energy POV. Manufacturing wise it enables a shift to the castings/structural packs and has fewer weld points so some cost savings.

So Mr sailor man I feel even more strongly that in replies to 1&2 (from your grand post) are Yes and No

 

[petit_bateau]

WTI $76 /bbl
Brent $83 /bbl
NL TTF gas €53 /MWh (EU Natural Gas - 2022 Data - 2010-2021 Historical - 2023 Forecast - Price - Quote)

Lest we forget, one year on

Grief and defiance in Kyiv on first anniversary of war in Ukraine

Houses have been destroyed, lives uprooted and loved ones lost but despite this terrible toll, Ukrainians remain upbeat

www.theguardian.com

First Polish Leopards arrive in Ukraine

https://twitter.com/x/status/1629077455234387969

EU carbon credit market shows teeth

Price of EU carbon hits €100 for first time

Price of EU ETS carbon credits hits €100 for the first time, sending the cost of polluting to a record high.

www.power-technology.com

Siemens 15MW up

Siemens Gamesa's Most Powerful Offshore Wind Turbine Stands in Denmark

Siemens Gamesa completed the installation of its prototype SG 14-236 DD offshore wind turbine, which can reach a capacity of up to 15 MW,

www.offshorewind.biz

EU sets rail rules, firmly

Switzerland: running trains in the EU might become an issue

Running trains in the European Union might become problematic for Switzerland. The authorisation procedure that allowed Swiss companies to run trains in all EU member states will in fact expire at the end of 2023 and the future is quite uncertain. The country is trying to have this procedure...

www.railfreight.com

Belarus smuggling ? Shocked am I

‘Belarusian schemes’ behind possible sanction circumvention on Lithuanian rail

Investigative journalists in Lithuania and Belarus claim to have exposed a series of sanction circumventions by Belarus concerning the transport of fertilisers by rail. The Lithuanian transport minister Marius Skuodis commented that broken sanction rules are a product of “Belarusian schemes […]...

www.railfreight.com

 

[nativewolf]

So sodium ion batteries are into cars

Hina Battery Becomes 1st Battery Maker to Put Sodium-ion Batteries in Evs in China - Batteries News

Hina Battery becomes 1st battery maker to put sodium-ion batteries in EVs in China. The unveiling of the Sehol E10X test vehicle means that

batteriesnews.com

JAC is a state backed company, FYI. So is the battery maker.

Dont know if anyone is looking at that site, batteriesnews. They seem to just scrape and post but maybe a quick way to look at news. However it seems sparse considering all the announcements and work going on.

In terms of sodium CATL was at 160wh last year, 250 would put it at LFP energy density. I could see them moving into stationary storage soon.

 

[nativewolf]

North America - Lithium Hot Spot Hits Record Results - Batteries News

North america - lithium hot spot hits record results. With EV sales set to triple by 2026 and auto giants committing tens of billions of

batteriesnews.com

Not really sure where to post this @petit_bateau but in answer to question #1 on your battery post- this article does have some specific news on exploration of Lithium in the NA market but it's not news that can't be found by delving into each companies news releases. It does seems that exploration in Canada is going really well to date. The hangup on Lithium really seems the refining, I'd look to see more news on lithium refining in both the EU and NA if the players are serious this seems to be the point to attack- but it also leaves you vulnerable to China dumping products to gain marketshare.

 

[petit_bateau]

North America - Lithium Hot Spot Hits Record Results - Batteries News

North america - lithium hot spot hits record results. With EV sales set to triple by 2026 and auto giants committing tens of billions of

batteriesnews.com

Not really sure where to post this @petit_bateau but in answer to question #1 on your battery post- this article does have some specific news on exploration of Lithium in the NA market but it's not news that can't be found by delving into each companies news releases. It does seems that exploration in Canada is going really well to date. The hangup on Lithium really seems the refining, I'd look to see more news on lithium refining in both the EU and NA if the players are serious this seems to be the point to attack- but it also leaves you vulnerable to China dumping products to gain marketshare.

I suspect people don't really grasp the scale of the lithium/etc demand. For automotive we need to go about 20x from current situation by 2030. Depending on how one goes about things that could quite reasonably be 100x by 2040 when one adds in stationary, or even more.

I'll have more precise figures soon. I've finally given in and built a world energy model for what I am increasingly considering is the on-trend scenario of the fast-change transfer which basically eliminates all fossil fuels completely by 2040. I'm just completing debugging now.

 

[nativewolf]

I suspect people don't really grasp the scale of the lithium/etc demand. For automotive we need to go about 20x from current situation by 2030. Depending on how one goes about things that could quite reasonably be 100x by 2040 when one adds in stationary, or even more.

I'll have more precise figures soon. I've finally given in and built a world energy model for what I am increasingly considering is the on-trend scenario of the fast-change transfer which basically eliminates all fossil fuels completely by 2040. I'm just completing debugging now.

Excellent. Might I suggest/request that you commercialize that? Iron batteries and Sodium will surely move into the stationary market this year in some significant way, the very very beginning of an S curve would be my guess. In a few years these could capture much of the stationary market. it would be nice to leave the Lithium for mobility, at least as much as possible (markets such as frequency stabilization may require energy performance that the iron solutions are unable to fill for instance- just a guess).

Also I suspect that stationary storage will compete with solar production/wind production. At some points we are better off to produce energy with PVs even in winter and accept high transport losses than build batteries storage. Tony Sebas very high level guesstamets are, I think, probably correct in this regard though he lacks data. For example Build enough solar so that at 8 am in Texas you already have enough solar to meet all needs, so by 10am you are grossly over producing. These comments aren't for you but for the thread and other readers.