Energetics of cultivation

Draft animals vs. combustion engines and the Haber process The energy use by the agricultural sector of the economy has been widely discussed and debated in the peak oil community. The amount of energy used directly at farms is not very large; typical claims for the fuel required to cover a field with a plow […]

PG&E quitting U.S. Chamber over climate change views

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – California utility company PG&E Corp said it is quitting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in protest over the business lobby group’s “extreme” position on climate change. The Chamber has pushed for public hearings to challenge the scientific evidence for man-made climate change, a move PG&E Chief Executive Peter Darbee singled out […]

Michael Klare – Xtreme Energy: Life After the Age of Oil

The debate rages over whether we have already reached the point of peak world oil output or will not do so until at least the next decade. There can, however, be little doubt of one thing: we are moving from an era in which oil was the world’s principal energy source to one in which […]

Emphasis on Growth Is Called Misguided

Among the possible casualties of the Great Recession are the gauges that economists have traditionally relied upon to assess societal well-being. So many jobs have disappeared so quickly and so much life savings has been surrendered that some argue the economic indicators themselves have been exposed as inadequate. In a provocative new study, a pair […]

Obama wants worldwide end of fossil fuel subsidies

WASHINGTON “Later this week, I will work with my colleagues at the G-20 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies so that we can better address our climate challenge,” Obama said Tuesday at the United Nations global warming summit. Mike Froman, Obama’s national security adviser for economic affairs, said the main value of the proposal would […]

Major Oil Discoveries Spur Energy Outlook Debate

Massive new oil discoveries have enthused investors and analysts alike, but with oil’s near-term supply at multi-decade highs and its price climbing above $70 a barrel, energy faces mixed signals. The finds have oil enthusiasts debating the theory of peak oil. But no matter the future, several companies stand to benefit. Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s (APC) […]

Indonesia: emissions to rise 50% by 2030, 3rd largest GHG emitter

A report released by the Indonesian government shows the country is the world’s third largest greenhouse gas emitter, largely as a result of the destruction of rainforests and carbon-dense peatlands. Indonesia accounts for 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The ‘National Council on Climate Change’ report reveals that degradation and destruction of peatlands (45 […]

Yet another greenhouse gas!

I was speaking on a panel in Oxford last week and the subject of greenhouse gases other than CO2 came up with one of my fellow panelists. It seems we can add a “new” one to the list of recognised greenhouse gases, Nitrogen Trifluoride. NF3 has a global warming potential (GWP) some 17,000 times that […]

A call to solar cell makers: Aim to reduce your carbon footprint

As the world tackles climate change and solar energy approaches grid parity, the PV industry should begin to address the carbon footprint of photovoltaic module manufacturing to deliver truly green energy, according to Linde. For example, it says, manufacturers shouldn’t be tempted to adopt lower-cost solutions without considering the overall impact on the long-term sustainability […]

Decision due soon on Arctic Ocean oil drilling

Opponents of offshore oil drilling in the Arctic are making a last-ditch effort to convince the Obama administration to impose the same kind of moratorium on oil and gas development that it did on major commercial fishing in the Far North. Signatures from nearly 300,000 people supporting a halt on new drilling in the Chukchi […]

Green Algae Has Potential to Take Over Biofuel Industry

New biofuel technologies could revolutionize the green energy market. Imagine new green high-rise buildings. No, not just green as in low carbon footprint, but buildings actually powered by green algae. Imagine green algae containers attached to the sides of high-rise buildings, reaching all the way to the roof. These containers, called photobioreactors (PBR), are similar […]

Tiny technologies could produce big energy solutions

Forgot to charge your cell phone last night? Imagine that you could power it by walking. Weirder still, you might be able to just spray a new battery on. These concepts are being developed by two leading nanotechnology researchers who are developing cleaner, more efficient ways of delivering electrical power. In working toward making these […]

Recession results in steep fall in emissions

The recession has resulted in an unparalleled fall in greenhouse gas emissions, providing a “unique opportunity” to move the world away from high-carbon growth, an International Energy Agency study has found. In the first big study of the impact of the recession on climate change, the IEA found that CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels […]

Chinese takeaway is paid for with American dollars

Earlier this year, I spent a bit of time in China filming a new documentary and it is obvious that the Chinese realise the next big struggle will be the war for resources. The Chinese understand the “peak everything” argument. They are not just worried about peak oil, they are concerned about the fact that […]

Peak oil in transition

It was nearly five years ago that I discovered the peak oil debate, and at the time, it was all doom and gloom. In fact, Matt Savinar’s primer, The Oil Age Is Over (sadly now out of print), ends with a discussion about the depression one typically suffers after the penny drops about peak oil. […]

Oil Nationalism in Latin America

Latin America is endowed with 132 billion barrels of “proven” oil. Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador have significant reserves and strong state involvement in the exploration and production of oil through their nationalized companies Petr Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva and his mines and energy ministry have devised a stricter tax framework and […]

Commods rally won't last unless demand recovers

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Commodities have outperformed the expectations of many analysts who bet on an anemic recovery after last year’s crash, but the climb could start slowing if investors seek more proof the recession is over. A declining dollar and rallying equities markets have sparked wariness about potential inflation and drawn investors into commodities. […]

Who's Looking At Natural Gas Now? Big Oil

In the energy world, Big Oil has long been the key player But their business is booming. New production techniques in recent years have enabled companies to extract natural gas from shale rock formations deep underground. As a result, estimates of accessible natural gas reserves have been revised dramatically upward. Small gas producers can justifiably […]

Peak oil review – Sept 21

1. Production and prices 2. The crack spread 3. Ominous forecasts Quote of the Week Briefs 1. Production and prices The week started with oil trading at around $69 a barrel on periodic concern that the global recovery was running out of steam. This was helped by a forecast that the demand for gasoline would […]

Puru Saxena: Why crude oil prices will keep going up

After the epic crash last year, the price of oil is stabilising and it should rise exponentially over the following years. Over the past year, global consumption has stayed weak. However, once the economy recovers, crude oil should resume its secular bull market. Despite the ‘demand destruction’ hype, it is interesting to note that during […]

Europe fails to agree on bluefin tuna ban

Extinction feared after Mediterranean bloc refuses to go along BRUSSELS – A sharply divided European Union failed Tuesday to protect the threatened bluefin tuna, as the bloc’s Mediterranean nations refused to back even a temporary a ban on catching the fish prized by sushi aficionados. The EU’s executive commission urged EU governments to agree to […]

Sustainable investment seen gaining momentum

LONDON (Reuters) – Investing in socially and environmentally responsible companies or sectors which tackle climate change or resource scarcity is gaining momentum as it offers a unique diversifying opportunity, fund manager RCM says. Sustainability investment is an approach designed to pick companies which manage environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks. It also involves firms which […]

Senator would drop land-use from U.S. biofuels rule

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senator from the U.S. Corn Belt filed an amendment on Tuesday that would bar federal regulators from considering how land is used overseas when they write rules to expand use of biofuels. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin filed the amendment while the Senate was considering the annual funding bill for the Interior […]

U.S. awards $550 million in renewable energy grants

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government on Tuesday awarded $550 million in grants to develop renewable energy projects to help double U.S. renewable energy production over the next few years, an Obama administration goal. The grants will pay cash to companies in lieu of tax credits to support solar, wind, biomass and other renewable energy […]

Russia said confident of $2bn Saudi arms deal with Russia

Saudi Arabia appears on the verge of signing a groundbreaking, US$2 billion (Dh7.3bn) arms deal with Russia. Although the Saudis refuse to confirm or deny that negotiations are going on, the Russians appear confident the deal will go through in the coming months, sending a shiver through the ranks of conservative commentators in the United […]

Andrew McKillop: Energy Security and Climate Change

State legislation, deficit-based financing and political intervention to accelerate transition to the Low Carbon economy will be further raised on the stage of the December 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change summit. This is not taking place in a vacuum, due to recent and ongoing, massive deficit spending by G20 government to fight economic recession. For climate […]

Baluchistan violence thwarts gas prospects

Guerrilla attacks in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan targeting the gas sector are responsible for a declining regional economy, a study shows. A government economic report on Baluchistan province obtained by the Pakistani Daily Times describes a declining security situation as the primary factor to obstacles in the exploration of gas productivity.The report said more […]

Canada's wind industry aims high

TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s wind energy sector has the lofty goal of supplying 20 percent of the country’s electricity by 2025, but that target is out of reach without better financial and policy support, say industry executives. There is more than mounting concern for the environment at stake, say wind companies attending the Canadian Wind […]

States Can Sue Utilities Over Emissions

A two-judge panel of a federal appeals court has ruled that big power companies can be sued by states and land trusts for emitting carbon dioxide. The decision, issued Monday, overturns a 2005 District Court decision that the question was political, not judicial. A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second […]

Kuwait Oil Field, World's 2nd Largest Needs IOCs

Production from the world’s second-largest oil field in Kuwait may decline without the help of international oil companies to boost crude output, a member of Kuwait’s Supreme Petroleum Council said. Kuwait, which pumps about 2.2 million barrels a day of oil, has failed to renew service agreements with several international oil companies, including BP PLC […]

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