Archive for the 2-Minute Briefing Category

A typical electrical grid consists of large-scale centralised power generation plants which generate power, which is then transmitted at high-voltage by the High Voltage Transmission grid to substations located nearer to the end-users. The electric power is then ‘stepped down’ at these substations via a transformer to […]

Shell, Exxon Mobil, Total, Chevron, BP… we all know them as oil companies primarily and since the 1950s these have been the major players on the market in much of the western world. Their core businesses rely on petroleum production and crude oil exploration, but a shift […]

Our increasing use and dependence on energy storage on any scale is driving a rush on metals used to produce the batteries found in devices as small as a smartphone to full-scale grid storage solutions. Lithium, Cobalt, Nickle and their supply chains are all directly linked to […]

Our energy consumption continues to increase. However, as the economy grows, we are starting to notice a trend that our energy consumption isn’t keeping pace. In fact, the growth in energy consumption is slowing down, despite GDP being on the rise. On the whole, we have become […]

Wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies are being deployed at a rapid pace. The need for cleaner sources of energy has never been more pressing nor at the fore of the energy industry’s growth. Using clean, renewable sources of energy helps countries reduce their overall carbon […]

With oil prices rising and looking set to reach $100/barrel again in the not too distant future, the ongoing debate about increased deployment of alternative and renewable energy sources is sure to be ever more in the foreground. States and industries that are heavily reliant on fossil […]

The entire electro-technical industry in general has experienced supply chain problems and price rises. This has been largely due to raw material shortages and price increases, and in the more traditional sectors of the industry, because of reductions in production capacity, as demand follows a cyclical pattern. […]

A strategic and coordinated approach is important for exploiting Europe’s wind resources in a cost-effective way, and a range of planning instruments and forums at EU or regional level may play a role in this respect. From a renewable energy source perspective, the Commission Directives on energy […]

Discussions on biomass are often clouded by problems of definition. Several terms are used to refer to the same concept, or tightly overlapping ones: biomass fuels or biofuels, non-commercial energy, traditional fuels, et cetera. Direct use is often termed `traditional´ use, such as wood fires and burning […]

Nuclear energy is perhaps one of this era’s most controversial and debatable source of energy. Used in a variety of applications, many economies and countries wouldn’t be able to function without nuclear energy for electricity and transportation needs. So, too, does the medical sector rely on the […]

With a renewed push for sanctions against Iran and looming trade wars, oil prices have been slowly but surely creeping upwards when looking at the long-term trends despite recent weeks of decline. Increased global supply and a – thus far – relatively quiet hurricane season has kept […]

Reuters is reporting today (Dec. 1, 17) that Sweden will need an additional 2.6GW of power generation capacity by 2040 if production capacity is to keep up with demand. This is due, largely in part, to the planned shutdown of some of Sweden’s nuclear plants. Germany, too, […]

Where would the world be without energy? You certainly would not be reading this article right now. From the production and supply of electricity to jet fuel and heating oil, our lives depend on energy. So too, do we depend on the companies that are responsible for […]

The New York Times editorial board has recently reviewed and provided their opinion on the Trump Administration’s efforts to revive the US coal industry. A long-standing promise of Mr. Trump, and a campaign issue that helped him receive votes in key swing states. The NYTimes Editorial Board […]

Many of us are familiar with the towering earth and concrete structures holding back large reservoirs of water, and this is the association that we have with hydroelectric power. Large dams with heavy water flows driving the turbines. Harnessing electricity from the flow of water, though, may […]

Energy storage technologies are beginning to show great promise and penetrate the market, allowing for a better integration of renewable energy systems into the grid. Hydroelectric pumped-storage facilities have been in use for decades, and have generally been the only effective way of storing energy on a […]

The automotive industry is making a shift towards electrically powered vehicles. After decades of sole reign for the internal combustion engine, EVs are starting to take charge (no pun intended). Facilitating this rollout requires coordination and development in many areas. Not least of which from the automobile […]

Nuclear energy can be generated in a variety of different ways. In the US, the most common type of reactor design is the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), followed by the Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). Worldwide, Pressurized Water Reactors account for the bulk of the nuclear fleet worldwide. […]

Our energy networks are vital infrastructure and their protection is no easy task. Ensuring stability in the grid and stable supply of power to customers is a key priority for Transmission Systems Operators (TSOs) and Distribution Systems Operators (DSOs). A blackout can have a severe knock-on effect […]

Since the grid was first implemented in the US residents have stolen energy through various methods such as bypassing meters, using strong permanent magnets to slow meters down and inverting meters for a few days so that they run backwards. Committing malicious disruptions to the grid is […]