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New From the GAO

October 1, 2012 Comments off

New GAO Reports

Source: Government Accountability Office

1. Batteries and Energy Storage: Federal Initiatives Supported Similar Technologies and Goals but Had Key Differences. GAO-12-842, August 30.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-842
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/647743.pdf

2. Solar Energy: Federal Initiatives Overlap but Take Measures to Avoid Duplication. GAO-12-843, August 30.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-843
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/647733.pdf

3. Ambulance Providers: Costs and Medicare Margins Varied Widely; Transports of Beneficiaries Have Increased. GAO-13-6, October 1.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-6
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/649019.pdf

Agricultural Research Magazine – September 2012

October 1, 2012 Comments off

Agricultural Research Magazine – September 2012

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Table of Contents

Forum—Biofuels: No Single Answer, Many Possibilities (html) or (pdf)

ARS and the Regional Biomass Research Centers (html) or (pdf)

Biofuel Prospects With Prairie Perennials (html) or (pdf)

Same Plant, Different Project, Shared Goals [sidebar] (html)

Finding the Right Biofuels for the Southeast: A Range of Alternatives (html) or (pdf)

Sweet Sorghum Research: Building on the Past for a Better Future [sidebar](html)

ARS Researchers Flying Higher With New Jet Fuels (html) or (pdf)

Pink Lemonade, Razz, and More! Wonderful Blueberries From ARS to You (html) or(pdf)

Making Fruit Flies More Macho for Sterile Insect Releases (html) or (pdf)

Nueva técnica aumenta la virilidad de las moscas de frutas en el programa de liberación de insectos estériles (html)

Banking on Plants as Storehouses (html) or (pdf)

A Cautionary Note About Copper Footbaths for Dairy Cows (html) or (pdf)

Locations Featured in This Magazine Issue (html) or (pdf)

Regional Analysis Brief: South China Sea

September 26, 2012 Comments off

Regional Analysis Brief: South China Sea
Source: Energy Information Administration

The East China Sea is a semi-closed sea bordered by the Yellow Sea to the north, the South China Sea and Taiwan to the South, Japan’s Ryukyu and Kyushu islands to the East and the Chinese mainland to the West. Evidence pointing to potentially abundant oil and natural gas deposits has made the sea a source of contention between Japan and China, the two largest energy consumers in Asia.

The sea has a total area of approximately 482,000 square miles, consisting mostly of the continental shelf and the Xihu/Okinawa (Chinese name/Japanese name) trough, a back-arc basin formed about 300 miles southeast of Shanghai between the two countries. The disputed eight Daioyu/Senkaku (Chinese/Japanese name) islands lie to the northeast of Taiwan, with the largest of them two miles long and less than a mile wide. Though barren, the islands are important for strategic and political reasons, as ownership can be used to bolster claims to the surrounding sea and its resources under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. To date, China and Japan have not resolved their ownership dispute, preventing wide-scale exploration and development of East China Sea hydrocarbons.

Hidden Dragon, Crouching Lion: How China’s Advance in Africa is Underestimated and Africa’s Potential Underappreciated

September 25, 2012 Comments off

Hidden Dragon, Crouching Lion: How China’s Advance in Africa is Underestimated and Africa’s Potential Underappreciated

Source: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College

The explosive growth of China’s economic interests in Africa—bilateral trade rocketed from $1 billion in 1990 to $150 billion in 2011—may be the most important trend in the continent’s foreign relations since the end of the Cold War. In 2010, China surpassed the United States as Africa’s top trading partner; its quest to build a strategic partnership with Africa on own its terms through tied aid, trade, and development finance is also part of Beijing’s broader aspirations to surpass the United States as the world’s preeminent superpower. Africa and other emerging economies have become attractive partners for China not only for natural resources, but as growing markets. Africa’s rapid growth since 2000 has not just occurred because of higher commodity prices, but more importantly due to other factors including improved governance, economic reforms, and an expanding labor force. China’s rapid and successful expansion in Africa is due to multiple factors, including economic diplomacy that is clearly superior to that of the United States. China’s “no strings attached” approach to development, however, risks undoing decades of Western efforts to promote good governance. Consequently, this monograph examines China’s oil diplomacy, equity investments in strategic minerals, and food policy toward Africa. The official U.S. rhetoric is that China’s rise in Africa should not be seen as a zero-sum game, but areas where real U.S.-China cooperation can help Africa remain elusive, mainly because of Beijing’s hyper-mistrust of Washington. The United States could help itself, and Africa, by improving its own economic diplomacy and adequately funding its own soft-power efforts.

Country Analysis Brief: Russia

September 19, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief: Russia
Source: Energy Information Administration

Russia is a major producer and exporter of oil and natural gas and its economy largely depends on energy exports. Russia’s economic growth continues to be driven by energy exports given its high oil and gas production and the elevated prices for those commodities. Internally, Russia gets over half of its domestic energy needs from natural gas.

Russia was the world’s second-largest producer of oil (after Saudi Arabia) and the second-largest producer of natural gas in 2011 (second to the United States). However, preliminary data through June 2012 indicate that Russia had surpassed Saudi Arabia as the top oil producer for much of the year.

Russia’s oil and gas sector continues to be affected by high taxes and export duties. While export duties for crude oil and petroleum products were lowered to 60 and 65 percent, respectively, in 2011, producers still face high mineral extraction taxes and a revenue-based tax system.

Country Analysis Brief: Kazakhstan

September 19, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief: Kazakhstan
Source: Energy Information Administration

With total liquids production estimated at 1.6 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2012, Kazakhstan is a major producer; however, key to its continued growth in liquids production will be the development of its giant Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan fields. Furthermore, development of additional export capacity will be necessary for production growth.

Rising natural gas production over the last decade has transformed Kazakhstan from a net gas importer to a country that as of 2011 was self-sufficient. Natural gas development has lagged oil due to the lack of domestic gas pipeline infrastructure linking the western producing region with the eastern industrial region, as well as the lack of export pipelines.

Kazakhstan is land-locked and lies a great distance from international oil markets. The lack of access to a seaport makes the country dependent mainly on pipelines to transport its hydrocarbons to world markets. It is also a transit state for pipeline exports from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Neighbors China and Russia are key economic partners, providing sources of export demand and government project financing.

Country Analysis Brief: Canada

September 18, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief: Canada

Source: Energy Information Administration

Canada is a net exporter of most energy commodities and is an especially significant producer of conventional and unconventional oil, natural gas, and hydroelectricity. It stands out as the largest foreign supplier of energy to the United States, its southern neighbor and one of the world’s largest consumers of energy. Just as the United States depends on Canada for much of its energy needs, so is Canada profoundly dependent on the United States as an export market. However, economic and political considerations are leading Canada to consider ways to diversify its trading partners, especially by expanding ties with emerging markets in Asia.

Canada’s large territory is endowed with an exceptionally rich and varied set of natural resources, which enables it to rank among the five largest energy producers in the world. It produced an estimated 18.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of primary energy in 2009, relative to 13.0 quadrillion Btu of primary energy consumed. Its economy is relatively energy-intensive when compared to other industrialized countries, and is largely fueled by petroleum for transportation purposes, natural gas, and hydroelectricity.

New From the GAO

September 14, 2012 Comments off

New GAO Reports and Testimonies

Source: Government Accountability Office

+ Reports

1. Spent Nuclear Fuel: Accumulating Quantities at Commercial Reactors Present Storage and Other Challenges. GAO-12-797, August 15.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-797
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/593746.pdf

2. Federal Real Property: Strategic Partnerships and Local Coordination Could Help Agencies Better Utilize Space. GAO-12-779, July 25.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-779
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/593002.pdf

3. Electronic Government Act: Agencies Have Implemented Most Provisions, but Key Areas of Attention Remain. GAO-12-782, September 12.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-782
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648181.pdf

4. Recovery Act: Broadband Programs Are Ongoing, and Agencies’ Efforts Would Benefit from Improved Data Quality. GAO-12-937, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-937
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648356.pdf

5. The Distribution of Federal Economic Development Grants to Communities with High Rates of Poverty and Unemployment. GAO-12-938R, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-938R

6. Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Measuring Progress and Addressing Potential Privacy Concerns Would Facilitate Integration into the National Airspace System. GAO-12-981, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-981
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648349.pdf

7. Medicare Savings Programs: Implementation of Requirements Aimed at Increasing Enrollment. GAO-12-871, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-871
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648369.pdf

8. Disaster Relief: Reimbursements to the American Red Cross for Certain 2008 Disaster Assistance. GAO-12-877, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-877
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648340.pdf

9. Disaster Assistance: USDA and SBA Could Do More to Help Aquaculture and Nursery Producers. GAO-12-844, September 11.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-844
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648075.pdf

+ Testimonies

1. SSA Disability Programs: Progress and Challenges Related to Modernizing, by Dan Bertoni, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Ways and Means Committee. GAO-12-891T, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-891T

2. Human Capital: The Department of Health and Human Service’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s Use of Special Pay Rates for Consultants and Scientists, by Robert Goldenkoff, director, strategic issues, and Robert Cramer, managing associate general counsel, before the Subcommittee on Health, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. GAO-12-1035T, September 14.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-1035T
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648328.pdf

What Is the Relationship of Medical Humanitarian Organisations with Mining and Other Extractive Industries?

September 10, 2012 Comments off

What Is the Relationship of Medical Humanitarian Organisations with Mining and Other Extractive Industries?
Source: PLoS Medicine

Summary Points

  • In developing countries, extractive industries (including ore mineral mining and oil extraction) have far reaching consequences on health through environmental pollution, some communicable diseases, violence, destitution, and compromised food security.
  • The rapid expansion of extractive industries and the increasing frequency of environmental disasters are bound to engage medical humanitarian organisations in developing novel types of expertise.
  • While humanitarian organisations might be called to intervene in areas occupied by the extractive sector, in this Essay I argue that oil and mineral exploitation reveals a fundamental clash of values between humanitarianism, the for-profit sector, and privatised global philanthropy.
    Specific medical humanitarian organisations can respond to these challenges in different ways, based on their position between pragmatic or principled approaches, and their willingness to develop new technical capacities.

CRS — Weather-Related Power Outages and Electric System Resiliency

September 6, 2012 Comments off

Weather-Related Power Outages and Electric System Resiliency (PDF)

Source: Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists)

High winds, especially when combined with precipitation from seasonal storms, can cause damage to electricity utility systems, resulting in service interruptions to large numbers of electricity customers. While most such power outages are caused by damage from trees and tree limbs falling on local electricity distribution lines and poles, major power outages tend to be caused by damage to electricity transmission lines which carry bulk power long distances. Depending on the severity of the storm and resulting impairment, power outages can last a few hours or extend to periods of several days, and have real economic effects. Power outages can impact businesses (primarily through lost orders and damage to perishable goods and inventories), and manufacturers (mainly through downtime and lost production, or equipment damage). Data from various studies lead to cost estimates from storm-related outages to the U.S. economy at between $20 billion and $55 billion annually. Data also suggest the trend of outages from weather-related events is increasing.

Suggested solutions for reducing impacts from weather-related outages include improved treetrimming schedules to keep rights-of-way clear, placing distribution and some transmission lines underground, implementing Smart Grid improvements to enhance power system operations and control, inclusion of more distributed generation, and changing utility maintenance practices and metrics to focus on power system reliability. However, most of these potential solutions come with high costs which must be balanced against the perceived benefits.

A number of options exist for Congress to consider which could help reduce storm-related outages. These range from improving the quality of data on storm-related outages, to a greater strategic investment in the U.S. electricity grid. Congress could empower a federal agency to develop standards for the consistent reporting of power outage data. While responsibility for the reliability of the bulk electric system is under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (as per the Energy Policy Act of 2005), no central responsibility exists for the reliability of distribution systems. One possible option could be to bring distribution systems under the Electric Reliability Organization for reliability purposes. Recovery after storm-related outages might be enhanced by a federal role in formalizing the review or coordination of electric utility mutual assistance agreements (MAAs). This would not necessarily mean federal approval of MAAs, but may help in the cooperative coordination of additional federal and state resources, especially in a wide, multi-state weather event. While there has been much discussion of transmission system inadequacies and inefficiencies, many distribution systems are in dire need of upgrades or repairs. The cost of upgrading the U.S. grid to meet future uses is expected to be high, with the American Society of Civil Engineers estimating a need of $673 billion by 2020. While the federal government recently made funding available of almost $16 billion for specific Smart Grid projects and new transmission lines under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there has not been a comprehensive effort to study the needs, set goals, and provide targeted funding for modernization of the U.S. grid as part of a long-term national energy strategy. Such an effort would also require decisions about the appropriate roles of government and the private sector.

Power delivery systems are most vulnerable to storms and extreme weather events. Improving the overall condition and efficiency of the power delivery system can only serve to improve the resiliency of the system, and help hasten recovery from weather-related outages. Ultimately, however, electric utilities are responsible for this infrastructure. They are in the business of selling electricity, and they cannot sell electricity if their power delivery systems are out of service.

Country Analysis Brief: China

September 5, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief: China
Source> Energy Information Administration

China is the world’s most populous country and has a rapidly growing economy, which has driven the country’s high overall energy demand and the quest for securing energy resources. According to the International Monetary Fund, China’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an estimated 9.2 percent in 2011 and 7.8 percent in the first half of 2012, after registering an average growth rate of 10 percent between 2000 and 2011. Economic growth continues to slow in 2012 as the global financial crises unfolds, industrial production and exports decrease, and the government attempts to curb economic inflation and excessive investment in some markets. China mitigated the 2008 global financial crisis with a massive $586 billion (4 trillion yuan) stimulus package spread over two years. The recent global downturn in 2012 has spurred China’s government to begin incremental monetary easing measures and consider a second smaller fiscal stimulus package.

China is the world’s second largest oil consumer behind the United States, and the largest global energy consumer, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The country was a net oil exporter until the early 1990s and became the world’s second largest net importer of oil in 2009. China’s oil consumption growth accounted for half of the world’s oil consumption growth in 2011. Natural gas usage in China has also increased rapidly in recent years, and China has looked to raise natural gas imports via pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG). China is also the world’s largest top coal producer and consumer and accounted for about half of the global coal consumption, an important factor in world energy-related CO2 emissions.

Coal supplied the vast majority (70 percent) of China’s total energy consumption of 90 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2009. Oil is the second-largest source, accounting for 19 percent of the country’s total energy consumption. While China has made an effort to diversify its energy supplies, hydroelectric sources (6 percent), natural gas (4 percent), nuclear power (1 percent), and other renewables (0.3 percent) account for relatively small shares of China’s energy consumption mix. The Chinese government set a target to raise non-fossil fuel energy consumption to 11.4 percent of the energy mix by 2015 as part of its new 12th Five Year Plan. EIA projects coal’s share of the total energy mix to fall to 59 percent by 2035 due to anticipated higher energy efficiencies and China’s goal to reduce its carbon intensity (carbon emissions per unit of GDP). However, absolute coal consumption is expected to double over this period, reflecting the large growth in total energy consumption.

Country Analysis Brief: Norway

August 30, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief: Norway
Source: Energy Information Administration

+ Norway is Europe’s largest oil producer, the world’s second largest natural gas exporter, and is an important supplier of both oil and natural gas to other European countries.

+ Norway is the largest oil producer and exporter in Western Europe.

+ Norway is the second largest exporter of natural gas after Russia, and ranks fourth in world natural gas production.

New From the GAO

August 29, 2012 Comments off

New GAO Reports

Source: Government Accountability Office

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture: Progress toward Implementing GAO’s Civil Rights Recommendations. GAO-12-976R, August 29.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-976R

2. Oil and Gas Management: Interior’s Reorganization Complete, but Challenges Remain in Implementing New Requirements. GAO-12-423, July 30.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-423
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/593111.pdf
Podcast – http://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/647543

Country Analysis Brief: Bolivia

August 27, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief:  Bolivia
Source: Energy Information Administration

Hydrocarbons are an important element of Bolivia’s economy, one of the poorest and least developed in Latin America. Though Bolivia exports natural gas to Brazil and Argentina, continued questions about the actual size of its proved natural gas reserves have contributed to skepticism about the country’s potential to be a significant fossil fuel producer and regional energy hub. Bolivia’s known fossil fuel endowment is largely concentrated in southern and eastern departments, which have been controlled by opposition parties that demand greater autonomy from the federal government — partly in order to increase investment in and revenues from the hydrocarbon sector.

Country Analysis Brief: Oman

August 26, 2012 Comments off

Country Analysis Brief: Oman
Source: Energy Information Administration

Like most of its neighbors, Oman is dependent upon its oil sector for the majority of its export revenues and government spending. Oman possesses the largest oil reserves of any non-OPEC country in the Middle East and significant reserves of natural gas, of which it is a leading exporter regionally. While crude oil remains a significant yet declining part of its economy, Oman has made a concerted effort to diversify its economic base in face of its declining output. Under Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s “Vision 2020″ policy, Oman has made considerable investments and progress into developing gas resources, increasing gas production, and developing current and new oil fields.

New From the GAO

August 25, 2012 Comments off

New GAO Reports

Source: Government Accountability Office

1. Home Energy Assistance for Low-Income Occupants of Manufactured Homes. GAO-12-848R, August 24.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-848R

2. Veterans Health Care: Veterans Health Administration Processes for Responding to Reported Adverse Events. GAO-12-827R, August 24.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-827R

3. Review of FAA’s Collegiate Training Initiative as Mandated in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. GAO-12-996R, August 24.
http://www-dev.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-996R

Americans’ perceived and actual understanding of energy

August 23, 2012 Comments off

Americans’ perceived and actual understanding of energy

Source:  RTI International

To address the lack of information about American’s perceived and actual knowledge related to energy, RTI researchers measured three concepts: perceived understanding of energy, demonstrated energy knowledge, and the ability to interpret an energy bill. Results suggest that public understanding of energy is multifaceted, and perceived understanding is not directly equivalent to actual understanding in many cases. Results of this survey provide insight into individual and household energy consumption behavior, which has implications for future policy and intervention.

World Oil Transit Chokepoints

August 23, 2012 Comments off

World Oil Transit Chokepoints
Source: Energy Information Administration

Chokepoints are narrow channels along widely used global sea routes, some so narrow that restrictions are placed on the size of the vessel that can navigate through them. They are a critical part of global energy security due to the high volume of oil traded through their narrow straits.

In 2011, total world oil production amounted to approximately 87 million barrels per day (bbl/d), and over one-half was moved by tankers on fixed maritime routes. By volume of oil transit, the Strait of Hormuz, leading out of the Persian Gulf, and the Strait of Malacca, linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, are two of the world’s most strategic chokepoints.

The international energy market is dependent upon reliable transport. The blockage of a chokepoint, even temporarily, can lead to substantial increases in total energy costs. In addition, chokepoints leave oil tankers vulnerable to theft from pirates, terrorist attacks, and political unrest in the form of wars or hostilities as well as shipping accidents that can lead to disastrous oil spills. The seven straits highlighted in this brief serve as major trade routes for global oil transportation, and disruptions to shipments would affect oil prices and add thousands of miles of transit in an alternative direction, if even available.

New From the GAO

August 16, 2012 Comments off

New GAO Report

Source: Government Accountability Office

EPA Regulations and Electricity: Better Monitoring by Agencies Could Strengthen Efforts to Address Potential Challenges. GAO-12-635, July 17.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-635
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/592544.pdf

Ensuring Canadian Access to Oil Markets in the Asia-Pacific Region

August 10, 2012 Comments off

Ensuring Canadian Access to Oil Markets in the Asia-Pacific Region
Source: Fraser Institute

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the outlook for Alberta crude oil and bitumen production and an assessment of the economic attractiveness and feasibility of exporting oil to countries in the Asia-Pacific region instead of solely to markets in the United States. It also describes the extent of the new oil pipeline infrastructure that would be needed to allow oil exports to Asia-Pacific region under two scenarios: 1. no increase in oil sands bitumen production capacity from a base-case forecast; and 2. bitumen production capacity increased from that in the base case to supply Asian markets after 2026. The likely gross employment and overall economic (GDP) benefits from construction and operation of the required facilities are also discussed.

The report also examines unnecessary regulatory and other barriers that are inhibiting the development of the pipelines and port facilities required to ship crude oil, raw bitumen and synthetic crude oil (i.e., upgraded bitumen) to the west coast and on to oil refineries in Japan, Korea, China, India and other countries in Asia that are increasingly becoming dependent on oil imports.

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