Industry: Energy Transition

Circa 2005, I was part of a fuels strategy team at an oil company when hydrogen was riding the second wave of hype (the first was during the oil crises of 1970s) following President George Bush’s proclamation of building a hydrogen economy.  That along with high oil and gas prices led us through a deep […]

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) progress in February 2023 was marked by breakthroughs in helicopter operations and CO₂-to-SAF innovation. The first 100% SAF helicopter flight was completed through a partnership involving Safran, Bell, GKN Aerospace, Virent, and Neste, demonstrating new applications for SAF. Further advancements included DHL’s SAF shipping service, Fulcrum BioEnergy’s grant to develop a […]

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) activity in January 2023 reflected continued airline commitment, new technology investments, and supportive policy initiatives. Airlines advanced their SAF adoption targets, with Air France adjusting fares to offset rising costs. Investment momentum grew with Bain Capital backing EcoCares and Dimensional Energy to develop CO₂-to-SAF technology, while Comstock Technology demonstrated progress in […]

Going into this past year, 2022 was meant to be the beginning of the end for petroleum refiners, but another spanner was thrown in the works. With most countries coming out of lockdown and entering post-COVID life, the expectations were that a lot of the trial and tribulations of the past two years would leave […]

The global mining sector had a wild ride in 2022, plagued by supply-chain and labor shortages and geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended markets, sending many commodities to record highs, only then to fall quickly. Several nations issued wide-ranging sanctions against Russia and further sanctions are still being debated as the conflict […]

The energy transition continued to move full steam ahead in 2022 with passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022 kicking it into full gear. This monumental legislation supplemented the previous Infrastructure, Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed in 2021 and provided unprecedented funding to clean energy and climate initiatives. These incentives include […]

The global LNG market was influenced by some unprecedented factors in 2022. Europe significantly grew their LNG imports driving LNG prices to astounding highs. U.S. emerged as the top exporter in spite of an emergency shutdown at Freeport LNG. High shipping rates also plagued LNG markets along with limited supply and growing sustainability pressures. All […]

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption in December 2022 advanced through infrastructure expansion, production capacity growth, and technology innovation. Airlines continued increasing SAF use, supported by new logistics developments such as NATO CEPS initiating SAF transport operations. Production and R&D progress remained strong, with LanzaTech and Velocys launching projects in the U.K. utilizing gases from steelmaking […]

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) momentum in December 2022 accelerated through supply deals, production expansion, and regulatory support. Airlines secured supply agreements with producers such as TotalEnergies, Shell, and Fidelis New Energy, while China’s Sinopec and U.S. operators advanced national SAF deployment. Government and industry initiatives across the U.K., Germany, Mexico, and Brazil focused on expanding […]

Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) developments in November 2022 were defined by revised airline emissions targets, long-term SAF agreements, and growing regional initiatives. Airlines such as Airbus and Wizz Air expanded partnerships with producers like Shell and Gevo, while Asia Pacific advanced new SAF supply infrastructure in Japan and Thailand. Technological and policy progress continued […]

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) progress in November 2022 was marked by stronger decarbonization targets, new plant announcements, and expanded policy support. ICAO member states reaffirmed their net-zero by 2050 commitment, with airlines like Qatar Airways and Southwest Airlines advancing interim carbon-reduction goals. Technological and production momentum continued as alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) emerged as the leading pathway, […]

After nearly a decade of stagnant growth, geothermal energy may be poised for a period of growth again. New technologies, new investors, and technological innovations for geothermal systems including enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), supercritical geothermal, and advanced geothermal systems (AGS). A discussion of these systems can be found here. Changing Landscape One of the biggest […]