Germany- a Nuclear Power Trendsetter?
By Marin Katusa, Casey Energy Opportunities
In a dramatic about-face, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced last Monday that Germany will phase out nuclear power completely by 2022, shutting down its nine operational reactors and never restarting the seven reactors that were suspended in the wake of the nuclear disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Germany has struggled with a conflicted yet essential relationship with nuclear power from the start. West Germany built its first nuclear power plant in 1960; since then, the country has come to rely on nuclear reactors for more than 20% of its power needs. But the industry’s growth has not come without opposition. A 1975 fire at the Lubmin plant on the Baltic Coast almost caused a core meltdown. A few years later, the Green Party formed and quickly became a nationwide political force based on their “Atomkraft? Nein, Danke” (Nuclear Power? No Thanks) slogan.
For the next 20 years, the country battled with nuclear waste, first transporting it to medium-term storage facilities because of protests against building a national waste processing facility, then shipping it to facilities in France and Britain. In the early 2000s, protestors regularly blocked waste transports, creating a tension-filled period that culminated in the death of an anti-nuclear activist.
In this context, the coalition government committed to phasing out nuclear power by the mid-2020s. But six years later, in 2006, Chancellor Merkel said it would be a mistake for Germany to turn off its nuclear power plants. Four years later, she strengthened that stance with a plan to run the country’s nuclear plants for an additional 12 years, until 2033. That law passed in the country’s lower house in October 2010. Continue reading
New Energy Trend in Japan?
Trends in Energy–
In the wake of the massive nuclear tragedy in Japan the unthinkable has happened in a nation known for their efficiency of design. This is causing the entire nation and possibly the world to re-evaluate their energy choices. Is this a mega-shift in trends? Could this usher in a period of turning to safer alternatives?
Just this past week General Electric’s (GE) GE Energy division debuted its Electric Vehicle Solar Carport. This carport has solar panels built into its roof and can feed the electricity it produces into GE’s new Smart EV Charging Stations opening the door for Solar powered cars. Each EV Solar Carport Project produces enough energy to power nearly 20 homes per year. And is targeted toward parking lots so cars can be parked in the shade and get charged up as well. There are millions of acres of parking lots around the country just ripe for producing solar energy (and shading cars). I would think many people would pay for the priviledge of parking in the shade even if they didn’t want to charge up their car. The excess energy could be fed back into the grid supplying energy during peak usage times (daytime) or used to charge the cars parked in them.
Perhaps as Dr. Daly suggests in this article the key components of alternative energy are coming together not only with G.E. but throughout the world.
Tim McMahon, editor
The Fukushima debacle has finally bared the industry’s darkest secret, its inability to manage its nuclear waste. The six reactor TEPCO Daichi Fukushima stored all its waste onsite, and the spent fuel rods and their lack of cooling have been a major contributor to the high radiation levels observed around the facility. Worse for nuclear power proponents has been the reluctant admission by TECPO that three of the complex’s six reactors apparently did in fact suffer a meltdown. So, what’s next?
Continue reading
Australian Floods Cause Drought in the Coal Market
By Marin Katusa, Casey’s Energy Report
The most important metallurgical coal basin in the world is underwater. Open pits have become lakes, stockpiles are soaked, and rail lines are submerged and in places destroyed. Damage is estimated at $5 to $6 billion.
Australia accounts for almost two-thirds of global coking coal production. Much of it comes from Queensland, where an area the size of France and Germany combined is underwater. That includes the Bowen Basin coal region, which produces almost a third of the world’s coking coal. The Bowen Basin was hit with 350 mm of rain in December, against an average of 102 mm.
Floods are now receding from the Bowen, giving some miners an opportunity to ship from existing stockpiles. Other mines are still inaccessible, and several rail lines are still submerged or damaged. And since open pits are still flooded and will take weeks to drain, shipping from stockpiles only postpones the inevitable: a reduction in met coal supply. Analysts think a recovery to pre-flood coal production levels will take at least three months. Continue reading
Why Europe Should Pay Attention to Algeria
By Marin Katusa, Chief Energy Strategist, Casey Research
Tunisia’s uprising has democracy watchers wondering if the instability will spill over into neighboring North African countries, but really that instability is already there. In the first week of the year, Algeria experienced violent protests after the government hiked prices for staple foods like milk, sugar, oil, and flour. Some 800 people were injured in several days of rioting, prompting President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to cut costs on some foods and lower import duties on others. The rioters went home, but odds are they will return to the streets when prices rise again.
Those rioters are not just angry about high food prices. Unemployment in Algeria is officially at 11%, but estimates from outside of the government run much higher, along the lines of 25%. Inflation keeps creeping up, and the country’s impoverished population, who has very little freedom, has grown distrustful of the government. A massive boycott rendered the results of the last presidential election, where Bouteflika won with 92% of the vote, almost meaningless. Continue reading
Geothermal Update: Growth Spurt Ahead
by Marin Katusa, Chief Energy Strategist, Casey Research
The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) is a pretty active group. It regularly hosts networking and news events for its members, who range from scientists to industry reps. One meeting that grabbed our eye took us to Toronto in October, ready to sniff around the Geothermal Investment Forum.
CanGEA members worldwide operate approximately 20% of global geothermal capacity and have a reported 3,377 MW in reserves and resources. So when these fellows convene, the formal presentations and hallway exchanges offer some significant insight and even a competitive edge for investing in this sector.
To begin, geothermal is still the forgotten renewable and, compared with fossil fuels, has a long road to becoming a household word in the markets. The industry faces a series of challenges to be taken as a serious and viable alternative to the energy king, fossil fuels. Here’s a summary of strengths and weaknesses that came up at the forum: Continue reading
5 Energy markets that will help you thrive in 2011
In today’s short video I’m going to show you some of the markets that I’m looking at in the energy complex. We’re going to be looking at coal, oil, solar and some other large energy companies and ETF’s.
As this is a short video, be sure to check in and watch our webinar this Thursday, January 20th at 4pm EST/9pm GMT. You will need to reserve a spot as tour webinars typically reach capacity quickly.
As always all webinars are free to attend.
Take a look at what we will be covering in the webinar and check out our new portfolio manager which we will be using extensively throughout today’s video. We also have a big surprise which will be announced at the webinar and I have no doubt that you will like.
Today’s video requires no registration and is free to watch: Continue reading
Casey Research Identifies Next Generation of Resource Leaders with Casey’s NexTen
Stowe, VT, October 12, 2010 – Casey Research, a leader in providing in-depth, independent analysis of high-growth investment opportunities, announced today Casey’s NextTen, the next generation of leaders in the natural resource industry.
Successful investors, like Casey Research founder Doug Casey, have long recognized that there are no more important considerations when investing than the people. For years, Casey Research has helped its subscribers succeed by closely following the careers of the most successful explorers in the industry, those top few percent who consistently generate the majority of returns for shareholders.
And now, it is proud to present the next generation of industry leaders to keep a close eye on — the top 10 up-and-coming resource stars 40 years and under who are already demonstrating a strong track record in innovation, exploration, and financing – Casey’s NexTen. Continue reading
China and India: Still Hungry for Coal
By Marin Katusa, Chief Energy Strategist, Casey Research
One can only hope that the “Don’t shoot the messenger” adage is still popular in the international community.
UK-based consultants M&C Energy Group have become the latest to join the chorus of voices asking the international community to increase the pressure on China and India to switch to cleaner energy sources.
As far as energy analyst David Hunter is concerned, it is the Western businesses that are carrying the financial burden of reducing carbon emissions. China and India, on the other hand, are benefitting from much cheaper energy, and their companies don’t have to bear the costs of reversing the effects of global warming.
Mr Hunter, however, should steel himself for disappointing news. Industry experts are expecting anything but a cut in coal demand for the foreseeable future.
By their analysis, global coal demand – already at a record high – will remain strong even as the recession cuts down on oil and gas use. And the numbers are certainly matching up to these expectations. Continue reading
