“Glencore’s investors want it to stop digging.” Shares down two-thirds since May 2011 float, debt mountain at $48bn.
15.8.15.
Firefighters struggle to contain largest ever US wildfire. Spanning more than a quarter of a billion acres, the Idaho fire has been fed by drought.
1,500 people put their bodies on line to stop the diggers at RWE’s lignite mine. Says one, to governments, “if you are not going to solve it for us, we are going to solve it for you.”
Developing countries are paying a high price for the global mineral boom. Electronic goods boom leads to social conflict and human rights violations across Asia, Latin America and Africa.
14.8.15.
15 states line up against Obama. But attorneys general for 15 others states issue statement supporting EPA rules to cut emissions, saying they would oppose legal efforts to block them.
LED lightbulbs outshine solar and wind on US grids. Efficiency accounts for more US emissions reductions than renewables, and LEDs replacing compact flourescents is most of that.
First Solar replaces SunEdison as most valuable US quoted solar company. Latter’s stock has falled 55% since investors began to fret about speed of expansion in late July.
Solar companies are being pulled ever closer to end customers. Photon’s 2015 annual sees most of the global profit pool of $16bn (on $136bn revenue, 57 GW) there. (no url)
“Life around New Mexico’s gas wells: how fracking is turning the air foul.” What the methane bubble visible from space looks, feels and smells like on the ground.
13.8.15.
Activists target diggers at RWE’s German lignite mines. A thousand are expected under the banner Ende Gelände – “here and no further”.
UK government to fast-track planning applications for fracking. If they delay beyond 16 weeks, government may make decisions for councils.
“Fast-track fracking taps well of northern anger.” “The government is saying you can have local democracy as long as it agrees with us”, complains a retired bishop.
Chinese solar panel makers suffer amid stock market turmoil. Expansion under threat as companies face too much production capacity, very low profit margins and crushing debt.
RWE invests in a storage company from Silicon Valley. The German utility has a board slot after Stem Inc’s third round of funding.
12.8.15.
China stuns markets by devaluing yuan for second day running. Stocks come under pressure amid fears of a global currency war.
Oil supply glut will extend into 2016: IEA. Oil supply is still growing at “breakneck speed”, says the agency, outstripping consumption by 3 mbd.
Canadian tar sands crude halves in price in six weeks. It is now down at $23, less than half the price of Brent, at a level not seen for 12 years.
SolarCity “tops off” its New York gigawatt module factory in New York. The biggest such facility in the western hemisphere will produce first modules Q1 2016, & full production 2017.
E.ON begins construction of a 5MW battery system. Partners in the 5MW modular large-scale battery (M5BAT) system at Aachen University include Exide & SMA. Completion mid 2016.
11.8.15.
Australia sets 26-28% emission reduction target by 2030. This leaves the nation trailing most other developed countries in efforts to combat climate change.
Carmichael mine would be left stranded. Indian coal imports will drop to zero by 2021, a new analysis shows, as renewables and grid upgrades progress.
Shell ready to go for oil in the Arctic. The capping stack is now back with the fleet and they have told the US regulators they are good to go.
Japan switches on a nuclear reactor for first time in two years. The Sendai plant on Kyushu restarts with a majority of the Japanese public opposed.
10.8.15.
Standard Chartered abandons Australia’s controversial Carmichael coalmine. They fear reputational damage if they continue to advise Adani.
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