“Coopetition”
Energy Terminal Weekly Newsletter
December 13th 2022 | Issue #36 | Subscribe here
Happy Tuesday!
Welcome to the ET weekly, a platform dedicated to building the next generation of energy leaders. In this week's issue we cover:
😱 Next year's energy crisis
💨 Biogas to replace Russian natural gas?
⛏️ Tools for collaboration within the cleantech space
💥 Are EVs actually better for the environment?
⭐ Startup Spotlight : Aspiration
Aspiration helps people and businesses build sustainable impact into what they do every day by making it easy, automated, and powerful. They do this either through the ways people spend and save their money or through the ways businesses engage their customers and employees.
🎉Apply to be an Energy Terminal Ambassador
Great opportunity for all those interested in growing their personal brand or learning more about the energy transition. Learn more here!
🚨 Episode 20 Out Now
There’s no silver bullet for the energy transition; we need some silver buckshot.
In the final episode of Energy Terminal’s first season, Hope and Michael are joined by Deb Wojcik, Executive Director of Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster, a nonprofit accelerating the growth of cleantech in North Carolina and beyond by leveraging the diverse mix of energy leaders in the triangle area. To see real progress in the energy transition, we need collaboration across all organizations, and RTCC is making it happen right here in the triangle.
We’ve talked about collaboration in almost every episode, and it's absolutely fundamental to cleantech success. In her role, Deb brings together players across the energy ecosystem to collaborate on the most pressing problems facing the industry. Episode 20 covers topics including why collaboration is so critical in cleantech, who we need to bring to the table, and how we get them to the table. Listen in for strategies on how to work with competitors and how to effectively incorporate diverse perspectives in your decisions.
💡 Internship Spotlight:
Summer Intern–Energy Management @ Pattern Energy Group
Pattern Energy is a leading renewable energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates high-quality wind and solar generation, transmission, and energy storage facilities. Pattern’s Summer Internship Program gives undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience to develop technical skills, as well as a better understanding of the renewable industry. The Energy Management team is seeking an intern to support the group in enhancing our capabilities in power market data analysis and intelligence. The role will require the Intern to be an integral member of the Energy Management team in assisting in advancing their growing footprint and work.
Want to learn more about student experiences at energy internships? Check out our student spotlights!
⏰ Missed Episode 19?
Episodes released bimonthly, subscribe to stay updated!
📚 Reading List
Can renewables stop next year's energy crisis? Are EVs actually sustainable? Should Uganda use their oil reserves? Check out this week’s handpicked reading list to learn more about these groundbreaking energy topics 🔥
🎙️Podcasts:
Energy Policy Now, Energy Transition and Opportunity in the Oil Patch
The oil and gas industry has been unusually volatile in recent years due to COVID-19, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, increasing pressure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels as the climate crisis becomes more pressing, etc.
This volatility increases anxiety for workers and communities that are reliant on such industries
This episode features Katie Mehnert, who uses her unique perspective as an Ambassador with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Equity in Energy Initiative and the CEO of Ally Energy, a company aiming to increase equality in the energy industry, to explore the oil and gas market landscape and how diversity can be promoted through the energy transition
Energy Evolution, Carbon offsets and the path to net-zero emissions
ZeroSix is providing a way for oil wells to be shut down and for carbon offset credits to be given for the associated avoided emissions
The company’s largest target is bottom quarter wells, which are the most producing wells, these wells are low producing but they generate lots of methane
Operations will be paid in credits to make this switch, these will be monetized because businesses and people who want to reduce carbon emissions will be purchasing these carbon credits
Redefining Energy, Inflection point for biogas/biomethane
Biogas, which contains mainly methane and CO2, is produced from organic matter and can be upgraded to biomethane and used much the same way natural gas is used, with lower lifecycle emissions
There have been numerous major biogas plays recently, including the BP acquisition of Archaea, Shell’s of Nature Energy, Macquarie’s of BayWa biogas, Nextera’s of Energy Power Partners
Especially in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine, countries are looking toward biogas as an alternative to Russian natural gas
📰️ Articles:
EPA, EV Myths and Facts
Accounting for manufacturing and power plant emissions, EVs are still more environmentally friendly than gas-powered cars across almost every scenario
Manufacturing emissions from EVs can be 50% higher than comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, but this is offset by lower emissions during operation
Range anxiety is increasingly less of a concern as tens of thousands of charging points are being deployed across the U.S.
Reuters, EU could face gas shortage next year, IEA warns
Europe has been able to avert severe gas storage issues this year, even though Russian gas deliveries were slashed
However, next year’s shortage is expected to be far worse, due to greater Russian gas restriction and an increased Chinese gas demand
The shortage in 2023 is expected to be 27 billion cubic meters, for context Europe’s total gas consumption in 2021 was 412 billion cubic meters
The shortage could be evaded if investments in more efficient buildings, and renewables are made
World War Zero, Dipping Into African Oil Reserves Sets a Dangerous Precedent
The Global South often experiences the worst effects of climate change, despite not being a large contributor to the crisis in comparison to wealthier nations
The Ugandan President says he plans to explore Uganda’s oil reserves
Even though using African reserves would only increase the continents emissions by 0.5%, many argue that no new fossil fuel development should be undertaken
People are worried that Ugandan dependence on fossil fuels could set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the continent
It should also be noted that many renewable power options are well suited to the African continent, such as solar energy, and this presents a massive opportunity for the continent
And head here to check out previous reading lists !
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