Here’s a bit of energy news that didn’t make it into our daily coverage during the past week. In this review, we collected some of less big, but nonetheless interesting news, of the week that went by, from the world of energy science and technology.
SEE ALSO: May, 2014: This Month in Energy
Environment and Climate Change
UK and People’s Republic of China Issue Joint Statement on Climate Change
During the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to London on 17 June 2014 the Governments of the People’s Republic of China and United Kingdom released this statement, reaffirming joint commitment to work together towards a global framework for ambitious climate change. The statement is accompanied by an information note outlining the UK’s cooperation with China on climate change and low carbon development. »
Power Plant Emissions Verified Remotely at Four Corners Sites
Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from two coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners area of northwest New Mexico, the largest point source of pollution in America, were measured remotely by a Los Alamos National Laboratory team. The study is the first to show that space-based techniques can successfully verify international regulations on fossil energy emissions. »
Renewables
China Introduces Offshore Wind Feed-In Tariffs
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) has been working with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) tariff department for months to determine the FIT for offshore wind, and the discussions between the two agencies have now been finalized: the inter-tidal projects will enjoy a tariff of RMB 0.75 (USD 0.12) per kilowatt hour while the nearshore tariff will set at RMB 0.85 (USD 0.14)/kWh. »
Elon Musk’s SolarCity Wants to Build a Gigawatt Solar Panel Factory
SolarCity, the rooftop solar system installer headed by Lyndon Rive and whose chairman is billionaire Elon Musk, is buying solar panel maker Silevo for up to $350 million. »
Science, Technology and Research
DOE Awards $100 Million for Innovative Energy Research
U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the awarding of $100 million for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs needed to build the 21st-century energy economy. »
ADB to Host New Hub to Bring Investment and Innovation in Clean Energy in Asia
The 9th Asia Clean Energy Forum saw the launch of a Sustainable Energy for All hub for Asia Pacific, aimed at mobilizing investment and finding innovative ways to bring clean, modern energy to the people of Asia and the Pacific. »
Oil and Natural Gas
BP and CNOOC sign 20-year LNG deal
BP and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced a heads of agreement for the supply of up to 1.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year over 20 years starting in 2019. A full commercial contract is expected to be agreed in mid-2014. »
U.S. Crude Exports in April Rise to Highest Level in 15 Years
The United States exported 268,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in April (the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau), the highest level of exports in 15 years. Exports have increased sharply since the start of 2013 and have exceeded 200,000 b/d in five of the past six months. »
June Marks 50th Anniversary of the First Commercial Liquefied Natural Gas Tanker
According to the EIA, the world’s first purpose-built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, the Methane Princess, entered service 50 years ago, in June 1964. Since then, the global LNG carrier fleet has grown to include 357 ships, with an average capacity of 150,000 cubic meters of LNG per ship (approximately 3,300 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas), more than five times larger than the capacity of the Methane Princess. »
