Whilst it is exceedingly difficult to summon up much sympathy for either Russia’s state-owned natural gas monopoly Gazprom or Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin, the dynamic rise of natural gas produced by hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking,” has raised alarm bells in the highest reaches of the Kremlin. Why? Because Gazprom’s European customers, tired of being ripped off by Gazprom, are avidly exploring the possibilities of undertaking fracking to develop their own sources of the “blue gold,” and nowhere…

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Global rankings place the United States in the top spot for investment in clean energy in 2011, with over $48 billion in energy sector investments, including solar, biofuels and wind energy, up from $34 billion the year before. The US now has a total installed renewable energy capacity of 93 GW, which includes the addition of 6.7 gigawatts (GW) of wind and more than 1 GW of solar energy – the equivalent necessary to power over 800,000 homes.  China, which was bumped to second place, saw investment in clean energy increase by $0.5 billion…

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The U.S. special envoy for Sudan told reporters in January he was “very concerned” about the situation in Sudan. South Sudan and Sudan split last year under the terms of a comprehensive peace agreement that ended one of the bloodiest conflicts since World War II. The envoy, Princeton Lyman, admitted some of the outstanding issues from the CPA were “set aside” but where now “coming to the surface.” This week, with South Sudanese authorities seizing oil territory in Sudan, the situation has now boiled over into war. South Sudanese President…

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NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has started a Phase I effort to explore the overall viability and advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for an orbital power station project called “SPS Alpha”, or Solar Power Satellite – Alpha. Last August, Artemis Innovation Management Solutions was selected for a NASA NIAC award to dive into the details of what Artemis leader John C. Mankins callls “the first practical solar-power satellite concept.”  Mankins published his pdf report March 27th…

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Oil and Gas veteran T. Boone Pickens believes that the US can achieve energy independence by following his ‘Pickens Plan’. His strategy calls for the widespread use of natural gas as a transport fuel; the upgrading of the nation’s electrical grid; a greater use of renewable sources; and creating policies that will encourage energy efficiency. Maybe Mr. Boone Pickens is onto something as at the recent New York Times Energy of Tomorrow Conference all of these ideas were actually discussed. At the conference Steve Nadel, the executive…

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Iceland boasts between 20 and 30 active volcanoes, and due to this abundant geothermal activity has a thriving geothermal energy sector. The UK is currently looking into the possibility of importing this energy in an attempt to help it reach its renewable energy targets, and secure energy supplies to meet its future needs. The deal, if it goes ahead, will also greatly benefit Iceland whose banks failed back in 2008 as its economy collapsed. UK Energy Minister, Charles Hendry, said that the two governments are in discussions and that the Icelandic…

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