Author: Graham Foster

A growing concern in our interconnected world involves the safety of undersea cables that carry electricity and data. With thousands of kilometers of these cables lying along the ocean floor, damage can disrupt both power supplies and communication. Unlike the more familiar fiber optic cables, these electricity interconnectors are bulkier and more challenging to repair, making them vulnerable to both accidents and acts of sabotage. Recent events have highlighted this issue. On Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 cable, which connects Finland and Estonia, was severed, coinciding with the loss of several communication links. Finnish authorities arrested a tanker named Eagle…

Key Highlights: On Tuesday, SPAN, a company known for smart electric panels, introduced a new product called SPAN Edge. This device is designed to help utilities manage the distribution grid more effectively and support home electrification. According to SPAN, the Edge device can be installed easily at a utility meter in under 15 minutes, providing reliable and flexible load management benefits that can form part of a virtual power plant. Arch Rao, the founder and CEO of SPAN, emphasized that the device could be included in a utility’s rate base, helping to control a building’s electricity load and possibly preventing…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that the United States has proposed a significant new deal regarding critical minerals, expanding upon an initial agreement made last month. This development is part of efforts by Donald Trump to address the ongoing conflict caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy mentioned to reporters that he hasn’t gone through the proposal completely yet but clarified that it does not call for increased US involvement in Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector, a suggestion made by Trump last week. The latest proposal from the US is characterized by Zelenskyy as a “large, comprehensive agreement.” Reports…

Donald Trump’s approach to tariffs and his efforts to lower energy prices are causing concerns among U.S. oil producers. Executives in the shale industry have expressed that these policies could negatively impact oil production, contradicting Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” strategy. Trump has promised to promote American fossil fuel production and cheaper oil prices, suggesting that lower energy costs could help combat inflation for consumers. However, in a recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, shale companies indicated that Trump’s trade policies and ongoing unpredictability are creating significant challenges for their drilling operations. One shale producer commented, “The…

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday the certification of the Cornucopia Hybrid Solar Project, a significant step that utilizes the state’s Environmental Quality Act to accelerate clean energy development. This initiative will bring 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power along with an equal amount of battery storage to Fresno County. By certifying the project, any legal challenges related to it will need to be addressed by courts within a 270-day period, ensuring that concerns are still heard but also speeding up the process. This swift resolution is part of the state’s aim to enhance green infrastructure. The Cornucopia project,…

Good morning! Today, we’re taking a look at the important discussions happening at the FT’s annual Commodities Global Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is known for bringing together key figures in the commodity trading industry. This year marks the 14th edition of the summit, and it’s become a significant event for anyone involved in commodities. Among those participating are leaders from major companies in the sector like Vitol and Trafigura, along with experts discussing the future of energy. A major focus has been on the impact of recent changes in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump. Traders are feeling the…

 Key Updates: Renew Home is set to roll out its new “homes-first” virtual power plant features this summer, which will utilize over 3 GW of shiftable load that it manages, according to the company’s announcement on Monday. The new system will automatically integrate with energy providers’ time-of-use or demand rate plans and will gather feedback from households to enhance the experience for customers. Utilities and energy providers will have access to a digital portal to inform Renew Home of any price adjustments or grid strains that could benefit from load shifting, manage household participation in as little as five…

Rowaa Ahmar, the former top lobbyist at Drax, announced that she has reached a settlement with the energy company following her employment tribunal claim. She expressed gratitude toward Louis Bacon, a billionaire founder of Moore Capital Management, for his key support during this difficult period. Ahmar described Bacon’s assistance as crucial, allowing her to pursue her case against Drax. Reports indicate that Bacon’s support was primarily financial. Moore Capital had initially revealed a short position in Drax, amounting to 0.58% of the company’s shares in July 2023. They updated their positions in the following months, and as of late July…

Heathrow Airport is facing increasing criticism following its decision to close for nearly 24 hours due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation, despite being connected to other power sources. This closure happened last Friday while airport officials worked to restore complete power to the facility, which requires as much electricity as a small city. According to John Pettigrew, the CEO of National Grid, which oversees Britain’s high-voltage power network, two other substations that supply electricity to Heathrow were still operational during the incident. This meant that power remained accessible, although the airport could not access it promptly. Concerns…

The CEO of Rolls-Royce, Tufan Erginbilgiç, has recently cautioned that the UK government could risk having vital supply chains for small nuclear reactors established outside the country. This situation might occur if the government does not select the companies to develop these reactors by the end of June. Erginbilgiç pointed out that the UK could face a scenario similar to what happened during the offshore wind energy boom over the past decade, where it fell behind other European nations in producing key components for turbines. Rolls-Royce was one of four companies shortlisted by the government last year to create small…