New Energy Trend in Japan?
Trends in Energy–
In the wake of the massive nuclear tragedy in Japan the unthinkable has happened in a nation known for their efficiency of design. This is causing the entire nation and possibly the world to re-evaluate their energy choices. Is this a mega-shift in trends? Could this usher in a period of turning to safer alternatives?
Just this past week General Electric’s (GE) GE Energy division debuted its Electric Vehicle Solar Carport. This carport has solar panels built into its roof and can feed the electricity it produces into GE’s new Smart EV Charging Stations opening the door for Solar powered cars. Each EV Solar Carport Project produces enough energy to power nearly 20 homes per year. And is targeted toward parking lots so cars can be parked in the shade and get charged up as well. There are millions of acres of parking lots around the country just ripe for producing solar energy (and shading cars). I would think many people would pay for the priviledge of parking in the shade even if they didn’t want to charge up their car. The excess energy could be fed back into the grid supplying energy during peak usage times (daytime) or used to charge the cars parked in them.
Perhaps as Dr. Daly suggests in this article the key components of alternative energy are coming together not only with G.E. but throughout the world.
Tim McMahon, editor
The Fukushima debacle has finally bared the industry’s darkest secret, its inability to manage its nuclear waste. The six reactor TEPCO Daichi Fukushima stored all its waste onsite, and the spent fuel rods and their lack of cooling have been a major contributor to the high radiation levels observed around the facility. Worse for nuclear power proponents has been the reluctant admission by TECPO that three of the complex’s six reactors apparently did in fact suffer a meltdown. So, what’s next?
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The Hungry Dragon: China’s New Oil Market
By Marin Katusa, Chief Investment Strategist, Energy Division
If you ever happen to eavesdrop on a conversation between energy investors, two words are sure to crop up – China and oil. Usually, they’re used together and usually, it’s about China’s increasing presence on the global oil scene.
It’s a pretty safe bet that, as one of the world’s fastest growing economies, China needs a lot of energy. And with an oil appetite that grows by 7.5% each year, seven times faster than the U.S., the country’s reserves don’t even begin to compare to the consumption.
But fuelling the blistering pace of its economy is China’s number one priority, and it is on a mission to lock down its energy interests all around the world. The emerging powerhouse has often felt that it was the last one onto the energy playing field with a lot of catching up to do.
