The global energy crisis is one of the few topics that cross my mind on a daily basis. The actions that we take today and our energy policies will have profound effects not just on the way we live tomorrow but also on whether or not we will Be a leading nation in an increasingly competitive world.
One quote I read recently in a Thomas Friedman book caught my attention. I would like to invite others to comment on this.
There are "five key problems that a hot, flat, and crowded world is dramatically intensifying. They are: the growing demand for ever scarcer energy supplies and natural resources; a massive transfer of wealth to oil-rich countries and their petrodictators; disruptive climate change; energy poverty, which is sharply dividing the world into electricity haves and electricity have-nots; and rapidly accelerating biodiversity loss, as plants and animals go extinct at record rates." (Hot, Flat, and Crowded, 26)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Arab states may become solar energy exporters
By: Nadim Kawach
Massive renewable energy projects undertaken by the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries could turn them into solar energy exporters along with their large hydrocarbon exports, according to a veteran Arab energy analyst.
"After oil, Arab countries could start exporting solar energy," said Nicolas Sarkis, Director of the Paris-based Arab Petroleum Research Centre (APRC), which acts as an adviser to the 10-nation Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries.
"The development of solar energy is rapidly becoming a priority of energy policies pursued by most countries in the Middle East and North Africa, whether oil and natural gas producers or not," Sarkis wrote in the APRC's monthly magazine, Arab Petroleum and Gas.He said that in non-oil Arab countries, the growing interest being shown in solar power and other renewable energy sources is dictated not only by the deterioration in their energy deficits and the insufficiency of their indigenous fossil fuel resources but also by environmental imperatives and the technological progress that characterises the development of renewable energies.
As for the large hydrocarbon exporting countries in the Arab World, the exploitation of their huge potential in the area of solar energy reflects a dual concern to protect the environment and prepare the post-oil era, he said.
FOR FULL ARTICLE GO TO: http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2010/2/Pages/06022010/02072010_07f3296e5cf24477a020cb7bef4f86fb.aspx
Massive renewable energy projects undertaken by the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries could turn them into solar energy exporters along with their large hydrocarbon exports, according to a veteran Arab energy analyst.
"After oil, Arab countries could start exporting solar energy," said Nicolas Sarkis, Director of the Paris-based Arab Petroleum Research Centre (APRC), which acts as an adviser to the 10-nation Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries.
"The development of solar energy is rapidly becoming a priority of energy policies pursued by most countries in the Middle East and North Africa, whether oil and natural gas producers or not," Sarkis wrote in the APRC's monthly magazine, Arab Petroleum and Gas.He said that in non-oil Arab countries, the growing interest being shown in solar power and other renewable energy sources is dictated not only by the deterioration in their energy deficits and the insufficiency of their indigenous fossil fuel resources but also by environmental imperatives and the technological progress that characterises the development of renewable energies.
As for the large hydrocarbon exporting countries in the Arab World, the exploitation of their huge potential in the area of solar energy reflects a dual concern to protect the environment and prepare the post-oil era, he said.
FOR FULL ARTICLE GO TO: http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2010/2/Pages/06022010/02072010_07f3296e5cf24477a020cb7bef4f86fb.aspx
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
GCC to Invest $50 Billion in Power Projects in the Next 6 Years
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are likely to invest as much as $50 billion (Dh184 billion) in power projects between 2009 and 2015.
The EIU says economies of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are set to consistently outperform every other region in the world over the next five years. "This economic growth, coupled with increases in population, is placing extra pressure on governments to provide enough power capacity to meet demand. As such it is expected that the GCC countries will invest $50 billion to increase power generation capacity between now and 2015," the EIU said.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Race for the Green Vehicle
We would like to invite you to share your insights and ideas with us about the following topic. How do you think the green-mobility industry will evolve? Please feel free to comment on this article or to contact us directly at info@floyd-associates.com.
A revolution has begun. A revolution that will transform personal and public mobility the way we know it. Reliance on fossil fuels as a source of energy and on the internal combustion engine for mobility is simply too risky and the public is finally understanding that the only way to obtain energy independence is to migrate from our addiction to fossil fuels to a reliance on renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, governments and companies from around the world are scrambling to stay ahead of the game and to emerge as winners in tomorrow’s green mobility industry.
No one knows who the big players in tomorrow’s automotive market will be but there is plenty of room for speculation. What we do know is that during such times of rapid change, it is inevitable that new players will emerge and old ones are forced to either restructure or downsize - if not close shop altogether. Nowhere is this more evident than in the present condition of the automotive industry in both in the United States and Europe.
China, however, has been swift to observe and act upon these trends. During the past few years, Chinese car companies have unveiled various models of electric vehicles from neighborhood electric cars to roomy sedans. BYD Auto, the Chinese auto maker, with only five years of experience in car manufacturing, now supplies more than 6 models and has plans to sell hybrids in the US. Founded in 1997, Chery Automobile Company is another example of a Chinese manufacturer that has been quick to build a successful Chinese brand of clean vehicles.
Aside from the manufacturing of vehicles, radically new approaches are also being taken by states and cities to integrate these technologies into our everyday lives. In the United States there is a continued move towards the creation of sustainable cities that minimize the negative effects of transportation and in turn enhance the livability of cities. For example, the mayors of both Portland and San Francisco are in fierce competition to make their respective cities the greenest on earth, with both cities battling to be the first to develop the infrastructure to support full-scale electric vehicle deployment. Of course, in Europe, many cities already have this infrastructure in place and it is used with varying degrees of success.
The question therefore becomes: given the pressures of the market to go green and the current economic climate, what is the ability for these types of innovative technologies to support the development of new modes of transportation and the infrastructure to support it? Are cities really becoming greener? Who will be the next big players in this industry? And is the market ready to adopt such changes?
We welcome your comments and thoughts.
A revolution has begun. A revolution that will transform personal and public mobility the way we know it. Reliance on fossil fuels as a source of energy and on the internal combustion engine for mobility is simply too risky and the public is finally understanding that the only way to obtain energy independence is to migrate from our addiction to fossil fuels to a reliance on renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, governments and companies from around the world are scrambling to stay ahead of the game and to emerge as winners in tomorrow’s green mobility industry.
No one knows who the big players in tomorrow’s automotive market will be but there is plenty of room for speculation. What we do know is that during such times of rapid change, it is inevitable that new players will emerge and old ones are forced to either restructure or downsize - if not close shop altogether. Nowhere is this more evident than in the present condition of the automotive industry in both in the United States and Europe.
China, however, has been swift to observe and act upon these trends. During the past few years, Chinese car companies have unveiled various models of electric vehicles from neighborhood electric cars to roomy sedans. BYD Auto, the Chinese auto maker, with only five years of experience in car manufacturing, now supplies more than 6 models and has plans to sell hybrids in the US. Founded in 1997, Chery Automobile Company is another example of a Chinese manufacturer that has been quick to build a successful Chinese brand of clean vehicles.
Aside from the manufacturing of vehicles, radically new approaches are also being taken by states and cities to integrate these technologies into our everyday lives. In the United States there is a continued move towards the creation of sustainable cities that minimize the negative effects of transportation and in turn enhance the livability of cities. For example, the mayors of both Portland and San Francisco are in fierce competition to make their respective cities the greenest on earth, with both cities battling to be the first to develop the infrastructure to support full-scale electric vehicle deployment. Of course, in Europe, many cities already have this infrastructure in place and it is used with varying degrees of success.
The question therefore becomes: given the pressures of the market to go green and the current economic climate, what is the ability for these types of innovative technologies to support the development of new modes of transportation and the infrastructure to support it? Are cities really becoming greener? Who will be the next big players in this industry? And is the market ready to adopt such changes?
We welcome your comments and thoughts.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Global Diversification: Key to Profitable Investments
Despite the global crisis in the financial and real sectors of almost all economies around the world, and while most businesses have nothing on their agendas but downsizing, diversification is still the only safe bet. Prudent and cash rich investors have the most to gain from investing in undervalued assets during the current turbulent economic times. As a recent example, Deyaar Development recently announced that it is moving ahead with plans to expand internationally.
One of the largest developers in Dubai, Deyaar’s real estate ventures span across major growth corridors and prime locations in the UAE. According to its Chief Executive Officer, Markus Giebel, “we can take excess cash and buy land internationally. There is no better time to start international expansion.”
One of the largest developers in Dubai, Deyaar’s real estate ventures span across major growth corridors and prime locations in the UAE. According to its Chief Executive Officer, Markus Giebel, “we can take excess cash and buy land internationally. There is no better time to start international expansion.”
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Brief Look at Today’s Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles and the Companies that Are Revolutionizing an Old Industry
Plug-in Hybrids: Vehicles of Tomorrow
We have published a research report briefly analyzing plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles that are currently in development or being produced. The report classifies various types of “clean” vehicles and reviews the strengths and weaknesses of some of the old and new players in the sector.
The battery capacity that is needed for an all-electric vehicle is currently very costly. A Deutsche Bank study cites an average of $11,000 of additional cost for an all electric vehicle compared to a comparable gasoline powered vehicle. Also due to limitations in current technology the range for most all-electric vehicles is limited to about 100 miles and to up to 250 miles for high-end electric vehicles.
Compared to a gasoline powered vehicle a hybrid uses less fuel, has a smaller carbon footprint, and has a comparable range and performance. Due to the unpredictability of gas prices and increasing consumer demand for more fuel efficient vehicles the report projects that the demand for hybrids shall increase dramatically in the coming years.
To read the full report, please go to: www.floyd-associates.com/phev2.pdf.
We have published a research report briefly analyzing plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles that are currently in development or being produced. The report classifies various types of “clean” vehicles and reviews the strengths and weaknesses of some of the old and new players in the sector.
The battery capacity that is needed for an all-electric vehicle is currently very costly. A Deutsche Bank study cites an average of $11,000 of additional cost for an all electric vehicle compared to a comparable gasoline powered vehicle. Also due to limitations in current technology the range for most all-electric vehicles is limited to about 100 miles and to up to 250 miles for high-end electric vehicles.
Compared to a gasoline powered vehicle a hybrid uses less fuel, has a smaller carbon footprint, and has a comparable range and performance. Due to the unpredictability of gas prices and increasing consumer demand for more fuel efficient vehicles the report projects that the demand for hybrids shall increase dramatically in the coming years.
To read the full report, please go to: www.floyd-associates.com/phev2.pdf.
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