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Maguire: ROI-Mapping America’s mammoth Power Machine
The U.S. energy system is ultimately about geography, despite all the talk of gigawatts and emissions, as well as investments, policies, and investments. The distribution of power plants, fuel, transmission lines, and new electricity consumers is not uniform across the country. Clusters of power plants, fuel supplies, transmission lines and emerging electricity users are not evenly distributed across the country. OpenGridWorks.com's map of America's energy assets reveals a system that is in transition. The spread of new technologies is rapid, but the networks that have been built over decades are still being updated. This is a result of multiple energy systems that overlap. These geographies can explain a wide range of issues, from reliability and power prices to transmission bottlenecks and decarbonization. COMPLEX BY DESIGNE As a whole the U.S. energy system looks like an intricate web of lines, nodes, and generator assets that stretch across the continent. What at first appears chaotic is actually the result of decades of investments aimed at connecting power plants, fuel supplies, transmission networks, and consumers. The map shows the incredible scale and complexity required to maintain electricity flow every second, every day. It also highlights why modernizing grids has become a central challenge of the energy transformation. Natural Gas: The Backbone Fuel Gas plants, pipelines, and production basins are the best way to illustrate the size of the current energy system. Natural gas is still deeply embedded in power generation, even with the rapid expansion of renewables. It provides a large portion of the dispatchable electricity needed to balance supply and demand. COAL: The Legacy Fleet The coal industry has declined, but the impact of the fuel is still visible in the industrial Midwest, Appalachia, and the Southeast. These historical decisions continue shaping regional power systems, even though coal's importance is steadily declining. The New Growth Engine: SOLAR AND STORAGE Solar power is concentrated in the Sun Belt. This includes California, Texas and the Southwest where there are abundant sunspots. Battery storage systems are increasingly being used in conjunction with solar projects. This allows excess generation during the day to be stored, and then dispatched at night. This pattern shows that the industry has evolved from simply generating electricity to managing it 24/7. WIND POWER :?Follow the resource The wind farms are located in Texas, Oklahoma Kansas, Iowa, and the neighboring Plains States. The region is America's renewable energy powerhouse because of its strong and consistent wind, large open spaces, and low land costs. Transmission is also important, since many of the best wind resources are located far away from the major population centers. HYDRO POWER : A NATURAL ADVANTAGE Hydropower is concentrated in areas where the geography allows, notably in the Pacific Northwest and western mountain states. Hydropower cannot be installed anywhere, unlike solar or gas. The map highlights the importance of pumped storage facilities. These are among the most efficient and largest forms of grid scale energy storage. Built Near Demand: Nuclear Power The existing American nuclear fleet is largely concentrated in the eastern part of the country. During the second half 20th century, most reactors were constructed near large population centers and industrial areas. A relatively small number facilities still provide a large share of the nation’s carbon-free electric power. TRANSMISSION: A CRITICAL NETWORK A vast transmission network links generators and consumers. The map of the national grid reveals how complex the infrastructure is to keep electricity flowing in a continent's-sized economy. Access to the grid is essential for any additions to the power system. The Shortage of Electricity Highways in America Only a small portion of the nation's transmission infrastructure consists of ultra high-voltage lines that can transport large amounts of power over long distances. Transmission expansion is a major obstacle to the deployment of new energy sources because it has a limited footprint. EV CHARGING: ELECTRIFICATION EXPANDS The map of the EV charging network shows how electricity is becoming more prevalent in transportation. The stations are clustered around major metropolitan areas and interstate roads, reflecting the?highest EV ownership. While the network's scope is expanding, there are still significant regional gaps. DATA CENTERS - A NEW FRONTIER OF DEMAND Data centers are one of the fastest growing sources of electricity consumption. The clusters that surrounded Northern Virginia have now been joined by hubs in Texas and the Midwest. These facilities create new demand centers which increasingly influence utility planning decisions and power investment. The maps together show that the next phase of America's energy transformation is not just about building more generators. The country is dotted with wind farms, solar arrays in the Sun Belt, water-based hydropower stations, nuclear reactors that serve demand centers, and natural gas pipelines running through almost every region. Data centers and electric vehicles (EVs) are creating new demand sources that were barely noticed a decade ago. The challenge facing the United States does not lie in replacing one energy map by another. It's about stitching a new energy economy on top of an old one. This will ensure that power can be produced, transported, stored, and delivered in an increasingly complex landscape. These are the opinions of the columnist, who is also an author. This column is great! 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Tengiz oil production returns to full capacity, boosting Kazakhstan's oil production
Kazakhstan's oil-and-gas condensate production grew 40% on August 9 to 275,000 metric tons, or approximately 2.08 million barrels a day, from 197,000 metric tons, or 1.49million bpd on July 31 as the giant Tengiz field restored production, according to a source with the most recent data. The source reported that oil production at the 'Tengiz' field increased to 903,000 bpd by August 9, compared to 454,000 bpd by July 31. This compares with an average of 784,000bpd for July. The Kazakhstani energy ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Tengizchevroil, the operator of Tengiz's field led by Chevron, will not comment on specific production figures. Kazakhstan has restored crude production following a drop in July due to export restrictions by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium,?its main oil-export route. CPC is responsible for more than 80% Kazakhstan's oil exports. The vast majority of these are from the giant Tengiz and Karachaganak oil fields. In April, Kazakhstan's oil-and-gas condensate production reached a new record of 2.17 million barrels per day. The country plans to produce 98 million tons (or just over 2 million barrels per day) of oil by 2026. However, disruptions in major fields and export restrictions have made this goal difficult to achieve. Reporting by. (Editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov, Mark Potter and Dmitry Zhdannikov)
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Ukraine reduces grain export forecast because of Russian attack on seaports
Ukraine's?agriculture ministry told? On Monday, Ukraine's?agriculture minister? cited?Russian strikes? on the southern Odesa hub of the country. Taras Vysotskyi, the first official forecaster of exports since the Russian attack in late July that effectively stopped shipments out of Odesa port, which are crucial to Ukraine and global agriculture market. Before the increase, the ministry had forecasted exports at 43 million tonnes for this season. In recent weeks, Russia has attacked Ukrainian Black Sea port terminals, vessels that enter and leave the ports on a daily basis and their export terminals. The lower grain forecast highlights?the damage?attacks are inflicting? on a nation that ships over 90% of its grain through seaports. Ukraine's exports are dominated by agricultural products. According to the Agriculture Ministry, this disruption could lead to a shortfall in grain storage of up 11 million tons. Vysotskyi, a Ukrainian politician, said earlier this month that the blockade of the ports could cause losses in the agricultural sector to reach $3 billion. APK-Inform analysts cut their forecast for exports by 8.6% to 39.4 millions tons on Monday due to?export disruptions. In a report, the consultancy stated that it has cut its forecast for exports of?wheat, corn and barley. It said that the estimate included 13.5?tons wheat, 24?tons corn, and 1.5 mln tonne barley. Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Daniel Flynn & Emelia Sithole Matarise
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Oil spillage from tanker off Oman under sanctions against Russia spreads across huge area
The government of Oman said that an oil slick covers 390 square kilometres (150 sq miles) of ocean off its coast. This is after a ship?under sanctions? and?carrying Russian petroleum sustained damage. Two maritime security sources confirmed that the crew of?Caroline?Bezengi first reported problems on June 8, off Mukalla in southern Yemen. Initial assessments suggested that an explosion occurred onboard. In its first public disclosure, Oman announced on Monday that it is working to stop the oil spillage in its waters near the Hallaniyat Islands of southern Governorate Dhofar. According to a statement by Oman's?Environment Authority, carried by Omani state media agency, the oil slick covers approximately 390 square kilometres?based upon its latest analysis which included satellite imagery. The slick is said to extend northeast of the islands and towards the mainland. At its closest point, it comes within seven kilometers of the shore. Satellite imagery and shipping experts showed that the spillage from the 274-metre-long (900-foot-long) Caroline Bezengi Tanker was still spreading as of the end of last month. This raised concerns about environmental damage. It is not clear what caused the damage and Oman hasn't offered any explanation. The ship's shipping data revealed that it was loaded with?Russian crude oil before the voyage. The ship last sent a signal to public AIS tracking in June,?off of the coasts of Yemen. Russia's shadow fleet, which is made up of aging and often poorly maintained tankers, circumvents Western sanctions against?Russian oil imports. The European Union and Britain have imposed sanctions on the Caroline Bezengi, claiming that it was involved in transporting fuels from Russia. (Reporting and writing by Nayera Abadallah and Menna alaa El Din; Editing by Barbara Lewis.)
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MSC and BlackRock withdraw request for approval of purchase of stakes in Barcelona port
A regulatory filing revealed that the shipping giant MSC 'and the buyout fund BlackRock retracted their request to the European Union’s?antitrust regulator to approve their -plan to -buy the Barcelona port terminal, owned by CK Hutchison. Last December, the EU Commission, the EU's competition enforcer, launched a full-scale investigation on the grounds that the deal could lead to higher prices and a reduction in the quality of container terminal services. In the deal, Terminal Investment Limited Holding (TiL), a subsidiary of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company based in Switzerland, and BlackRock would acquire joint control over Hutchison’s terminal at Barcelona Port. It is also the main gateway for deep-sea cargo from and to Barcelona. The terminal is also a major gateway for traffic from and to southern Europe. The EU warned that the merger could have affected rival container shipping firms, as?MSC received preferential treatment. BlackRock, MSC 'and CK 'Hutchison didn't respond to our requests for comment. Reporting by Inti landauro, Editing by David Goodman
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Poland and the Baltics protect infrastructure in case of a Russian false flag attack
Russia's NATO northern neighbours tighten security around dams and power plants, as they grow increasingly concerned that Moscow may stage a "false-flag" attack using Ukrainian drones. Last week, Lithuania claimed that Moscow was considering a staged attack. Poland, Latvia and Estonia?also warned against acts of sabotage in order to test NATO response during a time when the U.S. commitment towards the Western military alliance has been questioned. Last month, Kremlin spokesperson?Dmitry Peskov? said that warnings about Russian clandestine attack are "scare tales" used to justify military action against Russia. Poland and the Baltic States, all of which border Russia, and have found Ukrainian drones already on their territories, do not take any chances. Robertas Kaunas, Lithuanian Minister of Defence, said: "We're not naive. We see the information. We read between the lines. And we do our homework." The prime minister, four officials from the intelligence community and companies in the region and he shared details about intelligence assessments and the measures being taken to protect the infrastructure. Kaunas stated, "We constantly exchange information on the next steps with our intelligence services." The riot police and military take up positions Last month, Lithuania sent the military to support riot police as they secured its liquefied gas import terminal, oil products terminal and a vital power link with Poland. Kaunas said: "We're clearly signaling, that if necessary, we'll defend ourselves". In an interview, Andris Kulbergs, the Prime Minister of Latvia, said that the country has enhanced security around critical infrastructure. This includes the Daugava River dam near Riga, and the Incukalns gas storage facility underground. He said that a hybrid threat was more likely to occur than before. In May, Russia accused the Baltic States of planning to allow Ukrainian drones to attack Russia from their territories and promised to retaliate. This prompted denials, protests and concerns that Moscow might stage an attack in order to justify its response. An official from the Baltic intelligence agency said that?assessments indicate that Russian military and domestic spy agencies are planning to launch a false-flag operation on infrastructure in Russia, the Baltics, and Poland using drones made by Ukraine, which will be executed within days after approval is given by leaders, including President Vladimir Putin. Officials said that the main concern in the assessments wasn't so much the immediate impact, but the 'political turmoil' it would cause at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, as Europeans and Americans debated how and whether to respond. A second source, a regional official, was less conclusive. He said that despite a series of warnings by "allied intelligence" regarding Russian activity, the Baltic States had been "overwhelmed" and attacks could occur "between now and never". Moscow claims that the West accuses them of "Russophobia" and committing malign actions without any evidence. NATO and the Russian Embassy in Vilnius didn't immediately respond to comments. A person familiar with the company's operations revealed that Orlen, Poland's top oil and gas firm, is looking at alternative routes to import gas in the event the current ones are compromised. Orlen imports 80 percent of its gas via the Swinoujscie terminal for liquefied natural gas on the Baltic Sea, and a subsea pipeline that connects to Norway. Another person with direct knowledge of the situation said that Gaz-System is operating there under "increased surveillance". Orlen refused to comment on any specific preventive measures. Gaz-System's spokesperson stated that the company is closely monitoring geopolitical developments and will respond appropriately. Forged documents prompt concern over Polish nuclear?Plan Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (Polish Electricity Jadrowe), the state-owned developer behind Poland's first nucleo power plant, has said that forged documents aimed to confuse stakeholders have appeared. They can be traced somewhere "east of Poland". Marcin Skolimowski, the company's spokesman, said that they are 'investigating and monitoring for sabotage and other threats on the construction site. In July, Poland's power grid operators and a military arm increased security around a power connection with Ukraine. This link helps stabilize the grid of this war-torn country that has been repeatedly attacked by Russia. Maciej Wawapinski, spokesperson for the grid operator, said: "This is an area that requires heightened vigilance. We are using all our resources." The military is expected to help secure the critical infrastructure of other parts of the eastern part. Unknown drones are also appearing in Europe. In Germany, last week, authorities found a drone with explosives on the Leipzig/Halle Airport. Alexander Dobrindt, the German interior minister, called it a hybrid assault but refused to assign blame. Russia has denied suggestions from German politicians and media that they are responsible. Wojciech Koonczuk is the director of Poland's state-funded "OSW Centre for Eastern Studies" and he told us that a series of Russian allegations that the Baltics were "working for Ukraine" could be setting the stage for Russian attacks in the country. He stated that the Russian forces were enmeshed in Ukraine, and Ukrainian attacks on Russia's energy facilities and other facilities had hurt its economy. The goal was to gain the upper hand. Kononczuk stated that the message to Europe would be that it would spread destabilisation, if it did not accept Moscow's requests. This is a risky decision based on a calculation that there will be a lack in will to react.
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Sources say that Safe Harbor, owned by Blackstone, is close to a $1.5 billion deal with MarineMax.
People familiar with the matter say that Blackstone Infrastructure’s Safe 'Harbor 'Marinas is close to a $1.5 Billion deal for MarineMax. The deal will end a long-running battle for the recreational yacht retailer. It caters to wealthy clients through 65 marinas, 70 dealerships and storage facilities, mainly in the United States. Last month, it was reported that activist investor Donerail as well as private equity firm Centerbridge were also bidders. Safe Harbor will pay around $53 in cash per share to purchase MarineMax, according to sources. This is a substantial premium over the closing price on Friday of $35.68. Calculations show that this would value MarineMax's equity to be $1.17 billion. MarineMax had a long-term debt totaling $335?millions at the end of June, according to data provider LSEG. Sources who spoke anonymously to discuss their private discussions said that a deal could be announced this week, if there are no last-minute complications. MarineMax didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Blackstone declined comment. Safe Harbor would have its biggest deal since it was acquired by Blackstone's Infrastructure arm for $5.7 billion in April last year. MarineMax, a Florida-based company, will add Oldsmar to Safe Harbor’s existing network of marinas, which include operations in the U.S.A., Caribbean, and Mediterranean. Some sources claim that Safe Harbor will be the owner and operator of all MarineMax's segments. MarineMax's bidding war highlights the increasing investment appeal of the marina business, as lower rates of interest have allowed high-end consumers to spend on luxury items such as yachts while other economic groups are being forced to tighten up their belts. Donerail increased pressure on 'MarineMax' in October, publicly urging it to sell or replace CEO Brett McGill. MarineMax has made changes to address investor concerns. This includes replacing the board of directors. However, MarineMax began soliciting formal buyer interest in April. Reporting by Svea Autumn-Bayliss in New York and David French; editing by Echo Wang, Kevin Buckland
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According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the shortfall in Ukraine's grain-storage capacity could be as high as 11 million tonnes.
The agriculture ministry warned on Monday that a disruption of grain exports through Black Sea ports could lead to a shortage of grain storage capacity in Ukraine. Ukraine has harvested more than 17 millions metric tons from 34% of its sown land. The ministry stated that a storage shortage of 11 million tons could occur and it had asked U.S. Partners for assistance in acquiring equipment for temporary on farm?grain storage. APK-Inform analysts estimate that Ukraine's harvest in 2026 could reach 60 million tons. Exports are projected at 39 million tonnes, and carryover stock reaches a record 14.3 million tones. The most difficult situation is likely to occur in the middle of autumn, between September and October. This is when elevators will be filled with unexported wheat and barley, and farmers will begin harvesting large quantities of corn. Ukraine faced a shortage of grain storage and elevators at the beginning of the conflict with Russia, in '2022. According to Mykola Solskyi, the agriculture minister of Ukraine at the time, this shortfall would amount to 15 million tons by 2022. Later, the deficit was partly reduced by?the use?of grain storage bags provided?by Ukraine’s allies. Ukraine doesn't disclose the capacity of its grain storage, which has been damaged or destroyed by Russian attacks. Farmers and traders are also cautious about storing grain near military installations or front lines. (Reporting and editing by Kirsty Donovan, Barbara Lewis and Pavel Polityuk)
Archer buys Boeing's Wisk and two other units at a nearly 20% equity stake
Archer Aviation announced?on a Monday that it will acquire Boeing's electric plane firm?Wisk Aero, and two other companies in a deal which?will give a planemaker a?nearly 20% stake in the air?taxi manufacturer.
Archer can now access Boeing's autonomous flight technology through the acquisitions of Insitu, a drone manufacturer, and SkyGrid, a provider of airspace services. This could help it to strengthen its position in commercial and defense logistics. Archer's shares rose 17% during morning trading.
Boeing is also attempting to'streamline its portfolio, sharpen its focus and step back from its air taxi ambitions.
Air taxis have yet to be proven to be certified and built to a scale that is affordable to the average consumer.
Companies have increasingly looked to the military, cargo, and government markets as a source of funding and revenue in the near term, since commercial rollouts took longer than expected.
Wisk is developing a self-flying electric passenger aircraft.
Archer last month unveiled an autonomous vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft platform, co-developed with defense technology company Anduril, at the Farnborough Airshow, targeting both commercial and military uses.
The deal will allow Boeing to use Wisk's autonomous-flight core technology in both its current and future commercial aircraft and defense programs.
Archer has not yet been able to generate significant revenue from its core business. Insitu is a lucrative defense company that generates over $200 million in annual revenues.
Boeing will receive Archer's Class A shares, representing 19.75% of the outstanding stock in the air-taxi firm at the closing. It also gains the right to nominate a director?to the board.
The deal will also include two warrants that allow the planemaker to purchase up to $200,000,000 of Archer shares over a period between one and four years following the closing. Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary, Bengaluru. Editing by Maju Sam, Shakesh Kuber, and Leroy Leo.
(source: Reuters)