Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 44

Friday, December 27, 2019

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 44

1          Global Superpowers Vie For Power In World’s Most Important Oil Chokepoint
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Global-Superpowers-Vie-For-Power-In-Worlds-Most-Important-Oil-Chokepoint.html

Iran, Russia, and China will begin on Saturday joint navy drills in the northern Indian Ocean, an Iranian military spokesman said on Wednesday, amid simmering tensions in the Middle East throughout this year.

2          The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=39932
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil chokepoint because of the large volumes of oil that flow through the strait. In 2018, its daily oil flow averaged 21 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption.

3          Oil Analysts See Few 2020 Fireworks
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_analysts_see_few_2020_fireworks-24-dec-2019-160654-article/
Oil prices are likely to remain in check during 2020 as OPEC+ production cuts are offset by higher output from other countries and a mixed outlook for demand, according to analysts.

4          The 10 Most Important Oil Market Trends For 2020
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-10-Most-Important-Oil-Market-Trends-For-2020.html
This year saw a mix of some of the more predictable events—such as OPEC and Russia extending their cooperation pact, twice—and a ‘black swan’ such as the September attacks on Saudi oil facilities which cut off 5 percent of daily global oil supply for weeks.

As black swans are, by definition, unpredictable, analysts focus on predicting the ‘knowns’ in the market for 2020 as they see them at the end of 2019.

5          U.S. energy shareholders seek to leave behind a lost decade
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets-decade-energy-idUSKBN1YV0CM
The 2010s was a lost decade for shares of U.S. energy companies overall. Volatile commodity prices amid growing supply, poor financial performance and disfavor from some investor groups all contributed to the energy sector’s transformation from investor darling to investor outcast.

6          Oil’s 2019 milestones tell the decade’s story of energy abundance
https://www.worldoil.com/news/2019/12/20/oil-s-2019-milestones-tell-the-decade-s-story-of-energy-abundance

Global oil markets notched up a number of milestones this year that echoed the story of the past decade: the world has shifted from an era of supply tightness to plenty.

7          Don’t get too excited – OPEC needs to do more in 2020
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/dont-get-too-excited-opec-needs-to-do-more-in-2020/

“The OPEC cuts didn’t fully solve the problem – instead they offer a light bandage to get through the first quarter of 2020, but after that, we believe the market will begin to realize the looming over-supply reflected in our balances and call-on-OPEC,” says Bjørnar Tonhaugen, head of oil market research at Rystad Energy.

8          2019 Was A Pivotal Year For Energy
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/2019-Was-A-Pivotal-Year-For-Energy.html
This year may be a “tipping point when global capital markets accepted the technology-driven inevitability and grid parity cross-over from polluting thermal coal and the increased uptake of sustainable clean renewable energy,” Tim Buckley, Director Energy Finance Studies at the Institute for Energy Economics

9          Oil Up on US Inventory Drop and Trade Deal Optimism
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_up_on_us_inventory_drop_and_trade_deal_optimism-26-dec-2019-160660-article/

Oil rose for a third session as an industry report showed American inventories shrank and as optimism over a partial U.S.-China trade deal grew.

10        OPEC: Review of 2019 and outlook for 2020
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/opec-review-of-2019-and-outlook-for-2020/
Global oil demand is projected to rise by 0.98 mb/d in 2019, mainly due to cooling macro-economic indicators in major economies. Oil demand in the OECD is projected to grow by a marginal 0.02 mb/d in 2019, due to slower than-expected demand in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

11        Why Chevron’s $10 Billion Impairment Matters
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-Chevrons-10-Billion-Impairment-Matters.html
Chevron surprised a number of people last week when it announced that it would take a non-cash, after-tax impairment charges of $10 billion to $11 billion in its fourth-quarter 2019 results.

12        Permian Gas Problem Getting Worse
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/permian_gas_problem_getting_worse-24-dec-2019-160658-article/
America’s top shale field is becoming increasingly gassy as drilling slows down, undercutting profits for explorers at a time when investors are demanding better returns.

13        Global LNG Outlook 2020
https://www.lngindustry.com/special-reports/24122019/global-lng-outlook-2020/
2019 has seen the start of a re-shaping of the LNG industry, with the promise of further changes in 2020 and beyond. As well as new import and export countries entering the market, the year has been marked by the development of mega-liquefaction projects, particularly in the US, Russia and Qatar.

14        EU energy in 2019: a year of unprecedented events
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/23/eu-energy-2019-unprecedented-events/
Energy markets have always been characterised by a small handful of perennial market-moving dynamics – Middle East political tensions, supply interruptions, climate change policy and the global economic prognosis to name but four. Predictably, any significant occurrence in any of these dynamics often leads to cries of “unprecedented”.

15        Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-light-trade-expected-ahead-of-fridays-eia-weekly-inventories-report-622414

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading slightly better on Thursday shortly before the regular session opening. The early strength is being supported by a combination of thin-trading conditions, optimism over the U.S.-China trade deal, OPEC+ production cuts and expectations of a bullish number in Friday’s government inventories report after a private industry report showed a drawdown on Tuesday.

16        Natural Gas Price Prediction – Prices Surge Ahead of Inventory Report
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-prediction-prices-surge-ahead-of-inventory-report-2-622525

Natural gas prices rebounded sharply on Thursday ahead of Friday’s inventory report scheduled to be released one day late due to the Christmas Holiday. Expectations are for natural gas inventories to decline by 119 Bcf according to survey provider Estimize. Demand moved higher in the latest week due to rising power generation. The weather is expected to be warmer than normal during the next 6-10 days and then turn to move normal levels during the next 8-14 days according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 15

Friday, December 27, 2019

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 15

1          Top 10 Utility Regulation Trends of 2019
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/top-10-utility-regulation-trends-of-2019
As renewable energy and energy storage resources become increasingly cost-competitive, states have become more ambitious in their clean energy targets. At least 13 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. have now set 100 percent clean energy targets.

2          ‘It’s a good start’: Berkeley takes the lead in charging fee for single use cups
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berkeley-businesses-single-use-to-go-coffee-cups-fee-1.5395807

Beginning Jan. 1, businesses in Berkeley must include a charge of an extra 25 cents US for every to-go coffee cup — part of a growing worldwide movement against single-use items.

3          Volkswagen ahead of schedule in electric cars production
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkwagen-electric-idUSKBN1YV0O5
Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said on Friday that it would reach a key target in the production of electric autos earlier than previously anticipated.

4          Tesla set to begin deliveries of China-made Model 3 cars on Dec. 30
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-china-idUSKBN1YV0MB
U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) will begin delivering Model 3 vehicles built at its Shanghai factory on Monday, a company representative told Reuters.

5          Why Hasn’t Hydrogen Gone Mainstream?
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Why-Hasnt-Hydrogen-Gone-Mainstream.html
As the world pays more and more attention to reducing emissions and mitigating climate change, analysts believe that the most abundant element in the universe—hydrogen—has the potential to become a mainstream energy technology and a key clean fuel source in the future that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

6          Revealed: microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/27/revealed-microplastic-pollution-is-raining-down-on-city-dwellers

Microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers, with research revealing that London has the highest levels yet recorded.

The health impacts of breathing or consuming the tiny plastic particles are unknown, and experts say urgent research is needed to assess the risks.

7          Offshore wind developer Orsted secures money for renewable hydrogen project
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-orsted-renewables-hydrogen-idUSKBN1YO0WC
anish energy firm Orsted (ORSTED.CO) said on Friday it had secured funding for a demonstration project using offshore wind power to produce renewable hydrogen to power buses, lorries and potentially taxis.

8          Electric vehicle startup Rivian scores $1.3 billion investment from T.Rowe Price, others
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-rivian-idUSKBN1YR1KF
Electric vehicle startup Rivian said on Monday it closed a $1.3 billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price and including existing investors Amazon.com and Ford Motor Co.

9          EV Ownership + Rooftop Solar Ownership — New Report & Charts
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/25/ev-ownership-rooftop-solar-ownership-new-report-charts/
We were curious whether EV ownership/leasing correlated with rooftop solar panel ownership, and also whether driving an EV encouraged people to drive more efficiently or even conserve energy more at home, so we surveyed thousands of EV owners. Guess what the results were.

10        FTSE leaves coal and oil firms and G4S on ethical investment list | Business
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/22/ftse-leaves-coal-and-oil-firms-and-g4s-on-ethical-investment-list

Some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies, including Russia’s state oil giant Rosneft, have been added to the London Stock Exchange’s “ethical” investment lists.

11        Is Goldman Sachs’ Recent Environmental Push Enough?
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/21/is-goldman-sachs-recent-environmental-push-enough/
Goldman Sachs has been garnering quite a lot of Twitter praises after the bank updated its “Environmental Policy Framework.” As per the changes, the firm has now pledged:

To decline any financing transaction that directly supports new upstream Arctic oil exploration or development. This includes but is not limited to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Decline the opportunities for transactions which directly finance new thermal coal mine development or any mountaintop removal mining.

12        Coal Killing Long-Duration Energy Storage For Vermont (Vermont?!?)
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/22/coal-killing-long-duration-energy-storage-for-vermont-vermont/
Whelp, it looks like the US coal industry is going to end the 2010s the way it started. Back in 2009, US coal producers probably didn’t know they were staring down at the bottom of an abyss fueled by natural gas and renewable energy — or if they knew, they weren’t telling. Now that the 2020s are here, a major new threat to coal is taking shape in the form of long-duration energy storage. And it’s happening in Vermont, of all places.

13        Are vegetables vegan? Organic agriculture’s dirty little secret | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/24/vegetables-vegan-organic-agriculture-farming
Bonsall is an influential member of a small but growing group of vegan and organic – “veganic” – farmers, who want to revolutionize organic agriculture, which traditionally depends on animals byproducts such as cow manure.

14        Why we put climate concerns on hold for the holiday season
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/climate-change-consumer-holiday-waste-gift-wrap-glitter-tree-psychology-1.5403646

You’re standing in line at the cash register, holding a sparkling roll of colourful gift wrap. You know it’s not a climate-friendly choice. You also know the paper is headed straight for the trash as soon as the gift is unwrapped.

But you buy it anyway.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 44

Friday, December 27, 2019

Business Intelligence and Analytics 44

1          Tech We Can’t Live Without, Growing Pains and 2020 Insights
https://www.informationweek.com/strategic-cio/executive-insights-and-innovation/tech-we-cant-live-without-growing-pains-and-2020-insights/a/d-id/1336603

In 2020, expect to see these trends in technology work together to create solutions to improve how businesses and society work together.

Every year, technology that was once cutting edge becomes obsolete as new ideas enter the space. 2019 was a big year in the high-tech world. Here’s a look at new tools that are making a difference in business outcomes, some big ideas that haven’t yet come together, and what’s next for the industry in 2020.

2          Crystal Ball Time! 10 Marketing, Tech and CX Predictions for 2020
https://www.business2community.com/marketing/crystal-ball-time-10-marketing-tech-and-cx-predictions-for-2020-02270723

It’s that time of year to break out the crystal ball. As we get ready for a new year and new decade, what does the future hold?

We asked 10 leading experts in the fields of marketing, customer experience, e-commerce, personalization, customer data platforms (CDPs) and more for their industry predictions for 2020. Read on to see the advances, challenges, opportunities and trends they forecast:

3          5 Predictions for AI and Analytics in 2020
https://medium.com/cuddle-ai/5-predictions-for-ai-and-analytics-in-2020-8341dc265b86
AI has become an integral part of the business — development tools, algorithmic models, computing platforms, management, and monitoring tools, data governance and ethics — are all part of the mainstream conversation at every forward-looking enterprise. The intersection of AI and Analytics is one that we find most exciting — and there are many trends we predict to see in 2020. Let us look at the 5 developments we are most likely to see at the intersection of AI and Analytics in the next year.

4          How Algorithms Impact Our Decisions
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/algorithms-decision-making/
When we buy something on Amazon or watch something on Netflix, we think it’s our own choice. Well, it turns out that algorithms influence one-third of our decisions on Amazon and more than 80% on Netflix. What’s more, algorithms have their own biases. They can even go rogue.

5          Predictive Analytics Techniques in One Picture
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/predictive-analytics-in-one-picture

Predictive analytics is a wide field of techniques that share a common goal of predicting future behavior. Choosing the right prediction modeling method is perhaps the most important step in the process, because predictive models are the driving force behind predictive analytics. This picture summarizes six of the most popular methods:

6          AI and the future of work: Will Artificial Intelligence make us all into Polymaths in the future?
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/ai-and-the-future-of-work-will-artificial-intelligence-make-us

A polymath is an individual whose knowledge spans a significant number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. (wikiepdia). The best example of a polymath is Leonardo Da Vinci. Specifically, a polymath could be seen as someone who has demonstrated mastery in  more than two trades (poly – hence more than two)

7          How is IoT Supporting Various Oil & Gas Industrial Operations?
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/how-is-iot-supporting-various-oil-amp-gas-industrial-operations

The heightened technological development in the 21st century would not have been possible without the contribution from the oil & gas sector. Our dependence on the crude and its products has made it one of the industrial sectors that contribute around 2 to 3 per cent to the overall global economy. In fact, in 2017, the consumption of crude grew by 1.4 million b/d and its production increased by 2.2 million b/d.

8          Recession, robots and rockets: another roaring 20s for world markets?
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-markets-outlook-2030-analysis-idUSKBN1YV0QQ
The ‘20s could be an era of smart cities, where big data and robotics ensure better governance, health and connectivity, UBS forecast. It expects annual spending to turn cities smart will reach $2 trillion in 2025 and internet-connected devices will multiply more than four-fold to 46 billion.

9          4 Content Marketing Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making
https://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/4-content-marketing-mistakes-you-didnt-know-you-were-making-and-how-to-fix-them-02270698

If there’s one golden of starting a business, it’s that you need a blog to grow. Your blog is the reason consumers come back long after they’ve purchased something from your online store. It’s also the reason that new users find your brand when they are searching on Google. Lastly, your blog is the deciding factor for many consumers when they commit to your company.

10        Using a Connected Strategy to Gain a Competitive Advantage
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/connected-strategy-book/
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it’s no longer good enough for company to sell a product through a simple, one-time transaction with shoppers they may never see again. Businesses can create more value for themselves and their customers if they learn to develop a connected strategy.

11        Market Basket Analysis: A Tutorial
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/12/market-basket-analysis.html
The lifeblood of retail businesses has always been sales. A retailer can never assume that his customers know all of his offerings. But rather, he must make the effort to present all applicable options in way which increases customer engagement and increase sales.

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 43

Friday, December 20, 2019

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 43

1          Don’t Bet On A Natural Gas Rebound
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Dont-Bet-On-A-Natural-Gas-Rebound.html
Natural gas prices are set to close out the year down by about 25 percent, and unlike crude oil, there is not a lot of confidence in a rebound.

Record levels of production and mild temperatures have left the gas market in the U.S. well-supplied. After running down to exceptionally low levels a year ago, U.S. gas inventory levels have shot back up to the five-year average in 2019. That means that the U.S. enters the peak winter demand season with plenty of gas on hand.

2          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast –Lackluster Trade, but Markets Still Higher for Week
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-lackluster-trade-but-markets-still-higher-for-weekl-621397

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are edging lower Friday on profit-taking ahead of the week-end and next week’s Christmas holiday. Nonetheless, the markets are in a position to finish higher for a third consecutive week on the back of an improving outlook for global demand growth.

3          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-could-be-setting-up-for-short-squeeze-621408

Natural gas futures are trading higher on Friday after forming a potentially bullish technical chart pattern on the daily chart in reaction to a much larger-than-expected storage withdrawal on Thursday. Traders remain a little skeptical about the move, however, because the weather outlook for the early part of 2020 is not supportive for increasing demand.

4          Weekly resin report: PE prices hold steady; PP slips another cent
https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/weekly-resin-report-pe-prices-hold-steady-pp-slips-another-cent/54816879362064

The spot resin markets remained extremely active through mid-month. Transacted volumes were above average and prices were mixed, reports the PlasticsExchange (Chicago) in its Market Update.

5          Delays loom for LNG and deepwater oil & gas projects as bottlenecks restrain service industry
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/delays-loom-for-lng-and-deepwater-oil-and-gas-projects-as-bottlenecks-restrain-service-industry/

A dark cloud of capacity constraints is casting a shadow over the oilfield service industry heading into 2020, mirroring the sharp growth in the number of new projects being brought forward by oil and gas operators. About 250 new oil and gas projects are likely to be sanctioned for development in 2020, up from 160 in 2016, and bottlenecks among suppliers appear inevitable.

6          Global shipping sails into turbulent times as IMO 2020 nears
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/18/global-shipping-turbulent-imo-2020/
When the shipping industry counts down to the New year on December 31, markets are unlikely to be in a celebratory mood as global markets will wake up to a whole new shipping regime come January 1: IMO 2020.

7          The pressure on the polyethylene (PE) industry
https://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=2038672&menu=yes
The pressure that has built from all sides on the polyethylene (PE) industry looks likely to continue in 2020. Europe began 2019 with healthy integrated PE margins, but they dropped significantly towards the end of the year to the point that some producers are trimming operating rates, saying that integrated margins are unacceptably low in some grades.

8          EIA: European LNG imports hit record levels
https://www.lngworldnews.com/eia-european-lng-imports-hit-record-levels/
Europe’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been steadily increasing since October 2018, and reached a new monthly record of 12.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in November 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates.

9          China firms stock up cleaner shipping fuel overseas ahead of new emission rules
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-shipping-fuel-imo-idUSKBN1YO0UI
Chinese marine fuel suppliers have signed up short-term deals to buy very low-sulphur fuel oil from companies like oil major Shell, Germany’s Uniper and U.S. commodities trader Freepoint ahead of a new standard on emissions for the global shipping industry that kicks in on Jan. 1.

10        Shell writes down up to $2.3 billion on weaker economic outlook
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-outlook-idUSKBN1YO0PC

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said on Friday it expected to write down up to $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter, the latest major energy company forced to shrink estimates for sector values due to a weaker economic outlook.

11        Canada approves CNOOC’s offshore drilling plan
https://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/canada-approves-cnoocs-offshore-drilling-plan/
The Chinese company is proposing to conduct an exploration drilling project within two offshore exploration licenses in the Flemish Pass Basin.

“The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, has announced that the proposed CNOOC International Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project can proceed,” the government said on Wednesday.

12        Why Oil Majors May Never Return To Canada’s Arctic
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Why-Oil-Majors-May-Never-Return-To-Canadas-Arctic.html

Canada’s federal government has returned security deposits that oil majors had paid to drill in Canadian Arctic waters which are currently off limits until 2021, but even if Canada lifts the ban then, companies are unlikely to be eager to drill in harsh-environment challenging waters, analysts say.

13        BP, Chevron to invest $116M on exploration in Australia after Bight exit
https://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/bp-chevron-commit-to-invest-116m-on-exploration-in-australia/
Oil and gas majors BP and Chevron have committed to investing a total of $116.5 million in oil and gas exploration activities in Australia, with at least half directed to projects in South Australia with a view of increasing energy supplies in the state and south-eastern Australia. The commitment follows the two firms’ cancellation of the Great Australian Bight drilling plans in the past three years.

14        Commodities 2020: China set to embrace Norway as regular crude oil supplier
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/121919-commodities-2020-china-set-to-embrace-norway-as-regular-crude-oil-supplier

China appears likely to add Norway into the list of its regular crude oil suppliers in 2020, with the country’s independent refiners especially finding North Sea’s new Johan Sverdrup crude attractive for its competitive price and familiar specification.

15        Mexico postpones clean diesel rule for Pemex for five years
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-diesel-idUSKBN1YM2EH
Mexico’s energy regulator voted on Wednesday to defer for five more years a rule requiring national oil company Pemex to produce, distribute and sell ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) nationwide.

16        2019 ends on a low note, offering a gloomy start to 2020
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/newsletters/OfsArchive/ofs-december-2019/

The global oilfield service market saw year-over-year revenue decline 3% in the third quarter this year, the first quarter to post negative growth since 2Q 2017. Moving into the fourth quarter, service companies are reporting that operators have little budget left, hinting that 4Q will be sluggish.

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 14

Friday, December 20, 2019

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 14

1          Global Bioplastics Market to Grow by Over 15%
https://www.ptonline.com/blog/post/global-bioplastics-market-to-grow-by-over-15
Earlier this month the results of the European Bioplastics’ annual market data update were presented at the 14th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin, confirming dynamic growth of the global bioplastics industry. “In an increasingly environmentally conscious environment, the global market for bioplastics is predicted to grow by more than 15% over the next five years,” says Hasso von Pogrell, managing director of European Bioplastics.

2          Seven emerging technologies that will be vital for fighting climate change
https://www.rechargenews.com/transition/seven-emerging-technologies-that-will-be-vital-for-fighting-climate-change/2-1-727169

One of Europe’s leading experts in emerging low-carbon energy technologies has given Recharge an exclusive insight into some of the most promising low-carbon technology developments of the coming years.

As chairman of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) — an association of more than 250 public research centres and universities working on low-carbon energy research, made up of about 50,000 researchers across 30 European countries — Nils Røkke has an unmatched perspective on which under-development technologies could have a significant impact on the energy transition.

3          The 2040 outlook for EV battery manufacturing
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/recharging-economies-the-ev-battery-manufacturing-outlook-for-europe

With the dawn of electromobility and the resulting increase in EV production, the market for EV batteries has seen consistently high growth rates over the past few years. In 2017, for instance, global EV-battery manufacturers produced an estimated 30 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity, almost 60 percent more than in the previous year—a trend that is poised to continue.

4          What a Year! 10 Stories That Propelled Energy Storage in 2019
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/10-stories-that-propelled-energy-storage-in-2019
That said, the U.S. storage market will triple next year and double again the year after that. All this excitement is still just a little snack before the main course. But, like some well-marinated olives or a tin of anchovies, little snacks can pack a lot of flavor.

5          Arguments Against Electric Vehicles Are Running On Empty
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2019/12/18/the-arguments-against-electric-vehicles-are-running-on-empty-especially-as-coal-fades-and-renewables-advance/

When a few months ago ExxonMobil’s chief executive questioned the value of electric vehicles that are powered mostly by coal, he came up empty. His argument: if such automobiles are juiced by electricity generated by coal, then the net value to the environment is zero and the whole movement is thus a way to make environmentalists feel good. Exxon, of course, is not a disinterested party.

6          Global carbon emissions increase | Stanford News
https://news.stanford.edu/2019/12/03/global-carbon-emission-increase/
The findings are outlined in three new papers published in Earth System Science Data, Environmental Research Letters, and Nature Climate Change. Although the rate of emissions growth is slower than in the previous two years, the researchers warn emissions could keep increasing for a decade or more unless energy, transportation and industry policies change dramatically across the world.

7          New Cross-Industry Consortium to Focus on Chemical Recycling
https://www.ptonline.com/news/new-cross-industry-consortium-to-focus-on-chemical-recycling-
Companies operating across the polyester packaging value chain – including businesses involved in the manufacture, use, collection and recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic packaging – have formed a new consortium that aims to help to address the problem of plastic waste by accelerating the commercialization of BP Infinia enhanced recycling technology.

8          Hydrogen interest grows, but source and scale remain a challenge
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/19/hydrogen-interest-source-scale/
Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries last week launched the world’s first ocean-going liquid hydrogen vessel, symbolizing the emergence of hydrogen as a potentially transformative fuel, as the world pursues cleaner energy.

9          BP in Drive to Improve Plastic Recycling
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/bp_in_drive_to_improve_plastic_recycling-19-dec-2019-160613-article/

The London-based oil major formed a consortium with users and makers of packaging to accelerate the commercialization of methods to turn difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into components that are easy to reuse, according to a press release on Thursday. The move follows in the footsteps of a competitor Total SA, which announced last week that it would work alongside companies including Nestle SA and Mars Inc. to develop a nascent chemical-recycling industry in France.

10        ETPs take the heat in EVs
https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-and-mobility/etps-take-heat-evs/27508575462043

“The shift to electric and hybrid vehicles is inescapable due to regulations. And while pure EVs may only account for 20% of the 2030 global market, that’s still nearly 25 million cars versus one million right now,” says Eugenio Toccalino Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Transportation & Industrial, at DuPont. In all, 75% of the passenger car market is forecast to be either hybrid electric (HEV) or pure electric (EV) by 2030, with immense implications for plastic suppliers and molders.

11        PP makes its case in next-generation EVs
https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-and-mobility/pp-makes-its-case-next-generation-evs/48388282362079

With vehicle mass at a premium in electric vehicles (EVs), polypropylene (PP) suppliers are developing an array of materials solutions to engineer weight out of autos and extend the range of EVs, and consequently reduce CO2 emissions. Applications include both exterior and interior parts, both structural and non-structural.

12        Germany to issue first ‘green bond’ in second half of 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-debt-idUSKBN1YN1CM
Germany will launch its first “green bond” with a multi-billion euro issue in the second half of next year, to tap into the booming market for sustainable finance, the government’s finance agency said on Thursday.

13        Denmark bets on green hydrogen
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/12/20/denmark-bets-on-green-hydrogen/
The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities has revealed that it will provide DKK 128 million ($19 million) to build two large-scale, renewables-powered energy storage projects.

14        Oil firm Equinor ups stake in solar power firm Scatec
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-scatec-solar-equinor-idUSKBN1YO0FN
Norway’s Equinor has bought a further 5.2% of the shares of solar energy developer Scatec Solar, the oil firm said in a statement late on Thursday, lifting its stake to 15.2%.

15        Fossil fuels fall to record low in Britain’s energy mix, data shows
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/19/fossil-fuels-fall-to-record-low-in-britains-energy-mix-data-shows

Fossil fuels fell to a record low in the UK’s electricity mix in recent months after wind and solar farms generated more energy than any other source for the first time.

16        Energy Analysts Deliver More Bad News for US Fracking Industry’s Business Model
https://www.desmogblog.com/2019/12/17/us-fracking-shale-wood-mackenzie-child-wells
This month, the energy consulting firm Wood MacKenzie gave an online presentation that basically debunked the whole business model of the shale industry.

In this webinar, which explored the declining production rates of oil wells in the Permian region, research director Ben Shattuck noted how it was impossible to accurately forecast how much oil a shale play held based on estimates from existing wells.

17        Largest US Solar Panel Manufacturers By Capacity
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/18/largest-us-solar-panel-manufacturers-by-capacity/
Some of the largest US solar panel manufacturers by capacity will probably see growth over the next decade as we (society in general) move toward using more sustainable, renewable energy. The US solar panel manufacturing has certainly matured a great deal in the past decade, with many companies not making it while others grow to lead the pack. Solar Power World has published a list of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the US by production capacity.

18        GE deal means first onshore wind giants to be made-in-Brazil
https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/ge-deal-means-first-onshore-wind-giants-to-be-made-in-brazil/2-1-727324

GE Renewable Energy secured a firm order to supply 30 Cypress turbines to a wind farm in Brazil, its second for the platform in the country but the first to see local production of its largest onshore machines.

19        How electric vehicles could change the load curve
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/the-potential-impact-of-electric-vehicles-on-global-energy-systems

Could electric vehicles (EVs) soon face a different kind of gridlock? With the electrification of mobility accelerating, energy producers and distributors need to understand the potential impact of EVs on electricity demand (Exhibit 1). The good news: McKinsey analysis suggests the projected growth in e-mobility will not drive substantial increases in total electrical-grid power demand in the near to midterm, thus limiting the need for new electricity-generation capacity during that period.

20        Darkness before dawn: China’s solar equipment sector loses its shine
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-energy-renewables-solar-idUSKBN1YM0LU
China’s quick-growing solar equipment makers, forecast to meet half of global demand by the mid 2020s, are ramping up overseas sales to stave off closure after the elimination of government subsidies pushed domestic installations to a five-year low.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 43

Friday, December 20, 2019

Business Intelligence and Analytics 43

1          Google’s New Explainable AI Service
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/12/googles-new-explainable-ai-service.html
Artificial intelligence is set to transform global productivity, working patterns, and lifestyles and create enormous wealth.

Research firm Gartner expects the global AI economy to increase from about $1.2 trillion last year to about $3.9 Trillion by 2022, while McKinsey sees it delivering global economic activity of around $13 trillion by 2030.

2          Is deep learning a game changer for marketing analytics?
http://mitsloanexperts.mit.edu/is-deep-learning-a-game-changer-for-marketing-analytics/

Deep learning is delivering impressive results in AI applications. Apple’s Siri, for example, translates the human voice into computer commands that allow iPhone owners to get answers to questions, send messages, and navigate their way to and from obscure locations. Automated driving enables people today to go hands-free on expressways, and it will eventually do the same on city streets. In biology, researchers are creating new molecules for DNA-based pharmaceuticals.

3          The Most In Demand Tech Skills for Data Scientists
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/12/most-demand-tech-skills-data-scientists.html
In fall of 2018 I analyzed the most in demand skills and technologies for data scientists. That article resonated with folks. It has over 11,000 claps on Medium, was translated into several languages, and was the most popular story on KD Nuggets for November 2018.

4          Can AI-Fueled Digital Marketing Change Landscape and Fuel Growth?
https://martechseries.com/mts-insights/guest-authors/can-ai-fueled-digital-marketing-change-landscape-fuel-growth/

Digital Marketing is not as easy as it reads. It is facing numerous challenges. With everyday growing websites, and everyone competing to rank on the first pages of SERPs, the competition has become tougher than ever. However, the rising of challenges has also given the birth of rising of new technologies. Nowadays, terms like Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Internet-of-Things, Machine Learning, Data Science, etc. have found their strong places in human minds across various industries at a global level.

5          Model beats Wall Street analysts in forecasting business financials
http://news.mit.edu/2019/model-beats-wall-street-forecasts-business-sales-1219
Knowing a company’s true sales can help determine its value. Investors, for instance, often employ financial analysts to predict a company’s upcoming earnings using various public data, computational tools, and their own intuition. Now MIT researchers have developed an automated model that significantly outperforms humans in predicting business sales using very limited, “noisy” data.

6          5 Ways to Apply Ethics to AI
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/12/5-ways-apply-ethics-ai.html
I have researched this topic quite a lot, and during that time I have found a number of stories that made a huge impression on me. Here are six more lessons based on real life examples that I think we should all remember as people working in machine learning, whether you’re a researcher, engineer, or a decision-maker.

7          How to Avoid All-or-Nothing Thinking in Your Tech Strategy
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-to-avoid-all-or-nothing-thinking-in-your-tech-strategy/
Companies’ failure to innovate exposes them to risk and has a huge impact on the global economy.

8          What Employees Tell Us About Automation and Re-skilling
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/what-employees-tell-us-about-automation-and-re-skilling/
There is an ever greater focus on the impact of automation on work and what it will mean for jobs. Certain kinds of routine work are on the front lines, including the analytical activities of administrative assistants and bank cashiers, and the manual jobs of warehouse assistants, assembly line workers, and delivery drivers. Many tasks within these jobs are likely to be automated: For instance, delivery workers now scan packages and generate automated driving statistics.

9          8 Superstar Video Chat & Conferencing Apps for Business
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/video-conferencing-chat-apps/334977/
As marketers, we constantly focus on what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We need to make sure the tasks we undertake (the what) contribute to purposeful goals that make a difference (the why). While this approach makes sense, we often neglect the process; namely how we do what we do.

10        4 Easy Tricks for Improving Your Bounce Rate in 2020
https://www.business2community.com/consumer-marketing/4-easy-tricks-for-improving-your-bounce-rate-in-2020-02269121

Do you have an unusually high bounce rate? Are you looking for a way to keep customers on your website? Are you just now hearing the term bounce rate and want to know more? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re in the right place.

11        In the New Year, Try These 8 Things to Stay Constantly Improving at Work
https://www.business2community.com/workplace-culture/in-the-new-year-try-these-8-things-to-stay-constantly-improving-at-work-02268932

With the changing seasons, holiday decorations, and cheery music flowing from seemingly every storefront, one thing is clear — the end of the year is upon us, and 2020 is not far away. Here are some ways that you can stay constantly improving once 2020 arrives

12        Statistics for Data Science in One Picture
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/statistics-for-data-science-in-one-picture
There’s no doubt about it, probability and statistics is an enormous field, encompassing topics from the familiar (like the average) to the complex (regression analysis, correlation coefficients and hypothesis testing to name but a few). If you want to be a great data scientist, you have to know some basic statistics. The following picture shows which statistics topics you must know if you’re going to excel in data science.

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 42

Friday, December 13, 2019

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 42

1          Five commodity themes for 2020
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/12/five-commodity-themes-2020/
What will be the biggest drivers and concerns for global commodity and energy markets in 2020? S&P Global Platts president Martin Fraenkel shares his outlook. This year has been marked by a tug of war between geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic concerns, rangebound commodity prices and – perhaps most importantly – rising consumer awareness of climate change. As we look ahead to 2020, we think the year will bring some of these themes into even sharper focus.

2          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-gaining-support-from-weaker-u-s-dollar-619717

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading at their highest levels in three months on Friday in response to the news that the United States and China had reached a “phase one” trade agreement. Furthermore, Britain’s general election result appears to have raised the spirits of oil traders.

3          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-prices-flip-back-to-bearish-on-suspected-change-in-forecast-to-warmer-619702

The bulls that drove natural gas prices sharply higher on Thursday, turned into bears overnight as prices are plunging early Friday, setting up for a weaker regular session in New York. Yesterday, prices soared as demand re-emerged in the latest European weather models, however, today’s early price action suggests this demand may have been erased in the overnight American and/or European weather forecasts.

4          Volume Resin Prices Down-to-Flat Going into First Quarter of 2020: Plastics Technology
https://www.ptonline.com/blog/post/volume-resin-prices-down-to-flat-going-into-first-quarter-of-2020
The price trajectory for nearly all volume resins is down-to-flat as we move from December to first quarter of the new decade. Prices of PE, PP, PS and PVC are likely to bottom out this month, while prices of PET and nylon 6 could drop further, and flat or modestly down prices are projected for ABS, PC, and nylon 66.

5          Weekly resin report: Flurry of trading activity starts the month
https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/weekly-resin-report-flurry-trading-activity-starts-month/181810543462018

The spot resin markets ushered in December with a bang—order flow from both buyers and sellers was moderate to heavy, reports the PlasticsExchange (Chicago) in its Market Update. Spot prices for select commodity grades continued to slide, and most realistic transactions came to completion with relative ease.

6          Mexico’s Pemex announces discovery of ‘giant’ crude oil deposit
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-pemex-idUSKBN1YB046

Mexican state oil company Pemex said on Friday it has discovered a deposit in southeastern Mexico that could yield 500 million barrels of crude, calling it the largest such finding in more than 30 years.

7          E&P 2020 Forecast: Deepwater bucking the trend
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/ep-2020-forecast-deepwater-bucking-the-trend/

Rystad Energy is forecasting that overall global upstream investments in 2020 will decrease by around 4%. Investments in shale/tight oil are expected to contract the most next year by almost 12%. Rystad Energy believes that the lower oil price and weaker cash flows will force shale companies to reduce activity. Deepwater is the only segment expected to grow above 5% next year, spelling a boom for the industry.

8          IEA: An Oil Glut Is Inevitable In 2020
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/IEA-An-Oil-Glut-Is-Inevitable-In-2020.html
Despite the OPEC+ cuts, the oil market is still facing a supply surplus in 2020, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

9          The Boom in Plastics
https://www.maritime-executive.com/magazine/the-boom-in-plastics

The increase in the production of petrochemicals, spurred by the abundance of shale gas as feedstock and the demand for ethane – a key component in plastics – has prompted energy companies to continue investing billions of dollars in the petrochemical sector.

10        Major US Jan-Oct chem exports rise 22%, imports fall 3%
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2019/12/12/10452597/major-us-jan-oct-chem-exports-rise-22-imports-fall-3

Eight US petrochemicals continued to push US exports higher with solid double-digit gains during the first 10 months of this year, according to statistics tracked by ICIS.

Five polymers, methanol, styrene and ethylene glycol (EG) accounted for 83% of all chemical exports, with the three major grades of polyethylene (PE) generating year on year gains of 44-45% each and EG more than doubling.

11        Energy stock pain to continue in 2020, but an uptick seems near
https://www.worldoil.com/news/2019/12/13/energy-stock-pain-to-continue-in-2020-but-an-uptick-seems-near

“We are in an environment where the playbook to kick off the year reads like a rinse and repeat from past years,” CIBC Capital Markets’ energy team said in a note to clients. The team added that “it’s also one that doesn’t require anyone to be a hero or to take on more heartburn than is necessary.”

12        IEA Pours Cold Water Over OPEC+ Optimism
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/IEA-Pours-Cold-Water-Over-OPEC-Optimism.html
Despite deeper OPEC+ production cuts, global oil supply will be about 700,000 bpd in excess of consumption in early 2020, the International Energy Agency said in its latest monthly Oil Market Report.

13        Shipping industry sails into unknown with new pollution rules
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shipping-imo-insurance-insight-idUSKBN1YG0HM
Faced with imminent new global marine pollution rules, shipping companies and insurers are puzzling over the risks.

14        Big E&P spending still needed, but fields with break-even above $60 are priced out
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/big-ep-spending-still-needed-but-fields-with-break-even-above-$60-are-priced-out/

Energy projects that need oil prices above $60 per barrel in order to break even risk being uncommercial going forward, according to Rystad Energy. However, massive investments in exploration and sanctioning are still needed to meet growing global demand.

15        Chevron’s charge points to billions more in U.S. gas writedowns: analysts
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chevron-outlook-natgas-idUSKBN1YF1WW
Oil and gas producers could wipe billions of dollars off the value of U.S. natural gas assets in the months ahead, analysts said on Wednesday, after Chevron Corp became the fourth oil major to slash its estimates for sector values.

16        Trafigura’s 2019 ‘knock-out’ trading profits undermined by write-offs
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trafigura-results-idUSKBN1YF1FO
Global commodity trader Trafigura Group reported its lowest annual net profit in nearly a decade after a string of losses in its physical asset portfolio undermined a record year in oil trading.

17        These Secretive Oil Companies Control $3 Trillion In Wealth
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/These-Secretive-Oil-Companies-Control-3-Trillion-In-Wealth.html

They control the vast majority of the world’s oil and gas assets, yet the average person has never even heard of them, outside of those that are famous for things like getting attacked by missiles or becoming embroiled in a high-profile corruption scandal.

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 13

Friday, December 13, 2019

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 13

1          Denmark plans $30 billion offshore wind island that could power 10 million homes
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-denmark-idUSKBN1YE1G6

Denmark is moving forward with plans to build an artificial island tying in power from offshore wind farms of up to 10 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, more than enough to supply all households, as part of efforts to meet ambitious climate change targets.

2          Climate change is the worst environmental problem in global history
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-10-28/climate-change-global-pollutants
Even now that most of the world has acknowledged that climate change is real and caused by humans, combating it has proved daunting. Why? There are five features that combine to make global warming a more vexing environmental crisis than any we have faced before.

3          Latest EDGAR Report Finds Concern Over Rising Global Carbon Emissions
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/11/latest-edgar-report-finds-concern-over-rising-global-carbon-emissions/

As countries gather for this year’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25), the 2018 statistics on global carbon emissions have been released and there’s cause to be gravely concerned.

4          Cleaner and greener: Cleaning products, sustainability and packaging
https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/cleaner-and-greener-cleaning-products-sustainability-and-packaging/88796399362036

Improving sustainability in packaging is challenging enough for food and beverage products, for example, but the goals and options to do likewise for cleaning products is more complicated.

5          Could The Majors Take A Fast-Track Route To Lower Emissions Intensity?
https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/could-the-majors-take-a-fast-track-route-to-lower-emissions-intensity/

Four of the Majors would see their average upstream emissions intensity fall at least 10% if the single largest contributor alone was removed from the portfolio.

6          Kicking The Hydrocarbon Habit
https://www.woodmac.com/news/the-edge/kicking-the-hydrocarbon-habit–part-ii/
Our accelerated energy transition (AET) scenario gives a glimpse into how energy and natural resources demand could change in the next two decades. The AET scenario flexes our base case to see how close the world can get to kicking the hydrocarbon habit. More specifically, how quickly the world can stop carbon emissions rising and move towards a 2 °C pathway. I asked the energy transition team – Jonny Sultoon, Prakash Sharma and David Brown – what the future looks like.

7          Global Bioplastics Market to Grow by Over 15%: Plastics Technology
https://www.ptonline.com/blog/post/global-bioplastics-market-to-grow-by-over-15
Earlier this month the results of the European Bioplastics’ annual market data update were presented at the 14th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin, confirming dynamic growth of the global bioplastics industry. “In an increasingly environmentally conscious environment, the global market for bioplastics is predicted to grow by more than 15% over the next five years,” says Hasso von Pogrell, managing director of European Bioplastics.

8          The race to lay claim on the Bering Strait as Arctic ice retreats | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/bering-strait-northwest-passage-arctic-ice-melts

I could not keep my eyes off the graves, could not stop staring at them even as I walked away, turning repeatedly to look over my shoulder at them as I slogged my way across the gravel-strewn shore of Beechey Island until they disappeared from view.

9          It should be the goal of every business to protect our planet
https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/cop25-every-business-protect-our-planet/

Today, at the start of the 25th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, Google is joining 70 other companies and union leaders to call for the United States to stay in the Paris Agreement. We’re also sharing what Google is doing as a global innovator in renewable energy markets, and to build responsible supply chains and products that use AI to drive sustainability.

10        China will add 40 GW of solar in 2020
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/12/13/cpia-china-will-add-40-gw-of-solar-in-2020/
The head of China’s solar industry association has stated the National Energy Administration is fine-tuning its solar policy for next year and will formally publish its decision shortly.

11        China NEV regime takes off training wheels as Beijing slashes subsidies
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/11/china-nev-regime-government-subsidies/
China has put leadership in the development of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) – battery electric, plug in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles – at the heart of its industrial policy.

The country is the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, with 2.3 million battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles on the road in 2018, accounting for 45% of the global stock.

12        Emerging Tech That Will Help Revive Our Infrastructure
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/emerging-tech-that-will-help-revive-our-infrastructure
America’s physical infrastructure is in the dumps. The American Society of Civil Engineers regularly gives the country’s infrastructure a near-failing grade.

We need to rebuild a lot of stuff. Hardening our roads, grids, buildings, transit systems has a climate context to it: we need to do it better and we need to do it cleaner.

13        Mitsubishi EV batteries come full circle in 1MWh BESS install at manufacturing plant
https://www.energy-storage.news/news/mitsubishi-ev-batteries-come-full-circle-in-1mwh-bess-install-at-manufactur

A solar-plus-storage sysem is to power the manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s (MMC) Okazaki Plant in Japan.

14        Tesla Scores 77% of US Electric Auto Sales in November
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/13/tesla-scores-77-of-us-electric-vehicle-sales-cleantechnica-report/
In the world of cleantech, the two biggest topics (and needs) are clean, renewable electricity production and clean electric transport. The former, the renewable energy market, is a more mature market, with renewable energy routinely accounting for more than half of new global power capacity and new US power capacity.

15        How Much Oil Does The $1.5 Trillion Fashion Industry Use?
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/How-Much-Oil-Does-The-15-Trillion-Fashion-Industry-Use.html

Chances are, you’re wearing fossil fuels right now–and for the record, you look great.

Chances are, Greta Thunberg is getting ready to push her ‘flight-shaming’ campaign into the realm of fashion, because this $1.5-trillion global fashion industry is said by some to be producing more CO2 than international flights and shipping.

16        A muted impact from the IMO 2020 ship fuel regulations
https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/europes-moonshot-moment-as-it-aims-for-zero-net-emissions-in-2050/

From the time the International Maritime Organization first agreed its new global rules for the sulphur content of shipping fuels back in 2016, there were warnings that they could cause huge disruption in world crude and products markets. With three weeks to go before the regulations take effect on January 1, it seems clear that the impact has been less traumatic than some had feared.

17        EU leaders meet to try to agree on carbon neutrality by 2050 | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/eu-leaders-meet-again-to-try-to-agree-carbon-neutrality-by-2050

European leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels will make a new attempt to set the European Union on course for carbon neutrality by 2050, in a test of the bloc’s credibility on the climate emergency.

18        Converting Plastic Waste Into Construction Materials
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/10/converting-plastic-waste-into-construction-materials/
Each year, about 300 million tons of waste plastic are produced, according to UNEP. Plastic waste accumulates just about everywhere from oceans, bays, and coastlines to riversheds, lakes, and population centers. It’s a well-known global problem, and yet where are the solutions? The Center for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC), which is based in Costa Rica, has been developing a process to convert waste plastic into building materials like bricks and concrete. The President and CEO at CRDC, Donald Thompson, answered some questions about the materials for CleanTechnica.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 42

Friday, December 13, 2019

Business Intelligence and Analytics 42

1          6 Success Factors For An Oil And Gas Data Consortium
https://www.woodmac.com/news/feature/6-success-factors-for-an-oil-and-gas-data-consortium/
From the outset, it’s vital to bring in an independent third party. That way, consortium members can rest assured the analytics are statistically sound and prepared without bias.

2          What is the CRISP-DM methodology?
https://www.sv-europe.com/crisp-dm-methodology/

CRISP-DM stands for cross-industry process for data mining. The CRISP-DM methodology provides a structured approach to planning a data mining project. It is a robust and well-proven methodology. We do not claim any ownership over it. We did not invent it. We are however evangelists of its powerful practicality, its flexibility and its usefulness when using analytics to solve thorny business issues. It is the golden thread than runs through almost every client engagement. The CRISP-DM model is shown on the right.

3          Case Study: Comparison of Los Angeles and New York Airbnb listings and trends using CRISP-DM
https://feedly.com/i/entry/pC8eyprOu8BZHgA6hwFmQZIQlJUhxSGSyzTSLmmNQSw=_16effbdf217:3241b2:a02fd466

So, you can put together an elegant database query, have mastered the latest machine learning algorithms, are fluent in multitude of statistical techniques, have no problems with distributed computing on massive data sets, write production worthy code in your sleep, and even took a course or two on data visualization and can put together a cool looking presentation.

4          Introduction to Forecasting with ARIMA in R – Lessons in Data Science
https://datasciencelessons.com/2019/12/13/introduction-to-forecasting-with-arima-in-r/
If you’re not using XTS objects to perform your forecasting in R, then you are likely missing out! The major benefits that we’ll explore throughout is that these objects are a lot easier to work with when it comes to modeling, forecasting, & visualization.

5          Big Data: What Is It and How Does It Work?
https://www.business2community.com/big-data/big-data-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work-02265540
More and more data is being created every day. We are storing more information for each person, and we are even starting to store more information from devices, too. Internet of Things is not something imaginary and really soon even your coffee machine will be tracking your coffee drinking habits and storing them on the cloud. The term Big Data first appeared in the 60’s, but it is taking on a new importance nowadays.

6          Be a Data Science Prefect with these Projects

https://feedly.com/i/entry/pC8eyprOu8BZHgA6hwFmQZIQlJUhxSGSyzTSLmmNQSw=_16effb380bb:26728:d0c89438

If you’re an aspiring Data Scientist or looking for a shift to a Data Science career, you’ll most likely be looking to whetting your skills collecting, cleaning and analysing data to answer a variety of challenging business questions and these projects are gonna help you in the same. I have listed below 3 Data Science projects that you can do in 3 weeks.

7          Let’s talk about the top technologies, trends or predictions
https://feedly.com/i/entry/pC8eyprOu8BZHgA6hwFmQZIQlJUhxSGSyzTSLmmNQSw=_16efaa83f7a:c144e:d0c89438

Software engineering is a massive field that has a lot of scope and potential. Many engineers wish to enter the field of software engineering simply because they know the industry will never die. There is a lot happening in the software industry and a lot more seems likely to happen in 2020. So, if you are either planning to enter the world of software or if you wish to speed up your career, then you should focus on the latest happenings. In this article, we will talk about the top software engineering trends of 2020.

8          Using data to create better lead-generating emails
https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/using-data-to-create-better-lead-generating-emails/

When these hyper-personalized emails miss the mark, they aren’t just ineffective, they’re downright unsettling. According to a RichRelevance study, despite mostly enjoying personalized experiences from brands, up to 75% of US consumersdeemed most forms of personalized business communications “at least somewhat creepy.”

9          9 Ways to Increase Landing Page Conversions
https://marketinginsidergroup.com/demand-generation/9-ways-to-increase-landing-page-conversions/

Many companies implement an SEO strategy – experiencing varying degrees of success, it’s clear the benefits of SEO are worth your company’s time. SEO is a great concept and useful in achieving a goal. The objective, like many other business activities, is to convert leads into sales.

10        Referral Marketing Strategies to Try in 2020
https://www.business2community.com/marketing/referral-marketing-strategies-to-try-in-2020-02265967

As marketers start to plan for the coming year, there are a few key referral marketing strategies and notable social media trends to consider. How are you leveraging the power of word-of-mouth with your customers? Are you running multiple programs, like affiliate and influencer campaigns? Are you using new platforms like Tik-Tok? Are you engaging partners to expand your reach?

11        The imperative to automate business processes
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/the-automation-imperative
Organizations in every region and industry are automating at least some business processes, yet only a slight majority have succeeded at meeting their targets, according to a new McKinsey Global Survey on the topic.

12        5 Great New Features in Latest Scikit-learn Release
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/12/5-features-scikit-learn-release-highlights.html
The latest release of Python’s workhorse machine learning library includes a number of new features and bug fixes. You can find a full accounting of these changes from the official Scikit-learn 0.22 release highlights, and can read find the change log here.

13        A journey from basic prototype to production-ready Shiny dashboard
https://www.r-bloggers.com/a-journey-from-basic-prototype-to-production-ready-shiny-dashboard/

As web dashboards have become the norm for interacting with data, looks and added functionality have taken a more prominent role. Dashboard users expect the typical look and feel and interactivity they get when surfing the web. To help fill the gap between data scientists and developers, packages that simplify and streamline the dashboard creation process have become more important as part of the dashboard creation workflow.

14        Challenges Faced by a Data Scientist and How to Overcome Them?
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/challenges-faced-by-a-data-scientist-and-how-to-overcome-them

Data Scientist is regarded as the sexiest job of the 21st century. It is a high paying lucrative jobs which comes with a lot of responsibility and commitment. Any professional needs to master state-of-the-art skills and technologies to become a Data Scientist in the modern world. It is a profession where people from different disciplines could fit in as there are a plethora of specialties embedded in a Data Scientist role.

15        Reinforcement Learning to Reduce Building Energy Consumption
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/reinforcement-learning-to-reduce-building-energy-consumption

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of buildings accounts alone for nearly 40% of the global energy demand [1].

The need for Energy Savings has become increasily foundamental to fight Climate Change. We have been working on a cloud-based RL algorithm that can retrofit existing HVAC controls to obtain substantial results.

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 41

Friday, December 6, 2019

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 41

1          Is There Strength Behind Russia And China’s New Power Of Siberia Pipeline?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2019/12/06/is-there-strength-behind-russia-and-chinas-new-power-of-siberia-pipeline/

December 2nd was a notable day in the strategic relationship between Beijing and Moscow, which saw the first shipments of Russian natural gas to China via the much-awaited Power of Siberia pipeline.  The $55 billion project is Russia’s most significant energy undertaking since the collapse of the Soviet Union, part of a larger $400 billion deal to supply China with 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas (bcm) per year for 30 years.

2          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-traders-may-use-production-cut-disappointment-as-excuse-to-book-profits-617897

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are edging lower on Friday shortly after the regular session opening. Nonetheless, the markets are set to post a weekly gain as OPEC+ kicks off its meeting in Vienna.

3          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-dangerous-weekend-ahead-due-to-potential-big-weather-shifts-617817

Natural gas futures are inching lower early Friday as confusing weather forecasts continue to limit the price action in either direction. Traders received no help from yesterday’s government weekly storage report which came in lower than expected, but inside a wide range of estimates. The technical chart pattern this week suggests investor indecision. However, it also indicates impending volatility, which could mean a breakout move is coming once traders get some clarity.

4          Weekly resin report: Get ready for end-of-year deals
https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/weekly-resin-report-get-ready-end-year-deals/88411374461971

Overall spot resin prices were steady during the short Thanksgiving week. Sharp discounts continued to fly for off-grade railcars, while resellers maintained their efforts to trim uncommitted warehoused resins, reports the PlasticsExchange (Chicago) in its Market Update. Buying was generally good: Some procured material for December usage, while others required rush deliveries to stay in production over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

5          Americas: The week ahead in petrochemicals
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/petrochemicals/120219-americas-the-week-ahead-in-petrochemicals

US November ethylene contract prices are expected to finalize this week, a trade source said. Spot ethylene prices rose 0.75 cent week on week. Lower spot polymer-grade propylene pricing is anticipated because of year-end selling by producers. However, spot PGP prices also inched 0.75 cent higher last week. Meanwhile, refinery-grade propylene prices fell to their lowest level since January 2017 at 17.25 cents/lb, according to S&P Global Platts data.

6          Global oil stocks will balloon if OPEC fails to agree on deeper production cuts
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/global-oil-stocks-will-balloon-if-OPEC-fails-to-agree-on-deeper-production-cuts/

Barring additional oil production cuts by OPEC in 2020, Rystad Energy forecasts a substantial build of global crude stocks and a corresponding drop in oil prices.

A showdown is taking place in Vienna as OPEC countries plus Russia will gather in the Austrian capital on 5-6 December to discuss oil output levels in 2020.

7          U.S. Chemical Industry Soars | Chemical Processing
https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/articles/2019/strong-outlook-bolsters-u-s-chemical-industry/

Economic growth in the United States remained dynamic at the end of 2018 with gains in manufacturing double what they were a year ago. However, all the world’s other major economies have slowed, ending a rare period of synchronized expansion.

8          Shale Has Delinked US Oil and Gas Prices
https://www.rigzone.com/news/shale_has_delinked_us_oil_and_gas_prices-06-dec-2019-160504-article/

The relationship between crude oil (WTI) and natural gas (Henry Hub) prices has long been an essential one. These two sources of energy are intrinsically linked, and together supply over 60 percent of U.S. and global energy. Especially over the past decade, oil and gas are being produced by the same companies. Even the oil majors like Shell and ExxonMobil are increasingly positioning themselves as gas giants. They realize, of course, that gas is the centerpiece strategy around the world to cut greenhouse gas emissions, backup wind and solar, and provide reliable and affordable energy.

9          Big year ahead for oil and gas opportunities
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/213263/big-year-ahead-for-oil-and-gas-opportunities/

As some of the North Sea’s private equity-backed players prepare themselves for public listings, 2020 is expected to be a “big year” for gauging the size of investors’ appetites.

10        OPEC+ Agrees to Redistribute Oil Cuts
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/opec_agrees_to_redistribute_oil_cuts-06-dec-2019-160513-article/

OPEC+ will adjust its output target and redistribute production cuts between its members under pressure from Saudi Arabia, which has long carried an outsized share of the burden.

11        GPCA ’19: GCC to make further investments in petrochemicals
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2019/12/02/10450000/gpca-19-gcc-to-make-further-investments-in-petrochemicals

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) chemicals industry will continue attract new investments as the region explores more higher-value downstream opportunities amid continued volatility in oil prices and as benefits from cheap feedstocks ease.

12        Moody’s drops Exxon’s credit outlook to “negative” over cash-flow concerns
https://ieefa.org/moodys-drops-exxons-credit-outlook-to-negative-over-cash-flow-concerns/
Exxon Mobil is outspending its cash flow to fund its growth efforts, leading Moody’s to downgrade the company’s credit outlook this week.

Moody’s cut its outlook on Exxon Mobil’s (ticker: XOM) rating to ‘Negative’ from ‘Stable,’ while reaffirming the company’s Aaa rating. Moody’s still considers Exxon’s debt to be safer than many of its rivals because of the company’s larger oil and gas reserves. But the risks are rising.