Recycling Renewables and Sustainable Business 34

Friday, May 8, 2020

Recycling Renewables and Sustainable Business 34

 

1          Green hydrogen’s time has come, say advocates eying post-pandemic world
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronarivus-hydrogen-analysis-idUSKBN22K0MJ
Green hydrogen was pushed to the fore last week when Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, said the technology was “ready for the big time” and urged governments to channel investments into the fuel.

Some countries, including the Netherlands, Australia and Portugal, have already begun investing in the technology. Now investors, politicians and businesses are pushing the European Union and others to use its post-crisis recovery plan to support hydrogen in areas like trucking and heavy industry.

 

2          Australia backs BP’s study to produce hydrogen from wind, solar
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bp-hydrogen-australia-idUSKBN22K0IC
BP Plc has won Australian government backing for a feasibility study into producing hydrogen using wind and solar power to split water and converting the hydrogen to ammonia in Western Australia.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency said on Friday it would provide A$1.7 million ($1.1 million) toward the A$4.4 million feasibility study, part of a push by the government to make the country a major producer of hydrogen by 2030.

 

3          HydroWing, Tocardo converting tides into hydrogen
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/hydrowing-tocardo-converting-tides-into-hydrogen/
Tidal Hydrogen production, Storage and Offtake (THyPSO) is a floating platform, housing one – six conventional bi-directional tidal turbines that convert tidal flows into electrical energy, directing it through an integrated hydrogen production unit to convert the surrounding seawater into hydrogen.

The THyPSO project will also demonstrate streamlined implementation of tidal energy projects with a view to upscaling and rolling out larger projects in line with growing demand for green sourced hydrogen.

 

4          Scale-up of Solar and Wind Puts Existing Coal, Gas at Risk
https://about.bnef.com/blog/scale-up-of-solar-and-wind-puts-existing-coal-gas-at-risk/
Solar PV and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of new-build generation for at least two-thirds of the global population. Those two-thirds live in locations that comprise 71% of gross domestic product and 85% of energy generation. Battery storage is now the cheapest new-build technology for peaking purposes (up to two-hours of discharge duration) in gas-importing regions, like Europe, China or Japan.

 

5          Huawei to ramp up artificial intelligence to improve solar inverters
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/05/07/huawei-to-ramp-up-artificial-intelligence-to-improve-solar-inverters/

The Chinese conglomerate has revealed how it will further integrate artificial intelligence (AI) in its string devices this year. The approach includes the transformation of inverters into smart PV controllers, the development of AI inference modules and the creation of an AI training and inference platform. Machine learning will also be incorporated into operations and maintenance, grid management and PV plant design.

 

6          Eastman Discusses Reusable Sport Bottles Consumer Study; Sustainability Aspects : Plastics Technology
https://www.ptonline.com/news/eastman-discusses-reusable-sport-bottles-consumer-study-sustainability-aspects

Eastman Chemical recently conducted consumer research that is especially interesting in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. The research appears to show that the primary method U.S. consumers use to wash their reusable sports bottles is handwashing and air drying, which can reportedly lead to contamination.

Brad Moncla, marketing segment manager for durables at Eastman, said that 60% of consumers wash and air dry their sports bottles and food storage. It’s been reported that washing and air dry could potentially spread contaminants that are eliminated when a dishwasher is used.

 

7          Seven Challenges Covid-19 Raises For The Climate Agenda
https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/seven-challenges-covid-19-raises-for-the-climate-agenda/
The Covid-19 pandemic has handed us a global lesson on the prudence of being prepared for a ‘grey rhino’ event – high impact incidents that are likely to happen but are commonly overlooked. But even with this first-hand experience, will this translate into proactivity on the other obvious global risk parallel: climate change?

Below, we examine seven ways Covid-19 has complicated the global climate agenda

 

8          Renewable Energy Shows Its Strength In The Coronavirus Crisis
https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/renewable-energy-shows-its-strength-in-the-coronavirus-crisis/
As Wood Mackenzie experts discussed in a recent webinar, some new energy businesses are suffering in the downturn. Consumer-facing industries including electric vehicles and residential solar are seeing sharp declines. Slower growth in demand for power in and restricted access to credit in emerging economies could put a brake on investment in renewables. Renewable energy technologies that compete against hydrocarbons are under pressure from bargain basement oil and gas prices. Supply chain disruptions and restrictions on construction work are slowing investment in wind power.

 

9          ‘Promiscuous treatment of nature’ will lead to more pandemics
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/07/promiscuous-treatment-of-nature-will-lead-to-more-pandemics-scientists

Humanity’s “promiscuous treatment of nature” needs to change or there will be more deadly pandemics such as Covid-19, warn scientists who have analysed the link between viruses, wildlife and habitat destruction.

Deforestation and other forms of land conversion are driving exotic species out of their evolutionary niches and into manmade environments, where they interact and breed new strains of disease, the experts say.

 

10        Mexico’s President Is Betting Big Against Renewables
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Mexicos-President-Is-Betting-Big-Against-Renewables.html

It sounds like a news report out of yet another dystopian novel: Mexico is halting grid connection for new solar and wind power projects. In a world rushing to produce clean energy, Mexico has suddenly stood out like a sore thumb. But, as usual, there’s more to the story.

The country’s National Energy Control Center, or Cenace, announced it would suspend grid connections of new solar and wind farms until further notice earlier this week. The motivation behind the decision was the intermittency of solar and wind power generation, which, according to the state-owned power market operator, could compromise Mexico’s energy security in difficult times.

 

11        US Solar Sector Expects to Lose 120,000 Jobs As COVID-19 Impacts the Green Energy Industry
https://www.energytrend.com/news/20200508-17471.html
The stay-at-home order and lockdown policy implemented in accordance with the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the frequency of land transportation and air traffic, as well as the demand for petroleum; although this has helped clear up the sky and led to a new record of power generation for solar plants, the outcome has been rather gloomy for the relevant industry. US trade organizations anticipate that there will be 120,000 jobs lost in the solar energy sector, and 35,000 in the wind energy sector.

 

12        French solar equipment supplier touts fully automated production line
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/05/08/french-solar-equipment-supplier-touts-fully-automated-production-line/

The Covid-19 health crisis has highlighted a number of weaknesses in European industry including the solar sector, which is heavily dependent on solar cells and panels made in Asia.

But Claude Jacquot and Arnaud Goy, thefounders of French solar production equipment startup Solean, claim that their fully automated production lines can bring solar manufacturing back to its European roots – for small producers. at least.

 

13        Aircraft Powered By Electricity Coming Sooner Than You Think
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/05/07/this-aircraft-is-powered-with-electricity-it-is-already-heading-for-the-skies/

First up in the airborne electricity area is a newly unveiled family of low carbon aircraft called Cassio, from the startup VoltAero. The plan is to introduce Cassio (pictured above) in 4-, 6-, and 10-seat variations that meet EASA CS23 certification in the single-engine, general aviation category. However, there is a lot more going on under the hood than “single” would suggest.

 

14        ‘Packaging with a Future’ Platform Founded by Engel and Austrian Packaging Companies
https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/packaging-future-platform-founded-engel-and-austrian-packaging-companies/64994642662987

Injection molding machine manufacturer Engel, headquartered in Schwertberg, Austria, has announced the founding of the Verpackung mit Zukunft (Packaging with a Future) platform in collaboration with six other companies from the Austrian packaging industry. The aim of the initiative is to improve public awareness in the meaningful use of packaging. The companies are taking an active role in the development of a global circular economy for plastic packaging.

 

15        Braskem and Biomaterials Collaborate on Sustainable Mask Straps in Coronavirus Response
https://www.ptonline.com/news/braskem-and-biomaterials-collaborate-on-sustainable-mask-straps-in-coronavirus-response

The Netherlands-based Biopromotions, a company that custom injection molds or thermoforms products made from natural raw materials that are renewable or bio-degradable, such as polymers based on corn, potato, and thermoplastic starch, had developed straps for masks that are made of I’m Green biobased PE from Braskem(U.S. office in Philadelphia.  The company said its development was a direct result of wanting to come up with an innovative and supportive approach to assist in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic not only for the healthcare segment but also for anyone who uses a mask in their daily routine. The innovation lies in the adding of a mask strap that supports the rubber band of the mask, removing excess pressure from the ears, making the mask more comfortable to wear.

 

16        Tesla Energy Storage Demand “Far Outpacing” Production Capacity
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/05/07/tesla-energy-storage-demand-far-outpacing-production-capacity/
As usual, press coverage of Tesla’s recent earnings report has focused on sales of the company’s vehicles (and, unfortunately, on Elon Musk’s immoderate statements about lockdowns and Tesla’s stock price). However, every quarter, those who take the time to read the whole report will find numerous nuggets of information that provide clues to future areas of growth.

 

17        Addressing climate change post-coronavirus
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/addressing-climate-change-in-a-post-pandemic-world

A ferocious pandemic is sweeping the globe, threatening lives and livelihoods at an alarming rate. As infection and death rates continue to rise, resident movement is restricted, economic activity is curtailed, governments resort to extraordinary measures, and individuals and corporations scramble to adjust. In the blink of an eye, the coronavirus has upended the world’s operating assumptions. Now, all attention is focused on countering this new and extreme threat, and on blunting the force of the major recession that is likely to follow.

 

18        Ask an expert: Will The Natural Resources Sector Recover From Covid-19?
https://www.woodmac.com/news/editorial/ask-an-expert-coronavirus-the-oil-price-crash-and-energy-and-natural-resources/

The impact of lockdowns has been immediate and severe. Governments are beginning to ease lockdown rules, driving a modest uptick in economic activity.

However, we expect restrictions to remain in place into the fourth quarter of 2020 in many countries, particularly in Asia and Europe – possibly even extending into 2021.

 

Business Intelligence and Analytics 63

Friday, May 8, 2020

Business Intelligence and Analytics 63

 

1          Your Business Is Too Complex to Be Digital
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/your-business-is-too-complex-to-be-digital/
Business leaders are starting to rethink their strategies to take advantage of digital technologies. They envision omnichannel customer interfaces, ecosystems of tightly connected partners, and novel customer solutions leveraging newly accessible data.

This is smart. Digital technologies are already shifting industry boundaries and competitive landscapes (think of relatively new industry types: information dissemination, entertainment streaming, personal mobility). Ongoing industry disruption means that business leaders absolutely must articulate strategies that are inspired by the capabilities of digital technologies.

An inspired digital strategy, however, is barely enough to get started.

 

2          Leading Through COVID-19
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/leading-through-covid-19/
There are two overarching takeaways from our work. The first is that while an initial crisis may not have been preventable, the secondary crisis of a bungled response is avoidable. The second is that every incident has narratives with victims, villains, and heroes. We are still early enough in the story of COVID-19 that executives and organizations can shape the role they will play. Rising to the part of hero requires intentional choices to put some measure of self-interest aside in order to contribute to a greater good. This is a situation where the stakeholder-centric intentions of the Business Roundtable’s famous 2019 letter redefining corporate purpose are put to the test.

 

3          COVID-19 and reskilling the workforce
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/to-emerge-stronger-from-the-covid-19-crisis-companies-should-start-reskilling-their-workforces-now

Imagine a crisis that forces your company’s employees to change the way they work almost overnight. Despite initial fears that the pressure would be too great, you discover that this new way of working could be a blueprint for the long term. That’s what leaders of many companies around the globe are finding as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

 

4          Alphabet’s Dream of a Smart City in Toronto Is Over
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-07/alphabet-s-dream-of-a-smart-city-in-toronto-is-over

Alphabet Inc.’s ambitious dream to create a city of the future on Toronto’s waterfront is over. Millions of dollars and years of lobbying weren’t enough, and the tech giant’s urban planning unit, Sidewalk Labs, officially shuttered the project on Thursday.

The stated reason was the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on real estate prices. Without the ability to profitably sell office space and homes in the development, the project wasn’t viable, Sidewalk Labs Chief Executive Officer Dan Doctoroff said in a blog post.

 

5          Why You Should Prioritize Data Transformation Above Other Digital Tran
https://datafloq.com/read/why-you-should-prioritize-data-transformation-above-other-digital-transformation-initiatives/8323

Chance are you’re aiming to invest in a BI and analytics program to capitalize on the big data your company has been acquiring over the years. But before you spend millions on opting for expensive BI programs, take a step back and ask yourself three questions:

Do I have data I can trust?

Do I understand my data?

Do I have a data transformation & data quality framework in place?

 

6          Forecasting Stories 3: Each Time-series Component Sings a Different Song
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2020/05/forecasting-stories-time-series-component-different-song.html
A rich diagnostic tool is decomposing a dataset into its components, i.e. Trend, Seasonality, Cyclical and Irregular/Random

Specially, if a forecast is not behaving as per the set expectations, debugging if one of the components and their percentage contribution has changed, can help. In R or Python, a one liner code such as plot(decompose(time_series)) or decompose(time_series, type=’multiplicative’) does the job. Now, why is it important and how could we interpret the results?

 

7          5 Concepts You Should Know About Gradient Descent and Cost Function
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2020/05/5-concepts-gradient-descent-cost-function.html
Gradient descent is an iterative optimization algorithm used in machine learning to minimize a loss function. The loss function describes how well the model will perform given the current set of parameters (weights and biases), and gradient descent is used to find the best set of parameters. We use gradient descent to update the parameters of our model. For example, parameters refer to coefficients in Linear Regression and weights in neural networks. In this article, I’ll explain 5 major concepts of gradient descent and cost function, including:

 

8          Data Transformation for Machine Learning
https://insidebigdata.com/2020/05/07/data-transformation-for-machine-learning/
Industry experts, competitors, and even your customers are talking about machine learning.  Machine learning is the process of building and training models to process data. In this capacity, your models are learning from your data to make better predictions. In this way, machine learning allows computer systems to learn from data and make decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so.

 

9          Demonstrating Leadership or managing response in times of Crisis
https://datafloq.com/read/demonstrating-leadership-managing-response-times-crisis/8310
In the present scenario, the Coronavirus crisis is unfolding over an arc of time with a beginning, middle and end. The actions of executives and their teams now, in the midst of this crisis, will significantly determine their destiny.

For nearly two decades, it is observed that public and private-sector executives are in high-stakes, high-pressure situations. The crises are most often under-led and over managed. The best leaders navigate jagged waters deftly, energizing organizations, saving lives, and inspiring communities. However, it is discovered that many leaders fall into one or more of the following leadership traps:

 

10        From Apocalypse to Supernova: How the Pandemic Is Changing U.S. Retail
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/apocalypse-supernova-pandemic-changing-u-s-retail/
Total retail sales in March dropped 8.7% from the previous month, a steep decline not seen since 1992, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The apparel sector witnessed the most precipitous plunge, with sales of clothing and accessories falling by more than 50%. The numbers for April have not yet been released, but experts expect those figures to be even worse because of widespread closures, stay-at-home orders and crushing job losses that kept many Americans from buying anything beyond essentials.

 

11        The Post-crisis World: What Changes Are Coming?
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/post-crisis-world-changes-coming/
How will the world look post-COVID-19? The question is as broad as the destruction brought by the virus, but Wharton’s Tarnopol Dean’s Lecture held on April 30 provided some insights through the lens of three sectors — health care, finance and technology. The virtual event, hosted and moderated by Dean Geoffrey Garrett, included a panel of three Wharton alums: Alex Gorsky, chairman and CEO of pharmaceuticals and medical devices company Johnson & Johnson; Marc Rowan, co-founder and senior managing director of private equity firm Apollo Global Management; and Andy Rachleff, founder of Benchmark Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, and Wealthfront, an online investment management firm. Wharton management professor Lori Rosenkopf facilitated by curating audience questions for the speakers.

Energy Petrochemicals and Plastics 62

Friday, May 1, 2020

Energy Petrochemicals and Plastics 62

 

1          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast – Slight Rise Suggests Optimism as OPEC+ Output Cuts Begin
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-slight-rise-suggests-optimism-as-opec-output-cuts-begin-646929

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are up for a third straight session on Friday as major producers began output cuts to offset a slump in fuel demand triggered by the coronavirus pandemic while data showed U.S. crude inventories grew less than expected. Futures are now within striking distance of the close on April 20 which is the day before the steep plunge that saw nearby May futures plunging into negative territory for the first time in history.

 

2          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast – Upside Momentum is Builiding; $1.828
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-upside-momentum-is-builiding-1-828-1-786-key-support-646927

The natural gas market continued to confound traders with another unexpected rally on Thursday after a government report showed a lower-than-expected storage build.

“Despite the low gas price environment, erratic price moves have been prevalent given all of the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus and the oil market downturn. There are some positive drivers for natural gas, with Lower 48 production well off late-November highs and more cuts ahead,” Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) said late Thursday.

 

3          Weekly Resin Report: Eroding Demand and Epic Plunge in Oil Prices May Lead to Rationing of Resin Production
https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/weekly-resin-report-eroding-demand-and-epic-plunge-oil-prices-may-lead-rationing-resin-production/51681784162921

Prices for all commodity grade resins continued to slide and most polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials peeled off another penny. The beginning of May will mark the first instances of states re-opening their economies and we are all optimistic that we can quickly get back to business as usual and move past this disruptive world event, said the PlasticsExchange. Until then, the reseller community as a whole will continue to grind this out and try to move its high-cost inventory with minimal loss. It is a delicate dance in this very competitive arena, as fresh railcar offers are well-discounted, while material for immediate shipment maintains an eroding premium.

 

4          Wood Mac: European olefins production could recover in 2020 despite coronavirus
https://www.britishplastics.co.uk/materials/wood-mac-reports-european-olefins-production-could-recover-i/

Where Europe saw a 20-year low in olefins production in 2019, market research analyst, Wood Mackenzie, says 2020 could show a recovery, despite Coronavirus.

This, it says, is primarily due to lighter turnaround schedules and competitive naphtha prices making Europe’s steam cracker fleet more competitive.

 

5          A trillion dollars! This is by how much global E&P revenues will fall in 2020 due to Covid-19
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/a-trillion-dollars-this-is-by-how-much-global-ep-revenues-will-fall-in-2020-due-to-covid-19/

The devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on global oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies is better understood by looking at the industry’s expected total annual revenues for 2020. A Rystad Energy analysis shows that global E&P revenues are now forecasted to fall by about $1 trillion in 2020, a drop of 40% to $1.47 trillion from last year’s $2.47 trillion.

 

6          Coronavirus lockdowns depress fuel demand worldwide
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-demand-fuels-factbox-idUSKBN22D5CT
Countries around the world have reported steep falls in fuel demand as lockdowns to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus limit the movement of more than 4 billion people.

 

7          Oil rises towards $27 as OPEC+ begins record cut
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-idUSKBN22D43L
Oil rose towards $27 a barrel on Friday as OPEC and its allies began a record output cut to tackle a supply glut weighing on the market due to the coronavirus crisis.

 

8          The Wave Of Shale Well Closures Has Finally Begun
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/The-Wave-Of-Shale-Well-Closures-Has-Finally-Begun.html
U.S. shale oil producers have so far held up admirably, hanging on for dear life amidst the biggest oil demand collapse in history. American producers continued to pump at record highs in March, even after dozens of drillers laid out blueprints to limit production.

But with U.S. storage about to hit tank tops in a matter of weeks and the world deep in the throes of the biggest pandemic in modern history, the inevitable has begun to unfold: The arduous and costly process of well shut-ins.

 

9          Opec+ alliance to reduce output by 9.7mn b/d
https://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=2101627&menu=yes

Opec and its partners are today embarking on the most ambitious co-ordinated production cut in history.

The first phase of the three-stage deal targeting market rebalance calls for the 23-country Opec+ alliance to reduce output by 9.7mn b/d this month and next, largely from an October 2018 baseline. Iran, Venezuela and Libya remain exempt.

 

10        Oil Up as Cuts Start
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_up_as_cuts_start-01-may-2020-161948-article/
Oil headed for its first weekly gain in a month as global production cuts began to take effect, while early signs the coronavirus-driven plunge in demand might be starting to bottom out also aided sentiment.

Futures in New York edged above $19 a barrel and are up around 13% so far this week. The OPEC+ bloc’s 10 million barrels a day of output reductions officially start from Friday, while other producers — including Norway and ConocoPhillips — have also said they’re cutting back.

 

11        LNG tankers build up around virus-hit Europe as crisis abates in Asia – Energy & Oil
https://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL8N2CI9K4
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes are piling up off the shores of Europe as the coronavirus pandemic severely disrupts gas demand, leading to delays in tanker discharges and a rise in the number of vessels used as floating storage, analysts said.

 

12        Dow Chemical idles polyethylene plant in Argentina
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/petrochemicals/043020-dow-chemical-idles-polyethylene-plant-in-argentina

To balance production to current demand, Dow said it is idling three PE and two elastomers production units in the Americas for at least 30 days. The company did not say when the plants would be idled.

“The plants have an aggregate annualized capacity of approximately 2 million lb and are located on the US Gulf Coast and in Argentina,” CEO Jim Fitterling said during the company’s first-quarter 2020 earnings call Thursday.

 

13        BASF cuts investment plans as crisis consumes car industry
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basf-results-idUSKBN22C0N7
BASF (BASFn.DE) scaled back its investment budget on Thursday and said it could not rule out a second quarter operating loss as the coronavirus crisis hit automakers, who are the chemicals giant’s largest customers.

Profits in the chemicals industry react strongly to a downturn because of its exposure to cyclical sectors such as carmakers, while massive overheads prevent swift cost cutting.

 

14        BASF Starts Hand Sanitizer Production In Canada
https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/industrynews/2020/basf-starts-hand-sanitizer-production-in-canada/
With the goal of helping overcome current and future bottlenecks for hand sanitizer resulting from a significant increase in demand, BASF starts production of hand sanitizers in Canada. The sanitizing product manufactured at BASF’s Windsor facility will be donated to hospitals, care facilities and other institutions in areas of high need, identified in collaboration with the provincial governments of Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.

 

15        Shell cuts dividend for first time since World War Two
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-results-idUSKBN22C0TK
Royal Dutch Shell RDSa. cut its dividend for the first time since World War Two on Thursday in a drastic step to preserve cash as it prepares for a protracted slump in demand for oil because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Anglo-Dutch energy company also suspended share buybacks and said it would reduce oil and gas output by about a quarter after its net profit almost halved in the first three months of 2020 to $2.9 billion.

 

16        Special Report: Trump told Saudis: Cut oil supply or lose U.S. military support
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-trump-saudi-specialreport-idUSKBN22C1V4
In an April 2 phone call, Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started cutting oil production, he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the kingdom, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

 

17        Plastics Get More Respect Amid COVID-19
https://www.rigzone.com/news/plastics_get_more_respect_amid_covid19-01-may-2020-161941-article/
In a world grappling with COVID-19, however, the proverbial spotlight appears to have shifted to the beneficial applications of plastics – such as ExxonMobil’s role in developing reusable personal protective equipment for health care workers.

Rigzone recently interviewed a panel of petrochemicals industry pros to obtain their insights on how COVID-19 has influenced views about plastics and trends they see going forward. Keep reading for their perspectives.

 

18        Pulse Survey Reveals Business Impact of COVID-19 Measures on Mold Makers
https://www.plasticstoday.com/injection-molding/pulse-survey-reveals-business-impact-covid-19-measures-on-mold-makers/99248513962945

The American Mold Builders Association (AMBA) has launched periodic Pulse Surveys to give business leaders insight into the state of the mold building industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The short, one-minute survey asks participants eight questions over a two-day period. More than 130 mold builders participated in the first collection period.

 

19        Best Practices in Processing with Recycled Material: Plastics Technology
https://www.ptonline.com/blog/post/best-practices-in-post-consumer-recycling
Welcome to Plastics Technology’s Recycling Supplement. We put this publication together with one overriding thought: You’re going to be using more post-consumer scrap in the future as you formulate your products. This will almost certainly be the case in the packaging market, but is just as likely to spill over into other end markets as well. We’re going green, make no mistake.

 

20        Olin swings to $80 million Q1 loss as COVID-19 saps chlorine demand
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/petrochemicals/043020-olin-swings-to-80-million-q1-loss-as-covid-19-saps-chlorine-demand

Sharp declines in demand for chlorine and related products pushed Olin, the world’s largest chlor-alkali producer, into an $80 million loss in the first quarter this year, the company said. “During the second half of March and into April, Olin began to experience reduced demand across our chemical portfolio,” CEO John Fischer said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call Thursday. The quarterly loss compared to a $41.7 million profit in the first three months of 2019.

 

21        Video: how masks are produced by Sinopec
https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/01052020/video-how-masks-are-produced-by-sinopec/

A close-up video of production lines at the Sinopec Yanshan Factory was recorded and released on the social account of a British vlogger, named Stuart, who lives in China.

The video below showcases how disposable facial masks and N95 masks are made from polypropylene grain.

With a daily production capacity of 12 t, Sinopec Yanshan Factory can provide key raw materials for 12 million medical masks on a daily basis.

 

22        Woodside expects low oil and gas prices into 2021
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/woodside-expects-low-oil-and-gas-prices-into-2021/
Australia’s largest LNG player Woodside expects low oil and gas prices to continue for the rest of 2020 and into next year due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

 

23        Saudis’ 43MMbbl oil flotilla will clog more than U.S. storage tanks
https://www.worldoil.com/news/2020/4/30/saudis-43mmbbl-oil-flotilla-will-clog-more-than-us-storage-tanks

A fleet of supertankers carrying Saudi oil will add to the growing congestion at U.S. ports in coming weeks at the same time producers are shutting in output as they run out of space to store unwanted supplies.

A total of 43 million barrels of Saudi oil is set to arrive on the U.S. Gulf and West coasts by May 24, according to Rystad Energy. The flotilla — comprising 28 tankers, including 14 very large crude carriers, or VLCCs — will join a queue of 76 tankers waiting to unload in U.S. ports as the greatest oil glut in history plays out.

 

24        TC Energy sells Ontario natural gas-fired power plants for $2.8B
https://www.bicmagazine.com/industry/natgas-lng/tc-energy-sells-ontario-natural-gas-fired-power-plants-for-2/

TC Energy Corporation has completed the sale of its interests in three Ontario natural gas-fired power plants to a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation Inc. for $2.8 billion prior to post-closing adjustments.

The facilities include the 683-megawatt Halton Hills power plant, the 900-megawatt Napanee generating station and TC Energy’s 50 percent interest in the 550-megawatt Portlands Energy Center.

 

25        Permian Bankruptcies Could Fuel A Buying Spree For Big Oil
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Permian-Bankruptcies-Could-Fuel-A-Buying-Spree-For-Big-Oil.html
The United States shale revolution is over. Production in the Permian Basin, which spreads across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, has been slowing for months, but the novel coronavirus took things from bad to much, much worse for U.S. shale. The oil price shock that followed the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with a massive global oil glut spurred by a spat between with learning OPEC+ member countries of Russia and Saudi Arabia, drove West Texas Intermediate oil prices down to a previously unthinkable -$37.63 a barrel earlier this month.  While shale prices have since moderately rebounded, the Permian Basin is still in bad shape.

 

26        The Death Of U.S. Oil
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/The-Death-Of-US-Oil.html
It’s game-over for most of the U.S. oil industry.

Prices have collapsed and storage is nearly full. The only option for many producers is to shut in their wells. That means no income. Most have considerable debt so bankruptcy is next.

Peggy Noonan wrote in her column recently that “this is a never-before-seen level of national economic calamity; history doesn’t get bigger than this.” That is the superficial view.

 

27        Russian Oil Production Set For First Annual Drop Since 2008
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Russian-Oil-Production-Set-For-First-Annual-Drop-Since-2008.html
Due to the OPEC+ production cut deal, Russia’s oil production could decline by 15 percent annually in 2020, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told news agency Interfax in an interview published on Wednesday.

This year, Russia’s production of crude oil and condensate could be between 480 million tons and 500 million tons – or between 9.6 million bpd and 10 million bpd, in case of 100-percent compliance with the new OPEC+ agreement, Novak told Interfax.

 

Recycling Renewables and Sustainable Business 33

Friday, May 1, 2020

Recycling Renewables and Sustainable Business 33

 

1          Clean air in Europe during lockdown ‘leads to 11,000 fewer deaths’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/30/clean-air-in-europe-during-lockdown-leads-to-11000-fewer-deaths

The improvement in air quality over the past month of the coronavirus lockdown has led to 11,000 fewer deaths from pollution in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, a study has revealed.

Sharp falls in road traffic and industrial emissions have also resulted in 1.3m fewer days of work absence, 6,000 fewer children developing asthma, 1,900 avoided emergency room visits and 600 fewer preterm births, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

 

2          Solar can drive down levelized cost of desalinated water
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/29/solar-can-drive-down-levelized-cost-of-desalinated-water/
The global average levelized cost of drinking water (LCOW) from desalinationplants could decline from around €2.40/m3 in 2015 to €1.05 by 2050 if solar, storage systems and other renewable energies are used to decarbonize the sector.

 

3          Falling LCOE of Solar Puts Existing Coal, Gas at Risk
https://solarindustrymag.com/falling-lcoe-of-solar-puts-existing-coal-gas-at-risk/
Solar PV and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of new-build generation for at least two-thirds of the global population. Those two-thirds live in locations that comprise 71% of gross domestic product and 85% of energy generation. Battery storage is now the cheapest new-build technology for peaking purposes (up to two-hours of discharge duration) in gas-importing regions, like Europe, China and Japan.

 

4          Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on the Renewable Energy Industry
https://www.altenergymag.com/article/2020/04/understanding-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-renewable-energy-industry/33008

COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on every person and every industry on the planet, and at LevelTen, we are truly heartened to see our global community collaborate, improvise, and sacrifice during this unprecedented global crisis. To understand the effects the crisis could have on the renewable energy market, we conducted a survey of project developers, analyzed data from the LevelTen Marketplace, and talked to our customers. Here are five key takeaways.

 

5          Tesla installed 260MWh of energy storage in Q1 2020
https://www.energy-storage.news/news/tesla-installed-260mwh-of-energy-storage-in-q1-2020
Tesla has kept financial losses at bay in the first quarter of the year, posting strong group-wide EBITDA and revenue numbers amid high hopes for its solar roof line in the longer term.

Releasing a financial update on Wednesday, the Silicon Valley firm claimed its US$16 million in positive GAAP net income this quarter marks the first time the indicator is on the black in its Q1 series, a milestone achieved even as the COVID-19 crisis forced it to shutter factories.

 

6          Is The $110 Trillion Renewable Revolution Feasible?
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Is-The-110-Trillion-Renewable-Revolution-Feasible.html
A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) show that, to save the planet, a massive transformation of the world’s energy system will need to occur, in which a large-scale shift to renewables and new carbon-free fuels is accompanied by a precipitous decline of hydrocarbons. The report gives solid numbers on what the world will look like in 2050 if the goals of the Paris Climate Accord are achieved.

 

7          CO2 Emissions Expected To Fall To 8-Year Lows
https://oilprice.com/The-Environment/Global-Warming/CO2-Emissions-Expected-To-Fall-To-8-Year-Lows.html

The International Energy Agency expects carbon dioxide emissions to decline by 8 percent this year due to the devastation the coronavirus wreaked on energy demand.

The agency said in the new edition of it Global Energy Review that the annual drop in oil demand this year could reach 9 percent, which translates into a loss of 9 million bpd. This would make 2020 oil demand equal to the average levels in 2012.

 

8          How global business could mitigate climate change
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/climate-math-what-a-1-point-5-degree-pathway-would-take

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, everyone is rightly focused on protecting lives and livelihoods. Can we simultaneously strive to avoid the next crisis? The answer is yes—if we make greater environmental resilience core to our planning for the recovery ahead, by focusing on the economic and employment opportunities associated with investing in both climate-resilient infrastructure and the transition to a lower-carbon future.

 

9          Australian grid could derive 75% of electricity from renewables by 2025
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/05/01/australian-grid-could-derive-75-of-electricity-from-renewables-by-2025/

Australia’s main electricity grid could safely derive up to 75% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by as soon as 2025, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said in a new study this week. However, this will only be possible if market conditions and the regulatory environment are modified.

 

10        Revealed: US fossil fuel companies handed at least $50m in coronavirus aid
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/01/fossil-fuel-firms-coronavirus-package-aid
US fossil fuel companies have taken at least $50m in taxpayer money they likely won’t have to pay back, according to a review of coronavirus aid meant for struggling small businesses by the investigative research group Documented and the Guardian.

A total of $28m is going to three coal mining companies, including two with ties to Trump officials, bolstering a dying American industry and a fuel that scientists insist world leaders must shift away from to avoid the worst of the climate crisis.

 

11        Expanding ‘Circularity’ through Advanced Recycling Technologies
https://www.ptonline.com/articles/expanding-circularity-through-advanced-recycling-technologies
Sustainability … What once was a niche business philosophy is now the driving force for businesses growth and development across all sectors. This could not be truer for the plastics industry, which is facing unprecedented scrutiny for mounting plastic pollution problems around the globe. For this reason, recycling and achieving circularity for materials is at the core of the plastics industry’s evolving sustainable business model.

 

12        The toxic chemicals in our homes could increase Covid-19 threat
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/29/coronavirus-toxic-chemicals-pfas-bpa
During the rare moments you’ve ventured outside these days, you’ve probably noticed clearer skies and the benefits of reductions in air pollution.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the danger associated with four of the biggest Covid-19 mortality risks: diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease and asthma. It also can make the immune system overreact, exaggerating the inflammatory response to common pathogens.

But there are other common contaminants in our homes that are also likely to be hacking our immune systems, which have had less attention.

 

13        New Low-emissions Plant Will Power One Million More Homes In New York State
https://www.energytrend.com/news/20200430-17292.html
One million additional homes in New York state will receive low-carbon, affordable, safe and reliable power from the newly completed Cricket Valley Energy Center, which was built by Bechtel. The 1,100-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle plant in Dover, New York, will use advanced emissions-control technology to ensure it operates as one of the most efficient power-generation facilities in the U.S.

 

14        Hitachi to Bankroll UK Chain of Solar-Powered Supercharging Stations
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/hitachi-to-bankroll-u.k-chain-of-solar-powered-superchargers

Hitachi Capital is scaling up its financial support for a network of electric vehicle superchargers U.K. in partnership with Gridserve

Gridserve’s model is to develop subsidy-free solar-plus-storage plants alongside a network of EV infrastructure. The first such solar site was connected to the grid in December last year: a 34.7-megawatt solar system paired with a 30 megawatt-hour Samsung battery, and run on an entirely merchant basis. The first of its ‘Electric Forecourt’ filling stations is currently under construction and expected to open in the coming months.

 

15        Microgrids for EV charging are a ‘low carbon, resilient, economically viable opportunity’
https://www.energy-storage.news/news/microgrids-for-ev-charging-are-a-low-carbon-resilient-economically-viable-o

Moving from today’s gas stations to their electrified equivalent can present a challenge so “dramatic” that in some cases, microgrids may be the only viable solution, a representative of Schneider Electric has said.

 

16        Total to examine if O&G platforms can run on renewable energy
https://www.offshorewind.biz/?p=100181418
French energy major Total has joined a project to explore the potential of powering offshore oil and gas platforms with floating wind and wave energy.

The O/G Decarb innovation project will examine the possibility of using a combined wind and wave technology on a floating foundation to store energy that can convert electricity into hydrogen via electrolysis.

 

17        Britain Hits Three Weeks Coal-Free Record
https://www.forbes.com/sites/emanuelabarbiroglio/2020/04/30/britain-hits-three-weeks-coal-free-record/
Britain’s electricity system has not used energy provided by coal-fired plants over the past three weeks. National Grid ESO data shows that continuous time without coal has now been 20 days and 12 hours at the time of writing.

This is the longest period without coal energy since the Industrial Revolution, precisely after a public grid had been established in 1882. The first time Britain ran without coal was on May 9, 2016. The previous record of 18 continuous days was set last year on June 4.

 

18        Let’s Invest In An Energy Future That Preserves The Economy
https://www.forbes.com/sites/margooge/2020/04/30/lets-invest-in-an-energy-future-that-preserves-the-economy–and-life-on-this-planet/

It’s becoming evident the COVID-19 will disrupt the lives of the world’s 7.8 billion human inhabitants for much longer than we could have imagined. Already, millions are infected and hundreds of thousands dead, while the global economy could contract 3% this year in the worst downturn since the Great Depression.

Policymakers are responding by injecting trillions of dollars to help the sputtering economy. But for economic and environmental reasons, one sector should not receive a taxpayer bailout – the oil and gas industry.

 

19        Coronavirus will trigger biggest ever plunge in energy demand, emissions: IEA
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iea-energy-coronavirus-idUSKBN22C0HL
Economic lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic look set to cut global energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions by record amounts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 62

Friday, May 1, 2020

Business Intelligence and Analytics 62

 

1          Ten reasons why a ‘Greater Depression’ for the 2020s is inevitable
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/29/ten-reasons-why-greater-depression-for-the-2020s-is-inevitable-covid

After the 2007-09 financial crisis, the imbalances and risks pervading the global economy were exacerbated by policy mistakes. So, rather than address the structural problems that the financial collapse and ensuing recession revealed, governments mostly kicked the can down the road, creating major downside risksthat made another crisis inevitable. And now that it has arrived, the risks are growing even more acute. Unfortunately, even if the Greater Recession leads to a lacklustre U-shaped recovery this year, an L-shaped “Greater Depression” will follow later in this decade, owing to 10 ominous and risky trends.

 

2          The next wave of coronavirus disruption? Automation
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/30/coronavirus-disruption-automation
It’s funny how quickly the strange and unfamiliar become routine. After weeks of awkwardness at the supermarket checkout, suddenly the choreography is getting easier: I’ve almost mastered the new rhythm of packing, waiting decorously for the cashier to move their hand away before swooping on whatever they’ve passed across the scanner. Even the sight of conveyor belts being doused with disinfectant after every customer seems almost normal now, although it shouldn’t.

 

3          5 Ways AI Can Improve Your Supply Chain
https://medium.com/@industrystar/5-ways-ai-can-improve-your-supply-chain-85934bdc7a19
Artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to work its way into numerous industries, supply chain being one of them. This technology is on track to have a revolutionary impact on the future. The way a supply chain operates today will differ drastically once AI is fully implemented. Below are five areas of supply chain where AI is starting to have this drastic impact.

 

4          How to demonstrate calm and optimism in a crisis
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/how-to-demonstrate-calm-and-optimism-in-a-crisis

The coronavirus outbreak is posing profound challenges to the way we live and work. A crisis of this scale has left many fearful that disruption—personal, financial, societal—is going to be a way of life for some time.

When the path ahead is uncertain, people turn to leaders to help them gain clarity and a grounded hope for a better future. They want someone with a positive vision, who is confident about tackling the problems we all face yet courageous enough to confront uncomfortable truths and admit what they do not know.

 

5          As eurozone records 3.8% slump ECB chief warns of worse to come
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/30/eurozone-suffers-record-slump-as-coronavirus-lockdown-reverses-growth

The head of the European Central Bank has warned that the eurozone could be on course for a 15% collapse in output in the second quarter as evidence of the economic toll caused by Covid-19 pandemic started to emerge, with France and Italy falling into recession.

 

6          Top 10 ways to utilise AI in smart manufacturing
https://medium.com/manufacturing-global/top-10-ways-to-utilise-ai-in-smart-manufacturing-9d23fc2c0b11
One of the largest use cases — Predictive Maintenance. In 2018 the technology made up over 24% of the total market. Predictive maintenance harnesses advanced analytics and machine learning to determine the condition of both a single or entire set of assets, to determine the remaining useful life of an asset.

 

7          How European business can recover from the coronavirus
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/how-european-businesses-can-position-themselves-for-recovery

For tens of millions of Europeans, the coronavirus pandemic will be a life-changing event. Even if they are untouched by the disease itself, the upheaval caused by the virus will have a profound effect on many people’s livelihoods and life circumstances. Never before, except in wartime, have whole industries shut down and consumer demand dropped so far so fast.

 

8          China Spends $600 Billion To Trump America’s Economy
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williampesek/2020/05/01/china-spends-600-billion-to-trump-americas-economy/

Ten years from now, when economists mull the exact moment the U.S. ceded the future to China this week’s events are sure to top the list of time-stamp candidates.

This was the week, after all, when Chinese President Xi Jinping tossed another 4 trillion yuan, or $565 billion, at an economy taking devastating coronavirus blows. The 4 trillion-yuan figure will sound familiar to students of 2008 and 2009, back when Beijing threw exactly that amount at plunging demand amid the “Lehman stock.”

 

9          9 Things to Expect from Life After COVID
https://www.business2community.com/workplace-culture/9-things-to-expect-from-life-after-covid-02306371

Whether we accept it or not, researchers predict we may be in lockdown for longer than planned. Others are saying social distancing could become a fact of life for, not months, but years.

A new world, they say, is on the other side of all this change. But, practically speaking, what can we expect?

 

10        Surviving the Economic Downturn Caused by the Coronavirus
https://www.mytotalretail.com/article/surviving-the-economic-downturn-caused-by-the-coronavirus/
As the world struggles to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus, most businesses are struggling as well. They’re struggling with ensuring the health of their employees, store closures mandated by the government, unanticipated drops in sales due to pullbacks in consumer spending, fulfilling orders from distribution centers, and identifying how to replace lost sales from brick-and-mortar stores.

 

11        10 Ways To Serve, Support, and Connect With Remote Employees
https://www.business2community.com/workplace-culture/10-ways-to-serve-support-and-connect-with-remote-employees-02306347

The coronavirus pandemic and ensuring lockdowns have taken the remote workrevolution from a mere spark to a roaring fire.

As a result, many organizations, faced with the prospect of letting their employees work remotely are facing challenges in connecting and supporting their remote workers through this challenging time.

In this article, I list 10 ways you can serve, support and keep in touch with your remote employees in a way that builds morale and boosts productivity and loyalty.

 

12        Python — the programming language of Machine Learning
https://justinsrv.xyz/_DEV_SPACE/synapse-motion-site/2020/04/25/python-the-programming-language-of-machine-learning/

Python is the de facto programming language used is machine learning. This is owed to it’s simplicity and readability, which allows users to focus on the algorithms and results, rather than wasting time on structuring code efficiently and keeping it manageable.

Python is also consistent across projects. People use mostly the same flagship modules (keras, scikit-learn, numpy) unlike in other languages such as Javascript which have a multitude of libraries and patterns, or like Java which has many data structures.

 

13        Natural Language Processing Recipes: Best Practices and Examples
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2020/05/natural-language-processing-recipes-best-practices-examples.html
We at KDnuggets have been doing our best to highlight some quality natural language processing (NLP) resources in the recent past, most notably The Big Bad NLP Database and The Super Duper NLP Repo, a pair of initiatives managed by Quantum Stat. The first of these is a curated repository of NLP datasets neatly organized around tasks, while the second is a collection of Google Colab notebooks demonstrating implementations of numerous of these tasks.

 

14        The Role of the Board Chair During a Crisis
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-role-of-the-board-chair-during-a-crisis/
Experienced chairpersons know that their success depends on how they walk the tightrope of being too involved or too remote in the company’s strategy execution. Yet when a crisis such as COVID-19 hits and the CEO transforms into Chief Crisis Officer, the chairperson may become increasingly unsure how to strike this balance.