Commentary

What you need to know about the announced capped revenue experiment in Shenzhen

In November 2014, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced via a Notice for Transmission and Distribution Rate Reform Pilot in Shenzhen, a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) initiative to induce 'change' in the existing business model.

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What you need to know about the announced capped revenue experiment in Shenzhen

Commentary

Continued boom or bust for Japanese renewables?

When Japan instituted the Renewable Energy Act (REA) in 2012, the stated policy was to encourage the development of renewable energy but to avoid the "boom and bust" cycles seen in other countries. Looking back, there is no question that the government created a booming market; particularly in solar. A reasonable question to ask now is whether we are about to see a bust?

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Fractures in India's fracking debate

As the third largest energy consumer in the world, India continues to face serious energy deficiencies. Energy supply has far from kept pace with our needs and 80% of our hydrocarbon needs are currently met by imports, with no alternative solution in sight.

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The first step to becoming a smart nation: Protect the grid

Singapore is making headway in developing its own smart grid infrastructure. State-owned energy utility Singapore Power (SP) is currently involved in a project to upgrade and renew the country’s ageing grid infrastructure.

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Powering Asia's next 100 million

Over one-fifth of Southeast Asia’s 600 million people do not have access to electricity. This lack of readily-accessible power means basic needs go unfulfilled and long-term quality of life remains low, with business productivity hindered in markets expected to drive the region’s continued economic growth.

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'Greening' India's budget

Climate change and other environmental issues have slowly started getting required attention in Government development plans. One such example is a distinct chapter in recent economic survey on sustainable development and climate change issues.

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Power Up: New hot areas for transformation - Part 2

Another technology-led area of transformation involving big data for the energy sector is in customer interactions. Utilities are using a combination of big data management tools, cloud, and mobile platforms to deliver new engagements models with consumers.

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The impact of China's increasing energy consumption

Following a period of dramatic industrialisation in the country, China’s energy consumption has risen significantly over the past fifteen years.

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Handcuffs or handrails?: Philippine limits on FiTs

With a growing population projected to reach 100 million and a sustained economic boom, the need for new power generation in the Philippines is as obvious as the threats of blackouts.

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The future of the power market in Bangladesh

Bangladesh desperately needs to generate more electricity. Despite vast improvements in a host of human development indicators over the past 20 years or so, its ageing power stations are inefficient and are struggling to keep up with demand.

Commentary

Power up: New hot areas for transformation - Part 1

Demand for electrical power in Asian countries is nothing short of staggering; the World Energy Outlook 2013 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Non-OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) shows countries in Asia hold the largest share of global growth in primary energy demand at 65%[1]. Nearly 40% of the world’s new electricity capacity is being shared together by China and India.

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How smart cities will help Singapore deal with tackling energy demands

In the last decade, Singapore’s population has grown by 25 percent and this number will continue to grow for another ten years. With this rapid pace of growth coupled with the impending demand that follows, it comes as no surprise when a recent study by Shell Eastern Petroleum showed that four out of five Singaporeans surveyed ranked future energy needs as important as cost of living, job security, and housing affordability1.

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The future of Singapore's renewable energy

Around the world, governments are stepping up efforts to grow their renewable energy capabilities in order to address climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Commentary

Japan's nuclear quest: Full steam ahead?

Back in 2011, after the Fukushima disaster, it appeared as though Japan’s nuclear dream was in tatters. However, only three years later, the reverse appears to be the case, with the government now beginning to attempt to resurrect Japan’s mothballed nuclear plants.

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The short-term impacts of liberalisation on the utility company

Liberalisation is a market change with a relaxation of rules allowing new players to enter a market. Sometimes this is referred to as de-regulation.

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Can China reduce its addiction to coal power?

In early March 2014, at China’s National People’s Congress, Premier Li Keqiang declared war on pollution, as the issues of smog, hazardous air quality levels, and broader environmental challenges gained unprecedented political attention.

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Addressing carbon dioxide emissions from power projects

China is planning numerous carbon capture and storage projects, which often combine enhanced oil recovery ventures. As we know, the power industry is the largest greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emitter globally; and means of recovering, utilising, sequestering, and recycling CO2 (carbon dioxide) is the key to a healthier planet, and a stronger power industry worldwide.

Commentary