201010 October 2010

China and Clean Coal
With the world’s second-largest economy and an average growth rate of 10 percent over the past decade, China is no longer just emerging – it’s become an influential world power. But the nation’s exploding population and rapid advancement has made China the world’s second-largest energy consumer, and the second-largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions. The need for a reliable, affordable energy source that accounts for environmental concerns has led the country to focus on clean coal technologies.

201003 March 2010

Challenges in the Russian Energy Sector
Investors worldwide have their eyes on Russia, a global energy powerhouse. With 6 percent of the world’s oil reserves and a whopping 27 percent of gas reserves, the country ranks number two globally in hydrocarbons. Its oil and gas industry is in transition, however, and foreign investors keen to garner the benefits of Russia’s huge energy wealth face considerable challenges and risks. Opportunities in this market include those in the oilfield services and equipment manufacturing segment (OFS), which holds the greatest promise, while prospects in the exploration and production (E&P) segment are constrained by the government’s strategic interests. To succeed in either, investors must be adept at identifying and fulfilling the specific and often peculiar needs of Russia’s energy sector.

200912 December 2009

The Sun and the Subcontinent
With India’s rapid economic development has come a massive increase in energy demand, posing extraordinary environmental and national security challenges. At present, India’s heavy reliance on coal condemns the country to pollution rates that grow at the torrid rate of the economy as a whole. To ensure a healthy and secure future, India must find and exploit alternative domestic sources of energy. For answers, many are looking to the sun: solar power. Despite solar’s promise, myriad obstacles remain, including finding financing and overcoming land use issues.

200910 October 2009

Winds of Change
With a population 1.3 billion strong and annual GDP growth averaging nearly 10% since 1980, China’s expanding economy drives the need for a fast-growing domestic energy supply. With the world’s largest coal reserves, China’s national energy needs have historically been met by fossil fuels; in fact, the country builds, on average, one new coal-fired plant every week. Consequently, China recently overtook the U.S. as the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, accounting for 24% of global emissions. Due to the sheer size of its economy and its continued growth prospects, China’s forecasted incremental energy demand dwarfs that of other countries, accounting for 38% of projected incremental worldwide energy demand through 2030. Thus, a solution to the world’s climate crisis cannot be reached without leadership from China.