Posts tagged “R-Squared Energy TV”

As the presidential election draws near, gasoline prices are again in the news. In the summer they were rising, and Obama’s opponents were pointing fingers in his directions. Now that prices are falling, what does that mean for the Obama and Romney campaigns? In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer a reader’s question on how falling gasoline prices might impact the Obama campaign for reelection.

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I address the recent claims of a U.K.-based company called Air Fuel Synthesis that they have invented a process to create fuel from air and water.

Earlier in the week, I covered this issue in-depth for our subscriber-only newsletter, Energy Trends Insider, so be sure to get your free subscription today.

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer two gasoline-related questions. One is on how ethanol is impacting current gasoline prices, and whether that increases the chances of a waiver for this year’s Renewable Fuel Standard. The other is on the impact of the Chevron refinery fire in California.

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I discuss the implications of the current drought in the Midwest, how that may impact the ethanol market, and whether the Renewable Fuel Standard is likely to be modified.

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I discuss the recently released paper by former Eni executive Leonardo Maugeri — in which he suggests global oil supplies will increase by 17 million barrels per day by the end of the decade — as well as George Monbiot’s highly publicized reaction to the report.

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer the following questions:

• Is there any merit to the rumor that the Obama Administration asked Saudi Arabia to increase crude oil output in order to lower prices leading up to the November election?
• What has caused the drop in West Texas Intermediate prices over the past few months?
• Can you give an update about Merica’s activities? You mentioned several projects in this interview with Katie Fehrenbacher ;Can you please bring us up-to-date and generally state what progress has been made?

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer the following questions:

• What are the chances that electric vehicles will be more than a boutique item, and will make up a noticeable portion of cars on the road by 2020?
• Do you agree with the recent report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that building the Keystone Pipeline will raise gasoline prices?

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer a question about the artificial leaf being worked on by Daniel Nocera at MIT. I discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various storage schemes, and explain why I believe storage is the most important problem in renewable energy.

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I cover:

• Japan’s decision to abandon nuclear power (which will contend for the top energy story of the year — regardless of how it plays out)
• ConocoPhillips’ successful methane hydrates drilling test in the Arctic, and whether that means that methane hydrates will soon be a viable energy option
• The likelihood that gasoline prices have indeed peaked (for now)

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I talk about the significance of China’s dominance of rare earth element production, and the conversion of pyrolysis oil into fuel.

The questions answered this week are:

1. Can you discuss the uses of ‘rare earth’ elements in the production of renewable energies (i.e., wind and solar)? Furthermore, can you comment on the supply of rare earth elements? I recently watched this video from Real Clear Energy. Is it accurate that China controls 97% of the current supplies? What implications does this have on growth of hybrid transportation, the wind and the solar industry in the USA?

2. I was watching your reports and was wondering your opinion about the feasibility of pyrolysis. I’ve seen a lot of companies advertising that they have take plastic or tires and produce 80+% and 45% pyrolysis oil respectively. Is that accurate? You also mention upgrading of pyrolysis oil, are there any companies out there who can do it on a commercially viable process? If so could you point me in the right direction?