China's GreenGen Positions Domestic Players, Technology for CCS
China is poised to become a key testing ground for carbon capture and sequestration technology. With a global race on to develop the first CCS project, China’s GreenGen IGCC plant is moving forward even as projects elsewhere face increased delays and setbacks. Foreign entrants such as BP and Peabody Energy are seizing opportunities to support local technology development as a way to establish a foothold in China.
Global Wind Energy
Investment in wind power is surging globally, rising from an $8 bn per year plateau from 2002-2004 to more than $18 bn annually on average for 2008-2010, with most of the growth in North America and Asia. The surge is testing the industry’s burgeoning supply chain.
Clean and Renewable Power Generation
Controlling carbon emissions is now a critical determinant in power generation build-out, along with fuel supplies, fuel price volatility, and security. Investments are shifting from traditional coal combustion and CCGT to renewables, IGCC, carbon capture, and perhaps next gen nuclear.
Biofuels, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
While a 'hydrogen economy' remains only a vision, resurgent fuel cell activity in a growing number of applications has helped the industry get back on track. At the same time substantial investments in biofuels are a first step toward reducing transport emissions and achieving energy independence.