According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Mexico, South Korea and China are the biggest buyers of liquefied natural gas produced from U.S. shale gas. From February 2016 to December 2017, these three countries took nearly half of the total LNG volumes produced at Cheniere Energy’s Sabine liquefaction plant. Last year, U.S. LNG exports skyrocketed to 13.1 million tons from 3.1 million tons in 2016, which coincides with when Trains 3 and 4 started producing the chilled fuel at Sabine Pass. The Asia Oceania region absorbed the largest share—43 percent—of U.S. LNG volumes in 2017, although the South America and Mexico markets still accounted for 31 percent of U.S. LNG deliveries. Currently, four liquefaction trains, each producing 0.6 billion cubic feet per day, operate at Sabine Pass, with a fifth under construction and expected to enter service in mid-2019.
The Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, has recognized six honorees in the energy and utilities industry among the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies. A total of 135 companies spanning 23 countries and 57 industries were awarded this distinction, including NiSource Inc., the United Kingdom’s National Grid, Portugal’s EDP, Spain’s Iberdrola, Next Era Energy and AES.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced $12 million in early-stage research for natural gas engines and off-road fluid power systems. Of the funds, $4 million will support three new cost-shared research projects that are focused on medium- and heavy-duty, on-road natural gas engines. Another $3 million will support two new cost-shared research projects for advancing fluid power systems for off-road vehicles, and an additional $5 million is earmarked for early-stage research at several of the Department of Energy’s national laboratories. Overall, the goal is for the United States to increase its energy security by using low-cost natural gas as an alternative fuel for transporting goods.
In March, India imported its first-ever batch of U.S. liquefied natural gas via LNG exporter Cheniere Energy. The undertakings are part of a 20-year sale and purchase agreement with importer Gas Authority of India Ltd., one of New Delhi’s state-owned energy companies. In all, 3.5 million tons of LNG will be dispatched to India annually. Cheniere President and CEO Jack Fusco considers the shipment the start of “a long and productive relationship” between the two companies.
A modeling study conducted by the University of Waterloo has found that farm manure as a source of renewable energy could have a short payback period. The test model was an Ontario dairy farm, which collected manure and turned it into biogas, some of which was used to produce electricity by burning it in generators. To take it one step further, researchers want to use methanation to convert almost all of the manure’s energy potential and also efficiently store electricity, with only a fraction of the greenhouse gas impact of manure used as fertilizer. The modeling study found that an investment in a methanation system would, with government subsidies, have a five-year payback, further shoring up the case for RNG.
St. Louis-based Ameren Corp. has been recognized by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, an organization co-founded by the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as an honoree for the 80% by 2018 National Achievement Award. The award recognizes leadership in the ongoing efforts to fight colorectal cancer by increasing screening rates across the United States. In 2016, Ameren signed the 80% by 2018 pledge and began partnering with the American Cancer Society to encourage colorectal cancer screening and awareness among workers via targeted mailings, health fairs, its newsletter and digital message boards. Consequently, screening rates at Ameren have increased from 58 percent to 72 percent over two years.
After this winter’s dangerously cold temperatures in the Northeast, Con Edison and New York-based energy technology company Sealed are offering a new program to help homeowners winterize their homes and use less energy. The program, called HomeAdvance, allows qualified Con Edison residential customers to receive up to $6,500 for home comfort upgrades—including insulation, Wi-Fi-enabled LED lighting and smart thermostats. The improvements reduce a home’s energy usage, and the work is guaranteed to pay for itself with the money saved on energy bills. “With the HomeAdvance program, we’re giving customers a head start on upgrades to help them stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer while using less energy,” said Vicki Kuo, director of energy efficiency for Con Edison.
Columbia, South Carolina-based Dominion Energy Carolina Gas Transmission has completed its Charleston Project, deemed the largest expansion in the company’s history. Serving customers in Charleston, Dillon, Lexington and Marlboro counties, the natural gas pipeline delivers 80,000 dekatherms per day to customers, which is enough natural gas to serve about 73,000 households on a typical winter day. Approximately 94 percent of the pipeline’s capacity serves South Carolina Electric & Gas customers, with the remaining capacity serving other businesses statewide. Construction on the $119.3 million project began in spring 2017.
PwC recently released its 21st CEO Survey, evaluating what is on the minds of nearly 1,300 CEOs from around the globe. Seventy-five oil and gas CEOs were surveyed, and their responses highlighted several trends. As world economies grow, oil and gas CEOs are signaling an end to retrenchment, and 83 percent say that organic growth will drive their companies’ growth or profitability. Strategic alliances have emerged as an important lever, with 60 percent of the CEOs expressing that strategic alliances will be critical in delivering growth, compared with 39 percent who say mergers and acquisitions will stimulate growth. While digital transformation promises to reshape all elements of the operating model, including the back office, supply chain, strategy, processes and culture, 67 percent of oil and gas CEOs see an opportunity to boost the availability of digital skills in their workforce.
Portland, Oregon, has opened its first compressed natural gas fueling station at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The station, which is being built and operated in partnership with NW Natural, will fuel newly converted natural gas vehicles in the city’s fleet. It’s part of a larger “Poop to Power” project underway to reduce waste and displace diesel in heavy-duty trucks. When complete in 2019, nearly 100 percent of the waste methane from sewage treatment will be recovered and conditioned into market-grade renewable natural gas. This RNG will be distributed to buyers via a NW Natural pipeline and will also replace CNG from conventional sources for truck fueling on-site.