Commentary Series
POST-CONFLICT ENERGY PLANNING IN THE MIDDLE EAST October 18, 2019
POST-CONFLICT ENERGY PLANNING IN THE MIDDLE EAST
We examine the primary policy constraints that affect post-conflict energy planning in the Middle East region. The focus countries are Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya. We also highlight the role of renewable energy projects in promoting sustainable energy planning post-conflict. October 18, 2019.
LATIN AMERICA’S DIVERSE LITHIUM OPPORTUNITY AND LITHIUM IN A BATTERY September 30, 2019
LATIN AMERICA’S DIVERSE LITHIUM OPPORTUNITY AND LITHIUM IN A BATTERY
A two part series discussing lithium and how it can be processed into a pure metallic state, its application and uses in the growing battery market are as chemical compounds. Lithium production is relatively scarce and complex. The lithium market is growing exponentially but is marked by volatility in the short term. September 30, 2019.
Part 1 – Latin America’s Diverse Lithium Opportunity and a Sustainable Energy Future
Part 2 – Lithium in a Battery
Parte 1 – Las Diversas Oportunidades para el Litio en Latinomérica y un Futuro Energético Sustentable
Parte 2 – El Litio en una Batería
INVESTING IN RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS June 1, 2019
INVESTING IN RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Both the public and the private sectors face challenges accessing capital and financing for climate
resilience projects, as well as justifying the upfront costs by Jamal Saghir. June 2019.
THE GOLD RUSH IN VENEZUELA COULD DESTABILIZE LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN May 1, 2019
THE GOLD RUSH IN VENEZUELA COULD DESTABILIZE LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
David Soud writes regarding Venezuela and the illegal gold mining that has become big criminal business, and now poses a major security risk to that troubled country’s neighbors. As Venezuela slides toward possible collapse, gold has replaced the country’s world-leading oil reserves as a means to prop up the nearly bankrupt Maduro regime. May 2019.
MOVING TO ZERO ROUTINE GAS FLARING IN COLORADO May 1, 2019
MOVING TO ZERO ROUTINE GAS FLARING IN COLORADO
In 2015, the World Bank launched an initiative to help move oil and gas producers across the world to “Zero Routine Flaring” by 2030 by Bjorn Hamso. May 2019.
URBAN RESILIENCE: THE CASE OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION April 1, 2019
URBAN RESILIENCE: THE CASE OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION
As the World becomes predominantly urban, cities are increasingly emerging as the center field where the main challenges for sustainable development and growth must be tackled. April 2019.
GLOBAL COMMODITY AND TRADE FLOWS THREATENED BY MENA POWER PROJECTIONS March 1, 2019
GLOBAL COMMODITY AND TRADE FLOWS THREATENED BY MENA POWER PROJECTIONS
International geopolitical discourse lately has been looking at the growing impact of China’s One Belt One Road initiative in Asia, Middle East and Europe. Mainstream media has extensively assessed the influence of China’s economic power projections in the targeted regions, with specific focus on the financial power of Beijing to change alliances and regional constellations. March 2019.
SCALING UP ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN EMERGING MARKETS: GLOBAL EXPERIENCES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES February 1, 2019
SCALING UP ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN EMERGING MARKETS: GLOBAL EXPERIENCES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
As developing economies will play an increasingly critical role in driving global economic growth, their lack of established sound policy frameworks and mechanisms to reduce energy intensity risk negating any progress that has been made to shift the global economy to a cleaner and more efficient energy system. February, 2019.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION January 1, 2019
CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION
The linear economy has negative impacts on the economy and environment as it relies on a continuous supply of virgin resources, omitting the utilization of the value in waste products and the synergies between the different sectors and stages of the economy. January 2019.
SIMPLE PAYBACK – THE DEATH OF MOST COST EFFECTIVE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS October 1, 2018
PROPOSITION 112 IMPACTS ON COLORADO
Proposition 112 is a critical change in how oil and gas is regulated in Colorado, and many claims are being made about the impact. October 2018.
SIMPLE PAYBACK – THE DEATH OF MOST COST EFFECTIVE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS October 1, 2018
SIMPLE PAYBACK – THE DEATH OF MOST COST EFFECTIVE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS
In our personal lives, we tend to use reasonably sophisticated decisionmaking criteria, such as return-on-investment (ROI), to make retirement investment decisions. However, at work many of us seem to default to simple payback as the primary decision-making
method for clean energy investments, including energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration projects. October 2018.
SUSTAINABLE FLOOD PREDICTION AND MITIGATION October 1, 2018
SUSTAINABLE FLOOD PREDICTION AND MITIGATION
Floods pose a major impact on society by loss of life, livelihood, infrastructure, agricultural lands, and water quality. October 2018.
COLORADO OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT AND A POLITICALLY-CHARGED BALLOT PROPOSITION October 1, 2018
COLORADO OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT AND A POLITICALLY-CHARGED BALLOT PROPOSITION
Politics are local, so good policy must be deeply rooted in local context, be precisely written, acknowledge the need to be flexible or adaptable over time, and have a realistic chance of meeting its objectives. October 2018.
THE EVOLVING ROLES AND STRUCTURES OF UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTES October 1, 2018
THE EVOLVING ROLES AND STRUCTURES OF UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTES
This is a Working Paper that we hope will elicit comments and suggestions that will be used to refine and augment the work. Its principal impetus was to better understand the landscape of university-affiliated energy and environment institutes to inform the development of the nascent Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines. October 2018.
A NOTE ON THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSITION 112 October 1, 2018
A NOTE ON THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSITION 112
Colorado Proposition 112 proposes to prohibit oil and gas drilling within 2500 feet of homes, schools, or other “occupied structures” or “vulnerable areas”. October 2018.
THE FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS: A TALE OF TWO WORLDS October 1, 2018
THE FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS: A TALE OF TWO WORLDS
While shale gas has “revolutionized” the energy sector in the United States, and is starting to have an impact on global LNG trade, the picture is very different in other parts of the world. October 2018.
A GUIDE TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COMPLEXITY OF FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORMS September 1, 2018
A GUIDE TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COMPLEXITY OF FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORMS
Explores the complex economics and politics of fossil fuel subsidies, and distils key principles for designing and implementing of effective reforms. September 2018.
FLORENCE AFTERMATH September 1, 2018
FLORENCE AFTERMATH
The U.S. DOE is regularly issues status reports about the impact of Hurricane Florence on the energy sector. They outline six steps for addressing power outages ranging from generating plants, to transmission, to essential services and homes. September 2018.
INDIA’S SOLAR IMPORT DUTIES ARE SLOWING DOWN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION September 1, 2018
INDIA’S SOLAR IMPORT DUTIES ARE SLOWING DOWN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government aims to install 227 gigawatts of renewable power generation capacity by 2022. Accounting for one-half of the targeted capacity, solar power plays a key role in these plans. September 2018.
IMO 2020: ECONOMICS PROSPECTS August 1, 2018
IMO 2020: ECONOMICS PROSPECTS
With the IMO 2020 rule’s imposition, diesel fuel prices could skyrocket, and the 2020 GDP loss might be as much as seven percent. August 2018.
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY August 2018
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY
For ten days starting July 25, Saudi Aramco suspended all oil shipments through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints, after two Saudi oil tankers were attacked off the coast of Yemen. One of the ships was lightly damaged but no one was injured. The incident marked at least the fifth time this year that an oil tanker has been targeted by Houthi militants backed by Iran. Over the last three years, the Houthis have deployed mines, anti-ship cruise missiles, explosive drone skiffs, and their own attack boats. August 2018.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS August 2018
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in September 2015. They significantly broaden the areas covered by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and give an official recognition of the central role of energy as an enabler for development. August 2018.
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY August 2018
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY
Rising Tensions Threaten Middle East Oil Chokepoints: Background and Policy Options. August 2018
TAXATION AND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN PETROLEUM 6.9.2018
TAXATION AND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN PETROLEUM
When governments apply high tax rates targeted at natural resource rent, there must be generous deductions in order to avoid investment disincentives. How generous is disputed. Based on standard theory and recommendations from the OECD and the IMF, the value of future deductions depends on the risks of these, and the companies’ after-tax weighted-average cost of capital cannot be applied directly. June 9, 2018.
EIRIK WÆRNESS NAMED PAYNE INSTITUTE FELLOW June 2018
EIRIK WÆRNESS NAMED PAYNE INSTITUTE FELLOW
The Payne Institute is pleased to welcome Eirik Wærnes as its newest non-resident fellow. Wærnes is senior vice president and chief economist at Equinor, a group responsible for macroeconomics, energy and commodity market analyses. June 2018.
The Payne Institute experts are regional, national, and international leaders in applied research in natural resources, energy, and the environment. Our team is involved in a wide variety of research projects in these fields, and are committed to sharing these results with academic and professional audiences.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, viewpoints, or official policies of the Payne Institute or Colorado School of Mines.
