Chief Scientist & Professor of Exploration Geoscience, Heriot-Watt University
Assistant Professor, Durham University
Chair of Urban & Regional Planning and Director of Canberra Urban & Regional Futures, University of Canberra, Visiting Professor, University of Warwick
Associate Professor in Biophysics, University of Pretoria
Production
Total abandons Iran stake: agencies
French oil and gas giant Total will purportedly “abide by the US sanctions” and abandon its investment in Iran. “When the US made the decision about the sanctions, Total [said] that they would abide by the sanctions,” a source reportedly said. The US imposed the first phase of sanctions on August 6, with the full […]
Transmission
EU backs Norway and Germany power link
The construction of an electricity link between Norway and Germany is being backed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) which has signed a €100-million financing agreement with TenneT, one of Europe’s major electricity transmission system operators. The European Commission said the 624km interconnector, 516km of which will go under the North Sea, would link Norway […]
Storage
Hydrogen key to unlocking wind potential: study
Hydrogen could harness the full potential of offshore wind in the North Sea, according to a study. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, although on Earth it is usually found with oxygen in water and other compounds. Once separated it could be the ideal energy carrier as the chemical element with the […]
Consumption
Germany defies pipeline critics
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany and into the European network seems to be on course despite opposition from the US, Ukraine and Poland. Donald Trump’s opposition to Nord Stream 2 is about trade and the belief that US liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales to Europe could rebalance trade ties that […]
Policy
German firms ditch Iran deals
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Telekom are cancelling projects in Iran after Donald Trump imposed sanctions which would bar them from doing business with the US. European oil and gas deals with Tehran appear to be increasingly vulnerable as EU attempts to stand up to US economic muscle appear to have failed. Fresh […]
Environment
EU limits toothless: activists
After exceeding their legal air pollution limits, 11 European Union member states have asked the European Commission to relax their emission limits. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is warning that Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain and the UK are attempting to use a loophole to dodge their […]
Industry
Yamal finishes second LNG train
The first load of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Yamal refinery’s second train is ready to leave the Sabetta installation, according to French oil and gas giant Total. Russia is trying to establish itself as a significant global player in the super-cooled gas market. The launch of the second LNG train to China follows […]
Opinion
Nuclear Energy and the Melting of Arctic Ice
Nuclear energy is both low carbon and reliable, making it a great tool to cut emissions and mitigate climate change. Yet there is limited effort to harness nuclear or to communicate its value to the public. Could nuclear, for example, help save the Arctic? Nuclear energy is very low carbon. This is not my opinion, […]
National Security Drives Energy Transitions, Part I
War Office official photographer, Horton (Capt) This article is the first part of a two-part analysis that examines how national security interests have hastened energy transitions in the past and might drive the current-day transition. Global belief that the world is transiting to cleaner energy sources stems from two assumptions. First, exciting new technologies has […]