Today in Energy
U.S. coal exports set monthly record
Coal exports from the United States in March 2013 totaled 13.6 million short tons, nearly 0.9 million short tons above the previous monthly export peak in June 2012. EIA is projecting a third straight year of more than 100 million short tons of coal exports in 2013, following annual exports in 2011 of 107.3 million short tons and record annual exports in 2012 of 125.7 million short tons.
tags: coal , exports , international
Apartments in buildings with 5 or more units use less energy than other home types
Thirty percent of new home starts in 2012 were in apartment buildings with five or more units, the highest percentage since 1986 and up sharply from 18% in 2009 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About 17% of households (19 million) lived in apartment buildings with five or more units in 2009, up from 13% (11 million) in 1980, but they only accounted for 9% of home energy use in both years. Over the same period, single-family homes maintained a steady share of total households, but their share of total home energy use went up. Apartments in smaller buildings have declined as a share of both households and energy use, and mobile homes remain a small segment of the residential sector.
tags: consumption , efficiency , residential
Middle East leads global crude oil and condensate production; growth in North America
Note: Crude oil production includes lease condensate.
Growth in North American crude oil production (including lease condensate) contributed to record global production of 75.6 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2012 (see animated map). In 2012, global production increased by 2%, as production rebounded in Africa and Asia and accelerated in North America. The Middle East produced 24.1 million bbl/d of crude oil in 2012, the most of any region. Historically, most of the production growth has been in the Middle East. A previous article examined regional production trends between 1980 and 2010; today's article extends that analysis through 2012.
tags: animation , international , liquid fuels , oil/petroleum
U.S. crude oil production could reach 10 million barrels per day by 2040
Projected crude oil production in the United States ranges from 6 to 8 million barrels per day (bbl/d) over the next 30 years in the Annual Energy Outlook 2013 (AEO2013) Reference case projection. However, under greater supply assumptions, crude oil production is sustained at a higher level of about 10 million bbl/d between 2020 and 2040 (see chart above).
What caused the run-up in ethanol RIN prices during early 2013?
Note: January 2, 2013 = American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 and $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit becomes law.
Note: February 28, 2013 = Deadline for obligated refiners and importers to submit 2012 compliance demonstration reports.
Republished June 13 at 1:13 to clarify content.
Before 2013, Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices for corn ethanol, which can be used to meet only the overall target for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, had consistently ranged between $0.01 per gallon to $0.05 per gallon, and were substantially lower than biodiesel RIN prices, which can meet multiple targets. At the start of 2013, corn ethanol RIN prices began to increase sharply, reaching highs around $1.00 per gallon in early March and for the first time approached levels similar to biodiesel RIN prices.
Federal Power Marketing Administrations operate across much of the United States
Notes: "Corps" is the Army Corps of Engineers; "Reclamation" is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; and "IBWC" is the International Boundary and Water Commission. The Power Market Administrations (PMAs) shown include the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), and the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA). Click map to enlarge.
Four federal Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) operate electric systems and sell the electrical output of federally owned and operated hydroelectric dams in 33 states. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), and the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) marketed 42% of the nation's hydroelectricity in 2012, representing 7% of total generation in the United States.
tags: electricity , generation , hydroelectric , transmission
EIA’s 2013 Energy Conference next week will look at U.S. and global energy challenges
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2013 Energy Conference, which will be held June 17-18 in Washington, DC, will bring together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss energy challenges facing domestic and international energy markets.
tags: coal , consumption , electricity , international , natural gas , nuclear , oil/petroleum , transportation
Shale oil and shale gas resources are globally abundant
Note: Click to enlarge.
Republished June 14 at 10:56 to correct an error in Table 2.
Estimated shale oil and shale gas resources in the United States and in 137 shale formations in 41 other countries represent 10% of the world's crude oil and 32% of the world's natural gas technically recoverable resources, or those that can be produced using current technology without reference to economic profitability, according to a new EIA-sponsored study (see Table 1) released today (June 10, 2013).
tags: international , liquid fuels , natural gas , oil/petroleum , production , shale
New generators help California meet summer challenges to electric reliability
Note: Capacity values are derated, or adjusted, for resource constraints typical of summer weather patterns. This includes derates for intermittent resources like hydroelectric, wind, and solar capacity.
Update: Shortly after this article was published, Southern California Edison, the principal plant owner and operator, announced its plan to permanently retire both units at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
Southern California's electric power system is facing a number of challenges heading into the summer peak demand season, largely because of the prolonged outage of the two units at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), which have been offline since January 2012. A combination of recent capacity additions and electric system upgrades made since June 2012 will help meet peak electric demand this summer.
tags: California , capacity , electricity , generation , natural gas , nuclear , transmission
Electricity reliability report released; Texas and California raise concerns for summer
Anticipated reserves of electric capacity—anticipated supply above expected demand—are expected to be below targeted levels in Texas this summer as they were last summer. California's overall reserve picture has improved, but reserves may be a concern under extreme weather and adverse supply conditions this summer. These are some of the takeaways from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) 2013 Summer Short-Term Reliability Assessment issued on May 15, 2013.
tags: California , demand , electricity , generation , reserves , Texas
View Archive ›
Archive
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011