Weather events have reduced our forecast of U.S. hydropower generation by 6% this year
Weather events in the U.S. Northwest this past spring and summer led to lower water supply, prompting us to reduce our forecast of U.S. hydropower generation by 6% this year compared with last year.
Southern California working natural gas storage increases with higher cap at Aliso Canyon
On August 31, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to increase working natural gas storage by 67% to 68.6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) at Aliso Canyon, which increased the Southern California Gas Company’s (SoCalGas) total working natural gas storage to about 120 Bcf. Aliso Canyon is California’s largest underground natural gas storage facility and is located northwest of Los Angeles. The CPUC approved the storage capacity increase at Aliso Canyon to avoid potential energy price increases and enhance reliability for the upcoming 2023–24 winter.
Tags: natural gas, storage, California, states, inventories/stocks
Kuwait's oil exports shift from crude oil to petroleum products
Kuwait’s oil exports are shifting from crude oil to refined petroleum products following the addition of new refining capacity, according to data in our recently updated Country Analysis Brief: Kuwait. In June and July 2023, Kuwait exported more than 1 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum products and liquified petroleum gas, the highest volume of products the country has exported. By contrast, crude oil exports averaged about 1.6 million b/d in June and July, down from an average of 1.8 million b/d in the same period of 2022.
OPEC+ production cuts drive up sour crude oil price around the world
Note: The figure is based on the five-day moving average of the price spread between Dated Brent and Dubai Fateh.
Crude oil production cuts among OPEC+ members are limiting the global supply of medium, sour and heavy, sour grades of crude oil. These cuts are increasing prices for these grades compared with sweet crude oils, reversing typical price relationships.
Ecuador has continued to expand use of hydroelectric power
Hydropower has played a key and growing role in Ecuador’s electricity mix by displacing fossil fuels and helping meet higher domestic electricity demand. In 2011, hydroelectric power accounted for 55% of the country’s electricity mix, and electricity from fossil fuels accounted for 43%. In 2021, hydropower produced 79% of Ecuador’s electricity, and fossil fuels produced less than 20%.
The United States surpassed two million on-road light-duty electric vehicles in 2021
In 2021, the number of U.S. registered light-duty electric vehicles (EV) on the roads reached 2.13 million vehicles, a sharp increase from the less than 100,000 EVs on the roads in 2012, according to our Monthly Energy Review.
Tags: vehicles, electricity, transportation
Changes in U.S. residential natural gas prices lag spot prices
Monthly average natural gas wholesale spot prices at the U.S. benchmark Henry Hub have been generally declining so far in 2023, but these relatively low prices do not immediately translate into lower retail prices for residential consumers. Changes in retail natural gas prices lag changes in wholesale natural gas prices, largely due to the nature of utility regulation. Over longer periods, changes in natural gas wholesale and retail prices are more closely correlated.
Tags: natural gas, residential, prices, Henry Hub, spot prices, wholesale prices
China imported record volumes of crude oil in the first half of 2023
Record volumes of crude oil were imported into China during the first half of 2023 because of refinery expansions in the country and initiatives to reopen the economy after the government eased COVID-19 mobility restrictions. China imported an average of 11.4 million barrels of crude oil per day (b/d) in the first half of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022’s annual average of 10.2 million b/d.
Tags: China, exports/imports, liquid fuels, crude oil, oil/petroleum
Energy use for transportation increased from pre-pandemic levels in 2021 in only 12 states
Use of energy for transportation remained low in the United States during 2021 compared with pre-pandemic levels and only increased in 12 states. Average U.S. transportation energy use decreased by 5% from 2019 to 2021, according to our State Energy Data System (SEDS). Although transportation energy use did increase in every state in 2021 compared with 2020, transportation in the majority of states still remained below 2019 pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
U.S. ethane production established a new record in April 2023
U.S. ethane production reached a new monthly record of 2.7 million barrels per day (b/d) in April 2023, continuing the upward trend that started in 2013, according to data from our Petroleum Supply Monthly. Increased natural gas and ethane production in the Permian Basin, which spans Texas and New Mexico, drove the national increase.
Tags: natural gas, ethane, production/supply