On energydesk this morning
Controversy over government's next fracking license round
The FT (and Mail) reported this morning that the number of jobs created by fracking could be lower than the PM has claimed - according to a draft government study prepared as part of the government's consultation for the next round of oil and gas drilling rights.
We've got an info-graphic story on the draft study - which also includes new figures for truck movements -and an interactive map showing where DECC is considering for new oil and gas licenses - how does it overlap with the UK's prospective unconventional resources (quite a bit).
Top 3 other stories this morning...
1) German greens rule out coalition - renewable subsidies may change.
Germany's Greens ruled out any further coalition talks with Angela Merkel's conservatives, leaving the chancellor to focus on discussions with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in her efforts to form a new government. The move follows Merkel's success in watering down EU car emissions standards. It means Germany's Energiewende reforms, designed to promote renewable energy, are now far more likely to be watered down. The FT reports that according to it's calculations the total cost of funding renewable energy in Germany has now past 100bn euros.
2) US supreme court to hear challenge to Obama carbon rules
In a victory for parts of the American energy industry, the US Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will take up a host of lawsuits challenging the Obama administration's efforts to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants, oil refineries and other parts of the economy.
3) Shale gas explorers head to Scotland
The Times reports that Scotland will soon be added to the shale gas map after the British Geological Survey said that it would begin work to estimate the size of deposits between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The BGS said the Central Scottish Lowlands would become the third area under its microscope after the shale gas of the Bowland basin in Lancashire and the Tight oil of the Weald basin in Sussex.
In other news...
Yorkshire wind turbines torn down
The Mail reports on the delight of residents as four wind turbines, installed in the 1990s, are removed after 20 years.
Japan in gas/coal power building spree
Japan plans to start up 14 new gas and coal-fired power plants by the end of 2014, allowing a switch away from oil, as Tokyo struggles with a shutdown of nuclear reactors and energy imports drive a record trade deficit.
Russian foreign minister urges nations not to interfere in Greenpeace trial
External parties should refrain from interfering in Russia’s case against Greenpeace activists whom it has charged with piracy over a September protest on an Arctic oil rig, Russia’s foreign minister said Tuesday, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.
Statoil abandons US offshore wind project
Move comes after Republican Gov. Paul LePage's administration manoeuvred to reopen the competitive bidding process.
Wal-mart leads US solar investment
The largest retailer in the world also is the largest commercial solar-energy user in the U.S, reports Bloomberg. A report by the Solar Energy Industries Association said installations through the second quarter rose 40 percent from a year ago to 3,380 cumulative megawatts.
India facing "coal bubble"
A few short years ago the assumption that coal demand was essentially endless in China and India was seen as irrefutable. Now this 'coal consensus' is breaking as analysts from Citi Bank to Bernstein predict a rapidly approaching peak in Chinese coal demand. But while the end of the Chinese coal bubble has generated headlines the situation in India has flown entirely under the radar. Now the Indian coal bubble may have popped and no one seems to realize they're standing in the rubble, claims the Sierra Club's Justin Guay.
