Energy

Bloomberg European wind generation is forecast to increase, providing some relief to soaring power prices amid a scorching heat wave sweeping across Europe. German wind generation is expected to more than double from the peak to about 18,000 megawatts, according to a Bloomberg model. That’s still well below the 48,663-megawatt high recorded in February. Higher winds are also forecast in …

Bloomberg Germany produced a record amount of electricity from solar and is set to exceed that again on Tuesday as a heat wave grips Europe. About 38,174 megawatts were generated from solar panels and high levels are expected through Wednesday. A fresh record is possible on Tuesday, with a maximum 38,287 megawatts forecast. A brutal heat wave is moving into …

  Bloomberg European energy and utilities companies are racking up more debt to cover cost of soaring oil and gas prices. Their overall debt, which has been climbing since the pandemic, has swelled this year to more than 1.7 trillion euros ($1.7 trillion) — more than a 50% jump from before 2020. Most recently, Germany’s Uniper looks set to need …

Bloomberg Russia’s government has made a plan to create a national oil benchmark next year, as it seeks to protect itself from efforts by the West to restrict the flow of petrodollars to the country. Key ministries, domestic oil producers and the central bank plan to launch oil trading on a national platform in October, according to a document seen …

Bloomberg The European Union (EU) took a step towards accelerating its deployment of hydrogen across the bloc, by approving a 15-nation project to help produce the fuel seen as critical to decarbonising heavy industry. The EU’s executive gave the green light under state aid rules to an “Important Project of Common European Interest” that will help unlock around $9 billion …

  Bloomberg Chinese bureaucrats studying the energy outlook are proposing to end a near two-year ban on Australian coal as tensions begin to ease and on concerns supply may tighten when Western-led sanctions on Russian energy kick in. The proposal will be submitted to senior leaders, with a recommendation Beijing should resume Australian imports. That’s been prompted by fears European-led …

Bloomberg South Africa is considering more than doubling the amount private power producers can generate without requiring a license in a bid to reduce blackouts that are hobbling the economy. President Cyril Ramaphosa is racing to make an announcement as soon as Sunday, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter isn’t public. South Africa last year …

  Bloomberg China’s biggest oil company said its first-half profits jumped 50% to 60% from a year ago amid a surge in global energy prices. PetroChina Co.’s preliminary net income rose between 26.5 billion to 32 billion yuan ($3.9 billion to $4.7 billion) from last year, it said in an exchange filing. The company earned 53 billion yuan in the …

Bloomberg Electricite de France SA’s (EDF) nuclear-generation problems are not just a concern at home. They’re causing a headache for the UK too. Britain’s electricity system is facing a repeat of last winter, according to Fintan Slye, director of National Grid Plc’s network operator. That was when the buffer of spare generation capacity tightened, sending prices soaring. The warning is in …

Bloomberg The UK’s next prime minister is likely to have a weaker commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions than Boris Johnson. The outgoing British leader made cutting emissions a priority and sought leadership on the global stage by hosting the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November. But in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis caused by rising fuel and food …