Energy/Automotive News to 06 October 2023: Oil Price Drops Below $83 as Demand Slows
London, 6 October, 2023, (Oilandgaspress): – WTI for November delivery dropped $1.91 to settle at $82.31 a barrel in New York. Brent for December settlement fell $1.74 to settle at $84.07 a barrel. The Worldwide Rig Count for September was 1,760, down 28 from the 1,788 counted in August 2023, and down 93, from the 1,853 counted in September 2022.
US-China collaboration has created the cheapest and fastest way to purify seawater yet discovered by science.
The prototype of the passive solar-powered desalination tool can produce 4-6 liters of clean water per hour, and the designers believe a scaled-up version could sustain a coastal household in sunny climes year-round. For as much as natural resource managers, city planners, and climate activists warn about droughts becoming more severe in the future, the solution has always been staring us in the face. Only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh, an amount that, along with technology, has already enabled the human race to reach nearly 8 billion members. By contrast, 68% of the Earth’s surface, and 97% of its water, is undrinkable.
Seeking to exploit that unending reservoir of potential, a team from MIT and Shanghai Jiao Tong University developed a desalination still about the size of a briefcase that utilizes “thermohaline” circulation similar to the ocean itself. Thermohaline circulation is described by NASA as the “Great Ocean Conveyor Belt” and occurs when water in the polar regions becomes more saline due to evaporation and sea ice melt. Read More
Batteries Europe, the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Batteries, and Battery 2030+, the large scale and long-term European research initiative for batteries, have officially released their highly anticipated Research and Innovation (R&I) Roadmaps.
These Roadmaps, published by Batteries Europe and Battery 2030+, are set to be a cornerstone in advancing the European battery sector. They provide invaluable guidance on the path we must take to fulfil our commitment to establishing a competitive battery value chain within Europe. The two teams teams have diligently crafted these Roadmaps to serve as a strategic blueprint for the industry. They outline key directions, technological milestones, and critical areas of focus that will drive innovation and sustainability across the battery sector. As we embark on this journey, we envision a cleaner environment, reduced carbon emissions, and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities in Europe’s burgeoning battery industry. This joint release marks a significant milestone in the European battery R&I community collective efforts to transform the landscape of energy storage in Europe and beyond. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and invite you to explore these Roadmaps to learn more about the exciting future of the battery industry. Read More
ADNOC is to trial the use of repurposed electric vehicle batteries to decarbonize its remote production operations and reduce costs. The pilot, run in partnership with German startup Power I.D., will see electric vehicle batteries deployed that would have otherwise been disposed of and assembled into a large-scale Battery Energy Storage System. The system, which will be built in the United Arab Emirates, can hold up to two megawatts (MW) of power within a single 20-foot storage container. Each container will be mobile, allowing for deployment to remote sites. The Battery Energy Storage System will reduce reliance on diesel generators to power remote drilling rigs. It is estimated the system will cut the carbon emissions of remote drilling rigs by up to 25% and reduce their energy expenditure by 50%. To support the long-term development and deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems, ADNOC has established the UAE’s first Battery Center of Excellence. Located at the ADNOC Research and Innovation Center (ADRIC), it will spearhead research into promising new cell technologies and future battery energy systems. Read More
ADNOC announced 10 finalists for its global Decarbonization Technology Challenge, launched at the UAE Climate Tech forum in May, to find innovators and pioneering climate technology companies that will reshape the global energy landscape. The companies have been selected from 650 entries from across 50 countries.
The shortlisted companies specialize in a range of innovations spanning carbon capture, AI, hydrogen, renewables, batteries and nature-based solutions. The finalists are: Read More
General Motors Co. and its dealers delivered 674,336 vehicles in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2023, up 21% year-over-year.
Strong customer demand for GM’s portfolio of trucks and SUVs drove sales growth across all its brands in the third quarter. GM’s total sales are up 19% for the calendar year.Cadillac sales up 6%
- 16 consecutive months of year-over-year sales growth,and best third quarter and year-to-date sales since 2019
- CT5 up 47% with best-ever third quarter and year-to-date sales, and V-Series Blackwing up 24%
- Escalade up 8%, best year-to-date sales since 2007 and segment leader Read More
Iraq will ban cash withdrawals and transactions in U.S dollars as of Jan. 1 2024 in the latest push to curb the misuse of its hard currency reserves in financial crimes and the evasion of U.S. sanctions on Iran, a top Iraqi central bank official said.
The move aims to stamp out the illicit use of some 50% of the $10 billion that Iraq imports in cash from the New York Federal Reserve each year, Mazen Ahmed, director-general of investment and remittances at the Iraqi central bank (CBI), told Reuters. Read full article
DS Automobiles is accelerating its energy transition. Since its launch, DS Automobiles has put electrification at the heart of its strategy with a 100% electrified range sold since 2019. Courtesy of the 100% electric DS 3 E-TENSE along with DS 4 E-TENSE, DS 7 E-TENSE and DS 9 E-TENSE plug-in hybrids with 225 to 360 horsepower, all DS models are being offered with electrified drivetrains, representing nearly 50% of European sales volume in the first half of 2023.
At the forefront of innovation, the Brand is accelerating and becoming 100% electric, while continuing its Formula E involvement. From 2024, DS Automobiles will expand its offering by selling a 100% electric version of DS 4, then revealing a new design, ushering in the first 100% electric project based on the Stellantis STLA M global platform. Fitted with a high-capacity battery of up to 98 kWh for a range of more than 700 kilometres, this future model will offer extraordinary technology and refinement, with technical features adapted perfectly to the wishes of DS Automobiles customers. Development is being finalised in France.
The Melfi plant in Italy will produce this new 100% electric design. Opened in the 1990s, it is based in the Basilicata region, between Naples and Bari. A second DS Automobiles model will be taking advantage of the Melfi plant’s expertise at a later date. Read full article
The industry group representing international oil companies (IOCs) in Iraqi Kurdistan has said that its member companies won’t be able to produce oil for pipeline exports until there is clarity on how IOCs will be paid for past and future oil sales, as they are currently owed nearly $1 billion in unpaid arrears.
While welcoming this week’s statement from the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources that the Iraq-Turkiye pipeline (ITP) is ready to resume operations, a statement from APIKUR added that the production sharing contracts (PSCs) are governed by English law, with dispute resolution through international arbitration at the London Court of International Arbitration. Read full article
HYVIA, a pioneer ecosystem for hydrogen mobility in Europe: today for tomorrow
From 2 to 12 October 2023, HYVIA will bring together a hundred players committed to hydrogen mobility to take stock of its H2 ecosystem developed for more than 2 years: a bold path for pioneers in a hydrogen sector that is still in its development stage.
A pioneer in hydrogen mobility since its creation in 2021, HYVIA relies on its two founding groups: Renault Group, at the forefront of automotive mobility that is reinventing itself, and Plug, an expert in hydrogen solutions for more than 20 years.
With these two areas of expertise, HYVIA has been able to deploy a complete and unique H2 ecosystem: hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles, refueling, maintenance and financing solutions for professionals as well as the production of fuel cells or low-carbon hydrogen by electrolysis.
Integrated into the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) “Hy2Tech”, HYVIA relies on a team of 130 pioneers who have initiated a commercial, after-sales, engineering, and industrial dynamic, with solid partners and a network with all the players in the H2 sector, including Hydrogen Europe and France Hydrogen.
Pioneering customers have already embarked with HYVIA on the path of H2 mobility, such as: Orange, Engie, Equans, Chronopost or Alpine in France / GP Groot, Warmtebouw, Pot Verhuizingen in the Netherlands / Airbus, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, Packeta, Maximator Hydrogen GmbH in Germany.
HYVIA is announcing a new partnership with Atawey, a leading player in hydrogen refuelling stations, to create a new offering: HYWELL™. Read full article
Together with leading kiteboarding manufacturer Duotone, Porsche is launching a new kite and a board. The limited special edition is an homage to the legendary Porsche 917/20 racing car in the unforgettable “Pink Pig” design.Now the partners’ latest joint project has been unveiled in Tarifa, Spain. It took its inspiration from one of the most iconic designs of Porsche motor racing history: the 917/20, better known as the “Pink Pig” or “Big Bertha”. It holds a special place in the pantheon of 917 versions. In a nod to the top speed of the car that raced at Le Mans in 1971, the special edition is limited to 360 units. Read More
Hyundai Motor North America announced that it is adopting North American Charging Standard (NACS) ports for its electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States and Canada. In the United States, all-new or refreshed Hyundai EVs will come exclusively with a NACS port, beginning in Q4 2024. Canada will follow in the first half of 2025. Hyundai EVs with NACS ports will gain access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This will double the size of the DC fast charging network available to Hyundai EV customers. Owners of existing and future Hyundai EVs with the current CCS will have access to the Tesla Supercharging Network starting in Q1 2025. Hyundai will offer an adapter to these customers. Hyundai will also make adapters available to charge NACS-equipped vehicles at CCS chargers. Read More
In conjunction with Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC), The Driving Force (TDF) and the Black Automotive Media Group (BAMG), Hyundai Motor America announced a sponsorship of a 10-week fall semester internship at FAMU designed for journalism students interested in the automobile industry.
“BAMG’s collaboration with FAMU creates new career pathways for FAMU students,” said Kimatni D. Rawlins, BAMG founder and publisher of Automotive Rhythms Communications. “Data from the U.S. Census predicts minorities will be the ‘Future Majority’ by 2045. What will the landscape of professional employment look like at that time? Through TDF’s internship, we can help prepare students of color and supporting automobile manufacturers for the rapidly changing demographic profile of the United States.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity to instill mobility training into the educational backgrounds of HBCU students seeking entry into the automotive world,” said Randy Parker, CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “Hyundai is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the automotive industry, and we value the collaboration with FAMU on this internship program.” The Driving Force internship exposes interns to a broad spectrum of potential careers within the automotive industry. Written vehicle evaluations, video content creation, including hosting for traditional and social media platforms, and video advertising projects are among the core segments the curriculum will cover. Sessions will be augmented by presentations that showcase additional career opportunities within the corporate hierarchy of Hyundai, as an example of the complex inner workings of a major automobile manufacturer. Read More
Hyundai Motor Company was recently named the winner of Autoweek’s inaugural 2023 Vanguard Awards in the Company category. Hyundai was chosen for its unwavering commitment to the future of carbon-free mobility and for developing a carbon-neutral cradle-to-grave vehicle lifecycle. The Vanguard Award recognizes the company’s ability to produce award-winning EVs while simultaneously developing clean hydrogen, using solar and wind energy to power its advanced fuel-cell program. These initiatives are key parts of Hyundai Motor Company’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. Read More
Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announced its campaign to promote the South Korean city of Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo by displaying specially designed art cars in Paris, France, where the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is headquartered.
The campaign continues the Group’s global support for Busan’s bid, this time for the Busan Expo Symposium and K-Pop concert in Paris from October 9–15. To emphasize Busan’s commitment to hosting a carbon-neutral World Expo, the Group is providing the Korean delegation with 10 art cars, including two all-electric models, Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5 and the Kia EV6. The art cars are wrapped with a colorful graffiti design featuring iconic Busan imagery, such as seagulls, ocean waves and the Gwangan Bridge, as well as the slogan ‘Busan is Ready.’ They were created in collaboration with leading Korean graffiti artist ‘JAY FLOW.’
During the campaign in Paris, the art cars will be exhibited around the famous locations in Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum. The campaign will help strengthen Busan’s appeal as a candidate city for the 2030 World Expo to key officials from BIE member countries and tourists from around the world. Read More
With its new front seats, the ID.7 sets new standards in the upper mid-sized class. In addition to this unique pelvic activation function, the new ergoActive premium seats also offer pneumatic pressure point massage. This helps to relax and activate the back muscles. Two rows of five air cushions are used to achieve this. Specific programme sequences, lasting between 10 and 30 minutes, enable the massage function to be tailored to the user’s needs. Electric 12-way seat adjustment and manual two-way seat depth adjustment with thigh support help front seat occupants to find their own preferred seat positions. A memory function also means positions can be saved.Functions are easy to control. A number of options are available for operating the ergoActive premium seats: the adjustment functions can be controlled directly using buttons on the seat. In addition, the infotainment system display can be used to access the programmes for the ergoActive premium seats. In the second row of seats in the ID.7, there are three settings for heating the seat cushions and backrests. This function is operated using buttons in the centre console. Read More
Bentley Brussels, Knokke and Antwerp will showcase one of the final vehicles to be fitted with the luxury British automotive brand’s legendary W12 engine at the Zoute Grand Prix, a week-long series of exclusive automotive activities held on the Belgian Riviera.
The full Bentley range will be displayed at the Prado, a Bentayta EWB, a Continental GTC as well as a Flying Spur Speed Edition 12. The Flying Spur Speed Edition 12 is one of the only 120 examples to be built, a supremely powerful sedan that pays homage to Bentley’s 6.0-litre W12 unit, which is due to end production in 2024 and ordering in a few weeks in Europe.
The W12 engine ensures the Flying Spur Speed 12 is one of the fastest, four-door sedans in the world. Capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 333 km/h, the phenomenal W12 also produces 659 PS and 900 Nm of torque. First introduced in the original Continental GT in 2003, the engine has since become an icon of Bentley’s DNA. A genuine collector’s car, the Flying Spur Speed 12 Edition is also afforded a range of unique commemorative features. The dashboard fascia displays a visual representation of the W12’s firing sequence, while every owner will receive a scale model of the engine, handcrafted from a genuine recycled W12 block and housed in a special presentation case. A full-size example of a W12 engine itself will be on show alongside the Flying Spur Speed Edition 12.
Bentley will also showcase the Bentayga EWB First Edition V8, in eye-catching Pale Brodgar over Brodgar two-tone paintwork. Inside, the luxurious SUV features a colour split interior of Portland and Burnt Oak hide, with Dark Stained Burr Walnut veneer. Read More
| Oil and Gas Blends | Units | Oil Price US$/bbl | Change |
| Crude Oil (WTI) | USD/bbl | $82.51 | Down |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | USD/bbl | $84.23 | Down |
| Bonny Light | USD/bbl | $87.90 | Down |
| Saharan Blend | USD/bbl | $88.56 | Down |
| Natural Gas | USD/MMBtu | $3.22 | Up |
| OPEC basket 05/10/23 | USD/bbl | $88.51 | Down |
CALTY Design Research, the American outpost of Toyota’s global design network, is celebrating five decades of groundbreaking design and innovation. The first major automotive design studio on the west coast, CALTY created everything from the 1978 Toyota Celica to the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, and countless concepts and production vehicles in between. Today marks a glimpse into the future with the surprise reveal of the Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser (BLC) concept. Built to conquer rugged terrain on Earth and beyond, BLC embodies a unique mix of adaptive technology and heritage design cues from the original FJ40 Land Cruiser. The BLC is the latest in a long line of thought-provoking concepts dreamed up by the CALTY design team. Some of those concepts – like an early FJ40 proposal and the MX-2 sports car concept – never made it past the walls of the design studio but are being shared for the first time today. Read More
The United Arab Emirates has launched its first wind project of commercial size, making use of technology to exploit low wind speeds, as it pushes to boost renewables before hosting the COP 28 climate summit next month.
The 103.5-megawatt project run by renewable energy firm Masdar is set to power more than 23,000 homes a year, the firm said, spanning four locations. “This project … will help displace around 120,000 tons of CO2 – carbon footprint – annually,” said Mohammad Abdelqader El-Ramahi, Masdar’s chief green hydrogen officer. (Reuters) Read More
International Rig Count is down 12 rigs from last month to 940 with land rigs down 1 to 716, offshore rigs down 11 to 224.
U.S. Rig Count is down 7 from last week to 623 with oil rigs down 5 to 502, gas rigs down 2 to 116 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 5.
Canada Rig Count is up 1 from last week to 191, with oil rigs unchanged at 115 gas rigs up 1 to 76.
| Region | Period | Rig Count | Change |
| U.S.A | 29 September 2023 | 623 | -7 |
| Canada | 29 September 2023 | 191 | +1 |
| International | September 2023 | 940 | -12 |
drilling operations on a given well
Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC), the oil & gas industry executive arm of the Emirate, working under the auspices of the Petroleum Council of Sharjah, and Emerge, the joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, have concluded a Solar Power Agreement, during ADIPEC’s business conferences. This important step is regarded as a major landmark for SNOC towards achieving its own de-carbonization and Net-Zero target for 2032, as well as contributing to the UAE Net-Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. According to the provisions of the signed agreements, SNOC and Emerge will develop solar PV solutions at SNOC’s Sajaa Gas Complex which will supply power to SNOC’s operations, as well as being connected to the main power grid. The excess solar power will be taken by SEWA, while SEWA will provide the required power for SNOC operations during the night. It is expected that the total power produced by the solar plant will significantly exceed SNOC’s current power demand, which will allow SNOC to convert more of its gas-powered units to electrical drives in the near future, resulting in significant reductions to SNOC’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Solar Power Project is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. The expected capacity of the new solar plant will be 60 MWp. The technical and operational parameters have been developed according to international standards and in full compliance with SEWA’s regulations regarding technical security and reliability of the electrical transmission and distribution grid systems. As regards the contractual relationship, these will be on a BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) basis, for a period of 25 years. Read More
UK new car market grew 21.0% in September with 272,610 registrations in the month, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The 14th consecutive month of growth was also the second busiest of the year after March, with the new number plate delivering its traditional market surge despite a challenging economic backdrop.Growth continued to be driven by large fleets, which rose 40.8% to 143,256 units to reach a market share of 52.5%. This represents a market rebalancing after constrained supply in 2022 restricted deliveries to business and fleet customers. Private consumer demand, meanwhile, also grew, up 5.8% to 122,944 units. As a result, the industry enjoyed its best September since 2020,1 although registrations remain -20.6% below pre-pandemic levels.2 Electrified vehicle uptake continued to grow in the month, with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) up 50.9% to take a 6.8% market share and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) up 30.7% to account for 13.9% of all registrations. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), meanwhile, recorded their 41st consecutive month of growth – with 45,323 drivers making the switch, an 18.9% uplift. Given this growth was less than the overall recorded by the market, however, BEV market share slipped back slightly to 16.6% from 16.9% a year ago. BEV volume increases were driven entirely by fleet purchases, which rose by 50.6% as buyers were drawn to the advanced technology, outstanding performance, reduced environmental impact and compelling tax incentives. Conversely, private BEV registrations fell -14.3% with less than one in 10 private new car buyers opting for electric during the month. Read More
Neste, ISCC and DHL Group joined forces to pioneer and test a system through which airlines, logistics service providers and end customers such as corporates can credibly report the emission reduction achieved by using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to reduce their carbon footprint from air travel and transport.
As part of this collaboration the companies piloted the ISCC Credit Transfer System, developed by ISCC, an independent, multi-stakeholder driven non-profit organization with a long history in supply chain certification. In the ISCC Credit Transfer System, SAF use and related sustainability benefits, namely greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, are tracked and transferred via a registry operated by ISCC. This newly developed system provides full traceability of SAF transactions and related sustainability benefits. This ensures that companies purchasing SAF and airlines using the fuel, are able to credibly and transparently claim emission reductions and use them towards their climate targets, while reducing the risk of incorrect sustainability claims and double counting of SAF volumes and their GHG emission reductions. In developing the system, ISCC worked closely with key stakeholders from across the aviation sector. The system is designed to align closely with the requirements set by the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) aviation guidance for SAF use in addressing organizations’ value chain (Scope 3) emissions. Read More
Eni has published the 22nd edition of the World Energy Review 2023 (WER), its global energy statistics report,
The disruptive events weighing on the energy sector in 2022 – whose main trends are shown in the WER tables – highlight the need to broaden future prospects and pursue diversified solutions supporting a sustainable, secure, and equitable transition.
In 2022, global primary energy consumption grew at a rate of almost 1% with respect to the previous year confirming trends seen in recent decades, with fossil fuels still accounting for about 80% of the total energy mix. Prices of major energy commodities were affected by the war in Ukraine across all markets, with different degrees of impact depending on the specificities of each and local dependence on Russian supplies. Read More
Renault Group’s digital transformation, and in particular the prospect of the Software Defined Vehicle, are driving changes in simulation requirements. After several years of work and €26 million invested, Renault Group has just inaugurated a building at the Technocentre, the heart of the Group’s Engineering, entirely dedicated to driving and immersive simulation, bringing together most of its tools and expertise. On this occasion, Renault Group is also unveiling ROADS, a brand-new immersive driving simulation tool, probably the most powerful in the world.
A BUILDING ENTIRELY DEDICATED TO DIGITAL SIMULATION
With the inauguration of a brand new 2,300 m² building dedicated exclusively to digital simulation and housing most of its immersive simulators, Renault Group is equipping its engineering department with a powerful tool to enable even more robust design, while speeding up the development process for vehicles from its various brands. The accuracy of simulation rendering is such that it also considerably reduces development costs, particularly by reducing the need for physical prototypes.
Thanks to the integration of the digital twin, simulation comes into play not only throughout the development phases of the vehicle project, but also during the entire vehicle’s lifecycle, enabling updates or new functionalities to be developed and tested in complete safety. Read More
Abu Dhabi utilities company Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with renewables company Masdar for wind power. EWEC said it will acquire the energy from the UAE’s first utility scale wind farm, operated by Masdar and located at Sila, Sir Bani Yas Island and Delma Island, with generation capacity of up to 99 megawatts (MW), enough to power 22,000 homes, and displacing 115,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The power will be generated by 22 wind turbines which are 95m tall, which can generate power at lower wind speeds, the company said, and include 14MW of solar photovoltaic power. Read More
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OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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