Class
of 2007
This
time each year we hear from Washington on the “State of the Union” and from our
hometowns on the “State of the State”. World-Gen’s Class of 2007 brings us the
“State of Energy.” Rick
Smith sees U.S. demand for new capacity at 15-20 gws a year. Bechtel is controlling
costs by offering “one-stop shopping.” John
Krenicki envisions technology and diversity as the two keys for GE’s global energy
market. The CEO wants the industry to focus more on efficiencies. Emerson
is working with contractors in a front-end collaboration. CEO Yeager delivers
95 percent customer satisfaction from a tenured work-force averaging 20 years
of service. Siemens
launched a new operating group for environmental services. John Wilson will use
Siemens global network in 190 countries to add to its portfolio of exhaust cleanup
products. World-Gen
was the representative U.S. publication invited by UKTI to report on the Carbon
Trust’s, Marine Energy Challenge. Sir Alan Collins sees the UK leading the world’s
efforts in marine energy technology. Utilities
can leverage assets with multi-use networks. Sharon Allan is the president of
Elster Integrated Solutions, a new unit that delivers solutions across gas, electric
and water. Wartsila
has filled a niche in power generation between baseload and peaking. Frank Donnelly
calls it “flexible power” and over 35 gws are in operation around the world. PIC
and Marubeni launched PMEG in late 2005 to provide O and M services to power plants
of all technologies globally. President Tom Paul said PMEG has filled the gap,
whether it’s turnkey services or O and M staffing, and gained the “trust.” Hitachi
spends $5 billion annually on research and development in the world market. CEO
Hank Bartoli sees new products entering the US market for IGCC, AQCS, renewables
and nuclear. PJM
operates as an RTO for 51 million people in 13 states and D.C. COO Audrey Zibelman
is evaluating 10 transmission proposals totaling $10 billion in new investments.
Alstom
believes the market will dictate the best technology. CEO Tim Curran is seeing
the highest pace of construction and retrofit in the US in 30 years. Skip
Bowman, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, wants the industry to address closing
the nuclear fuel cycle and start licensing Yucca Mountain. The industry will spend
$2 billion to set the stage for building advanced design reactors. Capgemini
launched the “Smart Energy Alliance” to help utility customers achieve and maintain
a competitive advantage in their distribution operations. Doug Houseman is explaining
next generation distribution in weekly workshops.
John Hofmeister, CEO of Shell Oil, pointed out that the U.S. makes up four and
a half percent of the world’s population and uses 25 percent of the world’s oil
and gas. Shell is conducting a grassroots 50-city tour to discuss energy efficiency,
national education programs in schools and treating ghg as a national rather than
a state issue. World-Gen
and other media toured Caterpillar’s, Lafayette, Indiana facility. Bill Rohner
puts forth three trends driving the market. Jennifer
Kreischer, PWC’s partner for US Power saw Europe and Asia-Pacific outpace the
North American market in deal activity in 2006. She forecasts a continued interest
in renewables and clean energy. Dan
DuBois tells us only one in ten proposed wind farms get built nationally. Permitting
and community support are key to the success of projects.
Matt Cheney and his team at MMA Renewable Ventures pioneered new models for third
party financing for solar projects. Solar’s inherently long life time translates
into attractive PPA’s. Yakout
Mansour is Cal-Iso’s third president responsible for providing electricity to
30 million Californians. Mansour just released his 2007 Transmission Plan calling
for a regional strategic approach. Secretary
of Energy Sam Bodman is tasked with increasing America’s energy portfolio and
promoting energy efficiency. He wants to include renewables, nuclear and coal
technologies and upgrade the grid. |