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Report suggests low-speed electric vehicles could affect Chinese demand for gasoline and disrupt oil prices worldwide

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Low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs) could reduce China’s demand for gasoline and, in turn, impact global oil prices, according to a new issue brief by an expert in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. “

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Forecast: Algae-Based Biofuels Production to Reach 61M Gallons per Year by 2020

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The European Union (EU) market, which is home to about 30% of algae activity, will be limited initially by the industry’s focus on university research, and later by insufficient access to water, land, and nutrient sources. Ultimately, algae potential is greatest in regions where there is an abundance of land, water, and sunlight.

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KPMG study identifies 10 sustainability “megaforces” with accelerating impacts on business; imperative of sustainability changing the automotive business radically

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The KPMG study, “Expect the Unexpected: Building Business Value in a Changing World”, explores issues such as climate change, energy and fuel volatility, water availability and cost and resource availability, as well as population growth spawning new urban centers. Global food prices are predicted to rise 70 to 90 percent by 2030.

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IEA WEO-2012 finds major shift in global energy balance but not onto a more sustainable path; identifies potential for transformative shift in global energy efficiency

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The cost of fossil-fuel subsidies has been driven up by higher oil prices; they remain most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, where momentum towards their reform appears to have been lost. Water is essential to the production of energy, and the energy sector already accounts for 15% of the world’s total water use.

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Opinion: Is Russia Plotting To Bring Down OPEC?

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The Saudi decision to let the market set prices and to pursue market share, has led to steep declines in crude and petroleum product prices. The decision also has impacted natural gas export prices negatively, since, for Russia's long-term supply agreements, they wholly or partially are indexed to oil prices.

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IRENA report finds renewable power costs at parity or below fossil fuels in many parts of world

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The report, “ Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014 ”, concludes that biomass, hydropower, geothermal and onshore wind are all competitive with or cheaper than coal, oil and gas-fired power stations, even without financial support and despite falling oil prices. kWh in Africa. kWh for fossil-fuel power plants.

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Global investment in renewable power reached $270.2B in 2014, ~17% up from 2013; biofuel investment fell 8% to 10-year low

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billion) and South Africa ($5.5 billion, the largest single renewable energy asset finance deal ever, outside large hydro—that of the 600MW Gemini project in Dutch waters. Another challenge was, at first sight, the impact of the 50%-plus collapse in the oil price in the second half of last year. billion), India ($7.4

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