(EnergyAsia, August 6, Wednesday) --- The ‘21st International Coal Supply Contracts and Transport Logistics’ will be held at the M Hotel in Singapore from September 15 to 19.

The seminar aims to provide delegates with an overview of the entire coal supply chain. Topics covered include coal supply and transport agreements, freight markets and vessel selection, shipping contracts and paper trading, hedging for coal and shipping, the role of traders, brokers, agents and lawyers in arranging deals and transport and coal quality assurance in contracts and logistics.

(EnergyAsia, August 5, Tuesday) --- ‘Energy Shipping 2008’ will be held at the Sheraton Towers Hotel in Singapore from September 3 to 4.

The rise of China and India as major oil and gas markets will help drive the shipping markets. Investors will have to pay closer attention to the economic and political environment, manning issues and environment concerns which play vital roles in shaping trade and investments.

Speakers at the event include Jan Morten Eskilt (OSM Group AS), Saad Tayyab (Titan Ocean Pte Ltd), Avinash Kadam (Maersk Tankers), Vijay Bhandari (Teekay Shipping), Maneesh Pradhan (Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Ltd), Benny Low (Thome Shipmanagement Pte Ltd), Claus Plougmand (Maersk Broker Asia Ltd), Louisa Follis Simpson Spence & Young Research),

David Grimshaw (BP Shipping), Sumita Bose Roy (Bharat Petroleum Corporation), Peter Hinchliffe (International Chamber of Shipping), A K Seah (ABS Pacific), Divay Goel (Drewry Maritime Services) and Gan Seng Chee  (Ang & Partners).

‘Energy Shipping 2008’ is organised by IBC Asia. For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(EnergyAsia, August 5, Tuesday) --- ‘Trends in the Offshore Drilling Rig Market’ will be held in London, UK from September 23 to 24.

The event will review the current state of the market, future predictions, financing options and commercial opportunities. It will also focus on the next generation drilling rigs, their capabilities and potential applications.

Speakers at the event include Ian Burdis (AGR Well Management), Inge Oliversen (Keppel Norway), Cato Hellstenius (Ocean HeavyLift), Steve Meheen (Frontier Drilling USA Inc), Jay Cotaya (Exmar Offshore), James McCallum (Senergy Ltd), Michael Boysen Nielsen (Maersk Contractors), Rob Willings (Lime Rock Partners) and Sjur Agdestein (DVB Bank AG).

‘Trends in the Offshore Drilling Rig Market’ is organised by IBC Global Conferences. For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(EnergyAsia, August 4, Monday) --- Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, a leading global risk and reinsurance specialist, said it has published the Updated Prediction of Seasonal Tropical Cyclone Activity over the Western North Pacific for 2008.

This is the second report produced by the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Centre at City University of Hong Kong (GCACIC), launched in June.

While 2007 was a strong La Niña year, 2008 shows a weakening of this event such that the ENSO condition is in a neutral status. Historically, such a condition --- La Niña becoming neutral --- generally suggests a near-to-above-normal tropical cyclone activity, whereas other predictors indicate a slightly above-normal activity.

When considering all of the predictors, the GCACIC has forecast a normal to slightly above-normal year for all tropical cyclone categories for the entire Western North Pacific during 2008.

As such, the predicted total number of tropical cyclones remains at 30, consistent with April estimates. Similarly, the predicted number of typhoons remains at 19.

“These predictions would suggest that the La Niña event we witnessed in 2007 is unlikely to persist for the rest of the 2008 season,” said James Nash, CEO of Guy Carpenter’s Asia Pacific Region. “Thus, the number of tropical cyclones is expected to be at slightly-above or near-normal levels.”

The GCACIC is a leading regional hub for research on climate-related threats, catastrophic risk assessment and severe climatic event predictions for the Asia-Pacific region.

Guy Carpenter & Company, a member of the Marsh & McLennan Companies, is a world leading risk and reinsurance specialist. With 50 offices worldwide, Guy Carpenter creates and executes reinsurance solutions and delivers capital market solutions for clients across the globe.

(EnergyAsia, August 4, Monday) –-- Boston, Massachusetts-based KLD Research & Analytics Inc has marked the third anniversary of its Global Climate 100SM Index (GC100) – the first global index focused on solutions to climate change.
  
The firm said the fund has returned 53% (15.24% annualised) from its launch on July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008.  The index holds a diversified group of companies that are leaders in renewable energy, clean technology, energy efficiency and future fuels.

“Over the past three years, we’ve witnessed formation of a scientific, public policy and business consensus on the need to combat global climate change.  If our economy must depend less on fossil fuels, then our portfolios must do the same,” said Thomas Kuh, managing director of KLD Indexes.

“Renewable energy is part of the answer, but energy conservation and pollution prevention are also essential. The GC100 looks for opportunities on all these fronts.”

The GC100 includes companies who make promising energy-saving products, such as smart electric meters and superconductors, as well as alternative energy stocks.

The GC100 holds leading companies in the climate solutions value chain, including small, pure-play firms like Novozymes and GS Yuasa as well as large diversified companies like Siemens and General Electric.  The Index is equal weighted to ensure that investors benefit from these innovative companies regardless of their size.

“As the following chart shows, the holdings in the GC100 are positioned to profit from the trend toward de-carbonisation of the economy in response to climate change,” said GC100 Index manager Jed Sturman.

“As the price of oil has soared, GC100 constituent stocks like Vestas Wind Systems of Denmark and SolarWorld of Germany have shown strong returns. Smaller firms such as Conergy, Solon, and American Superconductor have also performed well.”

KLD created the GC100 in partnership with the Global Energy Network Institute, a research organisation that seeks to build connections among the world’s energy systems, with an emphasis on renewable energy resources.

“In the energy sector, we get what we invest in.  If we want a cleaner, more sustainable world in the future, we need to invest in climate solutions today,” said Peter Meisen of GENI.

(EnergyAsia, August 4, Monday) --- First Solaplants under construction at the Kulim Hi Tech Park in Kedah in Malaysia was inaugurated last month.

First Solar’s investment of US$680 million will bring more than 2,000 jobs in management, engineering, accounting, human resources and factory operations when all four plants are fully operational.

Ustaz Azizan Bin Abdul Razak, Kedah’s chief minister, and Bruce Sohn, President of First Solar, were guests of honour at the event which was attended by senior government officials and First Solar executives including Heiner Eichermueller, vice president of global manufacturing, and Tan Poh Beng, plant manager of First Solar Malaysia.

“Dedicating this plant represents a major milestone for First Solar. Our expansion into Asia enables us to achieve cost reductions through economies of scale in a high quality manufacturing environment,” said Bruce Sohn, President of First Solar.

“This is a matter of great pride for Kedah and Malaysia. Our entire work force is Malaysian at all levels throughout the operation. And we all receive the same specialised training and opportunities that First Solar associates enjoy throughout our global organisation,” said Tan Poh Beng, Plant Manager of First Solar’s Malaysia Facilities.

“The leaders of Kedah are pleased to have First Solar locate their first Asia-based solar module manufacturing facilities here in our state. We remain committed and supportive of their mission to enable clean, affordable solar energy. We are confident that all Malaysians will benefit from the quality of jobs that this facility brings to our community and applaud First Solar’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Chief minister Ustaz Azizan.

r said the first of its four solar module manufacturing

(EnergyAsia, August 1, Friday) --- August Energy Pte Ltd will be holding a workshop on ‘Bunkering: Principles, Management & Operations’ at the Bestway Building, off Shenton Way on September 2 and 3.

Bunker fuel is probably the largest cost component for the shipping industry today. The cost of bunker fuel recently climbed to a record of more than US$770 a tonne FOB Singapore, double what it was a year ago.

(EnergyAsia, August 1, Friday) --- Australia’s AGL Energy Limited (AGL) said it has acquired the Australian wind farm interests of Allco Finance Group Limited (Allco) for A$12.5 million to help meet compulsory renewable energy targets. (US$1=A$1.03). The assets include seven development projects in the states of Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

AGL managing director Michael Fraser said the transaction was consistent with its strategy of developing a diverse pipeline of renewable projects to meet its long-term obligations under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme.

(EnergyAsia, August 1, Friday) --- The ‘21st International Coal Supply Contracts and Transport Logistics’ will be held at the M Hotel in Singapore from September 15 to 19.

The seminar is designed to provide delegates with an overview of the entire coal supply chain.

(EnergyAsia, July 31, Thursday) --- Australian companies Origin Energy and Geodynamics said they are advancing their geothermal energy joint venture in Cooper Basin South Australia state.

Origin Energy said it will invest another A$9.6 million in the renewable energy project, bringing its total commitment to A$150 million. (US$1= A$1.03).

1. The announcement of ‘proof of concept’ and the development of a 1MW pilot plant to power the JV operations and the local township of Innamincka. The successful completion of the ‘proof of concept’ stage is expected sometime this month following tests and independent certification by Geothermex Inc.

2. The design and construction of a 50MW demonstration plant powered by geothermal energy, the drilling of  nine wells and the completion of transmission infrastructure for the plant. This is estimated to be completed in late 2011.

3. The replication of the demonstration 50MW power plant to achieve commercial base-load power generation. A further nine plants will be built to produce an overall capacity of 500MW. This is estimated to be completed in late 2015.

Geodynamics said it has drilled three wells --- Habanero 1, Habanero 2 and Habanero 3. The first milestone under the farm-in agreement includes the completion of the Habanero 3 well and the open circuit circulation test between Habanero 1 and Habanero 3, which were completed on schedule and within budget.

Australian Geothermal Energy Association chief executive Susan Jeanes said the threats of climate change and energy security are spurring increased investor interest in renewable energy development in the country.

“Geothermal energy has the potential to provide Australia with low-emission base-load electricity for thousands of years. Australian companies such as Origin Energy and Geodynamics are leading the development of these critical geothermal projects, which will play a key role in helping us achieve the emissions cuts envisaged by today’s thought leaders,” Ms Jeanes said.

Origin Energy managing director Grant King said: “This marks a further step on the road to better understanding our Australian geothermal assets. With this milestone achieved we can now move towards actually harnessing the energy contained in the country’s hot-rock resources. We strongly believe in the growth opportunities of our low-carbon technologies in geothermal, solar and gas. Geothermal energy will play an ever more important role in securing the growing global need for clean energy technologies.

“Australia’s natural geothermal resources are among the best in the world and we believe geothermal energy has a key role to play in meeting the country’s emissions reduction targets foreshadowed through an emission trading scheme, as well as the planned renewable energy targets.”

Geodynamics managing director Gerry Grove-White said: “We are delighted with the progress we have made to date on our geothermal assets in the Cooper Basin. Today’s announcement confirms the faith we have in the techniques we are developing to exploit our world-class geothermal resources.

“Geodynamics is in pole position in the race to develop emissions-free renewable energy in Australia. The government’s commitment to an emission trading scheme and a renewable energy target underscores the importance of developing this important renewable energy source.”

In addition to its 30% interest in the Cooper Basin geothermal joint venture, Origin Energy also remains the company’s largest shareholder with approximately 7.5% of the shares on issue.

Geodynamics is the largest ASX-listed company in Australia whose sole focus is on developing hot fractured rock geothermal energy.