- 27May
You might think that if a moon base were ever created allowing astronauts to live on the surface of the moon for extended periods of time, its creation would be by NASA. That might not be the case with a private space company called Bigelow Aerospace planning a moon base for NASA. Below Aerospace has conducted a study of about two dozen companies and research organizations looking for ideas, plans, capabilities, schedules, and costs on certain station initiatives.
- 27May
A report released today reveals productivity in Australia's oil and gas industry is being limited by red tape, lengthy approvals processes and the high Australian dollar. A report released today reveals productivity in Australia's oil and gas industry is being limited by red tape, lengthy approvals processes and the high Australian dollar.
- 27May
Technology lets ordinary people design goods and upload to factories to mass produce Customizable objects from plastic dollhouse furniture to medical prosthetics can now be designed and made by almost anyone at the press of a 3D print button, and this rise of "desktop manufacturing" is going to lead to an "explosion of new stuff," predicts Chris Anderson, author of Makers: The New Industrial Revolution.
- 27May
Biomass from algae can now be produced more efficiently than ever, thanks to a new photobioreactor developed by researchers from the University of Alicante. Although currently too small for commercial use, the technology developed holds promise for future technologies in the near future. Once produced, algae can be used as a raw material for renewable energy, replacing fossil fuels. Because of this, biomass has fueled a good deal of research.
- 21May
If Mark Carney was to write Canada’s economic legacy during his time as the country’s top banker, it would likely be one of sound monetary policy, a resilient financial system and a monetary union “that works.” In his final speech as Bank of Canada governor, Mr. Carney said Tuesday that “relative to our peers, Canada is working.”
- 21May
Canadian energy producers lobbying for U.S. approval of the Keystone XL pipeline are targeting undecided Democratic lawmakers in Washington in advance of a decision on the US$5.3-billion project. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, which represents more than 100 energy producers including Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. and Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Imperial Oil Ltd., will travel to the U.S. capital next month to promote TransCanada Corp.’s plan to carry Alberta oil-sands crude to Gulf Coast refineries. A decision by U.S. President Barack Obama on the pipeline is expected this year.
- 21May
Italy-based truck and tractor maker Fiat Industrial plans to lower its tax bill by shifting its residence to Britain after a planned merger with unit CNH, a move that drew angry reactions from politicians and unions on its home turf. The criticism tapped into a widening debate on corporate tax avoidance which has become a hot political topic in some western countries in recent months.
- 21May
MACAU, Macau - Goldman Sachs has sold its remaining stake in China's biggest commercial lender for $1.1 billion. A person familiar with the deal said Tuesday that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sold just under 1.6 billion shares of state-owned Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. The person was not authorized to discuss Monday's sale publicly and asked not to be identified.
- 21May
Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Monday named a top executive at rival Anadarko Petroleum Corp. to head the No. 2 U.S. natural gas producer, which has suffered a governance crisis and liquidity crunch over the last year. Chesapeake hired Robert Douglas Lawler, senior vice-president of international and deepwater operations at Anadarko, to fill the post vacated by co-founder Aubrey McClendon in April.
- 15May
I recently had an opportunity to speak with Gary Wetzel, Director of Commercial and Industrial Business Development at S&C Electric Company about prospects for energy storage in the industry. S&C sells a variety of products to the electric industry, including switching equipment, automation products, and storage systems.
