Feature
Western congestion
Despite huge strides to improve power transmission efficiency in California since 2001, the region is still flagged a 'critical congestion area' by the US Department of Energy. Neil O'Hara looks at the state of play
Future imperfect
Hedging physical deals with derivatives may be active risk management, but if the physical contract is breached, it can result in unnecessary losses. Andrew Meads looks at whether the innocent party can recover these losses
Platform for production
While a healthy flow of new oil is forecast to come on stream over the next few years, there's concern that projects will be held up by a lack of infrastructure, particularly rig availability and personnel, finds Roderick Bruce
VC funds clean up
Investment in clean energy technology is attracting new venture capital money even as the traditional investors, electric utilities, are withdrawing. In the first of a two-part series, Catherine Lacoursière investigates the latest financing trends in…
Weathering oil risk
Managing weather risk is increasingly important for petroleum companies. Murad Jivraj looks at how optimal oil risk management can be obtained through combining traditional structured products with new weather derivatives
Trading opinions
Energy risk professionals from all over Europe gathered in London last month at the Energy Risk Europe conference to debate the hottest topics facing the industry today. The Energy Risk team bring you some highlights
Shifting sands
High oil prices and a lack of accessibility to reserves are reawakening oil majors' interest in Canada's oil sands. David Watkins looks at their potential and at the challenges involved in this capital-intensive mining operation
Biomass back on track
Generating power through biomass – corn, soybeans, trees, plants and animal waste – looks set to receive a boost in the US, after stagnation during the 1990s, finds Elisa Wood
A clearer picture
Energy bills are now prominent on most UK businesses' radar screens. Alistair Buchanan of UKregulator Ofgem offers an update on developments that could affect the UK's gas market this winter
Oil prices: Risk of a fall?
Consensus forecasts predict lower oil prices next year, although a minority of analysts, sceptical that demand will fall, expect higher 2007 prices. Beyond 2008 the supply picture could be much tighter than generally thought, some experts say. Stella…
Surveying risk management
How is risk management viewed in your company? Are there risks you would like to measure but don''t? Which methodologies are most commonly used? What should the discipline tackle next? Our latest survey reveals all
Catching the wind
After a 20-year hiatus, the US wind power industry has grown rapidly in the past two years. Its future, however, depends on Congress drawing up clear, long-term legislation, finds Neil O'Hara
Do energy hedge funds need cutting down to size?
Energy hedge funds have made public over $10 billion worth of losses in recent months, once again calling into question their impact on energy markets and raising concerns of systemic risk. Catherine Lacoursiere investigates
Risk management for LDCs
US Gas Distribution Companies, long experienced in managing volumetric risk, now face market risk, high commodity prices and credit risk. Matthew Frye looks at strategies to model these risks in aggregate
Hedge fund technologies
Energy markets continue to attract hedge funds - but, as recent high profile losses have shown, operating in them is challenging. Having the right trading and risk management IT is essential. Stewart Eisenhart reports
Risking it in Russia
When attempting to assess energy risk in Russia today, traditional methods of risk analysis are no longer sufficient; they mustbe accompanied by detailed political risk analysis, writes Robert Amsterdam
Accurate options pricing for all
SuperDerivatives has entered the energy world with big aims - to bring transparency and increased liquidity to options markets. Oliver Holtaway looks at the company model, and asks how big a splash it's likely to make
Bankruptcy Code confusion
Amendments to the US Bankruptcy Code concerning forwards, swaps and commodity contracts have far-reaching implications for energy company bankruptcies, but uncertainties remain, write Kenneth Irvin and Nathan Coco
Interview - Czech power
The best performing European utility stock, with growth of 260% in the last 24 months, Czech Republic power company CEZ aims to be market leader in the power markets of central and south-eastern Europe. Alan Svoboda, executive director for sales and…
Carbon funds - Here come the funds
While government-run procurement funds were the first to establish themselves in the carbon market, more and more private sector funds are now bringing investment capital into the sector. Oliver Holtaway reports
Auctioning - Carbon under the hammer
As the EU emissions trading scheme gears up for its second phase, countries are deciding how much of their allocations will be auctioned. Oliver Holtaway reports
Bright forecast for weather derivatives
To attract more corporate end-users, purveyors of weather derivatives are creating new products in search of the perfect hedge, as Catherine Lacoursiere finds
Vultures in Congo
Energy companies have long accepted a degree of country risk when investing in developing nations. But oil and gas companies now face a new threat to their international investments - and its origins lie closer to home. Andrew Derman, Andrew Melsheimer…
European gas - Battle of the brokers
Boutique environmental brokers walked the European market through the early days of emissions trading, but as traditional money and energy brokers move into this increasingly commoditised market, how will the early educators continue to compete? asks…