Feature
Burying a problem
As North American power generators prepare for a carbon-constrained world, new coal plants are being built with the option of installing carbon capture and storage technology. And the economics could be about to improve, finds Catherine Lacoursiere
JI emerges from shadows
Long seen as a sideline to the Clean Development Mechanism, the Joint Implementation market could be set to take off, as international regulators and the key JI host countries are coming close to establishing JI approval procedures. Oliver Holtaway…
Switzerland powers up
Though not a member of the European Union, Switzerland is liberalising its power market in order to bring itself more in line with the EU's liberalisation policy. Oliver Holtaway takes a look at this process and the expected impacts on energy markets
Trading concerns
The convictions of Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling in May closed a sorry chapter in energy trading. But it should be noted that much of what was good about Enron remains. However, some are concerned that Enron-like innovation now risks being stifled by lack…
Valid Assumptions Required: Historical Simulation VaR
Brett Humphreys discusses the assumptions underlying the calculation of a VAR using the historical simulation methodology.
Technology - Project management - A stitch in time
Companies entering the energy sector have a fairly short window of opportunity to get up and running. City Practitioners Ian Bentinck and Jeremy Taylor examine some of the technological and project management issues that can arise
The end of an era?
Latin American governments are hiking taxes and forcing changes to contracts with oil and gas investors in a marked departure from the economic liberalisation of the 1990s. But reality may prompt a rethink, writes Maria Kielmas
Valid Assumptions Required: examining forward curve assumptions
Brett Humphreys and Eric Raleigh review assumptions about the forward curve and the difference between relative and absolute dates.
Clearing the way for competition
Until recently, NOS was the only player offering clearing for freight derivatives. But with the arrival of new players, competition is set to intensify. Oliver Holtaway reports
Benefits of compliance
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 profoundly increases regulatory risk for energy market participants in the US, but implementing an effective compliance programme can have long-lasting benefits, writes former FERC executive William Hederman, Michael Griffen…
Optimal results
Effective portfolio management has become crucial for energy companies, but creating the optimal portfolio is fraught with challenges, writes Colin Cooper
Stepping up a stage
Optimism over the freight derivatives market, which waned a little at the end of last year, is on the rise again, as volumes increase and new players enter. There are still hurdles to overcome though
The price is right?
For banks entering the physical power markets the opportunities are many, but pricing contracts in these volatile markets is fraught with difficulties. Aarzoo Shah, Riccardo Anacar and Antony Kakoudakis look at how to tackle these challenges
Knowledge is power
The first year of European carbon trading came to a bumpy end in May. But now the market finally has hard data about emissions, the ride should get smoother. Oliver Holtaway reports
Kick-off for spot
After years of relying on long-term contracts, LNG suppliers are committing more volumes to the short-term market in hope of exploiting tight fundamentals. Oliver Holtaway explores this new trend
Industry gets energised
Attracting some 300 delegates, this year's Energy Risk USA conference was by far the biggest and most successful it's been since the fall of Enron, writes Stella Farrington
Asia's maritime centre
Traders hope that the arrival of freight and oil derivatives clearing for the first time in an Asian time zone will boost the growing FFA market in Asia
EnergyRisk Awards 2006
The Energy Risk Awards 2006: we honour the talent, innovation and enthusiasm that sit at the heart of the energy risk management industry.
Time to get physical
For the second tier of banks wishing to buy physical energy assets, the next two years will be critical. Antony Kakoudakis and Aarzoo Shah consider this trend and examine some of the hurdles newer entrants face
A prime time for energy prime brokerage?
The rise of electronic energy markets may prompt energy companies to seek a simple clearing solution through one primary bank, rather than build relations with several clearers, writes Ron Villarin
The impact of SOX on supply chain management
Of the many changes companies have had to introduce as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, the most useful one is arguably the integration of supply chain management with financial risk management, writes Raees Lakhani
The rush for wood
The international biotrade market is expanding due to surging demand for wood pellets from power generators, but supply problems could lie ahead, writes Catherine Lacoursiere