Infrastructure
Onward with offsets
Awareness of the effect of carbon emissions on climate change has driven growth in the market for voluntary carbon offsets. So who is getting involved, and why? Roderick Bruce finds out
Sub-prime hits energy
The fallout from the US sub-prime mortgage meltdown is complicating seasonal uncertainties for energy markets. David Watkins reports
Fortis and Enel sign 10-year wind deal
Fortis has signed a 1.1 million megawatt hour, 10-year financial fixed-price power purchase agreement with Snyder Wind Farm, a subsidiary of Enel North America
Crossed wires
The wholesale UK power market has struggled to attract liquidity from financial players. The Futures and Options Association's initiative to restructure the market is intended to solve these problems, but some established market players say they have…
Triple Point launches Commodity XL for Biofuels and Commodity XL Xchange
Triple Point Technology, a supplier of software platforms for the supply, trading, marketing and movement of commodities, has released Commodity XL for Biofuels. The platform is intended to address the rapidly escalating global market for renewable…
Renewed interest
Green certificate trading is growing in Europe, as renewable power generators seek to exploit consumer demand for green energy. But market design could be improved, as Oliver Holtaway reports
Up in the air
Rising wind power prices are encouraging US producers to turn to the short-term and spot electricity markets. Increasingly sophisticated risk management techniques may follow. David Watkins reports
FOA launches UK power market initiative
The Futures and Options Association (FOA) has launched an initiative that aims to introduce a new design for wholesale UK power markets.
BNP Paribas enters agreement with Trading Technologies
Trading software developer Trading Technologies (TT) and BNP Paribas Commodity Futures have entered into a global software licensing and distribution agreement.
ETG Capital opens energy hedge fund
Houston-based hedge fund firm ETG Capital Management has launched an energy fund.
ICE acquires ChemConnect's commodity business
IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has agreed to acquire ChemConnect’s commodity trading business. ChemConnect is an electronic marketplace for the $150billion US natural gas liquids (NGLs) and chemicals markets.
SSY brokers groundbreaking FFA option deal
SSY Futures has recently brokered a forward freight agreement (FFA) option transaction covering Panamax earnings out to the end of 2012. The deal, fixed between two leading FFA users, has confirmed industry claims that there is appetite for longer-dated…
CFTC demands Platts data
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed an application in Columbia District Court, seeking to enforce a subpoena for energy-related documents it served on publishing group McGraw-Hill. Part of an ongoing investigation into energy…
Measuring success
A cutting-edge survey by McKinsey & Company reveals which types of trading are most prevalent and successful among utilities. Using survey data, McKinsey's Jörg Doege, Sven Heiligtag and Peter De Wit suggest guidelines for creating successful trading and…
Nuon goes live with Xenon platform
Dutch utility Nuon has rationalised all its trading and risk management on single platform by adopting Sakonnet’s Xenon software.
Survey reveals major energy buyers’ views and strategies
A pan-European price forecasting survey of 100 major energy users has revealed that only two fifths of respondents had a risk management policy - seen as essential when developing an energy procurement strategy.
Better prospects
Russia offers better prospects for industry to develop and far more investment opportunities than is widely recognised, writes Pavel Ulianov of Russian metal giant Rusal
ICE proposes $10 billion merger with CBOT
The IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has made a proposal to the Chicago Board of Trade to combine the two companies in a stock-for-stock transaction that would create the world’s most comprehensive derivatives exchange, ICE announced today.
Spreading opportunities
Volatile European gasoil and US heating oil prices mean traders must follow inventory and temperature forecasts carefully to stay on the right side of moves in outright and spread values, writes Logical Information Machine's energy analyst Daven Voorhies
Climate change: FSA warns of risk, predicts opportunities
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has stated in its Financial Risk Outlook 2007 report that climate change poses “considerable risks and challenges to the financial sector”.