Email Jim at jthompson@taii.com
The International Energy Agency released a report in June 2017, "Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2017." Regardless of your political views on energy (and remember: old Jim says everything about energy is political), it is worthwhile to read material such as this. It reflects the viewpoint the general public will adopt and hence, the direction our industry must go in the future if we are to avoid pickets, boycotts and other unpleasant actions.
Here are the "Key Messages" in the report:
"A new historic record has been reached in the electrification of passenger transportation, with over 750 000 electric vehicles (EVs) sold in 2016, raising the global stock to two million. A slowdown in market growth of 40% in 2016 from 70% in 2015 still maintains EVs on track to reach 2°C Scenario (2DS) levels in 2025, but puts the technology at significant risk of missing the 2020 interim milestone and in turn raises risks toward the 2025 goal.
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Save the date! The Pulp and Paper Industry Reliability and Maintenance conference, sponsored by IDCON and Andritz, will be held March 19-22, 2018 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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"Storage technologies continued rapid scale-up in deployment, reaching almost 1 gigawatt (GW) in 2016. These advances were driven by favorable policy environments and reductions in battery prices. Storage technologies are on track with 2DS levels, but reaching cumulative capacity of 21 GW - the 2DS level projected by 2025 - will need further policy action.
"Strong annual capacity growth continued for both solar PV and onshore wind in 2016, with record low long-term contract prices in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Prospects for renewable electricity are bright over the medium term, driven by cost reductions and policy improvements in key markets. With only solar PV and onshore wind fully on track, however, renewables overall are still falling short of longer-term 2DS levels, despite a record-breaking 6% overall generation growth in 2016.
"The "on track" status of these three technologies depends on all other technologies also playing their part in the transition, which is not currently the case. If progress in other technologies does not accelerate, this year's on-track technologies may have to progress even more ambitiously to overcompensate for lagging technology areas to ensure the overall energy transition is on track."
"2DS" shows up in the acronyms and definitions towards the back of the report. It means "2 degree C Scenario" which I assume is the concept of keeping the temperature rise below 2C.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: We are a large automation company that has a line of consistency transmitters, sample valves and sheet break detectors that are marketed through a rep. network. We are seeking someone with a strong background in consistency control to facilitate start-ups, provide troubleshooting and technical advice. The individual should have experience in all major types of consistency measurement technologies (blade, rotary, microwave and optical). Knowledge of sheet break detection technology is desirable as well. Willingness to travel to paper production facilities across the US is a must.
Travel & Living Expenses to be reimbursed along with an agreed upon daily per diem rate.
For more information, please contact Jim Thompson at: jthompson@taii.com Ph. 678-206-6010 Cell: 404-822-3412
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There is also a comment on the pulp and paper industry (see pages 42 and 43 in the report), which I will partially quote here and you can look up the rest:
"The sector's energy use has grown only 1% since 2000, despite a 23% increase in paper and paperboard production, which points to a decoupling of growth in energy use and production. However, structural effects, such as shifts in product mix or regions of production, can also influence energy use, and data quality issues make it difficult to draw concrete conclusions about the energy intensity trends.
"Recovery and recycling of waste paper have steadily been increasing. The utilization of recovered paper in the total fiber furnish grew to 55.3% in 2014, up from 44.3% in 2000 and 33.9% in 1990. This trend is envisioned to continue, growing to 57.6% in the 2DS by 2025."
So, there you have it--how the world is looking at energy and us going forward. Material we should keep in mind as we economically and socially plan our respective futures.
For safety this week, we must keep in mind that exotic energy sources (such as photovoltaic cells) bring new and unfamiliar safety issues into the mix. Solar panels are not as innocent as they look--they can kill you if you mishandle their connectivity to your power system.
Be safe and we will talk next week.
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It is advertising sales season, and we have produced the best media kit we have ever put together. Ask me for a copy today and put my feet to the fire--make me explain it to you. You can get one by calling me on my cell phone--404-822-3412--or emailing me at jthompson@taii.com. As we have been saying, if you like our innovative ways of presenting the news about the pulp and paper industry, I'll suggest you do the following. If you are in a mill and like what you see here, please tell your suppliers what you like to read and who you would like to see them support with their advertising budgets. If you are a supplier, please be aware (we know) we are first in news, (we think) we have the largest audience in the pulp and paper industry worldwide and (we know) we have the lowest advertising costs.
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Jim Thompson is back again...with a new book on a taboo subject: the personalities in the pulp & paper industry. Jim has written in the past on many subjects based on his four plus decades in the worldwide pulp and paper industry. This new book is packed full of information valuable to the senior member of the industry as well as the recent entrant. A must for every pulp and paper library.
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Nip Impressions has been honored for Editorial Excellence by winning a Tabbie Award!
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