Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $64 per barrel (b) in July, almost unchanged from the average in June 2019 but $10/b lower than the price in July of last year. EIA forecasts Brent spot prices will average $64/b in the second half of 2019 and $65/b in 2020. The forecast of stable crude oil prices is the result of EIA’s expectations of a relatively balanced global oil market. EIA forecasts global oil inventories will increase by 0.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2019 and 0.3 million b/d in 2020.

"Nuclear energy is the only absolutely stable (and always available) source of electricity without carbon emissions. Therefore, we hear more and more voices, including from environmentalists, who claim that nuclear energy should play a more important role in the future energy mix. Personally, I am certain of this."

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts Brent spot prices will average $67/b in the second half of 2019 and remain at that level in 2020. EIA expects West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices will average $62/b in the second half of 2019 and $63/b in 2020.

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading company in the coordination of planning, purchasing and providing of water and electricity across the UAE, has announced that ‘Noor Abu Dhabi’, the world’s largest single solar project, with a capacity of 1,177MW, has started commercial operation.

"Over the next five years we will do everything necessary to become truly energy independent: we will unite our power grids with the European ones, integrate into the European energy market, increase oil and gas production and create conditions for the development of alternative energy sources. Together with the energy saving program this will make our economy more efficient and will give impetus to the development of Ukraine," the head of state said during a meeting with the business community in Kyiv.

Japan imported more than 210 million short tons (MMst) of coal in 2018, making it the world’s third-largest coal-importing country after only India and China. Japan continues to use steam coal to fuel one-third of its electricity generation and metallurgical coal for raw steel production.

Primary energy consumption grew at a rate of 2.9% last year, almost double its 10-year average of 1.5% per year, and the fastest since 2010.

Front-month Brent crude futures were at $62.56 at 0707 GMT, up 27 cents, or 0.4%, from Monday’s close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $53.75 per barrel, 49 cents, or 0.9%, above their last settlement.

The new analysis finds that, on average, the levelised cost of electricity from the coal fleet is less than the levelised cost of new natural gas combined cycle (NGCC), new wind and new solar.

The German energy transition continues to gather pace, reaching a record 47 per cent of total electricity produced in the first five months of 2019, putting it well ahead of its target for 2025, which requires it to meet between 40 and 45 per cent of total electricity consumption from renewables.

Electricity generated from Germany’s coal-fired plants declined by 46 million megawatthours (MWh) between 2000 and 2017, while electricity generated from wind and solar increased by 95 million MWh and 40 million MWh, respectively. Despite these changes, coal remains the main source of generation in Germany. Coal’s share of total generation declined from 50% in 2000 to 36% in 2017, despite slight increases in 2012 and 2013 that were related to Germany’s move away from nuclear power.

Canada is the second-largest importer of energy from the United States, in terms of trade value, behind only Mexico. Energy accounted for $84 billion, or 26%, of the value of all U.S. imports from Canada in 2018.

NOVATEK announced that its joint venture Arctic LNG 2 and TechnipFMC signed a contract on engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of an integrated liquefied natural gas facility with annual liquefaction capacity of 19.8 million tons under the Arctic LNG 2 project. The contract terms provide for the launch of the first train of the project in 2023.

Despite significant progress in recent years, the world is falling short of meeting the global energy targets set in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030.

The main conclusion of the study was that reduction targets can be achieved even in a non-technology-specific scenario (Evolution) by using the networks. A GHG reduction of 55% by 2030 and 95% by 2050 (relative to 1990 levels) was achieved for the energy industry, buildings and industry €139 billion cheaper than in a highly regulated approach with electrification by means of heat pumps (Revolution).