Category: Energy

BusinessEnergy

Starboard Pushes Fluor to Unlock $4.3 Billion Nuclear Stake Value

Activist investor Starboard Value has taken a nearly 5% position in Fluor Corporation and is pushing the engineering giant to unlock value from its substantial stake in nuclear technology company NuScale Power. According to analysis, Fluor’s 39% holding in NuScale represents over 60% of the company’s market capitalization but trades at a significant discount within the larger corporation. The potential separation could trigger a major rerating of Fluor’s core engineering business.

Activist Pressure Builds at Engineering Giant

Starboard Value, the prominent activist investor known for pushing operational improvements at industrial companies, has set its sights on Fluor Corporation in what analysts suggest could be another lucrative campaign. Reports indicate Starboard has accumulated a nearly 5% stake in the engineering and construction firm and is specifically targeting what they see as buried value in Fluor’s nuclear technology investments.

by Darren Holt
EnergyEngineering

Mechanical Valve Technology Proves Reliable in Long-Term Well Abandonment Operations

A mechanical barrier technology has successfully operated after nearly six years in a North Sea well abandonment campaign, according to industry reports. The Pressure Wave Valve reportedly eliminated the need for wireline intervention, delivering significant time and cost savings. This development highlights the growing importance of reliable barrier technologies in long-term plug and abandonment strategies.

Breakthrough in Well Abandonment Technology

In the increasingly complex landscape of plug and abandonment (P&A) operations, industry sources indicate that operators are facing mounting pressure to deploy barrier technologies that ensure long-term reliability while reducing intervention risks. According to recent reports, mechanical solutions are emerging as particularly valuable for pre-P&A scenarios where barriers may remain installed for several years before final abandonment procedures.

by Natalie Brooks
BusinessEnergy

Japan’s Nuclear Industry Seeks Government Support for New Reactor Construction

Japan’s nuclear industry is advocating for increased government support in building new reactors, including state-run capacity auctions and financing assistance. The push comes as the country aims to boost nuclear power’s share in its energy mix to 20% by 2040 amid growing electricity demand from data centers.

Nuclear Industry Calls for Enhanced Support

Japan’s nuclear power sector is seeking greater government backing for new reactor construction, including through state-run capacity auctions, according to industry reports. The push comes under the administration of newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has publicly supported nuclear energy revival as crucial to Japan’s energy security.

by Natalie Brooks
EnergyInnovation

PJM Grid Set for Storage Expansion Following Interconnection Policy Shifts and State Mandates

Reforms to PJM’s surplus interconnection rules are unlocking significant battery storage potential across the mid-Atlantic grid. Multiple states have established storage targets as the region addresses capacity constraints and record auction prices.

Interconnection Reforms Spark Storage Development

The PJM Interconnection appears poised for significant energy storage growth following recent policy reforms and increasing pressure from capacity constraints, according to industry reports. Two recently announced 10-MW battery projects in Virginia signal what analysts suggest could be the beginning of a broader storage expansion across the regional transmission organization’s territory.

by Darren Holt
BusinessEnergy

Finland’s Proposed Power Tax Hike Puts Google’s $1B Data Center Project on Ice

Google has halted development of a billion-dollar data center in Finland amid proposed electricity tax reforms that could increase costs dramatically. The tech giant’s investment decision hinges on regulatory stability as Finland weighs taxing data centers at standard commercial rates.

Investment Pause Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

Google has reportedly suspended plans for a major data center development in northern Finland following proposed electricity tax reforms that could substantially increase operating costs. According to sources familiar with the matter, the tech giant acquired 1,400 hectares of land across Kajaani and Muhos municipalities last November for what was intended to be a billion-dollar investment in Finland’s growing data center market.

by Natalie Brooks
EnergyScience

Deep Learning Models Show Promise for Accurate Lithium-Ion Battery Health Monitoring

New research compares deep learning approaches for predicting lithium-ion battery degradation. The study reveals Multilayer Perceptron and Temporal Convolutional Network models achieve exceptional accuracy while maintaining computational efficiency suitable for embedded systems.

Breakthrough in Battery Health Monitoring

Recent scientific research has demonstrated significant advances in predicting lithium-ion battery health using deep learning architectures, according to reports published in Scientific Reports. The study comprehensively evaluated four neural network models for state of health (SoH) estimation, a critical parameter for ensuring reliability in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Sources indicate that the findings could have substantial implications for battery management systems and predictive maintenance platforms.

by Darren Holt