After a productive year in energy and resources work, connecting the themes of changing views and events displays a different direction, an emerging path expressing societal realities and opportunities. My involvement in these stories— whether author or facilitator—form a body of work. I start with hydrogen in Europe at a time when their world held the promise of green shoots; by the end of the year, the economic and energy reality shifted to a war-induced bad dream.
Main conclusion: The energy transition that was, as of late 2021, has taken a turn. Geopolitics have collided with the energy map and mix. The “market” and capital investment are being reconfigured and reshoring is occurring. Hopefully, a middle path can be forged, helping Europe and countries caught in the crossfire. The quest for energy security, also food security, need not be so complicated. It all comes back to the wise use of resources, an infinitely solvable equation —human and natural capital in cooperation.
The following very rough-cut video reveals some behind-the-scenes reflections and thinking which captures a significant time in history. New initiatives are set in motion that will hopefully reset the course of events for Europe, as captured in D CEO’s November energy special edition.
Europe’s energy challenges include food security as well. Reflections on some upcoming work in the makings, some of it one year, and 30 and 50…
January
~Hydrogen panel highlights the potential for hydrogen in the energy transition. Produced by the European American Chamber of Commerce. (Moderated)
April
~EarthX panel (moderator): An “Island Nation’s Energy Transition,” featuring St. Maarten’s Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Nicholas Davis, CEO of GridMarket.
May/June/July
~Energy and ESG panelist, San Francisco (June). Ideas presented:
• Capital is becoming more conscious
• Forces affecting energy and sustainability, including Russian invasion
• What we need to do to get cleaner now
• Concern over wasting capital and resources
• Politicization of energy is counterproductive
~Natural capital interview. A feature in Land speaks to the recognition of the increasing value of land.
~Interview late-July about energy dynamics with energy fund CIO Hatfield, plus invited investor call on YouTube (see my playlist, “Investment Startegies…”).
• Oil markets are volatile, especially natural gas.
• U.S. production of oil and gas in a rational growth mode.
• The European energy crisis is partly owed to a lack of natural gas supply and renewables headwinds, even before Russia’s invasion.
• An all-EV-all-renewables world is challenged.
• U.S. economy has tailwinds.
September
~Interview on YouTube with Hatfield encore and investor call:
The interview speaks to the state of energy play, such as sticky demand, fungible commodities and the mix. Arbitrage is happening globally with energy supplies.
The call discusses the tech world experience, supply chain risk investment thesis, and hard assets. The effects on the global oil market is also mentioned.
“So the problem … the war oil is going through the back door … and to Asia …”
October
~ Conversation with Jennifer Warren in D CEO, October 17, 2022
“Ironically, the U.S. has one of the most—if not the most—market-based energy systems across the globe. Our energy mix moves accordingly. —J Warren
~Cover story in D CEO about Texas-based entrepreneur’s journey and the lay of the land in land-resources-energy developments. (Profile format)
Uechtritz’s unconventional style was appreciated by the colorful entrepreneurs that Texas breeds, and his timing for targeting the state could not have been better. It was becoming ground zero for one of the most important developments in modern energy history—the shale oil and gas revolution. His ranch niche would nicely complement the land rush and emerging energy boom and, eventually, the energy transition.
~Awards event panel: Oct 20th. See awards gallery.
November
~Main feature of DCEO’s energy award edition
I’m thankful to be able to tell these stories.
Postscript: The ideas and timestamps in the Yates exchange follow. (The clicking sound is the iPhone connection. Sounds like a telegraph machine of times past.) I lived, studied and worked in London for four years, with many close German friends, and includes years of on-and-off time spent on the Continent.
Winter, dominoes falling (0:40)
Dislocation, protecting interests, survival (1:30)
More dominoes, Europe and U.S. (2:40)
Food crisis TK? A cold winter (3:30)
New plans needed (4:15)
My stories (5:00)
Map redrawn of natural gas world (5:30)
Hounds of hell, war effects (6:15)
Energy and food stakes (7:15)
World gets natural gas’ role (7:40)
Acute insecurity, self-sufficiency illusions (8:25)
Great levelers (8:45)
Grateful and freaked (9:10)
World woes (9:45)
Heavy, heavy times (10:15)
Learning lessons (10:45)