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Showing posts with label Energy and Mining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Energy and Mining. Show all posts

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

The Unconvectional Guide Solar Energy Market ?

Ever increasing demand for electricity coupled with government policies promoting the use of renewable source of energy can have the positive impact on the global solar energy market. Being abundant in nature the solar energy acts as a long-lasting and clean energy source of energy that can prove an effective alternative to the current non renewable sources such as coal, oil and gas.
Today, the solar energy emitted from the sun can be harnessed using the technologies such as solar photovoltaics, solar heating, solar thermal electricity and artificial photosynthesis. Government support in the form of tax benefits and subsidies can further lead to the growth of the solar energy market in the near future. The growth of the solar industry especially in the developing economies such as China and India has opened new avenues for the solar energy market. Rapid industrialization coupled with lack of fossil fuel reserves (Oil and Gas) in countries such as India and Japan can create a surge in the demand for the solar energy harnessing devices in these countries.
The solar energy market can be segmented on the basis of technology used for the purpose of capturing and harnessing the solar energy, applications, end user industry and geography. Solar energy can be harnessed using the technologies such as solar photovoltaics, solar heating, solar thermal electricity and artificial photosynthesis. The solar radiations emitted from the sun can be captured by using either active or passive solar technologies. An active solar technology makes the use of solar panels and solar thermal collectors to collect the infra red radiations emitted by the sun. The passive solar technology captures solar radiations by using a material with favorable light dispersing properties. Solar energy harnessed from the sun can be used for the purpose of space heating, water heating, cooking, water treatment and producing electricity. Today the solar energy can be used in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
As electricity production is the foremost application of the solar energy therefore, the regional segmentation of the solar energy market can be done by identifying the major countries involved in the production of electricity using the solar energy. Major countries include the United States and Canada in North America; China, India, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, South Korea and Australia in Asia Pacific; Germany, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic and France in Europe; Rest of the World includes the countries from Middle East and Africa (MEA) and the Latin America.
Rapid industrialization, stringent government regulations towards the use of environment polluting fuels, government incentives in the form of tax benefits and subsidies and effective utilization of barren land for the purpose of installation of utility scale solar power projects are the major driver to the solar energy market. Advancement in the solar cell technologies enabling higher solar to electric conversion efficiencies is another factor that has positively affected the solar energy market. Economic meltdown in the European countries leading to government decisions toward reducing the subsidies is one of the major restraints to the solar energy market. Untapped equatorial regions in Africa and Latin America can act as the opportunities for the new and existing companies in the solar energy market.
Some of the key players in the solar energy market include companies such as Yingli Solar, First Solar, Inc., Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Trina Solar Limited and Sharp Corporation.



2020 Vision: The Near Future of Nuclear Power Market

Nuclear power technology has been adopted as a source of power generation by many industrialized economies. Several developing countries have also developed plans to expand their energy portfolio by adapting nuclear technology for power generation. The components installed in a nuclear power plant are similar to those of a conventional fossil-fueled power plant, except that fission process is used instead of the combustion process. Uranium is the most common material utilized and energy released from uranium in the form of heat and radiation is used to generate electricity in the nuclear power plant. However, after the nuclear accident at the Fukushima power plant there have been many controversial views regarding safe deployment of nuclear power technology. Despite decisions by some countries to phase out nuclear energy, the market for nuclear power is expected to grow at a substantial rate. Many new nuclear reactors are planned, especially in China and Russia.
The decreasing fossil reserves and the need to reduce import bills are encouraging national governments and energy companies to invest in nuclear power market. The major consuming centers of the world are dependent on imported fuel sources from foreign nations. The urge to reduce this dependency on imports is attracting investment in nuclear power market. Nuclear power plants can be highly efficient when compared to thermal power plants, thus the demand for efficient systems is also attracting investment in this market. Countries such as France produce a major share of their electricity from nuclear power which proves that nuclear power is an economic alternative to conventional power plants. Nuclear technology does not burn fossil fuels and consequently do not liberate polluting gases which makes this technology attractive while fulfilling emission standards in a country. However, nuclear power is still considered a controversial technology for power generation. Many drastic accidents such as the Chernobyl incident in 1986, has led to the death of people working in nuclear facilities. High costs associated with storing and monitoring the radioactive waste material acts as a major restraint for the growth of the market.
The nuclear power market can be segmented based on water reactors utilized in nuclear power generation. The four broad segments are Generation I technology, Generation II technology, Generation III technology and Generation IV technology. These technological segments can be further sub-divided based on water reactor technology. Currently, Generation III technology is the most is the most widely installed technology employed in nuclear power generation. However, Generation IV technology is being developed in several countries which aim to establish sustainable nuclear power growth.
North America is the leading region in the nuclear power market and currently, many large scale plants are installed in the U.S. The stringent environmental regulation in Europe has encouraged many countries to invest in nuclear power market. Countries such as France, Spain and Germany have heavily invested in this technology in the past. Russia plays an important role in further development of nuclear technology. Many new nuclear power reactors are planned and the country is intensively investing in wide spread adoption of this technology. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market in this segment with China leading the growth in this region. The Chinese government has planned many new nuclear installations to reduce their dependency on imported coal, for power generation. Korea, India and Taiwan are also expected to increase investments in nuclear power generation technology.
Some of the major companies involved in the nuclear power market are Bruce Power, China General Nuclear Power Corporation, CEZ Group, E.ON SE, and Nukem GmbH.



Unbelievable Globally Growth of Oil Shale Market

Oil shale generally refers to any sedimentary rock that contains solid bituminous materials that are released as petroleum-like liquids after heating by chemical process of pyrolysis. Oil shale is formed by deposition of organic debris and silt on lake beds and sea bottoms. Over a long period of time, this material is transformed into sedimentary rock by heat and pressure. Oil shales are rich in oil content and can be burned without any additional processing.
With depletion in natural resources, the oil shale market is growing in demand due to large availability of deposits in the world, mainly found in America. Increasing oil prices, energy security, and economic benefits are some important factors driving the growth of the oil shale industry.
Earlier, oil shale was used as a fuel and source of oil in smaller quantities; however, currently few countries are employed in the business of producing oil from oil shale at a significant commercial level. However, the process of extracting oil from oil shales is much costlier compared to conventional pumped oil and this is the major challenge faced by the oil shale industry.
Governments of many countries are employing sufficient man power and undertaking research to bring down the overall cost and better the extraction technology.
The oil shale market research report provides complete analysis of this market based on important market segments and major geographies. It is a comprehensive analysis of current market trends, future market projections, industry growth drivers, restraints, and industry structure. Report also includes analysis of technological advancements in industry, Porter’s five force model analysis, and detailed profiles of top market players. It provides review of micro and macro factors significant with respect to existing market players and new entrants with value chain analysis.




Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Hybrid Power Generation Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2014 – 2020

Long-term promise and potential for renewable energy sources remains vast. But the reality of current renewable technologies and the plain fact that today’s utilities and their users demand constant availability means that fossil fuels are here to stay for a while longer as a base generation source. However, that does not mean that renewable have to take a back seat in the evolving power-generation market. There are strategies for renewable integration that utilities and power-generating companies should consider implementing that expand the value and functionality of renewable. The advancements in hybrid configurations, leverage renewable sources so they can make increased energy contributions far exceeding previously envisioned limits. The intelligent, strategic use of hybrid systems (fossil fuels and renewable energy) significantly lowers fuel consumption, which improves operating economics and curtails emissions.
The high quality of exhaust heat from such generators can also be harnessed for heating purposes. Such power plants are usually employed for providing electricity grid relief and power supply during peak consumption hours. However with technological advancements these plants are now also being utilized for supplying base loads. Very fast startup times for these plants also provide opportunities for using them as backup generation for emergencies. With shale gas and coal bed methane being considered as valuable sources of energy for the future, and the fact that renewable sources of energy are unending, the opportunities of this market are substantial. Certain factors like increasing cost of both oil and natural gas as well as increased prices of renewable capture components (e.g. solar panels) in most nations may prove to be barriers to growth. However demand for hybrid generation is not likely to slow down in the near future specially in OECD countries.
There are many ways in which such generators can be used for generation of electricity and other forms of useful energy. Hybrid turbines for electricity generation may be segmented based on the combination of equipment used to generate energy, for instance diesel generators combined with wind-generated energy. Such turbines can also be segmented on basis of feedstock consumed for generating power. The fuels that may be considered are natural gas, fuel oil, kerosene and diesel as fossil fuels and wind energy and solar energy as renewable.
Majority of plants using theses turbines are clustered around regions where fuel to run them are abundantly available. However with global trade of oil and natural gas growing and peak demand problems becoming more acute more nations are opting for such power plants. China is emerging as the leading energy consumer of the world thus increasing the prospects of using this source of generation in the Asia Pacific region. Also contributing to installations is Japan which has begun replacing nuclear generation after the Fukushima disaster, with natural gas-based hybrid generation. In the OECD countries the majority chunk of thermal generation comes from such power plants. Use of such power plants is predominant in Middle Eastern, Eurasian and North American regions. The regional segmentation for these turbines can be done based on North American, Middle Eastern, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (ROW) regions.
Some of the key players in this industry include NYE Thermodynamics Corporation, Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Ltd., Siemens AG, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd., and MJB International.
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Lubrication Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2014 – 2020

Effective lubrication systems form an essential component of any lubrication program by enabling customers to reduce consumption and energy consumption. Lubrication systems provide essential amounts of lubricants to minimize friction and wear & tear in moving parts of machinery. These systems are widely used in industrial applications to improve the productivity and reliability of machine parts. With the advancement of technology several monitoring and controlling systems have been developed which assists in further increasing the reliability and performance of lubrication systems. Essential parts within lubrication systems such as lubricant reservoirs and lubricant injectors are generally monitored by alarm systems. When the lubricant reservoir decreases or any unwanted flow trend in noted an alarm signal is sent to the main controlling room. The market for lubrication systems is anticipated to grow at a substantial rate owing to its increasing usage in industrial and automotive applications.
The rapid industrialization in developing economies and requirement of efficient lubrication systems in automobiles are the major drivers for the lubrication systems market. Moreover, the reduction in the wear and tear losses on use of lubrication system is another factor driving the lubrication system market. The use of lubrication systems reduces the cost involved in damage repair of the machine parts. Energy efficiency initiatives taken by industrial groups and environmental regulations are also essential driving forces attracting investment in this market. Lack of awareness about the presence and benefits of the lubrication systems among the end users is one of the major restraints of lubrication systems market. Increasing industrialization especially in Asia Pacific countries such as China, India and Indonesia can act as the opportunity for the lubrication systems market.
The segmentation of the lubrication systems market can be done on the basis of type, technology, end user industry and geography. On the basis of type the lubrication systems market can be categorized as manual, centralized and automated systems. The centralized and automated lubrication systems are the dominant segments in this category. On the basis of technology the lubrication systems can be divided into dual line lubrication systems, single shot oil lubrication systems, progressive lubrication systems, gear spray lubrication systems, conveyor lubrication systems and multipoint lubrication systems. Major end users of lubrication systems include industrial machines, cement industry, steel and paper industry, automobile, power and energy industries. The use of lubrication systems by these industries protect their machineries against the wear and tear caused due to the friction amongst the components.
Currently, Europe is the major market for lubrication systems. The energy efficiency measures and environmental regulations announced by industrialized nations in this region is a major factor attracting investment in the lubrication systems market. Several major automobile companies also operate in Europe which further drives investments in this market. North America also occupies a significant market share of the global lubrication system market. The expanding industrial economies of Asia Pacific are potential markets for the lubrication system market. The growing demand of lubrication systems from the automobile and the mineral processing segment is also anticipated to account for a significant portion in Asia Pacific. Industrialization activities in Latin America and Africa also provide growth opportunities to the lubrication systems market.
Some of the key players in the lubrication system market include companies such as Cenlub Systems, SKF, Dropco Multilub Systems Private Limited, and Lincoln Industrial Corp.



Electric Power Generation Infrastructure Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2014 – 2020

Surge in economic development after the recession has led to the growth in power infrastructure development activities. Supportive nature of government policies, concerns related to energy security, increase in population is the major factors that have fuelled the electric power generation market. Many new thermal, hydro, solar and wind related power generation projects have started as countries are looking to boost their generation capacities in order to satisfy the energy demand. Stringent government regulations advocating the use of renewable energy is another factor that has boosted the development of global power generation infrastructure. Decline in per watt cost of generation coupled with the provision of bonuses and subsidies on use of renewable energy have played a significant role in power generation infrastructure market. Beside the renewable sources the easy availability of fossil fuel in the market has also driven the power generation infrastructure market. Countries are now engaged in importing fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil and natural gas to feed their power plants.
The segmentation of the electric power generation infrastructure market can be done on the basis of type of energy sources and geography. Power projects can be divided into either renewable energy based and non renewable energy based power projects. Renewable power projects utilize solar, wind, tidal, wave and geothermal energy to generate power. The clean power generation without any toxic emission is one the major advantage of using renewable sources. Moreover, being abundant in nature these resources can be utilized again and again without depletion. On the other non renewable power projects utilizes fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas to generate power.
The regional segmentation of the electric power generation infrastructure market include countries such as the United States, Canada and Mexico in North America. The increase in population coupled with the easy availability of fossil fuels is one of the major factors influencing the North American power infrastructure market. Moreover, govern support through tax rebates and subsidies have also affected the development of power infrastructure. European market includes countries such as Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Climate and energy targets decided by the European Union have led to the development of renewable energy based power projects in these regions. Asia Pacific region include countries such as China, India, Japan and South Korea. The Middle East and African region includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, Ira, Iraq, Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria. Easy availability of fossil fuel is on the major factor in the development of power infrastructure in this region. Rest of the World segment includes the Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.
Increasing population and growing power demand, supportive government policies, concerns related to energy security are the major drivers for the electric power generation infrastructure market. High installation and operating costs and lack of grid infrastructure in some of the countries is the major restraint to the electric power generation infrastructure market. Increasing population along with the rapid industrialization can act as the opportunity for the companies in electric power generation infrastructure market.
Some of the major players in electric power generation infrastructure market includes companies such as Acciona, S.A., LANCO Group, Reliance Infrastructure, Tokyo Electric Power Company and GDF SUEZ S.A.



Micro Hydro Electric Market - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2014 – 2020

Water power can be utilized in numerous ways; tidal flows can be used to generate power by building a barrage across an estuary and discharging water in a controlled and systematic manner by a turbine; large dams accumulate water, which can be utilized to provide ample quantities of power; wave power is also harnessed in different ways. It is a method that has been in use throughout the world, by a diverse range of cultures and societies. Water can be harnessed from small to large hydro electric plants.
In United Kingdom, water mills are in use for the past 900 years. Their numbers grew rapidly and by the end of 19th century, there were over 20,000 water mills in operation in England itself. In Europe, Asia and few parts of Africa, water wheels were utilized to propel various industrial machineries, such as mills and pumps. First effective water turbine appeared in the middle of 19th century and they started replacing water wheels in various applications. In contrast to the water wheels and turbines, modern turbines are small, highly efficient and are capable of running at high speed. Hydropower is a reliable technology, relying on non -polluting, renewable and indigenous resource, which can easily integrate with irrigation and water supply projects all across the globe. Of the total, china constitutes more than 85,000 small-scale, electricity generating hydropower plants.
In the last decade, there has been a growing realization in emerging economies in which micro - hydro schemes have played an important role in the economic development of remote rural areas, especially mountains. Micro hydro schemes can generate power for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses through direct mechanical power or by the coupling the turbine to a generator to develop electricity.
In order to determine the power potential of the water flowing in a river it is important to determine both the flow rate of the water and the head by which the water can be made to fall. The flow rate is the amount of water flowing past a point in a specific time. Generally, flow rate units are liters per second. The head is the vertical height measured in meters from the turbine up to the point, where the water enters the penstock.
However, some amount energy is always lost when it is transformed from one form to another. Small water turbines hardly have efficiencies more than 75%. Power will also be wasted in the pipe carrying the water to the turbine, due to some frictional losses. By a systematic design, this loss can be lower down to a small percentage. A rough guide used for small systems of a few kW rating is utilized to take the overall efficiency as approximately as 45%. Hence, the theoretical power has to be multiplied by 0.50 for more accurate results.
Growing population and developing economies are some of the key drivers of the micro hydroelectric generator market. However, limited exposure regarding micro hydroelectric generators can hinder the growth of the market. Ample opportunities are there for the micro hydroelectric generator market owing to rapid industrialization taking place in Asia Pacific countries such as India and China.
Some of the key companies in the business of Micro hydroelectric generator market are Rainbow Power Company Ltd, Brownell Micro Hydro, Hebden Bridge Alternative Technology Centre Ltd., Canyon Industries, Inc., Addnew Technologies Limited, Alps Power Technologies (P) Limited and Addnew Technologies Limited among others.

Thursday, 19 March 2015

Directional Drilling Market - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2014 – 2020

Increasing demand for oil and natural gas has led to the rise in both on-shore and off-shore drilling activities across the world. On account of its higher productivity and throughput rates over conventional vertical drilling, directional drilling has gained immense popularity in recent years. Directional drilling is the process of drilling wherein the contractors attempt to alter or change the inclination or azimuth of the drill hole. This can be achieved through bottom hole assembly selections and, directional drilling or wedging tools. In order to change or control the direction of drilling holes, the drilling contractors need to plan and select a proper method to ensure smooth completion of the project. In the bottom hole assembly selection method, drilling contractors make use of longer reaming shells, stabilized full hole barrels and set parameters for the crew to gain a better control over the drill hole. Instead of steering the hole in a particular direction, this method minimizes the directional change of the drilling hole due to natural formation tendencies.
In case of the directional or retrievable wedges, drilling contractors can cut a secondary hole off an existing hole. With the use of directional wedges, drilling crew is able to set up and control if a hole is heading off line. Contractors make use of retrievable wedges in cases where the client requires no piece of metal to be left in the drilled hole. With the use of such methods, drilling contractors are able to ensure cost effective and quicker completion of drilling project with higher quality.
One of the major factors driving the growth of directional drilling market is the sustained high oil prices across the world. With increasing need for higher productivity and efficiency of oil drilling process, there has been an increase in the demand for directional drilling. In addition, maturity of on-shore drilling sites has led to the exploration of numerous untapped off-shore resource sites. Oil and gas companies along with drilling contractors seek to make use of directional drilling to gain higher control on the direction of hole on such new sites. Another factor driving the demand for directional drilling market is the ability to retrieve the drilling spear and other drilling equipment from the hole. In cases where metal cannot be left in the drilled hole, directional drilling has offered a viable solution in achieving a precise and clear hole. Despite its immense benefits, the directional drilling market faces a few restraints due to environmental risks and strict government regulations. Companies in the directional drilling market need to deal with such challenges to carry out drilling activities across the world.
With increasing demand for deep and ultra-deep water oil and gas reserves, the directional drilling market has been lucrative in recent years. Companies in this market offer various directional drilling services, turbo-drills, mud motors, steering and measurement tools and rotary steerable systems. Companies seek to gain leverage of the increasing intensity of directionally and horizontally drilled wells across the world. Some of the key players in the directional drilling market include Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling, Inc., Halliburton Co., Baker Hughes, Inc., Ensco Plc., Weatherford International Plc., and Schlumberger Limited.



Oil Refinery Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2014 – 2020

The global oil refinery market is expected to increase due to rising energy demand, evolving technology and new sources of the crude oil explored during the forecast period. In 2013, the global refinery capacity has increased significantly. Apart from Europe, refinery capacity has increased substantially worldwide.
A refinery is a processing facility that consists of various processing units that convert raw materials into different products. Some of the products produced in the refinery may need further processing. A refinery is used to process crude oil into various products and intermediates. Crude oil is transported to the refineries using pipelines. The first processing unit in the refinery is desalination. Crude oil contains various salts and impurities that can be harmful for the other processing units. All the impurities are not removed from the crude oil in desalination unit. After desalination crude oil passes through various preheat trains that increase the temperature of crude oil. The temperature is further increased using a heater before it enters the crude distillation unit (CDU). Crude oil is processed into a distillation column and separated into different components on the basis of boiling point. The component with low boiling points goes to the top of the tower and the one with the highest boiling point remains at the bottom of the distillation tower.
The products from a crude distillation unit from top to bottom are liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, diesel oils, fuel oil and residue. These products are further processed in various units to remove impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen. Residue from the crude oil is further processed in vacuum distillation unit (VDU). The products obtained from vacuum distillation units are light vaccine gas oil, heavy vacuum gas oil and base oils for manufacturing lubricants.
The global oil refinery market can be segmented on the basis of type of crude processed by the refinery into sweet crude and sour crude. Asia Pacific has the highest refining capacity followed by the North America. The refinery capacity of china has increased significantly. By the end of 2013, China’s refining capacity rose to 12.7 million barrels per day. China is the largest importer of crude oil and the increasing refinery capacity is due to the need to process such large amount of crude oil. China is planning to further increase its refining capacity in the coming year. The world’s largest refinery is owned by Reliance Industries. The refinery is situated in Jamnagar, India and has a capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day. Paraguana is the second largest refinery in the world and has a capacity of 955,000 barrels per day. Some of the factors driving the global oil refinery market are changing economies of developing countries, upgrades or revamps of a refinery to process new crude oil.
Some of the key players in the global oil refinery market are Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company, Chevron Corporation, China National Petroleum Company, Conoco Phillips, ENI, Exxon Mobil, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Total Oil, Kuwait Petroleum International, National Iranian Oil Company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, National Iranian Oil Company, Essar Oil Limited, Saudi Aramco Lubricating Oil Refining Company and Reliance Industries Ltd.



Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Magnetic Separator Market for Mining Industry - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2014 – 2020

The global mining industries are gaining importance due to the rising demand for advanced goods and appliances in industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. Magnetic separator is a device used in mining industries to separate out the impurities from the valuable mineral particles. Such minerals are further treated to be made usable in manufacturing of other commodities and devices. Hence, the success of a mining industry is integral to the development of magnetic separator market.
A magnetic separator works on the principal of degrees of attraction between the magnetic particles and the magnet. Such device works by attracting the ferrous minerals or impurities whichever it may be. The extracted and treated minerals when undergoing magnetic separation process are placed on a moving conveyor belt in an electromagnetic field. The ferrous particles are strongly attracted to the magnet and get separated out from the mixture of minerals and impurities. There may be particles that may repel or show no reaction to such magnetic force. Such particles fall off the conveyor belt and are collected in separate collectors.
The growth of magnetic separator market is dependent upon the progress of the mining industries. With increasing industrialization and urbanization worldwide the mining industries are experiencing an evolution as a result of growing need for mined minerals especially by construction and manufacturing industries. In addition the rising commodity prices may result in growth of the mining industries and further result in magnetic separator market evolvement. The upcoming advanced magnetic separators with added functionalities such as energy saving, automatic cooling of electromagnets, increased purification capacity tend to minimize their maintenance and repair costs. The factor hindering the growth of magnetic separator market is the expensive research and development activities involved in such technology.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest market for magnetic separators. Mainly, India and China with their expanding manufacturing bases are increasingly demanding for high quality mined minerals for their manufacturing sectors. Further increasing radioactive mining activity in such nations is assumed to contribute in progression of magnetic separator market. The magnetic separator market is estimated to show high growth in North America rapid development of automotive and renewable industries which demand the use of superior tools and devices in their operations. Europe being gradually recovering from its ongoing economic downturn is likely to be cautious in its investments in such market. Hence, magnetic separator market is probable to experience a gradual development.
The magnetic separator market is segmented on the type of magnets used in magnetic separating equipments. Different magnets produce different degree of magnetic flux power. The various types of magnets include electro magnets, permanent magnets, and self cleaning magnets. Electro magnets are preferred in removal process of large ferrous pieces from the mineral gangue mixtures. Permanent magnets are used to separate out the tramp ferrous particles from the mineral ore. After the collection of such particles in the magnet, non metallic stainless steel is employed to remove them off the magnets. Self cleaning magnets are based on the combined technologies of both electro magnets and permanent magnets. Such magnets are capable of automatically removing and separating the magnetic and non magnetic particles from the mineral ore.
Some of the key players in the magnetic separator market for mining industry are Henan Caesar Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd., GIAMAG Technologies AS, Eriez Manufacturing Co., and STEINERT Elektromagnetbau GmbH.



Transportation Fuel Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2014 – 2020

Fuels, either fossil or renewable in nature, that are used to power a mode of transportation are known as transport fuels. Any engine installed in a car, truck or an airplane requires a source of power generation, which can only be done if there is a fuel source to propel the engine. The evolution of transportation fuel can be dated back to the advent of Industrial Revolution, which brought about mechanical innovation. This also influenced the way man and material travelled across distances, and the need for covering long journeys in a short while grew quickly. As railway engines developed during 1763 to 1775, the need for diesel increased with it. Further down the timeline steam engines were later found to propel ships and cars started running on internal combustion engines. Technology progressed and developed air travel by the time the two World Wars were over. By the dawn of the new millennium, further advancement led to running of engines on bio-based fuels and/or renewable energy sources. This decade has already seen a minor part of the transportation sector being propelled by electricity in the form of battery recharging stations.
The basic need for fuel to propel engines and the need for transportation are also the most important drivers of the transportation fuel market. Rise in population, increasing purchase power and rising standard of living are also responsible for the growth of the market. Demand can also be attributed to the growing number of automobiles, railway lines, ships and airplanes that are needed for the transportation of personnel and materials across regions. A major drawback of transportation fuels is their influence on the environment. Since most transportation fuels used till today are fossil fuel-based, they contribute more towards harming the environment. Furthermore, transportation fuels need to be refined from crude oil to generate high quality fuels in order to avoid corrosion of engines. Refining is a major step in making transportation fuels viable for use, which adds to the cost of the fuel and further deteriorates the environment in the form of effluents, both air and water based. Technological development will see a considerable increase in the use of bio-based and/or renewable energy sources to power engines, in the years to come.
Segmentation of the transportation fuel market can be done on the basis of applicable modes of transportation that they used in, such as, road, rail, air and sea. Despite this transportation fuel can be bifurcated based on the actual products, namely, aviation turbine fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG), gasoline, diesel, kerosene and liquid oxygen. Based on the type of engine, the market is fragmented into combustion engines and electrical engines. Combustion engines can be further subdivided into internal combustion, external combustion and air-breathing combustion.
Geographically, transportation fuel is not processed across the globe, but is demanded by and supplied to every country that runs transportation services within it. The regions covered are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW).
Some of the key players in the processing of transportation fuel across the globe are: ExxonMobil Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc, BP plc, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Limited), Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Valero Energy Corporation, Chevron Corporation, Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) and Phillips 66.



Sunday, 8 March 2015

Where Oil and Gas Infrastructure Security Market is Headed in the Next Six Years

Global energy demand is expected to rise by as much as 50% over the next 25 years. This combined with depletion of existing fossil fuel reserves will mean extensive exploration and production activities by the offshore oil and gas industry in the years to come. 75 percent of this increased requirement is expected to come from the developing world. Security provides industries the freedom to find, develop and manage assets and to deliver services and supplies without interference. Being secure is a result of having the correct strategy through innovative technology, supported by rigorous systems management. Even a simple standalone offshore well site’s risk assessment must consider type of fluids produced, well pressure, directional configuration, measured depth and vertical depth, water access, location, sub-surface safety valve, well maturity and reserves, damage containment, and possible collateral damage. The oil and gas infrastructure security market will experience steady growth over the next lustrum. The unconventional oil and gas boom, the expansion of the LNG infrastructure supply chain, continued offshore developments and the emergence of the digital oilfield are all prime factors for new security solution spending.
There are myriad factors affecting the security environment in which oil and gas assets are developed and transited. Current oil and gas infrastructure, future expansion plans, the present and evolving security situation and the perception of those responsible for infrastructure security all shape current and future spending. Threat perception is particularly important for the IT asset security market; this is because many small and medium cap oil and gas enterprises (SMEs) continue to be unaware of the vulnerabilities inherent in the automation and control systems they are beginning to use on a daily basis. Instability in some market spaces is currently on the increase - Nigeria, Libya, Iraq, Yemen - to name but a few examples, and this is increasing the security spending on onshore infrastructure security personnel. The involvement of homeland security or military assets in the protection of oil and gas assets further drives up spending. On the other hand, establishing and maintaining such security measures require constant diligence as well as time, effort and investment which can be cumbersome and can divert the market from its core competencies, which is provision of products and services. However, since these measures are imperative in such volatile times, no leniency can be shown, which acts as a positive catalyst for the market.
The oil and gas infrastructure security market can be segmented based on the solution provided viz. asset protection; and by services: consulting, system design and integration, risk and threat assessment, managed security services, and training and education. End users in this industry are corporations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) mainly based in industries such as aerospace and defense, BFSI, education, energy and utilities, government, telecommunication and logistics.
Geographically, the demand market for petroleum infrastructure security solutions is concentrated in areas that account for the most production and supply of products and services as well as the level of threat experienced. Major demand is being seen from the Middle Eastern and African oil producing countries along with many others, such as Malaysia, China and Australia in the Asia Pacific region. Increase in cyber systems integration is also being seen in the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. European regions have tightened security mostly at their North Sea pipelines as well as drilling positions. The demand from U.S. and Canada has experienced a steady rise owing to their extensive civil and defense installations offshore, mostly oil wells and telecommunication equipment.
Some of the key market players involved in the provision of cyber security systems are Aegis Defense Services Limited, Airbus Defense and Space, G4S plc, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation and Thales Group.

Rise in Growth of Nuclear Power Plant Equipments...

A rising demand for energy coupled with an increasing drive for switching over to cleaner methods of power generation is likely to bolster the market for nuclear power plant equipments in the future. With the onset of the nuclear renaissance, there is likely to be significant new capacity addition of nuclear power generation capacity globally. There are nearly 20 countries in the world utilizing nuclear power, with about 10 countries aggressively pursuing nuclear generation as an integral part of their generation mix. After the Fukishima disaster in Japan, the global nuclear power plant equipments market is likely to face uncertainty in terms of demand from certain nations. On one hand, the disaster in Japan might trigger negative sentiments regarding use of nuclear energy leading to slowdown in adoption and commissioning of plants.
However on the other hand, the event might also trigger decommissioning of old plants and subsequent installation of new nuclear power plants with better technologies and multiple redundant safety backups. In the event of new capacity being added to replace older plants, there is likely to be a higher demand for nuclear power plant equipments. Overall, nuclear power plants are fully capable of providing very high load and availability factors giving steady base load generation. With very low emissions and generating costs at par with coal fired plants, nuclear energy is likely to be adopted with much gusto in the future. One of the major equipments for nuclear power plants is the reactors. There are various types of reactors currently in operation with the two most common ones being boiling water reactors (BWR) and pressurized water reactors (PWR).
Apart from these, other forms of reactors such as CANDU reactors are also being deployed. One of the most important parts of a nuclear power plant is the fuel assemblies. Nuclear fuel comprises of fuel rods which are arranged together in the form of fuel assemblies, and contains fissile elements capable of sustaining a nuclear fission reaction. Some of the nuclear fuels being used today around the world include Uranium-235 and Plutonium -239. Very large fuel assemblies are required to power large nuclear reactors. A pressurized water reactor (PWR) might require 13 feet high individual fuel assemblies with nearly 264 fuel rods present within.
Other equipments required include the internal piping mechanisms and enclosures. Owing to the radiation risk, nuclear reactors need to be adequately shielded using lead, steel and concrete. Turbines are also a vital part of any nuclear power plant. Since nuclear power plants generally require economies of scale to generate power at economical and cost competitive rates, large turbines are likely to be in demand in the future. Other vital components of a nuclear power plant include heat exchanger systems, which are mostly installed in a closed loop form. Owing to the radiation risk, there are generally three kinds of heat transfer fluids circulating inside the plant, which generally require advanced heat exchanging systems. Other important equipments include the control rod assembly which is essential to control the rate of nuclear fission. Without the control rods there is a risk of an uncontrolled chain reaction ultimately resulting in an explosion. Overall the nuclear power plant equipments market is likely to be the most attractive in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Some of the major players in the nuclear power plant equipments market include Dongfang Electric Corporation Ltd, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Alstom SA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd among others.

Sunday, 1 March 2015

Report on Natural Gas Market - Global Forecast and Industry Outlook, 2014 – 2020

From deep wells in the earth’s surface, companies extract hydrocarbons comprising predominantly of methane mixtures, which is then processed and refined into pure methane and transported as pipeline quality gas to be distributed in households, commercial establishments, and industry as a fuel. These reserves come from reservoirs comprising crude oils, water carbon dioxide and other non-commercial substances. Pure methane is extracted from the materials and is transferred through local and long-distance pipelines for delivery to various customers.


Natural gas marketing can be defined as selling of natural gas. In simple terms, it is referred as the process of coordinating at numerous levels, the business of extracting natural gas from the wellhead to the end users. The role of marketers is very crucial and is not confined at a single place in the entire natural gas chain. Marketers can be affiliates of production companies and local utility players in the natural gas industry. It is the duty of natural gas marketers to ensure that an unbiased market prevails for natural gas. Marketing of natural gas comprises of all the intermediate steps that a particular purchase requires comprising accounting, transportation arrangement, storage and sale of natural gas.

Natural gas prices are set through market forces, the buying and selling of the commodity by market players is based on the demand and supply that helps in determining the average price of natural gas. There are two separate markets for natural gas, the spot market and the future market. Spot market is the daily market, where natural gas is traded and is bought and sold. To know the exact price of natural gas on a particular day the spot market price is the most informative. The future market comprises of trading of natural gas under contract of atleast one month and can go up to 36 months.

Natural gas futures are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures contracts are one of an increasing number of derivative contracts used in commodities markets and can be quite complex and difficult to understand.

Natural gas is traded and priced at various locations throughout the country. These locations are called as market hubs and exist across the country. There are more than 20 major market hubs present in the U.S., the major one is called as the Henry Hub, in Louisiana. The futures contracts are traded on the NYMEX are Henry Hub contracts.

Primarily types of natural gas trading exist: financial trading and physical trading. Physical trading is the basic type, which includes buying and selling of the physical commodity. Financial trading includes derivatives and sophisticated financial instruments in which no one ie the buyer and seller never takes the delivery of the commodity.

Emerging economies, increasing investments and growing populations are some of the key drivers of the natural gas market. However, ongoing geopolitical activities in various countries can hamper the growth of natural gas market. Ample opportunities are there for natural gas market as demand for energy in increasing at a healthy rate in Asia Pacific countries especially in India and China.

Some of the key companies in the business of natural gas are Piedmont Natural Gas, Gas South, LLC., CenterPoint Energy, Georgia Natural Gas, Oklahoma Natural Gas, Atmos Energy Corporation and GAIL(India) Ltd. among others.