strategy+business: ENERGY

Algae at a Pump Near You?

by Theodore Kinni — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Calls for oil independence and alternative energy sources have recently placed renewed focus on algal biofuels as a substitute for petroleum. Physicist William Cooke has spent the past three years on the York River, near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, cultivating microalgae in open waters. He recently spoke with strategy+business about the industry's prospects--and what's holding it back.

Innovating for Energy's Future

by Edward H. Baker and Tom Flaherty — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Under chairman and CEO Thomas A. (Tom) Fanning, Southern Company has been deeply committed to a wide range of R&D efforts designed to employ a diverse mix of fuel resources. This, according to Fanning, is the key to clean, reliable, and affordable energy: a bold and balanced approach to innovation.

Talent Is a Strategic Asset: A Virtual Roundtable

Introduced by Christopher Click — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:00:00 GMT

At the Devon Energy Corporation, one of the leading U.S. producers of oil and natural gas through horizontal drilling, building the most critical capabilities requires a high-touch approach to human capital and the HR function. In this roundtable, four senior Devon executives describe the people strategy -- based on professionalism and accountability -- that helped their energy company realize its strategic goals.

A New Role for Natural Resources Companies

by Mary Stacey, Marilyn Taylor, and David Legge — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT

We need a new way to think about natural resources: a shift in mind-set from simply managing resources to practicing resource leadership . Resource producers, in partnership with resource consumers and supported by policymakers, can create this new business model by thinking strategically about natural resources from the moment they are pulled from the earth through to their end use. A growing number of companies are recognizing the potential value of this approach.

Solar Comes of Age

by Laura W. Geller — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The solar energy industry is entering a dynamic period, as costs decline, demand for electricity continues to grow, and competition heats up. Carrie Cullen Hitt, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association, argues that with the right mix of rules, policies, and incentives, great opportunity exists for solar in the years ahead.

A Talent Strategy for Emerging Economies

by David Tusa and Melissa Master Cavanaugh — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The CEO and CHRO of the Middle East telecom operator Etisalat explain how they recruit and retain people for frontier markets -- the most challenging business environments in the world.

s+b Trend Watch: Big Oil Loses Its Exploration Edge

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The six integrated "supermajor" oil companies that once dominated oil and gas exploration are losing ground to independent companies.

s+b Trend Watch: Big Oil Loses Its Exploration Edge

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The six integrated "supermajor" oil companies that once dominated oil and gas exploration are losing ground to independent companies.

Chemicals: Deploy Natural Supply Chains

by Dennis Cassidy Jr., Jayant Gotpagar, and Marcus Morawietz — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Resetting the Cost Structure at Shell

by Gerard Paulides — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

A senior finance executive explains how a zero-based cost management effort is leading to significant performance improvements.

A Moore's Law for Renewable Energy

by Andrew J. McKeon — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Increasing capacity per dollar in computer technology has driven exponential growth for 50 years. The same could happen in the energy industry.

Renewable Energy at a Crossroads

by Christopher Dann, Sartaz Ahmed, and Owen Ward — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:00:00 GMT

The wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal sector has grown in fits and starts -- and now may have the momentum to become a self-sustaining industry.

Will Your Next Electric Company Be a Global Oil Enterprise?

by Viren Doshi, Robert Oushoorn, and Robert Famulok — Tue, 24 May 2011 05:00:00 GMT

As the energy markets evolve, oil and gas majors should consider diversifying into power generation.

Nuclear Realism after Fukushima

by Tom Flaherty, Joe van den Berg, and Nicolas Volpicelli — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:00:00 GMT

A hasty, large-scale movement away from nuclear power would not resolve most of the issues raised by the ongoing crisis in Japan. Instead, we need more thoughtful discussions now about the energy systems of the future.

Big Oil and the Natural Gas Bonanza

by Christopher Click, Andrew Clyde, and John Corrigan — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

The oil majors hope to make major money in natural gas, but can they learn to operate two distinct types of businesses under one roof?

Big Oil's Big Shift

by Viren Doshi, Hege Nordahl, and Adrian del Maestro — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

As a result of the Gulf accident, the oil industry faces profound changes -- not just in the management of environmental risks, but in every aspect of its business.

China's Clean Tech Boom

by Laura W. Geller — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Bruce Usher, the former CEO of EcoSecurities, describes China's path to leadership in renewable energy.

Why We Hate the Oil Companies

by John Hofmeister — Mon, 03 May 2010 05:00:00 GMT

As Shell's then top U.S. executive traveled the country, he discovered how corporate leaders create their own reputation for arrogance -- and lose their chance to deliver the right message.

A Renewable Oasis

by Melissa Master Cavanaugh — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Why oil-rich Abu Dhabi is building the world's first zero-carbon city.

After Copenhagen: Impact, Change, and Implementation

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT

A conversation with Nick Pennell and Rob Fowler

An Immodest Proposal for the Next Big Fuel

by Jay Ogilvy — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

If nuclear energy represents a genuine way to deal with climate change, let's test it through a massive joint project involving the U.S., Japan, France, and China.

Overcoming Nuclear Power's Biggest Hurdle

by Noam Neusner — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:00 GMT

A cap and trade system for storing radioactive waste may be the best means to wake up a critical but moribund industry.

Energy Policy by the Numbers

by Russ Mitchell — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:00:00 GMT

A Cambridge scientist says it will take better arithmetic and less passion to replace fossil fuels by 2050.

Can the U.S. Learn to Love Renewables?

by William J. Holstein — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:00:00 GMT

The CEO of Applied Materials offers a road map for the adoption of solar energy technologies in the United States.

Pollution, Prices, and Perception

by Daniel Gabaldon — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Carbon regulation will be unexpectedly complex -- and business leaders will need to plan their approach accordingly.