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The Politics of Renewable Energy in East Africa / Emma Gordon. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Aug. 2018, 30 p. (OIES Paper: EL 29) https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/politics-renewable-energy-east-africa/Less than a quarter of the population in East Africa has access to electricity – the lowest electrification rates in the world. This, combined with the region’s vast natural resources, present major opportunities for renewable energy investors. Solar irradiation levels are high due to proximity to the equator, wind speeds are some of the strongest on the continent, hydropower resources are plentiful and the Great Rift Valley is a promising source for geothermal power.Employing a country risk approach, this paper will compare the two largest economies in the region – Ethiopia and Kenya – to show how government policy impacts the decision on renewable energy investment. Both countries have ambitious renewable targets and have created favourable policies for the sector. Equally, both have strong resources that span renewable energy types. Despite these similarities, the investment experience in the two countries is vastly different. In Ethiopia’s case, there are significant advantages to on-grid investments, whereas in Kenya, off-grid solutions present lower risks. The paper will explain these differences in investment as well as some of common obstacles that affect both solutions, from financing challenges to the 100% renewable debate.The future of blockchain in district heating An investigation of possible blockchain applications for a Swedish district heating company / Hedda Gunnarson and Elin Melin Hamber. Stockholm : KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Indsurial Enginering and Management, June 2018, 166 p. (Master of Science Thesis) https://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1235834/FULLTEXT01.pdfBlockchain is described as having endless theoretical potential. In reality however, it is hard to establish how blockchain can be utilized and what opportunities blockchain may create. The unclear future of blockchain constitutes a challenge for many companies. Many large incumbents are uncertain of how to implement blockchain technology in their organization and are anxious about the consequences of the new technology. The purpose of this exploratory study is to evaluate blockchain applications for a district heating company in Stockholm to understand favorable areas, necessary criteria for successful implementation and how blockchain could enable new business opportunities in the district heating market. To be able to reach the purpose of the thesis a literature study and an empirical study were performed. The literature study is in the form of an extensive investigation about the areas of blockchain and district heating. The empirical study includes 17 interviews, both internal interviews with employees at Stockholm Exergi and external interviews conducted with professionals with knowledge about blockchain, district heating and the energy sector. Furthermore, two workshops, in collaboration with Stockholm Exergi, were performed at the end of the thesis to evaluate and prioritize the developed blockchain applications...Blockchain Technology in the Energy Transition : An Exploratory Study on How Electric Utilities Can Approach Blockchain Technology / Charlotta Edeland and Therese Mörk. Stockholm : KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Indsurial Enginering and Management, 21/06/2018, 141 p. (Master of Science Thesis) https://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1235832/FULLTEXT01.pdfAbstract : The blockchain activity within the energy sector is high, and the list of use cases is continuously growing. The distributed and immutable nature of blockchain technology could potentially be leveraged to accelerate the ongoing transition to more decentralized and digitalised energy systems and to address some of the challenges the industry is facing. However, blockchain is an emerging technology and it is seen as a critical uncertainty by many incumbents as the challenges and opportunities of implementation are still largely unknown. There is thus a lack of knowledge and scarcity of decision-making tools for understanding why, when and how the technology can add profound value. This study sets out to explore how utilities can evaluate and prioritize among blockchain-based use cases and gain practical knowledge about how blockchain could be implemented...New World Energy Order: The Obstacles to the Golden Age of American Energy Dominance / Vahe Davtyan, International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 2018, 8(4), 157-168 http://econjournals.com/index.php/ijeep/article/download/6727/3799The article explores the peculiarities of US energy policy at the present stage with the definition of its main geopolitical consequences. The basic economic prerequisites for implementing the energy strategy, identified by President D. Trump as “the golden age of American energy dominance,” are studied. In this regard, the US energy resources and infrastructure are assessed. The degree of influence of US energy policy on the foreign policy agenda (US-Russia, US-EU, US-Ukraine, US-China, US-Persian Gulf) are identified. It is revealed, that the actualization of the “shale revolution” and constant growth of oil production will inevitably lead to the energy independence of the US from the OPEC and also affect the oil prices in world markets.