Weather events have reduced our forecast of U.S. hydropower generation by 6% this year

Weather events in the U.S. Northwest this past spring and summer led to lower water supply, prompting us to reduce our forecast of U.S. hydropower generation by 6% this year compared with last year. More »

Southern California working natural gas storage increases with higher cap at Aliso Canyon

On August 31, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to increase working natural gas storage by 67% to 68.6 billion cubic feet (Bcf) at Aliso Canyon, which increased the Southern California Gas Company's (SoCalGas) total working natural gas storage to about 120 Bcf. Aliso Canyon is California's largest underground natural gas storage facility and is located northwest of Los Angeles. The CPUC approved the storage capacity increase at Aliso Canyon to avoid potential energy price increases and enhance reliability for the upcoming 2023–24 winter. More »

Kuwait's oil exports shift from crude oil to petroleum products

Kuwait's oil exports are shifting from crude oil to refined petroleum products following the addition of new refining capacity, according to data in our recently updated Country Analysis Brief: Kuwait. In June and July 2023, Kuwait exported more than 1 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum products and liquified petroleum gas, the highest volume of products the country has exported. By contrast, crude oil exports averaged about 1.6 million b/d in June and July, down from an average of 1.8 million b/d in the same period of 2022. More »

OPEC+ production cuts drive up sour crude oil price around the world

Crude oil production cuts among OPEC+ members are limiting the global supply of medium, sour and heavy, sour grades of crude oil. These cuts are increasing prices for these grades compared with sweet crude oils, reversing typical price relationships. More »

Ecuador has continued to expand use of hydroelectric power

Hydropower has played a key and growing role in Ecuador’s electricity mix by displacing fossil fuels and helping meet higher domestic electricity demand. In 2011, hydroelectric power accounted for 55% of the country’s electricity mix, and electricity from fossil fuels accounted for 43%. In 2021, hydropower produced 79% of Ecuador’s electricity, and fossil fuels produced less than 20%. More »

The United States surpassed two million on-road light-duty electric vehicles in 2021

In 2021, the number of U.S. registered light-duty electric vehicles (EV) on the roads reached 2.13 million vehicles, a sharp increase from the less than 100,000 EVs on the roads in 2012, according to our Monthly Energy Review. More »

Changes in U.S. residential natural gas prices lag spot prices

Monthly average natural gas wholesale spot prices at the U.S. benchmark Henry Hub have been generally declining so far in 2023, but these relatively low prices do not immediately translate into lower retail prices for residential consumers. Changes in retail natural gas prices lag changes in wholesale natural gas prices, largely due to the nature of utility regulation. Over longer periods, changes in natural gas wholesale and retail prices are more closely correlated. More »

China imported record volumes of crude oil in the first half of 2023

Record volumes of crude oil were imported into China during the first half of 2023 because of refinery expansions in the country and initiatives to reopen the economy after the government eased COVID-19 mobility restrictions. China imported an average of 11.4 million barrels of crude oil per day (b/d) in the first half of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022’s annual average of 10.2 million b/d. More »

Energy use for transportation increased from pre-pandemic levels in 2021 in only 12 states

Use of energy for transportation remained low in the United States during 2021 compared with pre-pandemic levels and only increased in 12 states. Average U.S. transportation energy use decreased by 5% from 2019 to 2021, according to our State Energy Data System (SEDS). Although transportation energy use did increase in every state in 2021 compared with 2020, transportation in the majority of states still remained below 2019 pre-pandemic levels in 2021. More »

U.S. ethane production established a new record in April 2023

U.S. ethane production reached a new monthly record of 2.7 million barrels per day (b/d) in April 2023, continuing the upward trend that started in 2013, according to data from our Petroleum Supply Monthly. Increased natural gas and ethane production in the Permian Basin, which spans Texas and New Mexico, drove the national increase. More »

The United States exported more LNG than any other country in the first half of 2023

The United States exported more liquefied natural gas (LNG) than any other country in the first half of 2023 (1H23), according to data from CEDIGAZ. U.S. LNG exports averaged 11.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during this period, 4% (0.5 Bcf/d) more than in 1H22, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy's LNG Reports. Australia exported the world's second-largest volume of LNG in 1H23, averaging 10.6 Bcf/d, followed by Qatar at 10.4 Bcf/d. The increase in U.S. LNG exports mainly resulted from Freeport LNG's return to service as global LNG demand remained strong with continuing growth, particularly in Europe. More »

Record U.S. small-scale solar capacity was added in 2022

We estimate that the United States added 6.4 gigawatts (GW) of small-scale solar capacity in 2022, the most ever in a single year. More »

Electric vehicles and hybrids make up 16% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric vehicle sales in the United States have increased in recent years as sales have decreased for non-hybrid gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles. In the second quarter of 2023 (2Q23), hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric vehicles collectively accounted for 16% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States, according to data from Wards Intelligence. More »

Heating U.S. commercial buildings is most energy intensive in cold climates

U.S. commercial buildings in cold or very cold climates were more than five times more energy intensive for space heating than buildings in hot or very hot climates, according to our latest Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS). Specifically, commercial buildings in cold or very cold climates consumed an average of 36,100 British thermal units per square foot, but buildings in hot or very hot climates consumed an average of 6,300 British thermal units per square foot. More »

In 2023, U.S. renewable diesel production capacity surpassed biodiesel production capacity

In January 2023, U.S. production capacity of renewable diesel and other biofuels reached 3 billion gallons per year, surpassing U.S. biodiesel production capacity for the first time. Rising targets for state and federal renewable fuel programs and the renewal of biomass-based diesel tax credits are driving this growth in U.S. renewable diesel capacity. More »