The Global Energy Association summed up the results of the Energy of Words International Media Contest. The jury recognized the materials of three journalists for their analytical approach, the depth of research topics and literary skill.
The winners are Andrei Reznichenko, Head of the scientific editorial office of the TASS news wire, author of a special project on how to use radiation technologies; Matthew Veazey, senior editor of the US oil and gas portal Rigzone, who submitted the material on the decommissioning of oil platforms; Mauricio Godoi, Brazilian reporter of the energy portal CanalEnergia, his feature was dedicated to the analysis of the energy storage market in Brazil. The winners will be awarded during the Global Energy Prize Laureates’ Week in early October.
A new era of the development of a mankind began with the discovery of radioactivity. The TASS news wire’s special project, prepared jointly with the state atomic energy corporation ROSATOM, implies the story on the methods of using the nuclear core and the opportunities that have appeared for humanity with the discovery of radioactivity. The author of the material, Andrei Reznichenko, gives examples of the use of radiation technologies from the medical field to the space industry. Inspection systems of crowded places are created on the basis of the properties of X-rays, with their help it is possible to determine the age of works of art, and identify. Radioisotope processing is able to bring rare books to life. Thanks to nuclear medicine, it is possible to diagnose and cure deadly diseases. Radiation helps not only strive against dangerous viruses, but also against their carriers. Without the use of radiation technology, it is impossible to imagine existing and promising world space programs. Humanity cannot exist without the peaceful use of radiation technology, taking into consideration the development of technology on the Earth and in the space, concluded the journalist.
The article 'The $13 Billion Offshore Jobs Engine' written by the second winner of the Energy of Words, Matthew Veazey, Senior Editor of the specialized news portal Rigzone.com, is dedicated to the market for decommissioning oil and gas platforms. Worldwide spending on oil and gas decommissioning activities should reach $13 billion per year by 2040, according to Lloyd’s Register.The author notes that this fact will lead to a long-term demand for engineering staff involved in the dismantling of "retired" offshore oil platforms. This fact will positively affect the employment situation in the industry, especially in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is noteworthy that the decommissioning of the platform does not only mean “lifting the structure out of the water”, but includes a whole range of work that takes 5-6 years, including the facility’s management in the later stages of operation, dismantling of the surface and underwater parts of the installation, disposal of waste after displacement constructions.
The last but not the least goes to Mauricio Godoi, the Brazilian correspondent for the energy portal CanalEnergia, who devoted his article 'Batteries can enter the market faster than expected' to the analysis of the energy storage market in Brazil.According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), by 2040 the installed capacity of energy storage in the world will reach 942 GW, and their energy intensity - 857 GW · h. Such an impressive growth will be reached due to the rapid decline of battery costs. Despite the fact that there is a growing trend in the battery market around the world, Brazil is just starting to develop this segment. At the moment, the country has the third largest electric power industry in the Americas after the USA and Canada. At the same time, 70% of electricity in Brazil is generated by hydropower. One of the drivers for the development of energy storage is the growing popularity of electric vehicles. In addition, Brazil as a whole has great potential for battery distribution. For example, by satisfying the demand for energy in the state of Roraima (the only state that is not connected to the national energy system). Some experts believe that the choice of lithium-ion batteries will be the best option for the country due to their economic efficiency, while others note that, due to the limited nature of the element in nature, hydrogen batteries are more promising, but the development of technology using them is more likely a question of the future than the present.
The Energy of Words is an international media contest established by the Global Energy Association in 2004. Each year, the project recognizes journalists who have made a significant contribution to the coverage and informational support of issues, decisions and trends in global energy. This year, works from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America were sent to the competition: from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands to the USA, Brazil, India, China, Russia, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe.
Based on globalenergyprize.org
