17.02.12
Future proofing your Organisation to deal with Global Risks 2012
Following the drama and political horseplay of the World Economic forum in Davos, the Global Risks 2012 Insight Report has been published. It highlights the main global risk indicators for 2012, but the real question to ponder is Read more…
15.02.12
There’s fire buried in the ice, have the world’s energy reserves doubled?
Methane hydrate - natural gas frozen into the sea bed – has recently been announced by scientists employed by some of the world’s major IOCs as a new energy source, with the potential to contain more Read more…
13.02.12
What’s next for the big exchanges?
Exchanges have traditionally relied on the revenue stream from execution spreads, however, with trading volumes declining (due, in part, to stagnant interest rates) and the new raft of regulation such as Read more…
07.02.12
Shedding light on the impact of solar PV growth on European power markets Part 2
In the last post, we looked at how growing renewables capacity in Germany, in particular solar PV, could supress the investment signal for flexible thermal generation. This issue will not however be isolated to Read more…
27.01.12
The outlook for shipping, is the freight industry sinking?
In recent months the shipping industry has seen the rates for vessel charter continue to slide, with forecasts for 2012 looking equally bleak. The Baltic Exchange’s primary index for the shipping of dry commodities fell to a 3 year low last week, as the slowdown in the Chinese economy Read more…
24.01.12
Oil and the South Atlantic Ocean, is it a risk worth taking?
The recent news from oil exploratory companies in the South Atlantic Ocean regarding increases in estimated reserves has brought the recent oil discoveries in the seas around the Falkland Islands into sharp focus. Oil prospecting around the island chain isn’t new – seismic surveys were done as far back as the 1970s, but it wasn’t until 1996 Read more…
20.01.12
Shedding light on the impact of solar PV growth on European power markets Part 1
According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, total installed solar PV capacity reached 40 Gigawatts (GW) globally in 2010. The total was reached after 13 GW of new capacity was added in the EU during that year, a figure which initial estimates suggest was exceeded in 2011. Read more…
18.01.12
The Importance of Being Earnest In Programme Communications
“Well, I know there is a programme team assembled to deal with this - I got that email a few months ago - but I am not quite sure what they are doing or what I should be doing to help!” Ever feel like this is the case within your organisation? Read more…
16.01.12
What can we learn from Dieter Rams? Ten Top Tips for Design
The credo “less, but better” neatly describes a design ethos spearheaded between 1960s – 1990s by the head of design at consumer products company Braun, whose influence can be seen in many of today’s products created by Apple Inc. But are there any lessons for the rest of us? Read more…
05.01.12
‘Travelling wave’ nuclear reactors benefit from Gates backing
An intriguing concept in new nuclear energy technology, so-called ‘travelling wave’ technology, has recently received a publicity boost from Bill Gates. Already associated with the concept through his TED talk in 2010, Gates’ backing of TerraPower LLP lends Read more…
03.01.12
White Labelling - Part 2: Key Consideration for Success
You are about to embark upon a white labelling exercise with your chosen business partner – nervous and worried about the pitfalls? There are some ‘be awares’ to be mindful of during the process Read more…
15.12.11
White Labelling - Part 1
With the economic climate continuing to fluctuate, growth conditions for the vast majority of companies; particularly those in the FS industry; remain challenging. Increasingly, insurance companies have looked at how they can increase overall policy count by Read more…
09.12.11
Mobile Contactless Payments
The predictions made in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s haven’t always quite materialised. We’re certainly eating significantly more than ‘food pills’ and not yet travelling to work on ‘Hover Boards’. Some technological advances not even imagined 50 years ago, are beginning to become a reality, such as Read more…
07.12.11
The changing face of exchanges
Pre-crisis around 90% of derivatives contracts were traded over the counter; new regulations focussed on centralised clearing are now driving changes to the landscape of the exchange and clearing industry. For example in Europe, EMIR is making it mandatory for all Read more…
05.12.11
OTC traders tread uncertain path to central clearing
The regulatory response to the financial crisis will result in significant and lasting changes to the way OTC derivatives are traded and cleared. In these uncertain times, financial institutions must take action now to ensure they stay competitive as a new clearing landscape takes shape. Read more…
02.12.11
Water regulation: Ofwat Future Price Limits consultation
Ofwat’s Future Price Limits consultation was published last week. If all the proposals are implemented (and assuming they are at least directionally in line with the forthcoming DEFRA Water White Paper) then this would represent a major change in water regulation. Read more…
01.12.11
Carbon Capture and Storage
In theory, the potential for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is huge: by removing the CO2 produced when burning fossil fuels, it can simultaneously reduce levels of harmful emissions and extend the use of traditional energy sources in a low carbon environment. Read more…
29.11.11
Change in Solvency II implementation date - Overview of the change and likely implications
On October 4 the FSA announced that it has revised its implementation assumptions for Solvency II. The changes reflect the EU Omnibus 2 discussions, which have recognised the need to Read more…
25.11.11
Agile - The good, the bad and the ugly
More and more organisations are adopting agile delivery methodologies in answer to demands from customers to deliver change faster and at a lower cost. However, there is much scepticism within the agile community as to whether organisations are achieving the benefits they desire. Mark Flynn of Baringa Partners argues that to achieve agile success, organisations first need to understand the core objectives of being ‘agile’, and then establish whether it’s the right approach for them. Read more…
21.11.11
GERMANY: Renewable Energy Supply by Biomass grows faster than expected
Evidence from a recent study suggests that renewable energy supply in Germany is growing faster than expected. According to preliminary estimates by the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry,[1] electricity from renewable sources exceeded 20% Read more…
17.11.11
Energy efficiency. Confused? You will be!
FITs, CESP, HESS, RHI, GD…..no, not the remnants from a particularly intense game of scrabble, this is in fact, the Governments low carbon plan for the domestic sector. Confused? Well it’s not really surprising. Read more…
14.11.11
Getting customer engaged with the strategic direction of regulated utilities
When launching the iPad last year, Steve Jobs was asked what consumer research Apple had done. “None,” was the answer. “It isn’t the consumers’ job to know what they want.” Read more…
07.11.11
Recruitment race in the energy industry
A new energy landscape will lead to a sector skills drought, says a recent survey. Baringa Partners and HR advisory firm EnergyRelations, have conducted a survey of human resources managers working in the energy sector in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Read more…
01.11.11
Shifting demand patterns shake up Photovoltaic suppliers
Global demand for Photovoltaic (PV) panels is fluctuating, causing instability in the supply of solar technology, according to the latest analysis from Solarbuzz Quarterly[1]. While production from Chinese manufacturers has Read more…
31.10.11
How will we measure the success of the UK Smart Meter rollout?
The UK government has mandated that every home be fitted with Smart Meter technology by 2020 at a total cost of tens of billions of pounds – and they’ve left it up to the UK’s energy suppliers to foot the bill. The rollout slots in to the government’s green agenda based on the premise that if Read more…
28.10.11
Baringa's New Office
Two weeks ago marked another major milestone and the start of the next chapter of the Baringa Partners story with the opening of our new London office, Dominican Court. The new office brings together Read more…
27.10.11
Nuclear Energy - An Industry leader in the UK?
For the ‘man in the street’, oil and gas are probably the fuel sources most closely-associated with the energy industry. However, these technologies are no longer the only ones making headlines in global energy supply. Governments around the world are turning to Read more…
24.10.11
OpenLink acquires SolArc
Last Monday (17th October 2011), SolArc, Inc. announced that it would be acquired by OpenLink Financial for an undisclosed sum. This is a step in OpenLink's quest for dominance in the CTRM (commodities trading and risk management) market, adding a Read more…
19.10.11
Saving energy is about behaviour change, not just smart meters
On 15 July 1979, president Jimmy Carter called on the American people to save energy and play their part in averting an impending energy crisis in an historic televised address to the nation.Sadly, results of doorstep interviews three days later revealed there was Read more…
18.10.11
Trends in Private Banking and Wealth Management
After the turmoil of the previous two years, the world’s private bankers and wealth managers have learned to adapt to a radically changed environment for them and their clients. With frenetic markets and new regulatory changes the space in which wealth managers operate becomes Read more…
17.10.11
Baringa Expands into Germany
Baringa Partners has expanded its business with the integration of the Germany-based management consultancy firm, The Executive Partners Group. In addition to the expansion into central Europe, Baringa has Read more…
12.10.11
Shale Gas arrives on UK shores
Last month Cuadrilla Resources, an oil & gas explorer, discovered what it described as ‘vast’ shale gas reserves in Northwest England near Blackpool.* At 200trn cubic feet, the scale of the find is certainly significant: even if only 10-20% is recoverable it could still meet Read more…
06.10.11
Life as a new Baringa Consultant
Making the decision to leave a Big Four firm and join a more specialised consultancy is not an easy one. In the three months I have been at Baringa Partners I am pleased to say that I have no doubts it was the right decision Read more…
30.09.11
FATCA beyond the acronyms and jargon lie pressing implications for UK and European financial institutions
Back in 2009 Barack Obama said, “Nobody likes paying taxes, particularly in times of economic stress but most Americans meet their responsibilities because they understand that it's an obligation of citizenship, necessary to pay the costs of our common defense and our mutual well-being”*.Born from this common sentiment that Read more…
22.09.11
Green Gas is Growing
In a recent report*, analysts have predicted that demand for biomass in Europe will increase by 44% between 2010 and 2020. Furthermore, growth is expected across a broad range of sectors including energy generation, industrial production and residential heating. Indeed, measured on a Europe wide level, biomass represents the largest source of all renewable energy. Read more…
20.09.11
The tides are turning
Faced with a rapidly-approaching 2020 milestone to reduce CO2 emissions, the European energy industry is attempting to fulfil its obligations without jeopardising its longer-term prospects. The need to develop new nuclear, combined with Read more…
16.09.11
The rise of private equity in wind farm ownership
The last few months have seen an increase in announcements of private equity deals to invest in, or in some cases to start up, industrial-scale wind farms. Last month, Blackstone Group (US) revealed its plans to Read more…
13.09.11
Agile methodologies - the wind of change in IT projects?
Given the current economic downturn, and the dynamic markets in which energy companies operate, an increase in the use of ‘agile’ software development management styles is evident across the industry. This is intended to help organisations to respond quickly to Read more…
12.09.11
Green Deal
It is a busy time for households which keep an eye on the latest energy efficiency news. Hot on the heels of the Government's plans to roll out smart meters to all GB households comes the announcement of the Green Deal. Read more…
08.09.11
Whiplash Claims
Yesterday’s report on escalating whiplash claim volumes from the Insurance Times was staggering and, to quote Jack Straw MP, “sadly not surprising”. It is the latest in a long line of bad news stories for insurers and consumers alike in the bodily injury claims space. This blog entry explores what measures are being taken to address this issue, what impact they might have and what it means for insurers. Read more…
30.08.11
Baringa reports significant growth driven by year of successful client delivery
Baringa Partners recently reported significant growth driven by year of successful client delivery. Both its turnover and staff numbers were up on the previous year, with turnover increasing by Read more…
17.08.11
Supply-Side Developments in Global Gas Markets
In a recent publication, the International Energy Agency heralded the beginning of a ‘Golden Age of Gas’ in world energy markets. Commentators have spoken of a global ‘gas glut’ leading to fundamental changes Read more…
11.08.11
Baringa Shortlisted in National Business Awards
Baringa shortlisted in National Business Awards Read more…
09.08.11
Insurance Market Cyclicality
The first half of this year has already made 2011 the most costly on record for the Insurance industry Read more…
01.08.11
Regulatory change in the UK water industry
Fresh from the Future of the Water Industry seminar, and with the recent publication of Defra’s review of Ofwat, we thought it would be timely to cover the issue of regulatory change in the UK water industry. Read more…
27.07.11
Balance sheets strengthened but firms seek clarity on impact of Basel 3 capital buffers
The results of the European Banking Authority (EBA) stress tests are in and, if you haven’t already, it’s time to start thinking about what they might mean for banks. Read more…
27.07.11
Electricity distribution - are smart grids the answer?
"It means that we keep the lights on," Mr Huhne told BBC Breakfast. "Because we are replacing a quarter of our clapped-out electricity generation." Read more…
27.07.11
Australia's carbon pricing plan reinvigorates the global carbon market
Draft legislation could point the way for the world's largest polluters to follow Read more…
