RSS feed source: US Energy Information Administration

In-depth analysis

May 9, 2024

Data source: Thomson Reuters

U.S. wholesale and retail propane prices were slightly lower on average this winter than last winter, largely because of mild weather and robust propane inventories heading into this winter heating season. Despite lower prices and lagging domestic demand, however, continuing international demand for U.S. propane contributed to large withdrawals and left end-of-winter propane inventories below last winter’s year-end levels.

Wholesale propane prices at the U.S. benchmark at Mont Belvieu, Texas, averaged $0.77 per gallon (gal) during the 2023–24 winter heating season. This price was slightly lower than the $0.80/gal average recorded the previous winter heating season and the $1.25/gal average for the 2021–22 winter heating season. Above-average winter temperatures reduced propane consumption in the residential and commercial sectors, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast regions, which

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RSS feed source: US Energy Information Administration

In-brief analysis

May 7, 2024

U.S. West Coast refiners are using more hydrogen purchased from merchant suppliers than from their own production. From 2012 to 2022, hydrogen purchased by refiners in the region increased 29% to about 550 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d). Over the same period, on-site refinery-produced hydrogen production from natural gas fell 20% to about 330 MMcf/d. Merchant suppliers accounted for more than 62% of the hydrogen consumed by West Coast refineries in 2022.

Hydrogen demand in the U.S. refining industry increased significantly from 2006 to 2010 as ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) was phased in for all on-road diesel. Hydrogen is particularly important in processing low-grade, sour crude oil slates with high sulfur contents. Refineries typically fulfill incremental hydrogen demand by either producing it themselves on-site through steam methane reforming of natural gas

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RSS feed source: US Energy Information Administration

In-brief analysis

May 14, 2024

Data source: Wards Intelligence
Note: EV=electric vehicles, which include both battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

The share of electric and hybrid vehicle sales in the United States decreased in the first quarter of 2024 as battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales declined. Hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and BEVs fell to 18.0% of total new light-duty vehicle (LDV) sales in the United States in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24) from 18.8% in 4Q23, according to estimates from Wards Intelligence.

This slight decline in the electric vehicle market share was driven primarily by BEV sales, which fell from 8.1% of the total LDV market in 4Q23 to 7.0% in 1Q24. This decline represents the first BEV market share decline since the economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic began in

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RSS feed source: US Energy Information Administration

In-brief analysis

May 6, 2024

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration and the International Atomic Energy Agency

In the past 10 years, more than 34 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity were added in China, bringing the country’s number of operating nuclear reactors to 55 with a total net capacity of 53.2 GW as of April 2024. An additional 23 reactors are under construction in China. The United States has the largest nuclear fleet, with 94 reactors, but it took nearly 40 years to add the same nuclear power capacity as China added in 10 years.

Despite rapid capacity growth in 2022, nuclear power made up only about 5% of China’s cumulative power generation that year. Nuclear power accounts for about 18% of the electricity generation mix in the United States.

China implemented a

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