The oil market is filled with winners and losers. When oil prices decline, refiners generally win as their feedstock is less expensive, but producers lose as they get less money for their product. This highlights the attraction of vertical integration – operating both upstream production and downstream refining – which can insulate companies from oil… Keep reading →
Many were praising the wisdom of the vertically integrated oil company business model pioneered by John D. Rockefeller Sr. when ExxonMobil and Chevron today posted higher than expected third quarter earnings that were buoyed by their downstream operations. Oil price decreases weighed on upstream performance, which is typically where these companies generate most of their… Keep reading →
Thin Film Solar Cell Industry in Transition: Knockout Phase is Over – Profitability and Vertical Integration Next
By Sven LindströmPrices of solar cells and solar panels have fallen dramatically over the last few years. This (and state subsidies) has been good for the advancement of this amazing renewable energy source, and solar energy can today be seen as an established energy source, reliable and well distributed, cost competitive with traditional non-renewable energy sources and… Keep reading →