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FOOTHILL RANCH, CALIFORNIA—In a suburban industrial park south of Los Angeles, researchers have taken a significant step toward mastering nuclear fusion—a process that could provide abundant, cheap, and clean energy.

Read more at: http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/06/tri-alpha-energy-enables-field-reversed.html

There’s a big difference between the warm, shallow seawater lapping up against a beach and the icy depths of the ocean. Now, researchers are turning that temperature difference into energy at energy plants all over the world. The newest one opened up in Hawaii last Friday, where it expects to generate enough energy to power 120 homes per year.

Read more at: http://www.popsci.com/new-energy-plant-hawaii-uses-ocean-temperatures

The Palmer United Party ­leader has filed a new legal case in which he has levelled claims of “unconscionable conduct” against China’s top business leader, Chang Zhenming, along with other ­Chinese and Australian ­executives of the Beijing-owned global giant Citic.

Read more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/clive-palmer-blames-beijing-for-nickel-refinery-woes/story-e6frg8zx-1227497269870

The evidence from both shipping and factory activity is that the Chinese economy is in trouble and, if it is, that’s bound to have further consequences for already depressed commodity markets.

Read more at: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/china-syndrome-threatens-markets-meltdown-141357484.html

Copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), a subsidiary of US-based giant mining firm Freeport McMoRan Inc., still may not export concentrates as it is not ready to implement a Trade Ministry regulation on the mandatory use of letters of credits (L/C) for mineral exports, an energy and mineral resources official has said.

– See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/22/freeport-still-unable-export-concentrates.html#sthash.fD6l08aW.dpuf

Has the Clean Power Plan given nuclear energy the fuel it needs to win market acceptance? Beyond that government regulation, the Department of Energy is continuing to dole out part of a $217 million award to the maker of small nuclear reactors — ones that can be assembled in a factory and later scaled up.

Read more at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2015/08/22/will-markets-welcome-smaller-and-less-costly-nuclear-reactors/

General Electric Co. agreed to build a 30-megawatt energy-storage system in Southern California, its biggest battery deal to date.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-20/ge-to-build-its-largest-battery-storage-system-in-california

Western Areas chief executive Dan Lougher said its cost cutting regime insulated it from the weak nickel price.

Read more at: https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/29307913/western-areas-ignores-nickel-headwinds/