Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

106  SolaraTech Corporation is a Threat Part 1

Houston Texas, United States of America. The date was April 26th, 2025.

Viktor Gravsen sat in his lavish office at the heart of Houston, Texas. As the CEO of Standard Oil, one of the largest American multinational oil and gas corporations, Viktor commanded respect and authority. His office was adorned with rich mahogany furniture and boasted a panoramic view of the bustling city below. Despite the luxury that surrounded him, Viktor's demeanor remained serious.

In his hand, Viktor held an expensive cigar, its smoke billowing in the air as he took a thoughtful puff. Next to him, on the polished mahogany desk, rested a glass of premium whiskey, untouched for the moment. His focus, however, was soon diverted as his secretary entered the room.

"Mr. Gravsen, I have this quarterly report that you have requested," the secretary announced as she approached Viktor's desk, placing the document before him.

Viktor glanced up, nodding his acknowledgment. "Thank you, Maria. Anything else I should be aware of?" he inquired, his tone indicating he expected a succinct summary rather than interruptions during his review.

"No, sir. That's all for now. Your 3 PM meeting with the board has been confirmed, and your flight to New York tomorrow morning is all set," Maria replied efficiently, maintaining the professional demeanor required in Viktor's office.

"Good. Let me know if there are any changes," Viktor responded, turning his attention to the report in front of him. Maria gave a respectful nod and exited the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Alone again, Viktor took a deep breath, allowing himself a moment before delving into the figures that would dictate his next moves. He picked up the report, his eyes quickly scanning the pages.

Then at that moment, his eyes seemed to widen a bit, and his finger that was holding the tobacco stopped as he saw the report. "5 percent drop?" Viktor exclaimed, but soon after, his face returned to its serious demeanor. He set his tobacco down and opened his computer.

Upon opening the laptop, he clicked on the browser and looked into the stock market charts directly related to Standard Oil's performance. The graphs confirmed the report's numbers; there was indeed a 5% drop in their stock prices. This was not just a minor fluctuation but a significant dip that could affect investor confidence and the company's market position.

But he wondered why that is. Natural gas and oil are still the strongest sources of energy globally. Curious, Viktor decided to check the stock performances of their rival companies in the sector to see if this was an isolated incident or part of a broader trend.

He navigated through various financial news sites and stock market analysis platforms, comparing the stock performances of the major players in the oil and gas industry. To his surprise, he found that several of their competitors had also experienced similar drops in stock prices. Companies like Chevron and BP also saw their stock prices decrease around the same margin. This sector-wide downturn indicated a broader market sentiment affecting the oil and gas industry, not just isolated incidents within individual companies.

"What the heck is happening?" At this point, Viktor couldn't just rely on his observations and the initial analysis he had conducted. He needed in-depth insights and expert opinions on the situation. He decided to call in Dr. Lena Kostova, Standard Oil's Chief Strategy Officer, who also had a strong background in environmental science and renewable energy markets.

Viktor picked up his phone and dialed Dr. Kostova's extension. "Lena, it's Viktor. I've just reviewed our quarterly report and noticed a concerning trend in our stock performance, along with a similar trend among our competitors. I need your insight on this. Can you come to my office as soon as possible?"

"Of course, sir. I'll be there in ten minutes," Dr. Kostova replied.

While waiting for Dr. Kostova, Viktor started gathering all relevant data and reports that could help in their discussion. He knew that understanding the external factors at play was crucial for navigating the company through these turbulent times.

Upon her arrival, Dr. Kostova wasted no time and sat in front of Viktor's desk. "Viktor, the situation is more complex than just market fluctuations. There are several geopolitical tensions, especially the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which have significant implications for the global energy market," Dr. Kostova began, her tone serious yet informative.

"Moreover, there's a strong push from governments worldwide towards renewable energy sources. Policies are being enacted to support this transition, affecting investor confidence in traditional oil and gas sectors," she continued.

Viktor listened intently, absorbing the information. The geopolitical issues were familiar to him, but the rapid shift in government policies towards renewable energy was somewhat surprising in its speed and impact.

"Most notably," Dr. Kostova added, "is the emergence of companies like SolaraTech Corporation from the Philippines. They've developed a solar panel technology with an efficiency rate above 60 percent, significantly higher than the commercial standard. This kind of innovation is drawing attention and investment away from fossil fuels."

"SolaraTech Corporation? I think I heard of that company…It's spreading in Europe, and it's being handled by a CEO that is in his early twenties."

"That's correct, 60 percent efficiency is high enough to the point it will make the natural gas and oil less competitive in the long term, especially in regions with significant solar potential," Dr. Kostova continued. "It represents a shift in the energy market dynamics, one that could accelerate if more breakthroughs in renewable technologies emerge. This is contributing to the shift in investor sentiment and the downturn in our stock and those of our competitors."

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"That's correct sir, his name is Michael Reyes," Kostova confirmed. "60 percent efficiency," Viktor repeated.

"That's correct, 60 percent efficiency is high enough to the point it will make the natural gas and oil less competitive in the long term, especially in regions with significant solar potential," Dr. Kostova continued. "It represents a shift in the energy market dynamics, one that could accelerate if more breakthroughs in renewable technologies emerge. This is contributing to the shift in investor sentiment and the downturn in our stock and those of our competitors."

"But it's still far away from being mainstream. First of all, it depends on the sun, and the moment the rays land on the panels, it's immediately converted to energy, and those energies aren't going anywhere unless there is a transmission line. Without transmission lines, the energy captured by that solar panel is wasted," Viktor reasoned, trying to find a silver lining or a counterargument to the rising trend of solar energy.

"That's a valid point," Dr. Kostova acknowledged, "However, SolaraTech has also introduced a modular storage solution capable of storing up to 4,500 MWh. This innovation addresses the very issue you're highlighting. It allows the energy generated during peak sunlight hours to be stored and used as needed, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions."

Viktor paused, processing this new information. The ability to store such a significant amount of energy was a game-changer, potentially overcoming one of the major limitations of solar power. "That kind of storage capability could indeed level the playing field for renewable sources."

"It is indeed. To be honest, I would consider SolaraTech as the rival of traditional energy companies like ours in the coming years," Dr. Kostova continued. "Their technological advancements and the growing global emphasis on sustainable and renewable energy sources are pushing the entire industry towards a pivotal change."

Viktor scoffed softly. "Rival huh? It's still an upstart company."

"But a threat," Kostova reminded firmly. "Let's see. I take threats very seriously."