The European Union should adopt EU-wide targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency for 2030, says Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard in an interview with Energy Post. She rejects pleas from the energy sector to base EU climate policy solely on CO2 emission reduction targets. She does note, however, that there has been a tendency to “overcompensate” renewable energy, i.e. too generous subsidies. “It was never the plan to subsidise … [Read more...]
“Integrated EU market + ETS = best way to decarbonisation”
The European Climate Foundation (ECF) has released a new report, From Roadmaps to Reality, which shows how the current EU energy framework can be improved to drive the decarbonisation of the power sector in Europe. From Roadmaps To Reality, the latest report in the ECF’s “Roadmap 2050” series, finds that a fully integrated Internal Energy Market in combination with a functioning Emissions Trading System is the most cost-effective and … [Read more...]
Interview with Johannes Teyssen, CEO of Eon: “Renewables can become biggest without subsidies”
Dr Johannes Teyssen, CEO of Eon and President of Eurelectric, doesn’t beat about the bush: in an exclusive interview with Energy Post, he says that Europe needs a single climate target for 2030 of “between 40% and 50%” emission reduction. At the same time all energy subsidies and “green levies” should go. Renewables “have all the chance in the world to take the biggest chunk of the market” even without subsidies. The European Commission should … [Read more...]
Shanghai and Beijing launch carbon markets
This week, both Beijing, China’s national capital, and Shanghai its leading financial city, launched pilot emissions trading systems. These pilots will run for two years, until the end of 2015. They join the city of Shenzhen, on the Hong Kong border, which launched a pilot carbon market in June this year. Guangdong, Hubei, Tianjin and Chongqing are also planning to launch pilot emissions trading systems in the near future. In a press release … [Read more...]
The UK energy confusion: good policies, shame about the politics
To outside observers, UK energy policy must seem to be hopelessly confused and the energy sector in a mess. Actually, the problem is not so much the policies, writes Stephen Tindale, associate fellow at the Centre for European Reform. They make a lot of sense and may lead the country to a secure and low-carbon energy future. The problem is the politics – populist proposals create confusion and may undo the good work that is being done. Earlier … [Read more...]
Energy heavyweight Joan MacNaughton: “Adaptation is a cop-out”
Joan MacNaughton, President of the Energy Institute and a highly influential figure in the international energy policymaking world, calls on “the big CO2 emitters” in the world to take unilateral action to reduce CO2 emissions. Countries that refuse to get along, should be penalised through import duties or carbon taxes, suggests MacNaughton. The current talk about “adaptation” to climate change, says MacNaughton, is a “cop-out”. Energy Post … [Read more...]
Global electricity producers: credible carbon pricing essential
Electricity utilities see having a credible price level for CO2 and long-term, predictable policies as the crucial factors for driving change in their fuel and technology mix, according to the latest insights from the Global Electricity Initiative (GEI), presented today. Despite important efforts to increase investments in renewables, the GEI utilities expect fossil fuels to continue to be the basis of generation capacity from 2015 to 2035. … [Read more...]
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