How far is the EU preparing to move away from its current energy R&D strategy of picking technological winners? In a new policy paper earlier this year, the European Commission outlined its vision for a fresh approach to innovation that takes the energy system as its starting point and focuses on system outcomes, not individual technologies. This is the R&D dimension of the EU’s current battle for a 2030 climate and energy policy. Sonja … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2013
State aid for nuclear? Are you kidding?
EU Competition Commissioner JoaquĂn Almunia has provoked a hot debate in Brussels this summer, by proposing to authorise state aid for nuclear power. This comes at the same time that the European Commission is reflecting on how to reduce subsidies for renewables, in line with their increasing maturity. Hughes Belin reports from Brussels. … [Read more...]
The three ages of Europe’s single electricity market
It is still far from perfect and has been painfully slow in taking shape, but an EU-wide power market has now emerged. Jean-Michel Glachant, Director of the European University Institute's Florence School of Regulation where he holds the Loyola de Palacio Chair, nevertheless warns that renewable energy and a “smarter” grid remain challenges to its further development. Photo by Filter Forge via Flickr … [Read more...]
EU internal energy market top priority for Lithuania
By Sonja van Renssen and Hughes Belin Expectations hang heavy over the EU’s autumn agenda for energy and climate policy. The internal energy market, grid investments, the broken EU Emission Trading Scheme, the future of nuclear, a dogged debate over indirect land-use change (ILUC), and a new climate and energy policy for 2030 are only just held at bay by July’s unusually balmy weather here in Brussels. Sonja van Renssen and Hughes Belin look … [Read more...]
Integrating energy and climate policy for low-carbon growth in Europe
Europe’s efforts to control emissions are failing, yet the necessary technologies are already here – decarbonising the power system and then using it to run more of our economy is the key, say Johannes Meier, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, and Arne Mogren, Director of the European Climate Foundation’s Power Programme and Member of the Energy Roadmap 2050 ad hoc Advisory Group. Photo: Avedøre power plant, Denmark (by Martin Nicolaj … [Read more...]
The new energy world according to the IEA
The International Energy Agency has given us a lot to think about recently. The IEA has produced one major report after the other – on renewables, gas, oil and climate change. How do these outlooks stack up and what do they impy for our energy future? Editor Karel Beckman provides a handy summary – so you won’t have to worry about this anymore over the summer. Or maybe you do… Photo: Audi A3 Sportback g-tron … [Read more...]
Report: Poland can handle higher carbon prices
A new report from Oliver Sartor of CDC Climat Research and Thomas Spencer of IDDRI (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations) shows that the impact of higher carbon prices will not drive the energy-intensive industry out of Poland. Photo: Patnow coal power station (photo: Ecotist) … [Read more...]
Finally, a brilliant plan for a climate policy that should please everyone
Policymakes have been faced with huge dilemmas when considering climate change policies. But now a brilliant plan has been conceived to come to a global climate change policy that no reasonable person could object to. It has the beauty of being able to appeal to both climate change believers and sceptics – and anybody in between. And no, I am not joking: it is a serious proposal, made by Canadian economist Ross McKitrick, who presented it to the … [Read more...]
It is too early to give up on Nabucco!
The failure of Nabucco West is the result of a lack of strategic guidance and the inability of the Nabucco consortium and its shareholders to deliver on the market policy expectations of both Governments and societies in their respective countries. But it is too simplistic to say that the choice by the Shah Deniz II Consortium for the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) was made purely out of “commercial” considerations, argues Peter Poptchev, who has … [Read more...]
European shale gas: miracle or mirage?
Nick Grealy, energy consultant and proponent of shale gas, reflects on the battle for public perception of shale gas. A key problem, he says, is the speed of the change that has taken place. It has surprised many people. In fact, many people still fool themselves into thinking it can’t happen in Europe” . But according to Grealy, a European shale gas revolution is inevitable. Photo: drilling rig in Marcellus play in US (by wcn247) … [Read more...]
EIB cleans up its energy lending policy
The European Investment Bank (EIB) intends to place stricter CO2 emission standards on coal power plants that it finances, but not as strict as the standards president Obama recently proposed in the US. The EIB is also considering investing in shale gas projects, according to a draft of its new energy lending policy. NGOs accuse the EIB of a “missed opportunity to politically reject coal”. With the EBRD and World Bank also mulling new investment … [Read more...]
Europe’s unresolved energy versus climate policy dilemma
The creation of a pan-European energy market is being undermined by member states’ reluctance to align their national renewable energy policies, or to rely on their neighbours for back-up capacity, writes David Buchan, Senior Research Fellow of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. According to Buchan, “the Commission now has to take a very strong stand if it is to regain control over the forces of disintegration that it failed to anticipate … [Read more...]
The surprising new Schwarzenegger movie “Total Transition”
Energy Post editor Karel Beckman went to the première of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new movie “Total Transition” which had its first showing in the European Parliament in Brussels. His verdict: not too much action, but definitely worth seeing if you have anything to do  with "transitions". Photo: Eva Rinaldi, Celebrity Photographer … [Read more...]