The Energy Information Administration (EIA), part of the US Department of Energy, predicts that natural gas production in the US will continue to grow at an impressive pace – regardless of what shale gas and environmental critics believe. Right now output is close to 70 billion cubic feet a day and it is expected to reach over 100 billion cubic feet per day by 2040. “In our view, those production trends are going to continue without the … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2014
Exclusive: The end is near – for national renewable energy subsidy schemes in the EU
The national renewable support schemes in the EU are on the verge of a major overhaul. National governments will soon not be allowed anymore to limit renewables subsidies to domestic producers: they will have to treat all EU-based producers alike. This at any rate is the very likely outcome of a court case now before the EU Court of Justice, says Peter Niermeijer, Secretary-General of RECS International, an organisation that promotes pan-European … [Read more...]
Is the door to CCS closing in the UK?
Slow progress threatens the future of CCS in the UK, write Sam Gomersall and Alan James, Directors of Pale Blue Dot Energy, a management consultancy focused on the low carbon transition based in Aberdeen. According to the authors, the earliest CCS projects are unlikely to come onstream before the early 2020s – if they get off the ground at all. “The future of CCS in the UK hangs in the balance.” … [Read more...]
WWF: Action required now to ensure supply of critical materials for renewable energy infrastructure
The growing demand for renewable energy could put pressure on the supply of critical materials required in the production of renewable energy infrastructure, says WWF in new report released on 18 February. The report, Critical Materials for the transition to a 100% sustainable energy future, says supply chain bottlenecks can be overcome by applying the right technologies. It is possible for renewable energy to fuel the world reliably while … [Read more...]
European Commission launches negotiations with Georgia to join the Energy Community
The European Commission and Georgia have launched negotiations for Georgia's accession to the Energy Community. The negotiations in Tbilisi were held on 20 February in the presence of Energy Commissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger, for the European Commission and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Vice-Prime Minister as well as Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze, for Georgia. By becoming Member of the Energy Community and implementing EU energy legislation … [Read more...]
An investor speaks: the oil party is almost over
The fact that environmental activist Bill McKibben is waging a relentless “fossil fuel divestment campaign” may not worry established oil and coal companies too much. But he is joined by an increasing number of mainstream investors and analysts. The latest investor to warn that fossil fuel assets may be overvalued is the famous hedge fund manager Jeremy Grantham, owner of the major US asset-management firm GMO. In a thoughtful piece for the GMO … [Read more...]
Three signs of retreat in the global war on climate change
A series of recent developments "highlight the way the world is losing ground in the epic struggle to slow global warming", writes Michael Klare. One of them is what he calls the "evident slackening in Europe’s climate commitment". According to Klare, "the pressures to keep burning fossil fuels are too great to be overcome in piecemeal fashion.  Rather, these forces must be met head-on, with the institutionalization of equally powerful … [Read more...]
WWF: Groundbreaking analysis shows China’s renewable energy future within reach
By embracing conservation measures and renewable energy, China can transition to an 80 percent renewable electric power system by 2050 at far less cost than continuing to rely on coal, according to a new report from WWF-US. As a result, China’s carbon emissions from power generation could be 90 percent less than currently projected levels in 2050 without compromising the reliability of the electric grid or slowing economic growth. The … [Read more...]
HSBC: EU’s new climate policy unambitious, bad news for renewables
Europe’s climate policy proposals reflect the lowest level of ambition required to keep global warming at 2°C, while its goals on renewable energy are “disappointing” and bad news for the industry, according to a new report by banking giant HSBC. The report also sees “increasing downside risks” for offshore wind. Sophie Vorrath of Reneweconomy.com.au has the story. … [Read more...]
World Energy Council: Price volatility greater concern than climate change framework
High energy price volatility has for the first time replaced global climate framework as the number-one critical uncertainty driving the world energy agenda, according to the 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor, released on Tuesday 18 February by the World Energy Council (WEC). Global climate framework uncertainty,while still is akeyuncertainty, is now perceived by energy leaders to have less impact than in the previous three years of the study. … [Read more...]
US Shale Gas (II): Get ready for the Great Natural Gas Switch
Cheap natural gas means Americans can buy the equivalent of a barrel of crude for $35. That's the exciting reality that has Ron Muhlenkamp, founder and portfolio manager of Muhlenkamp & Co. Inc., putting his investment dollars behind the next great fuel switch, this time in the transportation sector. As Muhlenkamp tells Tom Armistead of The Energy Report, the Great Natural Gas Switch in the US has only just begun. This is part Two of a … [Read more...]
US Shale Gas (I): It’s not what it’s cracked up to be
Shale gas is not the foundation of U.S. energy security that conventional wisdom claims it is, says Bill Powers in this interview with Tom Amistead of The Energy Report. As shale gas peters out, the law of supply and demand will drive gas prices up, says Powers,an independent analyst and author of "Cold, Hungry and in the Dark: Exploding the Natural Gas Supply Myth." This interview is part One of a two-part series. In part Two investment analyst … [Read more...]
Energy efficiency: how to make it work
The Germans do it with public money and labelling. The Americans do it with private capital and asset-backed securitisation. The Emirati’s do it with education and information. A recent expert debate at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi made it clear that stepping up energy efficiency is crucially important – but that there is no-one-size-fits-all solution. … [Read more...]
EU’s global cleantech leadership at risk
The EU still leads the world in clean energy technologies, but for how long? In 2012, 70% of new wind power capacity and 40% of new photovoltaic panels were installed outside Europe. Brussels has shied away from new national renewables targets in its 2030 climate and energy proposals. It is preparing fresh rules on state aid that will disadvantage less mature technologies such as offshore wind and solar PV. And the EU internal energy market … [Read more...]
Fennovoima’s Environmental Impact Assessment Report completed
Fennovoima Ltd has today on February 13th, submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (coordinating authority) in Finland. The report contains an assessment of the environmental impacts of the 1200 MW nuclear power plant at Pyhäjoki site. Fennovoima and Rusatom Overseas signed a plant supply contract of a pressurized water reactor AES-2006 in December 2013. The EIA report has been … [Read more...]