Karl Falkenberg, Director-General for Environment at the European Commission meets with viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen to discuss the Commission’s upcoming waste and circular economy package. The European Union has set an ambitious goal to recycle half of all household waste by 2020, however the door to landfill is still open. The Director-General for Environment argues that to increase recycling, member states need … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2014
2013: Record year for solar photovoltaics, accelerating market globalisationÂ
With at least 38.4 gigawatts (GW) of newly-installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity worldwide and a global cumulative installed capacity of 138.9 GW, 2013 was another historic year for solar PV technology, according to a new report from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). EPIA's flagship reportm "Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018", assesses global and European PV markets in 2013, makes forecasts for the next … [Read more...]
“World needs $48 trillion in investment to meet its energy needs to 2035”
Meeting the world's growing need for energy will require more than $48 trillion in investment over the period to 2035, according to a special report on investment released today by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as part of the World Energy Outlook series. Today's annual investment in energy supply of $1.6 trillion needs to rise steadily over the coming decades towards $2 trillion. Annual spending on energy efficiency, measured against a … [Read more...]
More than a fifth of global power production now comes from renewables
Global renewable electricity energy capacity rose to a new record level last year — more than 1,560 gigawatts (GW), up 8% from 2012. More than 22 % of the world’s power production now comes from renewable sources. Renewables currently meet almost one-fifth of world final energy consumption. That is one of the conclusion of the new Renewables Global Status Report published by REN21, "the global renewable energy policy multi-stakeholder … [Read more...]
Interview Fatih Birol, IEA: “Gradual change will not save us”
The latest major report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Energy Technology Perspectives 2014, states that “radical action is needed to actively transform energy supply and end use”. In an interview with Energy Post, the IEA’s renowned Chief Economist Fatih Birol notes that governments in particular have to take action. “You cannot change trends by giving some lectures or speeches. Policymakers should put in place real economic … [Read more...]