Of all cars sold in the first three quarters of 2014 in the Netherlands, 4.3% were electric or hybrid cars. In the last quarter of 2013, the number was even higher: 15%. The main reason for these very high EV sales in the Netherlands is fiscal measures, says Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, who published the figures. … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2014
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller: “This is the beginning of the end of Gazprom’s business model in Europe”
Following last week’s announcement on the South Stream project cancellation, last Saturday (6/12) Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller gave an extensive interview to a major Russian TV channel, Russia 24. In his interview Mr Miller explains the reasons for abandoning South Stream, outlines Gazprom’s prospects of the new gas delivery route through Turkey and touches upon the project’s financial aspects. … [Read more...]
To cut carbon emissions and keep the lights on, it has got to be nuclear power
Crunch time is here: energy security and affordability concerns are colliding with the need to reduce CO2 emissions, writes Malcolm Grimston of Imperial College London. That's why the UK government is right to want to get new nuclear power plants built, argues Grimston. (See the previous article, by Peter Strachan and Alex Russell of Robert Gordon University. for a different viewpoint.) … [Read more...]
UK nuclear policy takes another step in the wrong direction
In its annual National Infrastructure Plan, published on 2 December, the UK government announced it has signed a cooperation agreement with Toshiba, GDF Suez and NuGen toward the financing of a new 3.4 GW nuclear power plant at Moorside. This is one of three new nuclear megaprojects being planned in the UK, next to Hinkley Point C (3.3GW) and Wylfa Newydd (3GW). The UK plans to spend ÂŁ45 billion on these projects until 2021 and hopes to raise … [Read more...]
Russian-built new nuclear reactor gets go-ahead in Finland
The Finnish Parliament has today on 5 December voted 115 to 74 in favour of Fennovoima’s supplement to the Decision-in-Principle regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki, Finland. In a press release, the Finnish Parliament states: “The Finnish Government, the Commerce Committee of the Parliament and now the plenary session felt that in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Act, Fennovoima's project remains in the overall … [Read more...]
Could falling oil prices spark a financial crisis?
To what extent are financial investors exposed to the oil sector? And what will happen on the financial markets if oil stocks and oil companies go under on a large scale? We are far from a crisis yet, writes Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com. But, he adds, falling oil prices are not just a problem for oil companies. … [Read more...]
Lima: a trillion reasons why climate talks may still fail
Hopes are high at the UN Climate Conference that has started this week in Lima, Peru. There are many signs that a turning point has been reached, writes Giles Parkinson of Reneweconomy.com. But the hurdle is still high: to meet the 2C target, two-thirds of known fossil fuel reserves have to stay in the ground, costing the oil and coal sector $1 trillion a year in lost revenue. … [Read more...]
What Eon and Gazprom have in common
What does Eon’s change in corporate strategy and Gazprom’s decision not to build South Stream have in common? Quite a lot. Both decisions are responses to the increasing speed in which Europe is moving towards a low-carbon society. Both are also bold and risky decisions for the two companies involved. The rest of us probably need not be (too) concerned, writes Energy Post editor Karel Beckman. … [Read more...]
Eon’s new strategy: focus on renewables, distribution, customer solutions, get out of old power generation
Eon, the largest German energy company, will henceforth “focus on renewables, distribution networks, and customer solutions and combine its conventional generation, global energy trading, and exploration and production businesses in a new, independent company, a majority of which will be spun off to Eon SE’s shareholders. … [Read more...]
US national interest requires clean energy, not fossil fuels
Many vested interests with short-term perspectives are fighting to maintain US dependence on fossil fuels. The long-term national interest, however, requires that the US makes a speedy transition to a clean energy society, writes energy expert Allan Hoffman. According to Hoffman, the shale revolution is only a temporary phenomenon. A continued reliance on oil and gas will imperil the nation’s future. … [Read more...]
IEA: coal, nuclear, shale should be part of EU energy mix, Energy Union should not be buyers’ cartel
The European Union “has made progress in liberalising energy markets, and its global leadership on climate change is to be commended”, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today as it released its review of EU energy policies. But the IEA also had criticisms to make. … [Read more...]
EU power system largely ready for winter, but only thanks to interconnections: ENTSO-E report
The Winter Outlook Report from ENTSO-E, Europe's electricity transmission system operators, shows that overall generation will be sufficient to cover demand this winter, even under severe conditions. However, the report notes that many countries will need imports to meet their demand. Risks due to generation shortages are identified for some countries, such as Belgium, and to a lesser extent Great Britain. The report also looks at the possibility … [Read more...]
Can we use gas as a ‘bridging fuel’ to a low carbon world?
Gas can be a bridge fuel, displacing coal and reducing carbon emissions, concludes a new report from the UK Energy Research Centre. But only for the next twenty years, and only if the world sorts out carbon capture and storage (CCS) and sees a dramatic cut in coal use. Christian Hunt of the Carbon Brief has the story. … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment – All you need to know for December 2014
In this Brussels Briefing on Environment for viEUws.eu, Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest EU environment policy developments, including the current status of talks around the EU Emission Trading Scheme and biofuel regulations. … [Read more...]