The new Polish government will not just resist ambitious EU climate targets, it will also increase the role of the State in the energy sector, write researchers Kacper Szulecki (University of Oslo) and Andrzej Ancygier (Climate Analytics) . The conservative Law and Justice Party that has been swept into power intends to create a Ministry of Energy, which will take control of the major Polish energy companies, note the authors. The likely new … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2015
A quiet gas revolution in Central and Eastern Europe
Turkish Stream, Nord Stream, South Stream, Nabucco - the discussion about the European gas market centres on big gas pipeline projects which are supposed to make Europe either more or less dependent on Russia. However, unnoticed by most observers, Central and Eastern European countries have been carrying out numerous smaller projects that together are radically transforming the European gas market, write Colin Harrison and Zuzana Princova of … [Read more...]
Most countries need to at least double their efforts on climate
Developed nations need to double or triple their current efforts to limit global warming to a âsafeâ level of 2â°C, write Anita Talberg and Malte Meinshausen of the University of Melbourne. Thatâs the finding of a study published on 26 October in Nature Climate Change assessing countries' post-2020 climate pledges ahead of Decemberâs international climate summit in Paris. … [Read more...]
Power-to-gas: how carmakers can go green (without cheating)
European carmakers are required to reduce their CO2-emissions, but the Volkswagen affair has shown they find it increasingly difficult to do so. There is a way out, however, writes energy consultant Mike Parr: they could follow the example of Audi and invest in power-to-gas systems. This would kill two birds with one stone, argues Parr: it would help decarbonise the transport sector and could enormously help the integration of variable renewables … [Read more...]
German accord: it will take a lot more to beat lignite
The accord between the German government and energy companies RWE, Vattenfall and Mibrag to put 2.7 GW of lignite-fired power capacity into reserve, will not be enough to wean Germany off lignite, writes Hamburg-based US energy expert Jeffrey Michel. The lignite sector is too well entrenched and lignite mining profitable enough to subsidize the loss-making power production. Only when renewables and gas-fired power generation have fully superseded … [Read more...]
The Hinkley Point C boondoggle: a dangerous waste of money
The UK Governmentâs pursuit of a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point C represents not just a colossal waste of money, but could also be real danger to the UKâs national security, write Professors Alex Russell and Peter Strachan of Robert Gordon University. âLet us hope that the Prime Minister and Chancellor's actions do not lead to the radicalisation of unemployed steel workers who are now being joined by unemployed renewable industry personnel.â … [Read more...]
Toyota vs. Tesla â can Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles compete with electric vehicles?
Author: Tony Seba Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) appear to be making a comeback. But according to author, lecturer and entrepreneur Tony Seba, HFCVs can't compete with electric vehicles. "The hydrogen economy would be a massively wasteful economy that would at best use three to six times more energy than an electric vehicle and solar/wind infrastructure and many times more water than even gasoline uses." … [Read more...]
Why Brussels should not interfere with Nord Stream 2
In its efforts to increase European energy security and create a common European energy market â and ultimately an Energy Union worth its label â the European Commission preeminently emphasizes the diversification of supply routes. For this reason it has criticised the Nord Stream 2 project of Gazprom and a number of European companies. But while diversification certainly remains one of the basic principles of energy security, it is only one of … [Read more...]
viEUws Brussels Briefing on Energy: all you need to know for October/November
Hughes Belin gives details on what to expect in the first State of the Energy Union report due from European Commission Vice-President, MaroĆĄ Ć efÄoviÄ, on 18 November. In the meantime, he reports on the official signing off of a new gas interconnector between Lithuania and Poland, and looks ahead to an EU LNG strategy due next year. A public consultation on redesigning the European electricity market has closed and legislation on the back of … [Read more...]
Energy companies divided over renewable energy in Brussels
âThe lobby of the conventional energy sector is still very influential in Brussels, but itâs increasingly becoming split over renewable energy. Some of the incumbent companies are trying to slow down the development of renewables, others want to encourage them. At the same time, renewable energy lobbyists are becoming increasingly professional, catching up with the lobbyists for the conventional energy sector.â A senior lobbyist for the renewable … [Read more...]
The UK Governmentâs delusional energy policy â and what it means for Scotland
The Conservative government in the UK has slashed support for renewables and is going all-out for shale gas and nuclear power. This is setting them on a collision course with devolved administrations in the UK, Scotland most of all, warn Peter Strachan and Alex Russell of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and Geraint Ellis of Queenâs University in Belfast. It wonât go over too well at the Paris climate summit either. … [Read more...]
Jean-Luc Dormoy, IT expert and innovator: âEnergy companies should disrupt their own business before others do itâ
Energy companies can turn the threat of new rivals into an opportunity by taking charge of their own disruption, believes energy and IT entrepreneur Jean-Luc Dormoy. With a background in software, artificial intelligence and energy, Dormoy sets out a model for disruptive innovation inspired by the likes of Google and Uber in this exclusive interview with Energy Post. Dormoy: âIT is changing almost all industries. But IT on its own is not enough. … [Read more...]
What Volkswagen and the EUâs climate models have in common
The European Commissionâs climate and energy modelling, based on intransparent models from the National Technical University of Athens, is based on ludicrous assumptions, writes Brook Riley of the Friends of the Earth Europe. The consequences for the climate are deadly: energy efficiency targets would be much higher if proper models were used. Riley calls for a reform of current practices. On Wednesday 21 October there will be a hearing at the … [Read more...]
From the horseâs mouth: The new oil world is radically different from the old one
We have entered a new oil world in which most of the old oil market truths can go overboard. This was the stark message given off by BPâs Chief Economist Spencer Dale in a speech he gave in London on 13 October. According to Dale, oil market realities have changed fundamentally: âWe need a new set of principles reflecting the New Economics of Oilâ. Karel Beckman discusses the profound implications following from Daleâs ground-breaking analysis. … [Read more...]
Failure of Energy Community Treaty: if EU can’t make its neighbours clean up, can it be climate leader?
The Ministerial Council of the Energy Community â a Treaty between the EU, the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine â is expected to decide on far-reaching reforms this week. According to Dragana Mileusnic of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the Energy Community Treaty has failed to bring progressive climate policies to Southeast Europe. Countries that have signed the Treaty have made practically no effort to live up to its obligations and … [Read more...]