Who believes in the future of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)? Many experts feel they are too expensive and can’t compete with battery EVs. But now the Chinese government is throwing its weight behind FCEVs. Ankit Mishra spoke with Daniel Teichmann, CEO of Hydrogenious Technologies, about the brightening prospects of fuel cell cars. … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2018
Japan’s new energy strategy should boost both renewables and nuclear power
Japan needs both renewables and nuclear energy in its energy mix to reduce dependence on imports and lower greenhouse gas emissions, writes David Livingston of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. According to Livingston, it is in the interest of the international community that the country's new energy strategy, which is expected in the middle of this year, should boost their share in the energy mix. … [Read more...]
Charging an electric vehicle is far cleaner than driving on gasoline
Contrary to what many critics claim, research shows that driving an EV produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cars powered only by gasoline, writes Silvio Marcacci of think tank Energy Innovation in San Francisco. And much less pollution. This will only get better as the electricity mix becomes cleaner. … [Read more...]
Why it’s possible to be (a little bit) optimistic about climate change (Energy Post Weekly)
Are we headed for a climate cataclysm? Do we need a World War Two effort to stave off disaster? "Ecomodernist" Will Boisvert explains why the effects of climate change won't be as bad as most people think. Karel Beckman has the story. (This article is published in full on our premium website Energy Post Weekly in Karel Beckman's weekly Energy Watch.) … [Read more...]
Shaking up the German energy market: the Eon and RWE deal
The recent deal between German utilities RWE and Eon will lead to a concentration of power in the different segments of the energy market, writes Marius Buchmann of Jacobs University in Bremen. According to Buchmann, the big question is whether the new companies will become innovation engines or will impose new market entry barriers. Article courtesy of Buchmann’s blog Enerquire. … [Read more...]
EU leaders order long-term climate strategy by early 2019
EU leaders have directed the European Commission to produce an update of its long-term climate strategy “by the first quarter of 2019”, writes Megan Darby, deputy editor of Climate Home News. Climate campaigners welcome the move, saying it sends an important political signal. Article courtesy Climate Home News. … [Read more...]
Southeast Europe needs more nuclear power to head off energy crisis
Southeast Europe is headed for an energy crisis. The region has an energy infrastructure that is unreliable, inefficient, and unsustainable, while at the same time it is faced with the need to reduce dependence on external sources and conform to EU climate and air quality regulations. The best way out, argues Tim Yeo, Chairman of the New Nuclear Watch Institute, is to invest in new nuclear capacity. … [Read more...]
EU electricity distributors should not be allowed to police themselves
The European Commission has proposed new European legislation that could put Europe’s distribution system operators in a powerful position to bend market rules to their own advantage, writes Julie Finkler of NGO ClientEarth. According to Finkler, this could seriously hamper other market players, like community energy initiatives, renewable energy producers and aggregators. She calls on the European Parliament and the Member States to ensure this … [Read more...]
How to get India’s clean energy and EV push (back) on track
New investments in clean energy in India dropped 20% last year as a result of cancelled auctions and renegotiated power contracts. Energy analyst Ankit Mishra spoke to experts to find out what went wrong and how India can be put back on track. India's push to electrify all new vehicles by 2030 will also require strong action from the government if it is to succeed. … [Read more...]
Small district heating systems key to improving Poland’s air quality
Small, coal-fired district heating systems are a major source of air pollution in Poland. Applying EU regulations would go some way towards solving this problem, write Edith Bayer and Richard Cowart of global energy policy advisors Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), but more needs to be done. Bayer and Cowart draw four lessons from a new study that looked at practical ways to modernize two small district heating systems in Poland. … [Read more...]
China’s green energy revolution has saved the country from catastrophic dependence on fossil fuel imports
China’s shift to green energy has made a huge contribution to reducing the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, write researchers John A. Mathews and Xin Huang. But for China’s renewables revolution, the world would have faced potentially catastrophic geopolitical tensions over oil and gas. Courtesy John Mathews’ Global Green Shift blog. … [Read more...]
What energy utilities can learn from Kodak when it comes to digitalization
Utilities can learn from Kodak’s past of failing to exploit digitalization, writes Marius Buchmann of Jacobs University in Bremen. Kodak was ahead in digital technology - it just failed to identify a new business model to exploit it. Utilities face the same challenge today. Article courtesy of Buchmann’s blog Enerquire. … [Read more...]
Poorest households hit hardest by UK climate change levy despite using least energy
A levy added to UK household energy bills to help the country meet its climate targets hits the poorest households hardest, write John Barrett and Anne Owen of the University of Leeds. Climate policies should be compatible with social justice, the authors say, adding their research demonstrates it is possible to design a system that is both fair and effective. Article courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
Coming soon: the Amazon of energy
The energy sector has not yet been conquered by a platform giant like Amazon, Spotify or Facebook, writes financial energy specialist Gerard Reid. But according to Reid there are reasons why this will happen soon. The only question is, who is going to be there first? Courtesy Carbon and Energy blog. … [Read more...]
Germany’s new government deal fails the Paris climate accord test
On climate and energy It’s three steps forward and four back as Angela Merkel resumes government in coalition with the social democrats, writes Niklas Höhne, founding partner of the NewClimate Institute and Professor at Wageningen University. According to Höhne, with the coalition deal Germany forfeits its position as global climate leader and undermines the Paris Agreement. Courtesy Climate Home News. … [Read more...]