Space heating and hot water account for around 70% of energy consumption in residential buildings. Any progress in buildings efficiencies will see overall energy consumption decline. But that presents a serious challenge to the existing business model: why invest in a sector thatâs selling less energy? The answer is to change that business model, says Oskar Kvarnström, Energy Policy Analyst at the IEA. In doing so new doors are opened. At the … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2019
GDP – Gross Environmental Damage = actual wealth creation
We all know that GDP measures everything thatâs been paid for, both the good and the bad. There have already been studies that try to account for the âbadâ GDP that costs us in the long run and so adds less value than stated. Catherine Wolfram, at the Haas School of Business, takes a thoughtful look at Gross Environmental Damage which separates out the kind of GDP that weâre going to have to spend money cleaning up in the future. The GED concept … [Read more...]
Time for tech-neutral incentives if renewables growth wonât stop climate change?
In 2018 energy use grew 2.9% and emissions 2%. That means renewables are not keeping up with energyâs growth: it will need a four-fold increase in wind and solarâs growth to do so, says Schalk Cloete. Thereâs more: to cut global CO2 emissions by the 3% per year we need to meet the Paris goals wind and solar growth rates must increase by over an order of magnitude. He reviews the evidence and concludes that current technology-forcing policies â … [Read more...]
Member States must decide: cash for climate or cash for carbon?
Over 3 billion euros of EU money meant for Europeâs poorer regions could be up for grabs by the fossil fuel industry if EU Member States do not change their current position on 25 June. The funding, which is part of the 374 billion Euro âCohesion Policyâ pot, was - in the European Commissionâs proposal - meant to go to sustainable economic activities. Yet if EU Member States get their way, a significant portion of the funding would be made … [Read more...]
Carbon-emitting gas, not renewables, is replacing U.S. nuclear
Ohio, USA, subsidises renewables. Now the Ohio State Legislature is fighting over a bill that will re-shape and extend that support to all clean energy, including nuclear. Thatâs how it should be, says Jim Conca. He reviews a report by regional transmission organisation PJM that says keeping nuclear plants open is far cheaper. Moreover, itâs far better for emissions. Thatâs because whenever a nuclear plant is shut down in the U.S. it is replaced … [Read more...]
France and Britain race for carbon neutrality by 2050
Inspired by the UKâs independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and the progress it has enabled in that nationâs acceleration to net-zero, France set up its equivalent Haut Conseil pour le Climat. Its first report is launched tomorrow (June 25th). The CCC certainly has made a difference, as this month the UK enshrined in law its goal of net-zero by 2050. The French parliament is in discussions to do the same. CĂ©line Guivarch and Corinne Le … [Read more...]
BP Review of 2018: record CO2, energy use as gas outstrips wind & solar
Energy use grew at 2.9% in 2018, the largest rise since 2010. Itâs what happens when economies grow. But gas, oil and coal's contribution to that growth saw global CO2 emissions rise by 2% in 2018, the largest year-on-year increase in seven years. Wind and solar growth, driven by China though slowing in the US, EU, and India, achieved its second fastest rate on record - but still lagged behind gas additions. These are not the trends we need to … [Read more...]
$400bn in global fossil fuel consumption subsidies, twice that for renewables
At over $400bn in 2018, global fossil fuel consumption subsidies are more than double those for renewables. That makes sense while governments worldwide use energy subsidies to help poor consumers, and clean energy still makes up a smaller proportion of the global energy mix. But it makes the transition harder: cheaper fossil energy means more is consumed, and itâll take longer for clean energy to compete it away. The IEAâs WEO Energy Analysts … [Read more...]
Pioneering cold-fusion: the elusive answer to global energy poverty and an end to nuclear waste
Inventor Suneel N Parekh is an energy pioneer. What keeps him going is a mixture of conviction and optimism. But even he knows he wonât get his project over the line without help. After decades he is finally bringing the proof of his methods to the attention of investors who can make or break his lifeâs work. Pioneers need backers. Just as The Beatles needed a deal before we could enjoy Sgt. Peppers, our energy pioneers need their break too - the … [Read more...]
Advanced Aviation Biofuels: ready for take-off?
A survey by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) of leading biofuel investors and producers worldwide reveals that they are still struggling to get governments to deliver the right regulatory framework â and carbon pricing â to ensure biojet fuelâs rapid growth. Scaled up, the fuel also needs to come down in price to compete with jet fuelâs 50 eurocents per litre. Technological progress is being made. But biofuel investment has … [Read more...]
U.S. sanctions against Nord Stream 2: the global realpolitik of Russian gas for Europe
The proposed US sanctions aimed at Nord Stream 2 (NS2) are yet another hurdle in the way of the controversial Russian gas pipeline for Europe. But they are not an attempt by the Americans to prevent Gazprom from supplanting them as a supplier, says Alan Riley at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, because NS2 will deliver no more gas than the current route via Ukraine, just replace it. He argues the sanctions are to constrain Russiaâs … [Read more...]
EU to help China fulfil its global climate obligations, and in returnâŠ
Last monthâs launch of the EU China Energy Cooperation Platform (ECECP) should serve as great encouragement for EU energy firms looking to participate in the developing Chinese energy system. Up until now itâs been possible but challenging as firms have not been competing on a level-playing field. But that is set to change as a whole raft of factors mean the time is ripe for meaningful cooperation between the worldâs two leading energy … [Read more...]
Capacity markets: a brewing clash
Electricity Capacity Mechanisms (CMs) were conceived to make sure there is always enough energy for the grid, even as demand and supply fluctuate. A legal challenge from Tempus Energy in the European General Court led to the UKâs CM being suspended by the government. Now a similar case is being brought to the Court, relating to the Polish CM. Another win for Tempus could lead to further cases across the EU and could dent the way countries finance … [Read more...]
New gas-to-methanol technology OxE could end oil well âflaringâ
Oil wells also release natural gas. But itâs burnt off on site whenever the economics of collecting and piping it donât add up (gas canât use the existing petroleum infrastructure). What if it could be converted into methanol, says Nichole Liebov at the University of Virginia. She describes a new process called oxyesterification (OxE) that converts methane (the main constituent of natural gas) into methanol cost effectively at low temperatures … [Read more...]
Energy Efficiency should target inefficient use, not all use
Energy efficiency should not just be a matter of reducing energy consumption. As renewables grow pricing and profits should encourage renewable consumption. After all, renewables arenât a problem. And greater renewables consumption means less fossil fuels. Yet consumer pricing models with a low fixed price + high variable rate are designed to discourage all consumption, warns James Bushnell of the Energy Institute at Haas. He says we must … [Read more...]