China’s “New Silk Road” strategy is intended to connect the Chinese industrial powerhouse first with Eurasia and then Europe. This will be done through a gigantic, intricate network of road and rail transport lines and energy pipelines, which will cut overland travel time from China to Europe to just two days. It is the greatest trade story in the world, writes reporter Pepe Escobar, even though we hear little about it in the West. Europe, notes … [Read more...]
Energy security: Brussels, stop dreaming about the market and confront Russia and China geopolitically
European leaders are under the delusion that they can solve Europe’s security of energy supply problem by creating a strong internal market, which they believe the rest of the world will be eager to serve. In reality, reducing dependence on Russia will require long-term political commitment, real power play and engagement with countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), write Cyril Widdershoven of energy research institute TNO and … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for December 2014
In this Brussels Briefing on Energy for viEUws.eu, leading journalist Hughes Belin provides an overview of the latest EU energy policy developments: … [Read more...]
EXCLUSIVE – new Vattenfall CEO Magnus Hall: “What is true for Eon, is pretty much true for us”
Vattenfall’s CEO Magnus Hall likens the selling of its lignite operations in Germany to Eon’s recent split in two. “The problem we needed to solve was the CO2 issue,” says Hall in an exclusive interview with Energy Post. The new chief of the Swedish state-owned company has abandoned the idea of splitting up the company geographically. Its future lies in sustainability, says Hall, e.g. in offshore wind. He notes the European market is distorted by … [Read more...]
In the new energy security war, Europe has the upper hand over Russia, say top US officials Â
Concerns about energy security have shot to the top of the political agenda in Europe. But the US has no intention of letting the EU down. “The United States will be working with the EU to develop a plan for the mid- to long-term evolution of a more energy-secure future”, said US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz at a conference of the Atlantic Council in Istanbul. At this summit, top US officials and energy experts showed themselves surprisingly … [Read more...]
Survey: utilities increasingly turn to social media
A new IDC Energy Insights study reveals that around two in every three European utilities use social media for business purposes or plan to do so in the short term, compared with 48% a year earlier. The study also highlights that further expansion in the social media space is one of the top 3 customer experience investment priorities that European utility suppliers are already involved in or expect to undertake in the next few months. Key … [Read more...]
Five take-home messages from the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2014
Current events risk distracting governments “from recognising and tackling the longer-term signs of stress that are emerging in the energy system” says the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its latest World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2014 unveiled on 12 November in London. Just like a year ago, it warns that long-term oil supplies are far from secure, with the Middle East re-establishing itself as the main supplier in the long-term. Moreover, while … [Read more...]
Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director IEA: “The energy security challenge has become global”
Not so long ago “energy security was seen primarily as a concern of industrialised countries”, but today “the challenge has become global”, says Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a recent interview with World Energy Focus, a publication of the World Energy Council. And it extends beyond oil. “With oil we are doing well. But I do worry when we take a broader definition of energy security.” … [Read more...]
Cleantech innovation in Europe: here are the gamechangers of the future
At a “business booster” event in Barcelona, sixty European cleantech startups supported by KIC InnoEnergy, presented themselves to the world. They offered an impressive variety of new technologies and market innovations, ranging from new storage devices and solar chips to energy saving techniques, financing models and consumer engagement platforms. In this article we present to you some of the gamechangers of our future energy system – all made … [Read more...]
André Faaij, Energy Academy Europe: “The energy transition has only just begun"
While policymakers and companies generally acknowledge the need for an energy transition, they still underestimate the enormous task that is facing us. The real energy transition, says AndrĂ© Faaij, the new academic director of the Dutch research institute Energy Academy Europe, has yet to start. And, he adds, it will only succeed if it is strongly directed by government policy – preferably coordinated by Brussels – and approached in a … [Read more...]
Cleantech innovation in Europe: the pace is picking up
The pace of innovation in the European energy sector is stepping up. “Energy is no longer seen as a commodity that simply needs to be there. It is perceived as a challenge for which solutions need to be found”, says Elena Bou, Innovation Director of KIC InnoEnergy, a top European company in the field of sustainable energy innovation, in an interview with Energy Post. According to Bou, successful innovation begins with “asking the right … [Read more...]
Exclusive: “In 2015, The Hague should see the birth of a new global Energy Charter”
The Energy Charter, signed in 1991 in The Hague in the post-cold War period mainly to harmonise energy relations between Europe and the former Soviet Union, is on the point of being transformed into a global instrument. Secretary-General Urban Rusnak hopes that next year, again in The Hague, a second high-level meeting will establish a new International or Global Energy Charter, adapted to the globalised economy and suited to the needs of energy … [Read more...]
IEA: Solar costs heading to 4c/kWh, rooftop solar “unbeatable”
The traditionally conservative International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts the cost of solar energy will fall to around 4c/kWh in coming decades as the sun becomes the largest source of power generation across the world. The latest “Solar Roadmap” published by the IEA on Monday shows that the speed with which solar is reaching “socket parity” has taken the world by surprise, writes Giles Parkinson of Reneweconomy.com.au. … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “Three commissioners will replace GĂĽnther Oettinger”
For ViEUws.eu's Hughes Belin discusses the implications of the new Juncker Commission. He concludes that three commissioners will replace Energy Commmissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger and expects that climate and energy deals "will be done behind the closed doors of a single cabinet". No wonder, says Belin, NGO's and MEPs have voiced concerns. … [Read more...]
Do we need capacity markets? Do we need Russia?
There are two major issues on which the future of the energy sector hangs, notes EP editor Karel Beckman: 1) Â how far will the renewables revolution go in combination with climate policy; 2) how will growing geopolitical tensions, especially relations with Russia, affect markets? Karel asks whether we need capacity schemes, indicates how utilities could get back on a growth path and how (not) to deal with Russia. … [Read more...]
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