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...]
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...]
New process to gasify sludge and slurry may turn farmers into energy producers
A substantial part of Europeâs sludge and slurry mountain can be converted into gas for electricity production, if a new invention from Finnish company Outotec turns out to be successful. Together with Stuttgart University the company has invented a new drying-and-gasification process that should make this kind of energy production affordable. According to Ludwig Hermann of Outotec, the process has an additional advantage in that it leaves a … [Read more...]
Euracoal attacks European Climate Foundation: âUS super-rich are buying EU climate and energy policyâ
Euracoal, the European Association for Coal and Lignite, has launched a full-frontal attack on the European Climate Foundation, one of the most influential climate NGOâs in Europe, accusing it of âtwisting the truthâ and undermining democracy with âmoney and powerâ. Energy Post editor Karel Beckman looks at Euracoalâs claims and concludes that they are unsubstantiated and even cynical. … [Read more...]
Grandmaster of the Great Game: Obamaâs geopolitical strategy for containing ChinaÂ
In ways that have eluded Washington pundits and policymakers, President Barack Obama is deploying a subtle geopolitical strategy that, if successful, might give Washington a fighting chance to extend its global hegemony deep into the twenty-first century, writes author and historian Alfred McCoy. In this pioneering essay, McCoy explains how Obama is countering Chinaâs Silk Road Strategy aimed at dominating the Eurasian landmass by pursuing two … [Read more...]
Exclusive: The Overlay Network – telecom experts present revolutionary plan to integrate EU power market
Four Dutch managers with a background in the telecoms sector, led by former Chairman of KPN Royal Dutch Telecom Professor Wim Dik, have come up with a simple idea that would finally make possible a truly integrated EU electricity system. Under the name of EU PowerNet Initiative they propose the building of an âOverlay Networkâ that would allow direct transmission of electricity between all countries even if they are not direct neighbours. The … [Read more...]
Are EU leaders about to shy away from effective climate and energy governance?
On 26 November the EU's Energy Ministers will decide on a new climate and energy governance mechanism. This will be crucial to delivering the outcomes that these leaders agreed on last year in climate and energy policy. However, the draft of the Energy Councilâs Conclusions, already published on 30 September, is a cause for concern, writes Oliver Sartor of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). Sartor … [Read more...]
New European trend: renewables without borders
So far there has been very little cooperation between EU countries in stimulating renewable energy, although better coordination could save tens of billions of euros in support costs. Now that the EU has decided not to have national renewable energy targets for 2030, more and more organisations and countries are trying to develop regional approaches to support renewables projects. The Heinrich BĂśll Foundation, a think tank close to the German … [Read more...]
How Russia is plotting to split OPEC
Russiaâs geopolitical strategy, including its intervention in Syria, is all about energy, writes Dalan McEndree of Oilprice.com. According to McEndree, President Putin is aiming to split OPEC into two blocs â the haves (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar) and the have-nots (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Algeria, Venezuela. Nigeria) â with Russia supporting the have-nots. In this way Putin tries to pressure Saudi Arabia to reverse its oil policy, which is … [Read more...]
Vieuws Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for October
European Vice-President, MaroĹĄ Ĺ efÄoviÄ, is to present on the 18th of November a first-ever Communication on the State of the Energy Union. Brussels correspondent Hughes Belin also tells us that the Heating & Cooling strategy for Europe is now likely for early next year, and about the Commissionâs update on the SET-plan, followed by the informal Energy Council on the 23rd of September. All the details in this monthâs Energy Briefing. First … [Read more...]
Renewables: does the IEA underestimate them?
In a new market report on renewable energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that renewables will represent âthe largest single source of electricity growth over the next five yearsâ, reaching a share of 26% of world power supply in 2020, compared to 22% in 2013. Yet critics say the IEA is still underestimating the speed at which renewables like solar and wind are likely to grow. Energy Post editor Karel Beckman tries to figure out … [Read more...]
RWEâs Head of Innovation Inken Braunschmidt: âWe want to be the Uber for energyâ
Big energy companies are looking to the sharing economy, digitisation, big data, and mega-cities to inspire future revenue streams. In this exclusive interview with Energy Post, Inken Braunschmidt, leader of RWEâs âInnovation Hubâ talks about her unique role at the helm of a department thatâs not a department. Her job? To think non-utility ideas. Braunschmidt:âWeâre really going to the edge of what energy has meant for 100 years.â … [Read more...]
Disaffected members of UNECE Gas Centre launch new Global Gas Centre under wings of World Energy Council
The World Energy Council is launching a new Global Gas Centre in St. Petersburg on 6 October in collaboration with gas companies ENGIE, OMV and Swissgas. These companies have all recently left another gas organisation, the Gas Centre of the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), out of dissatisfaction. In St Petersburg, the Global Gas Centre wants to sign up new members, particularly Gazprom, the current Chair of the UNECEâs Gas … [Read more...]
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