Sara Stefanini provides a written summary of our panel discussion held on 10th February: District Heating under the "Fit for 55" package: challenges and opportunities. Under the “Fit for 55” package, the EC proposed several regulatory changes that, combined, are meant to decarbonise district heating in Europe. But are these options workable for all? The participants raise questions over the support for district heating, whether the multiple … [Read more...]
Fit for 55: Does squeeze on gas make coal exit harder? Event summary + video
On May 18, 2021, Energy Post hosted an expert panel with the European Commission, E3G, CERRE and PKEE (the Polish Electricity Association, who also sponsored the discussion). It looked at some of the key EU support mechanisms offered to countries/companies transitioning away from coal, including the EU ETS' Modernisation Fund, the Just Transition Fund  and also how State Aid Guidelines (EEAG) contribute. We asked Stefaan Vergote (Senior Advisor … [Read more...]
Green Taxonomy: finding the right balance [Energy Post event video]
We present our video of the online discussion from February 22, 2021 on the EU Taxonomy and how it affects investments in the energy transition, with particular reference to technologies such as gas and nuclear power. Taking part were Nancy Saich, Chief Climate Expert, European Investment Bank (EIB), Pawel StraczyĹ„ski, Deputy CEO, PGE POLAND (sponsor), Ian Simm, CEO and Founder, IMPAX Asset Management, OndĹ™ej Knotek, MEP, RENEW EUROPE … [Read more...]
Re-designing the EU ETS to ensure a Just Transition [VIDEO]
On November 30th, 2020, we ran a live online panel discussion concerning the re-design of the EU ETS in the wake of new, higher CO2 reduction targets being agreed by the EU. The target now stands at a 55% reduction c/w 1990 levels by 2030, up from 40%. A huge jump in order to keep in line with Paris commitments. The session was moderated by Matthew James, Managing Director at Energy Post and featured interventions from Andrei Marcu (Chairman at … [Read more...]
Hydrogen, Renewables and Open Borders [VIDEO]
On July 15th 2020, Energy Post hosted an online panel discussion with Dr. Florian Ermacora (European Commission), Professor Ad van Wijk (TU Delft), Marcel Steinbach (BDEW) and Giulia Branzi (SNAM). At the event, video recording below, readers heard a summary of the proposals for Europe's new Hydrogen and Sector Integration strategies direct form the Commission, insights from van Wijk on how supply will come as much from outside as from within the … [Read more...]
Europe’s new Hydrogen Strategy: the questions that still need answering
Yesterday saw the launch of the EC’s new Hydrogen Strategy, the focus of our next live online discussion and Q&A. Register now to join us at the event next Wednesday at 12.45 CEST on Zoom to hear direct from the European Commission's Dr. Florian Ermacora, Future Energy System expert Prof. dr. Ad van Wijk, Giulia Branzi - Head of Regulation at event partner SNAM and trading specialist Marcel Steinbach of BDEW. Here, to set the scene, Gökçe … [Read more...]
Will the Just Transition Fund deliver the Green Deal? [VIDEO]
Last week 390 Energy Post readers registered for our latest online panel discussion sponsored by PGE Poland. Our speakers included Wojciech Dabrowski - President of PGE Poland, Aleksandra Tomczak of the European Commission's dedicated Green Deal cabinet, Henrike Hahn MEP for the Greens, Corinna Zierold of European trade union IndustriAll and Jerzy Buzek MEP, former Prime Minister of Poland and President of the European Parliament 2009 to 2012. … [Read more...]
Just Transition Fund: Poland yet to be convinced
Last month we learned of extra "Covid-19 recovery" funds to keep the Green Deal on an even keel. They included an additional €32.5bn for the Just Transition Fund (JTF). But is it enough? This is the question at the heart of our online event next week. The JTF is part of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) which, in turn, is the part of the Green Deal funding plan and is aimed at supporting Member States and regions "most affected by the … [Read more...]
Too “low-hanging fruit” is not sweet enough (and eventually neither clean nor cheap)!
At a lunch debate organised by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) on “The costs of a low level of ambition in greening the heating and cooling sector” and hosted by EUFORES President MEP Jeppe Kofod on 30 January, representatives from industry, civil society, the European Commission (EC) and MEPs from several countries and political groups (Jeppe Kofod, Bendt Bendtsen, Theresa Griffin, Jo Leinen, Gesine Meissner and Paul RĂĽbig) … [Read more...]
Energy heavyweight Joan MacNaughton: “Adaptation is a cop-out”
Joan MacNaughton, President of the Energy Institute and a highly influential figure in the international energy policymaking world, calls on “the big CO2 emitters” in the world to take unilateral action to reduce CO2 emissions. Countries that refuse to get along, should be penalised through import duties or carbon taxes, suggests MacNaughton. The current talk about “adaptation” to climate change, says MacNaughton, is a “cop-out”. Energy Post … [Read more...]
