Cheng Kin Ming, whose recent investments in solar companies are estimated to be worth nearly $20 billion – making him the world’s largest private investor in clean technologies – has unveiled his vision for the Age of Green Cities at The Next Generation Solar PV Finance event in New York. He spoke publicly for the first time about his strategy to accelerate the world’s transition to green cities. His approach is to identify the world’s best, … [Read more...]
IEA: Solar energy could be the largest source of electricity by mid-century, if …
The sun could be the world’s largest source of electricity by 2050, ahead of fossil fuels, wind, hydro and nuclear, according to a pair of reports issued today by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The two IEA technology roadmaps show how solar photovoltaic (PV) systems could generate up to 16% of the world’s electricity by 2050 while solar thermal electricity (STE) from concentrating solar power (CSP) plants could provide an additional 11%. … [Read more...]
NEC and RSE in Italy show how renewable energy producers can make money by helping to balance the grid
NEC Italia SpA, which calls itself “the smart energy competence center for Europe and the Middle East”, and Ricerca Sistema Energetico SpA (RSE), a specialist in electro-energy research, will on 18 September release details of a new study showing how variable renewable energy sources can actually help balance the grid (rather than upset its balance). In this way, producers of renewable energy will be able to offer additional services to grid … [Read more...]
Zero energy at zero cost: industrialising the building sector
The Netherlands has found a way to refurbish existing buildings to net zero energy, within a week, with a 30-year builders’ guarantee and no subsidies. With new kitchen and bathroom! Now revolutionary renovation programme Energiesprong (literally: Energy Jump) is looking to take its learnings to France and the UK. … [Read more...]
The future of energy storage in Europe
With the increase of variable renewables on the grid, the need for electricity storage will only grow. But what kind of storage? According to Philip Hiersemenzel of German battery manufacturer Younicos, business opportunties will for now lie in short duration services. Based on his company’s modelling, he says large-scale grid storage does not make sense – yet. Without storage, 40% renewables is max. Mike Stone of Energy Storage Report … [Read more...]
Four scientific breakthroughs that can take us to a new, clean energy world
Discussions on the energy transition usually focus on the economics of renewables and cost comparisons with fossil fuels and other energy sources. What is usually ignored, are innovations in materials and chemical processes, which are nonetheless increasingly important as agents of change in the energy sector. Innovation watcher Denis Kuznetsov discusses four scientific breakthroughs in materials research that could shake up the energy sector in … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Circular economy: “France aims to lead by example” stresses French Sustainable Development official
In an exclusive interview with viEUws at Green Week 2014, Jean-Paul Albertini - French Executive Commissioner for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy - talks to viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen about the implementation of circular economy in Europe. Albertini discusses the benefits which a circular economy could bring to Europe. He claims that such an economy … [Read more...]
Energy innovation is key to EU 2030 goals
A narrative centred on the opportunities of low-carbon innovation rather than the costs of tackling climate change could yet unite stakeholders in the debate over a 2030 EU climate and energy policy. Technological and non-technological innovation are needed for Europe to create a competitive, secure, low-carbon future. At its first event in Brussels, held in partnership with Shell, Energy Post explored what kind of a 2030 package would do most … [Read more...]
How IT startups can improve energy efficiency
The latest progress in big data analysis has enabled the remarkable development of a group of internet startups which can dramatically change the energy efficiency sector. This group mainly consists of web-based platforms that can track and analyse energy consumption data in real-time. These platforms give the possibility to quantify the results of the implementation of energy efficient technologies. The ability to model and evaluate various … [Read more...]
Smart grid and smart city predictions for 2020 (part 2)
Last week, Silicon Valley-based boardroom consultant and smart grid expert Christine Hertzog made five predictions for trends likely to occur in the smart energy sector, including the prediction that “Consumer intermediation threats would abound for utilities”. And wouldn’t you know it, on Tuesday Google announced it is expanding into “smart homes” with the acquisition of Nest Labs for $3.2 billion. One down for Christine! This week she follows … [Read more...]
Smart grid and smart city predictions for 2020
“The smart grid” is a notoriously complex subject that is still quite abstract to many in the energy industry. Few know more about it than Silicon Valley-based boardroom consultant, author (of the bilingual English-Chinese “Smart Grid Dictionary”), and professional explainer Christine Hertzog. In this article she offers her insights on the major smart grids trends to be expected in the coming years. Her focus is on the U.S., but for European … [Read more...]
The Mad Scientists at the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories
What energy innovation can we expect to come out of the United States in the coming years? Matthew Stepp, Senior Policy Analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) in Washington DC, takes us on a whirlwind tour of some of the most advanced American energy research going on. He visits five of the 17 National Laboratories of the US Department of Energy, where research is carried out on materials (e.g. for better … [Read more...]
Getting electric cars on the road: it’s the price, stupid!
 A lot of arguments are put foward of why consumers would not want to buy electric vehicles, such as “range anxiety” or worries about lack of infrastruture. But according to Eduardo Avendaño of cleantech startup Ozone Drive, there is only one thing that really matters in the end: the price. Both policymakers and industry should focus on bringing down the sales price of electric cars. This is all the more important as government subsidies for … [Read more...]
A future for CCS? Set emission performance standards
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has come to a dead end in Europe. Although the EU is carrying out a consultation to revive the CCS programme, it is already evident that the EU Emission Trading Scheme is too uncertain to provide a clear business case for CCS. If it wants to revive CCS, the EU should follow the US example and implement emission performance standards for power plants, argues energy consultant Vincent Swinkels. Photo: … [Read more...]
Darwin, Dylan and the future of utilities
Australian journalist Giles Parkinson has published a must-read series of articles on his website Reneweconomy about how renewable energy is upsetting the business model of incumbent network operators and generators in Queensland, Australia. His insights provide crucial lessons for utilities elsewhere, most certainly in Europe.  As a recent report from Citi notes: “If we look at the situation facing European utilities, the future looks … [Read more...]
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