Large scale electricity generators, unconcerned with end-use, want to sell you more electricity, argues Walt Patterson of the Hoffmann Centre for Sustainable Resource Economy, based at Chatham House. But the arrival of small-scale, localised and micro-grid suppliers could see the electricity generation business turned on its head. It opens the door to the selling of the service – light, heat, refrigeration, motive power, information – rather than … [Read more...]
Renewables for remote mines power supply in Africa gaining momentum
In the last few years, more and more mining companies have adopted wind and solar systems to reduce their energy costs at remote off-grid mines. In this first phase, the initial focus was on the integration capabilities as miners were afraid that adding intermittent renewables such as solar and wind could affect the reliability of power supply and even lead to production losses. In various microgrid applications, renewables combined with … [Read more...]
BIOFUEL: to burn or not to burn – Juncker’s palm oil conundrum
If you’d ask ordinary citizens, environmentalists, farmers, business leaders or scientists the answer would invariably be a resounding “of course we shouldn’t”. However, it increasingly looks as if the EU executive is about to give the green light for another decade of uncontrolled palm oil burning by Europe’s diesel fleet. Not because it’s good for the climate or because Europeans want it – 70% are against – but because the Commission is afraid … [Read more...]
EU ETS price contributing to gas demand
Whilst the top-level 40% 2030 emissions reduction target looks relatively safe, share from RES is definitely not. Carbon pricing, in its various forms, is working but, frankly, not in a predictable or even desirable way. A closer inspection of the market-driven EU ETS permit scheme illustrates how and why gas – especially American LNG – is going strong, putting the 32% share of final energy consumption from renewables in doubt. … [Read more...]
“Consuming less energy may act as disincentive for investment in renewables”
According to Anthony Patt, Professor of Climate Policy at the ETH Zürich in Switzerland, the less we spend on energy, the less attractive renewables can look to businesses and investment markets. Such remarkable insights fly in the face of received wisdom and defy logic. Patt claims his models show that doubling current energy efficiency improvement rates buys us only one extra year to hit the Paris targets. Really? - This is how Anthony … [Read more...]
A record year for big corporates buying renewable energy to run their operations
In the U.S. 2018 set a new record for total capacity of announced corporate renewable energy (RE) purchases. Facebook, AT&T, Walmart, ExxonMobil and Microsoft top the list. This unprecedented demand has been met with robust supply from renewable energy project developers as well as from utilities, which have demonstrated their willingness to work with these buyers in finding new solutions in the market. The Rocky Mountain Institute’s Lily … [Read more...]
Norway’s renewables exports to increase 8-fold by 2030
Already, Norway’s renewable energy sector generates $1.2bn in export revenues today. Now an analysis of commitments by both private and state actors shows that that figure should rise 8-fold by 2030. Terje Osmundsen, CEO of Empower New Energy, adds up the numbers, identifies the key businesses and state operators, and shows how renewables exports can help both Norway and developing countries in danger of being left behind. … [Read more...]
Low oil price alongside rise in renewables sees Oil & Gas slide to bottom of S&P 500
In December we reported that in 2018, the U.S. became the world's leading oil producer for the first time since the 1970s. It is tipped to produce 12 million barrels of oil per day this year (up approximately 10% year on year), and over two-thirds of it will come from shale producers. But the consequent squeeze on the oil price meant U.S. Oil & Gas firms ended the second year in a row at the bottom of the stock market. IEEFA’s director of … [Read more...]
The risks related to onshore wind power investment
Bans on subsidies (in some countries) and reduced costs have hit total investment in onshore wind. Meanwhile, market share continues to grow across the EU28. Wind energy now accounts for almost 20% of installed capacity for power generation which makes researcher Schalk Cloete's sobering analysis of risks for onshore wind well worth reading. Following up on his previous article, he examines current assumptions and argues that the discount rate … [Read more...]
How EASE is mapping out the path towards large-scale deployment of energy storage technologies in Europe
The Clean Energy for All Europeans Package marked a turning point for energy storage in Europe, says Marine Delhommeau, policy officer for the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE). Energy storage is now seen as one of the key flexibility instruments required in the future energy system. Despite this, the industry faces challenges in deploying at scale. A new roadmap aims to solve the problem. … [Read more...]
Investment risk: nuclear high, new load-following fossil fuel plants low
In the current policy environment many energy technologies can appear attractive with the right set of assumptions: discounted clean energy technologies (wind, solar and nuclear) where the discount rate is heavily influenced by risk (see graph) and, perhaps surprisingly, new load-following fossil fuel plants (especially natural gas) where continued wind/solar technology forcing actually provides substantial upside potential. CCS researcher Schalk … [Read more...]
Time to re-think Britain’s capacity market
Answering the call for opinions for the UK capacity market review, Gerard Wynn of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) says its time for a rethink. Since its introduction to ensure energy security, 75% of payments have gone to existing coal, gas and nuclear plants, and only 10% to modern assets. By continuing with market reforms and building interconnections with Europe, the UK can have an efficient, market-led … [Read more...]
Energy transition: The greatest switch capital markets have ever seen
Even the most engaged energy pundits tend to gloss over what may be one of the biggest changes of all in a clean energy transition: how we pay for and finance the energy we use, and what that may mean for the investors, industries and companies that provide that energy. David Nelson of Climate Policy Initiative explains why investment strategies, financial markets and business models also need to transform. … [Read more...]
Brexit: What it means for UK-EU energy trade
The UK says it wants to keep or even expand its close ties with the European Union energy market after Brexit, but it might not get what it wants if the country leaves the EU with no deal in 2019. Gas and electricity will continue to be traded between the two, but the risks of shortages and higher costs for the UK and Ireland will grow and increase over time, explains Sara Stefanini of Climate Home News. … [Read more...]
Eurelectric warns of “real and severe” risks from no-deal brexit
With talks over the UK’s divorce deal with the EU having stalled over the weekend, the pan-European electricity industry association Eurelectric has taken the unusual step of calling for a rapid and successful end to negotiations. What follows is an open letter from Eurelectric’s secretary general, Kristian Ruby, to UK Prime Minister Theresa May and European Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier. … [Read more...]
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