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Energy Post

The best thinkers on energy

Trying to make sense of the RWE/EON utility deal…

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There is economic and financial market rationale behind the recent deal between E.ON. and RWE, writes financial energy specialist Gerard Reid. From a strategic perspective, however, the decision will impact customers negatively, and will be bad for the long-term sustainability of both companies, Reid argues. Courtesy Energy and Carbon blog. … [Read more...]

Exclusive interview Mark Gainsborough, head Shell New Energies: “We are further along than people realize”

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With a string of new investments and acquisitions in the past year (you can find a unique overview further on in this article!), Shell has quietly stepped up the pace of its transition from an oil and gas company into an energy company. “We are further along than people realize”, says Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice-President of Shell New Energies, in an exclusive interview with Energy Post. According to Gainsborough, there is a “shift in … [Read more...]

Poland’s largest utility, PGE, faced with growing risks from transition

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The financial stability of PGE, Poland’s largest utility, could be undermined if it sticks with its current fossil fuel-heavy generation profile, writes Gerard Wynn. In a new report for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Wynn concludes that the company could be hit hard by increasing carbon prices and tougher air pollution rules if it does not shift away from coal.  … [Read more...]

How gas and oil companies are starting to look like the Yellow Pages (remember those?)

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The parallels between what happened to the Yellow Pages business and what’s happening to the fossil fuel industry today are striking, writes Kathy Hipple, financial analyst at IEEFA (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis). The oil and gas industry may not collapse as rapidly as the Yellow Pages did, it will go the way of the shrinking coal industry unless it learns from the failure of the Yellow Pages to adapt. Courtesy: IEEFA  … [Read more...]

Uneconomic coal could be squeezed out of European Union power markets by 2030

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Coal’s time is running out in Europe: deteriorating economics and stronger climate policies will soon make coal uneconomic, writes Silvio Marcacci of think tank Energy Innovation. Many European countries have already set an end date for coal power, utilities and investors are shifting away from it. The question is not if coal will lose, but when, and how well-managed its exit will be. … [Read more...]

Why there is so much aggressive bidding at renewables auctions – and what the risks are

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Renewable energy auctions have seen very low prices in many parts of the world. Why do auctions seem to be so effective in driving down costs – and what are the risks? Ana Amazo-Blanco, Silvana Tiedemann of Navigant[1], and Dr. Stephen Tay and Monika Bieri of SERIS looked at a solar PV rooftop auction in Singapore and an offshore wind auction in Germany to discover the key factors behind the bids and suggest how project developers can make sure … [Read more...]

Has the European Commission tamed the Russian gas bear?

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The European Commission’s decision on 24 May to impose “binding obligations on Gazprom to enable free flow of gas at competitive prices” – but no fine – is seen by some observers as a victory for Gazprom. Others take a more positive view. Meanwhile, a new report from IHS Markit claims Europe is on the point of becoming fully integrated into the global gas market, making worries about dependence on Russian gas – and Nord Stream 2 – unnecessary. … [Read more...]

A common goal for all sustainability advocates

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Nothing is better for fossil fuel interests than current government policies supporting wind, solar and electric cars, writes independent researcher Schalk Cloete. These green technologies won't reduce fossil fuel consumption sufficiently for a long time to come, so the fossil fuel sector will be able to survive that much longer. In the third and last part of  a series on green technology-forcing, Cloete calls on all sustainability advocates to … [Read more...]

If solar panels are so clean, why do they produce so much toxic waste?

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The disposal of used solar panels is a huge and growing problem that is not being sufficiently addressed, writes Michael Shellenberger, founder of the pro-nuclear citizens movement Environmental Progress (EP). He argues that a fee should be imposed on solar panels which should go into a fund to pay for recyling and clean-up. … [Read more...]

Is offshore wind about to hit cost-competitiveness in the U.S.?

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Offshore wind may seem like a pricey option, but it’s actually an extremely valuable investment, writes Mike O’Boyle of San Francisco-based think tank Energy Innovation. According to a new analysis, the market value of electricity generated by offshore wind will soon exceed its cost in New York and several New England states. … [Read more...]

Croatian LNG terminal: now or never?

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If constructed, the planned Croatian LNG terminal could provide an alternative source of supply for Russian gas in Central and Eastern Europe. Yet without financial support from the region’s governments and diplomatic engagement of the US and the EU, it is unlikely to be realized anytime soon, writes David Koranyi of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Institute. … [Read more...]

We examined 885 European cities’ plans to tackle climate change – here’s what we found

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Cities are taking climate change threats seriously but more could be done according to a new study looking at the climate plans of 885 European cities. The role of governments in providing legal and regulatory frameworks and guidance is essential to ensure that cities are well prepared for climate change, write Oliver Heidrich of Newcastle University and Diana Reckien of the University of Twente. Courtesy: The Conversation  … [Read more...]

For Eastern Europe, controllable renewable power is a good alternative for new nuclear power

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Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary are all planning to build new nuclear power plants. But according to a new study by Energy Brainpool, commissioned by Greenpeace Energy, they could also opt for controllable renewable power plants. These are cost-competitive with nuclear, at least as reliable, and also allow for energy independence, write Philipp Heidinger, Fabian Huneke and Simon Göß from Energy Brainpool. … [Read more...]

Did Trump just kill the OPEC deal?

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As has been widely discussed in the aftermath of President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, the return of sanctions on Iran could disrupt oil shipments, with estimates ranging from essentially nothing to as much as 1 million barrels per day of Iranian supply going offline. But the decision also could put an end to the OPEC agreement, writes Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com. … [Read more...]

How the European Commission, European Court of Justice and Member States are scaring away investors in the energy sector

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Both EU institutions and member states are actively undermining the investment climate in the energy sector, writes Alan Riley, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Statecraft in London. The European Commission is undermining investor protection by its determination to apply EU state aid law to arbitration awards. Member States are disrupting investor expectations through arbitrary political interventions in the energy sector. Worst of all, the … [Read more...]