The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has launched a “unique web portal dedicated to renewable energy cost analysis.” The portal provides access to IRENA’s data and analysis at no cost to users. “IRENA has developed the most current and comprehensive global database of renewable energy project costs available to the public. Our new portal makes this resource available for policy makers, businesses and the renewable energy community … [Read more...]
EBRD will not finance coal-fired power plants anymore
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a new strategy that will guide its investments in the energy and natural resources sector for the next five years. In this strategy the Bank – already the largest investor in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in its region of operations – in its own words "sets out a commitment to helping its countries of operations move toward a sustainable energy … [Read more...]
Britain converts its largest coal-fired power station in renewable energy producer plus major CCS project
Britain’s largest coal-fired power station is set to become one of Europe’s biggest renewable electricity generators today, with the potential for new future generation on the site to be based on truly clean coal. That has been announced by the Department of Energy Climate and Change (DECC) on 9 December. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey opened the Drax coal-to-biomass conversion plant, and announced the Government was awarding … [Read more...]
Ruud Lubbers receives first Energy Charter Award
Ruud Lubbers, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands has received the very first Energy Charter Award. The Award was presented by the Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Cyprus Mr. Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and the Energy Charter Secretary General Ambassador Urban Rusnák during the Ministerial Session of the 24th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference in Nicosia, Cyprus. On behalf of Mr. Lubbers, the Award was collected by … [Read more...]
“Integrated EU market + ETS = best way to decarbonisation”
The European Climate Foundation (ECF) has released a new report, From Roadmaps to Reality, which shows how the current EU energy framework can be improved to drive the decarbonisation of the power sector in Europe. From Roadmaps To Reality, the latest report in the ECF’s “Roadmap 2050” series, finds that a fully integrated Internal Energy Market in combination with a functioning Emissions Trading System is the most cost-effective and … [Read more...]
Energy Community: upgrading power plants in Eastern Europe delivers huge benefits
The Energy Commuity, the energy associaton of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine, has published a study assessing the costs and potential benefits of modernizing large combustion plants in their countries to comply with EU environmental regulations. According to the study, the benefits of complying with EU environmental law are on average 17 times as large as the costs of compliance. This … [Read more...]
Renewable Energy Association to UK government: stop “needlessly negative language”
On the eve of the important financial statement from the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer on 4 December, and with the political energy debate getting more and more acrimonious, the UK Renewable Energy Association calls on Chancellor George Osborne to "send a positive signal to investors in the green economy by underlining the Government’s commitment to supporting home-grown renewable energy." On rising energy bills, REA Chief Executive Dr Nina … [Read more...]
Shanghai and Beijing launch carbon markets
This week, both Beijing, China’s national capital, and Shanghai its leading financial city, launched pilot emissions trading systems. These pilots will run for two years, until the end of 2015. They join the city of Shenzhen, on the Hong Kong border, which launched a pilot carbon market in June this year. Guangdong, Hubei, Tianjin and Chongqing are also planning to launch pilot emissions trading systems in the near future. In a press release … [Read more...]
Paper industry presents breakthrough decarbonisation technology
The European pulp and paper industry has found a breakthrough decarbonisation technology called “deep eutectic solvents”. It is a brand new technology which, at low temperatures, breaks biomass down into constituent parts which can then be used in the paper and pulp industries. “If utilised at scale this technology could radically change pulp and paper production around the world and replace some of the most energy intensive parts of the current … [Read more...]
Small-Wind Power Market to Reach $3 Billion by 2020, with China in the Lead
With growing incentives announced by various governments and larger end-user awareness, the small-wind power market is expected to increase massively, from $609m in 2012 to $3 billion by 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22%, says research and consulting firm GlobalData. According to the company’s latest report, the global small-wind turbine cumulative installed capacity is also expected to witness a significant increase from … [Read more...]
International Renewable Energy Agency confirms first permanent diplomatic representatives
Abu Dhabi, 21 November 2013 – The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) this week received its first two permanent representatives – a key step to build up the diplomatic functions of the young organisation’s headquarters in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Representatives of the UAE and Germany – the countries home to IRENA’s permanent headquarters in Abu Dhabi and Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn – presented their … [Read more...]
IEA expands cooperation with “partner countries” and issues strong statement on climate
The International Energy Agency and six "partner countries" – Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa – on Wednesday for the first time expressed their mutual interest in pursuing a stronger, more enhanced form of multilateral co-operation. The Joint Declaration on Association was issued at the end of the 2013 IEA Ministerial Meeting. Chaired by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz, the IEA Ministerial … [Read more...]
Coal industry calls for emission performance standards
The World Coal Assocation  issued a CommuniquĂ© in Warsaw on 21 November at the much-criticized International Coal and Climate Summit which was held simultaneously with the UN Climate Conference COP19 in Warsaw. In this so-called Warsaw CommuniquĂ© the coal industry calls on governments to introduce performance standards for power plants to lower CO2 emissions in the world. The literal text of the CommuniquĂ© is as follows: "We note that while … [Read more...]
Global electricity producers: credible carbon pricing essential
Electricity utilities see having a credible price level for CO2 and long-term, predictable policies as the crucial factors for driving change in their fuel and technology mix, according to the latest insights from the Global Electricity Initiative (GEI), presented today. Despite important efforts to increase investments in renewables, the GEI utilities expect fossil fuels to continue to be the basis of generation capacity from 2015 to 2035. … [Read more...]
“Progressive energy companies” versus Magritte Group
At a meeting in the European Parliament on 5 November, organized by Eufores, the "Coalition of Progressive European Energy Companies" took the opportunity to stress the importance of the contribution of renewable energy to European competitiveness, growth, employment and energy security. "Looking beyond 2020 renewable energy sources will continue to be crucial in order to achieve the Union's objective of 80-95 % carbon reduction by 2050", they … [Read more...]
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