New cars, including the Mercedes A, C and E class, BMW 5 series and Peugeot 308, are now swallowing around 50% more fuel than their lab test results reveal, according to new on-the-road results compiled by NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). T&E calls for a comprehensive investigation into both air pollution and fuel economy tests across Europe and a complete overhaul of the testing system. … [Read more...]
The Price of Oil: why it rose stupendously, why it is likely to remain low and what this means for the world
Although oil has experienced an extraordinary price increase over the past few decades, a turning point has now been reached where scarcity, uncertain supply and high prices will be replaced by abundance, undisturbed availability and suppressed price levels in the decades to come, write Roberto F. Aguilera of Curtin University in Australia and Marian Radetzki of LuleĂ„ University of Technology in Sweden. In this article they provide a synopsis of … [Read more...]
Natural gas methane problem? It’s overstated
The role of natural gas as a âbridge fuelâ has been called into question by critics who argue that methane leakage rates from gas production and transport could outweigh the lower CO2 emissions associated with gas. However, according to Alex Trembath, policy associate at the Breakthrough Institute, this is not what most of the scientific literature says. âMethane leakage is a minor factor in determining the benefit of gas versus coal and methane … [Read more...]
Why Ukraine has to reform its gas sector
Ukraine has embarked on âthe mother of all reformsâ: that of the gas sector. This is one of the most important and most difficult reforms Ukraine has to undertake. Yet without the marketisation of gas prices and an improvement in Naftogazâs financial standing, it will be impossible to reform Ukraineâs public finances and end the long-standing economic crisis. Energy sector reform is a central goal of the post-Euromaidan government and indeed the … [Read more...]
The next move for oil is downwards – and here’s why
Former oil trader Martin Tillier explains the reason for the wild price swings in oil recently: panic in the dealing room. He argues that traders are likely to push the oil price down again âuntil sanity returnsâ. … [Read more...]
Caught out by double dip: why the oil glut may lead to a new world of energyÂ
Market watchers were caught out by the recent second slump in oil prices. They thought the bottom had been reached earlier this year. Could we be a witnessing a fundamental shift in the energy industry, wonders energy expert and author Michael T. Klare? "Investment in 'unconventional' projects like Canadian tar sands, ultra-deep Atlantic fields and Arctic oil will largely disappear." … [Read more...]
Saudis could face open revolt at next OPEC meeting
Market watchers assume that Saudi Arabia will not change its oil policy any time soon, which means that oil prices will continue to be in the doldrum for quite some time. However, Dalan McEndree of Oilprice.com points out that the Saudis may well face an open revolt from fellow OPEC members at the next OPEC meeting. They will then be faced with the choice to cut production - or see OPEC fall apart. … [Read more...]
The Eurasian Big Bang: how China and Russia are carving out their own world order
While politicians in the United States are outdoing each other condemning the Iran nuclear agreement, the rest of the world is moving on, writes Asia Times correspondent Pepe Escobar. Virtually unreported by western media, China, Russia, India, Iran and other nations are establishing financial, economic, political and energy infrastructure partnerships that are changing global relations irrevocably. The EU meanwhile is mostly ignored. … [Read more...]
Sustainable oil from algae: the technology is ready, what about the politics?
Algae ponds covering an area the size of Sydney could satisfy the entire crude oil demand of Australia, according to a recent study from Australian researchers Bojan Tamburic and Arunima Malik. But some form of government support is critical to bring the technology up to scale. … [Read more...]
$1 trillion solar, wind finance vehicle to outstrip oil and gas investment
A new report from Deutsche Bank predicts that the Yieldco, a finance vehicle for renewable energy, will attract more money than similar instruments that exist for oil and gas investments. Giles Parkinson of the Australian website Reneweconomy has the story. Energy Post highlighted recently why the YieldCo is likely to become a gamechanger in the energy sector. … [Read more...]
Obamaâs Clean Power Plan: a modest proposal with revolutionary implications
President Obamaâs Clean Power Plan, designed to cut carbon emissions from power plants, seems pragmatic and moderate, certainly by European standards. Yet for US observers it âmakes historyâ, because it is the first time the federal government puts limits on âcarbon pollutionâ. … [Read more...]
How hub-based pricing is reshaping the EU gas market â even Spain
Countries like Spain, which have long been immune to the shift from oil- to spot market-based gas pricing, are finally waking up. With that, come fresh opportunities for alternative gas suppliers to sell more and end-customers to pay less. So the evidence suggests, writes Benedict De Meulemeester, owner and founder of the international energy and environment consultancy E&C. Taking the UK as an example, he urges Spain to use a new … [Read more...]
RWE sets up its lignite plants for a taxpayer bail-out
German utility RWE has kept uneconomic lignite plants open with the explicit intention of securing a public bail-out, argue Julian Schwartzkopff, Chris Littlecott and Sabrina Schulz at E3G. It would apear the energy giant has taken a bet on being âtoo big to failâ that might just pay off: RWE is set to be the biggest beneficiary of a new 2.7GW capacity reserve in Germany which will pay lignite plants for going on standby. The alternative, a … [Read more...]
The new fracking â how shale gas may yet transform the European energy market
Shale gas in Europe â itâs a revolution that does not seem to be happening. Even in countries like Poland and the UK, where governments are pushing it. However, European shale gas may get a second chance â if US company eCorp is to be believed. CEO John Thrash of eCorp says his company can frack without using any water, with no chemicals and much cheaper. The French government first embraced eCorpâs technology, only to ignore it later, âfor … [Read more...]
Europe’s gas demand is falling. Doesn’t anybody notice?
Gas demand has consistently been overestimated by EU bodies in recent years, write Dave Jones of Sandbag and Jonathan Gaventa and Manon Dufour of E3G. Even today, with gas demand at its lowest since 1995, the possibility of lower future demand is hardly taken into account. As a result, the EUâs energy security strategy, focused on sourcing more gas, may be misguided. In addition, infrastructure investment may be wasted. Time for a reality check. … [Read more...]
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