Euracoal, the European Association for Coal and Lignite, has launched a full-frontal attack on the European Climate Foundation, one of the most influential climate NGOâs in Europe, accusing it of âtwisting the truthâ and undermining democracy with âmoney and powerâ. Energy Post editor Karel Beckman looks at Euracoalâs claims and concludes that they are unsubstantiated and even cynical. … [Read more...]
Exclusive: The Overlay Network – telecom experts present revolutionary plan to integrate EU power market
Four Dutch managers with a background in the telecoms sector, led by former Chairman of KPN Royal Dutch Telecom Professor Wim Dik, have come up with a simple idea that would finally make possible a truly integrated EU electricity system. Under the name of EU PowerNet Initiative they propose the building of an âOverlay Networkâ that would allow direct transmission of electricity between all countries even if they are not direct neighbours. The … [Read more...]
Are EU leaders about to shy away from effective climate and energy governance?
On 26 November the EU's Energy Ministers will decide on a new climate and energy governance mechanism. This will be crucial to delivering the outcomes that these leaders agreed on last year in climate and energy policy. However, the draft of the Energy Councilâs Conclusions, already published on 30 September, is a cause for concern, writes Oliver Sartor of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). Sartor … [Read more...]
New European trend: renewables without borders
So far there has been very little cooperation between EU countries in stimulating renewable energy, although better coordination could save tens of billions of euros in support costs. Now that the EU has decided not to have national renewable energy targets for 2030, more and more organisations and countries are trying to develop regional approaches to support renewables projects. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, a think tank close to the German … [Read more...]
Vieuws Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for October
European Vice-President, MaroĆĄ Ć efÄoviÄ, is to present on the 18th of November a first-ever Communication on the State of the Energy Union. Brussels correspondent Hughes Belin also tells us that the Heating & Cooling strategy for Europe is now likely for early next year, and about the Commissionâs update on the SET-plan, followed by the informal Energy Council on the 23rd of September. All the details in this monthâs Energy Briefing. First … [Read more...]
Vieuws video: Brussels Briefing on Environment
EU Environment Ministers have agreed the EUâs negotiating position for UN climate talks at COP21 in Paris in December. But COP21 is not the only event keeping the institutions busy, says environment journalist Sonja van Renssen: several reforms and reviews are expected in the coming weeks and months, among which a new circular economy package, and progress on EU ETS reform and the highly controversial NEC directive talks. … [Read more...]
âMercedes, BMW and Peugeot models consume 50% more fuel than official resultsâ
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...]
Standardising energy efficiency: US initiative aims to transform European market
Energy efficiency remains one of the most intractable transition challenges. There are now finally plenty of funds available, yet progress remains slow. To overcome the last hurdles, major new initiatves have started up aiming to standardise energy efficiency processes to make it easier to invest in them. One of these is the Investor Confidence Project (ECP), originated by the Environmental Defense Fund. Goal: to turn energy efficiency projects … [Read more...]
Brussels moves against bilateral investment treaties within EU, undermines Energy Charter
The European Commission is stepping up efforts to root out intra-EU investment arbitration cases. Brussels feels it should have sole power over EU investment policy. Yet by doing so it is also putting pressure on the international Energy Charter Treaty, on which many of these cases are based. As a result, while the Commission wants the ECT to expand internationally,  it is undermining support for it at home. Italy recently even pulled out of the … [Read more...]
Top 5 EU energy priorities for rest of 2015
In this video for viEUws â the EU Policy Broadcaster â Hughes Belin introduces the top 5 energy issues that will be discussed by the EU institutions under the Luxembourg EU Presidency (Luxembourg took over the rotating 6-month presidency in July). … [Read more...]
The EUâs climate strategy for Paris: recipe for another failure?
The European Commission has proposed a strategy for the Paris climate talks that includes the aim of achieving a âParis Protocolâ. According to Susanne Dröge and Oliver Geden of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin, this strategy does not take into account the new global context of the negotiations. They urge the EU to drop the word âprotocolâ, consider how to align the international process with internal EU … [Read more...]
EU kicks off final phase of controversial carbon market reform
On 15 July, the European Commission unveiled its long-awaited proposals for a deep and meaningful reform of Europeâs carbon market from 2021-30. It neatly turns into law political decisions by EU heads of state and government last October. NGOs have lambasted it for lack of ambition while industry is screaming blue murder about a declining pot of free carbon allowances. Welcome to the start of a two-year battle that is probably the last chance … [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...]
So we are reforming the ETS. Now what do we want it to do?
It would be a mistake to believe that a âreformedâ EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) would be a sufficient instrument for the decarbonisation of the EU economy, writes Oliver Sartor of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) in Paris. A carbon market is necessary, but it is not enough. A recent study from Climate Strategies, in which Sartor participated, suggests that Member States develop long-term climate … [Read more...]
EU electricity market redesign: a protean moment
The EU is on the verge of a full redesign of its electricity market. Market rules need to be updated to the reality of a much more decentralised system where renewables and the consumer are king. This is the essential next step in the European energy transition. It is an opportunity for policymakers to shape the future. What will they do? Based on leaked documents and conversations with Brussels insiders, Sonja van Renssen explains what choices … [Read more...]
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