Sonja van Renssen, leading environment journalist at viEUws.eu, takes a pick at the top 5 environment issues that will be discussed by the EU institutions under the Greek Presidency. The biggest issue on the agenda will be the climate and energy package to be unveiled by the European Commission on January 22nd. ETS and how to include emissions from international aviation will also be high on the agenda, with the European Parliament and … [Read more...]
Dear Connie, dear GĂĽnther
Germany, the UK, France and Italy have sent letters to Connie Hedegaard, Climate Commissioner and GĂĽnther Oettinger, Energy Commissioner on 6 January urging the European Commission to adopt a 40% greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030. The European Commission will unveil a climate and energy package on 22 January in which it will announce new targets for 2030 to extend the currently existing 20-20-20 targets for 2020. These targets … [Read more...]
Eastern Mediterranean Gas – Plea for a peace pipeline!
To exploit the exciting new gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean in the most profitable way, both economically and politically, the best option is to build a pipeline from Israel’s Leviathan field via Cyprus to Turkey, argues Friedbert PflĂĽger, Director of the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) at King’s College London. Such a pipeline is less costly than an LNG terminal in Cyprus – and it could serve as an instrument … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Brussels launches state aid probe into Cameron’s nuclear project
Hughes Belin, leading energy journalist at viEUws.eu, looks into the merits of the Commission’s decision to open a state aid probe into the new nuclear power project at Hinkley Point C in the United Kingdom. The European Commission is currently carrying out and in-depth investigation of the business model of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia has doubts with regard to the compatibility of the UK … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “Europe needs to adjust its climate policy”, claims Polish Climate Secretary of State
Hughes Belin, leading environment journalist at viEUws.eu, is joined by Marcin Korolec, Polish Secretary of State for Climate to discuss the outcome of the COP19 negotiations - the 19th Conference of Partners of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - in Warsaw and theEuropean Union’s perspective on tackling climate change. Poland’s Secretary of State for Climate is also the president of the UN climate talks until the next … [Read more...]
EU energy ministers unable to agree on biofuels policy
Ministers in the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council on 12 December held an in-depth discussion on a revised version of the draft text, which aims to minimise the impact of land use change on greenhouse gas emissions. The draft indirect land use (ILUC) directive aims to promote the move towards biofuels while limiting the possibility of increased greenhouse gas emissions due to increased biofuels production. It will amend the … [Read more...]
New gas discoveries in southern periphery may transform European energy landscape
Cyprus may have what it takes to become an important gas supplier and energy hub for Europe. Natural gas discoveries in the country's offshore areas could form the foundation of a large liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Cyprus, additionally supplied by gas from Israel. The creation of such a “second Southern Corridor” would give an important economic boost to southeast Europe, significantly improve European security of energy supply and … [Read more...]
Interview EU Climate Chief Connie Hedegaard: “Climate policy cannot be based on emission reduction alone”
The European Union should adopt EU-wide targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency for 2030, says Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard in an interview with Energy Post. She rejects pleas from the energy sector to base EU climate policy solely on CO2 emission reduction targets. She does note, however, that there has been a tendency to “overcompensate” renewable energy, i.e. too generous subsidies. “It was never the plan to subsidise … [Read more...]
VIDEO: EU Climate Commissioner supports renewables & efficiency targets
Sonja van Renssen, leading environment journalist at viEUws.eu, is joined by Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard for an exclusive interview on the 2030 climate and energy debate. In this interview, Commissioner Hedegaard insists on the importance of keeping renewables and efficiency targets. Moreover, the Commissioner stresses that the future lies with a more integrated energy policy at European Union level. For her, “pricing is essential” and … [Read more...]
UK electricity market: financiers are holding the government over a barrel
The UK Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) published new “strike prices” for renewable energy on 4 December, claiming these will lead to additional investment of ÂŁ40 billion in renewable electricity generation up to 2020. But according to Michael Knowles, Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the support scheme is too generous for suppliers and DECC should do much more to drive costs of renewables down. … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “ETS should be the only climate target”, argues Eon CEO Johannes Teyssen
Sonja van Renssen, leading environment journalist at viEUws.eu, is joined by Dr. Johannes Teyssen, CEO of Eon to discuss the current situation of Europe’s energy sector. Regarding the 2030 climate and energy package, Teyssen calls for simpler objectives and says that the ETS (Emission Trading Scheme) target should be the only target, even though it had been struggling with low carbon prices. Everything else should be left to the market and … [Read more...]
Interview with Johannes Teyssen, CEO of Eon: “Renewables can become biggest without subsidies”
Dr Johannes Teyssen, CEO of Eon and President of Eurelectric, doesn’t beat about the bush: in an exclusive interview with Energy Post, he says that Europe needs a single climate target for 2030 of “between 40% and 50%” emission reduction. At the same time all energy subsidies and “green levies” should go. Renewables “have all the chance in the world to take the biggest chunk of the market” even without subsidies. The European Commission should … [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...]
Demand response: Europe is falling behind
If households and businesses in Europe were able to adapt their electricity consumption to price signals, it would lower their electricity bills considerably and cut peak demand for electricity by 10%, Yet, the European Commission notes in a recent Communication, that demand response is only emerging “slowly” and that Europe is lagging behind the US and other industrial regions. Brussels says national policymakers and regulators should focus less … [Read more...]
The UK energy confusion: good policies, shame about the politics
To outside observers, UK energy policy must seem to be hopelessly confused and the energy sector in a mess. Actually, the problem is not so much the policies, writes Stephen Tindale, associate fellow at the Centre for European Reform. They make a lot of sense and may lead the country to a secure and low-carbon energy future. The problem is the politics – populist proposals create confusion and may undo the good work that is being done. Earlier … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- …
- 38
- Next Page »