In an exclusive interview with viEUws at Green Week 2014, Jean-Paul Albertini - French Executive Commissioner for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy - talks to viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen about the implementation of circular economy in Europe. Albertini discusses the benefits which a circular economy could bring to Europe. He claims that such an economy … [Read more...]
The days of solar power may be closer than you think
Many people are unaware quite how close we are to reaching a critical milestone in the industry. Within a fairly short space of time, solar generated electricity will be fully cost competitive with coal-powered electricity -- at least if the governments of the world's two largest energy consuming nations have their way. … [Read more...]
UN starts new hub to bring investment and innovation in clean energy to Asia and the Pacific
A new regional hub launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), will help mobilize investment and innovative solutions to bring clean, modern energy to those who do not have it in Asia and the Pacific. The "Asia-Pacific Sustainable Energy for All" hub will gather governments, investors, … [Read more...]
“Retroactive amendments to Czech law threaten renewable energy sector”
The Czech Photovoltaic Industry Association and the Alliance for Energy Self-Sufficiency have expressed their fears about planned retroactive changes to legislation guaranteeing support for renewable energy in the Czech Republic in letters addressed to the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament and have asked for an independent assessment of related materials and documentation. Suspicions about retroactive changes of the … [Read more...]
Global Cumulative Wind Power Capacity to More than Double by 2020, Led by China, says GlobalData
Despite an overall slump in installations in 2013, the global cumulative wind power capacity will more than double from 319.6 Gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2013 to 678.5 GW by 2020, says research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s latest report* states that China, the largest single wind power market responsible for 45% of total global annual capacity additions in 2013, is expected to have a cumulative wind capacity of 239.7 GW by … [Read more...]
US Environmental Protection Agency EPA proposes first guidelines to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants
At the direction of President Obama and after an unprecedented outreach effort, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has on June 2 released the Clean Power Plan proposal, which for the first time cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants, the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States.Today’s proposal will protect public health, move the United States toward a cleaner environment and fight climate change while … [Read more...]
Heat pumps: waiting for the final push
As gas faces a reputational challenge from Ukraine, electric heat pumps are emerging as a promising alternative source of heating. Heat pumps can also make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Oddly enough, although heating and cooling accounts for 45% of the EU’s final energy consumption there is no EU-wide heating and cooling strategy. Some countries such as UK and Italy are introducing support for individual … [Read more...]
Let’s glocalize! Global meets local in municipal green bonds
Local authorities are taking an increasingly active role in bringing about a clean energy future. Their biggest worry: how to finance their efforts. One way is outsourcing to energy service companies, another is crowdfunding. But perhaps the most effective method to raise substantial money is by giving out municipal bonds. Clare Taylor takes a look at the blossoming municipal bond market for sustainable energy projects in Europe and the US and … [Read more...]
How to design a successful auction for renewable energy projects
In its new State Aid guidelines, the European Commission presents auctioning as the standard procedure for allocating support for renewable energy. Member States may deviate from this rule, but only for very good reasons. Although auctioning can in theory be a useful instrument, experience all over the world shows mixed results. It is crucial that auctions are adapted to the specific market context. If not, they will deliver sub-optimal results … [Read more...]
The stolen fruit of the Energiewende: German suppliers are not passing on lower wholesale prices to consumers
Complaints about the high costs of the Energiewende are misguided. The primary reason German users pay high electricity prices is not the government’s support scheme for renewable energy. It is rather the fact that energy suppliers are not passing on to consumers the large drop in wholesale prices that results from the rapidly expanding wind and solar generation capacity. This is evident from an analysis of German prices. A similar situation … [Read more...]
After the goldrush: Japan’s second solar boom
A first gold rush driven by generous subsidies led to an uncontrolled boom in solar power projects in Japan, of which, however, only a very small percentage actually got built. Now, however, the government has taken charge and serious developers are entering the market. The liberalisation of the Japanese retail market in 2016 is expected to give another boost to solar power, as consumers will likely drive demand for renewable energy. The Japanese … [Read more...]
Biomass: the hidden face of the Energiewende
When people think about the “energy transition” in Germany and elsewhere, they tend to think of the success of solar and wind power. However, of all forms of renewable energy it is biomass that has seen the largest absolute growth and supplies by far the most renewable energy, writes Robert Wilson. In Germany biomass has grown three times as much as wind and solar combined. 17% of the country’s arable land (6% of total land) is now devoted to … [Read more...]
Clean energy investment picks up in first quarter after stagnation last year
Clean Energy Pipeline,  “the online financial news and data service dedicated to the clean energy sector”, reports that “new investment in the global clean energy sector totalled $61.0 billion in 1Q14, representing a 14% increase on the $53.4 billion invested in the corresponding period in 2013." “New clean energy investment was encouraging in 1Q14, marking a welcome change from recent press releases where we have been reporting year-on-year … [Read more...]
The Age of Renewables has begun – as solar power continues to shoot down the cost curve
A new report by investment analysts from Citigroup says that in the US “the Age of Renewables” has begun. This is confirmed by the most recent public announcements from First Solar and SunPower, two of the largest solar power producers in the US, which both continue to see solar costs coming down rapdily. Analysts from McKinsey have become convinced that the developments in the solar power sector will have a seriously disruptive effect on the … [Read more...]
Interview Volker Quaschning: “Nobody can hold back the renewables revolution”
Volker Quaschning, a professor for renewable energies in Berlin and one of the most influential advocates of the “Energiewende” in Germany, is convinced that nuclear and fossil fuel power in Germany will be fully replaced by renewable energies in the not too distant future. The Energiewende, he says, does not even require the support of Germany’s EEG (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz) feed-in law any longer. “The EEG is only needed to accelerate the … [Read more...]
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