Energy Post

Daily reports on the European and Global energy transition

Five lessons from Germany’s Energiewende

by

The German renewable energy transition is moving ahead at an impressive pace. What can other countries learn from what has been achieved so far? And what are the main challenges ahead? Sam Friggens of Abundance Generation, a UK crowdfunding initiative for renewable energy projects, sums up five lessons that can be drawn from the German experience. It can be done elsewehere, he says, but you need a new kind of energy market. Photo: WWF … [Read more...]

The new Dutch disease (and a cure)

by

The Dutch government has presented a National Energy Accord for Sustainable Growth that seemingly represents a new national consensus on energy and climate policy. However, the Accord, which was negotiated by a wide range of civil society groups, environmental organisations, business lobbies and trade unions, has not been signed yet, and is still quite vague. Perhaps more important for “sustainable growth” prospects in the Netherlands is the news … [Read more...]

Virunga: The real price of energy

by

In 2010, the Congolese Government of Kinshasa granted concessions to European companies to exploit oil near the border with Uganda. Exploration is only starting now in a context of civil war. But the area includes one of the world’s most exceptional nature reserves: Virunga National Park. Energy versus wildlife: the same story once again. The EU is financing a cost-benefit analysis to decide on a way ahead, but one conclusion is already clear: … [Read more...]

Is the EU done picking clean energy winners?

by

How far is the EU preparing to move away from its current energy R&D strategy of picking technological winners? In a new policy paper earlier this year, the European Commission outlined its vision for a fresh approach to innovation that takes the energy system as its starting point and focuses on system outcomes, not individual technologies. This is the R&D dimension of the EU’s current battle for a 2030 climate and energy policy. Sonja … [Read more...]

Low-carbon cars – what are we waiting for?

by

As Member States are haggling in Brussels over a proposal from the Commission to set an emission goal of 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer (g/km) as an average for new vehicles sold in Europe from 2020 – which Germany in particularly finds too demanding for its car industry – new research by consultancies Ricardo-AEA and Cambridge Econometrics published on Monday shows that “decarbonizing” cars could generate 500,000 to 1.1 million net … [Read more...]

Energy Post Reviews (I)

by

In this space we will regularly review new publications – to keep you abreast of what is going in energy markets – and hopefully save you some time. This first installment of our Review Service discusses four recent reports that deal with the manifold problems in the (European) electricity sector. They even offer some advice – but not much. Photo: azza bazoo … [Read more...]

Why solar power means the end of the world (for some of us)

by

After having deep-searched the internet for three months, our editor Karel Beckman has come to the conclusion that the solar power revolution is upon us – and will have devastatingly disruptive effects on established energy markets. The energy world is about to change radically. Photo: sun emits mid-level flare (NASA) … [Read more...]

CCS: why the high hopes cannot be fulfilled

by

The only way to stimulate investment in industry while staying in line with CO2 reduction targets is to end coal plant construction in favour of renewable energies, argues independent energy consultant Jeffrey Michel. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is just not going to deliver the goods. It is too costly and too risky. Photo: carbon dioxide sequestered in basalt (PNNL) … [Read more...]

Energy Harvesting: the Next Big Thing

by

Devices and materials that harvest lost energy have the potential of transforming our society, argues Silicon Valley-based consultant Christine Hertzog, author of the Smart Grid Library. “There’s a growing number of companies that are developing ways to capture the enormous amounts of energy that are currently wasted. But it’s going to take basic R&D to realise the full potential of energy harvesting.” Photo: Singularity Utopia   Solar … [Read more...]

How to compete with China in renewables

by

Professor John Mathews of LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome, argues that, ultimately, there is only one effective response to the serious competitive threat posed by China’s strong support for renewables — and that is equally strong support for innovation and market expansion by Western countries. Photo: Solar hot water in Beijing (Photo: Popolon) … [Read more...]