Is the renewables glass half-full or half-empty? That’s the central question that appears to run through the International Energy Agency (IEA’s) new comprehensive market report on the state of renewable energy in the world. The answer is complex. Renewables have made “tremendous progress”, notes the IEA, but growth “falls short of global climate change objectives”. Karel Beckman reports. … [Read more...]
Why Ukraine’s dependence on Russia in nuclear is worse than in gas – and what to do about it
While discussions around Ukrainian energy dependence on Russia usually focus on gas, the Ukrainian nuclear sector is even more dominated by Russia. And more strategic: it supplies half of the country’s electricity. And whereas Ukraine wants to use less gas, the government intends to expand the country’s nuclear power production significantly. The good news for Ukraine is that it has plenty of its own uranium. With Western support the country … [Read more...]
Professor Henrik Lund: Denmark proves complete fossil fuel independence is possible
Complete independence from energy generated from fossil fuels is possible. Professor Henrik Lund, of Aalborg University, believes that a system based 100 per cent on renewable energy is a viable option and could be achieved by 2050 in Denmark. Renewable energy systems (RES) planning can also be successfully applied to other countries worldwide. During his extremely well attended plenary lecture at CHISA, the 21st International Congress of … [Read more...]
Let’s start a European tidal lagoon industry
A unique, ÂŁ1 billion plan to build the world’s first tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay in Wales has won strong local support. Stephen Tindale, associate fellow at the Centre for European Reform in the UK, who is involved in the project, argues that the EU should support it  and help create a new European tidal lagoon industry. … [Read more...]
UBS and Citigroup expect massive solar-EV revolution
Analysts from UBS and Citigroup, two of the world’s largest investment banks, believe the growth of solar power, in combination with advances in batteries and electric cars, will cause a huge disruption in the energy industry. UBS believes centralised fossil fuel generation  will become “extinct” sooner than most people realise. Citigroup predicts renewables will replace coal and gas in power generation, which will free up the use of gas as a … [Read more...]
SkyNRG, Boeing and South African Airways aim to turn tobacco into sustainable jet fuelÂ
SkyNRG announces its first major feedstock project in South Africa based on the Solaris technology. Solaris is a nicotine-free energy tobacco crop that has been developed by the Italian company Sunchem. SkyNRG and Sunchem SA have teamed up to roll out Solaris in Southern Africa at large scale to help power local sustainable jet fuel production. Both South African Airways (SAA) and Boeing will provide active support in securing further project … [Read more...]
The saga of Hinkley Point C: Europe’s key nuclear decision
Will EDF with Chinese backing build a new third-generation nuclear power plant in the U.K., and if so under what conditions? The answer to this question will be vital to the future of the European energy sector. And a great deal will depend on the European Commission, which is expected to decide any moment whether the U.K.’s agreement with EDF will be allowed under EU State Aid rules. In the World Nuclear  Industry Status Report 2014, an annual … [Read more...]
Wishful thinking about natural gas: why fossil fuels can’t solve the problems created by fossil fuels
Natural gas is touted as a great success story in the US, not just by industry but also by the Obama administration and even by many environmentalists. The gas boom is supposed to have led to lower greenhouse gas emissions and to help pave the way to a greener future. But according to Harvard historian of science Naomi Oreskes, this is wishful thinking. There is no evidence that higher gas use has led to lower emissions and there is every reason … [Read more...]
Do we need capacity markets? Do we need Russia?
There are two major issues on which the future of the energy sector hangs, notes EP editor Karel Beckman: 1) Â how far will the renewables revolution go in combination with climate policy; 2) how will growing geopolitical tensions, especially relations with Russia, affect markets? Karel asks whether we need capacity schemes, indicates how utilities could get back on a growth path and how (not) to deal with Russia. … [Read more...]
How the Yukos ruling will further upset relations with Russia
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in July that the Russian government deliberately destroyed oil company Yukos and has ordered Moscow to pay over $50 billion in damages. The importance of this decision can hardly be overstated, writes Anders Aslund, senior fellow of the Peterson Institute, who is also a former advisor to the Russian and Ukrainian governments and author of many books on Russia. According to Aslund, the economic … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Energy efficiency – European Commission introduces ambitious 2030 target
Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, spokeswoman of the European Commission, discusses the Commission’s Energy Efficiency Communication with viEUws.eu. On July 23, the European Commission adopted the Energy Efficiency Communicationwhich introduced a new energy efficiency target of 30% for 2030. Energy efficiency is one of the key pillars of the European Union’s energy and climate strategy for 2030, on which European leaders aim to agree in October. The … [Read more...]
One year of Energy Post – and a quick guide for our readers
Editor-in-Chief Karel Beckman looks back on one year at Energy Post. He gives some suggestions on the wealth of information readers can find on the website, including the 10 best-read stories of the year. And he takes a look ahead on what more there is to come – after we come back from our summer break. … [Read more...]
Brussels sets dangerous precedent by clearing UK capacity market
The European Commission has given the green light to a proposed UK capacity market that aims to ensure enough electricity is available to cover consumption at peak times. This is the Commission’s first assessment of a capacity market under new EU guidelines on energy and environment state aid that entered force on 1 July. The Commission says the aid is justified because it will contribute to the UK’s security of supply “without distorting … [Read more...]
European Commission spits forth a 30% energy efficiency target
Europe should adopt a 30% energy efficiency target for 2030, the European Commission finally announced on 23 July – without specifying whether that target should be binding or not. That decision it left to European leaders when they meet on 23-24 October. There, they are set to decide on a 2030 climate and energy package for Europe. But certainly for energy efficiency, the path is far from clear and any legislative follow-up is at least three … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Crisis of EU refining industry: a threat to our energy security?
viEUws.eu's leading energy journalist Hughes Belin is joined by Fabrizio Barbaso, Deputy Director General ofDG Energy at the European Commission, for an exclusive interview on the refining industry and security of energy supply. For the time being, the flow of Russian gas and oil supplies to Europe has not been disrupted. Barbaso argues that Energy relations between the European Union and Russia are interdependent:Russia is a key energy … [Read more...]
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