A European building retrofit programme could reduce Russian gas imports by 80%. A 40% energy saving target could  remove the need for Russian gas altogether. Yet the EU currently seems unwilling to impose the measures necessary to step up energy saving. As a result, European industry is rapidly losing its international lead in efficiency, which is crucial to its international competitiveness. What is more, European companies active in energy … [Read more...]
Capacity payments: expensive solution for a non-existing problem
As of 2015, the UK will be the first European country to launch a capacity mechanism that aims at rewarding power plants for the MWâs they can produce rather than the MWâs they actually generate. Similar plans are being  prepared in other countries, including Belgium, France and Germany. According to Benedict de Meulemeester, CEO of international energy procurement consultancy E&C, it is understandable that energy companies lobby for capacity … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Circular economy: âFrance aims to lead by exampleâ stresses French Sustainable Development official
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...]
VIDEO: “Europe must rediscover its ambition on climate change”, urges UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), meets with viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen to talk about climate change goals and Europeâs role in the global climate negotiations. According to Steiner, countries are looking towards UN Climate Change Conferences in Paris and Lima as an opportunity to address climate change with a greater sense of ambition and urgency. However, how … [Read more...]
Obamaâs Clean Power Plan: why itâs smarter than you think (and beats EU policy)
The Clean Power Plan recently announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been hailed for its good intentions, but also widely criticized for its âmodestâ ambitions. What most commentators have failed to note, however, is that, compared to EU climate policies, Obamaâs plan is really a smart piece of legislation. It avoids the policy failures made by Brussels and lays a solid foundation for a successful low-carbon strategy. … [Read more...]
How the EU should deal with the Ukraine gas crisis
The Russian decision, on 16 June, to halt gas supplies to Ukraine spells trouble for the coming winter. Even if the current crisis is resolved, uncertainties over Ukraine will remain. Therefore, the EU needs to prepare for another gas crisis, both in the short term, by establishing crisis mechanisms, and in the medium term, to prevent future crises. Agata Ĺoskot-Strachota of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Poland sets out the urgent steps … [Read more...]
Shale gas: what it could really mean for Europe
The Ukrainian crisis has revitalized discussions in Europe about the role shale gas could play in the European energy mix and to enhance security of supply. Opinions  on this are very polarized. Whereas optimists declare that Europe could start commercial production in 2020, the pessimists insist that shale gas will never be profitable in Europe. According to Alexander Gusev, the real picture is not black-and-white. Cutting through the confusion … [Read more...]
Interview Shell strategist Jeremy Bentham: âFuture organisations will have to cross boundariesâ
What will Shellâs role be in an increasingly carbon-constrained, and increasingly electrified world? Clearly the company sees its natural gas business as becoming central to its operations, gradually overtaking its oil business. But beyond that, the future is uncertain. Jeremy Bentham, Vice-President of Global Business Environment and head of the Shell Scenarios team, sees Shell evolving into a company that provides flexibility and resilience and … [Read more...]
Will China follow the US example and cap carbon emissions?
With his Clean Power Proposal, President Obama has entered on a drive to put a ceiling on carbon emissions in the US â for the first time. The question  is now whether China will follow this example. Nicholas Cunningham of Oilprice.com believes China may be about to turn a corner â with huge consequences for global energy markets. … [Read more...]
Perspectives on Obamaâs clean power plan: small step for US, big step for mankind?
The proposal made by the US Environmental Protection Agency to reduce CO2 emissions from power stations in the US by 30% has been hailed by many as a historic breakthrough in US climate policy. Others, however, argue that the proposal is quite moderate. Some even say the plan will do nothing for the climate at all. Supporters say the main benefits of the plan is the precedent it sets and the message it sends. Energy Post editor Karel Beckman … [Read more...]
VIDEO: High hopes for UN Environment Assemblyâs first meeting, states UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) meets with viEUws.eu's leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen to discuss post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the inaugural UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting in Nairobi, Kenya from 23-27 June. Key issues for for the UNEA meeting will be the SDGs and illegal wildlife trade. According to Steiner, countries cannot solve … [Read more...]
The Trillion-Dollar Question: Is Big Oil over-investing in high-cost projects?
Mark Fulton and Reid Capalino of the Carbon Tracker Initiative â the NGO that originated the concept of âstranded assetsâand âthe carbon bubbleâ â explain the risks oil companies are taking by investing in oil and gas projects in an increasingly carbon-constrained world. … [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 EUâs 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...]
VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for June 2014
In this Brussels Briefing on Energy, viEUws.eu's leading energy journalist Hughes Belin provides an overview of the European Unionâs most pressing energy issues: - EU Summit on June 26 & 27: Commissionâs strategic plan to enhance the European Unionâssecurity of supply in light of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine - Energy Council on June 13: Commissionâs report on the internal energy market & the 2030 climate and energy package - New state … [Read more...]
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