New German legislation, which will become effective in 2015, has resulted in a drastic improvement of the climate performance of biodiesel produced in Germany. But the effects the new rules will have on the German and wider EU biofuels market are still highly uncertain, says Elmar Baumann, Managing Director of the VDB, the Association of the German Biofuel Industry, in an interview with Energy Post. “All we know is that they will be profound.” … [Read more...]
EU issues work plan for 2015 – with pared down priorities
The number one priority for Team Juncker is a €315-billion investment plan for Europe. Second, is “better regulation”. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans presented the European Commission’s 2015 work programme to MEPs in Strasbourg on 16 December. Energy Post looks at the new initiatives, scrapped initiatives and those that hang in the balance for energy and climate policy. … [Read more...]
Electric cars are booming in the Netherlands
Of all cars sold in the first three quarters of 2014 in the Netherlands, 4.3% were electric or hybrid cars. In the last quarter of 2013, the number was even higher: 15%. The main reason for these very high EV sales in the Netherlands is fiscal measures, says Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, who published the figures. … [Read more...]
The Five Energy Labours of Juncker
The new team heading the European Commission in Brussels is lucky. Its predecessors closed two sensitive deals before the reshuffle: a European energy and climate strategy for 2030 and a gas winter package between Ukraine and Russia. On top of that, outgoing Energy Commissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger finished off a thick report on the way forward for a European energy market. The new Commission will follow up on these three dossiers, plus two more … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy – All you need to know for November 2014
In this latest Brussels Briefing on Energy viEUws.eu, leading energy journalist Hughes Belin provides anoverview of the latest EU energy policy developments: … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: MEPs say yes to ETS reform but dissent on timing
In an exclusive interview with viEUws.eu, Giovanni La Via - Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) - speaks with correspondent Sonja van Renssen about the environment priorities for the new parliamentary term. … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment – All you need to know for November 2014
In this latest Brussels Briefing on Environment from viEUws.eu, leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest EU environment policy developments. … [Read more...]
VIDEO: 5 toughest questions for Maroš Ĺ efÄŤoviÄŤ – European Commissioner for Energy Union
After Alenka Bratušek resigned ahead of the European Parliament’s vote, Jean-Claude Juncker proposed Maroš Ĺ efÄŤoviÄŤÂ as Vice President for Energy Union. Ĺ efÄŤoviÄŤÂ (nominated by Slovakia) had to answer a number of difficult questions during his hearing by the European Parliament’s Committees on Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE) and Environment, Public Health & Food Safety (ENVI) on 20 October. viEUws.eu produced a comprehensive video … [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...]
VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy – All you need to know for March 2014
Hughes Belin, leading energy journalist at viEUws.eu, provides an overview of the European Union’s most pressing energy issues: - EU Summit: EU-Russia energy relations in light of the recent developments inUkraine. “Economic ties could in this political crisis be the deterrent for escalation, that nuclear was during the Cold War”, says journalist Nicolas Gros-Verheyde from Bruxelles2 (March 20 and 21) - Discussions on energy and climate … [Read more...]
VIDEO: EU pins hopes on 2016 for global airline emissions deal
Sonja van Renssen, leading environment journalist at viEUws.eu, talks to Member of the European Parliament Peter Liese, rapporteur on Aviation in the EU ETS, about the provisional agreement on including aviation in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). On the 4th of March, the European Parliament, Council and European Commission reached a provisional agreement on ETS rules for aviation, which will restrict the scheme to intra-European … [Read more...]
Why utilities should embrace electric cars
Navigant Research has recently published an interesting article by Scott Shepard on what the growth of electric vehicles in the US means for utiltiies. Shepard concludes that they represent more opportunities to utilities than problems. Schepard notes that "according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), the average U.S. household consumed 11,321 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “Special rules needed for energy intensive industries”, argues E.ON CEO
Sonja van Renssen, leading environment and climate journalist at viEUws.eu, is joined by Dr. Johannes Teyssen, CEO of E.ON and President of Eurelectric to discuss the potential for competitivenesswithin the 2030 Energy and Climate Framework. Dr. Johannes Teyssen argues that competitiveness and the 2030 climate and energy strategy are not contradicting each other: “If climate policy is implemented efficiently, it can go alongside … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Top 5 EU Energy Priorities – All you need to know for 2014
Hughes Belin, leading energy journalist at viEUws.eu, takes a pick at the top 5 energy issues that will be discussed by the EU institutions under the Greek Presidency during the first half of 2014.  The main issue on the agenda will be the 2030 energy and climate framework, the package will be published on the 22nd of January. A debate on energy state aid will take place under the lead of competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia during … [Read more...]
Auto and oil companies present long-term plan for biofuels in Europe
A consortium of six major car manufacturers and oil companies in Europe - Volkswagen, Daimler, Honda, Neste Oil, OMV and Shell – has today published a “biofuel roadmap” for the EU to 2030. The roadmap, prepared by technical consultancy E4tech, may be seen as an atttempt by industry  to transcend the current deadlock between the European Parliament and EU Member States over new biofuels legislation, which is crippling biofuel investment. The … [Read more...]