The election of the sixth Labour-led government, in a coalition with the Greens, heralds a new direction for climate change policy in New Zealand, writes professor Robert McLachlan of Massey University. That is high time, according to McLachlan: the country’s emission trading system has not delivered, greenhouse gas emissions have risen. Courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
Why the future of batteries is lithium and why their impact will be bigger than you think
The tremendous advances being made in lithium battery technology are being underestimated by many people, writes financial energy specialist Gerard Reid. Competitive EVs are just a few years away. They will be followed by radical improvements that will have huge implications for air and ship transport as well. Courtesy Energy and Carbon blog. … [Read more...]
The case for additional actions within the EU ETS has just become stronger
It is sometimes thought that total emissions in the EU ETS (Emission Trading System) are equal to the cap, and so any additional actions, such as phase-out of coal power, increasing energy efficiency and deploying more renewables, have no effect. But this is not true, writes climate change economist Adam Whitmore. Indeed, according to Whitmore, recently agreed reforms to the EU ETS strengthen the case for additional actions. For policymakers, … [Read more...]
Fancy having your own power plant? “Fuel cell micro-cogeneration is market-ready”
More than 1,000 fuel cell micro-cogeneration units have been installed in homes and business in ten countries over the last several years by the ene.field project. Its successor, the PACE project, aims at bringing costs further down, although manufacturers and users say the technology is market-ready. … [Read more...]
Ukraine: energy transition could work wonders, but policies are “the least ambitious in the world”
Ukraine can reduce its energy dependence and build a strong economy on clean and safe renewable energy, a new study shows. Unfortunately, the latest Energy Strategy adopted by the government in August shows a complete lack of ambition to pursue a low-carbon transition. Ukraine’s “nationally determined contribution” under the Paris Agreement is the least ambitious in the world, according to an independent analysis. … [Read more...]
After Bonn, 5 things to watch for in the coming year of global climate policy
Five things that should have happened at the recent climate conference in Bonn, didn’t happen, write Marc Hudson and Matthew Paterson of the University of Manchester. But there is life beyond the UNFCCC process. They identify five things to watch for in climate policy in the coming year – if it isn’t too late already to save the world from climate change. Courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
Renewables in Africa are losing ground: a proposal for a practical climate finance instrument
If the One Planet Summit in Paris on 12 December is to meet its expectations, it must lead to a new cost- and carbon-efficient instrument to support decentralised renewable electricity generation across Africa, writes Terje Osmundsen, Courtesy Energi og Klima blog. … [Read more...]
Donald Trump, Unfounding Father: he’s not an aberration, he is the zeitgeist
It’s time to start thinking of Donald Trump in a different light, writes Tom Engelhardt, author of many books and chief editor of Tomdispatch.com. Trump is not an aberration – he represents the zeitgeist – and removing him from office won’t solve the problems the U.S. is facing. Courtesy Tomdispatch.com. … [Read more...]
Trump’s tax bill: big win for oil and gas, profound threat to renewables and environment
The Republican Party (GOP) tax proposal, if it is adopted unchanged, would slash tax credits for solar and wind power, slap a big tax on projects of “multinational” renewable developers, while leaving tax credits for oil and gas unchanged or even lowering them. It would also open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas exploration. Courtesy Oilprice.com. … [Read more...]
China is still on track to become the world’s leading nuclear power
Is there a slowdown in the Chinese nuclear sector, as some observers have argued, ending nuclear power’s “last hope for growth”? No, says François Morin, Director China of the World Nuclear Association. Nuclear has experienced a temporary setback but is still set for strong growth the coming years.  … [Read more...]
Trump’s coal and nuclear subsidy could cost U.S. economy over $10 billion a year
The U.S. Department of Energy's new initiative to subsidize coal and nuclear generation could cost U.S. businesses and households up to $10.6 billion annually, writes Silvio Marcacci, Communications Director at think tank Energy Innovation. This money would go to about 10 companies.  … [Read more...]
The German electricity market in 2016: more gas, renewables stable, higher emissions, higher tariffs
Whereas gas-fired power grew strongly in Germany in 2016, the output of renewables declined slightly. CO2 emissions went up, as did network tariffs and consumer prices. Renewables were funded 70% through auctions and just 30% through feed-in tariffs. An overview by Marius Buchmann. … [Read more...]
Poland may be ready for energy turnaround
The Polish conservative government has been trying (and failing) to bail out coal, and maintain energy independence, writes journalist MichaĹ‚ Olszewski. But according to Olszewski, these expensive and polluting practices could be coming to an end. Slowly but surely, the energy transition emerges in Poland. Courtesy Energy Transition – the Global Energiewende. … [Read more...]
Looking ahead to 2018 for nuclear energy
Dan Yurman, author of the Neutron Bytes blog, presents a “realist’s perspective” on the state of affairs in the global nuclear industry and discusses what we might expect to happen next year. His account shows there is more going on in the nuclear sector than many people might realize.  … [Read more...]
UK government overlooked lower costs of renewables in Hinkley nuclear deal
Two of the UK’s main public bodies overseeing public spending have now criticised the government’s deal with EDF to support a new nuclear power plant, showing how Britain  (and the United States today?) failed to heed the falling cost of renewables, writes energy finance consultant Gerard Wynn. According to Wynn, the findings should be a warning for other countries planning to build new nuclear power plants. They also raise the question why the … [Read more...]
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