In ways that have eluded Washington pundits and policymakers, President Barack Obama is deploying a subtle geopolitical strategy that, if successful, might give Washington a fighting chance to extend its global hegemony deep into the twenty-first century, writes author and historian Alfred McCoy. In this pioneering essay, McCoy explains how Obama is countering China’s Silk Road Strategy aimed at dominating the Eurasian landmass by pursuing two … [Read more...]
Exclusive: The Overlay Network – telecom experts present revolutionary plan to integrate EU power market
Four Dutch managers with a background in the telecoms sector, led by former Chairman of KPN Royal Dutch Telecom Professor Wim Dik, have come up with a simple idea that would finally make possible a truly integrated EU electricity system. Under the name of EU PowerNet Initiative they propose the building of an ‘Overlay Network’ that would allow direct transmission of electricity between all countries even if they are not direct neighbours. The … [Read more...]
Are EU leaders about to shy away from effective climate and energy governance?
On 26 November the EU's Energy Ministers will decide on a new climate and energy governance mechanism. This will be crucial to delivering the outcomes that these leaders agreed on last year in climate and energy policy. However, the draft of the Energy Council’s Conclusions, already published on 30 September, is a cause for concern, writes Oliver Sartor of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). Sartor … [Read more...]
New European trend: renewables without borders
So far there has been very little cooperation between EU countries in stimulating renewable energy, although better coordination could save tens of billions of euros in support costs. Now that the EU has decided not to have national renewable energy targets for 2030, more and more organisations and countries are trying to develop regional approaches to support renewables projects. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, a think tank close to the German … [Read more...]
How Russia is plotting to split OPEC
Russia’s geopolitical strategy, including its intervention in Syria, is all about energy, writes Dalan McEndree of Oilprice.com. According to McEndree, President Putin is aiming to split OPEC into two blocs – the haves (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar) and the have-nots (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Algeria, Venezuela. Nigeria) – with Russia supporting the have-nots. In this way Putin tries to pressure Saudi Arabia to reverse its oil policy, which is … [Read more...]
Vieuws Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for October
European Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič, is to present on the 18th of November a first-ever Communication on the State of the Energy Union. Brussels correspondent Hughes Belin also tells us that the Heating & Cooling strategy for Europe is now likely for early next year, and about the Commission’s update on the SET-plan, followed by the informal Energy Council on the 23rd of September. All the details in this month’s Energy Briefing. First … [Read more...]
Renewables: does the IEA underestimate them?
In a new market report on renewable energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that renewables will represent “the largest single source of electricity growth over the next five years”, reaching a share of 26% of world power supply in 2020, compared to 22% in 2013. Yet critics say the IEA is still underestimating the speed at which renewables like solar and wind are likely to grow. Energy Post editor Karel Beckman tries to figure out … [Read more...]
RWE’s Head of Innovation Inken Braunschmidt: “We want to be the Uber for energy”
Big energy companies are looking to the sharing economy, digitisation, big data, and mega-cities to inspire future revenue streams. In this exclusive interview with Energy Post, Inken Braunschmidt, leader of RWE’s “Innovation Hub” talks about her unique role at the helm of a department that’s not a department. Her job? To think non-utility ideas. Braunschmidt:”We’re really going to the edge of what energy has meant for 100 years.” … [Read more...]
Disaffected members of UNECE Gas Centre launch new Global Gas Centre under wings of World Energy Council
The World Energy Council is launching a new Global Gas Centre in St. Petersburg on 6 October in collaboration with gas companies ENGIE, OMV and Swissgas. These companies have all recently left another gas organisation, the Gas Centre of the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), out of dissatisfaction. In St Petersburg, the Global Gas Centre wants to sign up new members, particularly Gazprom, the current Chair of the UNECE’s Gas … [Read more...]
“Vested interests frustrate spread of demand response in Europe, Germany most of all”
Vested interests are frustrating the spread of demand response solutions in several EU countries, most of all in Germany, says a senior expert from a leading demand response service provider. According to this expert, established utilities fear demand response solutions because they compete with their own power plants that have traditionally offered flexibility. However, utilities are also increasingly developing their own demand response skills, … [Read more...]
Canada could be clean energy superpower
The latest report from Clean Energy Canada, a project of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, shows that the Canadian clean energy sector employs more people than the oilsands sector and attracts more investment than agriculture. But its potential is even greater, writes Roy L. Hales of the Canadian website the EcoReport. … [Read more...]
Vieuws video: Brussels Briefing on Environment
EU Environment Ministers have agreed the EU’s negotiating position for UN climate talks at COP21 in Paris in December. But COP21 is not the only event keeping the institutions busy, says environment journalist Sonja van Renssen: several reforms and reviews are expected in the coming weeks and months, among which a new circular economy package, and progress on EU ETS reform and the highly controversial NEC directive talks. … [Read more...]
Exit Ahead – Shell at the end of the Oil Superhighway
Shell’s departure from the Arctic is a very significant event in the global energy picture, writes Energy Post editor-in-chief Karel Beckman. It is another sign that the End of the Oil Age is in sight. … [Read more...]
China announces national emission trading scheme – experts react
China will launch a national emission trading scheme. In a joint US-China climate statement, issued as part of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States, China said its new trading sytem will cover “key industry sectors such as iron and steel, power generation, chemicals, building materials, paper-making, and nonferrous metals”. On The Conversation, four experts react to this news. "How interesting that China the communist country … [Read more...]
“Mercedes, BMW and Peugeot models consume 50% more fuel than official results”
New cars, including the Mercedes A, C and E class, BMW 5 series and Peugeot 308, are now swallowing around 50% more fuel than their lab test results reveal, according to new on-the-road results compiled by NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). T&E calls for a comprehensive investigation into both air pollution and fuel economy tests across Europe and a complete overhaul of the testing system. … [Read more...]
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