Shale gas in Europe – it’s a revolution that does not seem to be happening. Even in countries like Poland and the UK, where governments are pushing it. However, European shale gas may get a second chance – if US company eCorp is to be believed. CEO John Thrash of eCorp says his company can frack without using any water, with no chemicals and much cheaper. The French government first embraced eCorp’s technology, only to ignore it later, “for … [Read more...]
Non-state actors account for growing share of emission reductions
International climate initiatives by non-state actors account for roughly half of the emission reductions pledged by governments, according to conservative calculations made by consultancy Ecofys. Cities and regions provide the larger part of these efforts, companies about a quarter. That is not yet enough to bridge the gap to the reductions that are needed, but there is scope for a further increase, write Rolf de Vos and Kornelis Blok of Ecofys. … [Read more...]
The YieldCo: the solar revolution meets Wall Street
The invention of the YieldCo is a gamechanger that will enable spectacular growth of solar PV, writes solar pioneer Peter F. Varadi. According to Varadi, the PV YieldCo offers significant advantages over investments in fossil fuel power: no fuel supply is needed, no long-term purchasing contracts for the generated electricity and less costly infrastructure. The solar revolution meets Wall Street. … [Read more...]
Europe’s gas demand is falling. Doesn’t anybody notice?
Gas demand has consistently been overestimated by EU bodies in recent years, write Dave Jones of Sandbag and Jonathan Gaventa and Manon Dufour of E3G. Even today, with gas demand at its lowest since 1995, the possibility of lower future demand is hardly taken into account. As a result, the EU‘s energy security strategy, focused on sourcing more gas, may be misguided. In addition, infrastructure investment may be wasted. Time for a reality check. … [Read more...]
So we are reforming the ETS. Now what do we want it to do?
It would be a mistake to believe that a “reformed” EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) would be a sufficient instrument for the decarbonisation of the EU economy, writes Oliver Sartor of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) in Paris. A carbon market is necessary, but it is not enough. A recent study from Climate Strategies, in which Sartor participated, suggests that Member States develop long-term climate … [Read more...]
All at sea! UK government is putting future offshore wind at risk
The UK's energy security will increasingly depend on large scale offshore wind power, write Ian Broadbent and Peter Strachan. But while energy secretary Amber Rudd talked the sector up in a recent speech, she revealed feeble ambition. Worse, with its premature cutbacks on onshore wind, and its obsession with nuclear power, the government is undermining confidence among investors. … [Read more...]
The Chinese model: backing up climate policy with green growth
With the climate plan it has submitted to the United Nations, China demonstrates that it is prepared to back up its commitments to carbon reduction with real investments in green energy, writes John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management at Macquarie University in Australia and author of a recent book on the Asian renewables revolution. It also shows it recognizes the authority of the UN - and provides a model for other developing countries … [Read more...]
EU electricity market redesign: a protean moment
The EU is on the verge of a full redesign of its electricity market. Market rules need to be updated to the reality of a much more decentralised system where renewables and the consumer are king. This is the essential next step in the European energy transition. It is an opportunity for policymakers to shape the future. What will they do? Based on leaked documents and conversations with Brussels insiders, Sonja van Renssen explains what choices … [Read more...]
A system of unconnected vessels: the gas market(s) in the Baltic States
An internally integrated gas market independent from Russia is an official goal of the Baltic States’ energy policies. Above all the launch of the LNG terminal in Klaipeda, Lithuania, at the end of 2014, was intended to provide an alternative to Russian gas. However, Latvia rejects the opportunity to import gas from Lithuania, and Estonia is pursuing its own projects, including cooperation witn Finland. This makes the creation of a regional … [Read more...]
Image of gas suffers another blow as trilateral gas talks fail
Russia, Ukraine and the EU failed to reach an agreement to govern gas flows between Russia and Ukraine at a meeting in Vienna because of a “lack of political will”. European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič is frustrated with the Ukrainians as much as with the Russians. “The lack of a deal is not good for the image of Russia as a reliable supplier or Ukraine as a reliable transit country”, he said. He added that “Gazprom … [Read more...]
Gazprom deals deepen EU gas dilemmas
Gazprom has been very active in Europe recently, signing a strategic cooperation agreement with Shell, an agreement to build a second Nord Stream pipeline with Shell, E.on and OMV, and a memorandum with the Greek government about building an extension of its Turkish Stream project. All of these initiatives fit perfectly with Gazprom’s strategy, write Szymon Kardaś and Agata Loskot-Strachota of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw. But … [Read more...]
Lignite in Europe: fighting back renewables
With an output of 350 million tonnes, four EU countries – Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Greece – account for over a third of the world’s lignite production. Renewable energies have cut into their profitability, but lignite producers are fighting back with increased deliveries and exports to third-party customers. In addition, they avoid CO2 penalties under the EU Emission Trading Scheme by building plants below the 20 MW threshold. … [Read more...]
Can the smart grid survive a cyberattack?
Technological advances in grid operation have made the power grid increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, writes Michael McElfresh, Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at Santa Clara University. The growth of the smart grid has created many more access points for penetrating grid computer systems – the “internet of things” will only make this worse. … [Read more...]
On the road: EU goes for efficient and electric, ponders biofuels
The European Commission’s strategy for decarbonising the road transport sector is finally taking shape: Brussels wants efficiency first, electrification second. But it doesn't know what to do about biofuels. “There is no appetite for [new] targets”, says Commission Director Marie Donnelly. Sonja van Renssen takes us on the bumpy road to a climate-friendly European transport sector. … [Read more...]
Unique: Dutch court orders government to do more against climate change
In a unique decision, the district court of The Hague has ordered the Dutch government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2020 compared to 1990. Current ambitions of the Dutch government amount to a reduction of around 17%. The case was brought by Dutch NGO Urgenda and nine hundred co-plaintiffs. … [Read more...]
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