In its new State Aid guidelines, the European Commission presents auctioning as the standard procedure for allocating support for renewable energy. Member States may deviate from this rule, but only for very good reasons. Although auctioning can in theory be a useful instrument, experience all over the world shows mixed results. It is crucial that auctions are adapted to the specific market context. If not, they will deliver sub-optimal results … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment: All you need to know for May & June 2014
In this Brussels Briefing on Environment by viEUws.eu leading environment journalist Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest developments in the field of European environment policy. Topics discussed include: - CO2 emissions from trucks: first-ever European Commission strategy - Circular economy & waste: Green Week (June 2-5) and upcoming policy package including on food - June Environment Council: air quality and 2030 … [Read more...]
The Birth of a Eurasian Century
The signing of the long-awaited $400 billion gas contract between Russia and China is a sign of changing times, writes Pepe Escobar. According to the Asia-based reporter, there are many developments going on, virtually unreported by the western media, that are chipping away at the dominance of the United States in the world. A Russian-Chinese alliance is forming, which will reach out into Europe through energy and trade relations â and  perhaps … [Read more...]
Policy failures have turned Belgium into high-price electricity island in Europe
Wholesale power prices in Belgium are now considerably higher than in its big neighbour Germany. In addition, Belgium is the only country in North West Europe to be faced with an electricity supply shortage. This situation is caused by a long series of policy failures on the part of the Belgian government, which has failed to create stable investment conditions, a competitive market and adequate interconnections, argues Benedict de Meulemeester, … [Read more...]
IEA review of Dutch energy policy: the real work still lies ahead
The Dutch energy sector is proud of the broad National Energy Agreement which was signed on to last year by representatives of the energy industry, consumer and trade associations and NGOâs, and which is now being implemented. But concluding an agreement is one thing, implementing it is another, notes the International Energy Agency (IEA) in an instructive review of Dutch energy policy. The Netherlands still relies heavily on fossil fuels and is … [Read more...]
The stolen fruit of the Energiewende: German suppliers are not passing on lower wholesale prices to consumers
Complaints about the high costs of the Energiewende are misguided. The primary reason German users pay high electricity prices is not the governmentâs support scheme for renewable energy. It is rather the fact that energy suppliers are not passing on to consumers the large drop in wholesale prices that results from the rapidly expanding wind and solar generation capacity. This is evident from an analysis of German prices. A similar situation … [Read more...]
After the goldrush: Japanâs second solar boom
A first gold rush driven by generous subsidies led to an uncontrolled boom in solar power projects in Japan, of which, however, only a very small percentage actually got built. Now, however, the government has taken charge and serious developers are entering the market. The liberalisation of the Japanese retail market in 2016 is expected to give another boost to solar power, as consumers will likely drive demand for renewable energy. The Japanese … [Read more...]
Biomass: the hidden face of the Energiewende
When people think about the âenergy transitionâ in Germany and elsewhere, they tend to think of the success of solar and wind power. However, of all forms of renewable energy it is biomass that has seen the largest absolute growth and supplies by far the most renewable energy, writes Robert Wilson. In Germany biomass has grown three times as much as wind and solar combined. 17% of the countryâs arable land (6% of total land) is now devoted to … [Read more...]
IEA: electricity will rival oil as dominant energy carrier
Electricity will increasingly power the world's economies in the 21st century, rivalling oil as the dominant energy carrier, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency. Actively managing this transformation is the only way to ensure we meet global energy security and climate goals economically, the report says. The report, Energy Technology Perspectives, offers a comprehensive, long-term analysis of trends in the energy … [Read more...]
East European countries place bombshell under EU climate policy
EU member states should be free to make their own decisions over whether to increase their greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments for 2020 â rather than letting the EU lead, according to a statement from seven Eastern European countries. With their declaration the group puts a bombshell under the EU's collective efforts at the international climate negotiations. … [Read more...]
What oil companies do is bad for the climate. But it may also be bad for investors
Climate campaigners have a new weapon in their arsenal: they say that if shareholders want value for money they had better start questioning the high-risk, high-cost projects oil companies are undertaking on a massive scale. And not just because of climate risks, but for purely economic reasons as well. The Carbon Tracker Initiative, which first put the idea of âstranded assetsâ on the map (i.e. the notion that a large part of the fossil fuel … [Read more...]
Time for real change: Ukraine crisis shows bankruptcy of âsecurity-as-usualâ
Polandâs proposal to reduce the EUâs energy dependence on Russia by collective buying of gas and maximising domestic production of coal shows a reactive, âsecurity-as-usualâ approach that is totally behind the times, writes Luca Bergamaschi of think tank E3G. According to Bergamaschi, the EU should instead improve its energy security by radically reforming its energy system, above all by improving energy efficiency. Studies show that Germany … [Read more...]
South Stream âLiteâ shows it’s business as usual between EU and Russia
The agreement last week between Gazprom and OMV of Austria on South Stream shows that the EU and Russia will continue their long-standing energy partnership regardless of the crisis around Ukraine, writes Friedbert PflĂźger, Director of the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) at Kingâs College London. According to PflĂźger, the mutual energy dependence between the EU and Russia should be regarded as a largely positive … [Read more...]
Leaked doc: David Cameronâs plans to make the EU fit UK energy policy
After Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, itâs David Cameronâs turn to seize the moment and promote a vision for EU energy security that neatly fits the UKâs own energy objectives. In a leaked ânon-paperâ seen by Energy Post the UK Prime Minister sets out what he wants EU leaders to agree at their next summit in Brussels in June. Cameron calls for energy security to be embedded in the EUâs 2030 climate and energy package, full freedom to develop … [Read more...]
You cannot compare apples with climate policies: why there is no Modelgate in Brussels
The European Commission has recently suggested a new greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030 that is perceived as too low by many NGOs. Moreover, some claim that the Commission has hidden the fact that higher emission reductions than proposed would lead to GDP gains. Brigitte Knopf from the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research argues that GDP gains are a very specific finding with a non-standard model and that emission targets can only … [Read more...]
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