An Extraordinary General Assembly of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) taking place in Brussels on 6th March decided the “voluntary” dissolution of the non-profit organisation after over a decade of existence. “Yesterday, EREC was forced to decide to go into liquidation mainly due to its high liabilities arising from its lease obligations for the three large office buildings which make up the Renewable Energy House, 63-67 rue … [Read more...]
IEA: Any country can reach high shares of wind, solar power cost-effectively
A study released on 26 February by the International Energy Agency concludes that integrating high shares – i.e., 30 percent of annual electricity production or more – of wind and solar PV in power systems can come at little additional cost in the long term. However, costs depend on how flexible the system currently is and what strategy is adopted to develop system flexibility over the long term. Managing this transition will be more difficult … [Read more...]
US solar installations up 41% last year
The U.S. installed 4,751 MW of solar PV in 2013, up 41% over 2012 and nearly 15 times the amount installed in 2008.That is the main outcome of the new US Solar Market Insight Report published by GTM Research. There is now a total of 12.1 GW of PV and 918 MW of CSP operating in the U.S., according to the new report. Other major findings: There were 140,000 individual solar installations in the U.S. in 2013, and a total of over 440,000 … [Read more...]
Tomatoes watered by the sea: sprouting a new way of farming
In Australia a former investment banker is growing vegetables in hothouses that use electricity and desalinated seawater all derived from concentrated solar power. According to John Matthews, it's a model that could work well in many areas of the world. … [Read more...]
Aligning interests in Ukraine is key to both EU and Russian energy security
All parties in the Ukrainian crisis should do their utmost to avoid any further escalation, writes Friedbert PflĂĽger, Director of the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) at King’s College, London, and Deputy Minister in the first Merkel government. According to PflĂĽger, Europe must recognize that Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine, while the Russians have to recognize Ukraine’s right to self-determination. If Ukraine … [Read more...]
EU deeply divided over 2030 climate and energy policy
Thirteen member states want the EU to agree on the broad outlines of a 2030 climate and energy policy as soon as possible. But at least four call for the EU not to “rush” into anything – they argue all decisions should be put on hold until UN climate talks in Paris in 2015. That was the main outcome of the EU environment and energy ministers meeting this week. European Heads of State and government will meet in Brussels on 20-21st March to talk … [Read more...]
How the IEA exaggerates the costs and underestimates the growth of solar power
The International Energy Agency (IEA) consistently entertains much too pessimistic assumptions about the growth potential and cost development of solar power,  writes Terje Osmundsen, Senior Vice President of the Norwegian-based international solar power company Scatec Solar. According to Osmundsen, the cost assumptions used by the IEA are 100% higher than even current market prices. He notes that as a result of the IEA’s misleading information, … [Read more...]
It’s Scotland’s oil – and it will need a lot of investment
With the Scottish referendum campaign about independence from the rest of the UK in full swing, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has been foolish to try to make North Sea oil a reason for the Scots to stay. There are plenty of good reasons to keep the UK united, but oil is not one of them, except perhaps that Scotland is going to be far too dependent on it, if it leaves. Energy journalist Chris Cragg explains the real issues the UK oil and gas … [Read more...]
Fennovoima’s Finnish majority ownership confirmed
Fennovoima’s owner Voimaosakeyhtiö SF has in its general meeting, held today on 28th February, made the final decision to participate in Fennovoima nuclear power plant construction. Voimaosakeyhtiö SF commits to own more than half of the power plant. Voimaosakeyhtiö SF aims at increasing the ownership share of Finnish companies in Fennovoima from the now confirmed 50.2 per cent to as close as possible to 66 per cent. Negotiations with … [Read more...]
European manufacturing CEO’s sign manifesto asking for lower energy prices
On 27 February a Manifesto signed by 137 CEOs representing EU manufacturing industry was published by IFIEC Europe (International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers). It calls upon Heads of State to adopt a set of measures to align the EU’s industry, energy & climate policies. “This initiative, representing more than 1 million direct jobs from various sectors and countries all over Europe is exceptional”, explains Fernand Felzinger, … [Read more...]
Interview Adam Sieminksi, Chief EIA: “Gas production in the US will keep growing”
The Energy Information Administration (EIA), part of the US Department of Energy, predicts that natural gas production in the US will continue to grow at an impressive pace – regardless of what shale gas and environmental critics believe. Right now output is close to 70 billion cubic feet a day and it is expected to reach over 100 billion cubic feet per day by 2040. “In our view, those production trends are going to continue without the … [Read more...]
Exclusive: The end is near – for national renewable energy subsidy schemes in the EU
The national renewable support schemes in the EU are on the verge of a major overhaul. National governments will soon not be allowed anymore to limit renewables subsidies to domestic producers: they will have to treat all EU-based producers alike. This at any rate is the very likely outcome of a court case now before the EU Court of Justice, says Peter Niermeijer, Secretary-General of RECS International, an organisation that promotes pan-European … [Read more...]
Is the door to CCS closing in the UK?
Slow progress threatens the future of CCS in the UK, write Sam Gomersall and Alan James, Directors of Pale Blue Dot Energy, a management consultancy focused on the low carbon transition based in Aberdeen. According to the authors, the earliest CCS projects are unlikely to come onstream before the early 2020s – if they get off the ground at all. “The future of CCS in the UK hangs in the balance.” … [Read more...]
WWF: Action required now to ensure supply of critical materials for renewable energy infrastructure
The growing demand for renewable energy could put pressure on the supply of critical materials required in the production of renewable energy infrastructure, says WWF in new report released on 18 February. The report, Critical Materials for the transition to a 100% sustainable energy future, says supply chain bottlenecks can be overcome by applying the right technologies. It is possible for renewable energy to fuel the world reliably while … [Read more...]
European Commission launches negotiations with Georgia to join the Energy Community
The European Commission and Georgia have launched negotiations for Georgia's accession to the Energy Community. The negotiations in Tbilisi were held on 20 February in the presence of Energy Commissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger, for the European Commission and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Vice-Prime Minister as well as Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze, for Georgia. By becoming Member of the Energy Community and implementing EU energy legislation … [Read more...]
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