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...]
An investor speaks: the oil party is almost over
The fact that environmental activist Bill McKibben is waging a relentless “fossil fuel divestment campaign” may not worry established oil and coal companies too much. But he is joined by an increasing number of mainstream investors and analysts. The latest investor to warn that fossil fuel assets may be overvalued is the famous hedge fund manager Jeremy Grantham, owner of the major US asset-management firm GMO. In a thoughtful piece for the GMO … [Read more...]
Three signs of retreat in the global war on climate change
A series of recent developments "highlight the way the world is losing ground in the epic struggle to slow global warming", writes Michael Klare. One of them is what he calls the "evident slackening in Europe’s climate commitment". According to Klare, "the pressures to keep burning fossil fuels are too great to be overcome in piecemeal fashion.  Rather, these forces must be met head-on, with the institutionalization of equally powerful … [Read more...]
WWF: Groundbreaking analysis shows China’s renewable energy future within reach
By embracing conservation measures and renewable energy, China can transition to an 80 percent renewable electric power system by 2050 at far less cost than continuing to rely on coal, according to a new report from WWF-US. As a result, China’s carbon emissions from power generation could be 90 percent less than currently projected levels in 2050 without compromising the reliability of the electric grid or slowing economic growth. The … [Read more...]
HSBC: EU’s new climate policy unambitious, bad news for renewables
Europe’s climate policy proposals reflect the lowest level of ambition required to keep global warming at 2°C, while its goals on renewable energy are “disappointing” and bad news for the industry, according to a new report by banking giant HSBC. The report also sees “increasing downside risks” for offshore wind. Sophie Vorrath of Reneweconomy.com.au has the story. … [Read more...]
World Energy Council: Price volatility greater concern than climate change framework
High energy price volatility has for the first time replaced global climate framework as the number-one critical uncertainty driving the world energy agenda, according to the 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor, released on Tuesday 18 February by the World Energy Council (WEC). Global climate framework uncertainty,while still is akeyuncertainty, is now perceived by energy leaders to have less impact than in the previous three years of the study. … [Read more...]
US Shale Gas (II): Get ready for the Great Natural Gas Switch
Cheap natural gas means Americans can buy the equivalent of a barrel of crude for $35. That's the exciting reality that has Ron Muhlenkamp, founder and portfolio manager of Muhlenkamp & Co. Inc., putting his investment dollars behind the next great fuel switch, this time in the transportation sector. As Muhlenkamp tells Tom Armistead of The Energy Report, the Great Natural Gas Switch in the US has only just begun. This is part Two of a … [Read more...]
US Shale Gas (I): It’s not what it’s cracked up to be
Shale gas is not the foundation of U.S. energy security that conventional wisdom claims it is, says Bill Powers in this interview with Tom Amistead of The Energy Report. As shale gas peters out, the law of supply and demand will drive gas prices up, says Powers,an independent analyst and author of "Cold, Hungry and in the Dark: Exploding the Natural Gas Supply Myth." This interview is part One of a two-part series. In part Two investment analyst … [Read more...]
Energy efficiency: how to make it work
The Germans do it with public money and labelling. The Americans do it with private capital and asset-backed securitisation. The Emirati’s do it with education and information. A recent expert debate at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi made it clear that stepping up energy efficiency is crucially important – but that there is no-one-size-fits-all solution. … [Read more...]
EU’s global cleantech leadership at risk
The EU still leads the world in clean energy technologies, but for how long? In 2012, 70% of new wind power capacity and 40% of new photovoltaic panels were installed outside Europe. Brussels has shied away from new national renewables targets in its 2030 climate and energy proposals. It is preparing fresh rules on state aid that will disadvantage less mature technologies such as offshore wind and solar PV. And the EU internal energy market … [Read more...]
Fennovoima’s Environmental Impact Assessment Report completed
Fennovoima Ltd has today on February 13th, submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (coordinating authority) in Finland. The report contains an assessment of the environmental impacts of the 1200 MW nuclear power plant at Pyhäjoki site. Fennovoima and Rusatom Overseas signed a plant supply contract of a pressurized water reactor AES-2006 in December 2013. The EIA report has been … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment – All you need to know for the month of February 2014
Sonja van Renssen, leading environment journalist at viEUws.eu, provides an overview of the latest developments in the field of European Environment Policy. Topics discussed include: - The 2030 Climate & Energy Framework (greenhouse gas emissions, renewables & energy efficiency) - Green light for first reform to the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) - The proposal for market stability reserve - Member states negotiating over how … [Read more...]
Interview IEA Director Maria van der Hoeven: “Expansion of gas use no panacea for climate change”
Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that unconventional gas can be produced in an environmentally acceptable way, but warns that an expansion of gas alone “is no panacea for climate change”. In an interview with James Stafford, editor of Oilprice.com, Van der Hoeven discusses a wide range of important energy issues, ranging from the role of gas, renewables and nuclear power to the necessity … [Read more...]
Why utilities should embrace electric cars
Navigant Research has recently published an interesting article by Scott Shepard on what the growth of electric vehicles in the US means for utiltiies. Shepard concludes that they represent more opportunities to utilities than problems. Schepard notes that "according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), the average U.S. household consumed 11,321 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in … [Read more...]
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