Zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) such as battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric, in every size and range category, can be cost competitive with their diesel equivalents by 2035. In several of those categories it can be much sooner – within the next six years - explains Julia Thomas at NREL. Researchers there have modelled how the total cost of driving for zero-emission and diesel MHDVs can evolve over time under … [Read more...]
How to handle rapid Grid load growth: Data Centres can set the template for EVs, Buildings, new Industry
Due to their growing power demand, data centres can set a precedent for how to handle rapid load growth in a way that supports the grid and ensures reliable, resilient, carbon-free electricity. In other words, they can set the template for the coming surges in demand from EVs, buildings electrification, and the new rich-world policies of onshoring industry and manufacturing, explain Alexandra Gorin, Roberto Zanchi and Mark Dyson at RMI. Big, … [Read more...]
A global review of Battery Storage: the fastest growing clean energy technology today
The IEA report “Batteries and Secure Energy Transitions” looks at the impressive global progress, future projections, and risks for batteries across all applications. 2023 saw deployment in the power sector more than double. Strong growth occurred for utility-scale batteries, behind-the-meter, mini-grids, solar home systems, and EVs. Lithium-ion batteries dominate overwhelmingly due to continued cost reductions and performance improvements. And … [Read more...]
Carbon Dioxide Removal: here’s what the start-ups want from policymakers, partners
The scaling up of a global carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry is facing significant challenges over proven results and therefore funding. Guy Wohl and Emily Rogers at RMI have interviewed the CEOs of four start-ups who feature in RMI’s Applied Innovation Roadmap (AIR) report for CDR. “Rewind” is developing a biogenic CDR (bCDR) approach that sinks forestry residual plant matter in the Black Sea to store the plant-embedded carbon for centuries. … [Read more...]
Big Data’s huge power demand can migrate globally, instantaneously: implications for planning regional capacity and markets
Something is going to make the planning of regional power generation and associated markets even harder: the ability of big data users to shift their demand across the globe quickly, based on price. Ira Joseph at CGEP peers into the near future to ask some difficult questions. When such power demand can “at the push of a button” migrate long distances, how do you make predictions for local capacity needs? And today, market design in most … [Read more...]
Hemp-based building materials: a low-carbon substitute for timber, concrete
How can we lower the lifetime emissions of building materials? Bernardino D'Amico at Edinburgh Napier University references his research to show how hemp-based materials can substitute for concrete. And it’s even more effective than timber, a popular low-carbon alternative. Growing industrial hemp can absorb twice as much CO₂ compared to growing trees. Raw hemp fibre can be processed into panels and mats for thermal or acoustic insulation. Hemp … [Read more...]
REPowerEU gas reduction is exceeding targets. But that means the same 2025 target can see gas rise again
The REPowerEU policy has done well so far in its aim of ending Europe’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. The target of 15% reduction in gas use, compared to the average consumption between April 2017 and March 2022, was exceeded in both 2023 and 2024. The Commission has again set the same 15% target for the coming year. However, by doing so the very many EU countries that have succeeded so well in exceeding that target are effectively … [Read more...]
The EU’s inaugural Hydrogen subsidy auction. What have we learned?
At the end of April, the winners were announced of the first pilot auction to allocate subsidies for EU hydrogen production via the European Hydrogen Bank. The winning bids were between €0.37 and €0.48 per kg, much lower than the €4 – €6 per kg estimated “green premium” cost gap between renewable hydrogen and fossil hydrogen in Europe. The low bids mean companies applied for fewer subsidies than needed to bridge that “green premium” gap because … [Read more...]
District Heating: trials face local permitting blocks. It’s because there’s too little national and EU guidance
The EU-funded WEDISTRICT project establishes sites to demonstrate innovative 100% fossil free heating and cooling solutions for new and existing district heating and cooling systems. But some of the sites have run into permitting problems with local authorities and stakeholders. In Poland, the project had to be withdrawn. In Spain, it had to relocate to a site in the University of Córdoba. As Khatia Shamanauri and Fintan Burke at ESCI explain, … [Read more...]
After the EU elections: what should be Europe’s energy and climate priorities for 2024-29?
After June’s European Parliament elections the new Commission will be tasked with setting the agenda for EU energy and climate policy. What should its priorities be? Maciej Jakubik at Forum Energii summarises their paper that sets out six. Energy security, improving access to data and therefore planning, energy market reforms and grid development, protecting and supporting vulnerable citizens, establishing an Energy Transformation Fund, global … [Read more...]
Low Emission Hydrogen: creating markets to get buyers to make firm commitments
Low emission hydrogen is expected to play an important role in global decarbonisation, though costs today are very high and must come down. Economies of scale will help, but production is yet to pick up pace as there are inadequate ‘demand signals’ which result in financial risks for project developers. Kapil Narula and Luciano Caratori of Climate Champions Team, Laurent Antoni at IPHE, and Nigel Topping (former UN Climate Change High-Level … [Read more...]
Investors beware: per € of revenue, truckmakers are more carbon intensive than oil, steel, cars (but not coal!)
Truckmakers are a more carbon intensive investment, per € of revenue, than oil, steel and cars. The only major sector that's worse is coal mining, says a new study by T&E. For investors that are counting the emissions of their investments, this will become clear when truckmakers are forced to report their Scope 3 emissions next year. Truckmakers therefore risk losing access to these investors. Until now, truckmakers have got away with it … [Read more...]
European support for U.S. gas pipelines can cut inflation, strengthen the energy transition and thwart Putin
Inflation isn’t just politically destabilising. It’s also the enemy of the energy transition, explains Joseph Webster at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. President Putin understands this, which is why he uses Russia's oil and gas production to stoke global inflation. Hence, to thwart his aims, nations should increase short-term energy production from all sources, including hydrocarbons. Lower energy prices lower inflation and interest … [Read more...]
Analysis of Clean Technology Manufacturing around the world: solar PV, wind, batteries, electrolysers, heat pumps
For every nation, clean technology manufacturing can bring economic security, employment, and resilience to clean energy transitions, says the IEA. The sector is now so significant that it’s also impacting overall GDP performance: in 2023, clean technology manufacturing alone accounted for around 4% of global GDP growth and nearly 10% of global investment growth. Here, the IEA summarises its first-of-its-kind “Energy Technology Perspectives … [Read more...]
When can Bioenergy be truly green? 5 key questions for every project
Is bioenergy green? It depends, says Jessica Allen at the University of Newcastle. She lays out five key questions that should be asked about every bioenergy project. What is its source? Native forest residues, dedicated fast-growing biomass species, agricultural residues and “waste” biomass: all have pros and cons that must first be carefully measured. How many emissions are embodied in the collection and transport of the biomass to the plant? … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 198
- Next Page »
![](https://energypost.eu/wp-content/themes/dynamik-gen/images/content-filler.png)