Now that a new political year has started, it may be useful to ask what exactly are the most important parameters that should go into any energy policy mix. I have identified seven â which I have dubbed the Seven Steps to Energy Policy Heaven. The nice thing about my âenergy policy modelâ is that it may come in handy â even if you totally disagree with my ideas. Photo: Heaven visited me by Kevin Dooley … [Read more...]
Search results for Climate Policy Tags
Nuclear Power: the Faustian Bargain
There are good reasons to be in favor of nuclear power â for now. There are even better reasons to want to replace nuclear power by renewable energy â in the not too distant future, writes Allan Hoffman, former energy expert at the US Department of Energy. This is the second of two articles in which Hoffman, who runs the blog Thoughts of a Lapsed Physicist, reflects on a sensitive energy topic. In his first article he weighed the pros and cons of … [Read more...]
Natural gas as “coal killer”
Natural gas is a coal killer and renewable energy booster. That at any rate is the major conclusion of the Breakthrough Institute, an influential, independent US think tank, in a recent report. We have provided a short summary for you. Photo: Greenpeace Italy … [Read more...]
Germanyâs âEnergiewendeâ Shows Why We Need Nuclear
Germanyâs energy transition has been used by activists and governments as evidence that we can solve climate change with wind and solar, and that we donât need nuclear power. But according to Max Luke and Jessica Lovering of the Breakthrough Institute, if we take the fight against CO2 emissions seriously, it would be foolish â and very expensive â to limit the options to renewables alone and not to include nuclear power. Nuclear power plant … [Read more...]
Five lessons from Germany’s Energiewende
The German renewable energy transition is moving ahead at an impressive pace. What can other countries learn from what has been achieved so far? And what are the main challenges ahead? Sam Friggens of Abundance Generation, a UK crowdfunding initiative for renewable energy projects, sums up five lessons that can be drawn from the German experience. It can be done elsewehere, he says, but you need a new kind of energy market. Photo: WWF … [Read more...]
The Third Carbon Age
Most of us believe (or want to believe) that the second carbon era, the Age of Oil, will soon be superseded by the Age of Renewables, just as oil had long since superseded the Age of Coal.  But according to Michael Klare, professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College, and the author, most recently, of The Race for Whatâs Left, this is an illusion. In reality, the energy industry is pouring its historic profits into new … [Read more...]
The new Dutch disease (and a cure)
The Dutch government has presented a National Energy Accord for Sustainable Growth that seemingly represents a new national consensus on energy and climate policy. However, the Accord, which was negotiated by a wide range of civil society groups, environmental organisations, business lobbies and trade unions, has not been signed yet, and is still quite vague. Perhaps more important for âsustainable growthâ prospects in the Netherlands is the news … [Read more...]
Is the EU done picking clean energy winners?
How far is the EU preparing to move away from its current energy R&D strategy of picking technological winners? In a new policy paper earlier this year, the European Commission outlined its vision for a fresh approach to innovation that takes the energy system as its starting point and focuses on system outcomes, not individual technologies. This is the R&D dimension of the EUâs current battle for a 2030 climate and energy policy. Sonja … [Read more...]
State aid for nuclear? Are you kidding?
EU Competition Commissioner JoaquĂn Almunia has provoked a hot debate in Brussels this summer, by proposing to authorise state aid for nuclear power. This comes at the same time that the European Commission is reflecting on how to reduce subsidies for renewables, in line with their increasing maturity. Hughes Belin reports from Brussels. … [Read more...]
EU internal energy market top priority for Lithuania
By Sonja van Renssen and Hughes Belin Expectations hang heavy over the EUâs autumn agenda for energy and climate policy. The internal energy market, grid investments, the broken EU Emission Trading Scheme, the future of nuclear, a dogged debate over indirect land-use change (ILUC), and a new climate and energy policy for 2030 are only just held at bay by Julyâs unusually balmy weather here in Brussels. Sonja van Renssen and Hughes Belin look … [Read more...]
Integrating energy and climate policy for low-carbon growth in Europe
Europeâs efforts to control emissions are failing, yet the necessary technologies are already here â decarbonising the power system and then using it to run more of our economy is the key, say Johannes Meier, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, and Arne Mogren, Director of the European Climate Foundationâs Power Programme and Member of the Energy Roadmap 2050 ad hoc Advisory Group. Photo: Avedøre power plant, Denmark (by Martin Nicolaj … [Read more...]
The new energy world according to the IEA
The International Energy Agency has given us a lot to think about recently. The IEA has produced one major report after the other â on renewables, gas, oil and climate change. How do these outlooks stack up and what do they impy for our energy future? Editor Karel Beckman provides a handy summary â so you wonât have to worry about this anymore over the summer. Or maybe you do⌠Photo: Audi A3 Sportback g-tron … [Read more...]
Finally, a brilliant plan for a climate policy that should please everyone
Policymakes have been faced with huge dilemmas when considering climate change policies. But now a brilliant plan has been conceived to come to a global climate change policy that no reasonable person could object to. It has the beauty of being able to appeal to both climate change believers and sceptics â and anybody in between. And no, I am not joking: it is a serious proposal, made by Canadian economist Ross McKitrick, who presented it to the … [Read more...]
European shale gas: miracle or mirage?
Nick Grealy, energy consultant and proponent of shale gas, reflects on the battle for public perception of shale gas. A key problem, he says, is the speed of the change that has taken place. It has surprised many people. In fact, many people still fool themselves into thinking it canât happen in Europeâ . But according to Grealy, a European shale gas revolution is inevitable. Photo: drilling rig in Marcellus play in US (by wcn247) … [Read more...]
EIB cleans up its energy lending policy
The European Investment Bank (EIB) intends to place stricter CO2 emission standards on coal power plants that it finances, but not as strict as the standards president Obama recently proposed in the US. The EIB is also considering investing in shale gas projects, according to a draft of its new energy lending policy. NGOs accuse the EIB of a âmissed opportunity to politically reject coalâ. With the EBRD and World Bank also mulling new investment … [Read more...]