European power grids have long been considered as potential targets for major cyberattacks given the enormous damage they could inflict. Successful cyberattacks against power grids could not only cause societal and economic disruptions, but also put a dent in the military readiness of European countries. In the event of a blackout, the lights could go out in town halls and military facilities alike. Lukas TrakimaviÄŤius explains how micro grids … [Read more...]
Time to re-think Britain’s capacity market
Answering the call for opinions for the UK capacity market review, Gerard Wynn of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) says its time for a rethink. Since its introduction to ensure energy security, 75% of payments have gone to existing coal, gas and nuclear plants, and only 10% to modern assets. By continuing with market reforms and building interconnections with Europe, the UK can have an efficient, market-led … [Read more...]
How can gas contribute to the achievement of EU climate targets
What role is there for gas in the European energy system over the next decades? Some believe the EU must give priority to coal-to-gas switching. Others see no role for natural gas at all in the long run and argue that EU policy must promote only “renewable” gas. An Energy Post panel debate in Brussels, sponsored by Nord Stream 2, saw conflicting views sound off against each other. Meanwhile, a new “Gas for Climate” initiative proposes a 10% … [Read more...]
Khashoggi and Skripal: wake-up calls for European energy policy
The apparent brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey by the Saudi Arabian regime and the equally brazen attempted murder of Sergei Skripal in England should serve as wake-up calls for European energy policymakers, writes Karel Beckman, editor-in-chief of Energy Post. These misdeeds demonstrate the aggressive nature of the Saudi and Russia regimes and underline the necessity for Europe to reduce its reliance on oil and gas much more rapidly … [Read more...]
Gas revolution? Prospects for increasing gas production in Ukraine
Ukraine wants to be self-sufficient in gas by 2020, which means increasing production by 35%. A plan is in place, reforms have been made, investments have increased and an international auction for 50 mining concessions is scheduled for 2019. But, says Wojciech KonoĹ„czuk of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), the country will only be able to fully exploit its large gas reserves if there are more reforms, corruption is reduced and foreign money … [Read more...]
Tesla big battery defies sceptics, sends industry bananas over performance
It’s less than a year since the Tesla big battery was installed at Hornsdale in Australia and the world’s largest lithium-ion battery has exceeded all expectations, says Giles Parkinson of Reneweconomy.com. Quicker, cheaper and with greater reliability, versatility, accuracy and efficiency than predicted, the storage system also looks set to provide a fast return on investment – results that have led to a rash of new battery projects in the … [Read more...]
Nuclear activist Shellenberger learns to love the bomb
For decades, the nuclear energy industry denied any connection between nuclear power and nuclear weapons. In recent years, however, writes Jim Green, nuclear campaigner with Friends of the Earth Australia, the industry has turned around and started openly acknowledging that there is a connection, hoping that this will secure political support. Prominent nuclear activist Michael Shellenberger has even gone a step further, notes Green: he welcomes … [Read more...]
What role for gas in Europe’s 2050 energy system?
The European Commission sees natural gas play a critical role in the energy transition to 2035, but beyond that its views on the role of gas are much less clear. Simon Blakey, analyst at IHS Markit, does not believe that renewables can be ramped up quickly enough to replace coal generation. Jonathan Gaventa of think tank E3G argues gas has no place in the energy mix by then, unless it is decarbonized. Energy Post editor Jason Deign spoke to both … [Read more...]
Why we need a blackout
The risk of a cyber-attack that will take down the power system is seriously underestimated, writes financial energy specialist Gerard Reid. To prevent future disaster, we need to build a completely new power system. Reliability is not anymore about the “average minutes of downtime per year”. Courtesy Energy and Carbon blog. … [Read more...]
An evening with ecomodernist Michael Shellenberger (or: a defence of nuclear power you have not heard before)
Pro-nuclear activist Michael Shellenberger, founder of the California-based global citizens movement Environmental Progress (“not paid by the nuclear industry”) was in Amsterdam recently, where he gave a very personal “Ecomodernist” defense of why nuclear power is good and how it should be supported. “It is about protecting the natural environment by concentrating human activity.” This article was first published on Energy Post Weekly. … [Read more...]
DNV GL’s Energy Transition Outlook shows massive shift of investment from oil and gas into power lines
The global energy transition will lead to a massive expansion of power lines at all voltage levels as well as a steep growth in the number of transformers and substations in the electricity system. This is one of the major new findings of the second edition of the Energy Transition Outlook, the annual flagship publication of global technical consultancy DNV GL. As a result, grid costs will triple, yet this cost explosion is offset by cost … [Read more...]
Estonia needs a plan – and support – to get rid of its dirty oil shale
The need for a transition to sustainable energy is widely felt in Estonia, but after twenty years of talking, Estonia’s dirty oil shale industry is still carrying on. In fact, thanks to lower taxes, a boom in oil shale mining is expected. Estonian Green Movement, a member of Bankwatch, recently presented the national parliament with a proposal for a strategic oil shale exit plan. According to Teet Randma, national campaigner for Bankwatch in … [Read more...]
The next-generation Huawei universal transport solution for smart grid creates value for power companies
PROMOTED CONTENT Power companies are building new networks that must support diversified services yet remain highly secure. Huawei offers a one-stop ICT solution for the electric power sector, writes Chen Chun-Yi. The company’s fully-connected grid solution has served 13 of the world’s top 20 power companies, including Eon in Germany and Enel in Italy. Another recent customer is SAK, the largest power company in Eastern Switzerland. … [Read more...]
US nuclear power is on the verge of collapse – and there are no solutions on the horizon
Nuclear power appears on the verge of collapse in the US. This has profound environmental implications, writes Ahmed Abdulla of the University of California, San Diego. Yet, he adds, there are no simple solutions – and no signs that the trend can be reversed. Courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
Ukraine has made great progress in reforming the gas sector – but its fate still hangs in the balance
Natural gas still plays an outsized role in Ukraine’s energy mix – and it will continue to do so for many decades to come, writes Jakub Kucera, economic analyst at RSJ, a Prague-based investment company. Kucera explains the many formidable challenges Ukraine is facing in the gas sector and their profound impact on the European energy market. He concludes that Ukraine has made admirable progress in cleaning up the gas sector. Unfortunately, … [Read more...]
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