âWe can either go for a European market or a renationalisation of energy policy. Trying to incentivise investment with volatile national schemes and have a European market at the same time is the worst option.â Thatâs the opinion of influential German energy expert Georg Zachmann, Research Fellow at the Brussels-based think tank the Bruegel Institute. In an interview with Energy Post, Zachmann, who has published widely about EU energy policy, … [Read more...]
The Energy Union: âa holistic approach to the energy transitionâ
The EUâs great new project of an âEnergy Unionâ will represent âfor the first time a holistic approach to how we need to achieve the energy transition,â said the man in charge, Commissioner MaroĆĄ Ć efÄoviÄ, at a press conference in Brussels last week. His colleague, Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, at a grand Energy Union in Riga on Friday, revealed a long list of actions to be subsumed under the Energy Union concept, but with … [Read more...]
A “JâAccuse” from an ex-EU official: only a real Energy Union can save the EU energy market
An âEnergy Unionâ in Europe means that an EU-level organisation will balance the flows of electricity, not national transmission system operators. And it means the EU will ensure security of supply - not the national member states. That is the vision of Jean-Arnold Vinois, until recently Director in charge of the internal energy market at the European Commission and co-author of a groundbreaking report from Notre Europe (Jacques Delors Institute) … [Read more...]
Russiaâs oil and gas tax policies look increasingly eastward
Recent changes in the taxation of Russiaâs oil and gas sector reflect both the countryâs pivot eastward and the special treatment afforded to its state-controlled energy companies, says an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData. … [Read more...]
Crushing the US energy export dream
Petroleum geologist Arthur Berman argues that itâs foolish to believe the US could become an energy exporter. âThe US will never be self-sufficient in oilâ, he writes in an article for Oilprice.com. âExporting crude oil and natural gas from the United States are among the dumbest energy ideas of all time.â … [Read more...]
Europe does not need the Southern Gas Corridor
The Southern Gas Corridor, the EUâs major energy diversification project, is not only unnecessary in light of gas demand projections, but also falls short on the goal of bringing energy independence from Russia. It involves large subsidies to Russian company Lukoil and it strengthens another authoritarian regime, that of Azerbaijan. Those are the main conclusions of a new study, âPipe Dreamsâ, written by a group of NGO's: CEE Bankwatch Network, … [Read more...]
Historic moment: Saudi Arabia sees End of Oil Age coming and opens valves on the carbon bubble
Most analysts believe Saudi Arabia refuses to cut production because it wants to shake out its higher-cost competitors or because it wants to punish Iran and Russia. There may be some truth in those theories, writes Elias Hinckley, strategic advisor and head of the energy practice with international law firm Sullivan and Worcester, but they miss the deeper motivation of the Saudis. Saudi Arabia, he says, sees the end of the Oil Age on the horizon … [Read more...]
Why cheap oil will not wreck the prospects for renewable energy â this time around
When oil prices collapsed in the 1980s, most large renewable energy programs were dismantled. But that wonât happen this time, writes John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management at Macquarie University's Graduate School of Management in Sydney, and author of a brand new book âThe Greening of Capitalismâ. The reason is that China has made a strategic commitment to renewables. Donât forget, Mathews writes: coal prices have also been falling, … [Read more...]
Christoph Frei, World Energy Council: âThe real hope for âParisâ is to see a connected carbon market started by the big players”
On 20 January, the World Energy Council (WEC) will publish its World Energy Issues Monitor â an annual survey of over 1,000 energy leaders in over 80 countries. WECâs Secretary-General Christoph Frei notes the biggest changes compared to last year are that energy leaders have become more concerned with security of supply (Russia) and cyber-security. Price volatility and climate framework remain at the top of the worries list. In an in-depth … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Top 5 energy issues for the Latvian EU Presidency
In this special briefing for viEUws.eu, energy journalist Hughes Belin picks out the top 5 energy issues that will be discussed by the European institutions under the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. … [Read more...]
South Stream Is Dead. Long Live South Stream
South Stream is not dead â rather it has morphed into a new project which is part of a complex commercial power play on the part of Russia and Turkey, writes Anca Elena Mihalache, Senior Analyst with the Romanian think tank Energy Policy Group. According to Mihalache, the new South Stream, if it happens, will offer new opportunities to Europe, but also new threats. In particular, the EU will see its diversification strategy come under pressure … [Read more...]
The EU readies to overhaul its energy governance
The reach and power of the EU and its institutions are up for serious debate as Europe prepares to enter into an âEnergy Unionâ. The European Commission plans to publish its vision for such a Union by the end of February. But already member states and Members of the European Parliament are weighing in with their own ideas of what Europe should prioritise â and who should be in charge. Sonja van Renssen reports from Brussels. … [Read more...]
2015: an energy year in which everything gets connected?
It is often said that there are major trade-offs between energy security, equity and sustainability. But what if this is a misconception? Energy Post editor Karel Beckman argues that by creating a new sustainable energy system we can at the same time advance energy security and reduce energy poverty. … [Read more...]
EU issues work plan for 2015 â with pared down priorities
The number one priority for Team Juncker is a âŹ315-billion investment plan for Europe. Second, is âbetter regulationâ. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans presented the European Commissionâs 2015 work programme to MEPs in Strasbourg on 16 December. Energy Post looks at the new initiatives, scrapped initiatives and those that hang in the balance for energy and climate policy. … [Read more...]
Energy security: Brussels, stop dreaming about the market and confront Russia and China geopolitically
European leaders are under the delusion that they can solve Europeâs security of energy supply problem by creating a strong internal market, which they believe the rest of the world will be eager to serve. In reality, reducing dependence on Russia will require long-term political commitment, real power play and engagement with countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), write Cyril Widdershoven of energy research institute TNO and … [Read more...]
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