The spread of cost-effective batteries, such as Tesla’s new Powerwall, will fundamentally change the way the electric grid operates, writes Michael McElfresh of Santa Clara University. Combined with other innovations, batteries in homes and businesses will transform how people and businesses treat electricity. Along the way, these batteries will improve the efficiency and reliability of the grid overall. … [Read more...]
Why the Tesla battery heralds the beginning of the end for fossil fuels
The introduction of the Powerwall, Tesla’s new battery, will change the global energy equation fundamentally, writes John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management, at Macquarie University in Australia. This is because it will make renewable energy “the new normal” and will put fossil fuel companies on the defensive. Instead of asking “can we have our own energy system?” communities will be asking “why can’t we have it?” … [Read more...]
What the new Conservative government means for UK energy policy
The new Conservative government is unlikely to change UK climate and energy policy radically, writes Stephen Tindale, the new CEO of the pro-nuclear Alvin Weinberg Foundation and a former Executive Director of Greenpeace UK. According to Tindale, David Cameron will build on the considerable achievements of the previous coalition government with the Liberal-Democrats, although there will be some changes, such as less support for onshore wind and a … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment – All you need to know for May 2015
In this Brussels Briefing on Environment for viEUws.eu, Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest EU environment policy developments, including the EU ETS reform, the indirect land-use change deal and pollution from medium-sized combustion plants. … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: High hopes for UN September Summit on Sustainable Development Goals
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), talks to Sonja van Renssen on viEUws.eu about his great expectations for the United Nations September Summit that will decide on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be attained by 2030. … [Read more...]
Historic deal in Brussels: EU decides the future of its carbon market
The European Parliament and Member States have reached a historic deal on the first half of a two-part reform of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). This is the introduction of a “market stability reserve” (MSR) that will mandate EU officials to add or remove allowances from the market according to pre-set rules. The MSR is supposed to wick away the enormous 2.1 billion "surplus" of carbon allowances that has accumulated in the market over the … [Read more...]
ExxonMobil gets a cold reception in Brussels
William Colton, Vice President Corporate Strategic Planning at ExxonMobil, came to Brussels this week, to the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), to present ExxonMobil’s view of our energy future to representatives from EU institutions. It was a clash of two worlds. Brussels failed to be impressed. Mike Parr of the independent consultancy PWR was there. … [Read more...]
How the Nest thermostat will change the energy market
The Nest thermostat is a deceptively simple piece of technology. But it’s already changing the energy market. It will not only save consumers money, but utilities even more so: it will reduce their need for gas peaker plants substantially, writes Deborah Lawrence, founder of the US consultancy group Energy Policy Forum. … [Read more...]
UBS: closures coal and gas fired power plants in Europe accelerating
The influx of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar into energy markets is forcing coal and gas fired generation out of the market even quicker than most analysts expected, according to a new market report from investment bank UBS. According to UBS, policymakers may have to take measures to prevent widespread bankruptcies in the European electricity market, writes Giles Parkinson of Reneweconomy.com.au. … [Read more...]
Less worldly, more wise: a letter to Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell
In a speech given in London in February, Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell, called on the energy industry to be "less aloof, more assertive" in the debate about climate change. Van Beurden stressed that "the world's energy needs will underpin the use of fossil fuels for decades to come" and called for "realism and practicality". In a speech given in Paris in March, John Ashton, independent speaker, former UK Special Representative for Climate Change … [Read more...]
The carbon capture conundrum: is CCS a climate saver? Or a dangerous distraction?
With fossil fuels expected to provide the bulk of the world’s primary energy needs for the foreseeable future – despite the rapid rise of renewables – carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen by many as an essential technology if we are to keep global warming within the 2°C limit that scientists recommend. "For many industrial processes, it's the only thing we have." … [Read more...]
Quo Vadis RWE? A power giant’s struggle with the Energiewende
The German government has proposed new regulations for penalising the country’s most inefficient coal and lignite power plants. This would particularly hit the troubled power giant RWE. What future is there for RWE in a low-carbon economy? Can it engineer its own energy transition? A lot will depend on whether the German government is willing – and even more so: able – to push through its climate legislation at the expense of the existing power … [Read more...]
The exciting changes taking place in Scotland’s energy system
Scotland, despite having some of the EU’s largest fossil fuel reserves, is moving rapidly to an energy system based predominantly on renewable energy, notes energy expert Allan Hoffman, a former senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy, who lives in Scotland part of the time. Renewables are already the biggest single source of electricity – and “there is no reason requiring conventional fossil and nuclear generation in Scotland” in the … [Read more...]
Adriaan – ‘Energy for One World’ – Kamp (ex-Shell): “Strategy of oil companies is doomed to failure”
Oil companies like Shell have unique skills that make them ideally placed to help build the energy world of the future. Yet they seem unable to look beyond their own interests, says Adriaan Kamp, former Shell manager and founder of Oslo-based consultancy Energy For One World. “Like the banks, they can’t change their ways. They are still making too much money with oil and gas.” According to Kamp, the growth strategy of the oil companies is still … [Read more...]
New clean energy investment falls in first quarter 2015
New investment in the global clean energy sector totalled $61.0 billion in Q1 15, a 14% decrease on Q4 14 ($71.3 billion) and a 5% decrease on the corresponding quarter in 2014 ($64.4 billion). … [Read more...]
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