The Winter Outlook Report from ENTSO-E, Europe's electricity transmission system operators, shows that overall generation will be sufficient to cover demand this winter, even under severe conditions. However, the report notes that many countries will need imports to meet their demand. Risks due to generation shortages are identified for some countries, such as Belgium, and to a lesser extent Great Britain. The report also looks at the possibility … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment – All you need to know for December 2014
In this Brussels Briefing on Environment for viEUws.eu, Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest EU environment policy developments, including the current status of talks around the EU Emission Trading Scheme and biofuel regulations. … [Read more...]
Juncker’s €300bn investment gamble – and what it might mean for energy
The EU and European Investment Bank (EIB) have teamed up to launch a new investment programme for Europe – with energy, as well as transport, research, innovation and education, its key objects. A modest €21bn in public money is set to be multiplied up to a whopping €315bn in total investments over the next three years, pushing Europe toward that long-hoped for economic recovery. There is no dedicated share of the money for individual sectors or … [Read more...]
Ukraine’s winter survival strategy – and what is to be done next
The de facto third gas war between Ukraine and Russia is only part of a broader, difficult situation for the whole Ukrainian energy sector. This winter may prove to be one of the toughest for Ukraine. The big challenge, however, lies in ensuring security of supply in the following years, write Andrii Chubyk of the Centre for Global Studies “Strategy XXI” and Zuzanna Nowak of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). According to … [Read more...]
The Five Energy Labours of Juncker
The new team heading the European Commission in Brussels is lucky. Its predecessors closed two sensitive deals before the reshuffle: a European energy and climate strategy for 2030 and a gas winter package between Ukraine and Russia. On top of that, outgoing Energy Commissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger finished off a thick report on the way forward for a European energy market. The new Commission will follow up on these three dossiers, plus two more … [Read more...]
Wishing away lignite – EU climate policy ignores elephant in the room
While mining and combustion of lignite impose high burdens on the environment, Europe’s least expensive fuel remains impervious to climate policies or market trends. Poland remains committed to lignite power generation. In Germany, the world’s largest lignite industry provides backup electricity for nuclear phase-out and renewable power intermittency. Mediterranean sunshine has not kept Greece and Turkey from relying on lignite rather than … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy – All you need to know for November 2014
In this latest Brussels Briefing on Energy viEUws.eu, leading energy journalist Hughes Belin provides anoverview of the latest EU energy policy developments: … [Read more...]
Europe’s nuclear future may hinge on UK’s Hinkley deal
The fate of future nuclear power projects in Europe could hinge on whether government-backed guarantees for Britain’s Hinkley Point C power station survive an expected challenge from Austria in Europe’s highest court. Analysts agree that large nuclear undertakings have become too costly and risky for private investors alone. For this reason many EU countries are backing the UK’s support for nuclear power. Timothy Spence reports from Vienna. … [Read more...]
Cleantech innovation in Europe: here are the gamechangers of the future
At a “business booster” event in Barcelona, sixty European cleantech startups supported by KIC InnoEnergy, presented themselves to the world. They offered an impressive variety of new technologies and market innovations, ranging from new storage devices and solar chips to energy saving techniques, financing models and consumer engagement platforms. In this article we present to you some of the gamechangers of our future energy system – all made … [Read more...]
Everything you always wanted to know about Russian gas supplies to Europe
There are various ways for Europe to reduce its “dependence” on Russian gas, but they all have their drawbacks, concludes a new report from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES). The report makes it clear that the Russian-EU gas relationship has many intricacies that policymakers should be aware of when they develop new gas policies. … [Read more...]
How to solve the crisis in the EU electricity market
Climate policy and government support of renewable energy are often blamed for the current crisis in the European electricity market. In reality, however, this crisis is caused by changed market fundamentals as well as the inadequacy of the existing market design, argue Andreas RĂĽdinger and Mathilde Mathieu of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). What is needed is better integration of climate and … [Read more...]
What Slow Food can teach Clean Energy
The food and energy sectors are alike in many ways: security, waste, local production, labelling, environmental impact and access are key issues for both. In each case, there is a movement underway taking a holistic value chain approach to create a more secure, sustainable, affordable system. Sonja van Renssen takes away four lessons from the recently held Slow Food Fair in Turin, Italy for the energy sector. … [Read more...]
André Faaij, Energy Academy Europe: “The energy transition has only just begun"
While policymakers and companies generally acknowledge the need for an energy transition, they still underestimate the enormous task that is facing us. The real energy transition, says AndrĂ© Faaij, the new academic director of the Dutch research institute Energy Academy Europe, has yet to start. And, he adds, it will only succeed if it is strongly directed by government policy – preferably coordinated by Brussels – and approached in a … [Read more...]
The EU's great 2030 energy and climate compromise
European leaders agreed new climate and energy targets for 2030 of “at least” 40% greenhouse gas emission reductions, 27% renewables and 27% energy efficiency at a summit in Brussels on 23 October. Central and Eastern European countries led by Poland succeeded in getting substantial financial concessions in return for signing up to the package. Stakeholder reaction ranged from bitter disappointment among NGOs and energy efficiency advocates to … [Read more...]
Understanding the Polish anti-climate crusade
However much the Polish Government says the EU can’t commit to higher emissions reduction without similar efforts by its other big economies, only naĂŻve western-European negotiators would believe this is the reason for Poland’s anti-climate position. The 2030 climate and energy package will be unwelcome in Poland as long as coal drives our politics, argue Marcin Stoczkiewicz and llona JÄ™drasik of the Polish NGO ClientEarth. … [Read more...]
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