Europeâs tech sector has a concerning aversion. While the continent has produced many successful cleantech startups, European investors are reluctant to invest in difficult, hardware-based innovationsâand the extraction industry that could power them. But it is just these innovations and the raw materials that make them possible, specifically in the sectors of transportation and energy storage, that will foster a successful energy transition and … [Read more...]
Energy Efficiency solutions for electrification can help deliver the Transition – with the right policies
The latest climate assessment from the IPCC has underlined the urgency for the energy sector to make the transition quickly and effectively to net zero. The general drive towards mass electrification is a vast and complex undertaking but one that is made more manageable by the innovative development of energy efficient solutions for the built environment. Vesa Laisi, President at Danfoss Drives, outlines how cutting edge technologies are ready to … [Read more...]
How will Russia respond to Europeâs climate action
In March 2014 Russian president Vladimir Putin gave a speech at the Kremlin following Russiaâs annexation of Crimea. He said: âIf you compress the spring all the way to its limit, it will snap back hard. You must always remember thisâ. The compressing of the spring, in this case, was the perceived threat of an increasingly Western-leaning Ukraine and former Soviet states joining NATO. The snap back saw Russia take Crimea, starting a military … [Read more...]
Greece: lignite asset sale failure could shift focus to electricity market reform and renewables
This month Greeceâs Public Power Corporation (PPC) admitted its effort to sell a third of its lignite assets had failed. Dr. Nikos Mantzaris, of the think tank The Green Tank, gives his explanation for why the numbers never added up for the buyers. He now fears the PPC will simply sweeten the deal. Instead, Greece should abandon failing lignite assets, reform the electricity market and refocus on renewables. … [Read more...]
South East and Eastern Europe PART II: EU can help bring far-ranging benefits of a meaningful energy transition
In Part 1 of this special report, Komila Nabiyeva demonstrated how investment conditions in South East and Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia make it almost impossible to justify development of renewables infrastructure on any great scale. That being the case, she calls on the EU to play a greater role. Their initiatives are already making a difference. This is encouraging because it shows that with more EU engagement, a more … [Read more...]
Making deep decarbonisation a reality
While the final agreement of the Clean Energy Package represents a critical step forward for the energy industry, I have some bad news. There is still a lot more work to do. Whilst it might be tempting to think of the design of energy regulations and markets as a path from âbadâ to âgoodâ, this is not the case. It is a never-ending journey driven by changes in context, people and technology. Ten years ago, I helped produce the landmark … [Read more...]
A modest proposal on South Stream â for the EUâs new VP Energy Union
Ambassador Peter Poptchev offers an ingenious compromise on the stalled South Stream project: let Russia build half of it, to be filled with only new gas. The European Commission's new Vice-President for Energy Union could make this work - if she has a convincing strategy for South East Europe. (Plus: an overview of all stakeholder positions on South Stream.) … [Read more...]
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