The German Energiewende is running up against a “paradigm shift” in EU energy policy, which seems on the point of slowing down the transformation towards a low-carbon economy.. As Germany cannot afford to continue with the Energiewende on its own, the German government will have to do its utmost to bend EU energy policy in its direction, write Oliver Geden and Severin Fischer of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). … [Read more...]
Experts issue plea for new European energy policy to overcome “crisis of confidence”
On the eve of a crucial Summit of the European Heads of State and government, who will meet in Brussels on 20-21 March to discuss EU climate, energy and industrial policy, a group of prominent energy experts has issued a plea for a “new European energy policy”. The experts, led by Claude Mandil, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), say the state of European energy markets is “deeply unsatisfactory” as a result of … [Read more...]
Ukraine fallout: how to deal with South Stream and Nord Stream
A new report from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) contends that, in light of the Ukraine crisis, the EU should allow Gazprom to use its great new pipelines South Stream and Nord Stream for itself and not be required to grant access to third parties. But the Center for Security Studies (CSS) ETH ZĂĽrch, argues the opposite in a new report of its own. It says the EU should adopt a strict regulatory policy towards South Stream and … [Read more...]
What the Ukrainian crisis means for gas markets
A new report by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies discusses what the current Ukrainian crisis could mean for EU and global gas markets. According to the report, "The change of government in Kyiv, the Russian military action in Crimea, the diplomatic reaction by the western powers, and the perceived danger of war, clearly have implications for all economic relations between Russia, Ukraine and Europe, especially in the energy sphere. … [Read more...]
IHS: save Energiewende by replacing offshore wind with shale gas
A new research report from international energy consultancy IHS "presents a path towards a rebalanced approach that could return the Energiewende to its original goal of providing a competitive transition to a low-carbon economy while generating substantial benefits to Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP), jobs, income, trade position and government revenues." According to IHS, "redeveloping the current Energiewende would reduce the cumulative … [Read more...]
Today’s Prize: How to save the Energiewende with European Shale Gas
A new report from the international consultancy IHS shows that the German Energiewende could still be achieved at reasonable cost if Germany were to allow domestic shale gas production. According to Nick Grealy, the IHS report offers, perhaps for the first time, a realistic, achievable strategy to make the energy transition work. Â … [Read more...]
Schadenfreude about RWE? Think you would have done better?
RWE has posted its first loss since World War II. Everyone – not only proponents of renewables – now claims that the firm's management failed to see how renewables would affect its bottom line. That's true, but even if they had, what should they have done? More importantly, what should they do now? … [Read more...]
Aligning interests in Ukraine is key to both EU and Russian energy security
All parties in the Ukrainian crisis should do their utmost to avoid any further escalation, writes Friedbert PflĂĽger, Director of the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) at King’s College, London, and Deputy Minister in the first Merkel government. According to PflĂĽger, Europe must recognize that Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine, while the Russians have to recognize Ukraine’s right to self-determination. If Ukraine … [Read more...]
EU deeply divided over 2030 climate and energy policy
Thirteen member states want the EU to agree on the broad outlines of a 2030 climate and energy policy as soon as possible. But at least four call for the EU not to “rush” into anything – they argue all decisions should be put on hold until UN climate talks in Paris in 2015. That was the main outcome of the EU environment and energy ministers meeting this week. European Heads of State and government will meet in Brussels on 20-21st March to talk … [Read more...]
It’s Scotland’s oil – and it will need a lot of investment
With the Scottish referendum campaign about independence from the rest of the UK in full swing, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has been foolish to try to make North Sea oil a reason for the Scots to stay. There are plenty of good reasons to keep the UK united, but oil is not one of them, except perhaps that Scotland is going to be far too dependent on it, if it leaves. Energy journalist Chris Cragg explains the real issues the UK oil and gas … [Read more...]
European manufacturing CEO’s sign manifesto asking for lower energy prices
On 27 February a Manifesto signed by 137 CEOs representing EU manufacturing industry was published by IFIEC Europe (International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers). It calls upon Heads of State to adopt a set of measures to align the EU’s industry, energy & climate policies. “This initiative, representing more than 1 million direct jobs from various sectors and countries all over Europe is exceptional”, explains Fernand Felzinger, … [Read more...]
US Shale Gas (I): It’s not what it’s cracked up to be
Shale gas is not the foundation of U.S. energy security that conventional wisdom claims it is, says Bill Powers in this interview with Tom Amistead of The Energy Report. As shale gas peters out, the law of supply and demand will drive gas prices up, says Powers,an independent analyst and author of "Cold, Hungry and in the Dark: Exploding the Natural Gas Supply Myth." This interview is part One of a two-part series. In part Two investment analyst … [Read more...]
Ukraine turns to EU in energy
The Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Eduard Stavytskyi and Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez KopaÄŤ have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on “Establishing an Implementation Partnership between the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine and the Secretariat of the Energy Community”. By signing the Memorandum, “Ukraine confirms its commitment to transpose into its national legal framework and fully … [Read more...]
European Commission reveals: EU governments push up energy prices dramatically
Retail energy prices are rising dramatically across Europe even as wholesale prices and consumption are coming down. Taxes and levies – set by national governments – are the main culprit, says the European Commission. Energy Post offers a sneak preview of an analysis of energy prices and costs expected from the European Commission on 22nd January. … [Read more...]
Climate policy bumps into competitiveness in Europe
Behind the heated debate in Brussels about climate and renewable energy targets, what is really happening is that concern over high energy prices has taken precedence over climate concerns in Europe. Competitiveness has caught up with climate policy. Indeed, the two issues have become so intertwined that when the European Commission will present its new climate and energy policy on 22 January, it will at the same time launch a new industrial … [Read more...]