Even the most engaged energy pundits tend to gloss over what may be one of the biggest changes of all in a clean energy transition: how we pay for and finance the energy we use, and what that may mean for the investors, industries and companies that provide that energy. David Nelson of Climate Policy Initiative explains why investment strategies, financial markets and business models also need to transform. … [Read more...]
Nuclear activist Shellenberger learns to love the bomb
For decades, the nuclear energy industry denied any connection between nuclear power and nuclear weapons. In recent years, however, writes Jim Green, nuclear campaigner with Friends of the Earth Australia, the industry has turned around and started openly acknowledging that there is a connection, hoping that this will secure political support. Prominent nuclear activist Michael Shellenberger has even gone a step further, notes Green: he welcomes … [Read more...]
Hydrogen is heading up the European policy agenda
Hydrogenâs momentum is building, as European ministers consider approving a new âHydrogen Initiativeâ this week that aims to âmaximise the great potential of sustainable hydrogen technology.â With funding from the EUâs Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, a consortium of industrial heavyweights in the H2FUTURE project is already ramping up production of hydrogen from renewable sources. But, as the International Renewable Energy Agency notes … [Read more...]
Smart cities: not enough projects make the grade
Despite the hype about smart cities, and the availability of EU funding, there are very few projects out there that qualify for funding, according to Lada Strelnikova, lead fund manager at the European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF). An exception: Belgian bank Belfius has, with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), provided âŹ1 billion to smart city projects involving more than 100 municipalities in Belgium. According to Joost Declerck … [Read more...]
An evening with ecomodernist Michael Shellenberger (or: a defence of nuclear power you have not heard before)
Pro-nuclear activist Michael Shellenberger, founder of the California-based global citizens movement Environmental Progress (ânot paid by the nuclear industryâ) was in Amsterdam recently, where he gave a very personal âEcomodernistâ defense of why nuclear power is good and how it should be supported. âIt is about protecting the natural environment by concentrating human activity.â This article was first published on Energy Post Weekly. … [Read more...]
DNV GLâs Energy Transition Outlook shows massive shift of investment from oil and gas into power lines
The global energy transition will lead to a massive expansion of power lines at all voltage levels as well as a steep growth in the number of transformers and substations in the electricity system. This is one of the major new findings of the second edition of the Energy Transition Outlook, the annual flagship publication of global technical consultancy DNV GL. As a result, grid costs will triple, yet this cost explosion is offset by cost … [Read more...]
Interview Ditlev Engel, CEO DNV GL Energy: âWe have to rethink the mechanisms of the electricity marketâ
DNV GLâs new 2018 Energy Transition Outlook projects a massive investment shift from fossil fuels to renewables and grids â and this is based mainly on cost considerations. Yet, Â notes Ditlev Engel, CEO of DNV GL Energy, in an interview with Energy Post, this wonât be enough to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. He says policymakers will have to take additional actions. âDoing just a little more wonât be enough.â (See here for main … [Read more...]
European utilities have increased their activity in energy cloud platforms
The energy industry is experiencing a profound transformation as the sector moves towards a more intelligent, more distributed, and cleaner use of electricity, referred to as the Energy Cloud. According to digital innovation expert Alex Metz of Navigant, European utilities are increasingly recognising the value of integrated distributed energy resources (DER) and the potential of the Energy Cloud. In this article he looks at the activities of … [Read more...]
Exclusive – top energy influencer Jan Vrins, Navigant:Â âEurope not looking enough behind-the-meterâ
Europe is focused too much on expanding renewable energy generation, and is threatening to miss out on the huge opportunities in the energy market that are emerging behind-the-meter, says top influencer Jan Vrins, Managing Director at the U.S.-based global consultancy Navigant, in an exclusive interview with Energy Post. According to Vrins, who is leading a practice of 600 energy experts, North America is forging ahead of Europe. âWe are seeing a … [Read more...]
Estonia needs a plan â and support â to get rid of its dirty oil shale
The need for a transition to sustainable energy is widely felt in Estonia, but after twenty years of talking, Estoniaâs dirty oil shale industry is still carrying on. In fact, thanks to lower taxes, a boom in oil shale mining is expected. Estonian Green Movement, a member of Bankwatch, recently presented the national parliament with a proposal for a strategic oil shale exit plan. According to Teet Randma, national campaigner for Bankwatch in … [Read more...]
New trend: storage-as-a-service
New business models are emerging to aggregate and manage behind-the-meter investments, writes energy expert Fereidoon Sioshansi. One example: storage-as-a-service. In Vermont in the U.S. Green Mountain Power offers its customers a Tesla Powerwall battery for $15 a month. Courtesy EEinformer. … [Read more...]
Tipping point: new wind and solar competitive with existing coal and gas
âŹ20/ton carbon prices in combination with high coal and gas prices have created a new tipping point in Europe, writes Dave Jones of UK-based think tank Sandbag. For the first time, new onshore wind and solar can compete with existing coal and gas plants. … [Read more...]
Economic slowdown poses higher risk to oil price than decarbonization and EVs
Most people seem to believe that oil prices will go down in the long run because of climate policies and the growth of electric cars. Friedbert PflĂźger, Director of the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS), argues that this view is far too simplistic. The only constant in energy markets, he writes, is that they are cyclical â and we seem to be poised for a sharp downturn right now. … [Read more...]
How power companies can increase revenues by building FTTx networks
PROMOTED CONTENT Utility companies can use their power networks to facilitate the construction of FTTx optical fiber networks. In this way they can gain additional revenue. Chen Guan-Hong of Huawei Technologies explains the various options that are available. … [Read more...]
US nuclear power is on the verge of collapse â and there are no solutions on the horizon
Nuclear power appears on the verge of collapse in the US. This has profound environmental implications, writes Ahmed Abdulla of the University of California, San Diego. Yet, he adds, there are no simple solutions â and no signs that the trend can be reversed. Courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
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