On 23 October EU leaders will meet to agree the foundations of an EU climate and energy policy for 2030. They need to settle on four targets: greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewables, energy efficiency, and – the most recent addition – interconnections. But even more: they will have to convince markets and policymakers across the world that the EU has a credible climate and energy strategy to offer. Sonja van Renssen explains the ins and … [Read more...]
Exporting a revolution: why the US LNG stampede will change the gas business forever (part 2)
The time for doubt is past. The US is well on its way to becoming a major LNG exporter – on a scale to rival Qatar and Australia. In part 2 of this two-part series, energy journalist Alex Forbes reviews the implications of what he is convinced will be the next gas revolution to come out of the United States. (Part I was published on 14 October here.) … [Read more...]
Exporting a revolution: why the US LNG stampede will change the gas business forever
The time for doubt is past. The US is well on its way to becoming a major LNG exporter – on a scale to rival Qatar and Australia. Export capacity could exceed 100 million tonnes per year by the early 2020s – 40% of the current global market. The US Department of Energy certainly seems to think so. The implications of this are profound: for US gas consumers, for natural gas markets around the world, and for proposed LNG export projects elsewhere. … [Read more...]
Europe’s new VP for Energy Union shows little knowledge of energy
Slovenia’s Alenka Bratušek was condemned as vague, bland and ignorant of key energy issues at her hearing at the European Parliament on Monday afternoon. Bratušek, who from November is meant to lead Europe’s energy negotiations with Russia and take on a global climate deal, failed to convince MEPs she had the skills or integrity to become the EU’s new “Vice President for Energy Union”. … [Read more...]
Carefully prepared Cañete dogged by conflict of interest
The candidate for EU Climate and Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete from Spain, demonstrated an impressive grasp of his subject matter at his hearing at the European Parliament on Wednesday night in Brussels. But he failed to answer repeated questions about his brother-in-law’s involvement in two oil-related companies. Today, his future hangs in the balance as he becomes a hostage in a fight between the Parliament’s different political … [Read more...]
China changes course: wind surges, coal stalls
The Chinese wind energy sector is growing at tremendously. China is expected to exceed its 2015 target of 100GW wind capacity by 30%, reports Tim Buckley, Director Energy Finance Studies Australasia at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) for Reneweconomy. At the same time, China is rapidly diversifying away from coal, towards more nuclear, renewables and hydropower. The implications for global energy markets are … [Read more...]
UK capacity market “will boost baseload not balancing power”
The upcoming UK capacity market is supposed to support the integration of renewables into the grid. But will it do that or will it primarily serve to bring new baseload capacity online? UK Power Reserve, an independent developer and operator of small, flexible generators, wonders whether the UK’s plans will squeeze existing providers of flexible capacity or stimulate investment. CEO Tim Emrich tells Energy Post how he has been making money by … [Read more...]
Four scientific breakthroughs that can take us to a new, clean energy world
Discussions on the energy transition usually focus on the economics of renewables and cost comparisons with fossil fuels and other energy sources. What is usually ignored, are innovations in materials and chemical processes, which are nonetheless increasingly important as agents of change in the energy sector. Innovation watcher Denis Kuznetsov discusses four scientific breakthroughs in materials research that could shake up the energy sector in … [Read more...]
“World needs $48 trillion in investment to meet its energy needs to 2035”
Meeting the world's growing need for energy will require more than $48 trillion in investment over the period to 2035, according to a special report on investment released today by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as part of the World Energy Outlook series. Today's annual investment in energy supply of $1.6 trillion needs to rise steadily over the coming decades towards $2 trillion. Annual spending on energy efficiency, measured against a … [Read more...]
Ten take-home messages from the new European Energy Security Strategy
On 28 May the European Commission published a new energy security strategy for the EU that sets out a long list of short-, medium- and long-term actions to reduce dependence on Russian gas. These range from regional “stress tests” for supply disruptions to new priority gas infrastructure projects to serious examination of centralised gas purchases. For many however, it is energy efficiency that will make or break this strategy. Sonja van Renssen … [Read more...]
Leaked doc: David Cameron’s plans to make the EU fit UK energy policy
After Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, it’s David Cameron’s turn to seize the moment and promote a vision for EU energy security that neatly fits the UK’s own energy objectives. In a leaked “non-paper” seen by Energy Post the UK Prime Minister sets out what he wants EU leaders to agree at their next summit in Brussels in June. Cameron calls for energy security to be embedded in the EU’s 2030 climate and energy package, full freedom to develop … [Read more...]
Experts warn: the “Great European Energy Transition” can still go wrong
The EU’s great power transition – the liberalisation and integration of its energy markets and the expansion of renewables – has reached a crucial stage. According to three seasoned energy experts, the EU's energy project - one of the greatest missions ever to be undertaken by the European Union - has delivered some positive results, but it is also faced with mounting challenges - political uncertainty being the most prominent one. The … [Read more...]
The gas market chaos in Ukraine – and what the EU could do about it
Ukraine’s conflict with Russia has left the Ukrainian gas market in a state of chaos. Russia has turned on the screws by raising the gas price for Ukraine, putting an intolerable burden on the Ukrainian government’s budget and threatening the country’s energy security, write Kinga DudziĹ„ska and Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). As more of than half of gas the EU imports from Russia passes through … [Read more...]
NEC acquires grid energy storage business of A123 Energy Solutions
NEC Corporation has acquired the A123 Energy Solutions business unit of A123 Systems. Â According to NEC, this acquisition, for approximately USD $100 million, "strengthens the energy storage capability of NEC's smart energy business, a core segment of its Mid-term Management Plan's commitment to social infrastructure." NEC reports that "A123 Energy Solutions will be integrated into the NEC Group of companies and operated globally as a key … [Read more...]
Why there’s nothing wrong with being “dependent” on Russia
In response to the Ukraine crisis, the European Union is rushing ahead with sanctions against Russia and will take extra measures to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. According to Energy Post editor Karel Beckman these policies are misguided and based on spurious arguments. He argues that Europe should see Russia as a rival, not as an enemy. “Putin only did what any western leader – certainly any US president – would have done in his … [Read more...]