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Energy Post

The best thinkers on energy

OPEC? NOPEC! What makes Putin’s vision of a Russian-US oil alliance a pipedream

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U.S. president Trump, who wants the U.S. to become a dominant oil and gas supplier to the world, regards Russia as “competitor”, though he sees that as “a compliment”. Russian president Putin has said he would like to “work together” with the U.S. to forge an OPEC-like alliance. Anna Mikulska, a fellow at the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies and at the University of Pennsylvania's Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, explains why such an … [Read more...]

No plans to phase out coal in Romania, despite diverse energy mix

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Coal accounts for about a quarter of energy produced in Romania, which is a net electricity exporter. Compared to countries like Poland where coal dependency is much higher, discussions about a coal phaseout could be more advanced. Why aren’t they? asks Claudia Ciobanu. Article courtesy of Just Transition. … [Read more...]

Frack Germany? Greens sound the alarm as the frackers strike back

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Though many environmentalists cheered two summers ago when Germany’s Bundestag seemingly banned fracking, natural gas production across the country has not stopped. L. Michael Buchsbaum explains how companies are pushing for shale gas fracking, despite its impacts on people’s health and the environment. Courtesy Energy Transition. … [Read more...]

How rapidly can we transition to 100% renewable electricity?

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Science tells us that, to avoid devastating climate change, we must rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero. How fast is possible, asks Mark Diesendorf  of the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. He believes the sceptics may be wrong. … [Read more...]

Sanctions or self-sabotage? The story of Iran’s oil industry

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In the 2.5 years between the end of international sanctions and the reimposition of US sanctions this May, Iran accomplished very little in terms of revitalizing its oil industry, writes Ellen Wald of Jacksonville University. Fighting between pro- and anti-western groups prevented all attempts to attract foreign investment. Courtesy: the EnergySource blog of the Atlantic Council.  … [Read more...]

The irony of Italy’s election for energy

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Should the Italian government decide to halt the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the last leg of the  Southern Gas Corridor - meant to reduce the EU's dependence on Russia - may be in jeopardy, writes John Roberts, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Ironically, the Russians may want to save the project, according to Roberts. Courtesy: the EnergySource blog of the Atlantic Council. … [Read more...]

Ukraine’s power sector is set for a major transition

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As the pillars of Ukraine’s power sector – coal and nuclear – are shaking, the country is on the point of a major energy transformation, writes Oleg Savitsky, climate and energy policy expert and journalist. But some crucial steps still need to be taken to make it possible. … [Read more...]

How gas and oil companies are starting to look like the Yellow Pages (remember those?)

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The parallels between what happened to the Yellow Pages business and what’s happening to the fossil fuel industry today are striking, writes Kathy Hipple, financial analyst at IEEFA (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis). The oil and gas industry may not collapse as rapidly as the Yellow Pages did, it will go the way of the shrinking coal industry unless it learns from the failure of the Yellow Pages to adapt. Courtesy: IEEFA  … [Read more...]

Decarbonising heavy industry can’t be done without large-scale CCS effort

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The decarbonisation will require a profound transformation, writes David Hone, Chief Climate Change Advisor at Shell. Shell’s Sky climate scenario shows it can't be done without large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS). A new initiative should boost progress on CCS. … [Read more...]

Has the European Commission tamed the Russian gas bear?

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The European Commission’s decision on 24 May to impose “binding obligations on Gazprom to enable free flow of gas at competitive prices” – but no fine – is seen by some observers as a victory for Gazprom. Others take a more positive view. Meanwhile, a new report from IHS Markit claims Europe is on the point of becoming fully integrated into the global gas market, making worries about dependence on Russian gas – and Nord Stream 2 – unnecessary. … [Read more...]

Commission’s gas market proposal is an attempt to gain more control of energy policy

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The European Commission’s proposed amendment to the Gas Directive is viewed by many as an attempt to block Nord Stream 2. But according to Danila Bochkarev, Senior Fellow, EastWest Institute, the Commission is thinking further ahead: it is using the proposal to try to increase its power over the EU energy market. … [Read more...]

Why we will electrify trucking faster than you think (and it has nothing to do with Tesla)

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Many people still doubt that trucks will become electrified. But according to financial energy specialist Gerard Reid, the adoption of electric vehicle technology in the freight sector will take place faster than expected. He gives four reasons why he is positive about electric trucks. Courtesy Carbon and Energy blog. … [Read more...]

A common goal for all sustainability advocates

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Nothing is better for fossil fuel interests than current government policies supporting wind, solar and electric cars, writes independent researcher Schalk Cloete. These green technologies won't reduce fossil fuel consumption sufficiently for a long time to come, so the fossil fuel sector will be able to survive that much longer. In the third and last part of  a series on green technology-forcing, Cloete calls on all sustainability advocates to … [Read more...]

Big Oil pivots to electricity, Total leads the way

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Most big oil companies are considering how they can change their focus from oil to gas and renewables. Leading the way is French oil major Total, writes Fereidoon Sioshansi, publisher of newsletter EEnergy Informer.  … [Read more...]

Is offshore wind about to hit cost-competitiveness in the U.S.?

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Offshore wind may seem like a pricey option, but it’s actually an extremely valuable investment, writes Mike O’Boyle of San Francisco-based think tank Energy Innovation. According to a new analysis, the market value of electricity generated by offshore wind will soon exceed its cost in New York and several New England states. … [Read more...]