The IEA’s annual World Energy Outlook (WEO) is seen as the most authoritative set of energy scenarios in the world. Yet when we test the forecasts for the growth of renewable energies in the WEO’s main scenario against reality, we find that the WEO consistently comes out too low. Each year from 2006 on the WEO has had to increase its forecast for wind and solar power. Yet each year the WEO predicts the growth of renewables to level off by 2020, … [Read more...]
Can Germany survive the Energiewende?
The German Energiewende is a heroic but – as it’s conceived now – increasingly disordered effort for unshackling industrial society from the chains of fossil fuels. Due to mistaken assumptions and unrealistic scheduling, it is now confronted with persistent obstacles. The new Merkel government has introduced some changes, but they won’t be enough to sustain the Energiewende, argues independent energy consultant (and renewable energy sympathizer) … [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...]
European Renewable Energy Council forced into liquidation
An Extraordinary General Assembly of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) taking place in Brussels on 6th March decided the “voluntary” dissolution of the non-profit organisation after over a decade of existence. “Yesterday, EREC was forced to decide to go into liquidation mainly due to its high liabilities arising from its lease obligations for the three large office buildings which make up the Renewable Energy House, 63-67 rue … [Read more...]
IEA: Any country can reach high shares of wind, solar power cost-effectively
A study released on 26 February by the International Energy Agency concludes that integrating high shares – i.e., 30 percent of annual electricity production or more – of wind and solar PV in power systems can come at little additional cost in the long term. However, costs depend on how flexible the system currently is and what strategy is adopted to develop system flexibility over the long term. Managing this transition will be more difficult … [Read more...]
Tomatoes watered by the sea: sprouting a new way of farming
In Australia a former investment banker is growing vegetables in hothouses that use electricity and desalinated seawater all derived from concentrated solar power. According to John Matthews, it's a model that could work well in many areas of the world. … [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...]
How the IEA exaggerates the costs and underestimates the growth of solar power
The International Energy Agency (IEA) consistently entertains much too pessimistic assumptions about the growth potential and cost development of solar power,  writes Terje Osmundsen, Senior Vice President of the Norwegian-based international solar power company Scatec Solar. According to Osmundsen, the cost assumptions used by the IEA are 100% higher than even current market prices. He notes that as a result of the IEA’s misleading information, … [Read more...]
Exclusive: The end is near – for national renewable energy subsidy schemes in the EU
The national renewable support schemes in the EU are on the verge of a major overhaul. National governments will soon not be allowed anymore to limit renewables subsidies to domestic producers: they will have to treat all EU-based producers alike. This at any rate is the very likely outcome of a court case now before the EU Court of Justice, says Peter Niermeijer, Secretary-General of RECS International, an organisation that promotes pan-European … [Read more...]
WWF: Action required now to ensure supply of critical materials for renewable energy infrastructure
The growing demand for renewable energy could put pressure on the supply of critical materials required in the production of renewable energy infrastructure, says WWF in new report released on 18 February. The report, Critical Materials for the transition to a 100% sustainable energy future, says supply chain bottlenecks can be overcome by applying the right technologies. It is possible for renewable energy to fuel the world reliably while … [Read more...]
An investor speaks: the oil party is almost over
The fact that environmental activist Bill McKibben is waging a relentless “fossil fuel divestment campaign” may not worry established oil and coal companies too much. But he is joined by an increasing number of mainstream investors and analysts. The latest investor to warn that fossil fuel assets may be overvalued is the famous hedge fund manager Jeremy Grantham, owner of the major US asset-management firm GMO. In a thoughtful piece for the GMO … [Read more...]
Three signs of retreat in the global war on climate change
A series of recent developments "highlight the way the world is losing ground in the epic struggle to slow global warming", writes Michael Klare. One of them is what he calls the "evident slackening in Europe’s climate commitment". According to Klare, "the pressures to keep burning fossil fuels are too great to be overcome in piecemeal fashion.  Rather, these forces must be met head-on, with the institutionalization of equally powerful … [Read more...]
WWF: Groundbreaking analysis shows China’s renewable energy future within reach
By embracing conservation measures and renewable energy, China can transition to an 80 percent renewable electric power system by 2050 at far less cost than continuing to rely on coal, according to a new report from WWF-US. As a result, China’s carbon emissions from power generation could be 90 percent less than currently projected levels in 2050 without compromising the reliability of the electric grid or slowing economic growth. The … [Read more...]
HSBC: EU’s new climate policy unambitious, bad news for renewables
Europe’s climate policy proposals reflect the lowest level of ambition required to keep global warming at 2°C, while its goals on renewable energy are “disappointing” and bad news for the industry, according to a new report by banking giant HSBC. The report also sees “increasing downside risks” for offshore wind. Sophie Vorrath of Reneweconomy.com.au has the story. … [Read more...]
World Energy Council: Price volatility greater concern than climate change framework
High energy price volatility has for the first time replaced global climate framework as the number-one critical uncertainty driving the world energy agenda, according to the 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor, released on Tuesday 18 February by the World Energy Council (WEC). Global climate framework uncertainty,while still is akeyuncertainty, is now perceived by energy leaders to have less impact than in the previous three years of the study. … [Read more...]
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