The introduction of the Powerwall, Tesla’s new battery, will change the global energy equation fundamentally, writes John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management, at Macquarie University in Australia. This is because it will make renewable energy “the new normal” and will put fossil fuel companies on the defensive. Instead of asking “can we have our own energy system?” communities will be asking “why can’t we have it?” … [Read more...]
What the new Conservative government means for UK energy policy
The new Conservative government is unlikely to change UK climate and energy policy radically, writes Stephen Tindale, the new CEO of the pro-nuclear Alvin Weinberg Foundation and a former Executive Director of Greenpeace UK. According to Tindale, David Cameron will build on the considerable achievements of the previous coalition government with the Liberal-Democrats, although there will be some changes, such as less support for onshore wind and a … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Environment – All you need to know for May 2015
In this Brussels Briefing on Environment for viEUws.eu, Sonja van Renssen provides an overview of the latest EU environment policy developments, including the EU ETS reform, the indirect land-use change deal and pollution from medium-sized combustion plants. … [Read more...]
Greece and Iran: two old friends can change the geopolitics of energy in Europe
Greece, which has long had friendly relations with Iran, is poised to play a key role in distributing Iranian to gas to Europe, if Iranian sanctions are lifted. With Iran in the equation, the energy geopolitics of the region – and thereby the rest of Europe – will look very different from what they are today, write Christos Brakoulias, Constantine Levoyannis and Dr. Angelos Gkanoutas-Leventis of the Greek Energy Forum (GEF) in Brussels. … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: High hopes for UN September Summit on Sustainable Development Goals
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), talks to Sonja van Renssen on viEUws.eu about his great expectations for the United Nations September Summit that will decide on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be attained by 2030. … [Read more...]
Historic deal in Brussels: EU decides the future of its carbon market
The European Parliament and Member States have reached a historic deal on the first half of a two-part reform of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). This is the introduction of a “market stability reserve” (MSR) that will mandate EU officials to add or remove allowances from the market according to pre-set rules. The MSR is supposed to wick away the enormous 2.1 billion "surplus" of carbon allowances that has accumulated in the market over the … [Read more...]
ExxonMobil gets a cold reception in Brussels
William Colton, Vice President Corporate Strategic Planning at ExxonMobil, came to Brussels this week, to the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), to present ExxonMobil’s view of our energy future to representatives from EU institutions. It was a clash of two worlds. Brussels failed to be impressed. Mike Parr of the independent consultancy PWR was there. … [Read more...]
How the Nest thermostat will change the energy market
The Nest thermostat is a deceptively simple piece of technology. But it’s already changing the energy market. It will not only save consumers money, but utilities even more so: it will reduce their need for gas peaker plants substantially, writes Deborah Lawrence, founder of the US consultancy group Energy Policy Forum. … [Read more...]
IEA: Clean energy progress falls well short of what is needed
It is “realistic and economically sensible to pursue a clean energy agenda”, states the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a new edition of its annual Energy Technology Perspectives. But, it adds”: “clean energy progress is failling well short of the levels needed to limit the global increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsius”. Governments must do much more to stimulate the uptake of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies. … [Read more...]
Tennet: Dutch electricity prices down 20%, price declines in almost all European countries
Electricity prices in the Netherlands declined 20% in 2014, according to a new Market Review published by Tennet, the Dutch transmission system operator (TSO), which is also active in Germany. According to the Market Review, electricity prices went down across Europe. Prices in the Netherlands and Germany showed convergence, but there was little convergence overall in Europe. The report also shows that coal-fired power plants are taking over from … [Read more...]
UBS: closures coal and gas fired power plants in Europe accelerating
The influx of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar into energy markets is forcing coal and gas fired generation out of the market even quicker than most analysts expected, according to a new market report from investment bank UBS. According to UBS, policymakers may have to take measures to prevent widespread bankruptcies in the European electricity market, writes Giles Parkinson of Reneweconomy.com.au. … [Read more...]
Less worldly, more wise: a letter to Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell
In a speech given in London in February, Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell, called on the energy industry to be "less aloof, more assertive" in the debate about climate change. Van Beurden stressed that "the world's energy needs will underpin the use of fossil fuels for decades to come" and called for "realism and practicality". In a speech given in Paris in March, John Ashton, independent speaker, former UK Special Representative for Climate Change … [Read more...]
GlobalData: Russia’s oil production will continue to grow despite low oil prices
Russian oil production has grown by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) over the last decade to a post-Soviet record of 10.6 million bpd in 2014. In the next five years the factors that were behind this production surge will remain in place, regardless of oil prices, says Anna Belova, GlobalData's Upstream Analyst covering the Former Soviet Union. The Russian oil and gas industry is “relatively self-sufficient”, Belova adds. … [Read more...]
The carbon capture conundrum: is CCS a climate saver? Or a dangerous distraction?
With fossil fuels expected to provide the bulk of the world’s primary energy needs for the foreseeable future – despite the rapid rise of renewables – carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen by many as an essential technology if we are to keep global warming within the 2°C limit that scientists recommend. "For many industrial processes, it's the only thing we have." … [Read more...]
How to use social media: a quick guide for utility companies
In the competitive energy world of today, it is becoming increasingly important for energy companies to analyse what is being said about them on social media. With the help of “social data intelligence”, companies can monitor social media like Twitter as well as discussion forums, and respond to customer concerns quickly. Social media analytics firm Talkwalker, based in Luxembourg, supplies software social data intelligence software, published a … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- …
- 193
- Next Page »