Energy companies in the UK facing difficulties promoting energy efficiency

Mat Hope wrote for Carbon Brief about some of the difficulties that energy supply companies are having to meet their obligations. The costs to consumers could be higher than initially estimated. This has important lessons for all of Europe as they start to develop and implement their own obligation schemes. This blog follows an article … Continue reading Energy companies in the UK facing difficulties promoting energy efficiency →

EBRD considers keeping coal option open

Terry Macalister writes in The Guardian about the efforts of senior management at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to keep coal from being caught in the ideological energy and climate change battles. Affordability is one of the main arguments. European energy chief puts forward case for funding coal EBRD chief Riccardo Puliti … Continue reading EBRD considers keeping coal option open →

India’s hopes for efficient lighting roll-out is dimming

Anna da Costa, a freelance writer based in India, recently wrote in the Christian Science Monitor about the problems India is facing in funding the roll out of CFLs. India seeks new ways to fund energy-efficient lighting Replacing even a couple of conventional light bulbs with CFLs results in huge cost savings for poor … Continue reading India’s hopes for efficient lighting roll-out is dimming →

Smorgasbord

There are some interesting developments to share: EiD is happy to see Laura Williamson returned to Paris to work for REN21 as Communications and Outreach Manager. Laura will be missed at HELIO International where she has been a stalwart promoting sustainable energy. Laura and Christine Lins, Executive Secretary, will make a formidable team. EiD wishes … Continue reading Smorgasbord →

Mum’s the word

John Roach has an interesting article on the CNBC website about what it takes to address climate change. Does it work everywhere like this? If anyone has other research or information on this, it would be great to know. To Fight Climate Change, Don't Mention It, Study Suggests Shhh! Widespread adoption of energy-efficient technologies such … Continue reading Mum’s the word →

Results from new UK survey on renewable energy and energy efficiency

GreenWise provides a good review of a recent government survey that shows that support for renewable energy is increasing. But the survey reveals that the public still has bad energy consumption habits. More people back renewable energy, but energy wasting behaviour persists, DECC survey shows Support for renewable energy is rising among the UK public, … Continue reading Results from new UK survey on renewable energy and energy efficiency →

It is hard to remove energy subsidies

Joe Cochrane wrote recently in the New York Times about the difficulties Indonesia is having in reducing fuel subsidies. The government is struggling at a time when fuel subsidies are more than support for social programmes and capital expenditures. But given the economy and the level of poverty, it is hard to have consumer prices … Continue reading It is hard to remove energy subsidies →

Reviewing renewable energy support in Estonia

Amending the renewable energy support scheme has caused much ruckus and opinion differences in Estonia over government’s plans to retroactively amend the support scheme while not respecting previous agreements, writes Mikk Põld, attorney of TRINITI, pan-Baltic cross-border alliance of law firms, in the Baltic Business News. Renewable energy support – Estonian government’s stumbling stone … Continue reading Reviewing renewable energy support in Estonia →

Renewable energy impact on European power prices

David Thorpe writes for Energy and Environmental Management (EAEM) about how renewable energy output in Germany has had a positive affect in lowering European power prices recently. German renewable energy helped cut European power prices in April Record output from German wind and solar plants helped to reduce European power prices in April, according … Continue reading Renewable energy impact on European power prices →

Impact of energy performance certificates questioned in Scotland

Malcolm Cannon of ESPC.com in Scotland writes in the Guardian about the impact that EPCs are having on the Scottish housing market. Energy performance certificates won't change human behaviour Scottish government plans to improve energy efficiency can't prevent buyers placing more space above green credentials In late January, the Scottish government published a draft … Continue reading Impact of energy performance certificates questioned in Scotland →