Author: Rod Janssen

Energy giant Shell outlines its own low-carbon energy transition scenario

Royal Dutch Shell recently published it’s Sky scenario that complies with the goals of the Paris climate agreement. Chris Mooney and Steven Mufson explain in an article in The Washington Post.   Shell — yes, that Shell — just outlined a radical scenario for what it would take to halt climate change Royal Dutch Shell … Continue reading Energy giant Shell outlines its own low-carbon energy transition scenario →

Can a low-carbon energy transition include Canada’s tar sands?

A lot has been written about Canada’s tar sands over the years but there are few articles that talk about greening this mammoth fossil fuel industry. James Wilt writes on the National Observer website about the possibility of new technology to “green” what would seem to be “un-greenable.” Can technology turn Canada's oilsands green? Can … Continue reading Can a low-carbon energy transition include Canada’s tar sands? →

The climate crisis highlights the importance of advancing a deep and just transition that decarbonises society and provides a new basis for organising society to endure climate shocks

Vishwas Satgar, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa gives us much to think in an article on The Conversation website about as we struggle with how we are going to achieve the low-carbon energy transition globally. He discusses a Marxist approach, noting that in the 20th … Continue reading The climate crisis highlights the importance of advancing a deep and just transition that decarbonises society and provides a new basis for organising society to endure climate shocks →

“Real world challenges” need to be integrated into our renewable energy modelling

Modelling our energy transition is important to guide our policy directions. Last year, for energy efficiency, OpenEXP questioned whether the Commission’s assessments (including its modelling) assigned the right role to energy efficiency in its clean energy package. Liam Stoker writes on the Clean Energy News website about some of the flaws in renewable energy models, … Continue reading “Real world challenges” need to be integrated into our renewable energy modelling →

The concept of “carbon neutrality” is a lofty ambition for cities, but is it achievable?

Cities are playing an ever-increasing role in our low-carbon strategies. Many are working towards being 100% on renewables or carbon neutral. Joe Blakey, PhD Researcher and Sherilyn MacGregor, Reader in Environmental Politics at the Sustainable Consumption Institute at the University of Manchester question whether cities can truly be carbon neutral. They present a good argument … Continue reading The concept of “carbon neutrality” is a lofty ambition for cities, but is it achievable? →

Using cultural analysis to explain the dynamics in our energy systems

Decision-making is not easy but we often start from a bias one way or another. Dave Toke, Reader in Energy Policy at the University of Aberdeen, provides a very thoughtful article on The Conversation website about the importance of our biases in the various technologies we tend to support in our energy system. What are … Continue reading Using cultural analysis to explain the dynamics in our energy systems →

New UK Centre for Research on Energy Demand announced

If we are to get on to a sustainable path to achieve our long-term low-carbon energy transition objectives, we have much more work to do on energy demand. It was welcome news to A new research centre, the UK Centre for Research on Energy Demand (UKCRED), to develop and deliver internationally leading research, focusing on … Continue reading New UK Centre for Research on Energy Demand announced →

Is there a disinformation campaign against electric vehicles?

Steve Hanley writes on the CleanTechnica website about efforts to show how bad electric vehicles are for the environment when all elements are included. What are your views?   Electric Car Myth Buster — Efficiency The merchants of doubt paid for by the Koch brothers and the fossil fuel industry are out in full force, … Continue reading Is there a disinformation campaign against electric vehicles? →

There are effective energy storage solutions available now

While we are always looking for new technological breakthroughs, Jake Richardson writes on the CleanTechnica website that there are already many energy storage options that can have an important impact today.   No Huge Energy Storage Breakthrough Needed For Renewable Energy To Flourish In the last couple of years, there has been a growing a … Continue reading There are effective energy storage solutions available now →