Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024

Financing the climate and energy transition is facing ever more difficulties – as I’m sure you see in your own country. At the global level, COP26 in Glasgow approved the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, a landmark climate finance framework endorsed by world leaders as a way to fund the green transition in poorer countries. However, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024 →

Energy in Demand News, February 11, 2024

In all the important climate and energy news this week, two developments stand out. In a case that has lasted 12 years, this week the climate scientist Michael Mann won his defamation lawsuit against two conservative writers who compared his depictions of global heating to the work of a convicted child molester. “I hope this … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 11, 2024 →

Blog by Jane Marsh: What Infrastructure Does the U.S. Need for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles?

Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are necessary for decarbonizing transportation, primarily as lithium-ion-based batteries in conventional EVs receive pushback. The potential for a zero-waste, carbon-neutral fuel cell is possible with more research and development in hydrogen. However, those efforts are moot if the U.S. does not install adequate infrastructure to support them. The State … Continue reading Blog by Jane Marsh: What Infrastructure Does the U.S. Need for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles? →

European solar panel manufacturers are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector

As part of its ‘Green Deal Industrial Plan’, the EU wants to boost the domestic production of key technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps, in order to reduce dependence on China. By 2030, the European Commission wants to see 40% of the European demand for solar panels being produced in Europe, … Continue reading European solar panel manufacturers are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector →

As the energy transition gains momentum, attention is turning from renewable energy sources to the materials they are made from

Johnny Wood writes on the WEF website about three sustainable materials that are being used in the renewable energy transition. 3 sustainable materials powering the renewable energy transition Incorporating sustainable materials into energy-transition technologies could help efforts to decarbonize. From wind turbines made of wood to batteries made of sand, several innovations using sustainable … Continue reading As the energy transition gains momentum, attention is turning from renewable energy sources to the materials they are made from →

“Energy communities remain an unsolved problem in Croatia”

Although Croatia has legislation that allows for the establishment of energy communities, administrative obstacles and opposition from the energy sector are blocking progress. Dalibor Dobric discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Croatia: Citizens push hard to kick-start energy sharing "It's a catch 22," says Goran Cacic when asked about … Continue reading “Energy communities remain an unsolved problem in Croatia” →

Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024

This week the European Commission will propose the new level of ambition for GHG emissions reductions it considers necessary for 2040. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) notes that the EU’s climate chief, Wopke Hoekstra, “has warned the bloc must not be lured into a “false narrative” that action against global warming is undermining the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024 →

The German city of Mannheim heats thousands of homes using ice-cold water

River heat pumps? Mannheim started using one last year. With the concept gaining ground around the world, Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website to find out how it works and how it is being used in Mannheim. Could large heat pumps revolutionize how we warm our homes? Standing in my swimming trunks … Continue reading The German city of Mannheim heats thousands of homes using ice-cold water →

Energy in Demand News, January 21, 2024

The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone of the EU’s sustainable finance framework and an important market transparency tool. It is designed to help direct investments to the economic activities most needed for the transition, in line with the European Green Deal objectives. Controversially, nuclear and gas activities are included, prompting legal challenges by some NGOs … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 21, 2024 →

Europe’s energy transition is gathering speed but even with record new wind farms in 2023, EU still not on track to meet 2030 goals

In a news article on the Euractiv website, recent data from the industry association WindEurope shows solid progress but much more needed. EU built record new wind farms last year but lags green energy goal European Union countries built 17 gigawatts of new wind power farms in 2023, the most for any year so … Continue reading Europe’s energy transition is gathering speed but even with record new wind farms in 2023, EU still not on track to meet 2030 goals →