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

Energy in Demand News, January 14, 2024

EiD welcomes that the IEA published Renewables 2023 this week.  It is encouraging to see that the world  added 50% more renewable capacity in 2023 than in 2022 and next 5 years will see fastest growth yet. The IEA says that the world’s capacity to generate renewable electricity is expanding faster than at any time … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 14, 2024

Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest

Graham Readfearn writes on the Guardian website about recent analysis showing that solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest options in Australia. Analysis shows that small modular nuclear reactors would provide most expensive power and will not be available until 2030. What are your views? Note that CSIRO is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research … Continue reading Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest

It’s a nuclear future for France’s energy transition

France’s latest Energy Bill has sparked controversy as it prioritises nuclear power over renewables. Dimitris Mavrokefalidis discusses France’s new energy bill in an article on the Energy Live News website.   France shifts focus: Nuclear over renewables in new Energy Bill France faces criticism for its new Energy Bill prioritising nuclear power over renewables, omitting … Continue reading It’s a nuclear future for France’s energy transition

Energy in Demand News, January 7, 2024

With the devastation of floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, forest fires and more, we know much more needs to be done to mitigate GHG emissions. Many commentators were concerned after COP28 last year that there was no sense of urgency. Read once more the comment from Fiona Harvey, published on EiD in December, on the need for … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 7, 2024

Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa

Mansoor Hamayun, the co-founder and chief executive of Bboxx, started out with a university project to bring solar power to a few villages in Rwanda. Now he is set to expand tenfold across sub-Saharan Africa. In an article on the Guardian website, Jillian Ambrose discusses what Mr. Hamayun is trying to achieve.   ‘Electricity is … Continue reading Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa

New generation of wind turbines built with wood

When we think of wood and Sweden together, we think of Ikea most often. Now we will other reasons. Jonah Fisher writes on the BBC News website about wind turbines being built out of wood. Who would ever have guessed that?   World's tallest wooden wind turbine starts turning What is made from the same … Continue reading New generation of wind turbines built with wood