As this week’s Energy in Demand was being prepared, more than 280,000 people had been ordered to flee or lock down as huge wildfires swept Spain and France, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency and the French authorities to order the total evacuation, by land and sea, of one of the country’s best-known holiday … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 26-27, 2026
Category: climate change
A medieval heatwave, a modern warning
Alex Brown, Associate Professor of Medieval History, Durham University writes on The Conversation website about the lessons we should learn from the Medieval Warm Period. History shows societies are vulnerable to climate extremes, while today's warming is faster, global and human-driven. Drought, water shortages and crop failures: how does the medieval warm period compare … Continue reading A medieval heatwave, a modern warning
Blog by Grace Waters: Why France’s nuclear plants are shutting down during peak summer demand
France relies on a highly nuclear-dependent grid because it provides the nation with predictability. Most of the country’s electricity comes from its reactor fleet, which represents a bet on carbon-free baseload power that’s paid off for decades. But that same fleet has a weak spot that heat waves keep exposing. Most reactors depend on river … Continue reading Blog by Grace Waters: Why France’s nuclear plants are shutting down during peak summer demand
When loving Antarctica means leaving it
In an article on The Conversation website, Zdenka Sokolickova, Postdoctoral Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Groningen; Christy Hehir, Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Events, University of Surrey; and Elizabeth Cooper, Postdoctoral Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Groningen explore a moral conflict—what happens when people discover that the work they love is at odds with the … Continue reading When loving Antarctica means leaving it
Europe’s building renovation divide
In an article on the Euronews website, Alessio Dell'Anna writes about Europe's uneven progress on building renovation. Energy efficiency levels are rising, but not quickly enough, according to Brussels, which has launched an infringement procedure against all EU member states. Green homes: which countries are making their buildings more energy efficient? Last week, the … Continue reading Europe’s building renovation divide
When heatwaves become legal evidence
In an article on The Conversation website, Sandra Cassotta, Associate Professor in International, Environmental and Energy Law, Aalborg University in Denmark, argues that climate attribution science should become legal evidence for enforcing climate obligations. While most related articles on extreme heat focus on impacts or adaptation, this one makes a more ambitious argument that attribution … Continue reading When heatwaves become legal evidence
Bridging Europe’s electrification gap
Ron Bousso writes on the Reuter’s website that Europe knows where it wants to go, but faces a perilous decade in which high energy costs could permanently damage industrial competitiveness before the benefits of electrification are realised. Europe’s electrification dream won’t spare a painful decade Europe faces a looming "death valley" of high energy … Continue reading Bridging Europe’s electrification gap
Named, Not Funded: who Europe’s electrification plan leaves behind
In a LinkedIn post, Marine Cornelis (Next Energy Consumer) and newest member of the board of eceee, writes about Europe’s recently announced Electrification Action Plan that recognises vulnerable households but does not provide the funding, safeguards or enforceable measures needed to protect them. It is unbelievable that during the hottest summer on record, a plan meant … Continue reading Named, Not Funded: who Europe’s electrification plan leaves behind
Energy in Demand News, July 19-20, 2026
The EU has big plans to electrify. It has set its first-ever electrification target: 46% by 2040. Electrification has hovered just under 24% for more than a decade. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen told reporters in Brussels on Friday: “With this plan, we are putting Europe on a course to become the world’s first electro-continent.” Check … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, July 19-20, 2026
National Building Renovation Plans – the European Commission’s first assessment
The Commission’s first assessment of the complete draft National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs) shows strong commitment by EU countries to make buildings more energy efficient and decarbonised. This, in turn, lowers energy bills and makes buildings more liveable, particularly during harsh winter conditions or heatwaves. Buildings account for more than 30% of all energy used in Europe … Continue reading National Building Renovation Plans – the European Commission’s first assessment
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 