New EEA report on renewable electricity in Europe’s energy transition

Scaling up renewable electricity sources across the EU could reduce electricity generation costs, improve energy independence, and support the transition towards clean industry, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published this week. At the same time, accelerating the electrification of heating, transport and industry is needed to support Europe’s clean and competitive future. … Continue reading New EEA report on renewable electricity in Europe’s energy transition

Britain’s energy transition: while the government’s priority is energy savings for larger businesses, SMEs typically pay the highest rates for their energy

Sam Hampton, Researcher, Environmental Geography, University of Oxford and Jan Rosenow, Leader of the Energy Programme, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, University of Oxford, write on The Conversation website about plans to cut energy bills for large industry but SMEs are getting no relief. One worries that this could seriously affect the overall economy. … Continue reading Britain’s energy transition: while the government’s priority is energy savings for larger businesses, SMEs typically pay the highest rates for their energy

The EU accelerates the completion of the energy union

On its website, the European Commission published this week a news article on how it is completing the energy union.   In focus: Completing Europe’s energy union In 2015, the EU’s energy union strategy set out a bold vision to fundamentally transform our energy system. It envisioned a resilient energy union, with an ambitious climate policy, to … Continue reading The EU accelerates the completion of the energy union

Energy in Demand News, June 8-9, 2025

Global energy investment is set to increase in 2025 to a record $3.3 trillion despite headwinds from elevated geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, a new IEA report says. Clean energy technologies will attract twice as much capital as fossil fuels. Investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 8-9, 2025

Vast majority of new homes in England must have solar panels

Ministers in the UK are poised to confirm that the “vast majority” of new build homes in England will need to have solar panels on their roofs, claiming the policy will cut household energy bills.  Leila Nathoo and Christina McSorley discuss latest developments in an article on the BBC News website.   Most new build … Continue reading Vast majority of new homes in England must have solar panels

Call for an ‘energy savings first’ principle in Europe

Rather than an ‘energy efficiency first principle’ in Europe, Christoph Schwaiger discusses in an article on the Euractiv website that the French think-tank, négaWatt, is arguing for a new principle would be beneficial, focusing on not just how we use energy, but on how much energy we truly need. This comes closer to the sufficiency … Continue reading Call for an ‘energy savings first’ principle in Europe

Energy in Demand News, May 18-19, 2025

In an article about the paradox of climate adaptation spending, a Financial Times newsletter says that many global companies recognise the seriousness of climate-related risks to their business, with 66% of the EU businesses polled confirming that they face threats from the physical impacts of climate change. But,  according to the survey last year by … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 18-19, 2025

How efficient are UK homes?

A new study discussed on the Property Reporter website has found that more than half of UK homes have an EPC rating of D or below. The analysts decided to look into data on home EPC ratings to distinguish what the average is, which of the most populated UK areas are the most energy efficient … Continue reading How efficient are UK homes?

Germany’s climate and energy transition: challenges of its new federal government

Climate issues took a back seat during Germany's election campaign. Is that likely to change under the incoming coalition government? Louise Osborne discusses in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   How will Germany's new government tackle climate issues? With the war in Ukraine, high energy prices and a flagging economy contending as the main focus points … Continue reading Germany’s climate and energy transition: challenges of its new federal government

South Africa, as G20 president, should push for fossil fuel subsidies to be shifted into funding cleaner energy and climate adaptation

In an article on The Conversation website, Llewellyn Leonard, Professor of Environmental Science, University of South Africa makes the case for South Africa, as this year’s presiden tof the G20, to push to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels in order to promote cleaner energy.   Fossil fuels are still subsidised: G20 could push for the … Continue reading South Africa, as G20 president, should push for fossil fuel subsidies to be shifted into funding cleaner energy and climate adaptation