Energy in Demand News, April 19-20, 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) spring meetings took place this week in Washington. Fiona Harvey wrote in the Guardian about the Trump effect at the global finance talks. “Governments desperate for cash to protect their citizens from the growing impacts of the climate crisis are being put in a … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 19-20, 2026 →

DR Congo’s energy transition challenges

Nik Stoop, Senior researcher, University of Antwerp; Elie Lunanga, Researcher, University of Antwerp; Marijke Verpoorten, Associate Professor, University of Antwerp; and Sébastien Desbureaux, Chercheur, Université de Montpellier write on The Conversation website about a private DRC project to bring electricity to one of the world’s most fragile regions. Mini‑grids can supply electricity, but what … Continue reading DR Congo’s energy transition challenges →

Energy in Demand News, April 12-13, 2026

EU insurance, pensions and financial regulators have called for the creation of a €10bn to €65bn pool to close the insurance gap for disaster, the Financial Times reports. “As risks continue to grow, insurance coverage for natural catastrophes remains insufficient, leaving individuals, businesses and governments increasingly exposed to financial losses, undermining resilience and recovery efforts,”said … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 12-13, 2026 →

France’s energy transition: wanting to fast-track its electrification

Liam Gilliver writes on the Euronews website that French Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu says electrification is now a concern of ‘national interest’ and no longer just about climate change. France wants to fast-track its electrification as the war on Iran continues to highlight the dangers of fossil fuel reliance with some new initiatives. In a … Continue reading France’s energy transition: wanting to fast-track its electrification →

Is Canada ready for an AI-driven energy alliance with China?

Chris Brown writes on the CBC News website about plans from China to build in Canada massive wind hubs managed by artificial intelligence. This would be modelled on technology already implemented in the Gobi Desert. Let’s see if this gets off the ground. From the Gobi Desert to Canada’s North: This Chinese visionary is … Continue reading Is Canada ready for an AI-driven energy alliance with China? →

Is there a more innovative way to finance solar power?

Emily Chung writes on the CBC News website about how Canadian solar firms JCM Power and Stardust Solar are tapping into Africa's solar potential in Malawi. What is fascinating is that the Malawian government pays JCM in Malawian kwachas, which is quite a volatile currency. JCM Power's solution was to invest the kwachas into community … Continue reading Is there a more innovative way to finance solar power? →

Fast energy: Why Europe’s future in AI depends on building power at speed

Nicu Popescu and Alan Riley write on the European Council on Foreign Relations website on why it is necessary for Europe to acceleration action. A global AI-driven surge in electricity demand is reshaping geopolitics, favouring states such as America and China that can rapidly expand power generation and grids. Europe risks becoming an energy-constrained AI … Continue reading Fast energy: Why Europe’s future in AI depends on building power at speed →

What will it take to ensure a sustainable supply of copper?

In an article on The Conversation website, Morgan Bazilian, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines and Adam Charles Simon, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan discuss the concerns about the supply shortage of copper that is needed for so many of … Continue reading What will it take to ensure a sustainable supply of copper? →

Energy in Demand News, March 15-16, 2026

The 32 member countries of the International Energy Agency agreed this week to make 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves available to the market to address disruptions in oil markets stemming from the war in the Middle East. IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of over 1.2 billion barrels, with a further 600 million barrels … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 15-16, 2026 →

Too valuable to burn: how electrification Is changing the future of oil

In an article on The Conversation website, Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, Professor of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology discusses how the non-energy use of oil is going to continue for some time. What are your views? Too valuable to burn? Chemical and plastic industries will rely on oil far longer than motorist … Continue reading Too valuable to burn: how electrification Is changing the future of oil →