Renewable energy’s impact on transmission and distribution

The editors of Electric Light & Power provide an excellent assessment of the impact of renewable energy on Europe’s transmission system. It also stresses the importance of trans-border interconnections. Demand for renewable energy will drive Europe transmission market A rising demand for electricity and growing environmental concerns across Europe is leading countries to look for … Continue reading Renewable energy’s impact on transmission and distribution →

Utilities are starting to wince

Diane Cardwell provides an excellent article in the New York Times about how electric utilities are starting to be concerned about the growing number of solar panels and what it means for their business. It will be important to watch how this evolves and whether this same backlash will come to Europe. On Rooftops, a … Continue reading Utilities are starting to wince →

UK energy company disputes government estimates

Mat Hope provides an excellent article on the Carbon Brief website of the energy company, Npower, disputing the estimates for the increase of gas and electricity bills in 2020. This is an important topic as energy companies throughout Europe are expected to play an ever increasing role in promoting energy efficiency. And, daily one is … Continue reading UK energy company disputes government estimates →

Unstoppable efficiency drive spurred by EU regulations and national targets poses a dilemma for utilities

Geert De Clercq and Vera Eckert write for Reuter’s news service and published by The Guardian ask an important question about whether energy utilities look for a profitable way to help consumers save energy or whether they try to defend their traditional business model. The jury is still out but some utilities have understood it … Continue reading Unstoppable efficiency drive spurred by EU regulations and national targets poses a dilemma for utilities →

Reflecting on bitumen oil in Canada

Jeffrey Simpson, one of Canada’s foremost columnists, writes in the Globe and Mail about the politics and sad state of affairs the government has got itself in over promoting its tar sands. While this is a Canadian perspective, it is important for those outside Canada to see the “sea of troubles” as Simpson aptly writes. … Continue reading Reflecting on bitumen oil in Canada →

Energy companies in the UK facing difficulties promoting energy efficiency

Mat Hope wrote for Carbon Brief about some of the difficulties that energy supply companies are having to meet their obligations. The costs to consumers could be higher than initially estimated. This has important lessons for all of Europe as they start to develop and implement their own obligation schemes. This blog follows an article … Continue reading Energy companies in the UK facing difficulties promoting energy efficiency →

Results from energy efficiency obligations in UK under the microscope

Lisa Bachelor wrote in The Guardian about the concerns of Britain’s energy regulator that many of the obligated energy companies have not met their reduction targets. Britain has been one of the leaders in Europe in energy company obligations and it will be important to know what is going on and how can it get … Continue reading Results from energy efficiency obligations in UK under the microscope →

Activity on grid big data

Katie Fehrenbacher writes in the Washington Post about actions that are supporting the building of smart grids. This article is about a partnership in Sweden that could provide some valuable experience about managing data. European power giant E.ON partners with Ericsson on grid big data European power giant E.ON is building out a smarter … Continue reading Activity on grid big data →

Energy company worries that energy efficiency is hurting its financial position

Scott Wright wrote in the Herald Scotland that Iberdrola’s finances dropped because of costs involved in meeting UK energy company obligations. The new Energy Companies Obligation was considered the single most important factor on overall performance. Energy efficiency costs take toll on Iberdrola results Energy giant Iberdrola felt the weight of legislative measures to improve … Continue reading Energy company worries that energy efficiency is hurting its financial position →

How energy developments are shaking things up

John Tagliabue writes in the New York Times about the effects of the extraction of natural gas in the northern regions of The Netherlands. This is from normal extraction and not from fracking, which is increasingly popular in many countries. Many are feeling the effects on communities is a high price to pay for the … Continue reading How energy developments are shaking things up →