The challenges of forecasting our energy future with so many changes underway

Forecasting is not easy and we admire the work that organisations such as the International Energy Agency do to give us future projections. Chelsea Harvey writes a good article in the Washington Post about the controversies in the US over the accuracy and usefulness of projects from the US Energy Information Agency. Do you have … Continue reading The challenges of forecasting our energy future with so many changes underway →

Lowering the forecast for electricity because of the expected impact of energy efficiency

India’s power ministry has revised its forecast for demand thanks to new energy efficiency targets and power-saving devices. Gireesh Chandra Prasad gives a good account of this on the LiveMint website from India. Interestingly, it reminds EiD of the recent post by Andrew Warren where he criticised the UK government of repeatedly failing to understand … Continue reading Lowering the forecast for electricity because of the expected impact of energy efficiency →

Important new step forward for energy policy in the US

When the US Senate passes a bipartisan bill it is big news – and it is. Chris Mooney writes a good article in the Washington Post about what it all entails. The Senate just passed — overwhelmingly — an actually bipartisan energy bill It doesn’t happen every day, but it did happen Wednesday. The … Continue reading Important new step forward for energy policy in the US →

Pressure growing for shipping and aviation to take stronger steps to curb pollution

This is not the first time that both shipping and aviation have been criticised for not playing a more effective role in address environmental concerns, mainly with respect to climate change. Henry Fountain writes in the New York Times about the pressure on those two industries to play a greater role. Well, do we blame … Continue reading Pressure growing for shipping and aviation to take stronger steps to curb pollution →

The energy transition, yes, but oil is not finished

There is an urge – maybe an urgent urge – to speed up the energy transition. There is much progress but we should also keep an eye on the dynamics of the energy markets. Nick Butler provides a good blog in the Financial Times about the latest trends in the oil market. Too soon … Continue reading The energy transition, yes, but oil is not finished →

The low-carbon energy transition faces difficulties in developing countries

We read that the World Bank is going to dedicate more funds to the low-carbon energy transition. We also read of the many excellent bilateral, philanthropic and other multilateral efforts to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Yet, a recent study by IRENA shows that, while many gains have been made, many countries are … Continue reading The low-carbon energy transition faces difficulties in developing countries →

The impact of climate change on our weather conditions

Every day we are discussing the relationship between our increasingly strange weather patterns and the role of climate change. Nick Butler provides a thoughtful blog in the Financial Times, reviewing a recent study from the National Academy of Sciences. Climate, weather and the politics of energy Is climate change the cause of extreme weather … Continue reading The impact of climate change on our weather conditions →

There is a way to avoid stranded assets

The low carbon energy transition is on and a recent study by Oxford academics shows that very soon any new thermal power plants will end up with a very short lifetime if we are to meet our greenhouse gas emissions targets. Pilita Clark writes in the Financial Times about the recent study. Energy companies … Continue reading There is a way to avoid stranded assets →

Spotlight on Russia and its energy dependence on Europe

The energy transition is complex. Energy policy as a whole is complex and requires a long-term sustainable approach to ensure our economies do well. Undoubtedly, in Europe, there are concerns about its high dependence on Russian gas (Russia supplies 30% of Europe’s gas needs). Understandably energy security has to be uppermost in energy policy. Yes, … Continue reading Spotlight on Russia and its energy dependence on Europe →

The real challenge is keeping fossil fuel reserves in the ground

The transition to a low-carbon economy is not easy but we all know there is no choice. Rainer Baake, State secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, recently wrote an inspirational article in The Guardian of the important role industrialised nations have in this transition. Industrialised nations must lead an … Continue reading The real challenge is keeping fossil fuel reserves in the ground →