Pakistan looks at coal’s impact on energy policy

This is an important article for all of you to read carefully. Farhan Anwar, an urban planner, writes in The Express Tribune in Pakistan about the impact of coal. He says: “What is needed is not just a collage of ‘projects’ but deeper thinking, vision and a long-term strategic framework.” This is what we need … Continue reading Pakistan looks at coal’s impact on energy policy →

Assessing the German energy transition

The Economist news magazine usually does not hesitate to express its views. This is certainly true in this article that analyses what it belives has gone wrong with Germany’s energy transition. What has gone wrong with Germany's energy policy On December 3rd the German government announced plans to redouble its Energiewende, or “energy transition”, … Continue reading Assessing the German energy transition →

IEA review of EU energy policies

The International Energy Agency has recently published its review of EU’s energy policies as part of its country review series. This follows the first review of EU policies it undertook in 2008. The review states that at the time of the first review, “the European Union had embarked on two major reforms in energy and … Continue reading IEA review of EU energy policies →

Florida shifts away from renewable energy and energy efficiency

Jim Turner from the News Service of Florida, writes on the FlaglerLive website about recent developments in Florida that have to raise concern for those who are promoting a sustainable energy future. Bowing to Utilities, Florida Regulators Cut Energy-Efficiency Goals and Sunset Solar Incentives State utility regulators agreed Tuesday to sunset a program that … Continue reading Florida shifts away from renewable energy and energy efficiency →

World Energy Council Sustainable Energy Index

The World Energy Council (WEC) has recently released its 2014 Energy Sustainability Index. The index ranks countries in terms of their likely ability to provide sustainable energy policies through the 3 dimensions of the energy trilemma: Energy security: the effective management of primary energy supply from domestic and external sources, the reliability of energy infrastructure, … Continue reading World Energy Council Sustainable Energy Index →

The need for smart EU energy markets

The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, has published an important new briefing report on energy markets in the European Union, written by Simon Skillings and Taylor Dimsdale. As E3G states, it is easy to be pessimistic about the state of EU energy policy and … Continue reading The need for smart EU energy markets →

Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook

This year’s World Energy Outlook (WEO) from the International Energy Agency provides a stark warning that the global energy system is in danger of falling short of the hopes and expectations placed upon it. It does add that advances in technology and efficiency give some reasons for optimism, but sustained political efforts will be essential … Continue reading Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook →

Britain is moving forward on shale gas

Recently Stanley Reed wrote in the New York Times about the recent developments in Britain’s effort to exploit its shale gas reserves. Britain is certainly moving forward in shale gas and expanding nuclear energy. There are certainly many who are not convinced this is the right way forward but the government certainly seems determined that … Continue reading Britain is moving forward on shale gas →

More on Denmark’s energy transition

Justin Gillis writes in the New York Times about Denmark’s efforts for 100% renewables. A Tricky Transition From Fossil Fuel Denmark, a tiny country on the northern fringe of Europe, is pursuing the world’s most ambitious policy against climate change. It aims to end the burning of fossil fuels in any form by 2050 … Continue reading More on Denmark’s energy transition →

Energy policy review of Morocco

The IEA recently published its country review of the energy policies of Morocco. It is the first such review that the IEA has done for any African country. Morocco’s energy strategy is very much on target, with notable advances in wind and solar power and on fuel subsidy reform, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says … Continue reading Energy policy review of Morocco →