Germany’s energy transition: government reacts to pressure from climate activists and chastened by its highest court

The proposed 2030 climate change targets for Germany are a "gigantic" task that will push the export-reliant economy to hasten its phase-out of coal-fired power plants and cars that run on fossil fuels. Ajit Niranjan discusses latest developments in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   Germany's more ambitious climate goals pressure industry to … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition: government reacts to pressure from climate activists and chastened by its highest court →

Scotland’s energy transition: concerns over “dangerous distraction” of carbon capture and storage

Friends of the Earth Scotland said that the ambition to make Peterhead power station greener was just delaying its “inevitable closure”. Greig Cameron discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website.   Carbon capture ‘just delays pulling plug’ on gas plant Plans to capture carbon emissions from what has been called Scotland’s most … Continue reading Scotland’s energy transition: concerns over “dangerous distraction” of carbon capture and storage →

Ignore hype over hydrogen heating, UK government told

Hydrogen power should be reserved for powering aircraft and large factories, say experts, dashing hopes gas industry could pivot to piping hydrogen into homes. Madeleine Cuff discusses latest developments in an article on the inews website.   End of the road for gas boilers? Researchers give thumbs down to hydrogen heating New research has poured … Continue reading Ignore hype over hydrogen heating, UK government told →

Upcoming events in June

Here are three important not-to-be-missed events in June.   eceee summer study – June 7-11 eceee’s bi-annual summer study is coming June 7-11, this year as a virtual event. The theme is “A New Reality” which definitely seems appropriate in this pandemic environment. There is an increasingly urgent climate crisis, and we simply can’t go … Continue reading Upcoming events in June →

Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system

In the last 15 years, the US has seen a dramatic change in its shift to a carbon-free electric power system. Ryan Wiser, Bentham Paulos, Dev Millstein and Joseph Rand from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory write on The Conversation website about this shift. Pay particular attention to what has happened to projected energy demand.   … Continue reading Accelerating America’s shift to a carbon-free electric power system →

Bitcoin and other digital currencies come with astonishing environmental costs

The company’s stock market arrival establishes Bitcoin and other digital currencies in the traditional financial landscape. It also elevates a technology with astonishing environmental costs. Hiroko Tabuchi discusses the energy implications in an article on the New York Times website.   In Coinbase’s Rise, a Reminder: Cryptocurrencies Use Lots of Energy The stock market debut … Continue reading Bitcoin and other digital currencies come with astonishing environmental costs →

Coverage of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy: Working Group on the Energy Transition

The High-Level Dialogue on Energy is the first global gathering on energy under the auspices of the UN General Assembly since the UN Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy in 1981.   Second meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Energy Transition The second meeting of the Technical Working Group on the … Continue reading Coverage of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy: Working Group on the Energy Transition →

Impact of environmental taxes in the UK

A report from the UK National Audit Office acknowledges the benefits of taxation on organisations but questions what specific effects they achieve. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, discusses the issues in an article  in the April 2021 issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry.   Environmental taxes work – but we’re … Continue reading Impact of environmental taxes in the UK →

Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible for up to 34,000 deaths across the continent each year

Research ‘adds to growing evidence about the co-benefits of responding to climate change and air pollution together’, a scientist tells Daisy Dunne of The Independent.   Pollution from Europe’s coal plants responsible for ‘up to 34,000 deaths each year’ Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible for up to 34,000 deaths across the … Continue reading Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible for up to 34,000 deaths across the continent each year →

Where does nuclear power belong in our concerns over sustainability?

Lobbying by pro-nuclear stakeholders and a new report that concludes “the fuel qualifies as sustainable” under green investments has led to Greenpeace Europe warning the European Commission against reinstating nuclear power on the list of activities deemed sustainable by the European Union. Kevin O’Sullivan discusses latest developments in an article on the Irish Times website. … Continue reading Where does nuclear power belong in our concerns over sustainability? →