The EU accelerates the completion of the energy union

On its website, the European Commission published this week a news article on how it is completing the energy union.   In focus: Completing Europe’s energy union In 2015, the EU’s energy union strategy set out a bold vision to fundamentally transform our energy system. It envisioned a resilient energy union, with an ambitious climate policy, to … Continue reading The EU accelerates the completion of the energy union

Energy in Demand News, June 15-16, 2025

The International Energy Agency (IEA) held its 10th annual Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Brussels this past week. The invitation-only two-day conference was co-chaired by the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, and was organised with the support of the Energy Efficiency Movement. There were many excellent panels and 700 attendees … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 15-16, 2025

New global ESCO market report from UNEP’s Copenhagen Climate Centre

The Global ESCO Market 2025 Report from the United Nations Environment Programme’s Copenhagen Climate Centre and the Global ESCO Network provides a comprehensive overview of the status, challenges, and opportunities in the energy service company (ESCO) sector across more than 25 countries. It captures developments not only in the largest and most mature markets, but … Continue reading New global ESCO market report from UNEP’s Copenhagen Climate Centre

New EEA report on impact on the most vulnerable groups in Europe

Europe is warming up faster than any other continent and the most vulnerable people are bearing the brunt of climate impacts. A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), published this week shows that although the most vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected, they are often overlooked in climate adaptation planning and especially implementation.   … Continue reading New EEA report on impact on the most vulnerable groups in Europe

Energy in Demand News, June 8-9, 2025

Global energy investment is set to increase in 2025 to a record $3.3 trillion despite headwinds from elevated geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, a new IEA report says. Clean energy technologies will attract twice as much capital as fossil fuels. Investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 8-9, 2025

The diseconomies of scale: study

Big power plants are more likely to face cost overruns than smaller plants, according to a new study by the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability.The researchers found that the average power plant project costs 40% more to build than expected and misses its target completion date by nearly two years. In an article on the … Continue reading The diseconomies of scale: study

Energy in Demand News, June 1-2, 2025

Austria and Slovenia are the only European countries whose defence ministries have committed to reaching net zero military emissions, according to an analysis of 30 European countries (EU 27 plus Norway, Switzerland and UK). An article in the Guardian on the analysis added that only about one-third have worked out the size of their carbon … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, June 1-2, 2025

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, passed by the US House of Representatives last week, would slow efforts to green the energy system as climate change accelerated

Benjamin Storrow and E&E News write on the Scientific American website about the potential impact of the latest legislation that is going through the approval process in Washington.   Republican Megabill Called a ‘Nightmare Scenario’ for Clean Energy The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" passed last week by the House would effectively end most clean … Continue reading The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, passed by the US House of Representatives last week, would slow efforts to green the energy system as climate change accelerated

There are mounting calls for international cooperation to ensure production of “critical” minerals is sustainable and equitable

As countries rush to secure supplies of the materials needed to ramp up clean energy, a push for stronger governance rules is gathering momentum. Chloé Farand writes on the Climate Home News website about the plans for an international treaty.   Does the world need a global treaty on energy transition minerals? Electric vehicles, batteries, … Continue reading There are mounting calls for international cooperation to ensure production of “critical” minerals is sustainable and equitable

Energy in Demand News, May 25-26, 2025

While there has been more environmental reporting, there have also been more academic studies that prove that there are serious grounds for doubt about the published environmental results.  A Financial Times newsletter refers to one draft paper from King’s College London that uses data from Climate Trace, an open-access initiative that takes inputs from more … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 25-26, 2025