China lagging behind goal to reduce energy intensity

Matteo Civillini writes on the Climate Home News website that the Chinese government aims to cut the amount of energy needed for its economic growth by 2.5% in 2024, putting it far off track for a key five-year climate target. China steps away from 2025 energy efficiency goal China looks set to miss one … Continue reading China lagging behind goal to reduce energy intensity →

Majority of UK businesses unaware of support available to improve energy performance

This is quite a worrying concern. A survey of 503 UK businesses shows that 62% are unaware of government energy efficiency supports, with 47% deterred by cost concerns from investing in green upgrades. Dimitris Mavrokefalidis discusses the survey in an article on the Energy Live News website. Have you found the same level of awareness … Continue reading Majority of UK businesses unaware of support available to improve energy performance →

Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024

The bad news from the IEA this week is that, globally, CO2 emissions increased by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023. The good news from the IEA is that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose less strongly in 2023 than the year before even as total energy demand growth accelerated. IEA analysis shows that the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024 →

Germany plans to allow carbon capture and sub-seabed storage technology in certain industries

In a news item on the Deutsche Welle website we get another view of carbon capture. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck says Berlin will need to allow sub-seabed storage of CO2 produced in certain industries in order to reach its goal to be carbon neutral by 2045. Germany to allow carbon capture, underwater storage … Continue reading Germany plans to allow carbon capture and sub-seabed storage technology in certain industries →

How effective is carbon capture and storage as a means to decarbonise our economies?

In an article on the Scientific American website, Naomi Oreskes, professor of the history of science at Harvard University, argues that fossil-fuel companies use captured carbon dioxide to extract more fossil fuels, leading to a net increase in atmospheric CO2. Is this your view? The False Promise of Carbon Capture as a Climate Solution … Continue reading How effective is carbon capture and storage as a means to decarbonise our economies? →

Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

This weekend sees the first of three sessions of the European Citizens' Energy Efficiency Panel in Brussels with 150 European citizens discussing how energy may be used in the EU and how the energy system should change. Participants are focusing on different aspects of energy efficiency that consumers might encounter at home, in communities or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024 →

Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024

Financing the climate and energy transition is facing ever more difficulties – as I’m sure you see in your own country. At the global level, COP26 in Glasgow approved the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, a landmark climate finance framework endorsed by world leaders as a way to fund the green transition in poorer countries. However, … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 18, 2024 →

Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024

This week the European Commission will propose the new level of ambition for GHG emissions reductions it considers necessary for 2040. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) notes that the EU’s climate chief, Wopke Hoekstra, “has warned the bloc must not be lured into a “false narrative” that action against global warming is undermining the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 4, 2024 →

The German city of Mannheim heats thousands of homes using ice-cold water

River heat pumps? Mannheim started using one last year. With the concept gaining ground around the world, Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website to find out how it works and how it is being used in Mannheim. Could large heat pumps revolutionize how we warm our homes? Standing in my swimming trunks … Continue reading The German city of Mannheim heats thousands of homes using ice-cold water →

German’s energy transition faces backlash

The right and far-right are taking advantage of growing public concern about measures to climate change, promoted by the Greens. In an article on the Le Monde website, Thomas Wiede discusses latest happenings in German. Germany's backlash against environmental policies It was Thursday, January 11. For the previous three days, German farmers had been … Continue reading German’s energy transition faces backlash →