Japan sets sights on 50% renewable energy by 2050

Japan, which is a signatory to the Paris climate deal, has been seen as reluctant to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel, despite its self-professed pride as a nation of energy-saving technologies. The country was the sixth-biggest contributor to global greenhouse emissions in 2017, according to the International Energy Agency. Now, Agence France-Presse reports on … Continue reading Japan sets sights on 50% renewable energy by 2050 →

Britain comes out with long-awaited energy white paper as part of its strategy to help “clean up” the country’s energy system

James Murray writes on the NS Energy website about the key points in the recently published energy white paper. What are your views? What are the key points of the UK energy white paper? The government said the plan will support up to 220,000 British jobs and “put affordability at the heart of the … Continue reading Britain comes out with long-awaited energy white paper as part of its strategy to help “clean up” the country’s energy system →

The exponential drop in the cost of solar, storage and power electronics is accelerating the energy transition already underway

Doug Arent and Adam Warren from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory discuss in the January 2021 Issue on the Financier Worldwide website the opportunities available to invest in clean energy technologies because of their dramatic cost reductions in the past decade. Financing clean energy: unprecedented momentum and opportunity Clean energy technologies, particularly solar photovoltaics … Continue reading The exponential drop in the cost of solar, storage and power electronics is accelerating the energy transition already underway →

Overcoming the problems of finding easily and quickly trustable energy data

Data is at the heart of good analysis. Our policymaking in energy policy depends on it, yet so often we face major data problems. One project funded by the European Commission, entitled EnerMaps, has developed a new tool to help overcome some of these problems. Below is a short version describing the project. A longer … Continue reading Overcoming the problems of finding easily and quickly trustable energy data →

New study examines what will the electricity system in Ireland will look like in 2030 as it meets the challenges of renewable electricity policy, decarbonisation and security of supply

The carbon neutral energy transition means that our electricity grids have to be fit for purpose. Kevin O’Sullivan writes on the Irish Times website about a new report analysing what needs to happen in Ireland to be ready. Electricity capacity predicted to rise 40% with emissions halved by 2030 By 2030, the electricity system … Continue reading New study examines what will the electricity system in Ireland will look like in 2030 as it meets the challenges of renewable electricity policy, decarbonisation and security of supply →

EU green finance getting more serious

Kate Abnett and Simon Jessop write on the Reuter’s website that new taxonomy rules will be tighter for buildings but much less so for the shipping industry. No doubt you will be reading more about latest developments in taxonomy. On November 20th, the Commission launched a stakeholder feedback period on the draft Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing … Continue reading EU green finance getting more serious →

World’s first major plant to store energy in form of liquid air

A 50MW facility near Manchester in the UK will store enough power for roughly 50,000 homes for five hours. Roger Harrabin explains in an article on the BBC website. UK energy plant to use liquid air Work is beginning on what is thought to be the world's first major plant to store energy in … Continue reading World’s first major plant to store energy in form of liquid air →

New IISD report: G20 backtracks on fossil fuel funding phase-out

G20 governments are still spending more than half a trillion USD on oil, gas, and coal each year—and the pandemic has likely undone any progress on phasing out this support. In Doubling Back and Doubling Down: G20 Scorecard on Fossil Fuel Funding, researchers considered recovery commitments and pre-pandemic policies to rank G20 countries' progress in … Continue reading New IISD report: G20 backtracks on fossil fuel funding phase-out →

By shifting current policies and fundamental program designs, next-generation energy efficiency programmes can be a crucial tool for meeting deep carbon-reduction goals

Val Jensen writes on the Greentech media website about the need to revamp energy efficiency programmes to meet long-term energy and climate objectives. While he speaks about the United States, there are no doubt lessons for all of us. Revamped Energy Efficiency Programs Are the Key to Deep Carbon Reductions Across the U.S., governments … Continue reading By shifting current policies and fundamental program designs, next-generation energy efficiency programmes can be a crucial tool for meeting deep carbon-reduction goals →

To reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible not all low-carbon energy sources are equally useful

Simone Abram, Alton Horsfall and Andrew Crossland from Durham University write on The Conversation website argue that only talking about decarbonisation obscures the inherent choice between energy pathways. What are your views? 'Decarbonisation' may be the wrong goal for energy – here's why Electricity generated by nuclear power plants, wind turbines and solar panels … Continue reading To reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible not all low-carbon energy sources are equally useful →