With the global climate conference coming soon in Paris, Europe is still contending with many issues at once that only add to the complexity that all countries face. Pilita Clark provides a good article in the Financial Times about how the EU is trying to ensure energy supplies are secure, affordable and do not raise … Continue reading An awkward time for the European Union’s energy industry
Category: EU policies
Reflecting on the struggles for Europe to create its energy union
Sometimes one finds the most thought-provoking posts on European energy policy come from sources outside Europe. Well, this is true about this New York Times article, written by David Buchan, research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Outside Forces Shape European Energy The European Union is struggling to create what it calls … Continue reading Reflecting on the struggles for Europe to create its energy union
Taking energy efficiency ‘to the next level’ in Europe
The Investor Confidence Project Europe (ICP Europe) has written a very good article on the BusinessGreen website about how to take the European energy efficiency sector to the next level. You should enjoy this. EiD looks forward to your comments. ICP Europe is a project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme. The project … Continue reading Taking energy efficiency ‘to the next level’ in Europe
Loopholes will persist in new EU emissions tests for vehicles
The IEA first wrote about vehicle tests back in 1984 and one would think we have solved the problems in accuracy. Andy Sharman writes in the Financial Times that the new emissions test will do little to bring official results into line with reality. New emissions test still falls short, say critics A tough … Continue reading Loopholes will persist in new EU emissions tests for vehicles
Regulations driving energy efficiency improvements
Writing on the BusinessGreen website, Stuart Turner of Hamworthy Heating looks beyond EU legislation on boiler efficiency to discuss how the real energy savings are to be achieved. Who’s driving energy- efficiency improvements? ErP [the Energy Related Products Directive] is seen as the driving force for energy-efficiency improvements. The criteria set out in the … Continue reading Regulations driving energy efficiency improvements
European Investment Bank provides draft climate action strategy for review
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is carrying out a review on its approach to supporting climate action. A related public consultation was open from 12th January 2015 to 16th March 2015. The consultation involved meetings with stakeholders. The review process is taking place in parallel to the on-going climate negotiations before the global climate summit … Continue reading European Investment Bank provides draft climate action strategy for review
Calls for new car CO2 emissions goals set the scene for another battle over fuel efficiency regulations in the EU
In an article in the Guardian by Arthur Neslen, ministers from the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland and Finland say new CO2 goals would reduce motoring costs and aid the transition to zero-emission vehicles. EU states call for tough new car fuel efficiency targets The EU should set challenging new fuel efficiency targets for new cars … Continue reading Calls for new car CO2 emissions goals set the scene for another battle over fuel efficiency regulations in the EU
British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes
Philip Oldfield writes in the Guardian about the government decision to axe plans to make new homes carbon neutral from 2016. This has raised much criticism. What the article does not mention is how the government will now meet its related obligations for nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive. … Continue reading British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes
On target for 2020?
Andrew Warren, honorary president of the UK’s Association for the Conservation of Energy writes about how the UK government appears to be manipulating information it is sending to the European Commission for the monitoring of progress to meet 2020 energy efficiency targets. If the UK is doing this, how many other member states are doing … Continue reading On target for 2020?
Impact of proposed new air pollution limits in Europe
Arthur Neslen writes in the Guardian about a new study commissioned by Greenpeace and the European Environment Bureau about concerns that likely weakened air pollution standards that are currently in draft form will have a serious impact in Europe. It would be good if anyone has more information on the likelihood of these plans being … Continue reading Impact of proposed new air pollution limits in Europe
