Focus on 2030: new report and blog by E3G

Ingrid Holmes and Luca Bergamaschi of E3G recently published a briefing report on why energy efficiency is a key component for making the 2030 energy and climate package work. The European Commission is therefore developing a 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies following a consultation that took place in 2013. This briefing … Continue reading Focus on 2030: new report and blog by E3G →

Where are subsidy policies going?

Following the numbers of the week Agence France Presse writes that the EU is having a re-think about the level of subsidies for renewable energy. Hopefully, whatever happens, there will be a level playing field, as they say. The numbers of the week show the extent of the subsidies for fossil fuels. Last week, the … Continue reading Where are subsidy policies going? →

Changes start at DG Energy

Tony Vogel of European Voice writes about big changes at the head of DG Energy Ristori to succeed Lowe as head of energy department European Commission appoints Frenchman to key post. The European Commission has appointed Dominique Ristori of France as the new director-general of its department for energy. He is to take over on … Continue reading Changes start at DG Energy →

How energy efficient lighting may shake consumers

As the EU's Ecodesign Regulation requirements continue to escalate, Caroline Hayes reports in LEDs Magazine that LED replacements for mains-voltage halogens may not deliver on consumer expectations on time, while directional SSL lamps are moving faster than the pace of the scheduled phase-out. I was surprised that the Ecodesign regulation was introduced without industry consultation. … Continue reading How energy efficient lighting may shake consumers →

Putting environmental requirements on any shale gas development

The German Energy Blog writes about the European Parliament pushing for strict environmental regulations if fracking is to go ahead. No doubt the interest in fracking is such that better policies are certainly required. The European Commission is currently assessing the framework for shale gas production in the EU and may well consider appropriate regulation. … Continue reading Putting environmental requirements on any shale gas development →

Number of the week – 70 billion

Reuter's news agency wrote in the Guardian about Germany blocking EU car emissions law. The article goes on that British-based consultancy Cambridge Econometrics researched how much Europe would save on oil imports if the 95 g/km target (which was stopped by Germany) was implemented across the EU fleet. It found the EU as a whole … Continue reading Number of the week – 70 billion →

Changing the rules for state aid in the EU could open the door to subsidise nuclear

Barbara Lewis and Karolin Schaps write in Euronews about the controversy that is brewing over the expected changes to EU state aid rules that will open the door for subsidising new nuclear power plants. Picking up the nuclear energy bill divides the EU European Union rules to be published over the coming weeks could … Continue reading Changing the rules for state aid in the EU could open the door to subsidise nuclear →

New report from the European Environment Agency: An overview of EU environment policy targets and objectives

European Union legislation has established more than 130 separate environmental targets and objectives to be met between 2010 and 2050. Together, these can provide useful milestones supporting Europe’s transition towards a ‘green economy’, according to a report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The ‘green economy’ has emerged as a priority in policy debate … Continue reading New report from the European Environment Agency: An overview of EU environment policy targets and objectives →

Andrew Warren on EU energy savings targets

Andrew Warren, Director of the UK Association for the Conservation of Energy, wrote an excellent column that appears in the current issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine. He looked at the way in which the absence of a legally binding Europe-wide target for energy efficiency improvement for 2020 is leading to the likelihood … Continue reading Andrew Warren on EU energy savings targets →

Concern about emissions trading scheme affecting the impact of renewables

Damian Carrington writes in the Guardian about the effects of an oversupply of carbon permits in the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on other efforts to cut carbon emissions. EU emissions trading scheme 'set to cancel out renewable energy gains' Deep problems in Europe’s carbon trading scheme – its flagship climate change policy … Continue reading Concern about emissions trading scheme affecting the impact of renewables →