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 →

Data centres will “compete with local communities for energy and water”

Tom Wicker writes on the International Bar Association website about some of the legal issues related to AI and data centres. What are your views? Climate crisis: AI data centres to drive significant increase in energy demand and emissions In April, the International Energy Agency published a report on the ever-growing links between energy … Continue reading Data centres will “compete with local communities for energy and water” →

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 →

Vast majority of new homes in England must have solar panels

Ministers in the UK are poised to confirm that the “vast majority” of new build homes in England will need to have solar panels on their roofs, claiming the policy will cut household energy bills. Leila Nathoo and Christina McSorley discuss latest developments in an article on the BBC News website. Most new build … Continue reading Vast majority of new homes in England must have solar panels →

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 →

Save twice the ice by limiting global warming

More than three-quarters of the world's glaciers are set to vanish if climate change continues unchecked, a major new study warned Thursday, fueling sea-level rise and jeopardizing water supplies for billions. An AFP news item on the France 24 website discusses the study. Climate action could save half of world's vanishing glaciers, says study … Continue reading Save twice the ice by limiting global warming →

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 →

Builders are harnessing the power of AI to make the construction industry more efficient and sustainable

We are reading about how artificial intelligence is having a major impact on our economies and virtually everything these days. Sara Harowitz writes on the National Observer website how AI is being used in the Canadian construction industry. She adds that AI brings its own challenges. What is your experience with AI? How robots … Continue reading Builders are harnessing the power of AI to make the construction industry more efficient and sustainable →

Germany’s climate and energy transition: challenges of its new federal government

Climate issues took a back seat during Germany's election campaign. Is that likely to change under the incoming coalition government? Louise Osborne discusses in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. How will Germany's new government tackle climate issues? With the war in Ukraine, high energy prices and a flagging economy contending as the main focus points … Continue reading Germany’s climate and energy transition: challenges of its new federal government →