Making solar power available on demand

In an article on The Conversation website, Vera Moerbeek, Doctorante en physique, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS); Université de Perpignan Via Domitia writes about the next generation of energy storage: thermal batteries using thermophotovoltaics (TPV) that could make solar power dispatchable without relying on lithium-ion batteries. What are your views?   How next‑generation … Continue reading Making solar power available on demand →

Reflections on the IEA’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency was definitely front and centre for many this week, starting with  the International Energy Agency’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Montreal, June 29-30th. There were around 600 attendees from 60 countries. There were 40 ministers or heads of delegations, with about 25 at the ministerial level. There were about 70 … Continue reading Reflections on the IEA’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency →

China’s new five-year plan accelerates the energy transition

Anika Patel writes on the Carbon Brief website about China's new five-year energy strategy, which strengthens its commitment to renewable energy while retaining coal as a backup, introduces mandatory clean energy consumption targets, and reinforces its position in global clean-energy competition.   China Briefing 25 June 2026: Five-year plans passed | Critical-mineral tensions | Industrial … Continue reading China’s new five-year plan accelerates the energy transition →

The petrostate meets the electrostate

In an article on The Conversation website, Philippe Le Billon, Professor, Geography Department and School of Public Policy & Global Affairs, University of British Columbia and Suzanne Duroy, a full-time journalist based in Taiwan, discuss the contrast between America's fossil fuel-based "energy dominance" strategy and China's growing leadership in clean energy, viewed through Taiwan's energy … Continue reading The petrostate meets the electrostate →

Renewables can now deliver 24/7 power — and compete on cost

Craig Saueurs writes on the Euronews website about the mix of renewables and storage now challenges fossil fuels on price according to a new report from IRENA.   Round-the-clock renewables: New report says clean energy now challenges fossil fuels on price The cost of battery storage has dropped more than 90 per cent since 2010, … Continue reading Renewables can now deliver 24/7 power — and compete on cost →

How renewables shielded Britain from soaring gas prices

In an article on the Carbon Brief website, Simon Evans and Ho Woo Nam explain how the UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £1.7bn since the start of the Iran war, as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar.   Analysis: Wind and solar have saved UK from gas … Continue reading How renewables shielded Britain from soaring gas prices →

Energy in Demand News, May 3-4, 2026

The big news this week was that more than 50 countries gathered in Colombia to work on trade measures to cut out fossil fuels, as reported below in EiD. The meeting was considered the “coalition of the willing,” and grew out of frustration of the UNFCCC process where there were simply too many fossil fuel … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 3-4, 2026 →

Blog by Jane Marsh – The fibre optic-energy grid convergence: building smart infrastructure for tomorrow

Energy systems around the world are evolving rapidly as utilities respond to rising demand and the need for real-time control over electricity production and distribution. Traditional grid infrastructure once operated on predictable patterns and one-way energy flow. Now, it faces a more dynamic environment shaped by renewable integration and digital innovation. The role of communication … Continue reading Blog by Jane Marsh – The fibre optic-energy grid convergence: building smart infrastructure for tomorrow →

Oil shock, solar boom: how crisis is accelerating the clean energy transition

In an article on The Conversation website, Ray Wills, Adjunct Professor, The University of Western Australia and Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University give a good account of the dynamics of the energy transition.   Is oil king again? China’s surging cleantech exports show the opposite is true Over the last two months, nations … Continue reading Oil shock, solar boom: how crisis is accelerating the clean energy transition →

Countries unite to ditch fossil fuels — now comes the hard part

The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, held this past week, aimed to solidify a coalition of the willing and provide a political platform for countries ready for an orderly, equitable transition away from fossil fuels. As Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website, the message from inaugural talks on exiting fossil … Continue reading Countries unite to ditch fossil fuels — now comes the hard part →