Driving energy innovation in Germany

While Britain visualises a nuclear future, Angela Merkel’s aim of replacing it with renewables by 2022 is well under way, writes Jennifer Rankin in The Guardian.   Germany's planned nuclear switch-off drives energy innovation Hinkley Point will be the first nuclear power plant to be built in Europe since the meltdown of Japan’s Fukushima reactor … Continue reading Driving energy innovation in Germany →

Energy policy is now a higher priority in the political agenda in America

We all watch attentively at what the United States does in energy policy or climate change policies. The divisions between the executive and congress get much attention. The divisions between the Republicans and the Democrats equally get much attention. With the next presidential election race gaining momentum, Nick Butler writes an excellent blog in the … Continue reading Energy policy is now a higher priority in the political agenda in America →

Emissions standards in Europe

It was interesting that the current controversy over Volkswagen cheating on diesel emissions tests was identified in the United States and not Europe. Europe is very proud of its standards for vehicles, appliances and buildings, but there has often been a concern that enforcement is either poor or unevenly done throughout the European Union. Member … Continue reading Emissions standards in Europe →

Why industrial energy efficiency is on a growth trajectory in the US

Improving the energy performance in industry should be a high priority but that has not always been true in our policy development. As described by Elisa Wood on the Energy Efficiency Markets website, maybe that is about to change.   Move Over Solar, Time to Welcome Industrial Energy Efficiency: Pew Report ‘Industrial energy efficiency’ doesn’t … Continue reading Why industrial energy efficiency is on a growth trajectory in the US →

Small changes can have an enormous impact

Irish eyes will be smiling by the comments of Dr. Kristina Johnson, former US energy under-secretary who sees great potential for Ireland being a prototype for crowdsourcing and prosumers. Lorna Siggins explains in The Irish Times.   Making renewable energy fun: crowdsourcing and prosumers Former US energy under-secretary Dr Kristina Johnson doesn’t carry a crystal … Continue reading Small changes can have an enormous impact →

New report on the multiple benefits of improved energy efficiency

The Partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Danish Technical University is very active promoting sustainability. The Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development of the UNEP DTU Partnership provides the following primary services: 1) innovative research, including policy analyses and recommendations, and impact assessments; 2) capacity building at the institutional level and … Continue reading New report on the multiple benefits of improved energy efficiency →

Overcoming technical challenges in the development of lithium-air batteries

We are always looking for technical breakthroughs. The latest news comes in electrochemistry. Clive Cookson writes in the Financial Times about latest developments at Cambridge University that have the potential for greatly extending the range of electric vehicles and potentially transforming the economics of electricity storage.   Cambridge chemists make super-battery breakthrough A breakthrough in … Continue reading Overcoming technical challenges in the development of lithium-air batteries →

What do you do when you’re slipping down the energy efficiency league table

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has recently published its scorecard about how effective the states are doing to implement energy efficiency policies. Too often our focus is on the “winners,” but Tom Johnson writes a good article on the NJ Spotlight website about how New Jersey has lost ground and what this means. … Continue reading What do you do when you’re slipping down the energy efficiency league table →