World Energy Council Sustainable Energy Index

The World Energy Council (WEC) has recently released its 2014 Energy Sustainability Index. The index ranks countries in terms of their likely ability to provide sustainable energy policies through the 3 dimensions of the energy trilemma: Energy security: the effective management of primary energy supply from domestic and external sources, the reliability of energy infrastructure, … Continue reading World Energy Council Sustainable Energy Index →

The need for smart EU energy markets

The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, has published an important new briefing report on energy markets in the European Union, written by Simon Skillings and Taylor Dimsdale. As E3G states, it is easy to be pessimistic about the state of EU energy policy and … Continue reading The need for smart EU energy markets →

Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook

This year’s World Energy Outlook (WEO) from the International Energy Agency provides a stark warning that the global energy system is in danger of falling short of the hopes and expectations placed upon it. It does add that advances in technology and efficiency give some reasons for optimism, but sustained political efforts will be essential … Continue reading Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook →

The deadly effects of fuel poverty in the UK

Simon Read writes a sobering article in The Independent that each winter, one older person dies every seven minutes from cold weather. Even with a fuel poverty strategy that includes a winter fuel allowance, we are still seeing an impact that is surely unacceptable. Fuel poverty crisis leave one in three pensioners in turmoil … Continue reading The deadly effects of fuel poverty in the UK →

Britain is moving forward on shale gas

Recently Stanley Reed wrote in the New York Times about the recent developments in Britain’s effort to exploit its shale gas reserves. Britain is certainly moving forward in shale gas and expanding nuclear energy. There are certainly many who are not convinced this is the right way forward but the government certainly seems determined that … Continue reading Britain is moving forward on shale gas →

More on Denmark’s energy transition

Justin Gillis writes in the New York Times about Denmark’s efforts for 100% renewables. A Tricky Transition From Fossil Fuel Denmark, a tiny country on the northern fringe of Europe, is pursuing the world’s most ambitious policy against climate change. It aims to end the burning of fossil fuels in any form by 2050 … Continue reading More on Denmark’s energy transition →

Energy policy review of Morocco

The IEA recently published its country review of the energy policies of Morocco. It is the first such review that the IEA has done for any African country. Morocco’s energy strategy is very much on target, with notable advances in wind and solar power and on fuel subsidy reform, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says … Continue reading Energy policy review of Morocco →

Backyard energy plants

Paul Hockenos writes a very good article in Foreign Policy about the green energy revolution taking place in Germany’s backyards. Undoubtedly, this is an important part of Germany’s energy transition. As Hockenos states Germany is increasingly powered by backyard windmills and locally owned solar panels. And he goes on that this complex, patchwork system just … Continue reading Backyard energy plants →

European Environment Agency assesses how EU meeting 2020 climate and energy targets

The European Environment Agency recently published a set of documents assessing the EU’s progress in meeting 2020 climate and energy targets Policies put the EU on track to meet its 2020 climate and energy targets but bigger push needed for 2030 European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions fell almost 2 % between 2012 and … Continue reading European Environment Agency assesses how EU meeting 2020 climate and energy targets →

Comparing the US to Germany’s energy transition

Umair Irfan writes an interesting article in E&E Publishing that looks at Germany’s energy transition in comparison to what is happening in the US. Because of different consumption patterns, despite a vast gulf in energy prices, households in both Germany and the United States spend a comparable amount on electricity. It is good to see … Continue reading Comparing the US to Germany’s energy transition →