Shale gas and the dilemma for European energy policy

Stephen Erlanger provides an excellent review in the New York Times of the effect shale gas is having on energy policy in Europe. Interestingly, the CEO for the oil company Total provides an important comment on the situation. “But the issue is not shale gas,” about which there is a great deal of fear and … Continue reading Shale gas and the dilemma for European energy policy →

Concerns about Europe’s competitiveness

Joshua Chaffin writes in the Financial Times about the warnings from the head of Germany’s largest utility about the advantage that the US has in energy costs. It does not mention that the US has always had some advantage because taxes and other forms of duties have always been higher in Europe. But the article … Continue reading Concerns about Europe’s competitiveness →

Will the energy transition continue in Germany after its recent election?

What will happen to Germany's energy transition is the big question. When you read some of the recent British press that have been posted in EiD, one wonders. But in EiD’s discussions with German friends and colleagues, one becomes quite optimistic. Obviously, we have to see what happens in the negotiations to form the next … Continue reading Will the energy transition continue in Germany after its recent election? →

Warning about the environmental consequences of shale gas

No doubt the battle continues about shale gas. Now, Fiona Harvey writes in the Guardian about the former UK scientific adviser weighing in to provide his warnings. Undoubtedly, this issue is going to go on and on. Sir David King warns against fracking Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser to the government, has warned … Continue reading Warning about the environmental consequences of shale gas →

Bringing electricity to the developing world

Tina Rosenberg, former Pulitzer Prize winner, recently provided this opinion piece in the New York Times. As we are seeking solutions to increase access to modern energy services to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Energy for All, Ms. Rosenberg’s article provides important evidence that many of our modern devices that … Continue reading Bringing electricity to the developing world →

Germany’s energy transition certainly has its critics

Views certainly appear polarised on the success of Germany’s energy transition to date. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writing in The Telegraph certainly believes the dream is over. It would be good to hear from EiD readers about their views. Is it really economic suicide? Romantic Germany risks economic decline as green dream spoils Germany is committing slow … Continue reading Germany’s energy transition certainly has its critics →

Number of the week – 2

The Council of European Energy Regulators has just published its status report “Status Review of Regulatory Aspects of Smart Metering, Including an assessment of roll-out as of 1 January 2013.” [add pdf] The report states that only 2 countries have completed the roll out of smart meters for electricity – Sweden and Italy.

Shale gas on the rise?

On September 5th, Britain’s Energy Secretary, Ed Davey, gave strong support for fracking. "If we can have gas safely in this country that will mean jobs, tax revenue and greater energy security - so fracking is not the evil thing that some people try to make it out to be," he said on BBC’s Radio … Continue reading Shale gas on the rise? →

Concerns about how sustainable the solar industry is

David Ferris, a journalist who writes often for Forbes, Sierra magazine and the New York Times, provided an interesting article in The Guardian about the struggle that solar manufacturers have to survive and what the impact means on sustainability. Sustainability and the solar industry Is sustainability losing momentum in the solar industry? The commitment of solar … Continue reading Concerns about how sustainable the solar industry is →

Questions about the security of smart meters

John Naughton writes in The Observer about the security aspects of the roll out of smart meters through the UK. Why smart meters might not be so clever after all Smart meters will be widespread in the UK by the end of the decade, but has the government thought through the security ramifications? Those … Continue reading Questions about the security of smart meters →