Poland’s drive to exploit shale gas

The shale gas “revolution” is certainly a big topic in Europe. Some are for, some are against but all are talking about it. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writes for The Telegraph from Krakow about the latest developments in Poland. Poland's shale drive will transform Europe, if it does not drop the ball The US Energy Department thinks … Continue reading Poland’s drive to exploit shale gas →

German consumers give their views on the phase out of nuclear energy and the new role for renewable energy

Dr. Matthias Lang and Prof. Dr. U. Mutschler write in Environmental Politics and Renewable about consumer acceptance of the energy transition underway in Germany. The article quotes Holger Krawinkel of VZBZ, a good friend of EiD and a former member of the board of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee). VZBZ: … Continue reading German consumers give their views on the phase out of nuclear energy and the new role for renewable energy →

Changing the rules for state aid in the EU could open the door to subsidise nuclear

Barbara Lewis and Karolin Schaps write in Euronews about the controversy that is brewing over the expected changes to EU state aid rules that will open the door for subsidising new nuclear power plants. Picking up the nuclear energy bill divides the EU European Union rules to be published over the coming weeks could … Continue reading Changing the rules for state aid in the EU could open the door to subsidise nuclear →

Quote of the week

This quote is from the German embassy website in UK concerning the country’s “Energiewende” (energy transition) “Germany aims to generate its energy supply primarily from renewables by 2050. This requires the fundamental restructuring of the energy supply system. This process is a fundamental ethical and cultural decision that offers the unique opportunity to show the world how competitiveness … Continue reading Quote of the week →

Let’s try more action and less talk

Professor John Kay is one of the most thought-provoking columnists for the Financial Times. Recently he provided this column to raise the concern that it is easier for politicians to posture, prevaricate and procrastinate than to take decisions. Those days have to come to an end if we are to really achieve our needed objectives. … Continue reading Let’s try more action and less talk →

A novel approach in Norway leads to the winner’s circle

Trust someone from Norway, with the enormous reserves of oil and gas in the country, to come up with an idea to actually pay countries to leave fossil fuels in the ground. Pilita Clark writes in The Financial Times of a prize winning idea by a Norwegian academic. Norwegian’s provocative plan to curb climate … Continue reading A novel approach in Norway leads to the winner’s circle →

Shale gas and US climate change policy

There has been much written on the shale gas revolution in the US. The reaction globally borders between horror and envy. This article by Eric Reguly of Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper is important for providing a good analysis of what this shale gas brings to Obama’s climate change policy ambitions. No doubt it still … Continue reading Shale gas and US climate change policy →

Need to reconsider our use of coal

We know that coal is not a sustainable energy source but it is still widely used, even in Europe. John Vidal writes in the Guardian about the serious impact coal pollution is having on health today in Europe. Interestingly, the Toronto Star reports that Ontario coal plants emit arsenic and chromium (which cause cancer); sulphur … Continue reading Need to reconsider our use of coal →

Matthew Ulterino: View from the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference (Vienna, 4-6 June 2013)

Matthew Ulterino attended the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference that was held recently. These are his impressions from the plenary session followed by a summary and abstract of the paper he delivered. Plenary Session – Liberalisation and Decarbonisation: Roadmap or Roadblock? One of the main conference highlights was a plenary panel that was assembled … Continue reading Matthew Ulterino: View from the Renewable Energy World/Power-Gen Europe Conference (Vienna, 4-6 June 2013) →

Renewables in a smart world

Christine Hertzog, managing director of Smart Grid Library, recently wrote in The Energy Collective about the full range of issues that has to be explored in considering the future electricity fuel mix in the US. As natural gas and renewables become headline policy themes, it is useful do some comparisons. Renewable Energy and the … Continue reading Renewables in a smart world →