This will get the Irish singing – renewable energy playing key role in energy policy

Tina Costanza writes in siliconrepublic.com that the use of renewable energy has already saved importing more than €1 billion. This will definitely be welcome news to a country that has been making every effort to get out of the financial crisis that has punished the economy. Renewable energy has saved Ireland more than €1bn … Continue reading This will get the Irish singing – renewable energy playing key role in energy policy →

Renewable energy markets gets boost with lowering solar PV costs

Many global electricity systems are in a low carbon transition and these will benefit from the lower manufacturing costs for solar panels. Giles Parkinson writes in Australia’s RenewEconomy about the dynamics in the global industry. Impressively manufacturing costs dropped 70-80 per cent between 2007 and 2012. Importantly, the article shows that those price drops were … Continue reading Renewable energy markets gets boost with lowering solar PV costs →

Backlash in Germany’s industry to increased costs to support renewable energy

Australia’s Business Spectator provides an important article on how Germany’s heavy industry is being hit in the pocketbook to help fund renewable energy as part of Germany’s energy transition strategy. Surely there must be a better way to promote auto-production. The success of Europe’s energy policies will obviously have a big impact on Australia’s policies. … Continue reading Backlash in Germany’s industry to increased costs to support renewable energy →

Exploring the dynamics of the 21st century energy industry

Sometimes we complain that the low carbon transition is not happening fast enough. This week I was in Brussels and many people I met were worried that we may be going to fast and that the repercussions on our electricity system may lead to fewer long-term investments for both generation and transmission. And there are … Continue reading Exploring the dynamics of the 21st century energy industry →

Global markets in fossil fuels are curbing the development of renewable energy in Africa

Fossil fuels have dominated energy markets for decades and the industry has no intention of changing that. While there are efforts to transform our energy systems to low carbon energy sources, the road is not easy or straightforward. The Business Standard in India reports on the message from a UN official from the Economic Commission … Continue reading Global markets in fossil fuels are curbing the development of renewable energy in Africa →

Unintended impact of renewable energy targets in Romania

We have seen many EU member states retreating from high feed-in tariffs for renewable energy. We see Germany bounding ahead with renewables as its centrepiece for its energy transition. We have seen the European Commission recently propose a binding target for renewable energy for 2030, but binding only EU-wide and not for individual countries, whatever … Continue reading Unintended impact of renewable energy targets in Romania →

The roller coaster approach to renewable energy policy

This article by Colm Kelpie in the Irish Independent is quite disturbing because EU and national energy policies were supposed to develop a long-term policy framework that gave investors confidence and reduced risk. Instead, we are seeing the traditional stop-start approach to energy policy. If we are serious about 2030 or 2050 energy and climate … Continue reading The roller coaster approach to renewable energy policy →

Quote of the week

Many were disappointed with last week’s proposals from the European Commission for targets for energy and climate for 2030. It is important to reflect on the words from the inventor of the “long lasting, practical” incandescent light bulb (and much more), Thomas Edison: We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house … Continue reading Quote of the week →

The winds of change

Definitely, offshore wind farms are increasingly appearing in the US. Interestingly, according to Diane Cardwell from the New York Times, companies from Europe are taking a dominant role. U.S. Offshore Wind Farm, Made in Europe Carl Horstmann strode around the floor of his factory here, passing welders honing head-high metal tubes as sparks flew. … Continue reading The winds of change →

The European Commission in the news

This week, the European Commission presented its long-expected 2030 climate and energy policy framework, whereby there will be a binding target for GHG emissions, a modest binding EU (but not at the member state level) target for renewable energy and, once again, a non-binding target for energy savings. The purpose behind the policy framework is … Continue reading The European Commission in the news →