Canada charts questionable course on hydrogen

United States baulks at the political cost of a carbon price

As major markets around the world add various forms of carbon tax, in the United States a country-wide price on carbon is a political non-starter

Carbon storage struggles with costs

Carbon capture and storage may be needed to decarbonise highly polluting sectors such as steel production, but the power sector would be best advised to focus on renewables and efficiency given the significant costs of the technology

Hydrogen makes its case as a niche clean transport option

Trucks and ships could be two means of transport running on hydrogen gas, produced using electricity, in the coming years

Vancouver trailblazes on embodied carbon

The Canadian city of Vancouver is leading efforts in North America to slash emissions released in the production of building construction materials, setting itself a 40% by 2030 reduction target

Low-carbon hydrogen is a key ally to electrification

The European Union is faced with making a number of key decisions imposed by the climate emergency and the need for drastic CO2 reduction. More than ever, the fight against climate change also needs to contribute to the economic recovery by developing the EU industry and technologies of the future. Low-carbon hydrogen meets both ambitions, says Christelle Rouillé, from EDF subsidiary Hynamics

Flexibility experiments work to cut the system costs of solar and wind

Network operators tasked with managing the steadily bigger swings in demand and supply that accompany greater uptake of solar and wind energy have had to choose between constraining clean generation, which adds to operating cost, or increasing grid capacity requiring capital expenditure. A less costly way is to buy system flexibility in a competitive but carefully coordinated process. Trials in areas of Britain challenged by grid constraints are producing encouraging results

Italy’s dreams of a green hydrogen future rest on its renewables plan

Italy is putting many eggs in the hydrogen basket to decarbonise its heavy industry, including its prized steel sector. Authorities dream of converted hydrogen steel plants and “hydrogen valleys” dotted across the country. But while attention is focussed on whether hydrogen can solve Italy’s problems, other key ingredients to make the hydrogen green are being ignored

The energy transition is at risk by hydrogen’s perceived simplicity

Low-carbon hydrogen will almost certainly be needed to cut emissions across a range of hard-to-abate sectors. However, if it is used to solve too many problems, it could end up delaying the energy transition and putting urgent decarbonisation plans in jeopardy

Isolated Iberian Peninsula unable to maximise renewables potential

The Iberian Peninsula in southwest Europe is blessed with wind and solar resources that could help the rest of the region reduce its reliance on natural gas—but whether it ends up as electricity or another energy carrier, getting it out remains difficult