Opinion

Leading thoughts from energy transition experts

5 min.
A combination of low-carbon heating technologies and energy efficiency improvements is the obvious answer to decarbonise heating, says Jan Rosenow, Director of European programmes with the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)15/April/2019

Don’t throw money for heat decarbonisation out of the window

 A combination of low-carbon heating technologies and energy efficiency improvements is the obvious answer to decarbonise heating, says Jan Rosenow, Director of European programmes with the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
6 min.
Direct tariffs should be promoted and financed by large-scale donors to accelerate the adoption of renewables in developing countries, argue experts from Dahlberg, a global advisory firm. This would encourage the release of extra capital by guaranteeing a market and an energy price for clean energy sources08/April/2019

Financing the energy transition in Tanzania

 Direct tariffs should be promoted and financed by large-scale donors to accelerate the adoption of renewables in developing countries, argue experts from Dalberg, a global advisory firm. This would encourage the release of extra capital by guaranteeing a market and an energy price for clean energy sources
4 min.
The influence of younger generations on the boards of well known brands such as packaging company Tetra Pak is ensuring that climate action and the energy transition are at the heart of business strategies, says Jo Sullivan, founder and CEO of Conscience Consulting, a Brussels-based boutique sustainability communication agency01/April/2019

Sustainability trailblazers

 The influence of younger generations on the boards of well known brands such as packaging company Tetra Pak is ensuring that climate action and the energy transition are at the heart of business strategies, says Jo Sullivan, founder and CEO of Conscience Consulting, a Brussels-based boutique sustainability communication agency
5 min.
Policymakers know enough about the technologies and practices that will, and will not, be part of a zero-emissions future to take clear policy decisions that will accelerate change25/March/2019

Some things are not negotiable

 Modelling aimed at creating a zero-carbon energy system by 2050 will never be perfect, but a new report shows enough knowledge now exists to make clear decisions about the infrastructure and investments needed to move forward in the right direction, writes Lisa Fischer, Senior Policy Adviser at think-tank E3G
3 min.
Implementing solutions to speed up the energy transition will help businesses contribute to stopping climate change, but also help them recruit the bright young things necessary for their future growth20/March/2019

We can all accelerate the energy transition

 Ignoring the energy transition is a threat to the climate, but will also undermine the ability of companies to hire the best talent and attract future clients, argues Helene Egebøl, CEO of Schneider Electric Denmark
4 min.
Burning imported waste for energy will be incompatible with climate targets in the longer term, say researchers in Denmark15/March/2019

Limited future for energy from incinerated waste imports

 Burning imported waste for energy will be incompatible with climate targets in the longer term, say researchers in Denmark
7 min.
Ørsted’s transformation from a fossil-intensive European utility to a leading global renewable energy company has benefited the company’s bottom line as well as the climate, writes Jakob Askou Bøss, Head of Strategy and Communication07/March/2019

From black to green in a decade

 Ørsted’s transformation from a fossil-intensive European utility to a leading global renewable energy company has benefited the company’s bottom line as well as the climate, writes Jakob Askou Bøss, Head of Strategy and Communication
4 min.
Learnings from business and science will help NATO engage better in the energy transition and create a resilient and energy-efficient military, explain the security organisation’s Anto-nio Missiroli and Michael Rühle25/February/2019

Squaring military, energy and environmental security: NATO’s approach

 Learnings from business and science will help NATO engage better in the energy transition and create a resilient and energy-efficient military, explain the security organisation’s Antonio Missiroli and Michael Rühle
5 min.
Distribution system operators could compromise the energy transition if they delay their response to changes in the networks, says Serge Colle, EY Global Power and Utilities Advisory Leader22/February/2019

Where does change start if the future is already decided?

 Distribution system operators could compromise the energy transition if they delay their response to changes in the networks, says Serge Colle, EY Global Power and Utilities Advisory Leader
5 min.
As the European Investment Bank launches a public consultation on future energy lending, Vice President Andrew McDowell argues for a doubling in energy investments in the next ten years20/February/2019

An invitation to the energy transformation

 As the European Investment Bank launches a public consultation on future energy lending, Vice President Andrew McDowell argues for a doubling in energy investments in the next ten years
4 min.
Europe urgently needs an industrial strategy in line with international climate targets, backed by a smart policy framework to help heavy industry decarbonise and remain competitive18/February/2019

Towards a climate neutral industrial strategy in Europe

 Europe urgently needs an industrial strategy in line with international climate targets, backed by a smart policy framework to help heavy industry decarbonise and remain competitive, says Matilda Axelson from the Institute for European Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel
4 min.
Sustainable business means taking responsibility for your impact. This is the definition of carbon neutrality: reducing your emissions as much as possible and compensating for the rest.14/February/2019

Ten steps to become a carbon neutral business

 Sustainable business means taking responsibility for your impact. This is the definition of carbon neutrality: reducing your emissions as much as possible and compensating for the rest.
5 min.
Spanish utility Iberdrola is testing the use of blockchain to show customers exactly where their wind energy is produced. Francisco Hernanz, Head of Renewable Energy Management at the company, highlights the importance of innovation11/February/2019

Blockchain in energy

 Spanish utility Iberdrola is testing the use of blockchain to show customers exactly where their wind energy is produced. Francisco Hernanz, Head of Renewable Energy Management at the company, highlights the importance of innovation
12 min.
Set up at the end of the Cold War, the Energy Charter Treaty, without significant reform, is now largely irrelevant and doing more harm than good to the energy transition, argues Sarah Keay-Bright, independent consultant and previously expert at the Energy Charter Secretariat04/February/2019

Energy Charter Treaty and the energy transition: reform, then exit?

 Set up at the end of the Cold War, the Energy Charter Treaty, without significant reform, is now largely irrelevant and doing more harm than good to the energy transition, argues Sarah Keay-Bright, independent consultant and previously expert at the Energy Charter Secretariat
5 min.
Businesses should take full advantage of the EU’s place as an energy transition leader, write Sami Andoura and Philipp Offenberg from the European Political Strategy Centre, the European Commission’s think-tank24/January/2019

Accelerating the transformation to a climate neutral economy

 Businesses should take full advantage of the EU’s place as an energy transition leader, write Sami Andoura and Philipp Offenberg from the European Political Strategy Centre, the European Commission’s think-tank
3-4 min.
Geneva is changing its technologies and its ways of working to become a truly smart, energy efficient city, argues Patricia Solioz from Geneva Industrial Services, a public utility11/January/2019

Working multilaterally for a successful smart city

 Geneva is changing its technologies and its ways of working to become a truly smart, energy efficient city, argues Patricia Solioz from Geneva Industrial Services, a public utility
5-6 min.
Understanding what disruption means in relation to the energy transition is important for all current and potential energy industry players, says Albert Cheung, Head of Global Analysis at BloombergNEF07/January/2019

Disruptive definitions

 Understanding what disruption means in relation to the energy transition is important for all current and potential energy industry players, says Albert Cheung, Head of Global Analysis at BloombergNEF
4-5 min.
With outside help, developing countries can move directly from no electricity to clean, affordable electricity, says Janu Ramchandani of Kinect Energy Group04/January/2019

Multiple benefits

 With outside help, developing countries can move directly from no electricity to clean, affordable electricity, says Janu Ramchandani of Kinect Energy Group
3-4 min.
Businesses, individuals and not-for-profit foundations are leading a clean and affordable energy transition in developing countries, says Rachel Mountain from Energise Africa02/January/2019

Mobilising money

 Businesses, individuals and not-for-profit foundations are leading a clean and affordable energy transition in developing countries, says Rachel Mountain from Energise Africa
6-7 min.
There is no absolutely excuse to delay investing increasing amounts of carbon revenues in energy efficiency, say Richard Cowart and Catharina Wiese from the Regulatory Assistance Project19/December/2018

A perfect match: Using carbon revenues to finance energy efficiency

 There is absolutely no excuse to delay investing increasing amounts of carbon revenues in energy efficiency, say Richard Cowart and Catharina Wiese from the Regulatory Assistance Project
4-5 min.
Working together for economic and climate goals17/December/2018

Working together for economic and climate goals

 Power and heavy industry companies leading decarbonisation efforts will benefit the climate and boost their own businesses, argues Marion Labatut from Eurelectric, a European electricity industry federation
5-6 min.
Whether self-driving cars are a help or a hindrance to efforts to reduce transport emissions will depend on the rules, planning and pricing structures that accompany its introduction, argue Sami Angsthelm and Giel Mertens from Bax & Company14/December/2018

The great potential of autonomous mobility

 Whether self-driving cars are a help or a hindrance to efforts to reduce transport emissions will depend on the rules, planning and pricing structures that accompany its introduction, argue Sami Angsthelm and Giel Mertens from Bax & Company
4-5 min.
EU proposals to fund new gas infrastructure projects make no sense given Europe’s decarbonisation commitments. The European Parliament can vote on 12 December to ensure clean energy infrastructure is prioritised, say Elisa Giannelli and Lisa Fischer from think-tank E3G10/December/2018

Energy infrastructure for a climate neutral Europe

 EU proposals to fund new gas infrastructure projects make no sense given Europe’s decarbonisation commitments. The European Parliament can vote on 12 December to ensure clean energy infrastructure is prioritised, say Elisa Giannelli and Lisa Fischer from think-tank E3G
4-5 min.
As heavy industry, business and investors rally round the 2050 strategic climate change vision launched this week by the European Commission, Jonathan Gaventa, Brussels-based Director of E3G, believes this is a defining moment for the energy transition globally30/November/2018

A turning point: Europe’s climate neutral 2050 vision

 As heavy industry, business and investors rally round the 2050 strategic climate change vision launched this week by the European Commission, Jonathan Gaventa, Brussels-based Director of E3G, believes this is a defining moment for the energy transition globally
4-5 min.
If we don’t electrify more, we won’t reach our decarbonisation goals, says Ralf Christian, CEO of Siemens Energy Management Division26/November/2018

Coming soon: the all-electric energy world

 If we don’t electrify more, we won’t reach our decarbonisation goals, says Ralf Christian, CEO of Siemens Energy Management Division
4-5 min.
We have the technologies needed for the energy transition, but more funding is needed to find innovative ways to scale them up and win social acceptability, argues Peter Sweatman, Chief Executive of Climate Strategy & Partners19/November/2018

Innovating, not inventing, our net-zero emissions future

 We have the technologies needed for the energy transition, but more funding is needed to find innovative ways to scale them up and win social acceptability, argues Peter Sweatman, Chief Executive of Climate Strategy & Partners
5-6 min.
Diversifying economies, particularly those that are fossil fuel-rich, is not easy, but solutions exist and the move from brown to green energy will benefit business and bring near-term benefits such as cleaner air and new jobs, underline experts from the New Climate Economy12/November/2018

The clean energy transition: good for business, communities and the economy

 Diversifying economies, particularly those that are fossil fuel-rich, is not easy, but solutions exist and the move from brown to green energy will benefit business and bring near-term benefits such as cleaner air and new jobs, underline experts from the New Climate Economy
4-5 min.
Investors are playing an important role in encouraging companies to integrate the transition to a clean energy economy into business strategies and capital expenditure planning, says Ingrid Holmes, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Hermes Investment Management05/November/2018

Investors pushing the energy transition

 Investors are playing an important role in encouraging companies to integrate the transition to a clean energy economy into business strategies and capital expenditure planning, says Ingrid Holmes, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Hermes Investment Management
4-5 min.
The world is awash with capital, but a lack of clarity about what really is a green investment is stalling much needed investment in low carbon infrastructure. Taxonomies can offer some much needed clarity says Sean Kidney, Co-founder and CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative31/October/2018

No shortage of capital

 The world is awash with capital, but a lack of clarity about what really is a green investment is stalling much needed investment in low carbon infrastructure. Taxonomies can offer some much needed clarity says Sean Kidney, Co-founder and CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative
4-5 min.
15/October/2018

Learning out loud

 Support and financial backing for regions to innovate together is necessary if Europe is to massively increase climate action, argues Kirsten Dunlop, Chief Executive Officer at Climate-KIC
5-6 min.
08/October/2018

Governments should step in to make homes energy efficient

 National governments are failing their citizens, ignoring their international emissions reduction pledges and leaving banks open to greater financial risk by not renovating homes, says Céline Carré, President at EuroACE and Head of European Public Affairs at Saint-Gobain
5-6 min.
05/October/2018

Changed political dynamics could threaten energy efficiency

 Populist politics must not be allowed to interfere with EU plans to increase energy efficiency gains in buildings, argues Adrian Joyce, Director of the Renovate Europe Campaign
3-4 min.
03/October/2018

Building efficiency is crucial to a fair energy transition

 Standards forcing landlords to make buildings more energy efficient would benefit the climate and tenants, say Jan Rosenow from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Sibyl Steuwer from the Buildings Performance Institute Europe
4-5 min.
01/October/2018

Marry old and new building techniques for big energy savings

 Merging new technologies and traditional building techniques makes buildings more energy efficient, say Sandra Piesik, editor of “HABITAT: Vernacular Architecture for a Changing Planet”, and colleague Karen Rizvi
4-5 min.
24/September/2018

The future of wind energy in the EU

 The EU has long been a leader of the energy transition and is putting the policies, finance and research in place to ensure this continues, says Dominique Ristori, Director-General of DG Energy, European Commission
2-3 min.
19/September/2018

The skills we need for tomorrow’s wind industry

 Working in partnership with organisations outside the wind industry will help it recruit the best people and continue to innovate, says Malgosia Bartosik, Deputy CEO of WindEurope
3-4 min.
17/September/2018

Make the North Sea the Silicon Valley of offshore wind power

 Lars Christian Lilleholt, Danish energy minister, explains his plans to boost offshore wind expansion in the North Sea through greater cooperation
4-5 min.
07/September/2018

Low prices for renewables are great news, but mean new challenges for industry and policy makers

 Policy makers need to keep a close eye on market mechanisms to ensure the renewables industry can achieve sustainable growth, says Sven Utermoehlen, Chief Operating Officer of E.ON Climate & Renewables
3-4 min.
Ana Barreira, Director of the International Institute of Law and the Environment, calls on Spain to take action and ensure a just transition27/August/2018

Spain needs to urgently build a path to a just transition

 Spain with its many coal regions needs to act urgently to ensure its transition to a clean energy economy is smooth and fair for all, says Ana Barreira, Director of the International Institute of Law and the Environment
4-5 min.
13/August/2018

Policy action needed to decarbonise residential heating by 2050

 Residential heating is a massive consumer of energy worldwide. The technology exists to alter this, but policy makers need to give the sector much more attention to ensure real change, says Florian Knobloch from Radboud University Nijmegen
4-5 min.
16/July/2018

Funding small-scale clean energy in Cambodia

 A new fund is helping to bring clean energy to farmers in Cambodia as Olivia Coldrey from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), Austria and Sarou Long, from Nexus for Development, Cambodia explain
5-6 min.
29/June/2018

More renewables means more electrification

 Welcoming the recently agreed EU 2030 climate and energy targets, Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of Eurelectric argues for a regulatory framework able to smoothly integrate greater amounts of renewables and electrification
4-5 min.
27/June/2018

Unique data for innovative urban responses

 The intelligent use of real-time data will help cities find the most timely and efficient solutions to reduce emissions and deal with the increased frequency of extreme weather events, a direct consequence of climate change, say Oliver Heidrich and Phillip James from Newcastle University, UK
4-5 min.
18/June/2018

Gender equality for a quicker energy transition

 “Reducing gender inequality makes economic sense apart from being the right thing to do,” concludes a World Bank report from May 2018. Christine Lins, former Executive Secretary of REN21, a global renewable energy policy network, explains why and how she and other sustainable energy leaders are helping empower women to play a bigger role in the transition to a clean energy economy
3-4 min.
15/June/2018

Why climate strategies make business sense

 Clear and ambitious climate and energy plans are essential to reduce emissions and provide certainty for business, says Imke Lübbeke, Head of Climate and Energy at the WWF’s European Policy Office
3-4 min.
06/June/2018

Making energy savings more sustainable

 Energy efficiency is vitally important, but policy makers and industry leaders could do more harm than good if they do not ensure that energy savings support wider environmental and sustainability goals, argue Luis Gabriel Carmona and Kai Whiting, researchers at the University of Lisbon, Portugal
3-4 min.
01/June/2018

Financing clean energy via fossil fuel subsidy reform

 Peter Wooders, group director for energy at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), explains why he is convinced that subsidy swaps are the best way to finance the clean energy transition
5-6 min.
28/May/2018

Sustainable solar

 Research showing that solar panels contain heavy metals is not telling us anything new. Instead of allowing ourselves to be distracted by scare stories, we should focus on the importance of solar in fighting climate change and the industry’s considerable efforts to be sustainable, argues James Watson, chief executive officer at SolarPower Europe
3-4 min.
21/May/2018

Building tomorrow, today

 Insulating buildings is a cost-effective solution to save energy, reduce emissions and improve the health and comfort of our homes and work places, writes Mirella Vitale, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communication and Public Affairs at ROCKWOOL Group
4-5 min.
19/May/2018

California shows the way forward on energy efficiency

 The US state of California is setting an example for others to follow on energy saving policies, explains Andrew McAllister, lead commissioner for energy efficiency at the California Energy Commission
4-5 min.
18/May/2018

Boosting the cool factor of energy efficiency

 Exciting new technology, equipment and greater political will help boost the image of energy efficiency, a vital tool in reducing emissions, says Jennifer Layke, US-based Global Director of the Energy Programme at the World Resources Institute
3-4 min.
Monica Frassoni, president of the European Alliance to Save Energy, believes that companies are poised to put their money in energy efficiency projects, but worries that a clear political signal is still lacking17/May/2018

European businesses ready to invest in energy efficiency

 Full support for energy efficiency from EU politicians will give companies the confidence to invest in projects that will benefit the economy, the environment and society at large, says Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy
6-7 min.
16/May/2018

Smoothing the way to energy efficient policies

 Clear policies and a long-term vision will help energy efficiency play its full role in the energy transition, argues Dominique Ristori, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission
4-5 min.
14/May/2018

Giving local initiatives global impact

 Mark Lister, Head of the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency, UNEP-DTU Partnership, explains ways to dismantle the barriers to scaling up energy efficiency.