Opinion

Leading thoughts from energy transition experts

4 min
23/March/2023

Clean Hydrogen: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good

 Harnessing the power of hydrogen through scalable and colour-agnostic infrastructure that already exists today will accelerate the clean energy transition, argues David Burns from Linde
3 min
23/March/2023

Our current threat is complacency

 A sustainable and resilient energy system must incentivise a strong role for demand-side flexibility solutions, says Bertrand Deprez from Schneider Electric
3 min
15/February/2023

The case for prioritising greater investment in secure and predictable renewables

 The European Commission must recognise its role and prioritise investment in secure and predictable renewable electricity sources in its upcoming proposal on the European Electricity Market, as they are the best way to both replace reliance on imported fossils fuels as well as balancing wind & PV production, say Sanjeev Kumar and Berenice Crabs of the newly-formed Alliance of Secure, Indigenous and Predictable Renewable Electricity (Aspire)
3 min
14/February/2023

Extreme weather records: why we need a strategy to adapt our buildings

 Adaptation and mitigation efforts are mutually reinforcing. A cohesive policy effort to improve Europe’s buildings and urban spaces is becoming increasingly vital, says Oliver Rapf of Buildings Performance Institute Europe
3 min
08/February/2023

Major electricity waste and loss could jeopardise net zero targets

 Grid operators are not maximising the system capacity, resulting in wasted or lost clean electricity. A concerted effort to boost digitalised grid management could help save money and power, says Amir Cohen of EGM
4 min
31/January/2023

Invest in buildings and not more stranded fossil-fuel assets

 Europe’s search for alternative gas supplies fails to recognise what this energy crisis really is: a fossil fuels crisis. Investing in costly, stranded fossil-fuel assets is the exact opposite of our way out of the multifaceted emergency we are in, says Eva Brardinelli at Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe)
4 min
25/January/2023

Insurance’s unspoken role in the transition to net-zero

 Following COP27, the climate conversation is very much turning towards implementation. Insurance markets have a double role to play here, says Charlie Langdale from international insurance broker Howden
4 min
17/January/2023

Shocks that people can see and feel are the most powerful drivers of change

 Consumers are more engaged in their energy use. Now is the time to leverage this desire to cut demand and support the grid in a flexible and rewarding way, says Lucy Yu from the Centre for Net Zero
4 min
11/January/2023

We can accelerate the green agenda if we look across borders

 Europe should look at how other nations are promoting new technologies to accelerate the deployment of new smart energy systems in Europe, says Lars Erik Knaack at NOVENCO Building & Industry
3 min
23/December/2022

Our top five opinions from 2022

 Take a read of our most popular opinions from 2022
4 min
16/December/2022

A civil nuclear industry will raise standards across entire engineering supply chain

 Such is the rigour for safety, regulation and quality in the civil nuclear industry, the whole supply chain is being drawn into a process of business and engineering improvement that is proving beneficial for engineers across a myriad of other industries, says Julian Vance-Daniel of Vessco Engineering
4 min
13/December/2022

More sustainable batteries will power the Race to Net Zero

 New chemistries are required to make the battery sector more sustainable amid growing demand. To become a reality, greater investment and supportive policies need to be put in place, says Kim Grøn Knudsen from Topsoe
3 miun
12/December/2022

Embrace the potential of hydrogen for heating buildings

 Green hydrogen is considered to be an energy carrier of the future, but many people are not aware that it can also be used to heat buildings. As a complementary fuel, hydrogen can be truly efficient, economical and sustainable all at the same time. Plus, when used to store surplus clean energy, hydrogen can also help balance the electricity grid—a major challenge when leveraging renewables, says Henning Sandfort of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
5 min
29/November/2022

Smart EV charging would bring grid stability and fairer prices

 The rise in demand from electric vehicles (EVs) will put untold pressure on the already constrained grids. Supporting and expanding smart charging infrastructure will not only stabilise the grid but also provide fair prices to customers at times when energy bills are high, says Torben Fog of Spirii
4 min
24/November/2022

The climate fight must also include the finance sector

 Governments can play an important role in affecting the financial markets to support decarbonisation, says James Shaw, Minister of Climate Change for New Zealand
4 min
22/November/2022

A ‘buildings breakthrough’ agenda at COP means heat pumps are in the limelight

 Placing decarbonisation of buildings on the international agenda means heat pumps can finally have their moment in the spotlight, says Richard Lowes of the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
4 min
16/November/2022

The role of storage in a renewable electricity grid

 A fully renewable energy future is within reach and storage is definitely required, but it is a combination of measures that will truly make it possible, argues Johan Söderbom of EIT InnoEnergy
3 min
09/November/2022

Sustainable aviation is primed for takeoff provided additional backing is in place

 Governments are setting ambitious targets for the use of synthetic fuels in the aviation sector. But clarity is still needed before the industry can step up to meet these objectives, says Elena Scaltritti from Topsoe
3 min
26/October/2022

Small-scale energy, development and what to expect from MDBs

 Multilateral development banks have the unique ability to bring in innovative financing structures, mitigate risks, help the government to drive policy and institutional change, and bring in the knowledge and innovation needed in the market, says Annisa Sekaringtias at E3G
4 min
25/October/2022

The case for sourcing hydrogen from the Gulf

 As European markets seek new sources of natural gas to meet winter demand, Gulf nations could instead play a role in supplying another clean energy carrier, says Frank Wouters from the MENA Hydrogen Alliance
6 min.
19/October/2022

Can European stalwarts survive the growing threat of Chinese OEMs?

 Political and regulatory interference in the offshore wind turbine market—at least in the short term—would allow the market to use Chinese-made turbines but also retain European market shares while western OEMs get their houses in order, says Carsten Nielsen of K2 Management
6 min
11/October/2022

How the European Union incentivises inefficient renewable heating

 By using the wrong metrics, the European Union is locking in inefficient ways of space heating. Changing the definitions of renewable heat may help support low-carbon alternative technologies, says Duncan Gibb from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
4 min
06/October/2022

Communities must be at the heart of the energy transition

 All levels of government have a role to play in helping communities manage their energy transition, says Carsten Rothballer at ICLEI
4 min
29/September/2022

Energy efficiency and renewables are two sides of the same lucky coin

 Energy efficiency measures, coupled with renewables, are the right tools for achieving carbon neutrality and protecting our energy sovereignty, says Francesco Venturini of Enel X Global Retail
5 min
27/September/2022

A battle for the climate inside buildings

 Amidst the climate and energy crisis, Europe’s ageing building stock provides a challenge—and an opportunity, says Julie Kjestrup of the VELUX Group
5 min
20/September/2022

What voluntary carbon markets need to do next

 A large, mature voluntary carbon market is urgently needed. To get there, it has some growing up to do, says Charlie Langdale, from international insurance broker Howden
6 min
13/September/2022

To keep growing, the offshore wind industry needs a digital edge

 Owners and operators of offshore wind projects need to rapidly accelerate their adoption of digitalisation to head off the impact of soaring costs and supply chain challenges, says Evgenia Golysheva at ONYX Insight
4 min
06/September/2022

Decarbonisation through digitalisation: The key role of smart city districts in boosting energy efficiency

 Smart buildings are energy-saving, sustainable buildings. Clustered into smart city districts, they play a crucial role in climate protection. The adaptive, open-source technology to make this possible is already available, says Matthias Rebellius of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
5 min
30/August/2022

Clean power by 2035 is crucial for Europe’s climate and energy security

 A clear consensus is emerging that a clean power system by 2035 is a crucial milestone for a successful and timely energy transition in Europe. Achieving this requires significant acceleration of current efforts, the groundwork for which must be laid in the next few years, says Elisabeth Cremona of think tank Ember
4 min
04/August/2022

Technology and incentives: How to reduce heavy-truck emissions quickly

 The decarbonisation of truck traffic is on its way. Zero-emission trucks are ready to roll and megawatt-charging technology will satiate the resulting charging needs. Now regulatory bodies must do all in their power to speed up the transition, says Markus Mildner of Siemens eMobility
4 min
02/August/2022

The energy transition needs a new definition of pretty

 Current policies around the energy transition place emphasis on the democratisation of power generation and the rise of prosumers. But while the energy system of the future may be decarbonised and digital, it will also be less decentralised than we envisage, say Thomas Boermans and Michael Stautz of E.ON
4 min
26/July/2022

Today’s approach to energy is unsustainable

 Urbanisation, rising global living standards and geopolitical tensions are placing enormous pressure on the global energy supply. Energy security and sustainability are critical—but scaling up today’s approach will not be enough. We must invest in industrial energy efficiency on a global scale, says Tarak Mehta from ABB Motion
5 min
19/July/2022

High energy prices and momentum to transition demand new grid capacity and fast

 Both high energy prices and the recent geopolitical developments have increased the pressure to gain energy independence. Now is the right time to add renewable capacity to the grid and thus accelerate the energy transition. However, this also requires some new technologies to be introduced, says Johan Söderbom of EIT InnoEnergy
4 min
07/July/2022

Water efficiency could help Europe drive decarbonisation and boost industrial competitiveness

 As water scarcity becomes a bigger issue, industry must become more resilient by reducing pressure on available freshwater resources. Strong policy frameworks are required to support more efficient water usage, says Emilio Tenuta from Ecolab
5 min
05/July/2022

House power: the hidden powerhouse of the new energy landscape

 With REPowerEU underway, Europe’s energy and climate strategy demands a rapid change of scenery. We must utilise the full palette of solutions available, including household flexibility, says Sophie Yule-Bennett from the Regulatory Assistance Project
4 min
27/June/2022

Transport needs a tax on the source of energy, not the kilometres

 A proposed tax on Danish road users is misguided and difficult to enforce. Taxing the type of vehicle would help increase the uptake of electric-powered trucks in the haulage sector, says Joakim Bansholm Nilsson from Volvo Denmark
3 min
21/June/2022

Overcoming the challenge of financing energy efficiency at scale

 Due to the high degree of fragmentation, investing in energy efficiency at scale is notoriously difficult. But with specialised investment teams and innovative financing structures, the sector can present a highly attractive opportunity for institutional investors, says Alexander Hunzinger from SUSI Partners
3 min
16/June/2022

The water-energy nexus: an untapped resource for major energy savings

 Water requires energy. When we move it, clean it, heat it and cool it—energy moves with it. These two precious resources come together seamlessly in our daily lives, but they can also jointly create significant energy savings. Unleashing the potential of the water-energy nexus will drive substantial energy savings to repower the EU while drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, says Hayati Yarkadas at Xylem Europe
6 min
01/June/2022

We could run 30% of the entire truck fleet on electricity—what’s gone wrong?

 We could electrify 30% of all trucks today. The technology is ready as is the industry, but a lack of clear economic incentives is standing in the way. We need policies, investments and tax systems to favour electricity if we are to realise the potential, says Joakim Bansholm Nilsson of Volvo Trucks Denmark
6 min
31/May/2022

Adding energy efficiency into the energy mix is essential to delivering Europe’s climate goals

 Simply rolling out renewables will not be enough to end Europe’s dependency on gas. Energy efficiency is just as important, says Katarzyna Wardal from Knauf Insulation
5 min
25/May/2022

Technology can empower consumers at a time of high energy prices

 Energy prices across Europe remain high and volatile with no signs of slowing down. But placing the power to change in consumers’ hands could help alleviate the pressure, says Johan Söderbom from EIT InnoEnergy
3 min
27/April/2022

Buildings Renovation: a European energy hero

 The European Union wants to reduce reliance on Russian energy imports. For this to work, a pan-EU Taskforce with the sole purpose of improving energy efficiency in buildings must be established, says Adrian Joyce of Renovate Europe 
4 min
20/April/2022

Soaring energy prices call for more energy efficiency

 Two things have made energy-efficient solutions more in demand than ever: the invasion of Ukraine, which has sent Europe’s energy prices skyrocketing, and the green agenda, says Lars Erik Knaack at Novenco Building & Industry
6 min
14/April/2022

From laggard to leader: How Poland became Europe’s fastest-growing heat pump market

 Poland has recorded the strongest growth in heat pump sales in Europe in 2021. This is the result of market certainty and customer incentives and shows the way for other states looking to heat pumps in decarbonisation efforts, says Monika Morawiecka and Jan Rosenow from the Regulatory Assistance Project
06/April/2022

It is time to make energy efficiency a national security issue

 As well as dealing with the pressing issue of the climate catastrophe, energy efficiency policies are also a part of the debate around national security, says Chris Friedler from the Association for Decentralised Energy
5 min
15/March/2022

Batteries play a key role in the energy transition and decarbonisation

 The European Union’s new Batteries Regulation must encourage more domestic production and be enforceable, says Claude Chanson of RECHARGE, the European advanced rechargeable and lithium battery value chain association
6 min
09/March/2022

The EU has just months to get it right on cleaning up its dirtiest polluter

 The shipping sector must avoid taking the wrong pathway that would end up locking in polluting fuels for decades, says Delphine Gozillon at Transport & Environment
5 min
02/March/2022

Time to design tomorrow’s climate-neutral power markets

 The gas price hike has demonstrated the risks associated with the EU's energy dependence. The situation prompted a pan-European debate about the structure of electricity markets. The European Commission has now asked the Association for Cooperation of Energy Regulators to assess the current design. It should look beyond the present circumstances and focus on the urgent need to prepare for the future, says Simon Skillings, Artur Patuleia and Lisa Fischer from E3G
5 min
26/January/2022

Emissions reductions where they matter most

 Supply chain emissions offer huge potential for reducing a company's carbon footprint. To tap into this, companies need to work closely with their suppliers to encourage them to switch to renewable energy, says Professor Dr Christian Heinrich from carbmee
4 min
19/January/2022

EU Taxonomy will heavily impact the cement industry

 Three out of four European cement producers are operating above the emissions threshold set by the new EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, risking both their license to operate and commercial opportunities, says Fleming Voetmann at FLSmidth
3 min
12/January/2022

Our top ten from 2021

 Take a read of our most popular articles from 2021
4 min
11/January/2022

Cybersecurity resilience is critical to reaching net-zero

 Digital transformation in renewables is accelerating the green energy transition, exponentially expanding both the energy sources that can connect to the grid and the avenues for cyberattacks, says Clinton Firth from EY
4 min
07/January/2022

Lithium is the irreplaceable element of electrification

 Lithium demand is set to rocket in the coming years massively outstripping supply. Investments need to be made in lithium production today for it to match the world’s needs and to become more environmentally friendly, says Ernie Ortiz, president of Lithium Royalty Corp
3 min
14/December/2021

Second part of Fit-for-55 is an opportunity to deliver a fair and ambitious green deal

 A second batch of legislative proposals under the European Union’s Fit-for-55% climate package can complement and confirm the bloc’s climate ambition, say Lucie Mattera and Elisa Giannelli from E3G
4 min
01/December/2021

There’s more to digitalisation than data

 Wind power operators are creating new ways of working to manage their portfolios more efficiently. But as wind scales up, digitalisation must be delivered strategically, otherwise, a fragmented and ineffective approach to digital tools could hold the industry back, says Evgenia Golysheva at ONYX Insight, a provider of predictive data analytics and engineering consultancy
4 min
24/November/2021

So you have committed to net zero… now what?

 Commitments to reaching net zero carbon emissions are important but the real test is moving from the “what” to the “how”. This requires a far more inclusive and holistic approach, says Jeff Connolly, CEO of Siemens Australia & New Zealand
5 min
11/November/2021

Greater and smarter electrification is key to combatting climate change

 Increasing the level of electrification, coupled with greater use of renewables, is the best way of avoiding a climate catastrophe, says Matthias Rebellius of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
4 min
22/October/2021

Companies could tip the scales for a green mobility boost

 To give electromobility a real boost and make the Green Deal a reality, we have to look beyond public charging, says Jean-Christoph Heyne from Siemens Smart Infrastructure
4 min
13/October/2021

The revised EU ETS can accelerate the decarbonisation of cement

 Facing the prospect of huge bills for emissions allowances by 2030, cement companies must act now to accelerate the decarbonisation of the industry, says Fleming Voetmann at FLSmidth
4 min
28/September/2021

A small molecule with big potential

 Green hydrogen is expected to become a commercially viable energy carrier soon. The coming decade could see it become a vital part of the energy transition, says Frank Wouters from the MENA Hydrogen Alliance
5 min.
17/September/2021

The North Sea region must lead the just transition of the oil and gas industry

 Ahead of this autumn’s climate change conference, the UK, Norway and Denmark can demonstrate leadership on the energy transition by backing up their words with serious action, say Andrzej Błachowicz from Climate Strategies and Gökçe Mete of the Stockholm Environment Institute
6 min
03/August/2021

Surpassing $100 billion in climate finance requires stronger whole-of-government diplomacy

 Developing a climate finance plan of requisite scale depends on better joined-up diplomacy by developed countries who must heed the warnings of high jeopardy, says Iskander Erzini Vernoit from think tank E3G
3 min
27/July/2021

ESG investing will speed-up the energy transition

 Socially responsible investing is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the wake of the pandemic, and the momentum behind using ESG criteria in investments is set to snowball, says Nigel Green from financial advisor deVere Group
4 min.
21/July/2021

The political stars have aligned but are not shining

 The world's largest economies risk missing the window of opportunity to maximise the global recovery from the pandemic and accelerate the energy transition, says Dileimy Orozco from think tank E3G
4 min
15/July/2021

Energy efficiency will power industry’s decarbonisation efforts

 The IEA regards broader adoption of energy efficient technology as the “first fuel” in tackling climate change. High efficiency industrial motors and drives could cut global energy consumption by up to 10%, according to Morten Wierod, president at ABB Motion
5 min
09/July/2021

The EU Climate Law changes the net-zero equation without changing the ambition

 The latest EU Climate Law lays the groundwork for significant progress in the energy transition by placing carbon removal and emissions reduction on separate pedestals, say Mark Preston and Suzana Carp from Bellona Europe
4 min
02/July/2021

Green hydrogen is vital in decarbonising the hard-to-abate sectors

 Government support for Power-to-X projects and Denmark’s energy islands is essential in commercialising the technology, says Søren Rydbirk from Green Hydrogen Systems
4 min
14/June/2021

The EU’s new Environmental Action Programme must live up to its name

 The European Union has a chance to set the course for a decade of environmental action. But only if an ambitious policy framework can be established, says Rebecca Humphries from WWF’s European Policy Office
4 min
10/June/2021

Reliability is a challenge but the opportunities are endless

 India’s energy system can improve by incorporating more load-side distributed clean solutions. To achieve that, regulators will have to develop suitable evaluation and incentive structures for the country’s distribution companies (discoms), says Rasika Athawale from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
4 min.
08/June/2021

Offshore wind’s success is only the beginning

 The world’s ocean provides much of humanity’s foodstuff, carries the bulk of the world’s trade and acts as a store for enormous amounts of carbon dioxide. It is central to our climate goals and prosperity, says Graham Stuart, UK International Trade Minister, on World Ocean Day (June 8th, 2021)
5 min.
25/May/2021

All parties must be on board to decarbonise the retail building sector

 Fulfilling the Paris Agreement’s climate-neutrality commitments by 2050 demands significant efforts from the building sector. All actors from across the entire buildings value chain need to increase decarbonisation efforts, say Caroline Milne and Zsolt Toth from the Buildings Performance Institute Europe
5 min.
18/May/2021

Non-wires alternatives can be a solution to India’s grid reliability challenge

 New technologies may offer India’s network operators cheaper and cleaner solutions to improve reliability without having to add more wires, says Rasika Athawale from the Regulatory Assistance Project
5 min.
12/May/2021

Ambitious targets remain academic if we do not get permitting right

 Upgraded emission reduction goals are important. But crucially tools and policies decide whether the wind sector can unlock its full potential, says WindEurope’s Giles Dickson
4 min.
05/May/2021

The European Climate Law agreement is about more than new targets

 The deal on the EU’s Climate Law raised awareness on a very important point. Without a debate on the institutional reforms necessary to implement the European and international climate objectives the risk of not reaching them, or making wrong decisions, increases, says Elisa Giannelli from E3G
4 min.
29/April/2021

The US needs to upgrade its transmission system to fully realise its offshore wind potential

 The Biden Administration’s offshore wind ambition will prove futile unless the transmission infrastructure is there to support it. Upgrading the US’s ageing grid system and providing further regulatory support must be the new president’s priority to make the most of the country’s burgeoning offshore wind sector, says Liz Burdock from the Business Network for Offshore Wind
4 min.
22/April/2021

Energy storage is the perfect partner to decarbonise remote areas

 The multiple roles of battery energy storage can help remote or off-grid power systems stop using diesel generators. But the regulatory environment needs to adjust to spur wider adoption of these new systems, says Michael Lippert from Saft
8 min.
15/April/2021

Differing pasts will provide alternative hydrogen futures

 There is a growing appetite for hydrogen in net zero plans. The countries with more renewables and lower cost generation are best suited to benefit from the expansion of green hydrogen, while those with a history in gas production may turn to blue hydrogen, says Alexander Esser and a team from Aurora Energy Research
4 min.
08/April/2021

Carbon pricing is no silver bullet to decarbonise buildings across Europe

 The introduction of a carbon price in the building sector will only encourage fuel switching and burden those least able to pay with the cost of decarbonisation. If implemented, it should be complemented with legislation to boost energy efficiency, says Monica Frassoni of the European Alliance to Save Energy
6 min.
31/March/2021

Digital solutions help to harmonise the dissonance of distributed energy

 The rise of distributed energy sources means finding new ways to operate the grid systems. Digital products are set to play a role in solving the issues, says Matthias Rebellius of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
4 min.
22/March/2021

Youth activists are calling for action to reduce carbon, cities can show how this is done

 The Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike on March 19th was a reminder of the monumental changes that need to happen to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. Cities and regional authorities have it in their power to make a significant contribution, says Raymond Johansen, Mayor of Oslo, and Mark Watts from C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
4 min.
17/March/2021

Green ammonia is the best way to advance the hydrogen economy

 In many ways, ammonia can be an important part of the energy transition and be a catalyst to accelerate the development of the hydrogen economy, says Rami Reshef, CEO for Israeli fuel cell manufacturer GenCell Energy
6 min.
09/March/2021

Governments can stimulate green growth in emerging technologies

 Emission-free energy alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging that could drive the world’s shift to a net-zero future. But there must be sufficient stimulus from governments to limit the technical, commercial and financial risks of these new technologies for investors, says Arnaud de Giovanni, global renewables leader at EY
4 min.
03/March/2021

Northern Europe’s opportunity to fuel the future

 Hydrogen can play a major role in the green transition of heavy-duty transport. Creating a network of partners across northern Europe will help facilitate this technology but we need action from lawmakers now, says Thomas Becker from STRING, a cross-border organisation of cities and regions supporting the development of a hydrogen network
4 min.
24/February/2021

The green comeback of public transport

 The public transport sector has been hit hard by the covid-19 crisis. Since climate change is not taking a break, electrification must be at the centre of a green recovery. Smart depots will play a crucial role in transforming the face of urban transport, says Monique Mertins at Siemens Smart Infrastructure
4 min.
16/February/2021

Clay cement can cut up to 3% of global CO2 emissions

 Replacing limestone with clay in cement production can cut global CO2 emissions by up to 3%. But there is significant investment tied up in the "old" ways of doing things, and it will be necessary to use a range of incentives—as well as technological advancements—to change the status quo, writes Fleming Voetmann, vice president at FLSmidth
4 min.
09/February/2021

The environmental movement rarely reflects the communities most impacted by climate change

 Climate injustices adversely affect communities of colour and low-income communities, yet the issue of environmental justice has still not made it into the mainstream environmental movement—due to the same power structures that perpetuate its impacts. Voices that have been left out of these discussions must be heard, says Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes
6 min.
04/February/2021

Why building renovation is not yet taking off

 Work to increase the energy performance of Europe’s building stock remains sluggish, despite long standing political commitments and the launch of the EU’s Renovation Wave initiative in late 2020. Thomas Boermans, from German energy supply company E.ON, believes considering building renovation as an infrastructure project could help accelerate the movement
5 min.
28/January/2021

After years of stalling, can CCS finally get going in 2021?

 The past 12 months have shown that even drastic changes to our daily lives are not enough to sufficiently reduce emissions and avoid catastrophic global warming. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will now have to start playing a role, says Suzana Carp, political strategy director at Bellona Europe
4 min.
21/January/2021

New public finance roadmap comes at a critical moment

 In 2020, the UK government’s finance advisor, Mark Carney, set out a roadmap for securing private sector finance for the energy transition ahead of the COP26 climate negotiations later this year. But public sector finance must also remain central to the UNFCCC talks, argue Kate Levick and Sonia Dunlop from E3G
5 min.
15/January/2021

If we are to take the energy transition seriously, we need to start doing the same with ultracapacitors

 Compared with batteries, ultracapacitors have a power output nearly ten times greater, are environmentally superior and come without safety issues. Johan Söderbom from EIT InnoEnergy explains how a long-familiar piece of power system technology is unlocking new opportunities for sustainable and efficient energy storage and usage
5 min.
08/January/2021

The questions climate neutral cities must answer

 There is no clear definition of climate neutrality despite 117 cities worldwide setting it as a target in the coming decades. Where Paris will include all emissions it produces, regardless of the sector or source, Copenhagen only calculates CO2 emissions related to heating and electricity. But both will claim to be neutral. This results in different levels of ambition, says Raphael Hasenknopf from Energy Cities
6 min.
21/December/2020

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
5 min.
16/December/2020

It is time to bring consumers on board the energy transition

 Consumers can play a significant role in the energy transition as distributed energy resources, and as electrification of heating and transport increase on the system, says Zsuzsanna Pató from the Regulatory Assistance Project
4 min.
15/December/2020

Fixing renewables certificates could boost corporate uptake demand

 The guarantees of origin (GO) framework for renewable energy certificate trading is unable to function efficiently and is distorting the market, says Rasmus Lildholdt Kjær, CEO at solar PV project developer Better Energy. But a change in the rules could spark a wave of new investments
4 min.
14/December/2020

Revision of TEN-E policy will prove how serious EU is on tackling climate change


 Continued backing for gas infrastructure from the European Union is not in line with its climate ambitions, says Dominic Kavakeb from environment NGO Global Witness
5 min.
09/December/2020

Electrification is driving sustainability in cement and mining

 The cement and mining industries recognise their need to decarbonise, and the rapidly falling price of renewables-generated electricity is making this decision easier, says Thomas Schulz, CEO at FLSmidth
4 min.
08/December/2020

Collective action can put an end to coal generation

 Coal power generation is the single biggest cause of global temperature increase. The efforts to transition away from coal must accelerate to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change, say UK energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Canada’s climate change minister Jonathan Wilkinson, co-chairs of the Powering Past Coal Alliance
6 min.
02/December/2020

Biden’s opportunity for reinventing climate innovation

 The president-elect’s climate agenda could spur new forms of innovation beyond just technological advancements, says EIT Climate-KIC's Chief Strategy Officer Tom Mitchell and its Director of Capital and Investment, Dominic Hofstetter
7 min.
24/November/2020

ESG is growing in importance for investors

 Economies and companies that set an agenda for climate-resilient growth will likely be seen as more attractive prospects, says Matthew Bell, EY Asia Pacific climate change and sustainability services leader
4 min.
17/November/2020

Greater access to financing will boost Renovation Wave

 There needs to be more effort in easing access to financial backing in order to take full advantage of Europe’s Renovation Wave, says Louise White and Reinhard Six from the European Investment Bank (EIB)
6 min.
10/November/2020

Debt relief focus risks crippling the economic recovery

 Debt markets and capital markets both notoriously struggle to prepare for external shocks. The covid-19-induced economic crisis is no exception, says Dileimy Orozco from climate change think tank E3G
5 min.
03/November/2020

Climate and energy innovation needs to be more sensitive to inequalities

 Research into energy poverty initiatives often ignores society’s most vulnerable groups. In order to fulfill the just transition, all members of society across geography, gender and income need to be included, says Sergio Tirado Herrero of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technologies (ICTA) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the EmpowerMed research project
5 min.
29/October/2020

We need a new litmus test for energy innovation

 The global pandemic has bought us more time to make the changes necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. But innovation solutions need to have a global appeal to be truly impactful, says Elena Bou, Innovation Director at EIT InnoEnergy
6 min.
27/October/2020

The Renovation Wave brings a sigh of relief

 The European Commission’s Renovation Wave strategy will bring added momentum to the pandemic recovery along with much-needed new standards, and some clarity on financing. On REDay2020, Adrian Joyce from the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency (EuroACE) says the real work to improve the efficiency of Europe’s building stock starts now
4 min.
19/October/2020

South Korean biomass lawsuit a warning to Europe

 Solar players in South Korea have filed an unprecedented legal challenge against the government for its support of biomass generation. As the European Commission prepares to reopen its own Renewable Energy Directive, Joojin Kim, from Seoul-based NGO Solutions for Our Climate explains the background to the South Korean case
6 min.
06/October/2020

The EU cannot ‘go it alone’ on Border Carbon Adjustments

 Border carbon adjustments (BCAs) are technically difficult to design and politically challenging to implement. If BCAs are going to succeed, the European Union (EU) will need to engage trade partners from the start, says E3G’s Johanna Lehne
6 min.
01/October/2020

Increased goals will bring increased benefits

 The European Commission’s plan to increase the emissions reduction target to 55% lacks ambition and would miss out on additional benefits that a higher goal would present, argues WWF’s Imke Lübbeke
4 min.
29/September/2020

Europe’s relationship with hydrogen will need to change over time

 Hydrogen brings a lot to the table for the EU's energy transition. But to be truly beneficial we need to design its contribution with a global perspective, argues Thomas Boermans, head of innovation trends and strategy at E.ON.
5 min.
22/September/2020

Figures do not lie: electricity speeds up on decarbonisation

 Europe’s electricity industry is decarbonising at an increasing pace, with the rise of renewables and drop in coal-based power generation. But progress on the ground will be bigger once the remaining barriers are removed, argues Eurelectric’s Kristian Ruby
5 min.
15/September/2020

Charging an EV should be as easy as charging a smartphone

 The biggest barrier in the transition to electric vehicles is the lack of charging infrastructure. While large-scale projects will ultimately deliver the most effective results, traction will come from multiple smaller applications and innovations, argues Jean-Christoph Heyne from Siemens’ Future Grids business unit
4 min.
09/September/2020

An EV future is in our hands

 On World EV Day, the stage is set for electric vehicles to become the mainstream mobility choice, as long as the main actors play their part, says Frank Mühlon, head of ABB’s Global E-Mobility Infrastructure Solutions
6 min.
04/September/2020

A clean-energy future is reliant on sustainable mining and cement

 The mining and cement industries contribute over 10% of the world’s CO₂ emissions but demand in both industries remains high. It is, therefore, imperative that decarbonisation efforts should be accelerated, argues Thomas Schulz, CEO of engineering firm FLSmidth
4 min.
19/August/2020

Why do we favour renewables over energy efficiency?

 It is beyond discussion that the global climate emergency calls for solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and requires decarbonisation. Often, the spotlight is aimed at renewable energy as the solution, but in fact, we can achieve 44% of the required global reductions by capturing the potential of energy efficiency, argues Lars Knaack of Novenco
4 min.
12/August/2020

Wind was resilient throughout the crisis, will be decisive in the recovery

 The strong figures posted by the wind industry in the troubled first half of 2020 were testament to the resilience of the industry. This further shows how vital wind energy will be in achieving a zero-carbon economy, argues Ivan Komusanac from trade body WindEurope
4 min.
05/August/2020

Expensive oil means we are failing

 By competing with each other in clean transport technology, Europe and China have the opportunity to keep oil prices, demand and production down, says Carl Pope, environmentalist and climate advisor to Michael Bloomberg
4 min.
29/July/2020

The quest for carbon-neutral cities

 A development being planned in Sacramento, California, could provide a blueprint to tomorrow’s cities. Many of the answers are already here, but some research remains, says Geeti Silwal from design firm Perkins and Will
4 min.
22/July/2020

The pandemic has changed the course of energy transition

 The Covid-19 crisis has forced society to collaborate on the recovery. This shows the same effort can occur in the fight against climate change, argues Adriano Pires of the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure and Elbia Gannoum from Brazil’s wind energy association
6 min.
15/July/2020

Getting off gas: future risks for energy poor households

 The gas package and renovation wave in the European Green Deal raise new opportunities for ending Europe’s dependence on gas. We need to think about what this means for energy poor households, writes Louise Sunderland from the Regulatory Assistance Project
5 min.
10/July/2020

Reducing waste in manufacturing is imperative for the wind industry

 With careful planning and utilising materials within a circular economy, the wind industry can reduce its waste during the production process, says Olivier Fontan, the new CEO at blade manufacturer LM Wind Power
3 min.
08/July/2020

Renewables face competitive test

 Energy systems across the world suffered a shock as the Covid-19 health crises forced carbon-intensive industries, aviation and other transport, to a virtual standstill. The effects of the slowdown could result in a stiff test for renewables competitiveness, argues Juan Alario from GNE Finance
5 min.
02/July/2020

Finance ministers need to coordinate for a resilient economy

 The fiscal response to the Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to establish a green economy but finance ministers across the globe need to coordinate their actions for the biggest impact, says Dileimy Orozco from E3G
5 min.
25/June/2020

Near-term headwinds slow renewables’ march

 The renewable energy sector cannot escape the impact of Covid-19, but a redrawing of the landscape and its resilience through the pandemic will lay the foundations for future growth, says Arnaud de Giovanni, Global Power and Utilities Transaction Advisory Services leader at EY
5 min.
19/June/2020

Pay attention to young voices and quit wasting our future money

 The 2050 targets are closer than you think. The impacts of today’s decisions will directly affect the young people already in the workforce. Monika Skadborg, chairperson of the Danish Youth Climate Council, argues it is time those voices should be heard in the climate debate
4 min.
18/June/2020

How we reduced our energy bills by 60%

 A year of living with a heat pump has required some lifestyle changes, but after doing some number crunching, Jan Rosenow from the Regulatory Assistance Project found the numbers speak for themselves
3 min.
08/June/2020

Ocean energy is critical to recovery

 Offshore wind attracts investment, jobs and has the ability to severely cut emissions worldwide, which is why the world should aim for 1,400 GW of capacity by 2050, argue Benj Sykes and Stephen Bull, Co-Chairs of Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition (OREAC), a global coalition of offshore wind companies and international institutions on World Oceans Day (June 8)
6 min.
28/May/2020

Why clean hydrogen can be part of the just transition

 In an EU that aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, production of green hydrogen can be a new job creating industry, argues Tjisse Stelpstra, Member of the Council of the Province of Drenthe in the Northern Netherlands, providing an economic boost for regions like his and Europe as a whole.
3 min.
19/May/2020

Responding to the growing demand for methane-differentiated gas

 As methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors come under increasing scrutiny, Cate Hight and Laura Hutchinson from the Rocky Mountain Institute, a US-based NGO, call for a differentiated gas standard that focuses on climate change and sets the bar for acceptable methane emissions
6 min.
18/May/2020

Transition to just

 The clean energy transition must be socially fair for everyone, not just those living in regions that are heavily reliant on coal for fuel and jobs, says Louise Sunderland from Regulatory Assistance Project
5 min.
14/May/2020

Making the EU ETS and carbon pricing fit-for-purpose

 Recent Eurelectric analysis reveals the need to reconsider and improve a number of policies and priorities as part of the European Green Deal — the EU Emissions Trading System and an effective carbon pricing for non-ETS require careful consideration, says Petar Georgiev, Eurelectric Policy Advisor climate & e-mobility
3 min.
13/May/2020

Reducing emissions while creating jobs

 With strong leadership from government, the world can achieve a 100% clean energy economy and get out of the recession caused by Covid-19 measures, argues Solomon Goldstein-Rose, a US climate activist and author
3 min.
07/May/2020

Financing smart buildings: contributing to your core business

 Making buildings greener and more energy efficient makes environmental and economic sense if the right financing solutions are used, says Thomas Geiselbrecht, Financing Solution Partner, Siemens Financial Services
7 min.
06/May/2020

What Covid-19 can teach us about climate action

 The impact of Covid-19 on decarbonisation efforts is likely to be short-lived if governments can learn lessons around the effective response to a crisis, says Paul Micallef Global Digital Grid Leader at EY
6 min.
30/April/2020

Managing crises by learning fast – from COVID-19 to climate

 Investments spent on dealing with the social and economic impacts of Covid-19 in Europe should focus on achieving the highest value outcomes in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, insists Simon Skillings from think tank E3G
6 min.
29/April/2020

Covid, climate and hopes for recovery

 Despite the constant flood of bad news related to Covid-19, there are signs we are also witnessing unprecedented global dialogue, innovation and collaboration, offering hope that climate change and clean energy can be at the forefront of post-pandemic plans, says Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities
4 min.
28/April/2020

The vaccine to future crises is sticking to climate neutrality

 While helping workers and companies survive the current crisis, the European institutions should confirm and accelerate the EU’s path to carbon neutrality by 2050, including fixing emissions reduction targets in line with science, says Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE)
3 min.
22/April/2020

Covid-19: Fear of debt should convince governments to go green

 The best way to persuade treasuries and heads of state to put the environment and clean energy at the heart of packages aimed at stimulating economies after the coronavirus is to focus on debt-related risks, argues Brook Riley from Rockwool Group
5 min.
20/April/2020

Building energy efficient, sustainable homes for all

 As governments across Europe attempt to deal with the economic and social impacts of coronavirus and how and when to end strict confinement measures, the time is right to invest to ensure every person can live in a healthy, connected and sustainable home, argues Davide Cannarozzi, CEO and Founder of GNE Finance
6 min.
14/April/2020

The cultural shift that is underway

 The move to a clean energy economy will not happen overnight, but profound changes are happening and business is playing a leading role, argues Andrew Hoffman, Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, US
4 min.
06/April/2020

Climate justice is the heart of climate action

 The idea the transition to a clean energy economy should also be as fair as possible to everyone has, until now, been seen by many as a nice to have. Andrzej Blachowicz and Julie-Anne Hogbin from Climate Strategies argue developing countries in particular can achieve greater and more inclusive climate action by placing the just transition at the heart of their climate plans
6 min.
01/April/2020

A just transition can help end energy poverty

 The clean energy transition needs to be fair to everyone, with laws and financing to ensure the poorest households are not penalised by the switch from fossil fuels to renewables and benefit from the change, argues Marilyn Smith, Founder & Executive Director of The Energy Action Project Relative to income, energy use and energy prices have a greater impact on the household budgets of poorer people
5 min.
30/March/2020

EU Green Deal in a time of pandemic

 The European Green Deal sets a clear, sustainable path for Europe to move forward from the economic and social impacts of Covid-19, speed up the energy transition and create jobs, says Julian Popov, Fellow at the European Climate Foundation and former Bulgarian Minister of the Environment
4 min.
23/March/2020

Green Deal for heat — smart sector integration is key

 As the EU puts forward plans for a European Green Deal aimed at getting the region to climate neutrality by 2050, Jan Rosenow and Richard Lowes from the Regulatory Assistance Project argue for much more attention to be paid to the decarbonisation of heat
5 min.
16/March/2020

What will it take to start — and sustain — a renovation wave?

 With the European Commission planning to announce details of a building “renovation wave” in the autumn of 2020, Susanne Dyrboel, vice-chair in Renovate Europe explains what the EU executive should be considering to make its vision reality
4 min.
09/March/2020

Golden opportunity for an industrial strategy for solar

 Ahead of proposals this week by the European Commission for EU industrial policy and circular economy strategies, Christian Westermeier, President of SolarPower Europe, argues for solar to receive the boost it needs to help Europe achieve its carbon neutral ambitions
6 min.
Bart Biebuyck from the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking argues the value of emission-free hydrogen must be judged by more than its price tag versus fossil fuels02/March/2020

Making the business case for clean hydrogen

 Europe can lead the world on emission-free hydrogen, but it needs to solve the dilemma that industry offers the greatest potential demand, while the profit margins are in transport. Bart Biebuyck from the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking argues the value of emission-free hydrogen must be judged by more than its price tag versus fossil fuels
6 min.
24/February/2020

Global collaboration can unlock clean energy solutions

 Despite differences in system architecture, regulation and technology adoption, a global community of electricity distribution operators can leverage knowledge, innovation and lessons learned to deliver a better energy future, say EY’s Serge Colle and Dana Hanson
5 min.
17/February/2020

Clamping down on financial greenwashing in the EU

 Sébastien Godinot, Economist with the WWF European Policy Office, welcomes new European laws that will make it much clearer which investments are genuinely sustainable and help shift funding from fossil fuels to clean energies
5 min.
10/February/2020

Polish coal boiler phase-out: an inspiration for clean heat

 Poland gets a lot of bad press for its over reliance on coal, but Jan Rosenow and Richard Cowart from the Regulatory Assistance Project highlight how the country is putting in place regulations that could see it become a leader in ending the use of coal to heat homes
6 min.
27/January/2020

Getting to zero carbon buildings requires zero carbon codes

 Two-thirds of countries do not have energy building codes. This needs to change if buildings are to become part of the solution to the climate crisis, argues Jim Edelson, Director of Codes and Policy at New Buildings Institute, a US-based not-for-profit organisation
8 min.
23/January/2020

Will gains outweigh the risks of an accelerated energy transition?

 Carbon emissions must be more than halved to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C. The rapid rise of renewables is not progressing fast enough to head off catastrophic global warming. Energy companies must reshape themselves and prepare for an accelerated energy transition, says Serge Colle, EY Global Energy Advisory Leader
4 min.
22/January/2020

Finance sits at the heart of Europe’s Green Deal

 Europe is moving fast to make the financial innovations required to underpin its Green Deal, write Tom Jess, Policy Advisor, and Kate Levick, Programme Leader, at E3G, an independent climate change think tank
4 min.
16/January/2020

Finding the investment “wow” factor in green buildings

 Massive investment opportunities exist for those deciding to use their cash to help renovate buildings, says Jennifer Layke, Global Director of Energy at the World Resources Institute
3 min.
14/January/2020

Just Transition Fund needs all EU countries to ditch coal

 The Just Transition Fund presents an opportunity to get the EU on track towards climate neutrality, but only if it requires all countries to present phase out plans for high-emission technologies like coal burning, argues Rebekka Popp, researcher at the climate change think tank E3G
4 min.
09/January/2020

EU Green Deal: carbon austerity or economic boost

 The European Green Deal, launched in December 2019, is an ambitious policy proposal that will try to agree a carbon emissions reduction target for Europe of up to 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. Two questions appear: is it possible and how much will it cost. But both could be misleading, says Julian Popov, Fellow at the European Climate Foundation and former Bulgarian Minister of the Environment
4 min.
10/December/2019

Designing net zero and resilient economies

 The launch of the Santiago Action Plan at the COP25 meeting in Madrid by finance ministers is an important step to ensure finance ministries play their role in accelerating the zero carbon transition, says Dileimy Orozco Policy Advisor at E3G
5 min.
09/December/2019

Radically reinvent energy markets for low carbon economy

 Industry leaders need to change their way of thinking, social and environmental impacts be integrated in investment decisions and capital redirected to support a rapid transition to a low carbon economy for New Zealand to meet its Paris Agreement commitments, says Jane Taylor from The Aotearoa Circle