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
As new Members of the European Parliament take their places and the European Green Deal takes shape, it bears repeating that the state of EU buildings holds the potential to make or break whatever energy, emissions and environmental targets are set in the coming months, says Adrian Joyce from Renovate Europe
Islands are on the front line of climate change, evidenced by the recent swath of hurricanes that have wiped out electricity systems across the Caribbean. But island countries are not waiting for the inevitable. Many are moving to decentralised renewable resources and testing storage technologies and micro-grid solutions, says Justin Locke, Senior Director at the Rocky Mountain Institute
Increasing pressure on offshore wind farm developers, record low electricity prices, coupled with the potential for higher margins than bottom-fixed foundations and the entry of oil and gas giants in the field, means the time is ripe for floating offshore wind, says Luis González-Pinto Barrenetxea, COO of Saitec Offshore
Jonas Dalsgaard, Global Sales & Business Development Manager at Codan, asks how the insur-ance market should react to insuring the increasing number of big wind farms in areas of the world that frequently experience natural disasters
While the growth of renewables is accelerating, energy-related greenhouse gas emissions keep increasing. Getting serious about climate change mitigation requires a significant shift of focus, says Morten Dyrholm, Group Senior Vice President at Vestas Wind Systems. If each part of the energy sector continues working in isolation, we will miss opportunities to collaborate on solutions
The offshore wind market has made massive progress as prices fall, farms get larger and technologies smarter and more efficient. All this is thanks to competent, skilled and creative people. As the demand for clean electricity grows, diverse workforces in terms of gender, background, discipline and culture will be a significant asset, says Jovana Filipovic, Senior Offshore Analyst at LM Wind Power
Coal is dying in Europe, but lignite regions possess assets that could transform them into competitive power houses of low carbon industries, argues Julian Popov, Fellow at the European Climate Foundation and former Bulgarian Minister of the Environment
Solar power contributes to a decarbonised society and, due to its continually decreasing price, allows European households to save money on electricity bills, says Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, as her organisation launches a campaign to get solar panels installed on all new and renovated buildings
Financial incentives based on consumer interests and sound regulatory principles should be used to encourage electricity network operators to get ready to manage — and enable consumers to make the most of — future electricity markets, argues Zsu-zsanna Pató from the Regulatory Assistance Project
Despite claims to the contrary, research by WWF finds that Poland can reach net zero carbon emissions in a socially fair way without massive increases in EU financial support, explains Katie Treadwell, Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office
EU leaders need to get serious about electrification if Europe is to decarbonise in line with the commitments of the Paris climate agreement and bring about economic benefits for consumers, say signatories of The Electrification Alliance, launched in Brussels this week
The Northern Netherlands has won a €20 million EU grant to become Europe’s flagship green hydrogen project. The former natural gas region will lead Europe — and the rest of the world — in the energy revolution required by the Paris climate agreement, says Nienke Homan, regional minister in the Province of Groningen
Jan Rosenow of the Regulatory Assistance Project explains how the criteria for energy performance certificates are out of step with heat decarbonisation
Companies in the power and utilities sector that fail to adopt key characteristics required by venture capitalists and attract investment may well be disrupted themselves
By leveraging the huge amounts of data that connected infrastructure can generate, cities can boost their productivity, improve their liveability, increase energy savings and better adapt to the impacts of climate change, says Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Smart Infrastructure
As the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition bring women working in the wind industry in emerging markets to Europe to encourage action on the Sustainable Development Goals, GWEC’s Joyce Lee explains why the energy transition will only be successful if women are able to fully participate
A recent World Bank study reveals global carbon revenues are rising sharply, but only around 42% are used for environmental projects. It shows European and American citizens prefer their governments to spend carbon revenues on low-carbon initiatives, so why is political will lagging behind asks Susanne Dyrbøl from Rockwool Group
Cities are increasing their levels of ambition when taking climate action, and obtaining significant reductions in carbon emissions. But if cities want to drive the change needed to keep warming below the 1.5°C threshold, truly ambitious plans should be the norm not a novelty, writes Pernille Jægerfelt Mouritsen, Project Manager at Nordic Sustainability and Editor of the Cities100 report
The global building and construction sector can reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 if it makes changes along the whole of the production and supply chain, says Cristina Gamboa, CEO at the World Green Building Council, the global network leading the transformation of the built environment towards sustainability across almost 70 countries
The new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised a Green Deal for Europe. For it to be truly green, it will have to be fossil fuel free and this means cleaning up the European Investment Bank. The development bank this summer proposed phasing out support for oil and gas projects. Colin Roche from Friends of the Earth Europe urges the EIB board to back the plan when it meets in September
As the International Energy Agency launches its Methane Portal, Poppy Kalesi, Director of Global Energy at the Environmental Defense Fund, calls on EU decision makers to make the most of all regulatory opportunities to force reductions in methane emissions
Revolution is a big word, but it is appropriate to describe what digitalisation will do for district energy in the years to come, says Anton Koller, Head of District Energy at Danfoss. It will make it more sustainable, more customer friendly and more competitive than ever — but we need to embrace and lead the change
Investor interest in offshore wind is picking up speed worldwide thanks to plummeting costs and technology improvements, says Miles Huq, Transactions Advisory Services Leader at EY Global Power & Utilities. He has advice to those looking to place their money in the sector, which has big potential to help countries meet energy transition goals
Going carbon neutral is not easy for any company, but taking the decision to significantly reduce carbon emissions is the most difficult step, says Bjarne Sandager Nielsen, Vice President of Global Operations and Sourcing at LM Wind Power, now part of GE Renewable Energy
By focusing its attention on energy efficiency, the newly elected Danish politicians can show they are listening to the public’s call for climate action and put Denmark back on the map as a frontrunner in the energy transition, argues Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO of Grundfos, a Danish water and heat pump manufacturer
Criticism of his decision to rip out a fully functioning gas boiler in favour of a heat pump led Jan Rosenow, director of European programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project, to do some serious number crunching
When the Social Democrats defeated the incumbent Liberal Party in the Danish national elections on 5 June 2019, many saw the result as a win for the climate, a focus of the Social Democrats’ campaign. Peter Bjerregaard, Market Regulation Manager at E.ON, says the new government must wean itself off fossil fuel taxes if Denmark is to be the climate action leader it frequently claims to be
Transforming energy systems will not be enough to decarbonise our economies, argue Janez Potocnik, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel and Partner at Systemiq, and colleague Julia Okatz. They call for the energy transition to be part of a wider shift to reduce the production of goods and consumption of all natural resources
Ahead of Global Wind Day 2019, Malgosia Bartosik, Deputy CEO at WindEurope, insists on the need for a collective effort, with the wind industry working closely with other partners and sectors, to ensure a timely energy transition and avoid climate catastrophe
Tjisse Stelpstra, Regional Minister of the Province of Drenthe, the Netherlands, offers an invitation to join policy makers and investors at EU Sustainable Energy Week to discuss plans by the Northern Netherlands to build a hydrogen economy
E-commerce has changed the way we shop, but it also means more delivery vans and lorries entering our cities, clogging roads and polluting the air. The sharing economy could help solve the problem, argue David Fernández and Ignacio Magallón from Bax and Company, an innovation consultancy
As this year’s European Gas Regulatory Forum, also known as the Madrid Forum, gets underway in Spain, Antoine Simon from Friends of the Earth Europe calls for the European Commission to think very carefully about what role gas can really play given the climate emergency the world is facing
On the same day that another earthquake hit Groningen, a province in the Northern Netherlands, our region was present in Lyon, France, to launch a new European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership that will help regions like ours achieve a full transition from natural gas to green hydrogen, says regional minister of the Province of Groningen Patrick Brouns
Converting coal-fired power stations to run on biomass is often sold as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but studies increasingly show that forest biomass is far from being low carbon. It is also a relatively expensive renewable energy and unlikely to be a good investment choice, says Peg Putt from the Environmental Paper Network
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is the main energy transition driver, supported by large-scale expansion of wind and solar energy, writes Marcel Eijgelaar, researcher at DNV GL. The variable output of these renewables means maintaining balance between supply and demand is more challenging with greater need for grid flexibility and more volatile prices on electricity markets. Solutions include battery storage and hydrogen electrolysis
Efficiency gains in the power sector resulting from the uptake of artificial intelligence are indisputable, says Géraldine de Decker, Innovation Advisor at Eurelectric, the European power sector association, citing cost reductions along the value chain and lower bills for consumers
Smart pricing, smart technology and smart infrastructure are the three key ingredients needed to integrate the growing number of electric vehicles into the grid cost efficiently and to deliver benefits for consumers, businesses and cities, say Julia Hildermeier and Christos Kolokathis from the Regulatory Assistance Project
The EU and the US should look more closely at what China is doing to further the clean energy transition, rather than caricaturing the country as a climate villain, says Luke Sherlock senior advisor to C40 Cities
There will be no place for fossil gas in a decarbonised world, says Florent Marcellesi, a Green Member of the European Parliament, urging the European Commission to agree clear definitions and a sound taxonomy for all new gases to ensure they comply with the Paris Climate Agreement
The Dutch provinces of Groningen and Drenthe have drawn up a €2.8 billion plan to turn their region into a “hydrogen valley” and be a springboard for the hydrogen economy globally, explains Ulco Vermeulen, Director Business Development at Gasunie
An energy transition cannot happen without the renovation of buildings, says Susanne Dyrbøl, Public Affairs Director at Rockwool Group, calling for a Marshall Plan to give building renovation the same boost the European economy received after the Second World War
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
With outside help, developing countries can move directly from no electricity to clean, affordable electricity, says Janu Ramchandani of Kinect Energy Group
Businesses, individuals and not-for-profit foundations are leading a clean and affordable energy transition in developing countries, says Rachel Mountain from Energise Africa
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Mark Lister, Head of the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency, UNEP-DTU Partnership, explains ways to dismantle the barriers to scaling up energy efficiency.
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