Policy

Authoritative explainers on policy, best practice governance & legislation driving positive change

10 min
07/March/2023

Clean heat standards can help decarbonise heating faster and more fairly

 The European Commission should include clean heat standards in its forthcoming Net Zero Industry Act to force industry and enable consumers to switch from fossil fuel boilers to lower-emitting heat pumps, concludes a new report from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
14 min
24/February/2023

Europe braces itself for a battery arms race

 Demand for electric vehicle batteries in Europe is accelerating thanks to a mix of new regulations and promising business cases, which has sparked a homegrown industry that aims to take on the world. But the policies will need to be strong enough to fend off the vagaries of geopolitics
3 min
23/December/2022

Our top five articles from 2022

 A tumultuous past 12 months has seen energy security placed firmly at the centre of many discussions around the world. Improving security takes many forms from low-carbon generation to greater energy efficiency in a bid to lower demand. These topics feature in FORESIGHT's top articles of 2022
3 min
23/December/2022

Our top five opinions from 2022

 Take a read of our most popular opinions from 2022
3 min
23/December/2022

Our top five podcasts from 2022

 Entering the audio sphere in 2022, FORESIGHT Climate & Energy's podcasts have given our listeners a chance to hear directly from key personalities in the energy sector and discuss how to achieve a decarbonised economy in the most expedient way. Take a listen to our top episodes from 2022
13 min
14/December/2022

A new world order

 As the energy landscape changes, so too could the geopolitical spectrum. Nations that have derived power and wealth from coal, oil and gas face an adapt-or-die moment while countries with the natural resources central to decarbonisation could find themselves holding more cards

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Supporting the focus on authoritative explainers on policy, best practice governance & legislation driving positive change

7 min
17/November/2022

Will the UK’s permitting reforms speed up offshore wind deployment?

 The UK's offshore sector has ambitious growth plans, but its permitting process could put its target at risk. Changes to the procedures could help accelerate deployment and provide a blueprint for other markets
16 min
15/November/2022

Red to green: Where to cut the tape

 Clean energy technology is becoming more efficient and powerful, while more money than ever is seemingly flowing into renewables. But administrative barriers thrown up by red tape and permitting bottlenecks threaten to put a damper on the energy transition
16 min
22/September/2022

Bioenergy under renewed scrutiny amid energy crisis

 Burning wood for energy is a divisive matter. Critics say that it is an unacceptably polluting energy source, while proponents insist it is a vital part of the transition away from fossil fuels. Upcoming policy changes and unpredictable geopolitics make a complex issue thornier still
10 min
14/June/2022

EU presses ahead with policy renovation

 Two of the European Union’s (EU) main energy laws are in the process of being updated. Despite the fundamental role they play in decarbonisation efforts, the rules have so far failed to live up to climate expectations. This is set to change
14 min
09/June/2022

A matter of principle: the EU’s forgotten mantra

 The European Union’s “Energy Efficiency First Principle” was designed to maximise the potential of energy sources and increase investor appetite but it has struggled to jump from principle to practice. But new rules and a shift in geopolitics look set to propel the efficiency maxim to top billing
10 min
08/June/2022

Energy efficiency is here to stay

 This decade is the most important one for energy efficiency in the energy transition. FORESIGHT spoke to Brian Motherway, head of energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency (IEA), to discuss why this is and how it can be better implemented
11 min
27/May/2022

A new way to count greenhouse gas emissions

 Regulators normally only keep tabs on the climate-bashing emissions produced within a country’s territory—discounting or even completely ignoring the carbon emitted during the manufacturing and shipping of imported goods. Sweden is bucking that trend with an ambitious new policy
10 min
10/May/2022

Carbon capture technology pursues a slice of Europe’s climate policy pie

 Carbon-capture technology’s role in the energy transition is still poorly defined. However, calls for a unified strategy to spur developments and investment in Europe are increasing
10 min
05/May/2022

Denmark sets plans to make businesses pay for their carbon emissions

 A uniform carbon tax across most of Denmark’s economy has broad political support, but clarifying the finer points of the package will decide whether it is accepted by the wider business community
8 min
29/April/2022

US nationwide EV charging network plan leaves unanswered questions

 President Joe Biden’s plan to increase the level of electric vehicles (EVs) in car-mad United States is laudable, but has underestimated several of the perceived barriers to uptake, undermining its aim already
8 min
01/April/2022

Lack of climate leadership forces Australian states to set their own path

 A recent announcement to support offshore wind projects off the state of Victoria shows how the local government has grown tired of waiting for federal leadership on the energy transition
12 min
18/February/2022

Fiscal reform may make or break EU green hearts

 A review of the European Union’s fiscal rules in 2022 could open the door for massive public investments into the energy transition. A political fight over the direction of that amendment will dictate just how ambitious Europe can afford to be with its green policies
3 min
12/January/2022

Our top ten from 2021

 Take a read of our most popular articles from 2021
12 min
16/December/2021

Cross-border cables hold a crucial role in the energy transition

 An interconnected transmission grid in Europe would result in lower prices and greater levels of clean energy. But several nations are falling behind on export capacity leading to some member states looking beyond the Union’s borders
12 min
16/November/2021

The neighbourhood approach to decarbonisation

 Thousands of buildings across Europe will need to be renovated on an unprecedented scale if climate and greenhouse gas reduction targets are to be met. Lawmakers’ minds are turning to how best to undertake the Herculean task
10 min
29/October/2021

Western Balkans try to break King Coal’s grip on power

 Discussions to usher in the end of coal are advancing in much of the European Union, but the Western Balkans region is lagging behind as the fuel continues to dominate the local power market
6 min.
27/October/2021

Europe experiments with efficiency incentives

 With the intention of advancing energy efficiency as an energy resource, Pay-for-Performance programmes can positively affect the entire energy chain from the distributor to the final consumer. Most of them are found in the US but Europe is testing the waters 
14 min
07/September/2021

United States baulks at the political cost of a carbon price

 As major markets around the world add various forms of carbon tax, in the United States a country-wide price on carbon is a political non-starter
10 min
01/September/2021

Local opposition threatens Europe’s wind targets

 Europe’s wind industry is well-versed in community engagement and has a track record in bringing employment and social benefits to populations close to projects. But developers still face opposition and frequently suffer setbacks, a problem that could mean renewable energy targets are missed if lawmakers fail to act
11 min.
14/May/2021

Battle lines drawn over CCS access to European funding

 The European Union is deciding which technologies and projects should have access to crucial funding. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has its issues but some lawmakers and industries believe emission reduction targets cannot be met without it
9 min.
23/April/2021

A climate council should marry policies with ambition

 European Union climate policies need to become more ambitious as the bloc looks to hit its net-zero emissions goal for 2050. But a gap between what is agreed on paper and deployed in the real world means a risk of having to do more than one energy transition. Lawmakers are setting up an EU-wide advisory board to bridge that void
8 min
09/April/2021

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

 Italy is putting many eggs in the hydrogen basket to decarbonise its heavy industry, including its prized steel sector. Authorities dream of converted hydrogen steel plants and “hydrogen valleys” dotted across the country. But while attention is focussed on whether hydrogen can solve Italy’s problems, other key ingredients to make the hydrogen green are being ignored
10 min.
05/March/2021

Metrics that inflate the cost of the energy transition are under attack

 Put garbage into an economic model and garbage comes out. By using a discount rate that inflates the cost of the energy transition, the EU’s executive body is undermining the bloc’s new and more ambitious carbon reduction goal. Behind the scenes, however, method may lie in the madness. Officials working on legislative updates are suspected of holding a negotiating trump card up their sleeves
11 min.
19/January/2021

Better grid policy for full scale electrification

 Without a European grid up to the task of not only meeting more demand for electricity, but also assimilating it from distributed renewables, green electrification of heating and transport is stymied from the start. Decarbonisation requires new infrastructure, yet the public is having none of it
8 min.
27/November/2020

Singapore energy transition plans consider floating solar and cable to Australia

 A lack of natural resources means accessing renewables as part of its energy transition is out of the question for Singapore. The country, renowned for its innovation, is having to think creatively to reach its goals
9 min.
06/November/2020

Renewables offer permanent economic recovery for Greece

 Red tape, infrastructure woes and recent economic turmoil are holding Greece back from fully reaping the benefits of a much-needed energy transition
8 min.
09/October/2020

Developing economies have much to gain from welcoming offshore wind

 Offshore wind’s complexities and high capital cost make it harder for the sector to gain a foothold in developing markets
10 min.
02/September/2020

Missing details from South Korea green deal raises doubts over government intentions

 A decade of rapid growth has positioned South Korea to take full advantage of the clean transition under President Moon Jae-in’s Green New Deal. But a hangover from previous administrations and an elusive emissions reduction target put its efficacy in doubt
5 min.
20/May/2020

The dirty British energy secret

 The UK is often cited as a leader in the transition to a clean energy economy, even though some British public money still flows to oil and fossil gas projects overseas
5 min.
20/May/2020

China: the elephant in the coal room

 China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 at the latest, but its economic plan for 2021-2025 is expected to approve the building of more coal-powered plants
15 min.
20/May/2020

Finance dries up for coal, but flows on for oil and gas

 COVID-19 may have reduced emissions in the short-term, but much more needs to happen to slash fossil fuel use to meet climate targets
9 min.
11/May/2020

Using trade measures for climate gain

 Europe is considering taking the bold step of introducing a border carbon adjustment tariff on goods imported from regions where carbon pricing is lacking, placing trade right in the middle of its climate ambitions
10 min.
04/May/2020

EU ushers in game-changing financial rules

 An EU taxonomy to define green investments is expected to enter into force in 2021, but some experts want it to be used immediately to inform stimulus packages aimed at dealing with the social and economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic
7 min.
03/April/2020

Stimulus funds can transition economies away from climate wrecking activity

 The coronavirus is a deadly human tragedy, causing untold grief and pain. It is also rocking the world’s economies as people lose income and businesses struggle to stay afloat. Yet there are lessons to be learned for the climate crisis
4 min.
26/March/2020

European development bank money at work in Macedonia

 The EBRD is increasingly active across the whole of Southeast Europe, which remains highly reliant on coal, to move it to cleaner energy sources
8 min.
19/March/2020

Biodiversity must not be sacrificed to the energy transition

 With the world facing an energy and a biodiversity emergency, realisation is growing that solutions need to be made compatible with sustainability in both areas
7 min.
12/March/2020

How best to measure the climate impact of methane

 Deciding exactly how powerful methane is as a greenhouse gas relative to carbon dioxide is a complicated business
12 min.
19/December/2019

California shows the way on building electrification

 The argument for natural gas as a bridge to a cleaner renewable future has grown weaker as the case for electrification as the most efficient way to decarbonise has grown
11 min.
25/November/2019

Industry pushes for electrification of EU energy agenda

 “Electrification is the most efficient way of decarbonising”
6 min.
20/November/2019

New permit rules for nearshore Danish wind projects

 The new rules may cause “more work and more risk” for developers
5 min.
29/October/2019

Focus on solutions and good news to engage citizens

 Deliberative forums involving members of the public will help advance an ambitious energy transition
13 min.
Climate change is a social issue19/September/2019

Sustainable energy for all

 Climate change is a social issue
11 min.
16/September/2019

The transition jigsaw – Part 3: Citizens, civil society and the courts

 Citizen activism is working to force change that is beneficial for all
9 min.
13/September/2019

Learning by example

 Benefits of energy efficient renovation of public buildings
12 min.
02/September/2019

The transition jigsaw: Part 1 – The role of government

 Enshrine stability and predictability in law to ramp up investment
7 min.
08/August/2019

Urgent action on energy efficiency catalysed in Dublin

 Maximising the potential of the world’s first fuel
12 min.
11/July/2019

American Green New Deal faces gridlock

 Political and physical barriers will make it difficult for US Democrats to turn proposals for a Green New Deal in to reality
7 min.
New Mexico’s ways of managing a just transition for the climate and workers is being watched closely across the US03/June/2019

How a just transition for US coal workers is becoming reality

 New Mexico’s ways of managing a just transition for the climate and workers is being watched closely across the US
7 min.
Environmental footprints have already become part of the tender criteria for renewable energy support in some countries27/May/2019

Europe explores sustainability standards for solar PV

 Environmental footprints have already become part of the tender criteria for renewable energy support in some countries
12 min.
Building design is key to reducing demand for energy guzzling air conditioning07/May/2019

Cooling in a warming world

 Building design is key to reducing demand for energy guzzling air conditioning
9 min.
07/May/2019

Technology at scale is key to decarbonised heating and cooling

 Research from Heat Roadmap Europe and others shows the path ahead to bring the heating and cooling sector in line with the commitments of the Paris climate agreement
16 min.
Technology choices and policies are available to create a zero-carbon energy system in Europe by 2050, keep the economy competitive and secure a favourable deal for citizens, concludes a podcast by EU scream produced in conjunction with FORESIGHT Climate & Energy.01/April/2019

Path to a decarbonised future

 Technology choices and policies are available to create a zero-carbon energy system in Europe by 2050, keep the economy competitive and secure a favourable deal for citizens, concludes a podcast by EU scream produced in conjunction with FORESIGHT Climate & Energy.
9 min.
In an interview with FORESIGHT, Dominique Ristori, Director General for Energy in the European Commission, explains why Europe’s heating system is too old and dirty04/March/2019

Europe turns up the heat on old boilers

 In an interview with FORESIGHT, Dominique Ristori, Director General for Energy in the European Commission, explains why Europe’s heating system is too old and dirty
7 min.
Smart grid has become a trendy term, but some proper thinking is needed about its meaning and the purpose of information technology advances if the result is to advance the energy transition28/February/2019

Smart grids require much more smart thinking

 Smart grid has become a trendy term, but some proper thinking is needed about its meaning and the purpose of information technology advances if the result is to advance the energy transition
8-9 min.
California is leading efforts to make the transition from combustion engines to electric vehicles fair and just for all including low-income groups05/December/2018

Electric vehicles for everyone

 California is leading efforts to make the transition from combustion engines to electric vehicles fair and just for all including low-income groups
7-8 min.
The reaction of the Australian government to the recent IPCC report was to reject a phase out of coal. But with research showing new wind and solar are competitive with new coal, economics, not politics, looks set to define the country’s energy mix23/November/2018

Energy transition economics outpace Australian politics

 The reaction of the Australian government to the recent IPCC report was to reject a phase out of coal. But with research showing new wind and solar are competitive with new coal, economics, not politics, looks set to define the country’s energy mix
11-12 min.
Carbon capture and storage may be needed to decarbonise highly polluting sectors such as steel production, but the power sector would be best advised to focus on renewables and efficiency given the significant costs of the technology16/November/2018

Carbon storage struggles with costs

 Carbon capture and storage may be needed to decarbonise highly polluting sectors such as steel production, but the power sector would be best advised to focus on renewables and efficiency given the significant costs of the technology
9-10 min.
The IPCC highlights behavioural change as key to the energy transition, yet economics and modelling still tend to lead policy making rather than inputs from social sciences. Dealing with energy in conjunction with other policies such as health, education and employment could help to change this14/November/2018

Changing minds about changing behaviour

 The IPCC highlights behavioural change as key to the energy transition, yet economics and modelling still tend to lead policy making rather than inputs from social sciences. Dealing with energy in conjunction with other policies such as health, education and employment could help to change this
5-6 min.
India’s solar sector may be facing certain difficulties, but its future holds plenty of potential21/September/2018

Despite some clouds, India’s solar sector will continue to shine

 India’s solar sector may be facing certain difficulties, but its future holds plenty of potential
8-10 min.
13/July/2018

The challenge of decarbonising Europe

 While EU energy experts unsurprisingly agreed the leading role renewables and energy efficiency will play in the move to a clean energy economy, speakers at a European Commission conference had widely differing views on what else should be prioritised
11-12 min.
Coal-reliant regions around the world have been generally resistant to the energy transition and regulators have tended to defend the status quo. But they are slowly starting to realise that clear plans and financial support for disrupted societies are more important09/July/2018

A fair and just energy transition

 Coal-reliant regions around the world have been generally resistant to the energy transition and regulators have tended to defend the status quo. But they are slowly starting to realise that clear plans and financial support for disrupted societies are more important
13-14 min.
Voluntary agreements, instead of, or in conjunction with, regulation, are becoming the norm in many parts of the world to reduce wasted energy in various consumer sectors02/July/2018

Sticks and carrots

 Voluntary agreements, instead of, or in conjunction with, regulation, are becoming the norm in many parts of the world to reduce wasted energy in various consumer sectors
9-10 min.
Australia, New Zealand explore low-carbon solutions04/June/2018

Australia, New Zealand explore low-carbon solutions

 Two antipodean countries, two different approaches to the low-carbon transition. While New Zealand is starting to lead from the top-down, Australia still lacks clear national policies with a patchwork of approaches to decarbonisation remaining the order of the day
6-7 min.
biomass support threaten clean energy transition25/May/2018

Biomass support threatens clean energy transition

 Over stimulation of biomass-fired combined heat and power and insufficient control of the sustainability of the raw material is leading Denmark in the wrong direction on clean energy, warns the country’s council on climate change
6-7 min.
Interview with Lars Christian Lilleholt, Danish energy minister23/May/2018

Business sense

 Interview with Lars Christian Lilleholt, Danish energy minister
5-6 min.
Hurricanes wiped out Puerto Rico’s power grid, creating an opportunity to rebuild with cleaner modern technologies. But financial and institutional barriers stand in the way15/May/2018

Puerto Rico struggles back from the brink

 Island series part 3/3: Hurricanes wiped out Puerto Rico’s power grid, creating an opportunity to rebuild with cleaner modern technologies. But financial and institutional barriers stand in the way
6-7 min.
Hawaii bets on solar power09/May/2018

Hawaii bets on solar power

 Island series part 2/3: Battered by years of high energy prices due to heavy dependence on imported oil, Hawaii has been moving aggressively to take advantage of the declining cost of renewables
4-5 min.
Bornholm, a Danish island due south of Sweden in the Baltic Sea, is making itself into a “Bright Green Island” by pursuing a goal of carbon neutrality by 2025. To get there, Bornholm has become a laboratory for new technologies and strategies to cut emissions.07/May/2018

Bornholm Island a test bed for new energy technologies

 Island series part 1/1: Denmark's "sunshine island" is taking its efforts to become carbon neutral beyond wind energy. Experiments with solar technologies are directed towards achieving heating, cooling and electricity generation from a single source of clean energy.
6-7 min.
Americans say they lack the consensus for the change seen in Europe18/April/2018

Utilities and distributed generation

 Americans say they lack the consensus for the change seen in Europe
10 min.
mind the gap07/March/2018

Mind the gap

 On International Women’s Day, FORESIGHT looks at the gender gap in the energy sector and why more women could boost the transition to a renewable energy economy
6-7 min.
01/March/2018

Danish businesses drive electric revolution, but government remains in park mode

 Interview with Jeppe Juul, recently appointed president of the board of Transport & Environment (T&E), the Brussels-based organisation that helped break the dieselgate scandal
5-6 min.
14/November/2017

Green tech must engage with big business

 Former EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Denmark’s first minister for climate and energy, Connie Hedegaard, in conversation with FORESIGHT
6-7 min.
07/July/2017

The dangers of using a sharp instrument

 Auctions of power purchase contracts as a price-setting mechanism for wind energy are proving to be sharp tools for driving down cost. But sharp tools need handling with care
3-4 min.
07/July/2017

The shaky case for negative emissions

 Achieving negative emissions could bridge the gap for meeting global warming targets, but could also be a dangerous distraction
4-5 min.
17/March/2017

Entry of China heralds emissions trading shake up

 When China later this year introduces its emissions trading system, it will double the combined size of all existing carbon markets
4-5 min.
17/March/2017

Is it really carbon neutral?

 IPCC author questions burning of biomass
7-8 min.
17/March/2017

A clear case of protectionist policy adding to the cost

 Offshore wind in the US is in its early infancy. A century old law is making life unnecessarily difficult and is hindering market growth.
6-7 min.
11/October/2016

History lessons in why expensive is proving cheap

 Plotting past trends in the cost of electricity clearly shows the way forward
5-6 min.
11/October/2016

A more nuanced approach to accounting for carbon

 Better methodologies for allocating responsibility for carbon emissions would spark greater effort from underperformers
5-6 min.
06/July/2016

Your assumptions might be wrong

 Environmental regulation does not make countries uncompetitive, says the OECD
4-5 min.
04/July/2016

Reality surprised us

 On energy trends the IEA admits that prediction is difficult – especially of the future
4-5 min.
29/June/2016

A fiscal Stockholm syndrom

 Government budgets are hooked on fossil-fuel derived tax revenues. Making the break is tough