Understanding carbon offsets

Beyond the tipping point

Clean energy continues to shatter predictions as the green transition gathers pace. Jarand Rystad, one of the sector’s top analysts, reveals why plus what the future might hold for the various technologies fighting for a piece of the energy market

Venture capital takes a shine to the energy transition

Venture capitalists are putting record amounts of money into climate tech, drawn by the opportunity to make money while fostering the innovation needed for decarbonisation. Digitalisation remains a focus, but investors are increasingly looking to tap into asset-heavy investment opportunities that are crucial to the energy transition

Clarity is the key to confidence in voluntary carbon markets

Voluntary carbon offset schemes could significantly help attempts to cut greenhouse gas emissions if their effectiveness can be proven

The $100 billion climate finance question

Finance for development initiatives in emerging markets is intrinsically tied to climate change—from new roads and energy infrastructure to transportation and new buildings. Yet despite the billions of dollars in overseas development assistance funding, the promised $100 billion of new and additional climate finance by 2020 has failed to materialise

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

The new business models making solar affordable for all

The cost-effectiveness and flexibility of solar photovoltaic power are leading to a raft of new energy business models to help middle- and low-income households participate in the energy transition

Corporates seek to match generation with demand

Corporate attempts to match every hour of consumption with renewable production could pave the way for grid decarbonisation

Convincing Big Oil to pay for the energy transition

Oil and gas companies are making a ton of cash by selling fossil fuels that are destroying our future. Could the industry instead be spending lavishly to make amends? It turns out things are not so simple

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

Lessons grid operators could learn from Africa

The emergence of low-carbon, distributed energy systems and innovative business models in Africa could provide tips to operators on the future of grids elsewhere in developed markets

A new flight plan

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) acting as drop-in substitutes for the fossil fuel kerosene are expected to play a leading role in decarbonising aviation. They are currently produced with materials like used cooking oil and animal fat waste, but new low-carbon feedstocks are needed to scale up output and ensure future flights are truly sustainable

Vietnam’s e-mobility sector needs more government attention

Vietnam’s mobility sector is beginning to gain momentum but will soon hit the buffers unless national charging infrastructure can emerge

Sustainable air travel is in SAF hands

The aviation industry is facing its own set of decarbonisation challenges. Prioritising Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production can make a big difference but only with a cohesive global effort, says Elena Scaltritti from Topsoe

The true cost of carbon

It is clear that society’s greenhouse gas emissions are costing the Earth but there is still little consensus on what the real price of carbon should be

Counting the cost of capital

As inflation continues to bite, the cost of borrowing money is putting energy infrastructure projects in peril, particularly in emerging markets already facing the gravest consequences of climate change

Europe’s CBAM still finding its feet

The European Union’s decision to slap a carbon tax on imported goods that do not meet strict green standards has sent shockwaves around the world. But there is still a lot of work to be done on the carbon border adjustment mechanism and plenty of uncertainty about how the new anti-climate-dumping tool will actually work in practice

Carbon offsets can send emissions reductions efforts off course

Offsetting emissions is fraught with problems and critics fear these programmes could distract from the real goal of keeping fossil fuels in the ground

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

Development banks struggle with fossil fuel lock-in

The world’s development banks are funnelling ever-greater volumes of finance into clean energy — but the challenge of shifting entire economies away from climate-wrecking activity and towards actions that align investment goals with those of the Paris Agreement requires a more holistic approach

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.

Federal green grid vision gone missing in America

As the United States legislates for higher shares of renewables, the development of its straggling and disjointed grid network to match its clean energy ambitions is lagging behind

Brexit may boost global cooperation on carbon trading clubs

Brexit, by excluding the UK from Europe’s carbon emissions trading system, has stripped British industry of the value of its carbon credits. Rescue options being considered by the UK government include linking back to the EU market, but also taking the risk of joining an immature multinational carbon trade cooperation

Wind turbines in a race to become even cleaner

The growth of wind power capacity is accelerating globally, with 2020 a record year for new installations. But with the expansion comes a growing mass of production waste, emissions from manufacturing and transport, and discarded components from retired machines. The industry’s turbine makers are facing up to the problem but proposed solutions remain commercially immature

Coal-for-renewables finance model raises doubts

The model of taking coal plants offline in exchange for renewable energy finance is growing in popularity with a concessional funding version underway in Chile. But experts are concerned the incentives could be unnecessary and may even encourage some plants to stay online

Green hydrogen hurdles complicate Southeast Asia’s net-zero goals

With the hydrogen economy gaining momentum in Europe, the industry is also stimulating interest in other regions of the world where power systems are more reliant on fossil fuels. However, green hydrogen in Southeast Asia has different questions that need answering

More accurate energy certificates can drive green investment

Time-stamped certificates would allow customers to know where their power is coming from at any given time and could provide another signal for investors by driving up prices for green energy certificates when supply is short. Regulators are taking steps to ensure that consumers signing up for green tariffs are really helping to progress the energy transition