Moving to Net Zero

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Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash The European electricity industry trade body unveils a “landmark study” highlighting three scenarios for Europe to achieve net zero. Looking towards 2030, 2040 and 2050, “Decarbonisation Speedways” spells out “the key role” of clean electrification in accelerating Europe’s path to climate neutrality and underlines its potential in lowering households’ energy bills.  Europe’s success hinges, however, on critical enablers…

Massive Expansion of Renewable Energies

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Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash Member states have given the green light for a “massive expansion” of renewable energies.After months of blocking, the Council decided to tighten the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Campaigners have greeted the news saying “an investment boom across the EU will be the result.” German Greens MEP Sven Giegold says the revised EU…

Daikin Tackling Climate Change

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Photo by Tobias Rademacher on Unsplash The world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer has launched a four-step initiative which, it claims, can help tackle the climate change crisis. Daikin, a Japanese multinational conglomerate company, believes its new campaign will help ensure a “healthy and sustainable environment and contribute to carbon neutrality.” One of the biggest challenges society is to maximize usage…

Hello Sunshine

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Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash It is good news that the UK should have plenty of sunshine this summer – potentially more than much of southern Europe. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts suggests that June, July and August should each be hotter than average. This should be a great opportunity to harness more solar power:…

The Fellowship of the Solidarity Ring

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Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash The transmission system operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and SOCAR signed an important Memorandum of Understanding in Sofia today, 25th April. The signing ceremony of the “Memorandum of Understanding for encouraging cooperation among Bulgartransgaz (Bulgaria), Transgaz (Romania), FGSZ (Hungary), Eustream (Slovakia) and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR)”…

Reform of the EU’s Electricity Market

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Photo by Alessandro Bianchi on Unsplash MEPs have given a mixed reaction to the European Commission’s proposal to reform the EU’s electricity market. The commission on Tuesday said the move aims to accelerate a surge in renewables and the phase-out of gas, make consumer bills less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices. It also hopes it will “better protect consumers from future price…

Keeping Coal As Part of the Energy Mix

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Photo by Markus Clemens on Unsplash A leading energy expert has urged the EU and international community to ensure coal remains part of Europe’s future energy mix. Vladislav Inozemtsev, speaking in Brussels, said this was not to diminish the role renewables potentially can play in meeting the continent’s energy needs. But, with the ever-present threat of Russia cutting…

Moldova Plans No Cooperation with Russia

The post-Soviet states one by one are shedding Moscow’s influence. Moldova has recently announced that it is ready to denounce several agreements signed within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In the foreseeable future, the country may withdraw from the CIS altogether, as Georgia and Ukraine have done in the past. The…

Keeping the Lights on in Ukraine

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Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash. Russia’s missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are taking the form of targeted genocide: the civilised world must help Ukrainians survive the most difficult winter since 1991, writes the International Foundation for Better Governance. Putin personally delegated to General Surovikin the task of destroying Ukraine’s energy sector in order to start destroying…