Category : Industry News

Eight years ago, when I was working for a large investment bank in New York, I was optimistic about what seemed to be great potential for growth in clean energy technologies, like solar, wind and electric cars. But several colleagues who had more direct knowledge of energy markets were quite skeptical.

They would say the costs were too high, or deployment was too low. It just wasn’t “feasible,” they said. Even with science telling us we would soon need zero carbon emissions from our energy to prevent the most dangerous effects of climate change, it was difficult for many to begin imagining a shift from our business-as-usual approach to energy. How could these new technologies power our way of life?

Today the clean energy revolution is upon us. This rapid transition is being driven by a wave of innovation that is creating jobs, increasing profitability and making our communities healthier. In less than a decade, the prices of solar and wind power have fallen 80% and 50%, respectively, to the point that they compete with fossil fuels in many parts of the country. In places like Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, onshore wind power can now be bought for less than 3 cents per kilowatt-hour — some of the cheapest power in the land.

BRUSSELS: Priority access, ambitious targets, and transformational changes are needed from European Union (EU) energy policy to help companies to meet their European electricity needs with renewables, a new report backed by leading businesses says today (18 November, 2016).

The report comes as the EU Commission prepares to release a review of the EU Renewable Energy Directive and Market Design Initiative, expected late November. Earlier this week media reports said that a leak of the Winter Package showed it could subsidize fossil fuels and undermine renewable energy.

The report is written by independent global think tank E3G on behalf of RE100; a global, collaborative initiative of influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power across their operations, led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP. RE100 members such as BT, IKEA Group, Google, Nestlé, Royal DSM and Unilever all contributed their experiences. It sets out policy measures that would give companies easier access to renewable power, providing greater control over energy costs and long-term business stability. It also argues that all EU member states must play their part in achieving the collective 27% by 2030 renewable energy target, and makes the case for continued priority dispatch for renewables and enforceable prosumer rights.

There are 83 members of RE100 as of COP22, including global companies like Apple, BMW, and Starbucks. 43 of these have reported to CDP electricity use in one or more of 32 European countries – representing demand for over 18TWh of renewable electricity across the continent.

MARRAKECH: A groundbreaking new clean technology alliance was launched today by the Solar Impulse Foundation on Energy Day at COP22 with the aim of driving collaboration and supporting the transition to a low carbon, prosperous global economy.

The Solar Impulse 2 zero-emissions airplane completed its historic round-the-world solar flight in July and the new World Alliance for Clean Technologies is designed to bring together the key players in the field of sustainable technologies to foster collaboration and innovation, and to provide governments with credible advice.

The Alliance is part of the vision and ambition of the Solar Impulse co-pilots Bertrand Piccard, who is also initiator and chairman, and André Borschberg, co-founder and CEO, to globally advance the development of clean technologies, and to encourage their implementation worldwide as solutions for sustainable development and prosperous economies.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump points at the gathered media during his walk through at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, U.S., July 21, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo

The United States elected a coal-loving, oil and gas-funded climate denier as President. Here are 10 developments you can count on in the energy and climate world.

1. With its actions, the American electorate guaranteed that global warming will exceed the 2°C threshold that all nations, including the US, agreed would be a disaster to us all. Limiting climate change to 2°C over pre-industrial levels requires herculean efforts as it is; sadly, these aren’t going to be made at the necessary scale without enlightened leadership in the richest country in the world.

2. The global day-to-day fight against the preeminent issue of our time, climate change, will experience a major and tragic set-back. A few years ago, we could have counted on a strong Europe to counter-balance a US administration practising, potentially, an active form of climate denial. But Europe is probably too weak to do so today. Action (or inaction) by China and India especially become key areas to watch.