Portugal’s solar energy auction breaks world record

Portugal's huge auction of solar energy broke a world record, with one of the 24 licences on offer selling for 14.76 euros per megawatt hour (Mwh), the secretary of state for energy Joao Galamba said on Tuesday (30 July).

German environmental groups: PtX-tech not ‘necessarily’ climate-friendly

So-called Power-to-X (PtX) technologies are seen as a good way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions because their potential for storing energy could stabilise the electricity grid. However, German environmental groups BUND and the Öko-Institut have criticised the technology. EURACTIV Germany reports.

100% renewable power requires radical EU market fix, Poles argue

Polish energy officials have called for a major overhaul of EU power markets, saying the deployment of up to 100% renewables will require a decentralised way of trading electricity, based on local “nodes” rather than regional bidding zones defined at European level.

Poland firms up gas, nuclear plans to fill green power gap

Replacing Poland’s obsolete coal power fleet is a top political priority for the country, both for environmental and energy security reasons. But even as it steps up renewable energy plans, Warsaw is also pushing hard for new gas and nuclear plants to fill in the gap.

Germany’s coal phase-out bill to be ready by end 2019

The federal economic ministry has followed the German coal commission's recommendation by preparing a draft bill to phase-out coal power generation. However, things are going too slowly, according to the Greens. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Paying our way out of purgatory: Is carbon pricing enough?

After the Pope backed a carbon tax to stem global warming earlier this month, Louise Sunderland argues carbon taxes will be efficient and cost-effective enough only when coupled with a strategic use of the revenues.

Baltic power games in the ascendancy

Europe’s power politics are playing out more and more in the Baltic Sea, as the energy potential of the sea basin shifts more into the limelight. 

EU must block Greece’s desperate attempt to subsidise coal power

Greek consumers could end up footing the bill for new coal plants well beyond 2050 under a proposed government scheme, despite recently agreed EU electricity market rules specifically designed to call time on coal subsidies, write Joanna Flisowska and Nikos Mantzaris.

Researcher: Lowering electricity taxes is cheapest way of meeting EU climate goals

The energy transition will hit the poor hardest unless it's balanced by a shift in taxation, says Christian Egenhofer. The EU needs to acknowledge this and get started by lowering taxes on electricity to achieve the EU’s carbon reduction goals at least cost, he argues.

The internet of energy has arrived, Scottish start-up claims

Faraday Grid, a clean tech start-up based in the UK, has launched a global marketing offensive for its latest transformer, saying it could do for electricity networks what the router did for the telecoms sector in the 1990s.

Swedish battery maker secures $1bn funding for Europe’s first ‘gigafactory’

Swedish start-up Northvolt Wednesday (12 June) announced it had secured funding, in large part from Volkswagen, for Europe’s biggest car battery factory, set to rival electric carmaker Tesla’s US “Gigafactory”. The battery producer said it had completed a $1 billion...

Iodine tablets to be distributed to 2.2 million French people living near nuclear plants

An additional 2.2 million French people residing close to nuclear power plants will receive iodine tablets and information on how to proceed in the event of an accident. This was announced by the French Nuclear Safety Authority on Monday. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'Environnement reports.

France and Ireland tap up EU for €667m to build power link

The leaders of France and Ireland asked European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday (28 May) to back their request for over half a billion euros in energy project funding, which would be earmarked to 'Brexit-proof' Ireland's power needs.

Poland under pressure to ‘walk the talk’ on coal phase-out

Environmental activists are raising the pressure on Poland and other EU member states to clarify their coal phase-out plans, saying countries receiving EU energy transition funds cannot “have their cake and eat it”.

Visegrad4: From a provincial energy debate to joint action for renewables

The V4 group of countries ignores climate threats, attempts to extend fossil fuel burning, violates air pollution limits and undermines the development of renewable energies. The Visegrad+ Renewable Energy platform has been established to turn this trend around, writes Ada Ámon.

EU renewable electricity hopes get welcome jolt

Fifty percent of the EU’s electricity will have to come from renewable energy sources by 2030 but the issue is more than just a matter of building more solar panels and wind turbines. The structure of Europe’s power grid will have to change.

Paris takes pesky e-scooter fleets to task

Paris authorities have warned operators of the thousands of electric scooters that have inundated the city to keep them off pavements or face a temporary ban amid rising complaints from pedestrians.

What Daimler’s move on carbon-neutral cars says about the industry

Daimler, one of the world’s leading producers of premium cars and commercial vehicles, has announced new commitments to make its entire passenger car fleet carbon neutral by the close of 2039. This is the most ambitious timeline among any of the leading automakers and signals a rapid acceleration in the shift towards zero-carbon transport, writes Nigel Topping.

Is technology about to overcome the ‘too heavy to electrify’ obstacle?

The scientific literature remains sceptical about trucks becoming battery-operated due to the cost and weight of large battery packs. But that could change soon as costs of battery packs continues to fall, writes Björn Nykvist.

Shareholders block China’s €9bn bid for Energias de Portugal

Shareholders in Portugal’s biggest company, Energias de Portugal, on Wednesday (24  April) blocked a €9 billion takeover bid by the state-owned China Three Gorges (CTG) Corporation. The rejection of the bid by the Chinese energy behemoth comes amid growing unease...

Zero-emission EU industry ‘within reach’ but costly, study says

Bringing emissions from heavy industry down to net-zero by 2050 is possible but will require costly new production processes and a 25-60% increase in near-term capital investments to reach €40-50 billion per year, according to new research published on Thursday (25 April).

EU official: ‘Renewables could supply almost 80% of heating and cooling by 2050’

Reaching the EU's target of increasing renewable heating and cooling by 1.3% each year will require a diverse array of solutions, says the European Commission's Hans van Steen.

Walking the walk on capacity mechanisms

The European Commission’s review of Britain’s capacity market for electricity will reveal whether the EU executive really believes the recast regulation on the internal electricity market is ever likely to be fully enforced, write Philip Baker and Michael Hogan.

Time for Germany to seize the opportunities of the EV transition

The German auto manufacturing industry is at a perilous moment in its long and illustrious history and it needs the help of the country’s policymakers to ensure its long-term success, writes Nigel Topping.