Energy
Three women to steer France’s new ‘super’ green ministry
Ecological Transition Minister Amélie de Montchalin and Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher will be working under the newly appointed Prime Minister in charge of 'ecological and energy planning'. EURACTIV France reports.
No Russia oil embargo discussion at EU summit, says Hungary’s Orbán
Hungary will not drop its opposition to an EU embargo on Russian oil any time soon, and so EU leaders should not discuss the issue at next week’s summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told European Council President Charles...
How new rules to define renewable hydrogen could shape the market
Late on Friday 20 May, the European Commission published rules for calling transport fuels of non-biological origin, including hydrogen, renewable. The criteria is strict, despite industry lobbying, write Corinna Klessmann, Felix von Blücher, and Malte Gephart.
Fearing Russian supply cuts, Berlin puts oil and coal power plants on standby
The German ministry for economy and climate action is ensuring that significant coal and oil power plant capacities are at the ready in case the country's Russian gas supply is cut, according to a government plan seen by EURACTIV.
EU oil embargo ‘in days’ as Ukraine isolation drives Russia closer to China
The EU will likely agree an embargo on Russian oil imports "within days," according to Germany, as Moscow said it saw its economic ties growing with China after being isolated by the West over its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia halts gas supplies to Finland
Russia on Saturday (21 May) stopped providing natural gas to neighbouring Finland, which has angered Moscow by applying for NATO membership, after the Nordic country refused to pay supplier Gazprom in rubles. Following Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow...
Germany and Italy approved Russian gas payments after nod from Brussels
Germany and Italy told companies they could open ruble accounts to keep buying Russian gas without breaching sanctions against Moscow following discussions with the European Union, sources said.
EU urges quicker phase-out of gas boilers in bid to halt Russian energy imports
Government incentives for the installation of new fossil fuel boilers should be stopped “much more quickly” because of Russia's war in Ukraine, an EU official explained, saying the current 2027 end date is “far too late” and must be brought forward.
Campaigners hail ‘historic breakthrough’ on revised EU biomass rules
Environmental groups claimed victory earlier this week after the European Parliament's environment committee voted on new rules clarifying what can be counted as "sustainable biomass" under the revised renewable energy directive. Others were more cautious though, saying the battle is far from over.
Namibia comes to Europe to sell its sunshine
As Europe struggles to decarbonise its economy and wean itself off Russian oil and gas, one of the world's sunniest and most arid nations is pitching itself to the continent as an answer to its problems.
Is nuclear the overlooked solution for Europe’s energy woes?
Following the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Germany sped up plans to shut down all its nuclear plants. Given the current energy crisis, such decisions should be revisited,writes Timur Tllyaev.
Incoming Czech EU presidency to focus on green buildings law
The EU’s building stock is responsible for about 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) wants to tackle the issue for real.
German LNG accelerator law under fire by environmental NGOs
The German government, rushing to reduce its reliance on Russian gas, is about to enact a law that will accelerate the construction of liquified natural gas infrastructure. Germany will then be able to import LNG from anywhere, causing concern among environmental NGOs about extending its dependence on fossil fuels even longer.
Trust in carbon market ‘undermined’ by EU’s Russia plans, analysts warn
Analysts have slammed European Commission plans to raise €20 billion from the EU’s carbon market stability reserve as a way of financing a €300-billion effort to wean Europe off Russian fossil fuels.
Farming sector cautious about using CAP funds to drop Russian energy imports
Europe's farming community gave a lukewarm reception to the possibility, suggested by the European Commission, of transferring up to €7.5 billion from the EU’s farming subsidies to the support measures aimed at overcoming dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
Energy industry’s cybersecurity awareness rises, defence lags
Representatives of the frequently targeted energy industry are more concerned about the risk of cyber attacks than before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a new DNV report found. Apprehension also increased regarding insufficient investments and activities of their organisations.
Lawmakers vote to end free CO2 pollution permits by 2030
Lawmakers in the European Parliament’s environment committee agreed a major overhaul of the EU’s carbon market on Tuesday (17 May), including ditching free permits to pollute by 2030 and expanding the EU's carbon pricing scheme to the maritime sector.
Germany, Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium sign €135 billion offshore wind pact
Heads of government from the North Sea countries gathered in Esbjerg to sign a cooperation agreement on offshore wind development and “green” hydrogen. They will target at least 65 GW by 2030 and 150 GW by 2050.
Russia could cut off gas to Finland this week, energy provider says
Russia could cut off gas supplies to Finland this week, Finland's state-owned energy provider Gasum said on Wednesday (18 May), in a row over Moscow's demand for countries to pay for gas in roubles and as Helsinki seeks NATO membership.
Winds of change: How wind energy can help Ukraine and the climate
The European Commission’s ‘REPowerEU’ plan and the recent pledge by Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark to reach a capacity of 150 GW offshore wind power are game-changers for the climate and European energy politics, write Kadri Simson and Dan Jørgensen.
EU tables €300bn plan to ditch Russian fossil fuels, speed up green transition
The European Commission submitted on Wednesday (18 May) a €300 billion plan to eliminate Russian energy imports by 2027, although it admitted this would require short-term investments in new fossil fuel infrastructure to replace imports of Russian oil and gas.
Fixing EDF’s reactors corrosion mystery to take several years, French regulator warns
The head of French nuclear regulator ASN said on Tuesday (17 May) that fixing corrosion problems at some of state-controlled utility EDF's nuclear reactors would require a "large scale" plan and "several years" as he warned of a risk more reactors could be halted.
Germany could quit fossil fuels by 2035
Germany could shift all of its current electricity demand onto solar, wind and batteries within the next 10 years for just €35.2 billion per year and could be completely energy self-sufficient by 2035 for less than it currently spends on fossil fuels, writes Nafeez Ahmed.