Energy
Record high power prices make case for faster green transition, EU says
Record high power prices in European Union countries show the bloc must wean itself off fossil fuels and speed up the transition to green energy, the EU's top climate change official said on Tuesday (14 September).
ITER nuclear fusion reactor hit by COVID delay, rising costs
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) currently under construction in Cadarache, Southern France, will see cost overruns and delays due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, its top official said on Friday (17 September).OpinionPromoted content
The Next Revolution in Green Energy is Coming from Right Beneath our Feet
The energy industry is at a moment of reckoning. As the global energy demand continues to double and triple, climate change will not wait for us to solve the green energy conundrum on our own schedule. John Redfern is the...
France to boost energy vouchers as consumer bills rise
French government is considering extending the benefit of energy vouchers to more households to ease the cost of rising energy bills, the government's spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday (15 September).
How the European Central Bank can unleash the building renovation wave
Trillions is needed for the deep building renovations required to meet Europe's climate targets. To make this happen, EU institutions need to use the network of banks across Europe and incentivise loans for home renovation, argue finance campaigners.
Kremlin: Nord Stream 2 start will help cap gas prices in Europe
A rapid startup of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany could help calm record-high gas prices in Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, as Moscow awaits for regulatory clearance for gas flows to begin.
Spanish power companies clash with government over measures to reduce electricity bill
Spain’s biggest power companies, such as Iberdrola and Endesa, have warned against any intervention in the electricity market by the Spanish state, after the socialist government’s decision to implement urgent measures to bring down soaring energy bills, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Russia to break the Gazprom gas export monopoly via Nord Stream 2
Russia's Energy Ministry is due to prepare a report in the coming days about the possibility of Rosneft exporting natural gas to Europe via the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Interfax cited Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak as saying on Wednesday (15 September)
A giant leap towards energy sustainability: The African single electricity market
Creating a single electricty market across Africa is an immmense task, but will mean cheaper, reliable and renewable electricity, increasing the number of people who have access to power, writes Johan van den Berg.
Spain moves again to curb soaring power prices
Spain's left-wing government approved Tuesday (14 September) a fresh package of measures, including a tax cut, to curb soaring household electricity bills that have hurt businesses and angered voters.
Renewable energy associations merge to develop solar PV sector in Portugal
Two Portuguese business associations – the Portuguese associations of Renewable Energies (APREN) and the Solar Photovoltaic Sector Companies (APESF) – announced their merger on Tuesday (14 September) to develop the solar photovoltaic sector in Portugal.
Germany has four months to certify Nord Stream 2 pipeline
Germany's energy regulator on Monday (13 September) said it had four months to complete a certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline after receiving all necessary documents for an application for an operating licence from the pipeline company.
Achieving climate neutrality will depend on how we decarbonise our building stock
Effiecient, technological and smarter buildings should be the cornerstone of Europe's decarbonisation, but more effort needs to go towards renovating the bloc's current building stock, writes Seán Kelly.
Researcher: Brussels is paving the way for nuclear power’s green revival
In all likelihood, the European Commission will table a proposal in the coming months to include nuclear energy in the EU’s green finance taxonomy, said Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, a researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute. But it is probably waiting for the outcome of the German elections before making a move, he suggested.
As German election nears, EU plays for time on nuclear’s green recognition
The inclusion of nuclear power in the EU’s green finance taxonomy is “the most likely” outcome in view of the scientific reports submitted to the European Commission in the past months, EU experts believe. But Brussels is not entirely decided yet and is seen playing for time before the German election this month.
Spanish government to present measures to bring down soaring electricity prices
Spain's executive will “imminently” present a new package of urgent measures to reduce the fast increase of electricity prices on the wholesale market, the Spanish government announced on Tuesday (7 September). EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Gas excluded from green bond financing under recovery fund
Green bonds will not finance gas projects included in national recovery plans, according to the new framework put forward by the European Commission on Tuesday (7 September).
Western Balkans pressed to tackle deadly air pollution from coal
The Europe Union needs to put more pressure on the Western Balkans to decarbonise their coal-fuelled energy system as pollution levels remain well above compliance thresholds, according to a report published on Tuesday (7 September).
Trust, not control: Germany, EVs and the power of consumer choice
Faced with the challenge of integrating electric vehicles without jeopardising power system reliability, Germany's federal energy ministry started work with distribution system operators on a new tariff design. What followed is a cautionary tale, write Andreas Jahn, Jaap Burger, Jan Rosenow.
It’s high time to make the EU’s buildings directive fit for 2030 and beyond
The make-or-break decade for deep cuts in energy consumption and carbon emissions has already begun, writes Oliver Rapf. Now it’s time to radically revise our legislation, in particular the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), he argues.
Coal mine methane: a missed opportunity for EU’s CBAM
The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism had an opportunity to include methane in its scope and act against sources of the potent greenhouse gas, but this was left out of the final published draft. Future EU climate legislation cannot afford to make the same mistake, writes Anatoli Smirnov.
EU urges markets to ‘keep calm’ as carbon price hits €60 record
A senior European Commission official insisted on delivering “a message of calm” during a EURACTIV event on Thursday (2 September), as CO2 prices rose for the first time above the €60 threshold on the EU carbon market.
Energy Charter Treaty cannot be used in intra-EU disputes, rules top court
An international treaty used by polluting energy companies to claim compensation from governments who thwart their investments was ruled incompatible with EU law by the Court of Justice of the European Union on Thursday (2 September).
How to regulate hydrogen networks
The need for regulating networks for transporting hydrogen is becoming increasingly urgent, but the legislation needs to be designed in a way to give the market flexibility to overcome the challenges ahead, writes Noé van Hulst.