Energy
Carbon capture and storage: Norway still top of the class
Norway’s energy giant Statoil is developing a project to store imported industrial CO2 emissions under the sea. Companies in the UK would like to benefit from the technology. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement Reports.
Europe’s reliance on gas imports in spotlight as coal’s decline continues
Electricity produced from natural gas has matched power generated from coal in OECD countries. But Europe’s gas self-sufficiency dropped below 50% for the very first time as well.
Dangerous global warming unstoppable without geo-engineering, says study
The international community has already missed its chance to limit global warming to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius, according to a new study by Switzerland-based researchers. But a solution to the problem could lie in geo-engineering technologies.
How helium shortages might burst Europe’s security
Helium is about much more than balloons and squeaky voices. Its uses in medicine and military applications are vital but Europe risks finding itself between a rock and a hard place in securing a regular supply, writes Lukas Trakimavičius.
Fire at Dutch refinery reveals Europe’s dependence on imported diesel
Europe is known to be dependent from imported crude oil. But an incident at the EU’s biggest refinery has shown that the European continent has also become dependent on import of diesel fuel.
British MPs attack May for scrapping energy price cap promise
British lawmakers from across the political spectrum have called on UK Prime Minister Theresa May to fulfil an election pledge that would cap energy bills for 17 million people, after her government last month confirmed only 2.6 million would actually benefit.
Environmentalists worried as UK sells off Green Investment Bank
Britain’s green credentials were called into question on Friday (18 August) after the government announced it had completed the sale of the publically-owned Green Investment Bank (GIB) to Australian investors Macquarie Group Limited.
Croatia starts preliminary work on Adriatic LNG terminal
Croatia has started preliminary underwater works in the northern Adriatic, the first concrete step in building a long-delayed liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal that is part of EU efforts to boost energy security and reduce dependence on Russian gas.
Norway close to becoming planet’s first ‘fully electrified society’
Norway has the renewable resources and political will to become the world’s first country to use entirely clean electricity for its power demands, according to a new report by Energi Norge, a non-profit industry group representing Norwegian electricity companies.
Italian lake goes all electric
Italy’s picturesque Lake Como has become Europe’s first ‘electric destination’ after efforts to install a far-reaching electric-charging network were finally realised.
Giant floating wind turbines installed off Scottish coast, in world first
The world’s first floating wind farm is taking shape off the coast of Scotland, in waters normally too deep for turbine installation.
New EU rules for lower power plant emissions take effect
The European Commission on Thursday (17 August) published tighter new standards for the bloc's most polluting power plants, including many large coal-fired power stations, giving them four years to meet the lower emission standards.
US renewable energy growth helped prevent thousands of deaths
New research has revealed that up to 12,700 deaths were prevented over a nine-year-period in the United States, thanks to an increase in renewable energy use and tighter regulation.
Russian watchdog says Schlumberger-Eurasia Drilling deal ‘has big problems’
The acquisition of a 51% stake in Russia's Eurasia Drilling Co (EDC) by US oilfield services giant Schlumberger "has big problems" in the current political situation, the head of Russia's competition watchdog said yesterday (16 August).
Hulot’s anti-nuclear credentials called into question as protest turns violent
Violence erupted on 15 August at a demonstration against French plans for a radioactive waste burial site in the north-eastern town of Bure. Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot, once a vocal opponent of the project, has refused to take sides. EURACTIV’s partner Oust-France reports.
France-Italy energy link secures hefty EU loan
The European Investment Bank has agreed to lend an Italy-France interconnector project €130 million to support investments.
EU ready to roll out new vacuum cleaner rules
New EU rules on vacuum cleaners come into force next month, as Brussels looks to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions.
Coal expansion plans up in smoke as Europe realises mistake
Substantial coal power expansion in Europe has been significantly scaled back in recent years after utility companies realised they bet on the wrong horse, according to a new study by the University of Oxford.
Rise of electric car solves little if driven by fossil fuels, warns windfarm boss
The rise of electric cars will be an empty victory for the environment if they are powered by fossil fuels instead of renewables, according to the UK boss of the world’s biggest offshore windfarm developer. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.
Cutting consumption is key to cutting energy bills
Westminster’s latest attempt to manage energy bills looks increasingly like an attempt to manage headlines about energy bills. Much more must be done to cut consumption, writes Tom Burke.
US sanctions and Nord Stream 2: Every dog has its day?
The US’ new Russia sanctions only added fuel to the EU’s divisions over how to deal with Russian energy, write Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk, Bartosz Wiśniewski.
EU sanctions Russian deputy minister over Siemens turbines to Crimea
The European Union on Friday (4 August) imposed sanctions on three more Russians, including Deputy Energy Minister Andrei Cherezov, and three Russian companies over the delivery of Siemens' turbines to Moscow-annexed Crimea.
Desert solar project could power 5 million EU homes
A consortium of clean energy developers has applied for permission to build a gigantic solar power plant on the edge of the Sahara desert, which will be linked to Europe by a number of undersea cables and could power over 5 million homes.
New Russia sanctions: A European concern
Washington-Moscow relations are threatening to plummet even further after the US decided to impose new sanctions. The new penalties are likely to have an impact on European companies too. George Voloshin examines the situation in the second part of this op-ed. George Voloshin is head of the French branch of Aperio Intelligence, an independent corporate …