Energy

Breaking down the barriers to renewable heating in the UK

Europe is the global leader in renewable heat, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. Being bottom of the class, the UK is a case in point, writes Marcus Franck.

Circular bio-economy supports growth and mitigates climate change impact

A European strategy for bio-economy should take the structural differences of different member states into account while also promoting and reinforcing a common vision for the sector, write Carina Håkansson and Mårten Larsson.

Greece accepts Snam-led consortium’s offer for gas grid DESFA

Greece has accepted a €535 million offer from a consortium led by Italy's Snam for a majority stake in gas grid operator DESFA, naming it the "preferred investor", its privatisation agency said on Thursday (19 April).

Energy transition: EU unity’s missing jigsaw piece?

Decarbonising Europe’s economy and meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement are among the EU’s main priorities. Depending on the level of ambition and the course the EU energy policy ship takes, the result could be either a more united or divided continent.

How Europe can regain industrial championship in clean mobility

Chinese manufacturers have built an impressive production network in Europe and are winning pure electric car and bus tenders in cities like Turin, Amsterdam and London. In Europe, the Clean Vehicles Directive can help make up for the time lost, argues Claude Turmes.

EU member states warm up to Parliament’s energy stance

An informal meeting of EU energy ministers on Thursday (19 April) revealed that member states are starting to come around to the idea of more ambitious energy targets for 2030, as MEPs raise pressure ahead of fresh talks starting next week.

Beyond coal, nationalism and EU accession: Squaring the circle for Kosovo

Joining the EU means meeting all of its rules and criteria, including energy legislation. But bloc-hopeful Kosovo, just like its other Balkan neighbours, is struggling to make any headway there, writes Philippe Charlez.

Clean air for everyone – Poland challenges smog

Environmental protection and the fight for clean air are global challenges in today’s world. Poland’s entrepreneurship and technology minister explains how her country is doing its bit to overcome air quality challenges.

EU energy efficiency debate skewed by bad maths, says study

Ongoing talks about the EU’s energy efficiency target for 2030 are deadlocked and the debate could have been skewed by the way initial cost estimates were calculated, according to a new study.

Greece launches tender for Hellenic Petroleum privatisation

Greece launched an international tender on Wednesday (18 April) to sell a majority stake in its biggest oil refiner, Hellenic Petroleum, as agreed under its third international bailout.

Ministers highlight European divide over carbon price floor

While France is pushing for the implementation of a carbon price floor at EU level and is looking for allies in the bloc, Poland sees energy storage technologies as key to a successful European climate policy.

Energy efficiency: Getting the full picture

The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), adopted in 2012 and currently under review, has been a key milestone to help deliver energy savings in Europe. But the reality is that we are not there yet in terms of primary energy savings, writes Hans Korteweg.

Study for EU questions France-Spain gas pipe plan

A report prepared for the European Commission has questioned the economic viability of plans to build a gas pipeline connecting Spain and France, designed in part to help reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian piped gas, five sources told Reuters.

What the UN deal on shipping emissions means

Last week’s difficult deal on shipping emissions at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) brought some good news. The not-so-good news is that there is far too little acceptance of the need for immediate action, writes Bill Hemmings.

Demand for cooling could outstrip heating as Earth warms

A burgeoning middle class and a warming world will result in energy demand for cooling overtaking that for heating by the middle of the century, researchers have predicted. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.

EU Parliament’s energetic day in Strasbourg

In the shadow of French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech in Strasbourg on Tuesday (17 April), MEPs signed off on a number of important energy laws, as the EU took a small step towards the finalisation of the Clean Energy Package.

Without ambitious energy efficiency goals, the EU will fail Paris targets

The Paris Climate Agreement’s entry into force has clearly not yet spurred policymakers to charge toward the goal of limiting climate change to “well below 2°C” and targeting 1.5°C, warn Dr Jan Rosenow and Stefan Scheuer. Energy efficiency remains the key to success.

Buildings renovation: The low hanging fruit for emissions savings

With real estate responsible for over a third of the EU’s CO2 emissions, legislating to improve energy savings in the building stock is a low hanging fruit that our governments would be mad not to pick, argues Eliot Whittington.

‘No Europeans can be left behind’ by energy transition, says Polish power sector boss

Europe’s energy transition is well under way but every EU country differs in terms of energy mix, economic situation and natural resources. So how fair is the energy transition on countries like Poland, which have a somewhat negative image when it comes to fossil fuel use?  

Energy transition: Ambitious enough?

Europe needs to decarbonise its economy in order to meet its Paris Agreement obligations, but how ambitious are its plans for an energy transition?

Cañete: Need for energy transition is ‘ever more urgent’

The need for energy transition is becoming more urgent, according to EU Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.

Croatia to unveil results of LNG tender in late May

Croatia will reveal on 28 May the results of a tender to use the capacity of a planned liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal, according to the company in charge of the project. The results may well determine the viability of the project, which has been in the making for over a decade.

Where will citizens fit within Europe’s energy transition?

The Clean Energy for All European Package is supposed to turn consumers into 'prosumers', allowing them to participate in energy communities. However, doing that will require a change in perception, starting with national governments, writes Dirk Vansintjan.

Energy-efficient buildings: Why MEPs should ban the staged renovation approach

The staged renovation approach hinders the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive’s target of making buildings highly energy efficient and decarbonised by 2050, as well as Europe’s objective to alleviate energy poverty, warns Dr Yamina Saheb.