About: energy interconnectors
The road to 2050 should be fossil gas pipelines free
All scenarios prepared by transmission grid operators feature very high shares of gas in Europe’s future energy mix. Does that make any sense at all? No, says Wendel Trio.
MEPs urge reviewing EU list of energy projects in light of Green Deal
Members of the European Parliament have written to the European Commission, voicing concern that EU spending on LNG and other gas projects “may not be in line with the Union’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement”.
Billions to be wasted on ‘unnecessary’ gas projects, study says
Europe does not need new gas infrastructure to safeguard security of supply, according to a new study by industry consultants Artelys, which warns that there is a risk of €29 billion being wasted on 32 mostly “unnecessary” gas projects.
Capacity markets: A necessary evil in the energy transition?
Detractors of capacity mechanisms argue they are mere state aid for dirty fossil fuels that should be eliminated as soon as possible while supporters claim they provide vital back-up in the transition to renewable electricity. The fact that both are correct is leaving Europe in a quandary.
Decarbonisation not just an option but an opportunity, insist energy experts
Decarbonising the economy and energy production is now a necessity for states and companies, although it can also be a source of business opportunities and innovation, according to experts. EURACTIV's Spanish partner reports.
Why Europe needs more electricity interconnectors, public and private
Europe's underdeveloped power grid infrastructure means that a surplus of electricity cannot be traded across borders, wasting renewable energy in countries that produce more than they consume, write Jo Leinen and Werner Langen.
Building energy infrastructure is not a zero-sum game
Full electrification does not mean decarbonisation, writes Marco Alverà. Infrastructure which carries natural gas today will be needed in future to carry increasing amounts of biomethane, green hydrogen as well as to store energy more efficiently than power lines or batteries, he argues.
Norway accepts EU energy rules, avoids dispute with Brussels
Norway's parliament approved the adoption of European Union energy rules on Thursday (22 March), over the objections of some centre-left parties, allowing the EU outsider to remain a full member of EU markets, the leader of the parliament said after the vote.
11 member states smash 2020 renewables targets early
Eleven EU countries have already met their 2020 renewable energy goals ahead of schedule while the bloc as a whole has reached 17%, just shy of the overall target with two years to go, according to new data from Eurostat.
We have passed the electric tipping point
As the price of renewables plummets and electrification goes from strength to strength, the head of Norway's transmission system operator considers the inherent challenges and significant benefits, asking, how can we create most value to all Europeans?
France, Portugal and Spain to attend mini energy summit
Portugal will organise early next year a summit dedicated solely to energy interconnectors, as lawmakers work to end the Iberian peninsula’s energy market isolation.
EU pins hopes on ‘regional forums’ to unlock electricity trade
A seamless pan-European energy market is still a long way off, but decisive steps can be taken now with stronger regional cooperation and the introduction of cross-border bidding zones for electricity, policymakers and industry experts argue.
Brexit impact on energy markets could be ‘limited’, study says
Brexit could have a limited effect on energy markets in both the United Kingdom and the European Union, according to a new study that is optimistic about the future of energy policy. But the Court of Auditors has warned that experimental energy research could suffer
Cyprus set to come in from the cold and end energy isolation
Cyprus is due to end its energy isolation after it agreed with fellow EU member Greece to press on with an undersea electricity cable, which will also link the island to Israel in the hope of tapping into significant gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.
Central-Eastern European pipeline gets go-ahead
An ambitious gas pipeline project connecting Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria received a shot in the arm on Thursday (28 September), when all of the involved parties signed a memorandum of understanding for the project, a vital part of Europe's efforts to wean itself off Russian gas.
Brexit and energy: A choice between economics and sovereignty
Britain will have to invest more in new electricity generating capacity and face higher prices in exchange for regaining its independence from the European Union, writes Philip Lowe.
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.
Undersea power cable soldiers on despite WWII bombs
A large-scale energy interconnector project linking the United Kingdom to mainland Europe is pressing on, despite the discovery of wartime bombs and mines in the cable’s path.
Grid operators boss: We are trying to align physics and markets
Security of electricity supply should remain a national responsibility although regional coordination can help provide backup in case of need and avoid overcapacity, according to Laurent Schmitt, the Secretary General of ENTSO-E, in an interview with EURACTIV Slovakia.
Energy islands: Symbols of transformation and independence
Malta epitomises the value of islands in leading the transition to cleaner sources of energy, and ultimately in symbolising the potential for energy independence, writes Stuart Reigeluth.
Border dispute lays bare Germany’s fragile electricity infrastructure
An appeals board is expected to rule later this month on a dispute at the German-Austrian border. What is at stake is the future of Europe's largest area of uniform electricity prices – an issue that raises questions about the fundamental design of the EU's internal energy market.
Juncker to announce €200 billion extra funds in ‘State of the Union’ speech
Energy and digital infrastructure projects are expected to receive a further €200 billion funding boost under plans to be announced today (14 September) by the President of the European Commission in his State of the Union address.
Energy interconnection brings big emissions cuts for Malta as the EU loses ground
CO2 emissions in the EU rose by 0.7% in 2015, but Malta's interconnection with Sicily helped the island cuts its carbon footprint by more than a quarter. EURACTIV France reports.