About: Renewable Energy
Europe’s electricity market: Ensuring supply security in the transition to renewables
The on-going transformation of the EU power industry is leading policymakers to re-evaluate the current design of electricity markets. Electricity generated from renewable sources has become one of the most important sources of electricity, paving the way for a transition towards a low-carbon energy system.
Leap-frogging the African electricity grid with solar
Mobile phone technology made landlines obsolete in sub-Saharan Africa years before Europeans began to give up their home handsets. Will off-grid solar do the same in the energy sector?
Putting agriculture at the heart of Africa’s rising
Farming accounts for around 60% of all jobs in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments, the African Union and the EU are keen to promote the industrialization of the African farming sector. But rapid population growth, the effects of climate change and lack of access to finance are among the threats to the future growth of African agriculture and its capacity to feed its people.
Higher shares of renewables for higher levels of electrification
A deep decarbonisation of the European economy is doable, but it will rely heavily on an increased uptake of electricity – even if the challenges are very different across the individual use sectors, writes Kristian Ruby.
‘Super Grids Silk Road’ takes shape in Kazakhstan
A series of conferences dedicated to the China-promoted One Belt One Road initiative are taking place in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. Plans to launch a gigantic renewable energy project with the potential to supply the EU were also mooted.
MEPs and governments at standoff over energy efficiency
Mandate of Bulgarian presidency unclear after government changes in Italy and Spain.
Palm oil to be phased out in EU by 2030
The use of palm oil as fuel should disappear in Europe by 2030 under a reform of the bloc’s renewable energy laws agreed this morning after all-night negotiations.
EU strikes deal on 32% renewable energy target and palm oil ban after all-night session
Talks on renewable energy policy in Europe reached un unexpected breakthrough early this morning after negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states were able to reach a compromise on a 32% headline objective and a complete phase out of palm oil use in transport by 2030.
Video highlights: Spain and Italy may stoke clean energy shakeup today
The degree to which member state positions on the EU’s clean energy package have shifted was on display on Monday (11 June) when energy ministers met for a council meeting in Luxembourg. EURACTIV brings you a video compilation from the public debate.
Greece criticised for lacking modern energy plan to ditch coal
In contrast with many EU countries, Greece’s decarbonisation process is lagging behind. A growing number of voices are now calling for an up-to-date energy transition roadmap focusing on renewable energy and green gas.
EU, Cuba build ties in face of US pressure
The EU and Cuba signed a renewable energy deal on Tuesday (15 May), a step towards normalising relations in defiance of Washington's continuing hardline stance on Havana.
China outshines Europe in 2017 clean power investment ranking
Solar power dominated a global ranking of new renewable energy investments “like never before” last year, with China accounting for more than half of the world’s new capacity, the UN said on Thursday (5 April). Investments in Europe, on the other hand, recorded a massive drop.
IEA scenarios ‘inconsistent’ with Paris climate goals, study warns
The International Energy Agency has wrongly guided governments into decisions about oil, gas and coal use that are inconsistent with the long-term climate objectives of the Paris Agreement, according to a new report out on Thursday (5 April).![[Shutterstock]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/04/shutterstock_690366529-800x450.jpg)
International Maritime Organisation needs better governance, NGO says
The International Maritime Organisation has moved too slowly on drafting its greenhouse gas strategy and reducing emissions from shipping, Transparency International has warned, urging the global shipping regulator to improve its governance, transparency and efficiency.
Seán Kelly MEP: Gas is ‘preferred option’ as back-up for renewables
Intermittent renewable electricity will need backup for at least the next 20 or 30 years, says Irish MEP Seán Kelly. As the least dirty among fossil fuels, natural gas is probably the most cost-effective and “preferred option,” he argues.
German power deal spells demise of the integrated utility model
An all-German deal to split Innogy between RWE and E.ON looks set to create a template for European utilities M&A that includes the demise of the integrated model, no more big cross-border deals and a quest for emerging market growth.
India takes lion’s share of EU bank funding for solar power
The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement last Friday (9 March) to provide €800 million for clean energy projects in India, one day before an International Solar Alliance summit took place in Delhi.
France to manage its ‘carbon sink’ for 2050 goal
Optimising the wood-energy sector is key for France to attain its objective of becoming carbon neutral in 2050. However, 60% of forests in the country are left unmanaged nowadays. EURACTIV.fr reports
Wood from German forests as climate-neutral fuel?
Germany is the EU's richest country in forest and wood. According to European Commision plans, German forests are meant to be used much more as energy sources in the future. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU lawmakers agree ‘flexible’ renewable energy targets for 2030
Political groups in the European Parliament have sealed an agreement Tuesday evening (16 January) on a proposed Energy Union governance bill, assigning a strict yet flexible timeline for EU countries to meet the bloc’s 2030 objectives on renewable energy, EURACTIV has learnt.
EU research looks into large-scale integration of renewables
EDF and EirGrid, the leading French and Irish energy companies, have won €20 million under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme to develop ways of integrating large amounts of intermittent renewable energy sources into the electricity grid.
A new era: The digitalisation of Europe’s energy system
The clean energy transition requires first and foremost bridging energy and digital economy. The single energy market and the digital single market must go hand-in-hand, argues Dominique Ristori.
EU power generators pledge carbon neutrality ‘well before 2050’
Under new leadership since last year, industry association Eurelectic has committed to making European power generation carbon neutral well before 2050. But getting agreement within the group remains difficult.