About: Renewable Energy

Renewable energy opportunity for EU-China development cooperation

Cooperation in the renewable energy sector, such as hydropower, wind power and photovoltaic, between China and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or third countries has significantly grown in recent years. A senior scientist suggests an EU-China partnership could benefit all involved.

RWE-E.ON deal will run smaller firms out of the market, green power boss claims

The European Commission’s decision to approve an agreement between Germany’s big power firms risks distorting energy market competition, according to the head of another company, who explained to EURACTIV Germany why he has started legal action.

Morocco energy boss: We need to build electricity bridges between Europe and Africa

The solar thermal complex at Noor Ouarzazate in the Atlas mountains is at the heart of Morocco's renewable energy drive, producing over 580MW of electricity. Mustapha Bakhouri explains the country's plans to develop its renewable energy programme and build energy connections with Europe.

Researcher: ‘The greatest bottlenecks can be expected for lithium and cobalt’

As excitement builds about the opportunities of the new green economy, concerns are growing as well. The economic transition will require new grid infrastructure, new distribution models and, perhaps most importantly, more raw materials, says Kornelis Blok.

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.

WindEurope: ‘Consumers are still paying for yesterday’s renewables’

Wind turbines installed up to fifteen years ago required heavy state subsidies, usually in the form of feed-in tariffs, remarks Giles Dickson. But this is no longer the case, he says, urging governments to use market-based systems like auctions, which guarantee stable revenues.

IEA chief economist: ‘1970s’ power grids need urgent rethink

Electric vehicles could revolutionise Europe’s electricity system, but an outmoded network regulation could hamper progress, according to Laszlo Varro, chief economist at the International Energy Agency.

Eurogas chief: Gas can be renewable energy, too

The mobility sector will be a mix of electric- and gas-fuelled vehicles, Eurogas President Klaus Schäfer told EURACTIV Slovakia.

Eurelectric boss: ‘Orchestrated’ power markets must end

If European Union leaders don’t believe markets can work, then there’s no point having a carbon price to encourage renewable energies. And the energy market will always be “orchestrated” by national governments keeping fossil fuels subsidised, says Hans Ten Berge.

Renewables energy expert: “They are gambling away a huge opportunity”

The EU has some big plans in climate protection, as well as the targets of the Paris Agreement to meet. The road ahead seems bumpy, especially since leaked Commission documents revealed renewable energy will be bumped down the list of priorities. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Co-op chief: People can produce most of their energy themselves

Half of Europeans could have solar panels on their roofs by 2050. And the trend won’t stop as small-scale energy cooperatives bring in eight times more revenue to local authorities than big utilities, argues Dirk Vansintjan.

EDF scientific chief: A 100% renewable energy system is impossible

Fossil-fueled power is still necessary to balance the intermittency from renewable electricity production. But costs are rapidly dropping, and the socio-economic drivers are in place to support the transition towards renewable energy, says Jean-Paul Chabard.

German electricity transmission CEO: ‘80% renewables is no problem’

Germany’s pursuit of a low carbon economy, the Energiewende, is in full swing, but questions have emerged over its feasibility. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel spoke with Boris Schucht, who is head of one of Germany’s largest electricity providers.

Mimica: Emergency Trust Fund for Africa ‘might not be a game-changer’

In a wide-ranging interview, Commissioner Neven Mimica tells EURACTIV.com's Matthew Tempest about the executive's master plan for legal migration, as well as the limits of development aid to African states in the rough.

Jerzy Buzek: ‘Let’s not be hypocrites’ about coal

Poland should continue relying on coal but only at the condition that it uses the newest technologies, says Jerzy Buzek, as COP21 enters its second week.

Vestager: Gazprom is partitioning markets in Central and Eastern Europe

Russia's Gazprom may have leveraged its dominant position by obtaining unrelated commitments on pipelines from its customers, as a condition of supplying gas to Bulgaria and Poland, says Margrethe Vestager.

Renewable island director: We need the opposite of Energy Union

Decentralisation is the key to energy success and development, Søren Hermansen said in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV. Instead of focusing on Putin's gas, the EU should create its own independent energy grid, including the national feed-in tariffs the Energy Union project opposes, he said.

Bärbel Höhn: Renewables are ‘the most important source of energy in Germany’

“It is simply not worth it to invest in coal power plants," says Bärbel Höhn. Speaking to EURACTIV Poland, the German lawmaker talks about the realities of the Energiewende, its costs and benefits, as well as its impact on coal-rich areas.

German MEP: Kenya must ‘restore trust’ amid terror attacks

Kenya is considered a democratic and economic role model in Africa, but terror attacks and a corrupt state are tarnishing the country’s image, says Michael Gahler, outlining Kenya’s future prospects and enormous economic potential. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Rebecca Harms: Oettinger is a man of big business

As energy commissioner, Günther Oettinger killed proposals that could have led to greater energy savings, job creation, and climate protection, Rebecca Harms, President of the Greens- European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, told EURACTIV Poland, in an exclusive interview.

Analyst: Western energy companies reluctant to deal with Russia

The psychological effect of EU sanctions, as much as the specific effect of them, is causing companies to hesitate when getting involved in any transactions with Russia, James Henderson told EURACTIV Czech Republic in an interview.

Danish energy minister: ‘We will pursue fossil-free future no matter what’

As the smoke cleared from the European Commission rooms where the 2030 climate and energy package had been thrashed out, Martin Lidegaard explained that the really tough debate was only just beginning.

?EZ official: Energy corporations ask for clean-up of EU regulation

To make the energy market regulation work, major corporations want a single binding and ambitious goal set to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030, to save the system of trading in emission allowances, and a more reasonable policy and support for renewables, says Ivo Hlavá? of ?EZ.

Think tank: EU should abandon renewables ‘decarbonisation monopoly’

Europe needs to maintain an ambitious policy on climate change but abandon its approach which gives renewable energies a de facto monopoly over the decarbonisation of the energy system, argues André Ferron and Claude Fischer in an interview with EURACTIV.