About: Renewable Energy
Spain says EU rejects its request to change power pricing mechanism
The European Commission has rejected a Spanish request to change the rules that underpin member states' electricity markets as power prices in the country hit record highs, Spain's Energy and Environment Minister Teresa Ribera said on Thursday (12 August).
Glass packaging industry goes electric, adding to growing demand for renewable power
Unlike the steel and cement industry, the glass sector has a clear path towards decarbonising its processes: electrification. Yet renewable electricity is scarcer than the industry would like, raising concerns about its ability to meet EU climate goals.
EU eyes tighter rules for ‘renewable’ biomass energy
The European Union is considering tightening rules on whether wood-burning energy can be classed as renewable and count towards green goals, according to a draft document seen by Reuters on Wednesday (16 June).
‘From champagne to table water’: hydrogen sector aims for drastic price cuts by 2050
The price of clean hydrogen can be cut drastically by mid-century if the EU creates a dedicated market structure to develop the fuel, according to the industry. Environmental groups, meanwhile, are sceptical about the emergence of a hydrogen economy.
Paris looks to citizen power to speed up energy transition
French citizens' cooperative EnerCit'if aims to install 14 solar power plants in Paris before the end of the year, a project that is being seen as an opportunity to boost citizen participation in the city's energy transition. EURACTIV France reports.
Green fuels and gases will be subject to sustainability certification, EU says
The EU's energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, has revealed details of upcoming fuel legislation, saying a certification scheme for renewable and low-carbon fuels and gases is on the horizon.
Electricity, heat and lithium: geothermal offers new hope for old mining county
A project in Cornwall, England, is building on the county’s history of tin mining, looking to restore jobs and boost the local economy by developing a new geothermal plant that will produce electricity, heat and, hopefully, lithium.
EU urged to strengthen ETS to reach 2030 climate goals
A strengthened emissions trading scheme (ETS) will be vital to drive further CO2 reductions in the European Union as the bloc discusses an increase of its 2030 climate target, policymakers say.
Green recovery led by industry or government – America’s choice between two futures
With the American presidential election next week, the climate policy of Joe Biden and lack of policy from Donald Trump has come into the spotlight: America will have to adapt to green technologies to keep up with the world and the question is whether its administration will dig its heels in or not.
IEA: States should invest $3 trillion in sustainable energy
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has presented its COVID-19 economic programme to facilitate the transition to an environmentally friendly energy economy. In doing so, it has distanced itself unusually clearly from the fossil market and is focusing entirely on renewables. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Renewable energy capacity at record level worldwide in 2019
The share of renewable energies in global electricity generation increased again last year. Capacity financed by investments was even at a record level in 2019, according to a recent report on global investments in renewables. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Kazakhstan approves new green projects in a bid to cut fossil fuels in half by 2050
Kazakhstan‘s new leadership, faced with concurrent challenges of volatile oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic, has approved nineteen new renewable energy projects worth $1.1 billion in the country’s latest effort to go green and diversify its energy supply. To date,...
Germany’s transition to renewable power
Can renewable energies be used to keep the power grids running smoothly when the sun is not shining and the wind not blowing? Former Green Bundestag member, Hans-Josef Fell says they can and presents a proposal to change the German electrical grid. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German government defeats plan to abolish fines for wind power projects
The German government has rejected parliament proposals to ease restrictions on the construction of new wind turbines, exposing deep divisions in one of Europe's pioneering nations for renewable energies. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany’s new coal phase-out plan upsets country’s Coal Commission
Shortly after Germany announced plans to shut down its lignite-fired power plants, eight members of the country's Coal Commission voiced criticism that their work has been discredited and that these plans would result in an additional 40 million tons of CO2 emissions. EURACTIV Germany reports.
‘Green’ jobs see slight rise in Germany
In 2017, 263,883 people were employed in the environmental sector in Germany, which was about 12,600 more than in the previous year. Although this means that the amount of so-called "green jobs" saw a slight rise in Germany, the stagnating wind industry continues to hamper growth. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany eager to become global leader in developing hydrogen technologies
Germany intends to invest €100 million annually into the research of hydrogen technologies. This could be the business of the future, as well as the country's next top export. However, the future of green gas is still extremely shaky. EURACTIV Germany reports.
With new regulation complete, what’s next for EU biofuels?
After years of political wrangling over how to account for indirect land use change from biofuels in EU legislation, businesses now have the regulatory stability they’ve long been craving.
Balearic Islands target 100% renewables, inspiring 26 EU islands
A plan by Spain's Balearic Islands to switch to 100% renewable energy and ditch coal power became law last week, while 26 islands across the EU are launching a new clean energy strategy on Monday (18 February).
China seen as ‘absolute winner’ of clean energy transition
The transformation brought by renewable energies will alter the global distribution of power, relations between states, and the environmental drivers of geopolitical instability, according to a major international study published on Friday (11 January).
‘Yellow vests’ show limits of consumer acceptance on climate change
As the European Commission unveiled its long-term vision for greenhouse gas reduction on Wednesday (28 November), a yellow cloud hung over the grand pronouncements.
Macron wants France to become carbon neutral by 2050
Emmanuel Macron has presented the main lines of his energy policy. In order to be carbon neutral in 2050, France will accelerate the development of renewable energies, while not giving up nuclear energy. EURACTIV France reports.
Trans-Europe Express – Europe’s door of the desert
Known as ‘the door of the desert’ on the edge of the Sahara, the Moroccan town of Ouazarzate is home to film studios where historical epics such as Gladiator and Troy are made for Hollywood. Just as epic is the 3,000...