According to the IEA's World Energy Investment report, published earlier this week, investment in electricity overtook investment for oil and gas for the first time ever. This is important, as we are currently at a crossroads for our energy transition. Investments today will have reverberating impacts 10, 20, 30 years to come, as certain networks will become committed to certain energy sources. Yet there is a reluctance to make these decisions, as the backdrop to electricity overtaking O&G investment is a 12% drop in global energy investment.
Gas comes full circle
[Featured image source] Town gas - then and now The Empire Exhibition was held in Wembley, 1924, North London. In a poster advertising that exhibition, the muck and soot of coal was transformed into a clean and glowing figure of a healthy man - representing natural gas. As recent as 60-odd years ago, British society … Continue reading Gas comes full circle
Renewables are the cheapest way to decarbonise even when you account for system costs
Deploying a large volume of renewables remains the cheapest approach to decarbonisation even when accounting for system integration costs, according to a study by E3G The report highlights an 'increasing body of evidence' showing that the power system could operate securely and at least cost with more than 50% of demand being met from renewables. … Continue reading Renewables are the cheapest way to decarbonise even when you account for system costs
A record 90% of new power capacity in the EU was renewable last year
In figures recently released by WindEurope, the progress that Europe made is well highlighted. At the turn of the century, new renewable power installations accounted for less than 3GW - no more than 20% of installed capacity that year. This is even more shocking when you consider the lower capacity factors of renewable technology of that time. It … Continue reading A record 90% of new power capacity in the EU was renewable last year
A united energy union? Perspectives on the trilemma for Germany & Poland
What does German and Polish energy policy mean for 'the Russian threat'? Poland and Germany have taken separate paths towards an energy transition - that of ‘energy security’ for Poland, and ‘sustainability’/minimal environmental impact for Germany; both Germany and Poland’s transitions could threaten Russia’s own energy policy - which is partially reliant on exporting a … Continue reading A united energy union? Perspectives on the trilemma for Germany & Poland