President Moon wants South Korea to begin scaling down nuclear energy, but a citizen committee supports maintaining the share of nuclear energy in the energy mix. Nevertheless, grassroots renewable energy movements are growing. Yi hyun Kang looks at the latest from the Korean energy sector.
Year: 2018
Crisis of trust in California
California’s power sector is poised to undergo a major upheaval in the next few years. The direction looks good, but the public debate reveals how little the various stakeholders trust each other, says Craig Morris.
Solar steam powers homes – and new jobs – in South Africa
South Africa still gets most of its energy from coal, but in sunny Northern Cape province, a different electricity source is taking hold. Munyaradzi Makoni of the Thomson Reuters Foundation explores how thermal solar plants are affecting the region.
Mexico’s Ministry of Finance is the missing piece of the low carbon puzzle
Mexico has some of the world’s most favorable conditions for the transition to renewable energy. And yet it is struggling with a lack of commitment from policymakers, without whom it can’t be a world leader in the low-carbon economy. Dileimy Orozco takes a look the political puzzle.
Puerto Rico disaster opens the door to distributed energy
Localized energy systems are more resilient than a traditional grid, and offer solutions to power outages around the world. Ben Paulos takes a look at microgrids, minigrids, and how Puerto Rico could get to 100% renewable energy.
Offshore wind projects breathe life into struggling UK ports
Life in Grimsby, England has changed since the boom in offshore wind power in the UK. Government efforts to drive down the price of the technology and cut the country’s climate pollution have also helped out depressed communities, Chris Bentley reports.
Can nuclear and renewables coexist?
Ramping – when power plants adjust their output according to market needs – is crucial in an energy system that includes renewables. So can nuclear reactors ramp enough to accommodate significant shares of wind and solar? Craig Morris takes a look.
Going green in South East Asia
In 2015, at an Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting, the governments of Southeast Asia announced a series of targets to increase the region’s share of renewables. Nicholas Newman takes a look at the progress made and remaining roadblocks.
Auctions didn’t make wind power cheaper, study finds
Wind power prices have plummeted in recent years since Germany switched to auctions. Now, a study has found what readers of this blog already knew: the prices only look low because they are reported as though future electricity were already being generated today. Craig Morris explains.
The energy transition in Ukraine: mission impossible?
The transition of the energy sector towards clean and safe renewable energy sources will allow Ukraine to build a new strong economy and break out of socio-economic decline, argue Oleh Savytskyi and Oksana Aliieva. It’s time for Ukraine to embrace renewables to combat global climate change, and to enhance security and welfare of its people.