While the amount of electricity generated from coal has declined for two years in a row and utilisation rates of coal power plants have been going down, energy companies continue to build new coal-fired generating plants at a rapid pace. Worldwide the equivalent of 1500 coal plants is under construction or in various stages of planning, Karel Beckmann writes.
Author: Energiewende Team
Cities, don’t just minimise energy use. Challenge it!
Cities can’t just consume resources, they also have to contribute to producing and restoring the resources. Fortunately, there are some examples showing that cities actually realise the need for a shift and have developed strategies and programs. Irene Garcia has looked at some of these cities.
The WTO Just Ruled Against India’s Booming Solar Program
India’s solar capacity grew rapidly, but the WTO agreed to a ruling against the country’s ambitious solar program.
Lignite in the Greek energy system: facts and challenges
The Greek energy system is still relaying to a large extent on lignite power plants. Apart from the known negative impacts on public health, an increasing number of proposed projects will have a negative return on investment. Tasos Krommydas reports.
Employment Issues in the Process of Developing Renewable Energy in China
China has by far the most jobs in the renewable energy sector on a worldwide basis. However, during the energy transition, the job losses in the conventional energy cannot be offset by the growing PV market. The Beijing based Rock Environment & Energy Institute (REEI) explains the employment impacts of renewable development in China.
The “Chinese Dream” of Shale Gas as a Bridge Fuel
The Bulgarian energy transition – no decarbonization without diversification and liberalization
Bulgarian energy policy has suffered a lot in the past 20 years from the interdependence between state and private interests in the energy sector and bad governance practices at national level. Radostina Primova gives a summary of the current situation and explains why an improvement in the regulatory framework is urgently needed.
Running fast into the past – energy transition backwards in Hungary
In the case of Hungary one can only speak about a negative Energiewende, or the “black energy transition”, which is apparently transforming the whole energy system backwards. If nothing changes soon, one huge, state-owned ‘national’ energy trust would be formed, managing resources, production, transmission and distribution of energy – majorly based on fossil fuels and nuclear. Exactly how the socialist area left it in the early 1990’s. Ada Ámon explains.
The new Croatian renewable law: one step forward (and none back?)
The Croatian Government adopted a new bill to incentivize installments of renewable energy systems. Ana-Maria Boromisa takes a critical view on the legislative process and explains the future challenges.
Panic vs. Leadership – the international perception of the Energiewende
If you are active on Twitter among the energy and climate geeks like Arne Jungjohann, you run across international coverage on Germany’s energy transition almost every day. Arne takes a thorough look at the international perceptions of the Energiewende.