The EU’s response to the energy shocks of 2022 and 2026 looks good only compared to Trump-era America. Even though EU chief Ursula von der Leyen urges Europe to move off fossil fuels faster, not nearly enough is happening. Paul Hockenos reports. Read More
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How renewables can cut Europe’s energy bills and inflation
Fossil fuel volatility is driving inflation across the EU, but the solution is already available. This piece by Veronica Calienno (Positive Money Europe) on the financial case for the energy transition shows how solar and wind lowered wholesale electricity prices by 24.2% between 2023 and 2025, and why the price effect grows stronger as renewable capacity increases. It also examines the investment gap still holding the transition back, and why the cost of capital will decide how fast Europe can build its way to cheaper, more stable energy. Read More
In Zimbabwe, delaying renewable diversification has spurred power deficit and coal takeover
For over six decades since the construction of the Kariba South Bank hydroelectric power station, Zimbabwe’s (known as Southern Rhodesia until independence in 1980) grid supply had been dominated by clean energy. However, in the face of back-to-back El Niño–induced droughts, the country’s large hydropower infrastructure is faltering, making way for a coal thermal power takeover. Kennedy Nyavaya analyses how the country can effectively leverage its diverse renewable energy potential to avoid fossil fuel dependence while also sticking to its sustainable growth agenda. Read More
Agrofuels: a dangerous gamble that trades food for fuel in northern South America
Across northern South America, the promise of agrofuels has been heralded as a key contribution to national energy transitions. Governments in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have promoted biodiesel and ethanol production as steps toward decarbonization and energy independence. Yet a closer look reveals a troubling paradox: crops like oil palm and sugarcane, intended to fuel a “green” transition, have instead displaced food production and intensified social inequality. Different reports show that vast tracts of fertile land, once used for local food, are now dominated by monocultures for export and biofuel processing. Marco Pernavarre reports. Read More
Fossil gas is locking Mexico and Central America into US energy dependence
In recent years, natural gas, often rebranded as fossil gas, has gained prominence in Mexico and Central America as a supposed ‘transition fuel’. This narrative suggests that natural gas can serve as a temporary replacement for more polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil, facilitating a gradual shift toward renewable energy. Yet this framing is increasingly challenged by environmental organisations and affected communities, who argue that the expansion of gas infrastructure establishes a new geopolitical and environmental dependency, particularly on the United States of America. As the US becomes the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), its influence over regional energy systems deepens, reshaping both national strategies and regional vulnerabilities. Marco Pernavarre reports. Read More
Hungary’s Paks II nuclear power plant project – Can it be completed, and at what cost?
More than a decade after its launch, the Paks II investment is still in an early, uncertain stage, despite the fact that construction has formally begun. The project was initiated as a political decision in 2014, with questionable economic justification. Compared to the original deadlines, the investment has now accumulated an approximately 10-year delay. The 2026 “first concrete” milestone represents more of a formal change in status than real progress. Costs have increased significantly, and the total investment cost remains unknown. Perger András reports.
Can Santa Marta’s fossil fuel phaseout momentum survive the road to COP31?
After COP28 finally acknowledged the need to transition away from fossil fuels, Santa Marta tried to turn that promise into something more concrete. Journalist Seden Anlar explores whether its phaseout momentum can survive the road to COP31 and the forums where fossil-fuelled power still shapes the rules.
Can Europe electrify its way out of fossil dependence?
With another hot summer approaching, the EU is facing a new test of its energy transition: whether renewable electricity can translate into lower fossil fuel use, affordable heating and cooling, and homes that remain liveable in a warming climate. As Brussels prepares its Electrification Action Plan, journalist Seden Anlar explores how far electrification can go on its own.
Why Britain is saying no to hydrogen boilers
Hydrogen was the future once. But while the UK was quick off the mark in investigating the potential of H2 for heating homes, much of the original plans have been abandoned in favour of solar, wind and electrification, writes Ros Taylor.
Hungary’s green reset: what to expect from the post-Orbán era
The election victory of Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party raises hopes for a long-delayed energy transition in Hungary. However, the road ahead is complex – shaped by Russian oil, gas and nuclear dependency, frozen EU funds, and a new government that is pragmatic rather than progressive. Péter Vigh reports.