Last week, we discussed changes in the German power sector in 2015, particularly how Germany is scheduled to overshoot its target for green electricity. Today, we focus on all energy (power, heat, and motor fuels). To our surprise, the target of 18 percent renewable energy by 2020 is not out of reach. Craig Morris explains.
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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
Germany is 20 years away from 100 percent renewable power – not!
In 2015, Germany added more renewable electricity than ever before in a single year, bringing the share of green power in total supply up to 33 percent. But the government seems keen on slowing down this growth. What is really happening? Craig Morris investigates.
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.
What happens during windstorms in Germany?
In 2004, Germany adopted a target of 20 percent renewable power by 2020. Critics thought it would be hard to reach. But five years before that deadline, renewables rarely fall below the old target, which has since been raised. Craig Morris takes a look.
Is the German nuclear phase-out fundamentally botched?
A recent editorial at Reuters charged that German nuclear policy is uncoordinated, particularly because the cost of nuclear waste disposal is still unclear. In reality, Merkel’s 2011 phase-out was a return to a former plan only briefly abandoned. And Germany’s phase-out budget looks pretty good internationally. Craig Morris 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.