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.
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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.
The billion-dollar boondoggle: how Vogtle became the US’s monument to nuclear folly
In the quiet scrubland of Waynesboro, Georgia, two enormous concrete domes rise from the landscape. Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the first new nuclear reactors built in the US in more than 30 years, were once touted as the rebirth of US American nuclear ambition. Instead, they have become a monument to mismanagement and cost overruns – conclusive evidence that nuclear power is a nonstarter. Paul Hockenos reports.
A global race without a future: critical mineral extraction in South America
In the global race toward decarbonization, South America stands as both a beacon of potential and a cautionary tale. Brazil, Argentina and Chile, three nations often heralded as leaders in renewable energy, are now confronting a paradox: can an energy transition built on extractivism truly be sustainable? As the demand for “green” minerals such as lithium intensifies, the region’s ecosystems and communities are paying an increasingly visible price. While the global powers demand minerals, the South is barely able to support its most vulnerable populations. Are we witnessing a genuine transformation, or merely a rebranding of old extractive models under a greener illusion? Marco Pérez-Navarrete reports.
China, the world’s checkered trailblazer in climate protection
For decades, the United States and Europe cast themselves as leaders of the global energy transition. Instead, China has seized that role through massive industrial policy and relentless investment in clean technology. The world’s largest emitter is now also the driving force behind the expansion of renewable energy. This shift is changing the economics – and the politics – of climate action.
Is Trump making nuclear great again?
No recent US administration has gone as far as the current one in trying to put the US nuclear sector back on its feet again. President Trump has made nuclear energy a top priority and pursued an aggressive, hands-on programme to accelerate deployment of advanced reactors, build domestic fuel capability and reshape the institutions that license and oversee the industry. But all of this and billions in subsidies are unlikely to revive the moribund industry. Paul Hockenos reports.
Heat pumps: phases of transition differ strongly among countries in Europe
There are good reasons to wish for a future with more heat pumps: less fossil gas in the heating sector and therefore less methane leakage and less CO2 and NOx emissions; lower costs for households; and more energy independence for nations. Most of this works best with powering the heat pumps with a bigger share of renewables. In Europe, heat pumps boomed until 2023 and then dipped to 2020 or 2021 levels in 2024. Starting points and paces of change in the heat pump market differ wildly. Let’s have a virtual trip to Sweden, France and Germany and find out why those timelines are so different.