In 2023 USD 1.6 trillion was invested in energy transition technologies. Germany invested USD 89.12 billion in clean technologies in 2023, 29% of total EU investment. Investment in renewables and battery storage could reach up to USD 5.68 trillion by 2050, representing a significant manufacturing opportunity for ready countries
Read More
Countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have long been regarded as laggards in the EU clean energy transition. The EU’s Green Deal, and its approach of combining a lift in climate ambition with new financial and other support instruments, has however started to change this picture. A new European Commission should now build on progress made and step up its support for the energy transition in CEE countries. The CEE region is particularly critical to the success of the EU’s energy transition. This report analyses progress made in eight CEE countries.
Read More
This briefing “Planning for onshore wind” by The House of Commons Library focuses on onshore wind planning in UK. All onshore wind turbines, except for small-scale domestic turbines, require planning permission from the local planning authority (LPA) in England. In September 2023, the government updated national planning policy to provide that LPAs should approve planning applications for an onshore wind farm.
Read More
As Europe is decarbonising its economy, it is facing a monumental challenge to rebuild the fossil-based system into a carbon free one. Batteries and the materials that go into making them are central to the effort to clean up cars, trucks and buses as well as to expand renewable energy networks. This report “An industrial blueprint for batteries in Europe” by Transport and Environment analyses the progress, as well as challenges associated with onshoring this supply chain, providing an industrial footprint for governments to build a local, resilient and sustainable battery supply chain.
Read More
The aim of this joint policy brief to “wire the EU for climate neutrality – a Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) roadmap for power grids”, authored by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), is to identify the needed type of infrastructure and grid capacities necessary for a 100% renewable energy system (RES). It explores a pathway that aligns with achieving climate neutrality by 2040 across the EU27, and securing energy supply while remaining within the +1.5°C threshold.
Read More
Global Gateway puts principled connectivity at the core of the EU’s external action, linking geoeconomic and climate diplomacy with development policies under a Team Europe approach. Selected projects are to be driven both by the needs of partner countries and the EU’s interests. The aim is to mobilise 300 billion euros in investments by 2027 by using public funds to crowd in private investments. The private sector is to play a key role in shaping the Global Gateway actions.
Read More
A secure supply with heat and electricity became a major challenge to many households in Ukraine as Russia systematically attacks critical infrastructure. This dire situation puts an immediate increase of the country’s energy resilience to the forefront of the political agenda. Given Ukraine’s outstanding size and land area, the country has the potential not only to be self-sufficient in energy supply, but it can also become a bigger exporter of green electricity and hydrogen.
Read More
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany have convened a group of over 20 experts from academia, industry, civil society and policy-makers from EU institutions to identify the key challenges of the EU’s energy transition. The expert group met five times in 2023 to develop proposals on how to achieve a 100% renewable energy-based EU economy.
Read More
The energy company obligation (ECO) is the government’s flagship fuel poverty alleviation programme, and one of the main pillars to improve overall energy efficiency. Changes to the scheme have led to a fall in the number of installations. Reform of the programme is needed to ensure it can play a central role in meeting the UK’s statutory target to end fuel poverty by 2030. ECO’s ability to act as a vehicle to deliver home upgrades has proved successful in the past.
Read More
Focused and co-developed clean transition partnerships would help the EU strengthen its geopolitical position in an increasingly multipolar world. Doing so is critical to preserve Europe’s influence as an international actor, and essential to the long-term viability, security, and prosperity of the EU project. Clean transition partnerships can contribute to rebuilding trust with the Global South by making a strong case for cooperation with the EU.
Read More
The brief “Energising Eastern Europe: How The Eu Can Enhance Energy Sovereignty Through Cooperation With Ukraine And Moldova” by the European Council on Foreign Relations concludes: Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has made strengthening energy sovereignty – its own and that of its eastern neighbours – a strategic priority.
Read More
This report “Transparency And Access To Data On Climate Action” published by Climate Action Network Europe is a first assessment to analyse transparency and access to national data for improving climate public awareness and monitoring climate policies (NECPs) implementation. It presents information about the experience and obstacles encountered when gathering climate and energy data relevant to assess the NECPs.
Read More
This report “Decarbonizing Germany’s heating sector” by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies concludes that with the Climate Protection Act Germany has stringent legislation to meet net zero by 2045, but its implementation focuses narrowly on renewables and HPs to the detriment of a balanced approach, including the use of CCS as another major avenue to decarbonization. The discussion must be widened to accept a hybrid solution, instead of betting exclusively on special solutions which foreseeably will not meet net zero by 2045.
Read More
Reducing emissions from transport is crucial to combating climate change and achieving EU sustainability goals and climate goals. This survey ”Long-term outlook on zero-emission mobility” by Hydrogen Europe highlights Hydrogen Europe members’ expectations on key available technologies and the possible role of different zero-emission solutions, particularly on clean hydrogen solutions, in reducing emissions from the transport sector.
Read More
The report “Escaping the Permanent Suez: Navigating the Geopolitics of European Decarbonization” by the Atlantic Council focuses on how energy and power are fundamentally related in history. It argues that Europe’s energy imports, and especially hydrocarbon addiction, has made its vulnerability worse. It assesses Europe’s geopolitical viability in this transition.
Read More
This report “Energy in Ireland 2023 Report” prepared by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland assesses how Ireland is contributing to many of the global challenges discussed at COP28. Around 60% of Ireland’s GHG emissions are energy-related, and many of the energy trends seen in 2022 and 2023 are sobering.
Read More
The Danish society is fully engaged in the energy transition through broad political agreements on energy and climate, which guide policy making and public-private partnerships. Denmark has robust energy and climate governance under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and “the year wheel” of the Climate Act of 2020 to ensure annual policy actions and funding are geared towards emissions reductions.
Read More
It explores how Romania can harness private investment in three critical enabling sectors to reignite sustainable economic growth and social inclusion. To identify short- to medium-term opportunities for private sector growth and enhanced service provision across the country, the Country Private Sector Diagnostic focuses on crucial sectors featuring gaps that affect the whole economy.
Read More
Chemicals are needed for more than 95% of the world’s manufactured goods, and their environmental impact based on a life-cycle approach is much higher than currently reported. There is a small window of opportunity until 2030 to equip the European chemicals sector with the required green technologies to deliver net zero by 2050.
Read More
The assessment of the wind resource across the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone (IJVWFZ, Project site) was performed, situated approximately 62 km from the west mainland coast of the Netherlands. This work was undertaken by OWC and partners, which included ProPlanEn, ArcVera, and Innosea.
Read More