30 Nov 2011
The EU governments’ main focus over the last 3 years has been the economic crisis. This has forced the energy sector into the backseat.
What happened
The IEA announced, in its ‘State of the Energy World Report,’ that 2017 is the cut-off date to take drastic steps towards lowering CO2 emissions. Governments must strive to avoid the 2ᵒC increase in global temperature. The economic crisis has not helped to achieve this global goal. The EU has seen a decline in investment in the energy sector, for much needed infrastructure upgrades and the urgent establishment of renewables.
Background
The EU’s energy...
25 Jan 2012
The cost of free electricity in Qatar; South African LED lights and the Iranian oil embargo.
Energy Matters: What if Fossil Fuel Based Electricity Was Free.
The article discusses the high price paid for free electricity, generated by fossil fuels. The author points out that even though Qatar has access to free electricity, generated from natural gas; it had one of the highest per capita emissions in 2007. The author points to Qatar’s increasing generating capacity as a contributor and wonders how different the situation would be if Qatar were to use free solar energy instead...
02 May 2012
Energy exec’s fear looming blackouts … while collaborators ease smart grid adoption … and new technologies create new dependencies.
Smart Grid News: Utility execs warn blackouts more likely
Smart Grid News writes on PwC’s 12th Global Power & Utilities report – The shape of power to come – which surveyed the views of 72 power and utilities companies in 43 countries.
The report found that, despite plans to increase generation capacity, energy executives expect more blackouts in Europe and North America. This results from...
05 Feb 2012
North African and Middle Eastern countries have both oil and solar. Developing solar resources allows these countries to continue exporting oil, thus improving their financial well being and build for the future.
What happened
As fossil fuel prices have risen, so solar technologies have become more competitive. Many Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are turning to solar PV for electricity generation, reports Energy Matters. The Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA), in its report “Sunrise in the Desert”, states that solar PV projects are more viable, as oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices climb above US$13/million British thermal units (MMBtu) and about US$80/...
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