The European Commission proposes to reform the configuration of EU electricity markets to accelerate the growth of renewables and the phase-out of natural gas, reduce the dependence of consumer bills on volatile fossil fuel prices and better protect consumers against future prices. growth and potential market manipulation affect and make EU industry cleaner and more […]
Electricity from renewable sources increased by 5% in the EU in 2021
In absolute terms, the production of electricity from renewable energy sources increased by almost 5% from 2020 to 2021. However, also gross electricity consumption increased mainly due to economic recovery after lifting COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, the share of renewable energy sources in gross electricity consumption in the EU only increased by 0.1 percentage points (pp), from 37.4% in 2020 to […]
Commission launches consultation on reform to support a clean and affordable energy transition
The European Commission is launching a public consultation on the reform of the European Union’s electricity market design to better protect consumers from excessive price volatility, support their access to secure energy from clean sources, and make the market more resilient. The current system has delivered an efficient, well-integrated market for many years, allowing the EU […]
Start of electricity trade between Ukraine and the EU
The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity announced that electricity trade between Ukraine and the EU will start this week, on 30 June. I welcome this development that follows the successful emergency synchronisation of the Ukrainian and Moldovan grids with the European Continental Grid in March. This is the next step in integrating […]
EU will import 58% of its energy by 2020
By 2020, 58% of the energy consumed in the EU will be imported, while its own production will cover only 42% of demand. The EU’s energy mix by 2020 will consist of 35% oil and oil derivatives, 24% natural gas, 17% renewables, 13% nuclear energy and 11% solid fossil fuels. Russia is the main supplier […]
Greenhouses join plants in the energy conversion business
Until recently, there were opaque photovoltaic panels, and there was transparent glass. Innovative nanomaterials bring photovoltaics and transparency together in greenhouse panels that convert the sun’s light into electricity, while augmenting plant photosynthesis. Meeting the world’s growing food and energy demands while mitigating climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Agriculture […]
Evolution of electriciy prices
The price of electricity continues to rise in Europe. The cause of this phenomenon stems from several supply and demand factors, one of the most important of which is the shortage of natural gas and the sudden reactivation of demand, linked to a reduced supply of CO2 emission allowances. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen […]
The CJEU rules that the financing regime of the social discount rate for electricity companies in Spain is unfair
The CJEU has decided that the criterion chosen by the national legislator to distinguish between the companies that must assume, to a greater or lesser extent, the cost of the social bonus is not objectively justified. The financing regime of the social bonus results in more than 99% of the cost of this bonus falling […]
Power-to-gas system enables massive storage of renewable energy
Power-to-gas (P2G) is bringing fresh momentum to the renewables field, providing a powerful approach to convert renewable power into ‘green’ hydrogen and methane. An EU-funded project developed flexible P2G technology that offers the renewables sector an array of possible lucrative use cases. Currently, the renewable generation capacity is estimated at around 20 %, but according […]