Energy

Wind and solar produced 10% of global electricity

Wind turbines and solar panels produced a record 10% of the world’s electricity in the first half of 2020 as coal-power declined, but steeper change is needed to meet targets…

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Poland plans to merge utilities, carve out coal

Poland plans to merge its three utilities PGE, Enea and Tauron into two groups as part of a planned reform of its coal and energy industry, its deputy prime minister…

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Towards a climate-neutral economy: EU Commission sets out plans for the energy system of the future

To become climate-neutral by 2050, Europe needs to transform its energy system, which accounts for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. The EU strategies for energy system integration and…

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Germany is first major economy to phase out coal

German lawmakers have finalized the country’s long-awaited phase-out of coal as an energy source, backing a plan that environmental groups say isn’t ambitious enough and free marketeers criticize as a…

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Italy’s Eni makes gas discovery in Mediterranean Sea off Egypt

A new gas discovery was declared in the Mediterranean sea offshore Egypt. In a statement, Italy’s Eni said that it has successfully drilled the first exploration well in the…

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South Africa consults with industry on nuclear power plans

South Africa’s energy ministry began consultations with industry on preparations for a proposed 2,500 megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant building programme, which has faced opposition from environmental campaigners. South Africa…

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Germany reveals €9 billion green hydrogen strategy

As part of its stimulus package, Germany intends to expand the role of green hydrogen to help end the country's reliance on coal. The government agreed on a plan on…

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Coronavirus ‘accelerating closure’ of ageing fossil-fuelled power plants

This year will see the largest ever drop globally in both investment and consumer spending on energy as the coronavirus pandemic hits every major sector, according to the International Energy…

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Poland’s biggest coal miner says only has enough cash to pay salaries until July

Poland's biggest coal miner, state-run PGG, has enough cash to pay salaries until July as it struggles with a crisis aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic, its chief executive Tomasz Rogala…

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Denmark urged to end North Sea oil and gas hunt

An independent adviser to the Danish government has recommended ending any future oil and gas exploration in the Danish North Sea, saying it would hurt Denmark's ambition as a front-runner…

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COVID-19 pushes Poland to accelerate exit from ailing coal industry

Poland, the European Union's biggest hard coal producer, is considering closing at least three mines in coming months as the coronavirus pandemic forces it to accelerate its exit from the…

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Eight EU states make case for natural gas industry

Eight EU countries published a joint position paper to highlight the potential of natural gas in the European strategy towards a net-zero emissions policy. The document is signed by…

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Greening the transport sector in the post COVID-19 recovery could create up to 15 million jobs worldwide

"The recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be a return to business as usual. It must be an opportunity to push the advancement of the sustainable development agenda." In a…

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Malta: NGOs express concern over lack of technical information on new Wasteserv plant project

A number of NGOs have welcomed the government’s plan to invest in new waste management facilities and start addressing Malta’s waste management problem, but have expressed concern as to the…

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Global green energy growth to fall for first time in 20 years-IEA

Global growth in new renewable energy capacity will experience its first annual decline in 20 years this year amid the coronavirus pandemic but is expected to pick up next year,…

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Malta: Waste-to-energy facility will cost around €400 million to build and run

The Maghtab waste-to-energy facility will cost around €390 million in total both to build and run, Wasteserv expects. The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) for the design, build and operation of Malta’s Waste…

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Occidental Petroleum to continue Anadarko’s investment in Algeria

Algeria has agreed to maintain Anadarko’s contract with state firm Sonatrach, and Occidental Petroleum Corp will continue investment in the OPEC member country, the energy ministry said. Algeria has blocked…

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EU greenhouse gas emissions significantly down in 2019

Emissions of greenhouse gases from all operators covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) fell by 8.7% in 2019, compared to 2018 levels. Under the EU ETS, all…

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Australia to sign deal with US to boost emergency stockpile of oil and petrol

The federal government will sign a new agreement with the United States to boost Australia’s emergency fuel stockpiles. The energy minister, Angus Taylor, will sign a deal in Washington to…

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Three British firms to pay £10.5m following summer power cut

Three British energy companies have agreed to pay £10.5 million to the energy watchdog's redress fund over the power cuts in August which left more than one million customers without…

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Israel, Greece and Cyprus set to seal €6bn gas pipeline deal

Israel, Greece and Cyprus are set to sign a trilateral agreement that will lay the groundwork for a planned gas pipeline connecting Israel’s offshore fields with Europe but which risks…

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Israel to sign major gas pipeline deal in Athens on Thursday

Israel will sign a historic deal that will allow for the construction of a subsea pipeline to send Israeli gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

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EU should drop oil, gas and coal funding, say ministers

The European Union should halt funding of oil, gas and coal projects, EU finance ministers said, potentially cutting €2bn of yearly investments. The finance ministers called upon the European Investment…

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US lifts ban on old-style light bulbs

The US is scrapping a ban on energy-inefficient light bulbs which was due to come in at the beginning of 2020. The rule would have prohibited the sale of bulbs…

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Utilities prices across Europe enjoy windfall in view of excess liquified natural gas

The Financial Timesb reports that utilities across Europe are enjoying a windfall, as a gas glut caused by excess liquefied natural gas shipments from Asia drives prices to multi-year lows. A…

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Romania’s households struggling to secure energy

Almost a quarter of Romanian households have problems in securing energy, either because they can't afford it or because they aren't connected to electricity or gas grids, according to a recent…

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The energy-grid is next target in US China technology war

The brewing technology battle between the U.S. and China isn't just about 5G telecom equipment Chinese companies want to bring to the U.S. It's already starting to bleed into other…

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Blockchain in the energy transition: hope or hype?

Deutsche Welle reports that the technology that made Bitcoin possible could solve key challenges of a renewables-based energy system. The race is on to radically change how to we consume…

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