EU launches debate on electricity market reform amid rising consumer bills

European Union proposals to overhaul its electricity market will attempt to better protect consumer energy bills from short-term swings in fossil fuel prices, the European Commission said on Monday (23 January). The EU is reforming its power market to attempt to avoid a repeat of last year, when cuts to Russian gas supply drove European electricity prices to record levels, hiking bills for households and forcing some industries to close. In a public consultation launched on Monday, the Commission laid out numerous options to overhaul the way power plants sell electricity, as part of the market reform it will propose in March.

Read more here

France, Germany aim for ´common roadmap´ on decarbonised hydrogen

France and Germany aim to agree on a ‘common roadmap’ for clean hydrogen in which nuclear-based hydrogen will play an important role, the leaders of both countries said at the Franco-German Council of Ministers on Sunday (22 January). Following a long-standing dispute regarding hydrogen production in the EU, the agreed aims present a notable shift of approach. For months now, French and German government officials have been considering the most viable technologies for the development of low-carbon hydrogen.

Read more here

French consumers shielded from proposed doubling of electricity prices

The French energy regulator has proposed doubling the electricity price applicable to 80% of households, but the government is unlikely to take heed as it has already extended the tariff shield until the end of 2023. France’s energy regulator, CRE, has proposed increasing the retail price of electricity by 108% from February – a €176 increase compared to now. The reason for the proposed increase is the exceptionally high price of electricity on the wholesale market, which averaged €218 per megawatt-hour (MWh) over the past two years and reached a €369/MWh average in 2022.

Read more here

Exposed: How EU countries use firewood to bloat their renewable energy stats

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has acknowledged “weaknesses” in how biomass energy is counted in national statistics after several EU countries reported a sudden increase in residential wood burning to meet their 2020 renewable energy goals. Biomass is often portrayed as an overlooked energy giant, with the European Commission saying it is “the main source of renewable energy in the EU, with a share of almost 60%” – more than wind and solar combined. Yet, experts agree these figures are probably overstated because of the way biomass is counted in EU renewable energy statistics, especially when it is burned for heating.

Read more here

IEA released the Energy Technology Perspectives 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to major disruptions to global energy and technology supply chains. Soaring prices for energy and materials, and shortages of critical minerals, semiconductors and other components are posing potential roadblocks for the energy transition. Against this backdrop, Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 (ETP-2023) provides analysis on the risks and opportunities surrounding the development and scaling up of clean energy and technology supply chains in the years ahead, viewed through the lenses of energy security, resilience and sustainability.

Read more here

Africa Carbon Markets Initiative builds on momentum from COP27, announces 13 action programmes

The Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) announced 13 action programmes. Steering committee members, made up of African leaders, CEOs, and carbon credit experts, met at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week to build on early momentum and set out further ambitions. In the lead-up to COP28 ACMI’s action programmes aim to accelerate Africa’s participation in the global carbon market by: launching country activation plans for multiple countries, advancing market commitments with an ambition up to USD 1 billion for the purchase of high-integrity African credits, developing projects based on new methodologies and the realities of Africa such as diesel replacement credits and biodiversity credits and increasing a significant volume of credits on the continent.

Read more here

GM, Ford, Google partner to promote 'virtual' power plants

Companies including GM, Ford, Google and solar energy producers said on Tuesday they would work together to establish standards for scaling up the use of virtual power plants (VPPs), systems for easing loads on electricity grids when supply is short. Energy transition nonprofit RMI will host the initiative, the Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3), which will also aim to shape policy for promoting the use of the systems, the companies said. Virtual power plants pool together thousands of decentralized energy resources like electric vehicles or electric heaters controlled by smart thermostats.

Read more here

IRENA publication: Scenarios for the energy transition: Experience and good practices in Africa

African nations use long-term scenarios and energy planning tools to inform national planning. When the right institutional framework is in place, countries can assess alternative pathways to ensure energy access for all, mainstream the use of large- and small-scale renewables, and advance toward a just and sustainable energy system, while building consensus on the desired energy future.  This report summarises the presentations and discussions held at the webinar series entitled: Long-Term Energy Scenarios (LTES) for Developing National Energy Transition Plans in Africa. It presents key findings and recommendations that are broadly relevant to African countries, as well as to stakeholders attempting to improve their planning processes across the world.

Read more here