By 2030, the EU expects 35m electric vehicles to be on the road, but that transition is not a done deal — especially if potential owners think the cost will be too high. For the traditional oil majors, who are looking to accelerate their investments in the energy transition, this presents an opportunity, as they move from Big Oil to Big Energy. The ability to manage flexibility in the energy system — how electricity is stored or supplied to the power grid and how demand is shifted to times when more wind or solar power is available — will be the key to their role. Matching intermittent supply from renewables with growing demand in the ever-electrifying world is where the opportunity lies — and where the oil majors should focus. The industry’s fleet card relationships — tie-ins with companies which offer staff cars — as well as ability to trade energy and offer incentives for EV owners will give them a bigger presence in the energy transition. As soon as there are enough EVs on the road, batteries will be the best option to provide short-term flexibility to the grid.

FT 26th Oct 2020 read more »

Can we trust the silver bullet of technology to fix climate change? The prime minister seems to think so. In a speech due soon, he is expected to pledge his faith in offshore wind power, solar, carbon capture, hydrogen, clean cars, and zero-emission aviation. Clean technologies are clearly a huge part of any solution. But the PM is being accused of techno-optimism bias, because he does not mention other key factors in reducing emissions. In fact, experts say, tackling climate change will need action right across society and the economy – with a host of new incentives, laws, rules, bans, appliance standards, taxes and institutional innovations. They also warn that citizens’ behaviour must shift, with people probably driving and flying less, and eating less meat and dairy produce. In other words, when it comes to cutting carbon emissions, there’s no silver bullet – it’s more like silver buckshot. But Boris Johnson still seems to have a bandolero stuffed with technologies resembling silver bullets. Let’s see whether they’ll go with a bang. UK governments have agonised for decades about nuclear energy, but Boris Johnson recently gave it the nod. That means he’s likely to either agree a financial package for a new station at Sizewell or for small modular reactors, or both. But nuclear is still a divisive issue. While it “could definitely help to reduce emissions,” said Professor Jim Watson, from UCL, “it’s very expensive.” “To play a major role, the cost of new nuclear plants will really need to fall, especially when the costs of other technologies like wind and solar have dropped so far. “And nuclear developers will need to show that they can build their plants more quickly because we need all electricity to be low carbon within the next 10 years.” He agreed that mini reactors might bring down costs – but said it was far too soon to be certain. A long list of policies requires government attention, including: standards for new homes; green recovery; food production; planning rules; peat; heat and buildings; meat eating; infrastructure statement; road building; carbon dioxide in soil; medium-term emissions targets; tree planting; energy storage; industrial strategy; appliance standards; and the comprehensive spending review. I’ll examine some of the non-technology innovations for tackling climate change in a future article.

BBC 25th Oct 2020 read more »

Scots could be offered free bus and train travel to get people back into the habit of using public transport, after a collapse in use due to the coronavirus pandemic. Scottish ministers believe there will need to be an incentivised campaign to entice people back, once the virus is under control. Free bus journeys for all for a limited period, off-peak rail travel all day and free train travel at weekends are among measures being considered to change behaviour after people were advised to limit travel by public transport. Although polling indicates that nearly seven in 10 Scots believe public transport carries a risk of spreading Covid-19, some experts believe trains and buses are safer than people think, as long as they comply with guidance on social distancing, face coverings and sanitising.

Times 25th Oct 2020 read more »

Trees should cover 40% of Scotland, say Greens. Scotland should be a “woodland nation” with 40 per cent of the country covered in woods within the next two decades, the Scottish Greens are set to demand.Green MSP Andy Wightman will use his speech on Sunday to the party’s virtual conference to make the case for “fundamental” land reform. The party wants more forests to be established across Scotland, with subsidies used to help achieve this along with the creation of new community-owned public forests.

Scotsman 24th Oct 2020 read more »

Mariana Mazzucato: It’s 2023. Here’s How We Fixed the Global Economy. The European Union was the first to take concrete steps in this direction after agreeing in August to a historic €1.8 trillion recovery package. As part of the package, the E.U. made it mandatory for governments receiving the funds to implement strong strategies for addressing climate change, reducing the digital divide and strengthening health systems. In late 2020, this ambitious recovery plan helped the euro stabilize and ushered in a new European renaissance, with citizens helping to set the agenda. The European leadership used challenge-oriented policies to create 100 carbon-neutral cities across the Continent. This approach led to a resurgence of new energy-efficient buildings; revamped public transport designed to be sustainable, accessible and free; and an artistic revival in public squares, with artists and designers rethinking city life with citizenship and civic life at its heart. Governments used a digital revolution to improve public services, from digital health to e-cards, and create a citizen-centered welfare state. This transformation required both supply-side investments and demand-side pulls, with public procurement becoming a tool for innovative thinking that funneled through all branches of government.

Time 22nd Oct 2020 read more »

Governments worldwide have committed over $12tn to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, spent over the next 5 years. Current estimates say the energy transition needs $1.4tn/year globally between 2020 and 2024 to get us on the path to meet the 1.5oC Paris goal. Clearly, there is an opportunity here. Although support for healthcare systems and the overall economy are the stated priority of governments, much of that $12tn is still not committed. Writing for Carbon Brief, Marina Andrijevic and Joeri Rogelj summarise the findings in their paper that has crunched the numbers while accounting for existing policies and spending on clean energy and fossil fuels. Clean energy is already likely to get £1.1tn/year over the next 5 years. Fossil fuels the same. Paris-compatibility requires fossil fuel divestment of $280bn, so if that money is directed at clean energy we are only $20bn away from target. Surely there is plenty of leeway in the $12tn to make sure the money is there, explain the authors. They end by noting that large disparities between different countries’ ability to transition means international cooperation will be essential. This is another analysis that shows the total cost is not the problem. It’s the will of citizens and politicians to confront the real-world disruption that the energy transition requires.

Energy Post 22nd Oct 2020 read more »

Politicians and business leaders want the country to deliver a green revolution, create jobs and boost the economy. As part of its high-profile Build Back Better campaign, Utility Week in association with Addleshaw Goddard has published a major new report exploring the significant role utilities can play in fulfilling these ambitions. The Green Recovery looks at where the biggest opportunities lie in green investment, the vital policy changes required and the barriers standing in the way of energy and water companies as they transition to net zero. The 40-page insight report provides a comprehensive analysis based on research and interviews with 25 experts into the current state of play in major areas of transition, including heat, transport, electricity distribution and water. Its charts, figures and data provide a rich source of essential information. Some of the key themes covered across seven chapters include: Green generation – what is the right energy mix and what mechanisms and incentives are needed to achieve this balance? Plus, what role for nuclear? Net zero networks – how can transmission and distribution companies bring forward investment – and is the regulator really standing in their way? EV rollout – can we bring forward the petrol and diesel vehicle phase-out date to 2030 and can manufacturers, energy companies and chargepoint suppliers pick up the pace to make this possible? Cutting emissions in buildings – has the chancellor done enough in a £3bn investment package announced in July to kick start a great energy efficiency revolution? Low carbon heat – why the UK is leading in hydrogen technology – even if we are lacking in a clear strategy? Water’s net zero challenge – water companies pledge to be net zero by 2030 – how are they doing that and how will it develop? A PDF of the Green Recovery is available to download for free to members and non-members.

Utility Week 20th Oct 2020 read more »

The world energy outlooks published annually by the IEA, BP and DNV GL look very different this year. 1.5°C scenarios are being taken much more seriously. Could it be because of the trauma of Covid-19, or the extraordinary – though still insufficient – success of renewables coupled with the rising ambition of climate-aware governments and their policies? Either way, they are helping to shift the debate away from the mainstream “business as usual” (BAU) projections that have always dominated. James Newcomb and Krutarth Jhaveri at RMI take a look at the new low emission scenarios and predictions for world final energy demand, peak oil, renewables, low-carbon pathways, new technologies, and more. Could the Paris target of 1.5°C be supplanting BAU as the new benchmark that investors, businesses, citizens and governments must use to shape their futures, because it is more likely to happen? Until recently it’s been the other way around. The authors start their article, lyrically, by looking at how 16th century maps of new frontiers were forced to change once incontrovertible evidence of the reality came in.

Energy Post 23rd Oct 2020 read more »

Greg Jackson, CEO, Octopus Energy: Today, lobbyists, consultants and entrenched interests risk similarly stifling the transition to renewable energy. While it is inevitable that we will decarbonise energy, it could end up taking a lot longer than necessary, and costing vastly more. Insidiously, the costs are buried deep in the system, making them opaque and regressive as they flow through to energy bills. We have had a regressive two-tier energy system for decades, where customers who don’t “engage” have been charged up to 50 per cent more than those who do (and even worse for those on prepay meters). This has been tempered by the energy price cap – but is still a feature of incumbents’ pricing models. Note that this “engagement” has no impact on the overall cost of the energy system, it just shifts costs from some customers to others – mainly benefiting high income households at the expense of low-income households. One observer repeats the dangerous myth that challenger brands at the heart of much of the innovation in the market are not that interested in attracting vulnerable customers because they are likely to come with bigger costs to serve. He says: “You have customers who are proactively engaged, they are tech savvy and have the ability to seek out the best deals and take advantage of decarbonising their house and fundamentally reducing their energy bills.” This is, frankly, rubbish.

Utility Week 21st Oct 2020 read more »

here has been a sharp rise in serious breaches of environmental rules designed to protect people and wildlife from pollution, analysis by The Times has found. The breaches of Environment Agency (EA) regulations potentially threaten the quality of life of residents who live near farms, waste plants and factories. In recent years incidents have included the accidental release of foul smelling gases from a landfill site in Lancashire, which local residents said ruined Christmas. In 2018 a cheese factory in Cornwall that produces Cathedral City cheddar prompted complaints from locals who said that a “cheesy sewage” smell had been making them nauseous and keeping them up at night. The number of serious breaches of environmental permits in England rose by nearly 50 per cent to 988 in 2018, the latest year for which figures are available.

Times 23rd Oct 2020 read more »