EC Highlights R&D Job Creation Potential

The European Commission has highlighted the potential of R&D initiatives to make a significant contribution to job creation in the European Union.

New IEA Head Outlines Key Objectives

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) new Executive Director, Maria van der Hoeven, has outlined her vision for the Agency’s future, drawing particular attention to the importance of establishing a mechanism to strengthen cooperation with emerging economies.

Energy Companies Question Binding Targets

European energy companies have highlighted their own efforts to promote energy efficiency, rejecting calls for binding efficiency targets.

Spain Cuts Renewables Subsidies

The Spanish government has decided to suspend all subsidies for renewable energy projects, with immediate effect, meaning it will no longer provide subsidies for new wind, solar, co-generation or waste incineration projects.

TAP Project Selected As Preferred PARTNER FOR Azerbaijan Gas Field

The Consortium behind the development of Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz II gas field has made its first major decision on a future supply route to Europe, selecting the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline option (TAP) as its preferred partner option, should it choose to send gas to Europe through Italy.

Energy Companies Join Forces To Call For 2030 Tragets

A coalition composed of eight of Europe’s largest energy firms has called on the European Union to urgently introduce binding targets for renewables, CO2 emissions reductions, and energy efficiency beyond 2020.

BP Publishes Energy Outlook 2030

BP has published its annual energy forecast, the BP Energy Outlook 2030, in which the oil and gas giant outlines its view on shifting patterns in global energy over the coming decades.

COP17 Climate Change Conference Conclusions

The COP 17 UNFCCC Climate Change Conference concluded on 9 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa. The results caused mixed emotions among the participants of the conference, as well as interested parties worldwide.

Horizon 2020

The European Commission (EC) recently presented a 80 billion euro research funding programme for the decade ““ known as Horizon 2020 ““ to boost research, stimulate innovation and simplify funding procedures for EU-backed projects. The proposal will now be reviewed by the European Parliament and Council, with the aim of adopting it by the end of 2013.

Concentrated Solar Power Gets A Boost From The US

The US Department of Energy will invest $60 million (43.5 million euro) in R&D for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) over the next three years to give a boost to the sector. Rapid technological evolution and favourable regulatory regimes has helped the CSP sector to get onto its feet quickly, nevertheless solar energy still only provides 1% of the global energy consumption. This is largely due to its intermittent nature and low density, as well as the price declines caused by the economic recession and overcapacity.