Wind & Solar Reach 1TW | Germany’s Climate Goals Still Within Reach | Renewable Electricity in G20 – August 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – August 2018

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As the German government officially admitted that it is likely to miss its climate targets, two recent studies show that the former climate leader can still reach them. The studies prove that technical possibilities are there, what is lacking is the political will. Meanwhile, the latest data from BNEF shows that the world has reached its first terawatt of wind and solar PV generating capacitiy. The second terawatt will arrive by mid-2023, BNEF forecasts. Several good news come from the global divestment movement, as Munich Re has announced its first humble step and two French insurance firms said they will no longer invest in new coal-fired power plants, which affects German top utility RWE. Global off-grid renewable capacity was steadily growing, contributing further to enabling universal access to energy. A recent study shows that renewable electricity in G20 countries by 2030 would be much cheaper than the current system. You will find these news as well as the CNN coverage of the Energy Watch Group study on 100% renewable electricity worldwide in our August newsletter.

Renewables for Peace | Fossil Fuels Squeezed | EU Climate Diplomacy | Reinsurers Step Up – July 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – July 2018

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Renewable energy sources are not only the best solution for economic reasons and energy security, but also because they are prerequisite for a peaceful and sustainable planet Earth. With this in mind Energy Watch Group President Hans-Josef Fell and Eurovision Song Contest Winner Ruslana have launched a new joint global peace campaign for 100% renewables. Another positive news comes from the European Parliament, which adopted the report calling to strengthen EU climate action. Renewables keep squeezing out fossil fuels steadily out of power, according to BNEF, as solar continues to rise around the world. Yet, to achieve Paris Agreement targets, more clean energy investment and more action in industry, transport and building sectors is needed, studies show. We welcome the latest moves by the world’s largest reinsurers Hannover Re and Swiss Re, joining the list of institutions, divesting from fossil fuels. And if you are in Lviv this week, watch out for the conference on renewable energy.

Read our July Newsletter to find out more.

Green Economy Saves Billions | Carbon Bubble | Climate Justice | Fossil Fuel Subsidies Exposed – June 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – June 2018

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

June has brought a number of encouraging updates. Renewable energy in the global electricity sector has been booming in 2017, but swift progress is needed in heating, transport and industry, the latest REN21 report shows. Green economyhas grown to the same size as the fossil fuel industry and it is only a matter of time before it surpasses it entirely. Switching to a green economy means a dramatic increase in jobs and can save the world economy trillions of dollars, two separate studies show. Pope Francis once again endorsed science by calling oil majors to join the fight against climate change. Meanwhile, two other studies exposed continuous fossil fuel subsidies by G7 and Eastern European governments despite their commitment to Paris Agreement targets.

Read our June Newsletter to find out more

Renewables vs. Nuclear | Latest Blows to Coal & Oil | Costa Rica, Hawaii, Balearics to Break Fossil Free – May 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – May 2018

May is bringing a lot of good news on progress in renewable energy and blows to the coal and oil industry. Costa Rica is about to make history as the first country in the world to go completely fossil free. In the US and the UK, renewables especially wind power are overtaking nuclear energy. The list of countries, planning to phase out coal keeps growing: the Netherlands announced it will ban the use of coal in electricity generation in the coming decade. Finland confirmed its plans to ban the use of coal by 2029. The insurance giant Allianz made headlines by extending its divestment policy on coal. Several studies by IRENA show that the deployment of renewable energy needs to be scaled up in order to meet the Paris Agreement targets and the SDG7 on affordable and clean energy.

 

Read our May Newsletter to find out more.

European Nuclear Disaster | IEA Misguides Governments | Wind & Solar Outpace Nuclear & Fossil Fuels – April 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – April 2018

New European nuclear reactors, once proclaimed as a new impetus for the renaissance of the European nuclear industry, proved to be a financial disaster. Read a comprehensive brief by the Energy Watch Group, documenting the failures of the nuclear industry. We are glad to see more and more critical voices about the IEA’s misleading energy „scenarios“. A new study by Oil Change and the IEEFA showcases how the IEA misguides energy decisions by governments, undermining the Paris Agreement targets. No wonder that banks continue pumping billions into the dirtiest fossil fuels. On the positive side, wind and solar have been outpacing other sources in the UK and Germany, and Portugal produced over 100%renewable electricity in March.

Read our April Newsletter to find out about.

Renewable Cities | Green Shipping | Diesel Ban | Fracking‘ Severe Risks – March 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – March 2018

If you haven’t done it yet, take your money and invest in renewable projects – even oil companies have finally started admitting that green investments are outperforming old dirty oil business. A key impetus for the shifting awareness for financial investments came from the divestment movement. As demand for renewable energy is growing, countries with key resources for green technologies are set to become superpowers of tomorrow. Great news comes from the CDP review, according to which more than 100 cities are now mostly powered by renewable energy. Sailing into a zero emission future has never been easier with wind, sun and water. Those three energy sources are not breaking the grid either, which is demonstrated by several countries among the globe. Germany made diesel bans feasible for cities.

Read our March Newsletter to find out about.

Divestment Goes Mainstream | Wind Beats Records in Europe | Coal on the Way Out – February 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – February 2018

In case you missed one of the breaking recent scientific findings: our joint study with the Lappeenranta University of Technology has proved that 100% renewable electricity worldwide is technically feasible and cost-effective. Fossil fuel divestment is set to go mainstream in 2018 with new key actors joining the global movement. Offshore wind industry has been breaking records in the EU, especially in the UK. And as big European insurers keep investing in Polish coal industry, latest developments in China, Chile and India show that coal is on its way out.

Read our February Newsletter to find out about.

War on Oil Industry | Renewables Beat Records | Europe Divided on Coal – January 2018

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – January 2018

In a very significant move New York City is divesting its pension funds from fossil fuels and taking the major oil companies to court over their impact on climate change. Renewables, especially wind, have broken records in several European countries. And IRENA has launched a new study that shows that all renewable energy technologies will be competitive from 2020. EWG President was at the IRENA General Assembly this weekend and presented our latest policy brief on the favourable frameworks to accelerate the transition to 100% renewable energy. Read our January newsletter to find out more.

Global Shift Away from Fossil Fuels | IEA Gets Its Projections Wrong, Again! | All Coal-Power Plants in Europe Loss-Making by 2030 – November 2017

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – November 2017

You are reading our last newsletter before Christmas and our transition into the new year. 2017 has seen progress in new commitments across the world to act on climate change. We welcome the announcement by the World Bank to cease funding upstream oil and gas projects after 2019 and a range of commitments by other banks and companies, joining the Global Big Shift campaign. We call on the International Energy Agency to read our series of studies showcasing their consistent misleading projections on renewable energy and fossil fuels, which was again the case in the World Energy Outlook 2017. Meanwhile, a study by Carbon Tracker proved that by 2030 nearly all coal power plants will be loss-making and another study showed that major banks and financial investors keep financing coal development despite the Paris Agreement targets. Last but not least, in case you missed it, make sure to read and to spread a word about our new study together with Lappeenranta University of Technology, which shows that a transition to 100% renewable electricity worldwide is feasible by 2050 or earlier and will be more cost-effective than the current energy system. Find out more in out November Newsletter. 

100% Renewable Electricity Worldwide | IRENA: Feed-in-Tariff vs. Tenders | Global Anti-Coal Alliance – October 2017

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – October 2017

It is our great pleasure to present our new breakthrough study together with Lappeenranta University of Technology on a global electricity system, fully based on renewable energy. This first-of-its-art simulation on an hourly resolution proves that a global transition to 100% renewable electricity is feasible and even more cost-effective than the current energy system. We are also glad to present the results of IRENA webinar on the most effective renewable energy policies with a presentation by EWG President Hans-Josef Fell. Read our latest news and find out more in the October Newsletter.