Technology to Transform the Energy Sector | 100% Renewables in East Asia and Europe | Ukraine as Role Model for Germany? – February 2017

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – February 2017

As global energy transition gathers pace, innovative technology can further disrupt and transform the energy sector much faster than the most of business-as-usual scenarios predict. Two major reports by Carbon Tracker and the McKinsey Global Institute come to this conclusion. Meanwhile, Ireland has as a first country in the world committed to fully divest from fossil fuels, as an increasing number of cities, Univerisities and businesses join the global divestment movement. As Ukraine has dramatically reduced its gas dependence on Russian energy supplies, Germany has become more dependent on them due to the political barriers to the energy transition in the country, argues EWG President. You will find this news and new studies on 100% renewable energy in East Asia and Europe in our February newsletter.

The Irreversible Momentum of Renewables as Climate Action | Divestment Pressure Rise – January 2017

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – January 2017

The production of energy from renewable sources is breaking records all over the globe. In 2016, Costa Rica ran 250 days solely on renewable energy. Over Christmas, wind power generation surged in Scotland and Germany. Solar is set to beat coal as the cheapest energy source. 2017 seems to be firmly on track to become another record-breaking year for renewables.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of oil and gas companies go out of business and divestment pressure rises. This development is more than needed, considering that 2016 was the third consecutive hottest year on recordand Chinese cities bog down in smog. Yet, the economic arguments become ever more compelling and the stakeholders taking action ever more influential. As the outgoing U.S. President put it in his latest Science article, the climate action “momentum is irreversible”. Read more in our January Newsletter. 

IEA’s Remarkable Camouflage | Climate Action, Renewables & Divestment on the March Despite Trump – December 2016

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – December 2016

2016 has seen progress in new commitments across the world to act on climate change. But it has also reminded us that the world is becoming more complex. In Germany, “post-truth” was named word of the year: all too often lies, appealing to emotion, were more influential than facts. Therefore, providing objective information and finding effective ways of disseminating it becomes more important than ever.

We are glad to see that in 2016, the International Energy Agency (IEA) started considering more realistic energy scenarios. But the IEA still heavily underplays renewable energy, especially wind and solar, as our analysis of its latest flagship report shows. Election of Donald Trump as the next US President raised questions about the future of international and in particular American climate policy. In this newsletter, we compiled the arguments why the climate action and renewable energy momentum will not stall, as the global divestment movement keeps growing and as new  roadmaps to stay below the 1.5°C threshold are emerging. Read more in our December newsletter.

Germany Falls Behind on Climate Targets | IEA Lowballs Renewables | Offshore Wind Booms – November 2016

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – November 2016

The Paris Climate Agreement came into force on November, 4 – three years earlier than planned. Now it is time to deliver and the Energy Watch Group has analysed for you the climate and energy policy of Germany. Our new study shows that the current German targets are too weak and inadequate in the light of the global 1,5 C target. To deliver on Paris targets, Germany needs to introduce a zero-carbon economy as soon as 2030. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) still heavily underestimates the growth potential of solar PV and wind energy, our analysis of the IEA’s Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2016 shows. The good news comes from scientists: The Lappeenranta University of Technology has launched the first of its kind model, which simulates the world fulfilling the Paris Agreement targets. Read more in our November newsletter.

EA to Lift its Solar & Wind Projections | Blow on Coal | 100% Renewables in India & Ukraine – October 2016

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Energy Watch Group Newsletter – October 2016

We have won! Following our extensive critique last year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) will finally raise its projections for solar PV and wind in its forthcoming 2017 World Energy Outlook. In a series of our studies, we have proved that the IEA has consistently undermined the potential of renewables in the last decade. This reality-check has been long overdue in the global community’s quest for an energy transition. EWG is looking forward to the update and will analyse it for you.

The reviewed projections could lend a new momentum to the Paris Agreement, which surpassed its ratification threshold in a record short time and is set to enter into force on November, 4. While the speedy process is, in fact, a historic development, and rightly applauded by many, many warning voices have called for immediate action. The missing part is political will, as a 100% renewable energy system is not only feasible but more cost-effective than the existing system in many parts of the world. More on this, and our latest studies on India and Ukraine, in our October Newsletter.

“Hinkley Pointless” |  World’s Dumbest Policy | 100% RE in Finland & Sub-Saharan Africa – September 2016

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – September 2016

The UK government has approved “Hinkley Pointless” (tribute to the Economist). By the time the nuclear plant is built, it will leave British taxpayers in “financial disaster” and produce outrageously expensive energy. Read more in a take by the EWG President. The good news is: Stuttgart, Sydney and the Queensland University of Technology have joint the ever growing fossil fuel divestment movement. Some journalists have done a good job too. We approve of the FT, which said plainly that the financial consequences of climate change can no longer be ignored, and of Bloomberg, which finally called the world’s dumbest policy (fossil fuel subsidies) “the world’s dumbest policy”. Unfortunately, politicians (i.a. G20, the German government and the EU) are still doing poor homework. These news as well as new studies on 100% renewables in Finland and Sub-Saharan Africa in our latest newsletter.

Brexit and EU Nuclear Energy | Divestment Newcomers | 100% Renewables in MENA – June 2016

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Energy Watch Group Newsletter – June 2016

With the dust settling down after the shock UK vote on the EU membership, dozens of tough questions arise over climate and energy prospects on the continent. The good news is: Brexit offers a chance to put an end to the EURATOM treaty, writes EWG President Hans-Josef Fell. Meanwhile, major cities Berlin and Stockholm join the global divestment movement, as the biggest western banks invested $ billions in climate damaging sectors in the last two years. This, as well as new studies on 100% renewables in MENA and an assessment of the German Energiewende in the context of the Paris Agreement in our latest newsletter.

Renewables Hit Record High | Twilight of Big Oil | G7 Invests Billions in Coal – May 2016

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – May 2016

More investment, more installed capacity, more jobs – 2015 was a record year for renewables, according to the latest REN21 and IRENA reports. Europe has lost its position as renewable energy leader, as most of the investment came from the emerging and developing countries. Meanwhile, major oil companies are having big troubles as shareholders are increasingly pushing for a reassessment of their business models against the Paris climate targets and as new evidence on stranded assets is piling up. Despite latest commitments, G7 countries keep investing billions in coal facilities abroad. This news and a new study on 100% renewable energy in Iran in our latest newsletter.

Climate Risk Hits Investors, Oil Giants Need To Downsize, EU Climate Ambition – April 2016

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – April 2016

It has been a grim decade for oil investors, writes the Economist. The first-quater results released by the major oil companies prove the industry is in the “worst peacetime crisis”. Two new reports strongly warn the fossil fuel companies to downsize their production or face a rapid collapse. On the positive side, a recent study of the world’s top 500 investors has shown almost half of them started considering climate risk in their strategies. Meanwhile, the EWG President has urged the EU to raise its climate ambition in line with the new Paris Agreement commitments. On May, 12 the EWG will present a new comprehensive book on highly controversial fracking. This news and a new study on energy storage in our newsletter.

New Records in Renewables, The Fall of Coal, Post-Oil Era in Saudi Arabia – March 2016

Energy Watch Group Newsletter – March 2016

2015 was a record year for renewables as worldwide investments in clean energy outpaced gas and coal by 2:1. For the first time, developing and emerging countries, most notably China, invested more than developed ones. Meanwhile, the world’s largest private coal miner Peabody has filed for bankruptcy, China’s Five Year Plan leaves no big hopes for coal and Saudi Arabia announces its plans for a post-oil era. A new film about the global energy transformation is out in the German cinemas. This news and a new study on a 100% renewable energy system in Brazil in our newsletter.