Latest news with #E3G
01-06-2025
- Business
India, a major user of coal power, is making large gains in clean energy adoption. Here is how
BENGALURU, India -- One of the most carbon-polluting countries, India is also making huge efforts to harness the power of the sun, wind and other clean energy sources. Most of the electricity in India, the world's most populous nation, still comes from coal, one of the dirtiest forms of energy. But coal's dominance is dropping, going from 60% of installed power capacity 11 years ago to less than 50% today, according to India's power ministry. At the same time, India had its largest ever addition of clean power in the fiscal year between April 2024 and April of this year, adding 30 gigawatts — enough to power nearly 18 million Indian homes. With a growing middle class and skyrocketing energy needs, how fast India can move away from coal and other fossil fuels, such as gasoline and oil, could have a large impact on global efforts to confront climate change. Here is a snapshot of India's clean energy transition and some of the challenges. Solar is now half the cost of power from new coal-powered plants. Availability of cheap components and many sunny days each year in India are some reasons experts say installed solar power increased 30 times in the last decade. 'Solar power is the cheapest it's ever been,' said Ruchita Shah, an energy analyst at climate think-tank Ember. Shah added that dropping costs for energy storage, in the form of batteries, means that renewable power will be the 'new normal," even when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow. India has nearly 170 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in the pipeline, which are expected to be completed in the next few years. 'I have no doubt that India will reach its target of 500 gigawatts by 2030,' said Raghav Pachouri, an energy expert at Vasudha Foundation, a New Delhi-based think-tank. Experts say the growth in renewables is being spurred by India's plans to add approximately 50 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel power capacity every year for the next five years and for clean power to provide 50% of the nation's energy by the decade. When burned, fossil fuels let off greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, the main driver of climate change. A 2022 law that made electricity cheaper for companies choosing to buy clean power, the federal government's recommendation that state utilities buy more renewable power and a 2023 government plan to invest $452 million have all catalyzed investments in renewables. India has the fourth highest amount of clean power installed in the world and government officials said $81 billion has been invested in the renewable energy sector in the last decade. Multiple large-scale renewable power projects have begun operations or are under construction, including one of the world's largest wind and solar power farms. 'We've seen domestic manufacturing capacity, at least when it comes to modules for solar panels, increasing,' said Madhura Joshi, a senior energy analyst at the European think-tank E3G. Despite the rapid growth, challenges persist. While non-fossil fuel sources now comprise 45% of India's total installed capacity, their share in actual electricity generation stood at 24% last year. Coal remains the dominant source, accounting for 75% of electricity generation. The share of solar, wind, small hydro power and biomass in India's electricity generation mix stood at 12%, double what it was in 2014 but still lower than expectations by this time, according to a report by New Delhi-based think-tank, the Centre for Science and Environment. Installed capacity is growing, but power generation from renewables needs to be optimized and integrated effectively into the grid, the report found. A recent report by the nonprofit clean energy think-tank, RMI, found that electricity demand is expected to triple by 2050 — driven by more electric vehicles, air conditioners and industrial growth. Acquiring land for clean energy projects remains a challenge. India also needs to rapidly build robust electricity transmission infrastructure and energy storage facilities to continue increasing clean power capacity. 'India is expected to become the world's third-largest economy in a few years, and I think we will need to adopt renewable energy to do this. There is no option for us because fossil fuels can't keep pace" with energy needs, said Deepak Thakur, chief executive officer of Mumbai-based renewable energy company, Mahindra Susten. ___
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Don't cut £13.2bn warm homes pledge over winter fuel payments, Labour told
Plans to reinstate the winter fuel payment will be undermined if the government presses ahead with mooted cuts to home insulation upgrades, dozens of charities and experts have warned ahead of the forthcoming spending review. Labour pledged before entering government to prioritise plugging the leaks in the country's draughty homes as a way of reducing household bills and wasted energy. The £13.2bn promised for the warm homes plan appears under threat, despite estimates that it would add to economic growth, as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, seeks swingeing spending cuts to meet her self-imposed fiscal rules. As the Guardian revealed last week, Reeves is likely to reverse the axing of the winter fuel payment for many older people after months of damaging outcry against the policy. But rumoured cuts to insulation could as much as halve the money on offer for efficiency upgrades. A group of more than 50 senior figures from socially-focused charities, green campaign groups and housing organisations has written to Darren Jones, the chief secretary of the Treasury, to urge the government to stick to its programme of insulation improvements for older or vulnerable people, and people on low incomes. Experts say the failure to do so would negate some of the benefits of restoring the winter fuel payment. James Dyson, a senior researcher for E3G, a green thinktank that helped organise the letter, said: 'Reinstating winter fuel payments means nothing if the government doesn't keep its promise to fix cold, leaky homes. It's like pouring water into a sieve. The government must keep its manifesto pledge of £13.2bn for insulation, which will lower people's bills permanently and improve their wellbeing.' Caroline Abrahams, the charity director of Age UK, which is a signatory to the letter, added: 'We face an immediate problem of how to ensure older people on low and modest incomes can afford to run their heating this winter, which the government's potential policy change to winter fuel payment may or may not address – but regardless, it's clear that making older people's homes more energy efficient is an essential part of the solution longer term. Working on this at the pace envisaged in Labour's manifesto makes excellent policy sense and would also give older people real hope for the future.' The warm homes plan could save about 3 million vulnerable households about £220 a year. In its 2024 manifesto, the Labour party promised £13.2bn in this parliament, made up partly of money already promised by the previous government that was unspent, and an extra £6.6bn. Research by E3G shows that nearly half a million pensioners could be stuck with high energy bills if the manifesto promise was broken. The warm homes plan is one of the central planks of the government pledge to bring down energy bills by £300 in this parliament, alongside the move to renewable energy and away from gas, the price of which has been highly volatile. Reeves allocated £3.4bn over three years to the plan in last October's budget, and further funding is to be considered as part of phase two of the spending review, due on 11 June. Under the previous government, efforts to subsidise insulation in England and Wales stalled after the failure of the 'botched' green homes grant scheme set up by Boris Johnson in 2021. The letter cited research showing 82% of the 300 constituencies with the highest rates of fuel poverty had Labour MPs, and forecasts by E3G showing that delivering on the warm homes plan in full would enhance economic growth, adding 0.8% to the UK's GDP in this parliament through cost savings and the creation of green jobs in insulation. E3G also found people with disabilities and older people would be at particular risk if spending on home insulation were slashed. About half of the households insulated by the most recent government scheme contained someone living with a disability, and nearly a third of the households had someone aged 65 or over. Among the more than 50 organisations signing the letter were: Citizens Advice; Scope; the National Housing Federation; Generation Rent; the Energy Advice Helpline; and the National Pensioners Convention. A government spokesperson said: 'The energy shocks of recent years have shown the need to go further and faster to upgrade British homes, making them warmer and more efficient, while bringing down bills. Up to 300,000 households will benefit from upgrades through our warm homes plan this year, rolling out measures like insulation, double glazing, solar and heat pumps.'
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Europe's grid gridlock leaves us vulnerable to blackouts
The recent power crash across the Iberian peninsula has brought Europe's grid issues to the fore. Where large blackouts have occurred previously, stronger standards in system operation, planning and governance have been introduced – as they inevitably will be again when the cause of this latest outage emerges. What is making regulators, transmission systems operators and governments nervous, however, is the unavoidable and painful lesson on the vulnerability of Europe's grids given modern realities. An impressive level of renewable s capacity is coming on stream and that is about to be scaled up as the European Union seeks to address competitiveness issues. The aim is to enhance energy security and independence, countering dependence on volatile international gas markets and recognising that electrification should ensure cheaper energy. But there is a systemic problem and its extent was detailed in two reports this week. The first was an analysis of 32 transmission systems operators, including EirGrid . The second was a European Parliament report co-authored by Irish MEP Seán Kell y. READ MORE Outdated planning and obsolete mandates are slowing the upgrading and buildout of grids, delaying connection of renewable capacity and flexibility projects, which can make energy clean and affordable, concludes the Beyond Fossil Fuels analysis conducted by consultants E3G, Ember and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Too many grid operators are working according to outdated national scenarios that ignore the exponential scale of growth in renewables. The result is gridlock and wasted power. Kelly noted: 'Europe's grid is largely a relic of the 20th century, designed for a centralised fossil fuel-powered economy. Today, our energy system must integrate high volumes of decentralised, variable renewables while accommodating rising electricity demand from industry, heat pumps, EVs and data centres. To keep pace, we need a major upgrade to transmission and distribution networks.' Inconsistency is widespread. EirGrid is among only five transmission systems operators considering scenarios in which renewables replace nearly all coal and gas by 2035. Kelly noted what is probably Ireland's biggest problem – 'outdated grid infrastructure, planning delays and political inertia' that are stalling progress. 'We cannot continue to let critical grid infrastructure – like the North-South Interconnector – be held up for decades by planning delays and serial objectors,' he said. If the stalling is allowed continue, the risk of outage on our doorstep increases.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report reveals outdated grid planning delays Europe's renewable shift
Europe's electricity infrastructure is failing to evolve in line with the renewable energy shift, as detailed in a report by Beyond Fossil Fuels, E3G, Ember, and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The findings indicate that outdated planning and mandates are hindering the essential upgrades and expansions of the continent's electrical networks. This stagnation is obstructing the integration of renewable and flexible energy projects, which are vital for achieving cleaner and more affordable energy. As the EU progresses towards eliminating Russian fossil fuels, the report emphasises the critical role of grids in enabling the transition to domestic renewable sources. Grids are essential for promoting the decarbonisation of Europe's economy through economical power solutions. An examination of 32 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) across 28 nations shows that many continue to depend on outdated projections based on previous governmental objectives. These projections fail to reflect the rapid expansion of renewable energy, serving as a hindrance to developing a flexible grid that can accommodate increasing levels of sustainable energy. The recent power failure in the Iberian Peninsula underscored the pressing need for grid enhancements and effective governance to ensure energy resilience. The report cautions that without revised grid planning regulations, Europe may inadvertently become reliant on fossil gas due to insufficient preparation for a renewable-centric power system. Upgrading the grid is crucial for facilitating the electrified economy of the future. The report's authors call for enhanced governance and oversight from governmental bodies and regulators to ensure that grid planning and investments meet contemporary requirements. The report reveals that 1,700GW of renewable energy initiatives across 16 countries are currently delayed in grid connection processes. Furthermore, it discovered that €7.2bn worth of renewable electricity was curtailed in just seven nations in 2024. Only five TSOs are contemplating scenarios for a power system that substitutes coal and fossil gas with renewables by 2035. Many TSOs and energy regulators have yet to recognise the climate emergency as part of their obligations. According to the report, merely 14 of the 23 TSOs examined hold investment-grade ratings from leading credit rating agencies, which could improve their ability to secure funding. Meanwhile, 11 TSOs have issued green bonds that have been reviewed by third parties. "Report reveals outdated grid planning delays Europe's renewable shift" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
How Europe's outdated energy grid is holding up its fossil fuel exit
Europe's electricity grid is failing to keep pace with the renewable energy transition, according to a new report. With the EU announcing last week its roadmap to phase out remaining Russian fossil fuels by 2027, electricity grids will be essential to replacing them with homegrown green energy. The report from Beyond Fossil Fuels, E3G, Ember and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis looked at 32 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) across 28 countries. They found that many are using out-of-date scenarios based on old government targets and assumptions about the electricity market. This outdated grid planning and weak governance are stalling Europe's transition to renewable energy. 'Governments urgently need to dislodge these fatbergs from the planning system so that grid operators can get renewable projects hooked up,' says Juliet Phillips, energy campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels. Phillips adds that giving TSOs and their regulators a climate mandate could ensure they make the long-term investments and decisions to 'future-proof' our energy systems. 'It's the only way to break free from fossil fuel imports, and cut bills and emissions,' she says. Over 1,700 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across 16 countries were stuck in the queue to be connected to the electricity grid - more than three times the capacity the EU needs to reach energy and climate targets for 2030. The UK had the highest amount of renewable energy stuck in these connection queues at 722 GW of wind and solar power. It was followed by Finland with 400 GW, Italy with 348 GW and Germany with 70 GW. €7.2 billion in renewable energy was wasted across just seven countries in 2024 because it couldn't be accommodated by electricity grids. And that data is limited because of what TSOs were able to provide to the report's authors. Many don't track the curtailment of renewables or what it costs. What data there is provides insight into what is wasted in some of Europe's biggest economies. In Germany alone, as much as €3.3 billion of wind and solar power was curtailed last year. For Spain, it may have been up to €2.5 billion in 2024. In these places, clean energy was wasted while those who generated the power were still compensated, with the extra cost often falling on bill payers. The report warns that unless the planning and regulation around upgrading electricity grids is updated, Europe risks a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' where fossil gas appears necessary because grid operators never planned for a system based on renewables. Only five grid operators were planning for a fully decarbonised grid by 2035: EirGrid (Ireland), Energinet (Denmark), Fingrid (Finland), National Grid (UK) and Litgrid (Lithuania). This is despite 13 countries having clean power targets for the same timeframe. 'Europe's electricity grid is not modernising fast enough, and that must change,' says Vilislava Ivanova, research manager at E3G. Governments must send 'clear political signals' to grid operators about the need to meet climate targets to unlock a resilient fossil fuel free economy, Ivanova adds. 'Only through political leadership, independent governance, and clear incentives can we ensure grids become enablers, not barriers, of Europe's clean and competitive energy future.' Shell has been threatened with another round of legal action in the Netherlands for continuing to develop oil and gas projects around the world. In a letter sent to Shell today, NGO Milieudefensie accuses the company of breaching its legal duty of care under Dutch law by not dramatically reducing its investments in fossil fuels and not putting in place what it considers an adequate climate strategy for the coming decades. It plans to take Shell to court if these issues are not addressed. 'We as a society can no longer accept that a company like Shell determines our future without us having any say in it,' says Milieudefensie director Donald Pols. The action builds on another lawsuit that Milieudefensie - the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth - is still embroiled in with Shell over its climate targets up to 2030. Last year, Shell managed to overturn a landmark climate judgment by a Dutch court, which in 2021 had ordered it to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by the end of the decade. It had been the first such ruling against a company in the world. Milieudefensie appealed and the case is now at the Dutch Supreme Court. But although the appeal court refused to set a specific legal climate goal it did rule that Shell has a 'special responsibility' to cut its emissions as a big oil company. And it said it was 'reasonable to expect oil and gas companies to take into account the negative consequences of a further expansion of the supply of fossil fuels for the energy transition also when investing in the production of fossil fuels. Shell's planned investments in new oil and gas fields may be at odds with this.' Milieudefensie is seizing on this statement to justify its latest legal threat. It notes that, despite increasing its volume of renewables, Shell is still planning to develop hundreds of new oil and gas fields. The company has projects already under construction in North America, the Middle East and Africa and, according to a new report by Milieudefensie and Global Witness, it owns or partly owns another 700 undeveloped assets. In a report to investors in March, Shell said it planned to increase production and sales of fossil fuels until well into the 2030s. The International Energy Agency has warned against investments in any new fossil fuel extraction to enable a transition to a clean energy system, and stressed that companies should not wait for a drop in demand to reduce their supply. Pols said legal action was the only way to make this happen: 'Shell will not stop of its own accord.' Milieudefensie plans to ask the court to order Shell to stop investing in new oil and gas fields. And it wants the company to be ordered to set greenhouse gas emission targets for the years after 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise under 1.5C. Shell has been approached for comment. However the NGO faces legal roadblocks in pursuing this case. After the 2021 court ruling, Shell moved its headquarters from The Hague to the UK. And it could be difficult for Dutch courts to enforce an order for Shell's legal development activities outside the Netherlands. Roger Cox, lawyer for Milieudefensie, said he was confident Dutch courts would have jurisdiction because Shell is registered in the Netherlands and harm is being caused to Dutch society. And he said a ruling in Milieudefensie's favour could be implemented through enforcement treaties with other countries around the world. 'It doesn't matter where Shell is,' says Cox. 'The international assets of Shell - be they fossil assets, bank accounts, whatever - will give us a lot more grip on their equity.' Sjoukje van Oosterhout, head of research at Milieudefensie, says a positive ruling in this case would have big repercussions for Shell but would also give a 'very clear signal' to governments, financial institutions and insurance companies. 'The impact of this case could really be enormous.'
