Latest news
France’s energy future relies on nuclear
France’s first nuclear power plant has opened in 1964 and since then France has become a primarily nuclear-powered country, with nuclear representing 78.8% of its electricity generation. According to the IEA it exports about 42 billion kWh of electrical energy per year, being the world's largest net exporter of electricity due to its very low cost of generation, while gaining over EUR 3 billion per year from this.
read more... 28/01/2014
Successful shale test for San Leon in Poland
European oil and gas company San Leon Energy Plc, has reached a crucial milestone on the way to commencing commercial production of shale gas for the first time in Europe, reporting a sustained gas production rate of 45,000–60,000 standard cubic feet per day. Natural gas flowed from its Lewino well in a shale formation in the Baltic Basin in northern Poland.
read more... 28/01/2014
IEA encourages Europe to increase shale gas output
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is encouraging Europe to boost its shale gas output, being concerned about high prices of European gas, suggesting Brussels to minimize the activity of energy-intensive industries such as cement and steel, while trimming the subsidies for green energy.
read more... 27/01/2014
Germany: the first EU state to penalize the self-consumption of solar energy
The German government has approved on Wednesday a new solar tax, becoming the first European nation to charge owners of renewable energy plants for their own use of electricity, as part of Merkel’s plan to contain rising power bills. The changes would affect photovoltaics and are now partly being reported as a new retroactive solar tax. The cabinet is expected to officially sign off on the draft law in April before it goes to the Bundestag, which is expected to vote on it in June and could become law on August.
read more... 27/01/2014
European Commission sets new 2030 climate goals
The European Union trimmed its long-term climate and energy goals on January 22, proposing less tight targets than previously amid rougher economic conditions and the necessity to curtail increasing energy costs.
read more... 24/01/2014