offshore wind grows - in Europe
The 2010 statistics for offshore wind came out this week, and they look pretty good:With 308 new offshore wind turbines installed in 2010 - an increase of 51% in installed wind power capacity on the...
View ArticleExxonMobil says wind is cheapest form of electricity generation
Sometimes, a graph says it all. This one is from ExxonMobil's yearly review of energy statistics and trends, called Energy Outlook: A view to 2030:as usual, the full disclosure: I work in the wind...
View Articlekeep off my $&#@ email, kos!
A few months ago, kos offered us the opportunity to receive action and information emails, and I duly signed up.Except that now, I get these action emails twice: to the email I provided when I signed...
View ArticleThe end of nukes?
Apparently the Spiegel has decide to declare the end of the nuclear age, following the serious incidents at the Japanese plants. I must say I don't buy it yet, even as it's obvious that the politics of...
View ArticleAfter Fukushima: a new dash for gas? Really?
he final outcome and cost of the nuclear accident at Fukushima are yet to be determined but the obituary of the nuclear industry has already been written, and one competing source of power has already...
View ArticleFinancing energy infrastructure
I was invited to speak in Brussels earlier last week about the financing of energy infrastructure. It was a breakfast organised by the European Energy Reviewand Interel.I had the opportunity to make a...
View ArticleThe capitulation of politics (or the arrogance of finance?)
Standard & Poor’s put a “negative” outlook on the U.S. AAA credit rating, citing rising budget deficits and debt.“We believe there is a material risk that U.S. policy makers might not reach an...
View ArticleBen Laden: some rumblings
Following the announcement of Ben Laden's execution by US special forces, I found the following items notable: nobody (other than a few idealists on the blogs) found it strange that Western statesmen...
View ArticleNo peak oil quite yet... but it still hurts
World oil production. Source: Graphoilogy using US EIA dataNear record oil prices (at $110-115/bl, WTI is at its highest ever except for a few weeks in July 2008) suggest that markets continue to be...
View ArticleShort termism is killing us
The FT had a timely article over the week-end about Short Long (pdf), a recent research paper on the irrational discounting of the long term by markets: Andy Haldane and Richard Davies of the Bank of...
View ArticleGreece Shock Therapy update - WSJ lies debunked
Note: the article below, published initially on Histologion last month, was posted and update by its author, talos, on European Tribune and he has kindly authorised me to repost it here in full as it...
View ArticleGermany pushing forward smart energy policy
Following the recent announcement by the German government of the forthcoming closure of all nuclear plants by 2022 (see Merkel's nuclear exit), a new step has been taken today with a series of...
View ArticleThe first victim of the European bank crisis: investment in the US
As I noted in a comment a few days ago, some of the most likely victims of the current banking crisis in Europe are going to be in the US. Yesterday, I talked to a colleague in a big European bank who...
View ArticleBleed, you sinners!
Note: this is about the European debt crisis, but the parallels with the USA are obvious"Bild" is impressed with Greek reform efforts Until now mass circulation daily Bild has distinguished itself by...
View ArticleFrench socialist primaries - first round vote today
In a first for the French republic, the socialists are organising open primaries to select their candidate for next year's presidential election.What is new this year is that the primary is open to all...
View ArticleIt's the class warfare, stupid!
There have been endless discussions as to whether the current economic crisis is a debt crisis, a banking crisis or (in Europe) a trade imbalance crisis. Ultimately, we are facing redistribution...
View ArticleFrench presidential election - a primer
As we enter 2012, a major political milestone is getting nearer in France, namely the presidential election, and I thought I'd try to start covering this in more detail over the next few months (as we...
View ArticleIs nuclear energy more expensive than offshore wind?
This is what is suggested in a recent article of the Times of London:French demand high price for `rescuing' nuclear industry with two new reactors (behind pay wall, but accessible here) According to...
View ArticleOffshore wind photoblogging - installation vessel edition
Hi everybody, long time no see..Here's something hopeful to take your mind off the conventions for a few moments.Part of my Wind power series. And the usual full disclosure: I advise wind developers on...
View ArticleThe new economics of the power sector
A lot of strange things have been happening in the European power sector lately, from negative prices, to utilities closing down brand new power plants and, naturally, action in various places to cut...
View Article