European Union

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – AFP reports that Denmark’s parliament has just committed to building an artificial island off its shores that will be home to hundreds of huge wind turbines. It is the largest construction project in Denmark’s history, and will be as big as 80 football fields. It will be protected on three […]

Germany

In Turnaround, New Onshore Wind jumps 50% in Germany adding 1.4 Gigs; Sector generates 20% of country’s Electricity

Clean Energy Wire

By Kerstine Appunn Benjamin Wehrmann | – ( Clean Energy Wire ) – Onshore wind power – the cornerstone of Germany’s decarbonisation plans – has suffered from chronically low additional installations in the past years. The industry seems to have achieved a turnaround in 2020, connecting almost 50 percent more turbines to the grid than […]

Climate Crisis

President Biden, We can do this too: Europe generates more electricity with Renewables than Fossil Fuels for First Time

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – A new report from Ember and Agora Energiewende finds that in 2020, the 27 countries of the European Union generated more electricity with renewables (wind, solar, hydro) than with fossil fuels (coal and natural gas). The growth in renewables has all come from wind and solar. These two increased by […]

Climate Crisis

7 Million more Germans resolve to power Homes with Wind, Solar in 2021: 15% already Do

Clean Energy Wire

By Kerstine Appunn | – Many Germans are starting the new year with “climate resolutions” – around 24 percent of them want to make more use of environmentally-friendly means of transport, 13 percent want to switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet and 9 percent plan to switch to green electricity in 2021, a poll […]

Donald Trump

After fascist Capitol Insurrection, German Liberals don’t want to be “Led” by the U.S.A.

Reese Erlich

In the wake of the white nationalist mob takeover of the U.S. Capitol and Trump’s pending second impeachment, I contacted journalists and activists overseas to get an idea of how the rest of the world currently views us. Among other questions, I asked what issue Americans should be aware of that U.S. politicians and mainstream […]

China

With US AWOL on Climate Leadership, are EU Members like Holland Turning to China?

China Dialogue

By Charlotte Nijhuis | – ( China Dialogue ) – Both countries have their work cut out to reach emissions-reduction goals, but China is already learning from Dutch expertise in offshore wind. With half of its territory below sea level, the Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The country is a […]

European Union

Brexit deal done: what’s in it and where next for the UK and EU?

The Conversation

By Andrew Glencross | – To misquote Shakespeare, our Brexit negotiating revels now are ended. The tempestuous talks did not lead to a dramatic walkout, even if at times the UK government gave the impression this was a feud worthy of the Montagues against the Capulets. The negotiators ignored the background noise and succeeded in […]

Climate Crisis

Deficit Hawks: Reducing environmental damage of greenhouse gases, pollutants saves billions

Clean Energy Wire

By Charlotte Nijhuis | – ( Clean Energy Wire ) – Reducing the environmental damages caused by greenhouse gases, nitrogen emissions, other pollutants and human activities can save Germany billions of euros, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) writes. The agency has updated the cost rates of environmental impact to include those for nitrogen and […]

Germany

Germany backs major international green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia

Clean Energy Wire

By Benjamin Wehrmann | – German steelmaker Thyssenkrupp will supply an electrolyser for a massive international green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia with the capacity to produce up to 650 tonnes of the climate-neutral gas per day with wind and solar power installations. The German economy ministry (BMWi) announced that it will support the “Element […]