Networks
Running out of charge: Europe’s public EV infrastructure needs a serious push
Est. 5min22,000 public charging points. That's how many must be installed weekly to achieve the 55% CO2 reduction target by for cars and vans by 2030. But EU countries are falling short, with only 150,000 installed last year.
2024-2029: Five years to deliver the Green Deal’s mobility promises
Est. 5minThe upcoming EU Elections are the opportunity to debate and design the framework to make the electromobility transition a success for climate, people and businesses, write Celine Domecq and Julia Poliscanova.
Europe must coordinate infrastructure plans to secure gas supply, avoid fossil lock-ins
Est. 6minGovernments across Europe are investing in infrastructure for the production and transportation of natural gas to replace imports from Russia. This is warranted to some degree, yet risks an over-expansion and fossil lock-in, write Friederike Altgelt and Martin Albicker.
Becoming climate neutral by 2050: How Europe’s energy system has to change
Est. 8minIn light of climate change and the war in Ukraine, the European energy system faces an unprecedented transformation. How can this succeed? Michael Jesberger is the COO of TransnetBW. Let’s assume we are in 2050 and the Green Deal is a success. …
How to regulate hydrogen networks
Est. 7minThe need for regulating networks for transporting hydrogen is becoming increasingly urgent, but the legislation needs to be designed in a way to give the market flexibility to overcome the challenges ahead, writes Noé van Hulst.
Fit for 55: looking for a hero net zero
Est. 5minThe announcement of the package to become fit for 55% CO2 reduction by 2030 was unusual. It took Commission President Ursula von der Leyen longer to come to the press room than ever before. Clearly, a sign that the decision …
TAP pipeline is bringing EU energy policy to Azerbaijan
Est. 6minThe construction of the TAP pipeline could set an example of what a project developer’s role should be – to build a commercial infrastructure project, while mitigating any potential environmental and social challenges, writes Danila Bochkarev.
The news you possibly missed: TAP pipeline up and running
Est. 7minNeither the COVID-19 pandemic nor the Nagorno-Karabakh war could stop Azerbaijan from finalizing the TAP project, and the first Azerbaijani gas had been already supplied to European consumers, writes Shahmar Hajiyev.
Nord Stream 2: New decisions and clear consequences
Est. 5minOn 15 May, the German regulator rejected an application from the gas import pipeline Nord Stream 2 for a derogation from new EU rules. Kim Talus looks at the ongoing judicial proceedings and the consequences of the decision.
The road to 2050 should be fossil gas pipelines free
Est. 4minAll scenarios prepared by transmission grid operators feature very high shares of gas in Europe’s future energy mix. Does that make any sense at all? No, says Wendel Trio.
The Visegrad 4 and Russian pipelines: An imaginary unity
Est. 5minThe Nord Stream II pipeline gave birth to a seemingly united front among several Central and Eastern European states objecting to the project, including Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. That, however, is far from the truth, writes Martin Jirušek.
Ukraine’s elections highlight deep divides over natural gas
Est. 6minThe direction of Ukraine’s energy policies is of great interest to observers in Brussels and the European capitals, as a stable and prosperous Ukraine would increase overall European energy security, writes Robert Rapier.
Building energy infrastructure is not a zero-sum game
Est. 6minFull electrification does not mean decarbonisation, writes Marco Alverà. Infrastructure which carries natural gas today will be needed in future to carry increasing amounts of biomethane, green hydrogen as well as to store energy more efficiently than power lines or batteries, he argues.
The EU must stop funding gas infrastructure projects with taxpayer money
Est. 4minIt is time for the EU to stop investing public money in additional gas-infrastructure, says S&D vice-president Kathleen Van Brempt.
How Central Asian energy complements the Southern Gas Corridor
Est. 8minPractical access to Central Asian gas, which would arrive via the twin projects of the White Stream and the Trans-Caspian Pipeline, is finally coming at just the right time to complete the Southern Gas Corridor, writes Robert M. Cutler.
Gas lobby keeps Europe hooked on fossil fuels
Est. 6minAs the COP23 UN climate talks open in Bonn, the European Commission and EU member states are embarking on a massive spending spree to subsidise new gas infrastructure that will make it impossible to achieve the global warming targets agreed two years ago in Paris, writes Pascoe Sabido.
Visegrad’s energy security after Nabucco
Est. 7minThe Nabucco pipeline is out of the game. But Central Europe can reinforce its energy security through new ways to trade gas and access the integrated European market. Only then it can tackle both major challenges, Gazprom and the Asian demand, Pavol Szalai writes.