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Renewables
Breaking the gridlock: overcoming the barriers to renewable energy Breaking the gridlock: overcoming the barriers to renewable energy

Struggling to keep pace with the growing share of renewables, the grid is turning into a bottleneck in the energy transition. From DC integration to hybrid microgrids, how emerging technologies are tackling the infrastructure challenge

October 2024
Renewable energy communities: the untapped potential Renewable energy communities: the untapped potential

Pope Francis called them “new expressions of integral citizenship and democracy,” and experts agree on their social, environmental, and economic value. Yet, from integration into the power system to market reliability, energy communities still face significant challenges. “Let’s take urgent action, or we will miss out on their potential,” warn operators.

October 2024
Trust, engagement and inclusion: the energy of a community Trust, engagement and inclusion: the energy of a community

When a sense of ownership rhymes with ethical practices and economic inclusion. Energy communities might succeed where politics failed: rebuilding trust and engagement in civil society through new forms of commitment and direct democracy 

May 2024
Energy communities vs. energy poverty: power to the people Energy communities vs. energy poverty: power to the people

Unprecedented gas and electricity bills have led to fuel protests in several countries. Yet, with energy poverty affecting over 50 million Europeans, a study highlights: “Energy communities can provide sustainable and affordable services.”

February 2024
Decarbonising Europe’s coal-reliant regions: the challenge of a “just transition” Decarbonising Europe’s coal-reliant regions: the challenge of a “just transition”

Some countries are backsliding on climate commitments to be coal-power free, afraid of the impact on jobs and energy costs. How can nations such as Bulgaria overcome the social and economic challenges in coal-reliant regions?

December 2023
Local energy communities: the first all-in-one toolbox to create and operate them Local energy communities: the first all-in-one toolbox to create and operate them

The EU sees them as “vital actors” in the clean energy transition. In Europe, there are some 4,000 local energy communities, but many challenges are still ahead. A comprehensive toolbox now provides an all-in-one solution to create, operate and develop them. 

November 2023
Green dream or social nightmare? Cobalt at the crossroads of electric mobility Green dream or social nightmare? Cobalt at the crossroads of electric mobility

Child labour, human rights violations, and environmental harm. The rush for cobalt sheds light on the downside of the electric dream. And while researchers are looking for technological alternatives for our electric vehicles’ batteries, NGOs warn of repeating the mistakes of the fossil-fuel industry: “We are at a crossroads. The green transition must go fast but needs to be fair, otherwise, we will look back on this critical time with regret”

May 2023
Too much demand for the existing infrastructure. The renewables communities’ paradox in the energy crisis era Too much demand for the existing infrastructure. The renewables communities’ paradox in the energy crisis era

Rising prices are fuelling a rush for renewable energy communities. But the existing infrastructure makes it often impossible for them to meet such growing demand. A lost opportunity to speed up the energy transition?

November 2022
Refusing to fold: can paper manufacturers face down energy challenges? Refusing to fold: can paper manufacturers face down energy challenges?

The paper and pulp industry is facing unprecedented challenges from the steepling rise in energy costs, but innovation could help to secure its future and meet its climate targets

October 2022
Mining a rich seam of creativity: how the minerals sector is contributing to climate action Mining a rich seam of creativity: how the minerals sector is contributing to climate action

The minerals industry in Europe supports thousands of jobs and livelihoods, and attention is turning to how to balance its energy requirements with its climate responsibilities to make the sector more sustainable

September 2022
Shielding the Grid to Foster Renewables: the Cybersecurity Challenge Shielding the Grid to Foster Renewables: the Cybersecurity Challenge

Fostering the energy transition requires advanced and sophisticated technology. However, such interconnected solutions are exposed to a wide range of cyber-attacks. Growing threats that a European project aims to tackle by improving the security of power grids.

July 2022
Taking the heat: how innovation could slash emissions from oil and gas refining Taking the heat: how innovation could slash emissions from oil and gas refining

New refinements to old technology could drastically reduce the electricity consumption of refinery processes by maximising the potential of waste heat to make emissions-free power

January 2022
Joining forces to finance renewables: the investment platform model Joining forces to finance renewables: the investment platform model

About 75% of the EU building stock is not energy efficient. Four pilot regions are testing new solutions to leverage more citizen funding and spread the culture of energy transition

January 2022
From 100% renewable energy to greenwashing: 50 shades of green From 100% renewable energy to greenwashing: 50 shades of green

The growing demand for renewables expands the offers on the electricity market. But not all solutions have the same ecological impact and this may mislead energy-conscious consumers. How to choose? And how green are green tariffs?

January 2022
Sharing power to foster renewables: the cooperatives model Sharing power to foster renewables: the cooperatives model

In the EU there are about 3,400 renewable energy cooperatives owned by citizens. These socially innovative players of the market have overturned the top-down approach of utility companies to spread the culture of energy transition

July 2021
Doubling lithium battery energy density – A chat with Nobel prize winner M. Stanley Whittingham Doubling lithium battery energy density – A chat with Nobel prize winner M. Stanley Whittingham

In 2019 M. Stanley Whittingham won a Nobel Prize for discovering lithium intercalation into electrodes. Now, he forecasts how battery architectures will exploit this phenomenon better, and how the industry can improve recycling and sustainability

June 2021
Evora University Courtyard The cultural heritage challenges a sustainable future

Several heritage organisations reacted to the fact that protected sites don’t play an important role in the EU Green Deal’s strategy against climate change, even though historic buildings represent a significant share of the stock in Europe

April 2021
Peer-to-peer platforms – Shaping a democratic energy model to boost renewables Peer-to-peer platforms – Shaping a democratic energy model to boost renewables

Prosumers are people who both produce and consume renewable energy. New peer-to-peer platforms allow them to share, sell or donate their power surplus to other citizens. This system is becoming crucial for residents of protected historical areas who can’t install photovoltaic panels or for low-income communities suffering energy poverty

March 2021
Women: energy empowerment Women: energy empowerment

Energy policy is obviously gender neutral. But should it be so?

March 2020
Approaching energy crowdfunding with eyes wide open Approaching energy crowdfunding with eyes wide open

Crowdfunding for renewable energy can be enticing to citizens who want to invest in and make money from a collective purpose at the same time. Expert Sissy Windisch gives her advice to beginners

January 2018
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