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Renewables
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
Green crowdfunding: disruption or opportunity? Green crowdfunding: disruption or opportunity?

The disruptive character of digital technologies and startups has been acknowledged by the banks themselves, but the effects of renewable energy crowdfunding on traditional banking do more than pose a threat 

January 2018
Could renewables crowdfunding assist “unplugged” Africa? Could renewables crowdfunding assist “unplugged” Africa?

Africa needs at least €21,1 billion annually to achieve universal access to modern energy, according to dr. Richard Munang, coordinator of the United Nations Environment (UNEP) Africa Regional Climate Change Programme. Crowdfunding might have been successful in financing a myriad of social objectives globally, but in light of such gigantic amounts, which is the potential of alternative finance to address the issue?

January 2018
EU Clean energy package: more chance for “energy citizens”? EU Clean energy package: more chance for “energy citizens”?

The European Commission stresses the importance of a major “energy democracy” to boost renewables. A process that could also pave the way for alternative finance such as crowdfunding

December 2017
Social impact of green crowdfunding Social impact of green crowdfunding

Researchers have measured the effectiveness of crowdfunding for renewable energy projects in terms of human and environmental wellbeing

November 2017
Overcoming borders to crowdfund green energy Overcoming borders to crowdfund green energy

A French solar park, used by local farmers, has been successfully co-financed by investors from France and the Netherlands, thanks to an innovative solution tested by two renewable crowdfunding platforms. They managed to overcome regulatory barriers between EU countries

September 2017
‘Fintech’ helps power the green energy revolution ‘Fintech’ helps power the green energy revolution

From “cryptocurrencies” to crowdfunding, innovative financial technology offers new ways for citizens to get involved in green energy projects, and to reap the benefits of the clean power produced

July 2017
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Renewables
Green dream or social nightmare? Cobalt at the crossroads of electric mobilityGreen 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 eraToo 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 actionMining 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 ChallengeShielding 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 refiningTaking 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 modelJoining 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 greenFrom 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 modelSharing 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 WhittinghamDoubling 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