Waxman Markey may not be perfect and it has yet to pass the Senate, but its passage through the House does move the US closer to a more robust climate change policy. Meanwhile, what of European policy? Europe has always seen itself in the vanguard of introducing renewable energy. However, analysis we have recently completed shows how a lack of a Europe wide framework for renewables is holding the EU back. lees verder…

Interest in smart grids has intensified in recent days. In addition to the $4.5bn of public money the US Government has put behind the infrastructure, the passing of the Waxman Markey bill in the House promises more support, which has at least satisfied some of the demands of the GridWise Alliance.  But encouraging smart grid investment remains a challenge.  This week we have published a report with the World Economic Forum exploring how to accelerate smart grid investments. lees verder…

The CCS industry received a boost recently when the UK Government signalled it would support up to four CCS pilot projects , instead of one. And it intends to prevent the building of new coal fired power plants unless they incorporate CCS. lees verder…

A consensus has been emerging in some quarters that once economic recovery resumes, we can expect a hike in oil prices, albeit less extreme than the highs of recent years. A decline in output from today’s largest fields, insufficient capital investment while the oil price languishes and a resumption of spiralling oil demand in emerging markets could place major constraints on the industry. lees verder…

Canada is an appropriate location for the energy and utility industries to consider their response to climate change. Tasked under Kyoto to cut emissions by 6% of 1990 levels, Canada has in fact seen emissions rise by a worrying 27%, reflecting the difficulty many countries have faced meeting greenhouse gas targets in recent years.

But as we held our annual gathering of industry leaders at Accenture’s International Utilities and Energy Conference (IUEC) in Vancouver last week, the mood was positive on various climate change fronts.  80 of the world’s leading utilities and energy executives joined us, itself an indication of the seriousness with which the sector is responding. lees verder…

Nuclear power is clearly enjoying a renaissance. But more significantly, people’s views about nuclear appears to be changing. Governments in Italy, Sweden and elsewhere have changed their minds in favour of nuclear and others are considering their next moves.  And as has been widely reported, some of the most prominent opponents of nuclear energy have changed their minds.

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Is there is business case for smart grids? That was one of the first questions asked by journalists we met in London this week when we unveiled our strategy for smart grids.  Or rather, our strategy for smart cities. lees verder…

Watching Davos from a distance last week, one of the greatest concerns snowballing with pace seemed to be the return of protectionism amid the talk of a collapse in globalisation. Perhaps the icy conditions induce the worst of fears. lees verder…

To follow up on my last posting, we had a fascinating discussion with media this week on the subject of smart grids.  Xcel Energy joined us to give a vision of the future and what smart technologies can do. lees verder…

I’ve been in New York this week talking to media and analysts about smart grids. Smart Grid TV Report on NY1 But it was hard not to keep an eye on Washington where everyone’s waiting for Obama’s fiscal stimulus.  Fortunately, it looks as if smart grids and the fiscal plan could well be related. In fact, the President alluded to smart grids in his inauguration speech.

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