Rhein on Energy and Climate

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EdP, the Portuguese power utility, has sold a 25 percent stake of its renewable energy unit, EdP Renewables, for € 1.5 billion. Demand for shares exceeded five times the offer. EdP is following the example of other European utilities, in particular EDF and RWE. It is, however, more ambitious in its effort to go renewable:… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

For the past ten years, Spain has invested heavily in wind energy. After Denmark and Germany it is the third most important generator of wind energy in Europe. In doing so, Spain has acquired precious experience in the design and installation of wind turbines as well as the development of large-scale wind parks. In 2008,… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The European Union has presently 22 official languages. The Official Journal publishes every piece of EU legislation in each of these official languages. When the 27 European heads of government or the European Parliament meet, a host of interpreters enables them to listen and speak in their national language. The Commission operates in three working… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Environment ministers from the G 8 and 10 major emerging countries met in the Kobe, Japan, on May 24-26 in view of preparing the Hokkaido G 8 Summit in July that will focus on climate policy.The outcome has been disappointing. Ministers have not even been able to agree on reducing greenhouse gases by at least… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

This is the message that nine internationally renowned climate scientists address to the world after a thorough analysis of palaeo-climate data. The C02 content in the atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm in pre-industrial times to 385 ppm today. A quarter of the C02 emitted stays in the atmosphere for several centuries, cumulating with any… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Wind power is the most successful renewable energy, leaving aside hydro power for which it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable sites in Europe and the USA. By the end of 2008 the globally installed capacity of wind power will exceed 100 GW, the equivalent of 50 nuclear power plants, if we take into… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

EU agriculture has successfully passed its “health check” which governments had asked for in December 2005 when allotting it the biggest slice of EU budget expenditures 2007-13. Never before since the start of the common agricultural policy has Europe’s agriculture been in such a good shape as today. Forgotten are three decades of milk lakes,… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

After 20 years of pause, Europe rediscovers nuclear energy. Chernobyl seems forgotten. The steeply rising prices for oil, gas and coal make nuclear energy much more attractive than during the 1990s. Above all, politicians realise that they might be unable to meet 2020 EU targets for C02 emissions without a gentle push from C02 –… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein