Rhein on Energy and Climate

The EU is in the process of defining its energy/climate policy beyond 2020. This is timely for two reasons: European business needs to be fixed on the policy framework for their long-term investments related to energy, transport, buildings, grids etc. The EU must have advanced on its medium-term climate strategy before engaging in the negotiations… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

In 2011 the EU Commission set out a long-term energy road-map for a Europe 2050 getting along almost without fossil energies. Though it has sketched out the direction that ought to be taken to that end it has not explained what this would mean for our practical life. The present ”vision” tries to do so.… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Governance is about setting and implementing rules. It is based on reciprocal trust between governments and citizens. The more citizens share similar values and traditions the easier it is to govern. Big countries or those encompassing different cultures therefore resort to federal structures, which allow much of the rule setting to take place at regional… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

At the last meeting of the UNFCCC in Doha in December 2012 the contracting parties have pledged to finalise negotiations on an international climate compact before the end of 2015 that should enter into force by 2020. This pledge will only become reality if the international community is prepared to adopt a radically new approach… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The five-year mandate of the present European Commission President expires October 31th 2014. Contrary to the restrictive provisions concerning the President of the European Council and the members of the Court of Justice the Treaty on the European Union is silent on the possibility for Commission presidents and members to be reconfirmed. During the last… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Egypt is again in urgent need of reform. It has failed to replace the Mubarak regime by legitimate governance; and its economy, that had shown a remarkable performance during much of the first decade is out of step, with high unemployment, rising inflation, high budget deficits and depreciation of its currency. It had no choice… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The decision by BP to sell off 4.6 GW capacity of wind power plants and projects in North America puts an end to an expensive dream to combine renewable with fossil energies that has cost BP some $ 6.5 billion since 2005. Through their investment in 16 wind farms across nine US States, BP had… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Investments in the energy sector require long planning horizons. Companies need to plan investments decades ahead. To minimise inherent uncertainties they should be able to rely on a regulatory framework stretching far into the future. The EU energy policy framework with its three key targets – 20 per cent reduction of green house gas emissions,… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Belgium and other West European countries have witnessed one of the most bizarre March ever. After a spring-like beginning it turned unusually cold in the second half of the month with icy north-eastern winds making the cold feel really icy. Many People who tend to identify climate change only with rising temperatures may feel confirmed… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

2012 has seen new records in newly installed solar and wind power capacity. Globally installed capacity has now reached almost 400 GW, of which 300 GW wind and 100 GW solar PV. In the last 10 years solar PV has expanded more rapidly than wind power, essentially due to a steep decline of module prices… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein