Rhein on Energy and Climate

The European Association of Electricity Producers (Eurelectric) is prepared to phase out its C02 emitting power plants in the course of the coming 40 years so as to become carbon-free by 2050. In return, it expects a “generous” treatment by the EU on regulatory procedures and support for alternative energies. A priori this looks as… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

A team of scientists at MIT may have achieved a breakthrough in enabling lithium-ion batteries to become the centre-piece of the future generation of electric engines in light vehicles. They found out that through appropriate design changes, it would become possible to charge and discharge these batteries 100 times faster than at present and to… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Humanity is becoming gradually aware that climate change is taking its toll on nature and hurting men, animals and plants alike, everywhere on earth. Scientists tell us that we have to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions to 50 percent of 1990 levels (!) before 2050 if we want to avoid a dangerous rise of… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

PM Gordon Brown has decided to add climate change to the already overcharged agenda of the G 20 summit meeting in London April 2nd. That is a wise and courageous decision considering the poor state of preparation of the International Climate Conference to be held in December in Copenhagen. Indeed, the G 20 countries account… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The biggest European automobile manufacturer has announced its intention to introduce a new extra high fuel-efficiency model as of this autumn. Its consumption would be 3.3 litre/100 km, or the equivalent of 87 grammes C02 emissions per km. This news has to be on the background of aconfirms swing in the automobile market away from… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

British prime ministers are among the few dignitaries in the world privileged to address the US Congress, when they visit Washington. Gordon Brown did so two days ago. He delivered a vibrant plea to the US representatives and senators for more global cooperation. National and even continental cooperation are no longer sufficient to solve our… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The international community is busy negotiating new C02 reduction targets for 2013-2020. There is agreement that these ought to be much tougher than those for 1990-2010. For the developed countries the ambition is for a 25-40 cut over 1990. That is a tall order! The risk is therefore high that governments will take commitments without… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

A welcome nuclear alliance

France and Italy have signed an agreement on closer cooperation in the nuclear field. It will allow Italy to benefit from long French experience and accelerate its return to nuclear power generation after Chernobyl in 1986. But it will take until 2020, before any of the new reactors planned to be built jointly with EDF… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

After having been cut off twice in the last three years from Russian gas supplies, the EU is getting finally serious with improving its short-term gas supply security. Member states have started discussing to put in place a system of short-term storage, similar to the emergency oil storage installed after the first oil crisis in… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Throughout the last 15 years, Alan Greenspan, the once illustrious FED Chairman, had indulged in an irresponsible deregulation of the American banking system, ignoring occasional warnings from subaltern officials. He had full trust in the self-regulating capacity of Wall Street and could fully rely on the backing of US Presidents, in particular G.W. Bush. Today,… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein