Latest news with #BeyondFossilFuels
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ireland Shuts Last Coal Plant as Europe's Phaseout Accelerates
Ireland became the latest European country to put an end to coal-fired power generation, with Spain and Italy set to follow soon. The last coal plant in the country has officially closed in County Clare, after more than 40 years in operation, state utility ESB said in a statement. Also this year, Italy will shut two major stations, and Spain's remaining ones will be decommissioned or transformed into gas plants, according to nonprofit Beyond Fossil Fuels.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report reveals outdated grid planning delays Europe's renewable shift
Europe's electricity infrastructure is failing to evolve in line with the renewable energy shift, as detailed in a report by Beyond Fossil Fuels, E3G, Ember, and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The findings indicate that outdated planning and mandates are hindering the essential upgrades and expansions of the continent's electrical networks. This stagnation is obstructing the integration of renewable and flexible energy projects, which are vital for achieving cleaner and more affordable energy. As the EU progresses towards eliminating Russian fossil fuels, the report emphasises the critical role of grids in enabling the transition to domestic renewable sources. Grids are essential for promoting the decarbonisation of Europe's economy through economical power solutions. An examination of 32 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) across 28 nations shows that many continue to depend on outdated projections based on previous governmental objectives. These projections fail to reflect the rapid expansion of renewable energy, serving as a hindrance to developing a flexible grid that can accommodate increasing levels of sustainable energy. The recent power failure in the Iberian Peninsula underscored the pressing need for grid enhancements and effective governance to ensure energy resilience. The report cautions that without revised grid planning regulations, Europe may inadvertently become reliant on fossil gas due to insufficient preparation for a renewable-centric power system. Upgrading the grid is crucial for facilitating the electrified economy of the future. The report's authors call for enhanced governance and oversight from governmental bodies and regulators to ensure that grid planning and investments meet contemporary requirements. The report reveals that 1,700GW of renewable energy initiatives across 16 countries are currently delayed in grid connection processes. Furthermore, it discovered that €7.2bn worth of renewable electricity was curtailed in just seven nations in 2024. Only five TSOs are contemplating scenarios for a power system that substitutes coal and fossil gas with renewables by 2035. Many TSOs and energy regulators have yet to recognise the climate emergency as part of their obligations. According to the report, merely 14 of the 23 TSOs examined hold investment-grade ratings from leading credit rating agencies, which could improve their ability to secure funding. Meanwhile, 11 TSOs have issued green bonds that have been reviewed by third parties. "Report reveals outdated grid planning delays Europe's renewable shift" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
How Europe's outdated energy grid is holding up its fossil fuel exit
Europe's electricity grid is failing to keep pace with the renewable energy transition, according to a new report. With the EU announcing last week its roadmap to phase out remaining Russian fossil fuels by 2027, electricity grids will be essential to replacing them with homegrown green energy. The report from Beyond Fossil Fuels, E3G, Ember and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis looked at 32 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) across 28 countries. They found that many are using out-of-date scenarios based on old government targets and assumptions about the electricity market. This outdated grid planning and weak governance are stalling Europe's transition to renewable energy. 'Governments urgently need to dislodge these fatbergs from the planning system so that grid operators can get renewable projects hooked up,' says Juliet Phillips, energy campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels. Phillips adds that giving TSOs and their regulators a climate mandate could ensure they make the long-term investments and decisions to 'future-proof' our energy systems. 'It's the only way to break free from fossil fuel imports, and cut bills and emissions,' she says. Over 1,700 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across 16 countries were stuck in the queue to be connected to the electricity grid - more than three times the capacity the EU needs to reach energy and climate targets for 2030. The UK had the highest amount of renewable energy stuck in these connection queues at 722 GW of wind and solar power. It was followed by Finland with 400 GW, Italy with 348 GW and Germany with 70 GW. €7.2 billion in renewable energy was wasted across just seven countries in 2024 because it couldn't be accommodated by electricity grids. And that data is limited because of what TSOs were able to provide to the report's authors. Many don't track the curtailment of renewables or what it costs. What data there is provides insight into what is wasted in some of Europe's biggest economies. In Germany alone, as much as €3.3 billion of wind and solar power was curtailed last year. For Spain, it may have been up to €2.5 billion in 2024. In these places, clean energy was wasted while those who generated the power were still compensated, with the extra cost often falling on bill payers. The report warns that unless the planning and regulation around upgrading electricity grids is updated, Europe risks a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' where fossil gas appears necessary because grid operators never planned for a system based on renewables. Only five grid operators were planning for a fully decarbonised grid by 2035: EirGrid (Ireland), Energinet (Denmark), Fingrid (Finland), National Grid (UK) and Litgrid (Lithuania). This is despite 13 countries having clean power targets for the same timeframe. 'Europe's electricity grid is not modernising fast enough, and that must change,' says Vilislava Ivanova, research manager at E3G. Governments must send 'clear political signals' to grid operators about the need to meet climate targets to unlock a resilient fossil fuel free economy, Ivanova adds. 'Only through political leadership, independent governance, and clear incentives can we ensure grids become enablers, not barriers, of Europe's clean and competitive energy future.' Shell has been threatened with another round of legal action in the Netherlands for continuing to develop oil and gas projects around the world. In a letter sent to Shell today, NGO Milieudefensie accuses the company of breaching its legal duty of care under Dutch law by not dramatically reducing its investments in fossil fuels and not putting in place what it considers an adequate climate strategy for the coming decades. It plans to take Shell to court if these issues are not addressed. 'We as a society can no longer accept that a company like Shell determines our future without us having any say in it,' says Milieudefensie director Donald Pols. The action builds on another lawsuit that Milieudefensie - the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth - is still embroiled in with Shell over its climate targets up to 2030. Last year, Shell managed to overturn a landmark climate judgment by a Dutch court, which in 2021 had ordered it to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by the end of the decade. It had been the first such ruling against a company in the world. Milieudefensie appealed and the case is now at the Dutch Supreme Court. But although the appeal court refused to set a specific legal climate goal it did rule that Shell has a 'special responsibility' to cut its emissions as a big oil company. And it said it was 'reasonable to expect oil and gas companies to take into account the negative consequences of a further expansion of the supply of fossil fuels for the energy transition also when investing in the production of fossil fuels. Shell's planned investments in new oil and gas fields may be at odds with this.' Milieudefensie is seizing on this statement to justify its latest legal threat. It notes that, despite increasing its volume of renewables, Shell is still planning to develop hundreds of new oil and gas fields. The company has projects already under construction in North America, the Middle East and Africa and, according to a new report by Milieudefensie and Global Witness, it owns or partly owns another 700 undeveloped assets. In a report to investors in March, Shell said it planned to increase production and sales of fossil fuels until well into the 2030s. The International Energy Agency has warned against investments in any new fossil fuel extraction to enable a transition to a clean energy system, and stressed that companies should not wait for a drop in demand to reduce their supply. Pols said legal action was the only way to make this happen: 'Shell will not stop of its own accord.' Milieudefensie plans to ask the court to order Shell to stop investing in new oil and gas fields. And it wants the company to be ordered to set greenhouse gas emission targets for the years after 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise under 1.5C. Shell has been approached for comment. However the NGO faces legal roadblocks in pursuing this case. After the 2021 court ruling, Shell moved its headquarters from The Hague to the UK. And it could be difficult for Dutch courts to enforce an order for Shell's legal development activities outside the Netherlands. Roger Cox, lawyer for Milieudefensie, said he was confident Dutch courts would have jurisdiction because Shell is registered in the Netherlands and harm is being caused to Dutch society. And he said a ruling in Milieudefensie's favour could be implemented through enforcement treaties with other countries around the world. 'It doesn't matter where Shell is,' says Cox. 'The international assets of Shell - be they fossil assets, bank accounts, whatever - will give us a lot more grip on their equity.' Sjoukje van Oosterhout, head of research at Milieudefensie, says a positive ruling in this case would have big repercussions for Shell but would also give a 'very clear signal' to governments, financial institutions and insurance companies. 'The impact of this case could really be enormous.'
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Outdated electricity grid planning and weak governance stalls Europe's transition to renewables, report warns
Outdated planning and obsolete mandates are slowing the upgrade and buildout of Europe's electricity grids, delaying connection of renewable and flexibility projects, which can make energy clean and more affordable, an independent report has found. Europe's electricity grid is failing to keep pace with the renewable power transformation despite pockets of good practice, the report concludes. It was published on Tuesday by the environmental group Beyond Fossil Fuels with consultants E3G, Ember and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. 'Too many grid operators are working according to outdated national scenarios that don't acknowledge the exponential scale of growth in renewables. The result is gridlock and wasted power,' it adds. With the EU announcing its roadmap to phase out remaining Russian fossil fuels, grids will be essential not only to unlocking the home-grown renewables and electrification needed to end Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels, 'but also to advancing decarbonisation of Europe's economy with cost-effective sources of power'. READ MORE Analysis of 32 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) across 28 countries including EirGrid in Ireland, finds 'many are still using outdated scenarios rooted in old government targets and market assumptions'. [ Electricity grids designed so generators switch off when system loses synchronisation, expert explains Opens in new window ] 'These scenarios do not reflect the exponential growth in renewables ... and act as a systemic handbrake on building a flexible grid capable of absorbing increasingly high shares of renewables. The recent power outage in the Iberian Peninsula served as a reminder of the critical importance of grid upgrades and governance as the cornerstone of energy resilience,' it added. Unless grid planning rules and legal mandates of TSOs and regulators are updated, it warned that 'Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby fossil gas appears 'necessary' simply because grid operators never adequately planned for a power system based on renewables'. Blackout in Spain and Portugal: why did the lights go out? Listen | 20:55 With grid modernisation and integration essential to support the electrified economy of the future, the authors call for more robust governance and oversight from governments and regulators. The report identifies only five TSOs considering scenarios in which renewables replace nearly all coal and gas by 2035: EirGrid , Energinet (Denmark), Fingrid (Finland), National Grid (UK) and Litgrid (Lithuania). This is despite 13 countries aiming for decarbonised power sectors in the same time frame. 'Crucially, such forecasts generally correlate with stronger policy commitments in these countries, demonstrating the importance of political leadership,' it says. 'Europe's electricity grids will be the lifeline that drives economic growth and ensures energy security over the next decade. Yet, at present, many grid operators are heading into the future while looking in the rear-view mirror.' The report says 1,700 gigawatts of renewables projects across 16 countries are stuck in grid connection queues, over three times the capacity additions needed to reach EU energy and climate targets for 2030. Some €7.2 billion in renewable electricity was curtailed across just seven countries including Ireland in 2024, meaning clean energy was wasted, while power generators were still compensated, with the costs falling on electricity bill payers. Only five energy regulators have a duty to climate neutrality included in their legal responsibilities, while 11 TSOs make no reference to climate targets at all. 'To unlock a resilient, fossil-free economy, governments must send clear political signals about the need to meet climate targets, ensuring grid operators plan with the ambition and foresight the transition demands,' said E3G research manager Vilislava Ivanova.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Finland Ending Use of Coal as Last Utility-Scale Plant Shuts Down
The last operating large coal-fired power plant in Finland has shut down, with the facility's operator saying it now will use electricity, waste heat, and heat pumps—along with burning biomass—to provide power and heat to its customers. The Salmisaari plant, with a generation capacity of 175 MW of electricity along with its production of heat, has been operated by Helsinki-owned energy group Helen. Finland has transitioned to use renewable energy resources, including solar and wind, in recent years as the country's use of coal decreased after government officials in 2019 passed a law banning the use of coal after 2029. Wind power generation capacity in Finland has more than doubled in the past five years and now supplies nearly 25% of the country's energy. "We have been able to improve our competitiveness by investing in the flexibility of the energy system in line with our strategy and shifting our production to green solutions," said Helen CEO Olli Sirkka in a statement. "This way, we can operate more profitably with lower customer prices. Our success is an excellent indication that, at best, the clean transition, cost efficiency and Finland's security of supply can go hand in hand," said Sirkka. Electricity from coal-fired power will now be less than 1% of Finland's energy mix. Sirrka told the Reuters news service: "Of course, we cannot say that not a single gram of coal will be burned in Finland anymore, because there are various crisis situation solutions, but this is indeed Finland's last coal power plant that is in daily production use." Sirkka said, "In the long term, we intend to eliminate all burning," noting the utility has a goal to end all thermal generation for power and heat by 2040. The executive said the utility wants to have its carbon emissions reduced to just 5% of their 1990 level by 2030. Helen is the last major Finnish power producer to stop using coal. The Beyond Fossil Fuels environmental group has said there are two small facilities in Finland still burning some coal, along with a third plant that could be used during an energy emergency. Sirkka said that previously there was not enough clean energy available to meet Helsinki's power and heating needs. Sirkka said that during winter, heating for the capital of Helsinki consumes about 20% of the available energy. "It is perhaps necessary to admit that a clean transition does not come cheaply. It is indeed a value choice, and it is one that we have made both as a society and as Helen," Sirkka told Reuters. He said ending the use of coal will cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 50% this year compared to 2024, and will reduce Finland's total CO2 emissions by almost 2%. —Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
