Some notes about Energy

There are three profound challenges facing the energy sector around the world.

  • First, although the great commodity super cycle has come to an end, there has been a lot of volatility and sharp rises in not only oil prices, but also coal and gas. The return to a gradual decline as decarbonisation takes effect has halted, but it is unclear whether this is temporary.
  • Second, the climate challenge is upon us. If it is to be addressed, the fossil-fuel industries will have to close down over the rest of this century, with or without carbon capture and storage (CCS). It remains to be seen whether COP26 is going to be a moment of accelerating decarbonisation, or a point where the momentum is lost for the decade to come.
  • Third, and partly spurred by the drive for low-carbon forms of energy, technical change is bringing a transformation not seen since the nineteenth century. New forms of electricity generation, storage, smart infrastructures and radical changes to energy demand are already undermining the conventional technologies. Electric cars and the challenge of new materials to the petrochemical industries are playing their parts, too, in this great period of change. A possible future for nuclear is emerging and hydrogen is gaining momentum.

These three great changes all fit together.

Energy

Energy
Energy

Energy
Europe

Energy
Climate Change

Latest Publication

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The implications of the Russia–Ukraine conflict for energy security and climate change

January 26, 2022

Energy Publication

Tensions at the Ukraine border signal a wake-up call on two key issues: energy security and climate change mitigation.

Publications

  • Video Climate Change A Roadmap to Achieving Net Zero
    October 16, 2020

    Presentation to Flame 2020 October 2020
  • Video Climate Change Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change
    September 3, 2020

    Introduction to my new book: Net Zero
  • Publication Climate Change Climate change has not gone away - COP26, net zero and the coronavirus
    April 3, 2020

    The coronavirus virus has now taken centre stage, and climate change policy developments are being postponed. There will be inevitable delays for the EU’s package and for the 6th carbon budget in the UK, and COP26 too. In the circumstances...
  • Publication Climate Change The Carbon Crunch - Revised and Updated
    June 15, 2015

    Hard hitting analysis of how and why we have failed to tackle climate change, and how we can bridge the gap between aspiration and delivery.
  • Video Climate Change Climate Change and carbon pricing
    March 10, 2015

    Presentation for The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) United Nations Secretariat
  • Video Europe Building an Energy Union
    February 12, 2015

    Presentation for Energy Infrastructures Towards the creation of a European Energy Union Conference. Commercial University Luigi Bocconi, Milan
  • Publication Europe Ukraine, Europe and Energy
    June 1, 2014

    After a short pause, the borders of east and southeast Europe are again in flux, as they have been on and off since the early Russian people established Kiev as their capital. Crimea was annexed by Catherine the Great. The British and others fought the Cr
  • Presentation Europe Europe’s Energy Future: Rejuvenation or decline?
    May 22, 2014

    Slidepack for the FLAME 2014 conference May 22nd 2014.
  • Publication Europe A Credible European Security Plan
    May 22, 2014

    The European Commission was instructed by the Council of Ministers in March 2014 to draw up an energy security plan in time for the next Council of Ministers meeting in June 2014.
  • Presentation Europe European energy and climate policy in the face of the Russian interventions in Crimea and Ukraine
    March 16, 2014

    The Russian intervention in Crimea - and its effective annexation - comes in a context in which Russian intervention in Ukraine has been a continuing feature of southeast European politics fro generation. This is Russia's back yard, and from the mid-ninet

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