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On Energydesk
Catching the hidden spills: Crowdsourcing oil leaks
Oceans could in future be protected using crowd sourcing technology which draws data from satellites and drones to spot spills and other pollution - writes Kyla Mandel.
If you only read three stories
1) UK: Coalition fight over green energy as bills row continues
Labour's pledge to freeze energy bills has re-opened the energy debate within the coalition - reports the FT. The paper says the conservatives are looking to cut the £1.3bn Eco scheme designed to help insulate homes.
The Telegaph suggests that money from taxes on fracking could be used to fund green investments - instead of putting the costs onto bills.
The row comes as The Telegraph reports on a Taxpayer Alliance calculation suggesting that consumers will pay more than £400 in green subsidies by 2020 (in total, not per year)
"The money will go solely to paying for otherwise uneconomic offshore wind turbines, onshore wind farms, biomass plants, landfill gas sites and hydro power plants" the paper says.
Industry groups are also complaining, saying the government's new carbon tax is too expensive. They had been due to be exempted from the levy, but the exemption has been delayed pending EU approval.
2) Merkel looks at deal with German Greens as Europe looks to water down EU subsidies
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party allies said a partnership with the environmental Greens is realistic, raising pressure on the Social Democrats as SPD leaders showed signs of compromise on proposed tax increases.
The news comes as European utility shares rose on suggestions from the EU competition commissioner that the EU would look to weaken incentives for renewable energy.
The “Changes would decelerate the expansion of renewables and drive the wholesale price of power. The big utilities would benefit from that," an analyst told Bloomberg.
3) Beijing (the city of) to phase out coal by 2014
The Chinese capital of Beijing is looking to phase out all its coal-fired power generation capacity by the end of next year, the official Xinhua news agency reported Saturday. The move is part of a widespread cut down in coal use in the world's largest economy.
UK
Hinkley deal hinges on profit (and loss) sharing
Emily Gosden reports that ministers are considering bearing some of the construction risk for the £14bn project, in return for a lower subsidy level and a share of the spoils if a refinancing leaves EDF enjoying bumper profits.
International
Spain to tax solar power
"If I produce my own energy, but am connected to the grid, having the backup in case my production fails, I have to contribute to the cost of the entire system," says Energy Secretary Alberto Nadal.
Solar competing for Indian power
The FT reports on the rise of solar in India. “The good thing for India is that at the moment you can buy solar panels and generate power at close to grid parity. We are half the price of diesel.”says Alan Rosling, founder of Kiran Energy, an independent solar power producer.
Fracking produces enough waste to flood DC
The Guardian reports on a study which suggests Fracking in America generated 280bn US gallons of (partly) toxic waste water last year – enough to flood all of Washington DC beneath a 22ft deep toxic lagoon. The report from campaign group Environment America suggested "Even the limited data that are currently available, however, paint an increasingly clear picture of the damage that fracking has done to our environment and health."
Fracking firms may be forced to monitor methane
Or they may not, said the European Commissioner Jos Delbeke. “We must know what the methane emissions are going to be," he said.“Either the companies are going to put it on the table or a regulation is going to come at the European level."
A survey by the commission found most people in the UK and Europe do not want to see fracking for shale gas on the continent. It forms part of a wider consultation on shale gas released at the end of last week.
Peter Voser regrets unconventional gas investments
Whilst we're on the topic of fracking Shell's Peter Voser says he regrets the firm's bet on US shale “Unconventionals did not exactly play out as planned,” Mr Voser said.
