Energy Transition
Wind investors holding their breath after Gulf of Maine lease auction
Blackstone-backed Invenergy and Iberdrola’s Avangrid were successful in a floating turbine lease auction for the Gulf of Maine, but it could be the last conducted under the Biden administration.
The rise of stranded asset risk
As climate change starts to bite and ESG rules tighten in many markets, investors face a substantial risk that their physical assets may get left behind.
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Infranode: The Nordic energy transition is poised for growth
The Nordic region is in a great position to work towards complete decarbonisation, but the focus now must be on scaling up local infrastructure, says Infranode’s investment director and head of sustainability Johan Tiselius.
Energy Transition A-Z
The energy transition used to be a niche interest, but now there is a veritable dictionary’s worth of subsectors, a selection of which are covered here.
A is for… Artificial intelligence
AI’s rise imperils the energy transition, but it could also be part of the solution, writes Christopher Walker.
B is for… Batteries
Smaller may be better: Smart technology and more EVs coming online could limit the need for battery systems and flexibility assets.
C is for… Carbon capture and storage
Scaling up the technology is the next challenge as regulatory support boosts investor appetite.
D is for… District heating
By retrofitting district heating networks with green energy sources, decarbonisation can be greatly accelerated.
E is for… Emissions trading
The ability to offset carbon emissions from hard-to-abate sectors through either compliance or voluntary trading markets is a critical component of the energy transition.
F is for… Floating solar
The niche technology is perfectly suited to jurisdictions where space is at a premium.
G is for… Geothermal
Hope is growing that the technology could play a more prominent role in the energy transition.
H is for… Hydrogen
Geologists and governments are getting excited about naturally occurring hydrogen, but huge sums may be required to get it to scale.
I is for… Interconnectors
Interconnections are poised to enhance grid stability and reliability as the net-zero energy mix grows.
J is for… Just transition
Pushback on moving to a low-carbon economy may be a sign that governments and investors are not paying enough attention to a just transition.
K is for… Potassium
Pressures on lithium supply are prompting interest in alternative battery technologies.
L is for… LNG
Uncertain market conditions, the COP28 agreement and the US’s recent decision to halt LNG exports signal that the lifespan of some of these assets may be shorter than assumed.
M is for… Methane
The energy sector has a methane problem and needs to take urgent action.
N is for… Nuclear energy
Demonised by some and viewed as the only reliable route to decarbonisation by others, nuclear power could be bolstered by small modular reactors.
O is for… Offshore wind
Progress in developing offshore wind in Asia-Pacific has been mixed, amid an uncertain outlook for the sector.
P is for… Pumped hydro
Pumped storage hydropower has plenty of potential, particularly for countries such as the UK where flexible capacity is so important, writes Christopher Walker
Q is for… Quitting fossil fuels
Appetite for traditional oil and gas is set to slump as the energy transition takes effect
R is for… Recycling
Waste management is critical to the creation of a more sustainable planet
S is for… Smart grids
Ensuring electricity generated by renewable energy sources can get to points of consumption is crucial to making the energy transition work, but investors face many challenges
T is for… Timberland
An agreement between UK-based Drax and Molpus Woodlands Group shows how forestry’s role in the energy transition is all about byproduct
U is for… Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighted the EU’s reliance on Russia for fossil fuels, leading to a surge of funding for the energy transition. Beth Ure explores how things have changed two years into the conflict
V is for… Vehicles
The electrification of road transport requires upscaling charging infrastructure dramatically, but other forms of transport cannot be left behind in the race to net zero
W is for… Waste-to-energy
Removing waste from landfill to generate heat is a compelling proposition, but must ultimately be coupled with carbon capture technology
X is for… Power-to-X
Electrification alone won’t get us to net zero, so power-to-X has a role to play.
Y is for… Yttrium
Difficult-to-source materials are necessary to build the infrastructure that will decarbonise the world, but sustainability issues abound, writes Beth Ure.
Z is for… Zero emissions
The climate is changing faster than we originally anticipated and the window to arrest further heating is narrowing.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
OPINION
Are UK battery farms still a good fit for an infra...
Utility-scale British battery systems are fast coming online, but their infra prime time may be behind them.
