Rick Anderson’s Post

Recently, Britain became the first #G7 country to end its use of #coal for #electricity. Our sector analysts in Systemiq's Paris office consider whether France could be next... The move comes a few months after the last G7 meeting, at which energy ministers agreed to close coal-fired power plants by 2035 at the latest. During that meeting, France argued for a more ambitious exit from coal by 2030; however, two coal power plants remain in operation in France, in Saint-Avold and Cordemais. As shown in the Energy Transitions Commission report "Fossil Fuels in Transition", published in December, coal is mainly used for electricity generation, steel and cement. In France, 57 TWh of primary consumption is divided between cast iron (62%), electricity and heat production (21%) and the manufacturing industry (12%). In contrast to the global picture (below), coal-fired electricity production is a minor part of France’s mix, which is mainly based on nuclear power. Electricity production from coal represents only about 1% of national electricity production.  https://lnkd.in/eCbQFV5y France's challenge on coal is to: - rapidly reduce coal-fired electricity generation and become the second G7 country to phase it out entirely. This will require investments in alternative sources such as renewable energy coupled with storage solutions or nuclear. Given the timeframes, the fastest low-carbon solutions will be renewables plus storage and hydroelectricity. - replace coal in the steel industry, switching to low-carbon steel production... a subject we will return to in a future post. #energytransition #carbonneutral #renewables #greensteel #COP29 #France #coal 

End to coal power brought forward to October 2024 From 1 October 2024 Great Britain will no longer use coal to generate electricity, a year earlier than planned, This is a key step in UK government’s plans to decarbonise the power sector and eliminate the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050 The move away from our reliance on energy from coal now means that within just 10 years, Great Britain will have reduced its reliance on coal for electricity from around a third to zero, helping the country build back greener The future of energy in the UK, now that coal is being phased out from power stations, will likely focus on several key trends and developments, as the country transitions to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Increased Reliance on Renewable Energy. Wind Power. Offshore and onshore wind farms will play a crucial role in the UK's energy mix. The country already has significant offshore wind capacity, and this is expected to expand further, especially with plans for more large-scale wind farms in the North Sea. Solar Energy. Although the UK doesn't have as much sunshine as other countries, solar energy is still growing, with advancements in technology making it more efficient and cost-effective. Hydropower and Tidal Energy. While smaller compared to wind and solar, there’s potential for growth in tidal and wave energy, given the UK’s extensive coastline. Nuclear Power with the phasing out of coal, nuclear power is seen as a stable and low-carbon energy source. The UK government is investing in new nuclear projects, such as Hinkley Point. #netzero #decarbonisation #sustainability #Cityandguildstechnicals

Meanwhile in France, analysts did not expect many price spikes this winter, as improved nuclear and hydropower supply should continue to cover a large share of power demand. However, a drop in wind output combined with cold weather could create “jumps” on the French spot market, as it is costly” to replace wind generation with gas, said Robert Jackson-Stroud, European power analyst at ICIS." “When French residual demand goes above 55 GW and other European countries are also tight, there is potential for [coal-fired] generation in France,” Martinelli said, adding that he expected coal-fired output to average 150 MW in Q1 2025. Jackson-Stroud saw it averaging 250 MW over the winter.

Will be interesting to watch China’s coal percentage plummet over the next few years.

UK just closed it's last coal-fired power plant - this UK the first of the G7 nations to transition entirely away from coal-powered electricity. The Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, the last coal-fired power station in the UK, officially closes, marking the end of a nearly 150-year history of British coal power. The plan to decommission this station came after a government announcement in 2015 to shut down all UK coal-fired power stations by 2025 to reduce carbon emissions. The station is set to be dismantled by the end of the decade, with plans to build a 'carbon-free technology and energy hub' in its place. Coal has played a crucial role in British economic history since the world's first coal-fired power station was built in central London in 1882. The Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, operational since 1967, has been a prominent feature in the East Midlands landscape for 60 years. The closure of the plant impacts the lives of residents and employees, marking the end of an era for the coal industry in the region. And, efforts are being made to support employees in finding new job opportunities and the new development is projected to create thousands of jobs. The UK has seen a significant decline in coal usage over the years, with a shift towards natural gas, wind power, and nuclear power for electricity generation. Investment in renewable energy sources has contributed to Britain experiencing its first coal-free week since May 2, highlighting progress towards cleaner energy production. UK is not alone in this transition, various countries, including Italy, France, Canada, and Germany, have set timelines to phase out their coal-fired power stations, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Question 4: All parties agree we need more homemade energy.. but which industries are supported by which party? 💚 Greens: £40bn a year on the green economy, including wind, solar and energy storage. Would cancel new gas and oil licences, end fossil fuel subsidies and phase out nuclear. ❤️ Labour: £8.3bn to setup GB Energy - a publicly owned, green energy company. Plus £1bn for carbon capture, £0.5bn for green hydrogen. Double onshore wind, treble solar, and quadruple offshore wind to make electricity net zero - all by 2030. No new gas and oil licences. 🧡 LibDems: Targeting 90% green electricity by 2030. Ban fracking and coal. Remove planning restrictions for onshore wind and solar. End fossil fuel subsidies. Invest in green hydrogen and batteries. 💙 Conservatives: Would retain gas and oil licences. Invest in new gas power stations. Treble offshore wind. Invest in carbon capture and nuclear. 🖤 Reform: Fast-track North Sea oil and gas licences. Invest in shale gas, nuclear, lithium mining and [to use their wording:] clean coal mining. #manifestos #energysecurity #politicalpromises #northsea #gbenergy

The transition of the EU electricity sector maintained momentum in 2024, despite challenging political and economic conditions. Solar power grew strongly and overtook coal power for the first time. Another year of coal and gas decline - the fifth year in a row for gas - cut EU power sector emissions to below half their 2007 peak and further reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels. Significant progress has been made over the last EU political cycle, but delivery needs to be accelerated. The European Green Deal has delivered a deep and rapid transformation of the EU power sector. Driven by expanding wind and solar power, renewables have risen from a share of 34% in 2019 to 47% in 2024, as the fossil share declined from 39% to a historic low of 29%. Solar remained the EU's fastest growing power source in 2024, rising above coal for the first time. Wind power remained the EU's second largest power source, above gas and below nuclear.

The changes are integrating nuclear energy and all colors of low-carbon hydrogen into the EU’s energy transition. At the same time, they are strengthening the role of fossil gas. In practice, green or renewable hydrogen and pink hydrogen, which is obtained using electricity from nuclear plants, are still far from profitable. Even ailing coal plants got a lifeline, despite the nominal renewables rallying call. Two-way contracts for difference (CfDs) are supposed to provide price stability on the side of major energy producers and buyers. The measures include incentives for wind and solar power, run-of-river hydropower plants, geothermal and nuclear energy. Consumer rights are the equivalent for small businesses and households, especially the ones facing energy poverty. Vulnerable customers will be protected from having their electricity cut off Both worlds on the consumer side are getting easier access to long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and contracts with retail power suppliers. Alternatively, they can choose dynamic tariffs, which follow market prices. Vulnerable customers will be protected from having their electricity cut off, including during disputes between suppliers and customers. https://lnkd.in/dB5pwwe8

Uniper Calls for Urgent Gas Tenders in Germany: Reflections following Gastech 2024 Hot off spending last week attending Gastech here in Houston, this article from GlobalData Plc resonates with the focus of discussions: https://lnkd.in/di6PUfQ9 Germany's energy needs appear to be critical. Uniper is urging for immediate action on natural gas tenders to replace coal plants and meet the ambitious 2030 coal phase-out target. With nuclear power now offline and coal reactivations in recent winters, the need for a stable energy source is clear. Gas seems to be the bridge to a renewable future. Thoughts: 1. How will this impact global gas markets? 2. What lessons can other countries draw from Germany's strategy? 3. Is the 2030-2035 timeline for hydrogen conversion realistic? What are your views on meeting our secure, reliable, affordable energy needs? #EnergyNeeds #Gastech2024 #CleanEnergy #NaturalGas #Hydrogen #cSolutions

Climate Hysteria is based on rising CO2 but CO2 is only a minuscule 0.04% of the atmosphere. Humans contribute only 3% of that 0.04%. #Catastrophizing #fossilfuture #junkscience #ClimateScam