Andreas Walstad

German wind

Oil majors’ uncapped bids in German wind auction spark concern

BP and TotalEnergies were the only successful bidders in a recent offshore German wind auction after offering billions of euros in ‘top up’ payments to the government. This has raised concerns that oil and gas majors will outbid utilities in forthcoming auctions with end-users ultimately footing the bill.

gas heaters in Germany

Loophole may slow phaseout of gas heaters in Germany

Loopholes for ‘hydrogen-ready’ systems means the phase-out of gas heaters in Germany could take longer than many had hoped.

Green Alliance

EU-Norway Green Alliance: hype or hope?

Shortly after signing a Green Alliance agreement with the EU, Norway offered more blocks in the Arctic for oil and gas exploration. Environmental campaigners are now hoping the EU will prevent an expansion of drilling areas, particularly in the Barents Sea.

groningen gas

Final decision looms for troubled Groningen gas field

The Dutch government will in June decide whether the Groningen gas field will be closed down for good this October. The field has been subject to plenty of controversy in recent years, and the results of an in-depth inquiry into the earthquakes and related matters were presented last week.

nord stream

Nord Stream leaks: wake-up call for tougher methane action?

The Nord Stream explosions probably represent the largest single methane leak ever recorded. Will the events act as a wake-up call for policy makers and the public to shore up tougher regulations on methane emissions?

eu energy prices

Energy prices trigger EU inflation, poor worst hit

The spike in energy prices is driving up inflation and the cost of living across the EU, hitting lower-income households the hardest.

France, Spain gas link in limbo, poses stranded asset risk

A new gas pipeline between France and Spain has been talked about for decades but even the current gas crisis may not result in the project being built.

Global fossil fuel database launches in bid to boost transparency

London-based think tank Carbon Tracker and San Francisco-based NGO Global Energy Monitor have jointly launched a Global Registry of Fossil Fuels which they say is the first public database to account for fossil fuel production and reserves worldwide.

energy charter treaty

Big Oil’s green PR, investment plans at odds: study

Analysis carried out by independent thinktank InfluenceMap has found that there is a mismatch between major oil companies’ communication strategies to portray themselves as green and the companies’ plans for capital investment, which are still geared towards fossil fuel projects.