Germany: Nuclear power plants to close by 2022

Germany's coalition government has announced a reversal of policy that will see all the country's nuclear power plants phased out by 2022.

The decision makes Germany the biggest industrial power to announce plans to give up nuclear energy.

Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen made the announcement following late-night talks.

Merging their way ahead

“There is combination between more traditional corporate investors achieving a geographical balance and across the energy value chain. For national companies, it’s security,”

The energy sector is experiencing a healthy trend in increasing merger and acquisition (M&A) activity worldwide. The value of deals taking place in the oil and gas sector is back up to pre recession levels.

Energy security and Libya revolution

Political instability in Libya has been worsening after the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 was applied. The members of the UN Security Council and NATO have been divided into diverging opinion in interpreting the resolution.

In principle, this will be a bad precedent to the other destabilizing Middle East countries. Despite political unrest, both economic and social unrest in Libya drive an unexpected impact, especially in the surge of the oil prices.

Intra-regional cooperation crucial for energy security

Tehran - Major fossil fuel exporting and importing Asia-Pacific nations, meeting at a United Nations forum, agreed on the need for enhanced cooperation to promote energy self-reliance in the region.

High food and oil prices threaten economic recovery and prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) said here on Wednesday.

Shale-gas drilling unlikely to affect energy security, say MPs

Shale-gas drilling could be given the go-ahead in the UK but is unlikely to have a major impact on energy security or domestic prices.

A report by the Energy Select Committee of MPs found no evidence that the hydraulic fracturing process involved in shale-gas extraction — known as ‘fracking’ — poses a direct risk to underground water aquifers, provided the drilling well is constructed properly.

Electricity pylons to get makeover

For most people, they are one of the least-loved features of our countryside. But now electricity pylons, which have barely changed since the 1920s, could be getting a makeover through a competition to rethink their design.

It comes as ministers and industry say new pylons and infrastructure will be needed as the UK hooks up the equivalent of 20 new power stations over the next decade, including renewable sources such as wind, to meet electricity demand.

The overblown myth of green energy security

Turmoil across the Middle East and Northern Africa has refocused attention on the impact that political tensions or interference can have on the price and availability of energy imports. Against consumer fears of gas-price hikes, energy security ranks high on many Western governments' policy agendas.

Of course, this is hardly a new phenomenon. Europe started trying to build up its energy reserves back in the 1960's . Likewise, every American president since Richard Nixon in the early 1970's has tried, and failed, to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

New direction for U.S. energy security

Right now, we are facing an energy crisis in this country. American taxpayers, being held hostage by foreign dictators, are paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline and sending $2 billion overseas for foreign oil every day. America needs a new direction for energy security, and it's time for natural gas to lead the way.

Our reliance on foreign oil is not just an economic problem, it is a major national security issue. The good news is the answer to both problems is literally right under our feet: American-made natural gas is the bridge fuel to energy security we have been looking for all along.

Energy Security: Green Tech Chatter

With the recent death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of American forces inside Pakistan, many new questions open up about U.S. policies on different issues. One question in particular is how this event will affect energy security within the country.

For example, an interesting piece buzzing around the news of late is this National Journal’s article, which addresses talk of how al-Qaeda’s retaliation for bin Laden’s death might strike a spike in oil prices.

DECC prepares Ofgem for clearer low carbon role

The government has provided the clearest signal yet that energy regulator Ofgem will play a greater role in overseeing and enforcing low carbon policies over the next decade, following the publication of a major review into the watchdog's role.

The conclusions of the review, published today, recommend that the coalition introduce new legislation that sets high-level strategic goals that the regulator is under a statutory requirement to help meet

Energy challenges and security solutions

It’s good news for the UK’s renewable energy sector this week as the government prepares to prove its green credentials with an ambitious new set of emissions targets.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne is this week expected to announce targets to reduce CO2 output by around 50 per cent on 1990 levels by 2025.

A golden opportunity for Britain to lead the world in energy production

The government's bold commitment to new sources of power is welcome. But we must not botch it this time.

This week, our leaders are expected to commit Britain to a civic overhaul that no other nation has had the courage – or recklessness, depending on your viewpoint – to contemplate. On Tuesday, the cabinet is set to approve measures that will lead to a revolution in power generation, transport, house construction, planning, manufacturing and farming in Britain over the next 20 years. The aim is to mitigate the worst ravages of global warming.

Securing global economic security

Inflation is a significant factor of global economic security and has the innate capacity to upend carefully laid plans

What Price Security?

Recent headlines and the ascension of a retired military man to head a renewable energy organization were merely coincidence. But they put some of the justification of clean energy into perspective nonetheless. Likewise, energy security, the cost of renewables and new ways to tap underutilized resources were topics on readers’ minds of late.

Road to energy security needs fixing

It might seem unlikely, but just one highway in this country connects nearly 20 percent of our domestic energy to the rest of our nation.

In the tiny area of Port Fourchon on the Gulf Coast lies a fragile road called La. 1.

That lone stretch of pavement is critical to our nation’s energy security.

Washington vs. Energy Security

When President Obama introduced his energy plan in March, he pointed out that the U.S. keeps going "from shock to trance on the issue of energy security, rushing to propose action when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall again."

It's true that since the Nixon administration U.S. leaders have all made the same commitment to cutting our reliance on foreign oil, finding reliable sources of clean energy, and keeping energy prices low. Yet Americans keep hearing only short-term solutions and narrowly focused rules and regulations. The U.S. still imports more than half its oil, gasoline prices are at historic highs, and consumers are paying the price.

Politics threatens energy security

When one hand giveth and the other taketh away, it’s never a good thing. But how will the giving and taking going on today affect our chances for a clean and stable energy future?

You’d be right to cheer the fact that efficiency- and sustainability-focused efforts continue on an accelerating path in cities from Austin to Vancouver, Brighton to Yokohama. That the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says we could generate nearly 80 per cent of the energy we need from renewable sources by 2050. That interest and investment in smart-grid improvements has grown so rapidly in the past few years. Chalk up some seriously encouraging achievements in the “Give” column.

Indonesia turns Asean focus to food and energy security

JAKARTA - INDONESIA on Saturday called on fellow South-east Asian states to 'give serious attention' to soaring food and energy prices, warning inflation could drive more people into poverty.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the start of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit that the regional bloc must take steps to ease the surge in consumer prices.

North Sea bosses: George Osborne tax will push up household bills

Fifteen chief executives of gas companies have written to Prime Minister David Cameron warning that his new £10bn tax on North Sea production will lead to job losses and bigger gas bills for British households.

The bosses of major companies, including Centrica, Shell, BHP Billiton and E.ON UK, also told the Government that the tax will increase reliance on imports and damage Britain's energy security. In the Budget, Chancellor George Osborne raised the levy on oil and gas output by 12 percentage points to between 62pc and 80pc of profits depending on the size of the field.

North Sea oil tax: what the bosses are warning

The new £10bn tax on North Sea oil and gas has angered the industry and knocked investor confidence in the sector. Here is the reaction of leading executives to the increased duty.

Actually, we can drill our way to energy security

In the debate over rising gas prices, Washington is creating a massive distraction: whether Congress should eliminate tax “subsidies” for oil and gas companies. Of course oil and gas companies don’t receive checks, grants, or direct payments from the federal Treasury, so the debate is a red herring. What’s really needed is price relief for consumers at the pump. The best way to do that is to produce more affordable energy here at home.

American Energy Act of 2011 Will Enhance U.S. Energy Security, Says Pro-Market Research Group

(CNSNews.com) – To better ensure America’s energy security and help stimulate long-term job and economic growth, the Institute for Energy Research (IER) has released a detailed plan that would limit, it says, “overly burdensome regulations and legislation that prevent Americans from producing homegrown energy,” and “help create millions of jobs” by expanding development of “our nation’s vast energy resources.”

Energy resources are in our backyard

As a twice wounded veteran, I feel strongly about our nation’s energy security. Our government continues to apply an astronomical amount of resources to maintain and secure access to Middle East fuel sources. These countries are unstable and our dependence on them puts our national security and our energy future in jeopardy. The U.S. cannot continue down this path. With rising gas prices and the demand for energy growing every day, we must maximize opportunities to establish energy corridors with friendly neighbors in our own hemisphere.