All articles by Chris Lo
Chris Lo
Covid-19 and the oil crash: a new dawn for clean energy investment?
The global outbreak of Covid-19 and the accompanying oil price crash haves raised questions about the future of clean energy investment. Are prospects better or worse than they were before, and what does the future look like?
Debate: were 2019 carbon successes a one-off or a sign of things to come?
2019 could turn out to be a watershed moment for emissions reduction, with global coal-fired electricity generation falling by 3% compared to 2018, and carbon dioxide emissions by 2%, the most dramatic decreases falls since 1990. However, environmental thinktank Ember, in its ‘Global Electricity Review 2020’ report, ‘Global Electricity Review 2020’, concludes that many of these changes were the result of one-off environmental and economic factors, cooling excitement that the world could see meaningful environmental change in the long-term. JP Casey and Chris Lo investigate the findings.
Breaking cover: is coal becoming uninsurable?
A growing list of insurers have become reluctant to cover new coal-fired energy projects due to the risks presented by climate change. Chris Lo discusses the campaign to persuade insurers to walk away from their relationship with coal Peter Bosshard, campaign co-ordinator at environmental group Unfriend Coal.
Energiewende: assessing Angela Merkel’s clean energy legacy
As German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s tenure draws to a close, her government’s massive energy transition programme, the ‘Energiewende’, is showing signs of strain. What will be the enduring legacy of a bold national clean energy initiative that has disappointed in recent years?
Could the Regulated Asset Base model unlock UK nuclear?
The UK government is considering the Regulated Asset Base model for financing new nuclear projects. With the model allowing for revenues to be released during construction, could this model – already proven in other large infrastructure projects – break the impasse that has kept UK nuclear on the back foot in recent years? Chris Lo finds out.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get industry leading news, data and analysis delivered to your inbox
Nuclear renationalisation: the debate
As EDF and the French Government consider the possibility of renationalising the firm’s nuclear business to shelter its capital-intensive operations from the pressures of the market, what would be the benefits and drawbacks of renationalising nuclear power in France or elsewhere? Our editors put forward the case for and against.
Algal biofuel: the long road to commercial viability
The green technology sector has fallen out of love with algae as a feedstock for biofuel production, but there is hope yet for algae-derived fuel in the long-term. What are the recent advances that are refining the production processes that could see algal biofuel compete with petroleum in the decades to come?
Functional fashion: mini solar cells could transform wearable energy
Nottingham Trent University has developed a way to embed miniaturised solar cells into yarn that can then be knitted and woven into textiles. Measuring the size of a flea, the tiny solar cells have been proven to charge a mobile phone and a Fitbit. Are solar-powered clothes ready to hit the mainstream?
Is Russia finally ready to embrace renewable energy?
Despite the dominance of fossil fuels in Russia’s energy mix, the country has recently been pushing harder for greater renewable energy investment. How has the country laid the foundations for a flourishing clean power sector, and is it moving fast enough?
Australia’s energy future in the balance: a deeper look at the NEG
Australia’s much-discussed National Energy Guarantee is in disarray after the ousting of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a total lack of political consensus on making the country’s energy network cleaner, cheaper and more reliable for users. Is the political establishment in Canberra capable of finding common ground on some of the most important energy questions of the day?