Category Archives: Landing-Page

Opposing views on Water Deregulation – an international perspective

Those in favour of privatisation tend to see water as an economic proposition and are concerned with the failures in many countries to provide and develop basic services. They look at the economic realities of paying for it and have pragmatic views about how to do this. Governments are concerned with their responsibility to provide […]

Historical Government support for wind energy in Sweden – 2010

The following is a look back at the market for wind energy in 2010 and describes the outlooks and targets set at the time. In 2003, Sweden introduced a tradable green certificate support system, which gives producers of renewable electricity (wind, small hydro, biomass based CHP) economic support for every MWh they produce. The current […]

The Russian Coal Sector 1993-2003

Over three years starting in mid-1993, the Ministry and RosUgol planned a major restructuring of the coal sector, beginning with freeing coal prices and a reduction in state subsidies. Mines were to become self-sufficient through increases in productivity as well as from higher prices for the coal that they produced. RosUgol could then sell mines […]

Energy Efficiency in the United States – a historical overview

Government investment in energy efficiency and low carbon technologies has been surpassed by investments in wind, solar and biofuels, with only 9% of investment being directed towards this sector between 2005 and 2010. Only other renewables received less funding at 6% of total investment. Federal At the federal level, the economic downturn in 2008 and […]

Maximising the environmental benefits of offshore wind

The environmental benefits of wind energy as a clean source of electricity with no emissions of greenhouse gases or local air pollution and the benefits in terms of security of supply are widely recognised, and the overwhelming majority of Europeans have a very positive attitude to wind energy. The avoidance of water consumption compared to […]

The Venezuelan Coal Sector

Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 80% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federal budget revenues and around 30% of GDP. In 2007, the government announced plans for a nationalisation programme covering oil field, telecoms, electricity and banking as part of Chavez’s pre-election promise that ‘everything that was […]