European energy policy is facing major challenges. In order to tackle the climate crisis, a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is essential. At the same time, security of supply and affordable energy for a competitive economy must be ensured.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation presents a new publication entitled "Greening the Heartlands of Coal in Europe – Insights from a Czech-German-Polish Dialogue on Energy Issues". This study is the product of a trilateral expert group which met regularly during 2013 at the invitation of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Ecologic Institute to discuss the influence of the German energy transformation on Germany’s neighbours – Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation commissioned a working group of experts from politics, industry, applied science and civil society considering the challenges of European energy security, economic competitiveness and sustainability and the need to convince governments, businesses and European citizens of the practical feasibilty of a common European vision.
Plans to increase the penetration of renewable electrical generation into the United States face a number of challenges. The country needs a super-grid which overlays the existing high voltage transmission system, connecting the country from coast to coast and allowing thousands of MW to be transferred over hundreds of miles. A single authority, in this case federal, needs to assert overall control of transmission line siting in the United States.