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Energy efficiency

Head and shoulders photo of Erich Labuda set against pinkish backdrop

14/5/2025 Comment / Erich Labuda

Unlocking Europe’s energy future – energy efficiency can’t wait

Alongside the use of renewables, the potential contribution of improving energy efficiency – an established and well-proven practice – is still under-appreciated. Particularly for Europe’s industrial sites, the scope for cutting emissions is enormous, writes Erich Labuda, Division President with ABB Motion Services.

Distributed generation

Row upon row of houses, with an industrial plant and mountains covered with trees in background

EI Member only

8/11/2023 Feature / Rolf Bienert

How to realise the potential of virtual power plants

Virtual power plants (VPPs) are networked systems of decentralised energy or storage resources, such as solar photovoltaics (PVs) and electric vehicle (EV) batteries, that are pooled together to help power the electricity grid, particularly in times of peak demand. But are they underused? asks Rolf Bienert, Managing and Technical Director at the global OpenADR Alliance.

Electricity markets

Close up view of small battery energy storage systems stacked up in cuboid formation, with control unit with dials and knobs top located in the top right of the stack

EI Member only

14/1/2026 Feature / Jo Southernwood

Beyond the meter: turning electricity purchasing into a competitive advantage

As electricity grids continue their trajectory towards greater decentralisation, a new mandate is emerging for energy managers. They must evolve from being passive, price-accepting consumers to become active market participants. This fundamental shift is not just about cost-cutting, it’s about transforming energy from a fixed operational liability into a managed, flexible and strategic asset, writes independent sustainability consultant Jo Southernwood AMEI.

Energy prices

Head and shoulders photo of Baroness Taylor of Bolton against dark grey background

18/6/2025 Comment / Baroness Taylor of Bolton

Zonal pricing should lower the cost of UK electricity by encouraging generators and consumers to come together – report

Following an inquiry into energy grid and grid connections, the UK Parliament’s House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee suggests that regional zonal pricing should enable better use of existing grid capacity and lower the cost of electricity, provided that the transition and its risks are managed well. Chair of the 12-member Select Committee is Baroness Taylor of Bolton.

Solar

14/5/2025 News

Solar power surges to a record 597 GW in 2024, pushing global capacity beyond 2 TW

The world installed nearly 600 GW of solar in 2024 and could be installing 1 TW of solar power annually by the end of the decade, according to a new report from SolarPower Europe. Meanwhile Europe and Great Britain reached record levels of solar power generation this March and April, respectively.

Wind

EI Member only

4/2/2026 Feature / Andrew Mourant

When the grid goes dark

Failure of the power system on a national scale is the stuff of nightmares for business and domestic consumers alike – a potential crisis for which there has to be a plan. The onus on re-booting – the so-called black start (BS) after a total or partial shutdown – has rested largely on coal and gas turbine stations. Now, as the UK seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels, there’s a drive to see what role renewables, notably offshore wind, can play, writes Andrew Mourant.

Solar

Head and shoulders photo of Patrick Donati, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Terrawatt

10/4/2024 Comment / Patrick Donati

Solar showdown: Italy versus Europe

Patrick Donati, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Italian independent power producer Terrawatt, offers a comparative analysis of the renewable energy landscapes in Italy and the European Union (EU), with plans to improve connectivity between the continent’s power grids.

Data centres

Rows of large, dark black mainframe computers with blue lights, lined up in darkened room

EI Member only

22/6/2026 Feature / Kristy Jooste

From energy sink to energy source: why data centres must bring their own flexibility

As AI drives a surge in electricity demand, grid operators are increasingly asking data centre developers to provide their own flexibility. Speakers at the recent Innovation Zero event argued that batteries, virtual power plants and new operating models could transform data centres from passive consumers into active participants in the electricity system. Kristy Jooste, Senior Content Officer, Energy Institute, reports.

Electricity

Two women behind desk addressing a crowd of people

25/6/2025 News

Voltage missteps triggered the Iberian power outage, says Spanish government – but little consensus exists on who is responsible

Fingers have been pointed in Spain as reports paint differing views of the causes of a cascading power failure on 28 April that plunged Spain and Portugal into darkness for hours. In a report citing miscalculations, inadequate voltage control and improper plant disconnections as key factors behind the blackout, the Spanish government blamed national grid operator Red Eléctrica de España (REE) and private conventional power generators. In its wake, REE and a Spanish electrical utility association traded mutual accusations of blame.

Energy infrastructure

Head and shoulder photos of the authors, set side by side

30/6/2026 Comment / Paula Kivimaa,Neven Duić

Europe cannot afford to plan its energy future in silos

Europe’s exposure to energy price shocks is often framed as a supply challenge. Paula Kivimaa, Co-Chair of the EASAC* Working Group on the Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies, and Neven Duić, Co-Chair of the EASAC Energy Programme, maintain that the deeper vulnerability lies in how energy systems are planned and operated. A more integrated approach would improve security, reduce costs and accelerate the transition to net zero.

New Energy World™

Search results:

Unlocking Europe’s energy future – energy efficiency can’t wait

How to realise the potential of virtual power plants

Beyond the meter: turning electricity purchasing into a competitive advantage

Zonal pricing should lower the cost of UK electricity by encouraging generators and consumers to come together – report

Solar power surges to a record 597 GW in 2024, pushing global capacity beyond 2 TW

When the grid goes dark

Solar showdown: Italy versus Europe

From energy sink to energy source: why data centres must bring their own flexibility

Voltage missteps triggered the Iberian power outage, says Spanish government – but little consensus exists on who is responsible

Europe cannot afford to plan its energy future in silos