Coal has become a marginal source of electricity in the European Union. It accounts for less than ten percent of electricity generation, according to a recent report by international think tank Ember.

At every party, a few people are always the last to leave the pub, staying until the staff chase them out with a broom. Imagine, for a moment, a coal party attended by every European country. One by one, they stop generating electricity from coal—they get up from their chairs and head home. Ten EU countries have already left the party. Nine more have one foot out the door. Czechia will very likely leave just before closing time, although it is also running out of energy for coal-fuelled revelry.

Read the full article HERE.

5. February’s warmer weather sharply reduced electricity consumption and slowed gas withdrawals

While January’s freezing temperatures pushed electricity consumption in the Czech Republic to a nine-year high, warmer weather in February brought things back down. Electricity consumption fell by more than 1 TWh compared with January, to 5.5 TWh—0.2 TWh below the average for February over the past 10 years. The warmer weather also significantly slowed withdrawals from European and Czech gas storage facilities. This is according to statistics published on Energostat.

According to data published on the website of Czech market operator OTE, a.s., February was almost 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the long-term temperature norm. Compared with the freezing January, which pushed electricity consumption in the Czech Republic to a nine-year high, this year’s February was more than 4 degrees Celsius warmer.

Read the full article HERE.

6. Oil “bypass”: alternative routes that cannot replace the Strait of Hormuz

As the war with Iran continues, oil prices are climbing steeply. One of the most significant factors is undoubtedly the severe disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has been blocking in retaliation since 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched their attacks. Nothing so far suggests that traffic will resume anytime soon. Pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates therefore offer partial relief, allowing oil to bypass the strategic chokepoint in the Persian Gulf.

Disruption to stability at this geopolitical flashpoint would undoubtedly be felt across the rest of the world in the form of a massive rise in oil prices. What was only speculation two years ago is now reality. Oil prices are approaching the 100-dollar-per-barrel mark, and instead of the nearly eighty tankers that used to pass through the strait each day, you can now count them on one hand. Iran’s newly installed leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has also threatened to close the strait completely.

Read the full article HERE.

7. South Korea seeks approval for i-SMR reference reactor design

South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) has received an application to approve the reference design for the Innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR). The application was submitted by the i-SMR Technology Development Project Group, the consortium developing the technology.

The i-SMR is being developed by a consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). It is an integral pressurized water reactor with an electrical output of 170 MW, designed for use in South Korea as well as for export to overseas markets.

Read the full article HERE.

8. After more than two years, it’s done: EU countries approve 2040 emissions target

EU member states have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels. The Commission must now prepare a detailed policy review to deliver on this target.

EU ministers responsible for climate and the environment formally adopted the interim target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Member states are therefore tasked with cutting emissions by 90% compared with 1990 levels. This amendment to the Climate Law is intended to strengthen the EU’s progress towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Read the full article HERE.

9. Biomethane in the EU: France leads, Czechia among the fastest-growing smaller markets

The amount of biomethane injected into the gas networks of European Union member states rose by more than 5 TWh last gas year, reaching 43.2 TWh. France remained the leading country, with 13.1 TWh. The Czech Republic saw a significant year-on-year increase, with the amount of biomethane injected last gas year nearly quadrupling. This is according to a report by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG).

Renewable gases such as biomethane and green hydrogen are an indispensable part of the ongoing decarbonization of Europe’s energy sector and industry. One advantage is that they can already be injected into existing gas networks (hydrogen for now only in limited quantities), helping to reduce consumption and therefore imports of natural gas.

Read the full article HERE.

10. Government abolishes committee for nuclear construction, replacing it with a new management model

The government today abolished the Standing Committee for the Construction of New Nuclear Sources. It will be replaced with a new operational management model intended to better reflect the current project phase of building new units at Dukovany. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) said this at a press conference following today’s cabinet meeting.

The Standing Committee was an advisory body to the government, and its main purpose was to coordinate preparations for new nuclear units in the Czech Republic. It served as a platform for cooperation between the state, energy company ČEZ, and experts. Its members included government ministers and representatives of key ministries, ČEZ, and energy experts.

Read the full article HERE.