An underground circuit fire is being blamed for a blackout that struck parts of downtown Vancouver on July 14, shutting off traffic lights, nixing automatic banking machines and even affecting the Internet.
BC Hydro spokeswoman Susan Danard said there was a circuit failure and fire in a major underground cable on the 500 block of Richards Street just before 9 a.m. that day.
The power supply to 20,000 customers was knocked out, CTV reported.
“We're not sure if the fire caused the circuits to fail or the circuits caused the fire,” she said.
Deputy fire chief Tom McEwen said the fire caused toxic fumes to be released into the underground vault.
“There would have been health risks to hydro workers if they had entered into the vault,” he said.
He said firefighters ventilated the dead air in the vault to make it safe for BC Hydro workers to enter, but they were unable to inspect the vault until about 4:30 p.m.
By suppertime, about 2,200 BC Hydro clients in the downtown core were still without power, representing 20 per cent of downtown clients, Ms. Danard said. She said some buildings had power while their neighbours on the same block did not.
“It's like pockets of outages.”
There was no estimate on the time required to return power to Vancouver's core. “Obviously, it's not going to be a quick fix,” she said. As of 9 p.m. Monday night, the traffic lights were still out at Hastings, Pender and Dunsmuir from Richards to Hornby.
The blackout in the area bounded by Beatty, Burrard, Hastings and Robson brought extra police into the streets for the day with the promise they would stick around through the night to protect property and help traffic flow safely.
“We worked very quickly. We recognized it was a major impediment and drew on existing, on-duty resources as well as calling in additional officers,” said Constable Tim Fanning of the Vancouver Police Department, declining to provide specific numbers for security reasons. “It worked out well from a policing point of view.”
But things were not so easy for others.
Jess Franco, 30, was driving downtown along Georgia and Robson Streets with her six-month-old son and friend Dayna Evanow, 24, shortly after the power went out.
“It was complete chaos,” she said.
“No one knows how to follow the rules of the road. You really have to be careful because cars are not moving in any sort of order. Even pedestrians would just walk out, not paying attention at all.”
Several businesses in the downtown core were only accepting cash and cut back on their services during the outage. The Lennox Pub on Granville Street lost power from about 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
They could only accept cash and were only serving beer.
The fire began at about 9 in the morning in a hydro circuit located underground, cutting power to the eastern half of the city and forcing the evacuation of several buildings. Even the offices of B.C. Hydro were left in the dark.
The blackout knocked out service provided by a major Internet service provider, Peer 1, because their operations are based in a skyscraper that was left in darkness.
Spokesman Rajan Sodhi said the two largest sites affected for at least some part of yesterday were Plentyoffish.com, a dating site, and Bravenet.com, a web-hosting site.
The situation even affected plans for a film festival in Michigan involving celebrated documentary filmmaker Michael Moore.
“We had a big launch today for Traverse City Film Festival in Michigan. It's Michael Moore's big festival, so it's one of our largest clients of the year and today was the day that the ticketing went on sale,” said Kim McCann, a system administrator with synercom/edi, which maintains various websites and whose servers were based in a downtown building affected by the blackout.
“So we had about less than an hour of tickets going on sale, and everything came down. And so the rest of the day I fielded phone calls from them and various other clients. All day in my office people were screaming and yelling about why their stuff wasn't working. We're pretty much hosed.”
ITER Nuclear Fusion advances tokamak magnetic confinement, heating deuterium-tritium plasma with superconducting magnets, targeting net energy gain, tritium breeding, and steam-turbine power, while complementing laser inertial confinement milestones for grid-scale electricity and 2025 startup goals.
Key Points
ITER Nuclear Fusion is a tokamak project confining D-T plasma with magnets to achieve net energy gain and clean power.
✅ Tokamak magnetic confinement with high-temp superconducting coils
✅ Deuterium-tritium fuel cycle with on-site tritium breeding
✅ Targets net energy gain and grid-scale, low-carbon electricity
It sounds like the stuff of dreams: a virtually limitless source of energy that doesn’t produce greenhouse gases or radioactive waste. That’s the promise of nuclear fusion, often described as the holy grail of clean energy by proponents, which for decades has been nothing more than a fantasy due to insurmountable technical challenges. But things are heating up in what has turned into a race to create what amounts to an artificial sun here on Earth, one that can provide power for our kettles, cars and light bulbs.
Today’s nuclear power plants create electricity through nuclear fission, in which atoms are split, with next-gen nuclear power exploring smaller, cheaper, safer designs that remain distinct from fusion. Nuclear fusion however, involves combining atomic nuclei to release energy. It’s the same reaction that’s taking place at the Sun’s core. But overcoming the natural repulsion between atomic nuclei and maintaining the right conditions for fusion to occur isn’t straightforward. And doing so in a way that produces more energy than the reaction consumes has been beyond the grasp of the finest minds in physics for decades.
But perhaps not for much longer. Some major technical challenges have been overcome in the past few years and governments around the world have been pouring money into fusion power research as part of a broader green industrial revolution under way in several regions. There are also over 20 private ventures in the UK, US, Europe, China and Australia vying to be the first to make fusion energy production a reality.
“People are saying, ‘If it really is the ultimate solution, let’s find out whether it works or not,’” says Dr Tim Luce, head of science and operation at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), being built in southeast France. ITER is the biggest throw of the fusion dice yet.
Its $22bn (£15.9bn) build cost is being met by the governments of two-thirds of the world’s population, including the EU, the US, China and Russia, at a time when Europe is losing nuclear power and needs energy, and when it’s fired up in 2025 it’ll be the world’s largest fusion reactor. If it works, ITER will transform fusion power from being the stuff of dreams into a viable energy source.
Constructing a nuclear fusion reactor ITER will be a tokamak reactor – thought to be the best hope for fusion power. Inside a tokamak, a gas, often a hydrogen isotope called deuterium, is subjected to intense heat and pressure, forcing electrons out of the atoms. This creates a plasma – a superheated, ionised gas – that has to be contained by intense magnetic fields.
The containment is vital, as no material on Earth could withstand the intense heat (100,000,000°C and above) that the plasma has to reach so that fusion can begin. It’s close to 10 times the heat at the Sun’s core, and temperatures like that are needed in a tokamak because the gravitational pressure within the Sun can’t be recreated.
When atomic nuclei do start to fuse, vast amounts of energy are released. While the experimental reactors currently in operation release that energy as heat, in a fusion reactor power plant, the heat would be used to produce steam that would drive turbines to generate electricity, even as some envision nuclear beyond electricity for industrial heat and fuels.
Tokamaks aren’t the only fusion reactors being tried. Another type of reactor uses lasers to heat and compress a hydrogen fuel to initiate fusion. In August 2021, one such device at the National Ignition Facility, at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, generated 1.35 megajoules of energy. This record-breaking figure brings fusion power a step closer to net energy gain, but most hopes are still pinned on tokamak reactors rather than lasers.
In June 2021, China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor maintained a plasma for 101 seconds at 120,000,000°C. Before that, the record was 20 seconds. Ultimately, a fusion reactor would need to sustain the plasma indefinitely – or at least for eight-hour ‘pulses’ during periods of peak electricity demand.
A real game-changer for tokamaks has been the magnets used to produce the magnetic field. “We know how to make magnets that generate a very high magnetic field from copper or other kinds of metal, but you would pay a fortune for the electricity. It wouldn’t be a net energy gain from the plant,” says Luce.
One route for nuclear fusion is to use atoms of deuterium and tritium, both isotopes of hydrogen. They fuse under incredible heat and pressure, and the resulting products release energy as heat
The solution is to use high-temperature, superconducting magnets made from superconducting wire, or ‘tape’, that has no electrical resistance. These magnets can create intense magnetic fields and don’t lose energy as heat.
“High temperature superconductivity has been known about for 35 years. But the manufacturing capability to make tape in the lengths that would be required to make a reasonable fusion coil has just recently been developed,” says Luce. One of ITER’s magnets, the central solenoid, will produce a field of 13 tesla – 280,000 times Earth’s magnetic field.
The inner walls of ITER’s vacuum vessel, where the fusion will occur, will be lined with beryllium, a metal that won’t contaminate the plasma much if they touch. At the bottom is the divertor that will keep the temperature inside the reactor under control.
“The heat load on the divertor can be as large as in a rocket nozzle,” says Luce. “Rocket nozzles work because you can get into orbit within minutes and in space it’s really cold.” In a fusion reactor, a divertor would need to withstand this heat indefinitely and at ITER they’ll be testing one made out of tungsten.
Meanwhile, in the US, the National Spherical Torus Experiment – Upgrade (NSTX-U) fusion reactor will be fired up in the autumn of 2022, while efforts in advanced fission such as a mini-reactor design are also progressing. One of its priorities will be to see whether lining the reactor with lithium helps to keep the plasma stable.
Choosing a fuel Instead of just using deuterium as the fusion fuel, ITER will use deuterium mixed with tritium, another hydrogen isotope. The deuterium-tritium blend offers the best chance of getting significantly more power out than is put in. Proponents of fusion power say one reason the technology is safe is that the fuel needs to be constantly fed into the reactor to keep fusion happening, making a runaway reaction impossible.
Deuterium can be extracted from seawater, so there’s a virtually limitless supply of it. But only 20kg of tritium are thought to exist worldwide, so fusion power plants will have to produce it (ITER will develop technology to ‘breed’ tritium). While some radioactive waste will be produced in a fusion plant, it’ll have a lifetime of around 100 years, rather than the thousands of years from fission.
At the time of writing in September, researchers at the Joint European Torus (JET) fusion reactor in Oxfordshire were due to start their deuterium-tritium fusion reactions. “JET will help ITER prepare a choice of machine parameters to optimise the fusion power,” says Dr Joelle Mailloux, one of the scientific programme leaders at JET. These parameters will include finding the best combination of deuterium and tritium, and establishing how the current is increased in the magnets before fusion starts.
The groundwork laid down at JET should accelerate ITER’s efforts to accomplish net energy gain. ITER will produce ‘first plasma’ in December 2025 and be cranked up to full power over the following decade. Its plasma temperature will reach 150,000,000°C and its target is to produce 500 megawatts of fusion power for every 50 megawatts of input heating power.
“If ITER is successful, it’ll eliminate most, if not all, doubts about the science and liberate money for technology development,” says Luce. That technology development will be demonstration fusion power plants that actually produce electricity, where advanced reactors can build on decades of expertise. “ITER is opening the door and saying, yeah, this works – the science is there.”
Ontario Industrial Electricity Pricing Reforms aim to cut regulatory burden for industrial ratepayers through an energy concierge service, IESO billing reviews, GA estimation enhancements, clearer peak demand data, and contract cost savings.
Key Points
Measures to reduce industrial power costs via an energy concierge, IESO and GA reviews, and better peak demand data.
✅ Energy concierge eases pricing and connection inquiries
✅ IESO to simplify bills and refine GA estimation
✅ Real-time peak data and contract savings under review
Ontario's government is pursuing burden reduction measures for industrial electricity ratepayers, including legislation to lower rates to help businesses compete, and stimulate growth and investment.
Over the next year, Ontario will help industrial electricity ratepayers focus on their businesses instead of their electricity management practices by establishing an energy concierge service to provide businesses with better customer service and easier access to information about electricity pricing and changes for electricity consumers as well as connection processes.
Ontario is also tasking the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to review and report back on its billing, settlement and customer service processes, building on initiatives such as electricity auctions that aim to reduce costs.
Improve and simplify industrial electricity bills, including clarifying the recovery rate that affects charges;
Review how the monthly Global Adjustment (GA) charge is estimated and identify potential enhancements related to cost allocation across classes; and,
Improve peak demand data publication processes and assess the feasibility of using real-time data to determine the factors that allocate GA costs to consumers.
Further, as part of the government's continued effort to finding efficiencies in the electricity system, Ontario is also directing IESO to review generation contracts to find opportunities for cost savings.
These measures are based on industry feedback received during extensive industrial electricity price consultations held between April and July 2019, which underscored how high electricity rates have impacted factories across the province.
"Our government is focused on finding workable electricity pricing solutions that will provide the greatest benefit to Ontario," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. "Reducing regulatory burden on businesses can free up resources that can then be invested in areas such as training, new equipment and job creation."
The government is also in the process of developing further changes to industrial electricity pricing policy, amid planned rate increases announced by the OEB, informed by what was heard during the industrial electricity price consultations.
"It's important that we get this right the first time," said Minister Rickford. "That's why we're taking a thoughtful approach and listening carefully to what businesses in Ontario have to say."
Helping industrial ratepayers is part of the government's balanced and prudent plan to build Ontario together through ensuring our province is open for business and building a more transparent and accountable electricity system.
TEP Undergrounding Policy prioritizes selective underground power lines to manage wildfire risk, engineering costs, and ratepayer impacts, balancing transmission and distribution reliability with right-of-way, safety, and vegetation management per Arizona regulators.
Key Points
A selective TEP approach to bury lines where safety, engineering, and cost justify undergrounding.
✅ Selective undergrounding for feeders near substations
✅ Balances wildfire mitigation, reliability, and ratepayer costs
✅ Follows ACC rules, BLM and USFS vegetation management
Though wildfires in California caused by power lines have prompted calls for more underground lines, Tucson Electric Power Co. plans to keep to its policy of burying lines selectively for safety.
Like many other utilities, TEP typically doesn’t install its long-range, high-voltage transmission lines, such as the TransWest Express project, and distribution equipment underground because of higher costs that would be passed on to ratepayers, TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said.
But the company will sometimes bury lower-voltage lines and equipment where it is cost-effective or needed for safety as utilities adapt to climate change across North America, or if customers or developers are willing to pay the higher installation costs
Underground installations generally include additional engineering expenses, right-of-way acquisition for projects like the New England Clean Power Link in other regions, and added labor and materials, Barrios said.
“This practice avoids passing along unnecessary costs to customers through their rates, so that all customers are not asked to subsidize a discretionary expenditure that primarily benefits residents or property owners in one small area of our service territory,” he said, adding that the Arizona Corporation Commission has supported the company’s policy.
Even so, TEP will place equipment underground in some circumstances if engineering or safety concerns, including electrical safety tips that utilities promote during storm season, justify the additional cost of underground installation, Barrios said.
In fact, lower-voltage “feeder” lines emerging from distribution substations are typically installed underground until the lines reach a point where they can be safely brought above ground, he added.
While in California PG&E has shut off power during windy weather to avoid wildfires in forested areas traversed by its power lines after events like the Drum Fire last June, TEP doesn’t face the same kind of wildfire risk, Barrios said.
Most of TEP’s 5,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines aren’t located in heavily forested areas that would raise fire concerns, though large urban systems have seen outages after station fires in Los Angeles, he said.
However, TEP has an active program of monitoring transmission lines and trimming vegetation to maintain a fire-safety buffer zone and address risks from vandalism such as copper theft where applicable, in compliance with federal regulations and in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.
Trump NEPA Overhaul streamlines environmental reviews, tightening 'reasonably foreseeable' effects, curbing cumulative impacts, codifying CEQ greenhouse gas guidance, expediting permits for pipelines, highways, and wind projects with two-year EIS limits and one lead agency.
✅ Limits cumulative and indirect impacts; emphasizes foreseeable effects
✅ Caps EIS at two years; one-year environmental assessments
✅ One lead agency; narrower NEPA triggers for low federal funding
President Trump has announced plans for overhauling rules surrounding the nation’s bedrock environmental law, and administration officials refuted claims they were downplaying greenhouse gas emissions, as the administration also pursues replacement power plant rules in related areas.
The president, during remarks at the White House with supporters and Cabinet officials, said he wanted to fix the nation’s “regulatory nightmare” through new guidelines for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.
“America is a nation of builders,” he said. But it takes too long to get a permit, and that’s “big government at its absolute worst.”
The president said, “We’re maintaining America’s world-class standards of environmental protection.” He added, “We’re going to have very strong regulation, but it’s going to go very quickly.”
NEPA says the federal government must consider alternatives to major projects like oil pipelines, highways and bridges that could inflict environmental harm. The law also gives communities input.
The Council on Environmental Quality has not updated the implementing rules in decades, and both energy companies and environmentalists want them reworked, even as some industry groups warned against rushing electricity pricing changes under related policy debates.
But they patently disagree on how to change the rules.
A central fight surrounds whether the government considers climate change concerns when analyzing a project.
Environmentalists want agencies to look more at “cumulative” or “indirect” impacts of projects. The Trump plan shuts the door on that.
“Analysis of cumulative effects is not required,” the plan states, adding that CEQ “proposes to make amendments to simplify the definition of effects by consolidating the definition into a single paragraph.”
CEQ Chairwoman Mary Neumayr told reporters during a conference call that definitions in the current rules were the “subject of confusion.”
The proposed changes, she said, do in fact eliminate the terms “cumulative” and “indirect,” in favor of more simplified language.
Effects must be “reasonably foreseeable” and require a “reasonably close causal relationship” to the proposed action, she added. “It does not exclude considerations of greenhouse gas emissions,” she said, pointing to parallel EPA proposals for new pollution limits on coal and gas power plants as context.
Last summer, CEQ issued proposed guidance on greenhouse gas reviews in project permitting. The nonbinding document gave agencies broad authority when considering emissions (Greenwire, June 21, 2019).
Environmentalists scoffed and said the proposed guidance failed to incorporate the latest climate science and look at how projects could be more resilient in the face of severe weather and sea-level rise.
The proposed NEPA rules released today include provisions to codify the proposed guidance, which has also been years in the making.
Other provisions
Senior administration officials sought to downplay the effect of the proposed NEPA rules by noting the underlying statute will remain the same.
“If it required NEPA yesterday, it will require NEPA under the new proposal,” an official said when asked how the changes might apply to pipelines like Keystone XL.
And yet the proposed changes could alter the “threshold consideration” that triggers NEPA review. The proposal would exclude projects with minimal federal funding or “participation.”
The Trump plan also proposes restricting an environmental impact statement to two years and an environmental assessment to one.
Neumayr said the average EIS takes 4 ½ years and in some cases longer. Democrats have disputed those timelines. Further, just 1% of all federal actions require an EIS, they argue.
The proposal would also require one agency to take the lead on permitting and require agency officials to “timely resolve disputes that may result in delays.”
In general, the plan calls for environmental documents to be “concise” and “serve their purpose of informing decision makers.”
Both Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, whose agency moved to rewrite coal power plant wastewater limits in separate actions, were at the White House for the announcement.
Reaction
An onslaught of critics have said changes to NEPA rules could be the administration’s most far-reaching environmental rollback, and state attorneys general have mounted a legal challenge to related energy actions as well.
The League of Conservation Voters declared the administration was again trying to “sell out the health and well-being of our children and families to corporate polluters.”
On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said during a news conference the administration would “no longer enforce NEPA.”
“This means more polluters will be right there, next to the water supply of our children,” she said. “That’s a public health issue. Their denial of climate, they are going to not use the climate issue as anything to do with environmental decisionmaking.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) echoed the sentiment, saying he didn’t need any more proof that the fossil fuel industry had hardwired the Trump administration “but we got it anyway.”
Energy companies, including firms focused on renewable energy development, are welcoming the “clarity” of the proposed NEPA rules, even as debates continue over a clean electricity standard in federal climate policy.
“The lack of clarity in the existing NEPA regulations has led courts to fill the gaps, spurring costly litigation across the sector, and has led to unclear expectations, which has caused significant and unnecessary delays for infrastructure projects across the country,” the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America said in a statement.
Last night, the American Wind Energy Association said NEPA rules have caused “unreasonable and unnecessary costs and long project delays” for land-based and offshore wind energy and transmission development.
Trump has famously attacked the wind energy industry for decades, dating back to his opposition to a Scottish wind turbine near his golf course.
The president today said he won’t stop until “gleaming new infrastructure has made America the envy of the world again.”
When asked whether he thought climate change was a “hoax,” as he once tweeted, he said no. “Nothing’s a hoax about that,” he said.
The president said there’s a book about climate he’s planning to read. He said, “It’s a very serious subject.”
Germany Solar-Plus-Storage Cost Parity signals grid parity as solar power with battery storage undercuts conventional electricity. Falling LCOE, policy incentives, and economies of scale accelerate the energy transition and decarbonization across Germany's power market.
Key Points
The point at which solar power with battery storage is cheaper than conventional grid electricity across Germany.
✅ Lower LCOE from tech advances and economies of scale
✅ EEG incentives and streamlined installs cut total costs
✅ Enhances energy security, reduces fossil fuel dependence
Germany, a global leader in renewable energy adoption, with clean energy supplying about half of its electricity in recent years, has reached a significant milestone: the cost of solar power combined with battery storage has now fallen below that of conventional electricity sources. This development marks a transformative shift in the energy landscape, showcasing the increasing affordability and competitiveness of renewable energy technologies and reinforcing Germany’s position as a pioneer in the transition to sustainable energy.
The decline in costs for solar power paired with battery storage represents a breakthrough in Germany’s energy sector, especially amid the recent solar power boost during the energy crisis, where the transition from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives has been a central focus. Historically, conventional power sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy have dominated electricity markets due to their established infrastructure and relatively stable pricing. However, the rapid advancements in solar technology and energy storage solutions are altering this dynamic, making renewable energy not only environmentally preferable but also economically advantageous.
Several factors contribute to the cost reduction of solar power with battery storage:
Technological Advancements: The technology behind solar panels and battery storage systems has evolved significantly over recent years. Solar panel efficiency has improved, allowing for greater energy generation from smaller installations. Similarly, cheaper batteries have advanced, with reductions in cost and increases in energy density and lifespan. These improvements mean that solar installations can produce more electricity and store it more effectively, enhancing their economic viability.
Economies of Scale: As demand for solar and battery storage systems has grown, manufacturers have scaled up production, leading to economies of scale. This scaling has driven down the cost of both solar panels and batteries, making them more affordable for consumers. As the market for these technologies expands, prices are expected to continue decreasing, further enhancing their competitiveness.
Government Incentives and Policies: Germany’s commitment to renewable energy has been supported by robust government policies and incentives. The country’s Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and other supportive measures, alongside efforts to remove barriers to PV in Berlin that could accelerate adoption, have provided financial incentives for the adoption of solar power and battery storage. These policies have encouraged investment in renewable technologies and facilitated their integration into the energy market, contributing to the overall reduction in costs.
Falling Installation Costs: The cost of installing solar power systems and battery storage has decreased as the industry has matured. Advances in installation techniques, increased competition among service providers, and streamlined permitting processes have all contributed to lower installation costs. This reduction in upfront expenses has made solar with battery storage more accessible and financially attractive to both residential and commercial consumers.
The economic benefits of solar power with battery storage becoming cheaper than conventional power are substantial. For consumers, this shift translates into lower electricity bills and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Solar installations with battery storage allow households and businesses to generate their own electricity, store it for use during times of low sunlight, and even sell excess power back to the grid, reflecting how solar is reshaping electricity prices in Northern Europe as markets adapt. This self-sufficiency reduces exposure to fluctuating energy prices and enhances energy security.
For the broader energy market, the decreasing cost of solar power with battery storage challenges the dominance of conventional power sources. As renewable energy becomes more cost-effective, it creates pressure on traditional energy providers to adapt and invest in cleaner technologies, including responses to instances of negative electricity prices during renewable surpluses. This shift can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy system and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Germany’s achievement also has implications for global energy markets. The country’s success in making solar with battery storage cheaper than conventional power serves as a model for other nations pursuing similar energy transitions. As the cost of renewable technologies continues to decline, other countries can leverage these advancements to enhance their own energy systems, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve energy independence amid over 30% of global electricity now from renewables trends worldwide.
The impact of this development extends beyond economics. It represents a significant step forward in addressing climate change and promoting sustainability. By reducing the cost of renewable energy technologies, Germany is accelerating the shift towards a cleaner and more resilient energy system. This progress aligns with the country’s ambitious climate goals and reinforces its role as a leader in global efforts to combat climate change.
Looking ahead, several challenges remain. The integration of renewable energy into existing energy infrastructure, grid stability, and the management of energy storage are all areas that require continued innovation and investment. However, the decreasing cost of solar power with battery storage provides a strong foundation for addressing these challenges and advancing the transition to a sustainable energy future.
In conclusion, the fact that solar power with battery storage in Germany has become cheaper than conventional power is a groundbreaking development with wide-ranging implications. It underscores the technological advancements, economic benefits, and environmental gains associated with renewable energy technologies. As Germany continues to lead the way in clean energy adoption, this achievement highlights the potential for renewable energy to drive global change and reshape the future of energy.
2019 Global CO2 Emissions stayed flat, IEA reports, as renewable energy growth, wind and solar deployment, nuclear output, and coal-to-gas switching in advanced economies offset increases elsewhere, supporting climate goals and clean energy transitions.
Key Points
33 gigatonnes, unchanged YoY, as advanced economies cut power emissions via renewables, gas, and nuclear.
✅ IEA reports emissions flat at 33 Gt despite 2.9% GDP growth
✅ Advanced economies cut power-sector CO2 via wind, solar, gas
✅ Nuclear restarts and mild weather aided reductions
Despite widespread expectations of another increase, global energy-related CO2 emissions stopped growing in 2019, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) data released today. After two years of growth, global emissions were unchanged at 33 gigatonnes in 2019, a notable marker in the global energy transition narrative even as the world economy expanded by 2.9%.
This was primarily due to declining emissions from electricity generation in advanced economies, thanks to the expanding role of renewable sources (mainly wind and solar across many markets), fuel switching from coal to natural gas, and higher nuclear power generation, the Paris-based organisation says in the report.
"We now need to work hard to make sure that 2019 is remembered as a definitive peak in global emissions, not just another pause in growth," said Fatih Birol, the IEA's executive director. "We have the energy technologies to do this, and we have to make use of them all."
Higher nuclear power generation in advanced economies, particularly in Japan and South Korea, avoided over 50 Mt of CO2 emissions. Other factors included milder weather in several countries, and slower economic growth in some emerging markets. In China, emissions rose but were tempered by slower economic growth and higher output from low-carbon sources of electricity. Renewables continued to expand in China, and 2019 was also the first full year of operation for seven large-scale nuclear reactors in the country.
A significant decrease in emissions in advanced economies in 2019 offset continued growth elsewhere. The USA recorded the largest emissions decline on a country basis, with a fall of 140 million tonnes, or 2.9%. US emissions are now down by almost 1 gigatonne from their peak in 2000. Emissions in the European Union fell by 160 million tonnes, or 5%, in 2019 driven by reductions in the power sector as electricity producers move away from coal in the generation mix. Japan’s emissions fell by 45 million tonnes, or around 4%, the fastest pace of decline since 2009, as output from recently restarted nuclear reactors increased.
Emissions in the rest of the world grew by close to 400 million tonnes in 2019, with almost 80% of the increase coming from countries in Asia where coal-fired power generation continued to rise, and in Australia emissions rose 2% due to electricity and transport. Coal-fired power generation in advanced economies declined by nearly 15%, reflecting a sharp fall in coal-fired electricity across multiple markets, as a result of growth in renewables, coal-to-gas switching, a rise in nuclear power and weaker electricity demand.
The IEA will publish a World Energy Outlook Special Report in June that will map out how to cut global energy-related carbon emissions by one-third by 2030 and put the world on track for longer-term climate goals, a pathway that, in Canada, will require more electricity to hit net-zero. It will also hold an IEA Clean Energy Transitions Summit in Paris on 9 July, bringing together key government ministers, CEOs, investors and other major stakeholders.
Birol will discuss the results published today tomorrow at an IEA Speaker Series event at its headquarters with energy and climate ministers from Poland, which hosted COP24 in Katowice; Spain, which hosted COP25 in Madrid; and the UK, which will host COP26 in Glasgow this year, as greenhouse gas concentrations continue to break records worldwide.
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