World Energy Inside
March 2017
World Energy Council talks to its new Vice Chair for Africa
The Council talks to its new Vice Chair for Africa
The World Energy Council talks to its new Vice Chair for Africa, Dr Elham Ibrahim, on the future for energy in Africa, the many exciting interconnection initiatives under implementation in the region such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) priority action plan until 2020, and mobilising future female energy leaders into the sector. Dr Ibrahim explains how her experience as the former Commissioner for the African Union can fit and complement her role as Vice Chair for Africa at the Council; and sees her roles as combining the work and vision of both bodies.
Energy leaders explore new realities for Africa
Leaders explore new realities for Africa at the 2017 Energy Indaba
2017’s highly anticipated Africa Energy Indaba, the World Energy Council’s annual regional meeting kicked off on 20 February in Johannesburg. Key energy leaders and professionals gathered to share their knowledge, expertise and best practices in order to seek solutions for Africa’s energy future. The Council held a number of high-level ministerial meetings including the Indaba Energy Leader’s Dialogue opened by Dr Elham Ibrahim, Vice Chair for Africa at the World Energy Council, which focused on ‘Africa’s shifting energy trilemma’. Discussions highlighted the challenge facing policymakers as well as energy and finance industry leaders.
World Energy Council to launch 2017 Issues Monitor
World Energy Council to launch 2017 Issues Monitor
The World Energy Council will be launching the 2017 World Energy Issues Monitor in North America at the UN Sustainable Energy for All summit in New York and in Washington. The 2017 Issues Monitor finds that industry leaders remain most concerned by commodity prices and associated volatility. The ‘new normal’ for economic growth is perceived with greater certainty as the sector prepares to operate within this prolonged macroeconomic environment. This report provides a snapshot of the current priorities, set in the broader context of the Grand Transition as identified by the latest World Energy Scenarios, in which disruptive trends emerging will create a fundamentally new world for the energy sector.
Could the potential for Blockchain technology change the world?
Could the potential for Blockchain technology change the world?
As a consequence of growing digitalisation and decentralisation in the energy sector of industrialised economies, blockchain applications are becoming more and more visible and are gaining momentum in the utilities industry. Leading energy and blockchain experts from major utilities as well as aspiring start-ups met at the Global Summit on Blockchain Technology in the Energy Sector in Vienna on 14 and 15 February, to discuss this blockchain and its disruptive potential, which was supported by the German member committee of the World Energy Council as a conference partner.
Etihad Aviation Group to support 2019 World Energy Congress
Etihad Aviation Group to support 2019 World Energy Congress
The Organising Committee of the World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi has announced the support of the Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) in the delivery of the 2019 Congress. The agreement appoints Hala Abu Dhabi as the Official Travel & Destination Partner alongside Etihad Airways as the Official Airline for the World Energy Council’s 24th World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr. Matar Al Neyadi, Chair of the Organising Committee and Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Energy, and Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial at Etihad Airways.
Cyber threats top priority at Munich Security Conference
Cyber threats top priority at Munich Security Conference
More than 500 decision-makers from across the globe, including over 25 heads of state and government, 80 foreign and defence ministers, international organisations, Members of Parliament, high-ranking representatives of Armed Forces, civil society and business, gathered in Munich to discuss major international security challenges. Christoph Frei represented the World Energy Council and participated in the Special Energy Dialogue ‘Energy policy – Between the Paris Agreement and Trump Presidency’, on 16 February. The goal of the dialogue, was to enable a non-ideological, cross-party exchange between business, academia, media, diplomacy and politics on current, significant energy policy issues, to pave the way for an effective energy consensus globally.
EU Commission DG for Energy explores the Council’s 2016 Global Scenarios
EU Commission DG for Energy explores the Council’s 2016 Global Scenarios
After the World Energy Congress in Istanbul, the World Energy Council’s 2016 Global Scenarios have attracted a wide range of interest within the energy industry and among policymakers. The Directorate General for Energy (DG) of the European Commission was keen to explore the World Energy Scenarios. In particular, to discuss the implications of the Global Transition for the European Union. The Council’s Scenarios propose three potential energy futures: Unfinished Symphony, a world in which a more ‘intelligent’, forward looking and sustainable economic growth model emerges; Modern Jazz, which represents a ‘digitally disrupted’, market driven world; and Hard Rock.
Enhancing energy access and sustainable development in Nigeria
Enhancing energy access and sustainable development in Nigeria
The vast expansion in energy services dominated by fossil fuel-based technologies, has underpinned rapid industrial development, sustained world economic growth and vast improvement in human well-being in the last century. This has come at a high environmental cost to Nigeria. In a one-day National Workshop on ‘Enhanced Energy Access for Sustainable Development of the Built and Natural Environment in Nigeria’ organised by the Nigerian National Committee of the World Energy Council (NNC-WEC), it was recommended that Nigeria expand its existing two sources of electricity supply of gas and large hydro to seven.
Comparing US and German approaches to energy transformation
Comparing US and German approaches to energy transformation
Germany has to cover 70% of its energy needs by imports. The only domestic energy resources that Germany produces are lignite and renewables. In contrast, the US will probably be a net energy exporter within the next ten years. The power sector is evolving rapidly. Renewable energy is expanding as a share of electricity generation worldwide. In 2015, new capacity installations of renewables exceeded that of conventional for the first time. Alongside this trend, low natural gas prices in the United States have led to significant fuel switching from coal to gas.
