Page 5 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2020 publication
P. 5
Summer 2020 European Energy Innovation 5
The publishers of European Energy FOREWORD
Innovation would like to offer their
sincere thanks to all individuals Foreword
and organisations who have
contributed editorial images photos Perhaps not since the financial crisis of ten years ago has one single
and illustrations to the magazine. issue commanded so much of the world’s attention. And it is perhaps
Whilst every effort has been made many decades since our way of life - and even our lives - have been as
to ensure accuracy of the content, imperilled as now. Lockdown may have flattened mortality curves, but we
the publishers of European Energy don’t yet know whether sufficient time has been bought for an effective
Innovation accept no responsibility vaccine or treatment to emerge, or if the virus will become annual feature
for errors or omissions. like influenza. Lockdown has also caused profound economic and climate
impacts: emissions have dropped sharply, jet fleets are grounded and
The contents of European Energy wildlife has begun exploring spaces now left unfrequented by humans -
Innovation are protected by while Europe remains divided over the Commission’s proposed €750 Billion
copyright. recovery package.
All rights reserved. Meanwhile, continuing rise in atmospheric CO2 levels (currently 413ppm)
mirrors continuing decline in the mass of polar ice (currently by 427
European Energy Innovation is Gtonnes per year). And all that ice must be going somewhere when
published by: it melts…
Prologue Media Ltd
1a Shire Lane …while recalibrating the European economy in favour of green energy and
Chorleywood sustainability requires that economic growth (or return to anything like
Hertfordshire WD3 5NQ it) be completely decoupled from emissions. So we are delighted that
United Kingdom Mechthild Wörsdörfer has chosen to explore the impact of Covid 19 on
the energy sector. She sets the scene well: the IEA Global Energy Review
Tel: +44 1923 286238 suggests that by the end of the year, energy demand may decline by 6%
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu (seven times greater than in 2009); and emissions by 8%, to the lowest
levels since the late 1950s. She goes on to explain how the IEA’s call to put
To obtain additional clean energy at the heart of economic recovery is manifest in Ministerial
copies please email info@ Roundtables, the World Energy Outlook Sustainable Recovery Report and
europeanenergyinnovation.eu the Clean Energy Transitions Summit slated for the Summer. Meanwhile,
Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General, DG Energy, argues that Europe must
Editor show leadership by embracing the Green Deal, an opportunity to “transform
Michael Edmund our economy and society” based on security of supply, affordability, and
editor@europeanenergyinnovation.eu sustainability. Reminding us that the cheapest energy is the energy that
we do not use, she puts energy efficiency at the heart of a policy that also
Business Development Director addresses renewable energy, natural gas as a transition fuel and public and
Philip Beausire private financing to generate up to €1 Trillion. The target: net zero emissions
philip@europeanenergyinnovation.eu by 2050. The startling title chosen by Adel El Gammal illustrates perfectly
how, even in the context of the pandemic, climate change represents
Director of Communications the single most relevant policymaking priority in Europe. Bringing a sharp
Sophia Silvert perspective with phrases like …“a historical and decisive turning point
Mob: +32 4737 30322 in the evolution of our modern society”, he discusses how Covid 19 has
sophia@europeanenergyinnovation.eu highlighted the vulnerability of the globalised economy and describes how
decentralised economies with short supply chains, backed up with strong
Design & Production State controls over fundamental public services will nevertheless require
RayHeathDesign.com Governments to justify their actions.
Website design Morten Helveg Petersen MEP argues that we should use the crisis “as an
pulseart.co.uk opportunity to make a green recovery of Europe.” He argues for a Green
Recovery Programme targeting local European job creation in such areas
Print as renovation, decarbonisation of the heat sector, electrification (with
The Magazine Printing Company, green electricity, of course) and energy storage. But time is pressing: “It
Enfield, Middlesex, United Kingdom is imperative” he says “ to grab this chance and initiate these projects as
soon as possible in order to save our businesses but also our planet, while
creating as many sustainable jobs as possible for European citizens.”
A century ago, the world emerged from one conflict only to be convulsed
by a pandemic, Depression and a second war. And yet from the death, the
ashes and the rubble, there emerged a period of unparalleled peace and
prosperity. Now that’s a thought….
…while there is much more for you to read inside…
Michael Edmund
Editor
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
