No matter how vast their differences may be, both presidential candidates will share at least one common stance in the lead-up to the elections. Like almost every presidential candidate in the (recent) past, they will be outspoken in their criticism of the American healthcare system. This critique remains a consistent theme, whether they are campaigning for or occupying the Ova ...

Nowadays, when it comes to placing wind farms, whether onshore or offshore, an increasing number of factors must be considered. The potential energy output and associated costs are now just part of the equation. Additional critical questions include: What are the emissions impacts from manufacturing? What are the environmental impacts? And so on. As a result, commissioning wind ...

In a world focused on decarbonization and electrification, electric vehicles (EVs) are likely a primary consideration for many. However, heat pumps deserve equal, if not more, attention. Recognized increasingly as a crucial component of sustainable energy systems, heat pumps are poised to become the most critical technology for decarbonizing heating.   Heat pump basics At their ...

The Econopolis Strategy team was honored to attend the World Energy Outlook 2023 event in Brussels last Monday. The Belgian Minister of Energy, Tinne Van Der Straeten, and Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), were the keynote speakers. They shared their insights on historical and current energy developments. Below, we provide the key tak ...

At the end of last year, expectations of central banks easing their policies led to a significant drop in long-term interest rates, which are determined by market forces. This decline was a boon for the listed real estate sector, sparking a recovery rally it desperately needed. However, the situation shifted at the beginning of 2024. Interest rates started climbing again becaus ...

The critical role of carbon dioxide removal in mitigating climate change Let us start by stating the obvious: climate change needs urgent action. More specifically, even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, global temperatures would not decrease for centuries. Furthermore, there are also so-called 'hard-to-abate' emissions, which are emissions that are either excessiv ...

Pessimism prevails in Europe. The continent has been hit by high energy costs and slow or even negative economic growth. The population is not business-minded and politicians and the public are risk-averse. Regulation and bureaucracy are crippling entrepreneurship, certainly when compared to areas of bustling economic activity in the US, parts of the Middle-East and Asia. And y ...

Although nuclear reactors tend to receive a lot of public resistance, they still have an important role in the current society. As of July 2023, 407 reactors were operated in 32 countries, producing 2.546 terawatt hours of electricity, which is about 10 percent of the global power consumption. In the past two decades, 99 startups were established from which 49 in China, which h ...

Food retail and the case for AholdDelhaize "People always need to eat," said Bill McCanless, a former CEO of the food retailer Delhaize America (now part of AholdDelhaize), in an interview around the turn of the century. His statement, though seemingly obvious, underscores a perpetual market for supermarket operators. The frequency of restaurant visits and other forms of eating ...

Continuing our journey through the renewable energy landscape of 2023, this week we delve into the strides made in wind power, following our recent exploration of solar power advancements. With the latest preliminary data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), we gain further insights into the achievements of wind energy sector, highlighting key trends and accomplishments ...