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Fossil Fuels

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An illustration of a line chart with four lines on graph paper laid on top of a photo of a large, utility-scale solar farm, with solar panels stretching off into the distance. The tint of the photo is dark green. — Amid evolving politics, cleantech financing reaches watershed moment
Money is the key to the energy transition. Today, a greater share is being invested into clean power sources, but less is flowing to new cleantech ideas and startups. Data Dives
Bill Spindle 2 min read

The jagged outcrops of the Hajar Mountains that border UAE and Oman. Photo by Amena H. Saiyid, May 5, 2025 — Harnessing nature to store CO2
This demonstration project in the United Arab Emirates is showing how carbon dioxide can be stored in rocks. Explainers
Amena H. Saiyid 6 min read

Illustration of a bar chart with alternating bars of grey and green with a background of dark blue and a green transmission tower and transmission lines running through it. — A decade makes a huge difference in energy investment
Back in 2015, fossil fuels dominated the picture, amassing 30% more investments than electricity generation, grids and storage. Now, that ratio is reversing. Data Dives
Bill Spindle 2 min read

An illustration of a robot with — Trump’s former FERC chair: Compromise key to AI energy race
Solar energy plus battery storage, with natural gas backup, is the only “plausible path forward” in the near-term, said Neil Chatterjee, a former top energy regulator during the first Trump administration. Latest News
Cat Clifford 5 min read

U.S. oil exports have boomed — but could be leveling off

U.S. oil exports have surged to record levels in recent years on the back of an unprecedented rise in oil production. But the rate of growth slowed dramatically last year, and the big question going forward is whether there’s really still room to grow. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

graphic showing a bar chart going up sharply with images of oil refineries in the background

In Argentina’s vast and little populated middle, I saw the energy transition in action

During three weeks of reporting, Bill Spindle saw two faces of Argentina’s fast-expanding energy industry. Reporter's Notebook

Bill Spindle 3 min read

An illustration of an open spiral notebook with the words

How liquefied gas is remaking energy markets and climate risk

Where, how and for how long LNG is used will profoundly shape global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the worst fallout from global warming. Explainers

Bill Spindle 4 min read

An illustration of a board game with blue and green squares, from above. The board is dotted with miniature pipelines, natural gas drilling wells and liquified natural gas ships. On the side of the board, a piece says

Natural gas presents an energy transition puzzle

Natural gas has arrived at a watershed, one critical to the energy transition. The complex interplay between gas, renewables and coal will shape the future of the world’s energy landscape. Explainers

Bill Spindle 5 min read

CERAWeek revisited: What a difference a decade makes

In 2016, energy producers at this giant energy conference were worried about supply far outstripping demand. This year, attendees obsessed about the opposite: the seemingly insatiable amount of energy the country needs. Latest News

Bill Spindle 3 min read

Illustration: An aging man with long white hair holds up a clock that goes from 2016 to 2025 and has a smokestack in it emitting lots of smoke. The background behind the man, who is in black and white, is green and dotted with icons: an oil drum, a shipping container, an oil jack, the state of Texas, and a little decal that reads

CERAWeek and the power of plenty

'More, more, more' has been the mantra of the giant energy conference CERAWeek by S&P Global this year, writes Bill Spindle from the event in Houston. Reporter's Notebook

Bill Spindle 3 min read

An illustration that has a notebook, with the words

These types of climate technologies could receive a bump under Trump

Clean energy technologies long considered compatible with oil and natural gas are likely to have a leading edge in the U.S. The shifting landscape has been evident in Houston this week at an annual energy confab. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid & Bill Spindle 5 min read

An illustration of an oil drilling machine (

Power demand to tariffs: Five themes to watch at CERAWeek

As the event gets underway today, anticipation is running higher than normal because of the head-spinning changes in Washington as President Donald Trump’s administration puts its mark on United States energy policy. Latest News

Bill Spindle 3 min read

An illustration with six bubbles against a blue background. The bubbles contain a cargo ship, electricity towers, an oil jack, a judge's gavel, a stack of documents and the words

Batteries had a banner 2024, but the outlook this year is less certain

Battery manufacturing drew more investments than any other type of cleantech production in the United States last year, owing to demand in the power and transportation sectors. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

An illustration showing a bar chart against a black back drop with a battery symbol in the top lefthand corner and a pile of cash in front of the bar chart.

How United Nations climate conferences work

In partnership with Encyclopædia Britannica, Cipher will be publishing occasional articles offering background and context on important climate programs, technologies and leaders. This article is the first in the series. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 6 min read

An illustration that has a globe in one corner, multicolor puzzle pieces in another, a document with a blue ribbon on another corner, and people talking around a table in the other corner.

Selling more American gas to Europe: What’s possible and when

Donald Trump's threat to slap tariffs on Europe has sparked a debate about what more U.S gas might mean for the continent. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

An illustration which shows one set of hands holding up a canister of gas (marked with a little flame and the initials

A re-energized Trump seeks to boost fossil fuel production, dismantle climate programs

In the first 24 hours of his second presidency, Donald Trump laid the foundation for his “America First” energy agenda over the next four years. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

President Donald Trump sits at a desk with the seal of the president of the United States on it and holds up a black folder with two pieces of white paper on it with writing and his large signature in black ink. Vice President JD Vance stands behind him, looking up at the crowd. They are on stage at the Capital One Arena and in the photo you can see red electronic banners that read

As Trump is sworn in, fossil fuels are already booming

The evolving energy systems in the United States are a humbling reminder of the limited power American presidents have over this sector, despite the political rhetoric coming out of Washington. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

A bar chart where the bar on the far left is taller than all the others and has the American flag in it. The background behind the bar chart shows oil rigs nodding in front of a red sunrise.

This one chart shows Europe’s struggle with high energy prices

High energy prices are holding back Europe’s manufacturing industry, and recently compiled data highlights why the bloc is worried more business will flee the Continent. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

An illustration showing bar charts in blue with half an American flag and half an EU flag behind it.

China has a new sweeping energy law. Here’s what you need to know.

China has just approved a set of sweeping new energy regulations that will set the tone for the country’s future energy development. Explainers

Xiaoying You 4 min read

An illustration that shows a multiple choice test. The question is just the Chinese flag, and the options are a solar panel, a wind turbine, a piece of coal, and a piece of paper representing a law. The answer, which is being hovered over with by a giant mouse cursor is

Oil and gas techniques could unlock geothermal energy’s global potential

Cutting edge technologies to tap the heat beneath the earth's surface could supply as much as 8% of the global electricity mix, according to the IEA's latest findings. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration showing a bar chart, with the bars growing steadily to the right, on top of a photo of a geothermal system. The photo has a green overlay on top of it, making the whole image mostly green.

This one chart shows just how much China dominates in renewable energy

It captured 41% of the global renewables investment share in 2023. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Black and white photo of emissions seen from above the clouds, with a blue and red bar chart superimposed with no labels or values

What does Trump’s win mean for the energy transition? We asked these 7 experts

Leading experts share what Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election means for domestic and global climate and clean energy initiatives. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 4 min read

An illustration with a black and white photo of Trump in the center, the Capitol building behind him, and text boxes filled with clean energy icons all around him.

With Donald Trump victory, here are his energy and climate positions

Donald Trump won the presidential election, injecting uncertainty and a possible slowing of the energy transition, both domestically and around the world. Explainers

Tory Lysik & Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

An illustration of the white house surrounded by energy icons — solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen tanks — and president elect Donald Trump smiling.

Get caught up fast: Comparing Harris and Trump on energy and climate

As Americans head to the polls, they face a clear choice between two contrasting visions for climate and clean energy policies. Explainers

Tory Lysik & Amena H. Saiyid 3 min read

Illustration showing Kamala Harris in blue and Donald Trump in red with the U.S. Capitol building in green between them. Icons for solar panels, nuclear, wind, hydrogen and fossil fuels surround them.

Amid historic U.S. election, an unprecedented energy transformation

Clean energy use is climbing, often rapidly, and yet at the same time, America has become the world’s biggest producer of oil and natural gas. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Illustration of the U.S. Capitol building opening up and lines from a line chart are coming out of it; graph paper is the background.

Shift to clean energy will transform how the global power system works

In their new subordinate roles, fossil fuel plants will mostly serve as the grid’s safety net, providing backup power when needed. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

A colorful line chart is imposed on top of a black and white photo of a transmission line.

A reporter returns home to Romania to talk to coal miners

My plan was to write about miners taking courses to learn new skills for renewables jobs. But, as is so often the case, the reality turned out to be much more complex. Reporter's Notebook

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

An illustration of a notebook that says

As coal plants shut in Romania, some miners transition to green energy while others are reluctant

Miners are witnessing the slow and steady decline of a decades-old industry as Romania prepares to phase out coal. However, not many have taken the leap to equip themselves with new skills. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 6 min read

Photo of a coal plant in the distance, with tree tops in the foreground and low mountains in the background.

What it takes to build green energy in fossil fuel-dependent Wisconsin

For Wisconsin to lower its reliance fossil fuels, it will need a lot more solar farms. But in politically-purple Wisconsin, government pressure to pursue more clean energy has been middling. Latest News

Cat Clifford 5 min read

A hand puts the state of Wisconsin into a ballot box surrounded by cheese and piles of coal and solar panels.

Global electricity demand set to soar, but don’t blame artificial intelligence, IEA finds

Global demand for electricity is set to soar in the coming years as the world transitions to cleaner energy largely reliant on such power systems, finds the International Energy Agency. Data Dives

Amy Harder & Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

An illustration featuring a line chart that has a sharp green line going up. In the background are photos of solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen, and large transmission lines.

Southeast Asia’s path to universal energy access and net-zero emissions

Southeast Asia is projected to keep increasing its reliance on carbon-intensive fuels like coal for the next 25 years. We need to slow, and ideally reverse, that fossil dependence. Voices

Nicole Iseppi & Sunita Dubey 4 min read

Aerial photo of a solar farm next to a small town and green fields.

A reporter finds hope at a solar-powered school in Pennsylvania

Amena H. Saiyid shares the moving experience she had visiting the Steelton-Highspire School District while reporting on clean energy in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2024 election. Reporter's Notebook

Amena H. Saiyid 3 min read

An illustration of a notebook that says

Solar and China drive renewables surge over next six years — IEA

The world will be getting nearly half its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. The key to this dramatic change is — in a word — solar. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

An illustration showing two bar charts imposed over a globe with solar panels and wind turbines sticking out of it.

To address surging power demand, let’s value all clean energy

To meet surging energy demand without building new fossil fuel power plants, we need to embrace new zero-carbon energy technologies — and new market mechanisms to finance them. Voices

McGee Young 3 min read

An illustration with a green background and a hand holding up a smartphone with a house with solar panels on it and wind turbines and a nuclear power reactor coming out of it. There's also a thermostat set to 72 and an arrow pointing up behind the hand.

New York leads the way on cleaning up our buildings

New York is showing other states how to transform their buildings and save people money. Voices

Sara Baldwin 3 min read

Illustration of a building in black and white with green fire escapes, light blue background.

China hit its wind and solar goal six years early

China’s grid was built for coal power, which generates electricity constantly, so it is struggling to adapt to wind and solar, which only generate power when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. Latest News

Xiaoying You 4 min read

A photograph of a red tug boat pulling a double-headed wind turbine out to sea.

Here’s how cleantech stacks up in three swing states

We take stock of cleantech and the election in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Latest News

Cipher Staff 5 min read

An illustration of the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania above a ballot box where a hand is submitting a green leaf.

Charting Texas’ road to becoming a renewable energy powerhouse

Texas may be known for its love of fossil fuels, but that hasn’t gotten in the way of a renewable energy boom in the state. Wind, solar and batteries are all drastically changing the energy mix in the state’s electricity system. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

A bar chart superimposed on top of an illustration of a wind turbine and a solar panel.

How investors can help solve AI’s energy problem

The road forward for artificial intelligence hinges on solving climate and energy challenges, so it is imperative investors back the entrepreneurs hard at work building sustainable solutions. Voices

Ben Hemani 3 min read

An illustration with a green background, electricity warning signs in yellow, a human hand extending a wad of cash and a robotic hand reaching to take the cash.

COP29: Azerbaijan official on climate finance, fossil fuels

The ambassador from Azerbaijan to the Netherlands recently sat down with Cipher to talk about the upcoming United Nations climate summit being hosted in his home country. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 5 min read

Aerial photo of a large solar power plant in a dry landscape.

In Southeast Asia, it’s a slow road to phasing out coal

Asia’s fleet of coal plants are one of knottiest challenges of the energy transition globally. They emit huge amounts of CO2, but are desperately needed to meet the region’s growing energy needs. Without intervention, they’ll be in use for decades to come. Latest News

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Illustration of snail carrying a piece of coal on its back like a dumptruck over a map of southeast asia

Singapore seeks leading role in clean energy

Southeast Asia doesn't have a regional capital to act as organizer and promoter of its clean energy efforts. Singapore is trying to step into that role. Latest News

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Singapore's skyline at sunset, dotted by spectacular tall buildings.

Plotting a new clean industrial revolution

Cipher journalists were on the ground in London last week covering the second-ever Breakthrough Energy Summit. Here are some of the key takeaways from that event. Latest News

Cipher Staff 6 min read

A large refurbished industrial space with steel beams and a glass ceiling. People mill about below.

U.S. and EU must accelerate energy transition despite headwinds, say top policy advisors

Progress toward decarbonization is picking up, but the challenges are also growing, three top advisors told the audience at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London. Latest News

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Four people, a woman and three men, sit on stage in front of a large audience. One man is shown gesturing with his hands as he speaks on a video screen.

Despite unprecedented clean energy growth, it’s still a fossil fuel world

It’s a testament to the exponential growth of renewables that fossil fuels’ share of global energy consumption has not risen in recent decades even as the demand for energy climbs. Data Dives

Cat Clifford < 1

An illustration showing a line chart transposed on top of an image of the smokestack of a fossil fuel power plant.

How one oil producer is pursuing “net-zero” oil

On its face, the phrase “net zero oil” may sound like an oxymoron. But Texas oil major Occidental Petroleum already has a buyer lined up to purchase such a product. Latest News

Cat Clifford 5 min read

Illustration showing a barrel of oil with

Inside a (nearly) ‘net-zero’ natural gas plant

NET Power's demonstration plant is an example of innovative efforts in a small but growing segment of the oil and gas industry to find ways to reduce emissions associated with using their products. Explainers

Cat Clifford 6 min read

An exterior view of the NET Power demonstration plant in LaPorte, Texas.

Despite fossil fuels dominating, wind and solar are surging

Wind and solar power's slice of the global electricity pie is surging, having increased roughly sevenfold over the last dozen or so years. Data Dives

Jillian Mock < 1

An area chart zoomed in so you can't see either axis, chart has sections of green, blue, and grey.

Latin America and the Caribbean are at an energy crossroads

Leaders from the region talk about the challenges and opportunities the energy transition poses for their countries. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 9 min read

A map of Central and part of South America, with the outlines of Brazil, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago emphasized. A little sun and a solar panel sit in the top righthand corner on top of a blue background.

How China’s clean power investments are growing

China will invest more than $150 billion in renewables each year by 2030. Meanwhile, coal use in the country’s power sector will likely peak before 2030 and then decline steadily. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Latin American energy spotlight: Guyana, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago

Many Latin American and Caribbean nations could become major clean energy players — but may rely on fossil fuel revenues to do so. We take a look at the energy transition in three countries. Explainers

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

Illustration of a wooden boat on a sandy beach, pointing toward wind turbines on a small island in the distance.

Global cleantech competition threatens Latin American and Caribbean ambitions

Latin American and Caribbean nations are poised to embrace the energy transition, but stiff competition from the United States and the European Union are making those ambitions harder to meet. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

Located along the Brazil-Paraguay border on the Parana River, Itaipu Dam is the world's third largest hydroelectric dam.

Renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels in Asia

After spiking in 2022, the average cost of renewable energy dropped below the average cost of fossil fuels in Asia, a critical region with rapidly growing energy needs. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

Horizontal bar chart, bars in grey and green.

Surging power demand spurs smarter electric grid use

Electricity demand is going up; building new transmission lines is really hard. But there are a number of improvements that could help us get more out of the existing grid today. Explainers

Cat Clifford 7 min read

An illustration with a blue background with overlapping pictures of different transmission towers, with a green arrow pointing up and to the right.

Power needs, natural gas and AI dominate CERAWeek debate

Tension between climate change and energy security was on display at the Houston confab. Latest News

Cat Clifford & Amena H. Saiyid 7 min read

Houston CERA Week photo

Climate, AI and energy security drive CERAWeek confab

One of the world’s largest energy conferences, CERAWeek, is underway this week in Texas. It's the first major gathering of the energy industry since COP28. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 3 min read

An illustration of a group of people milling about in front of a sign that says

China, India lean on coal-fired power to shore up economies

The emissions increase from coal-fired generation in these two countries along with emissions from other emerging economies more than offset the declines in coal power achieved by the United States, the European Union and other wealthier economies. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Your definitive guide to understanding hydrogen

What is hydrogen and why is everybody talking about it now? Consider this your hydrogen cheat sheet. Explainers

Cat Clifford 4 min read

Illustration. A hand holds a hydrogen production plant surrounded by questionmarks drawn in marker on a peach background.

Global energy watchdog puts on climate ‘referee’ hat

With higher profile, the IEA chief, Fatih Birol, faces scrutiny from all sides. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 7 min read

The exterior of a fancy marble building in Paris, lit up with blue lights and the letters

Top takeaways from historic COP28 deal on fossil fuels

Bill Spindle 2 min read

Saudi Arabia has a surprisingly clear path to net zero

Saudi Arabia’s economy depends heavily on oil exports. But the kingdom has a clearer path to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions at home than many other countries. Voices

Jim Krane 3 min read

A pipeline marked with 'CO2' at an outdoor industrial facility.

Oil and gas companies step into the spotlight at COP28

A flurry of announcements from the industry was at least partly aimed at blunting an unprecedented push for the eventual elimination of fossil fuel use. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

An exterior photo of a giant exhibition hall in Dubai, with posters for COP28 outside.

Fossil fuel companies are a “marginal force” in global clean energy investments

The oil and gas sector is underinvesting in clean technologies despite reaping record profits, an International Energy Agency report finds. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Bar chart in light blue and green.

Gulf petrostates bring an increasingly complex relationship with fossil fuels to COP28

With COP28 happening in Dubai, petrostates like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are in the spotlight. The glare can be harsh, but it also reveals their increasingly complicated relationship with fossil fuels. Latest News

Bill Spindle 5 min read

Skyscrapers and construction cranes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Let’s harness oil and gas know-how to scale the energy transition

Now, after 30 years in oil and gas, I’m putting that knowledge to work advising climate tech startups. Voices

Jane Zhang 3 min read

A helicopter flies over an offshore oil rig surrounded by water at sunset.

Massive scale-up of hydrogen needed for net-zero goals

Most of the hydrogen would need to come from renewable electricity to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

a simplified chart showing growth needed in renewable hydroge production

IEA saw massive shift in energy landscape in past two years

Recent events have spurred an expansion of clean energy technologies and could push coal, oil and even natural gas into decline by the end of the decade. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

green and black bars in a bar chart.

In poorer nations, coal persists despite energy transition efforts

Just Energy Transition Partnerships — often referred to as JET-Ps — are seen as one of the primary ways wealthy, industrialized countries can help phase out coal use in low and middle-income countries while addressing the cost of closing coal plants and loss of employment. But progress implementing the deals is slow. Explainers

Bill Spindle 4 min read

Illustration showing one hand making a

For lower income nations, fossil fuel debate rings hollow

For low- and middle income countries with oil and gas resources they’ve barely tapped, the debate over whether to take advantage of these resources feels unfair. Explainers

Bill Spindle 4 min read

A large group of people gather on stage at the 2023 Africa Climate Conference.

How a coal town revived itself and lessons for others

West Virginia, a major producer of coal and natural gas, should take a cue from Washington, a state whose energy system is dominated by hydropower but whose past featured coal. Voices

Sean O'Leary 3 min read

West Virginia coal plant.

Iron batteries offer an energy transition lesson

In Colorado, a promising new battery technology is being prepared for use by the state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy. It’s called an “iron-air” battery and, quite fittingly, it will be built in the iron and steel town of Pueblo. Voices

Simon Lomax 3 min read

Illustration of a manufacturing building with a roof covered in solar panels.

Three takeaways from chatting with the EU Green Deal chief

Maroš Šefčovič talks fossil fuels, geopolitics and cleantech funding. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Man wearing a suit talks into a red microphone with European Union flags blurred in the background.

Norway leader on deep-sea mining, carbon capture and wind woes

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke candidly about his views on global and domestic energy and climate policies with Cipher Executive Editor Amy Harder at New York Climate Week. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid & Amy Harder 3 min read

Cipher Executive Editor Amy Harder interviews Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre

Europe to the world: don’t give up on 1.5 degrees goal

“We are really playing with the future of the next generation,” the EU's Green Deal chief said in an exclusive interview with Cipher. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

Photo of Maroš Šefčovič

Startups race to make steel cheaply and cleanly

Electra and Boston Metal are among a handful of startups seeking to upend the traditional emissions-intensive way of making steel. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

Steel beams that will eventually form the ceiling of a building criss-cross across a clear blue sky.

Universal access to clean cooking lags behind

While the world strives to transition to a net zero economy, many poorer countries still do not have access to basic energy needs like clean cooking. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

A map of Africa with countries in different colors based on their level of access to clean cooking

The words that shape our energy future

Should fossil fuels be phased downed or phased out? Or should the emissions of fossil fuels be dealt with and phased out? This may sound like semantic games, but the nuances are important. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

The image highlights various words like

Exclusive: United inks largest deal for clean jet fuel with novel method

Houston-based startup Cemvita has inked a deal with United Airlines to supply 50,000 gallons a year of clean jet fuel made by microbes using recycled CO2. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Photo of an airplane landing on a runway

G20 leaders meet as their average coal emissions rise

When leaders of the world’s 20 richest countries gather in India this weekend, they will confront an unsettling fact: Their collective emissions from coal-fired electricity actually increased over the last seven years. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart showing emission increases in G20 countries

Parsing how much oil and gas investment we need

Analysts from the consultancy Wood Mackenzie conclude that the current level of investment — some $500 billion annually across the globe — is about right, given the industry’s efficiency gains and the current pace of the clean energy transition. Data Dives

Bill Spindle 2 min read

Carbon recyclers say climate law could hurt business

Companies re-utilizing CO2 in the production of everyday products did not receive the same tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act as those involved in storing CO2, prompting questions of parity. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 4 min read

Smoke stacks in red and sustainable products like a dress and a plane in blue. Carbon emissions being reutilized in fabric, aviation fuel, etc.. instead of being released into the atmosphere.

The many ways of removing carbon from the air

Governments and companies are increasingly betting on a mix of technologies to remove huge amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air as the effects of climate change become more and more pronounced. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Why we need to remove carbon from the air

To avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change—and achieve a net-zero world—we need to not only reduce our emissions, but also remove residual carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

As tax debate rages, massive scale needed for clean hydrogen

The United States will need to turbocharge clean hydrogen production if it hopes to meet the Biden administration’s ambitious targets, according to a recent study by two think tanks. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid 2 min read

Fossil emissions contrast with increased green spending

Two separate studies out in recent days underscore the stark contrast on display in our energy systems: Coal’s persistent dominance and green energy’s rise. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart of EU coal plants top emitters in 2022

Welcome to our wild and wonky climate future

Our climate debate just went from black and white to shades of gray all over. After decades of mostly binary debates over whether climate change is real and whether Washington, D.C. should pass laws addressing it, the Inflation Reduction Act is helping usher in a new, byzantine reality that is scrambling everything and everyone. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

U.S. carbon storage projects pile up at EPA

As Washington wages parallel battles on permitting and new environmental regulations, one conundrum crisscrosses both: A pileup of permit applications to store carbon dioxide underground. Latest News

Amena H. Saiyid 5 min read

With profits reigning, clean energy struggles to compete

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund—the largest of its kind in the world at more than $1.3 trillion—has made some 10,000 investments across the global economy. Harder Line

Amy Harder 5 min read

In a first, U.S. renewables generation overtakes coal

The United States generated more electricity from renewable energy than from coal last year, a first that illustrates the transition underway in the country. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

Chart showing renewables in U.S. overtaking coal-fired generation for first time in 2022

Record U.S. renewable electricity to replace fossil fuel power

The U.S. electricity grid is undergoing a rapid energy about-face: A record amount of clean energy is set to come online this year at the same time fossil-fuel power plants keep retiring at a fast clip, according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Data Dives

Amena H. Saiyid < 1

chart of U.S. new electric-generating capacity planned for 2023

In Norway, global tension over fossil fuels and climate change

Oslo, Norway — This Nordic country is grappling with an inner conflict, accentuated by Russia’s war in Ukraine, that pits its oil and gas wealth against its climate change ambitions. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

Energy consumption to peak by mid-century

Global energy demand is set to peak by mid-century as energy efficiency improves and energy use is increasingly decarbonized, according to the annual energy outlook from multinational oil and gas company BP released last week. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Graph of global energy consumption

Europe braces for next winter’s energy gamble

Europe is getting anxious—again. Thanks largely to unusually warm weather, along with government planning and a bit of luck, Europeans can breathe a sigh of relief: They have enough natural gas to heat their homes this winter. Harder Line

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Climate goals rising in countries that use the most coal

The overwhelming majority of global coal consumption occurs in countries that have pledged to limit or phase out their reliance on the fuel, according to a report out this month from the International Energy Agency. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Graph of number of countries with plans to phase down coal use and net-zero emissions pledges

Bending capitalism to fight climate change

Governments, corporations and nonprofits are coming up with novel ways to prod capitalism to help tackle—instead of fuel—climate change. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

Europe grapples with energy crisis while climate pressure ramps up

World leaders are gathering this week in the United States at two key conferences aimed at ratcheting up pressure to turn ambitious climate goals into reality. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Clean jet fuel could take off with new climate law

The U.S. government is for the first time in history singling out and subsidizing cleaner aviation fuel. Such a move is poised to help clean up one of the most high-profile ways our society contributes to climate change. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

No energy access leaves millions scrambling for survival, says U.N. special rep

The world needs to drastically step up funding to end energy poverty or risk leaving millions of people in poor countries fighting for their lives. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Europe’s gas storage levels inch higher

European Union countries are moving to fill their gas storage facilities quickly ahead of the winter season amid an unrelenting energy crisis and fears that Russia will cut off natural gas supplies completely. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

Chart of natural gas storage levels across Europe

Bracing for winter, Europe clings to natural gas

August is the time to hit the beach in Europe, but for many the focus is on something cooler: Winter is coming. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

How heat powers our world and how to clean it up

Heating things up accounts for the single largest share of our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. By things, we mean a whole laundry list of key ingredients in our lives. Explainers

Amy Harder 4 min read

Why the hydrogen rainbow doesn’t tell the whole story

There’s one energy source the world is increasingly betting on in the race to decarbonize the economy: hydrogen. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Leading carbon removal firm avoids oil company partnerships

The world’s leading company capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is opting not to partner with oil and gas companies, in contrast with its top competitors. Harder Line

Amy Harder 4 min read

Energy savings: an easy option but a tough sell

Building renovations, heat pumps and triple-glazed windows are rarely the talk of the town—yet these kinds of energy efficiency measures are central to the European Union’s plan to shed Russian fossil fuels following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Cleantech investment to soar in Southeast Asia

Investments in a range of clean energy technologies are poised to increase in Southeast Asia over the coming decades, but growth really skyrockets if the world gets on a path of limiting Earth’s temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

How Europe uses natural gas and what needs to change

Natural gas—particularly Russian gas—has been a source of anxiety for European Union leaders over the last several months as they scramble to find solutions in case Moscow, the bloc’s biggest gas supplier, decides to shut off the tap. Explainers

Anca Gurzu 4 min read

Coal use and power demand boost CO2 emissions

Carbon dioxide emissions are up again—and increased coal use is the main culprit. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu 2 min read

The real test of the EU’s energy freedom goals: sticking with the plan

In the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European leaders have vowed to shed their dependence on Russian gas and charge full speed into tapping renewable energy. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Climate goals would slash long-term EU natural gas demand

According to the The European Commission, fully implementing existing energy and climate proposals would lower European Union gas consumption 30% by 2030. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

National security comes roaring back as argument for climate policy

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is catapulting a dormant argument for climate policy to the top of everyone’s mind: national security. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

EU dependence on Russian natural gas has deepened in recent years

The European Union got nearly 44% of its natural gas import needs from Russia in 2020, up from about 26% in 2010, according to Eurostat data. Data Dives

Anca Gurzu < 1

EU’s pipeline politics shows urgency of green energy transition

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has gotten the European Union scrambling for both political solutions and alternative sources of energy to replace the fossil fuel it’s hugely reliant on: natural gas. Latest News

Anca Gurzu 3 min read

Why the government needs to speed up our energy transition

To summarize almost 200 years of the developed world’s energy history in 20 words: Wood came first, and then coal was king, and now oil and natural gas are dominating energy consumption today. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

A rapidly growing electricity system

The amount of electricity capacity we need in a world reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is anywhere between four and nearly eight times more than what we have today, according to BloombergNEF. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

How our energy mix is set to change over the next 30 years

The world’s energy mix will be transformed over the next 30 years, but current laws and pledges still would result in a global temperature rise of 2.3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Data Dives

Amy Harder < 1

What’s really driving the energy crisis and how cleantech fits in

Much of the world is facing an energy crisis with skyrocketing prices of oil, natural gas and coal—or even worse, no fuel at all. Explainers

Amy Harder 3 min read

As Congress writes big climate laws, contentious tech stirs debate

As the world digs into the technologies that could help society tackle climate change, controversy is inevitably emerging in key areas. Harder Line

Amy Harder 3 min read

Energy Secretary: ‘Big polluters’ want us to focus on our carbon footprints

The world needs systemic change, not undue focus on individual carbon footprints, to effectively tackle climate change, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in an exclusive interview with Cipher. Q&A

Amy Harder 2 min read