The year 2006 in energy

[hans.dek...@gmail.com]

The year 2006 has been a spectacular year for energy. Hereby Leonardo
ENERGY's list of 10 highlights.
1) Energy Efficiency becomes top priority in Europe (and beyond).
2) Many world records broken on renewable energy technologies, among
others:
- the largest wind farm
- the largest wind turbine
- the largest solar power station
- the most efficient solar cell
- the largest wave power station
3) The emergence of the smart grid concept with smart metering
4) The turnaround of US on energy & climate policy, through the 25 x 25
vision (Renewable Energy World, Dec issue, p 113), 8 states introducing
CO2 restrictions, ...
5) Among others, Al Gore's movie has made climate change a public
issue, addressed daily in mass media
6) A comeback for nuclear appears imminent
7) A blackout leaves 10 million Europeans in the dark.Regulators need
to start regulating beyond price.
8) The first year of full operation of the European Emission Trading
Scheme
9) Passive Houses emerge as a mainstream technology, offering the
potential to almost eliminate low temperature heat demand in buildings.

10) Reality dawns on the illusion of the hydrogen economy

More information:
http://www.leonardo-energy.org/drupal/node/1298