Reports

A trillion euros on the wrong policy
There are several cost-efficient and market-friendly policies that could be implemented by both Germany and the European Union to reduce the impact of carbon emissions on the environment. However, these solutions are being cast aside while the European Commission attempts to create a planned economy through “green” measures.


2019 Global Outlook: Market forces move developments in energy
2019 begins with the U.S. a dominant producer of oil and gas, while OPEC has allied with countries like Russia to try to put a floor under prices. Green energy sources continue to rise in popularity, but still have only a small impact on global consumption. And while developed nations ...


GIS Dossier: Japan’s search for an energy strategy after Fukushima
Since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident, Japan has sharply decreased its reliance on nuclear energy. Following years of deliberations weighing nuclear’s inherent risks against the expense of energy imports and climate protection obligations, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided that by 2050, about one-fifth of the country’s ...


Brexit’s impact on UK energy policies
Brexit will have a huge impact on the energy sectors of both the United Kingdom and the European Union. Britain’s energy system will remain deeply tied to the rest of Europe’s, but questions surround how differences in regulatory environments will be bridged. Regardless of whether Brexit is “hard” or “soft,” ...


Opinion: Russia returns to Africa
Russia is making a big push for closer ties with African countries. It aims to gain access to energy resources and in return offers military support and arms sales. Its goals are not only economic, however. It wants to show its people and the world that it is still a ...


GIS Dossier: Nuclear energy
The 2011 Fukushima disaster brought nuclear energy development programs around the world to a screeching halt – temporarily. Though Germany plans to fully phase out nuclear power production, Japan has brought several reactors back online, and other countries have restarted construction on nuclear plants. These developments have had huge geopolitical ...


The UAE balances oil riches with green energy drive
The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s leading oil producers, and gets 100 percent of its electricity from burning natural gas. However, this fossil fuel-dependent country has big ambitions to become a champion of green energy. Though the goals look achievable, market realities mean oil is likely to ...


China’s nuclear energy ambitions
China is pushing to become the leading exporter of civilian nuclear technology. Its first domestically designed reactor is a hard sell abroad due to regulatory barriers and safety concerns, and the market for nuclear power is stagnant at best. Beijing, however, can afford to offer incentives to buyers and is ...


With India ready for takeoff, Modi pauses over launch button
After his first 18 months in office, during which India’s economic prospects have brightened considerably, 2016 gives Prime Minister Narendra Modi a last window of opportunity for radical new policy initiatives. If he decides on a bold course, it would depart from the incremental approach that has characterized Mr. Modi’s ...


Europe’s political, economic and defensive opportunities and challenges
Geopolitical understanding matters more today than ever because geopolitical developments will force European countries to adapt to global neccessities. Are European governments prepared to change or will they continue to focus on short-term steps with the aim of protecting their own positions of power? This 2013 letter from our chairman, ...


Japan goes nuclear again, but with only two reactors - so far
The Japanese nuclear industry came to a halt in May 2012 when the last of its 54 reactors was taken off line. The shutdown of all the country’s plants started in the wake of the disaster at Fukushima in March 2011. Two months later, on July 1, 2012, one of ...
