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Unearthing the Reality of "Zombie Energy Systems" in Africa's Energy Transition
20 days ago
- Zombie Energy Systems (ZES) in Africa are outdated, inefficient, and environmentally harmful energy systems that persist despite being obsolete, hindering the continent's energy transition.
- The persistence of ZES is rooted in colonial legacies, economic constraints, poor maintenance, inadequate policies, and political corruption, leading to energy poverty and limited economic growth.
- ZES manifest across supply and demand sides, including aging power plants, inefficient grids, second-hand appliances, and outdated vehicles, exacerbating emissions and straining resources.
- Addressing ZES requires a holistic approach: comprehensive assessments, decommissioning or upgrading assets, modernizing grids, promoting energy efficiency, strengthening regulations, and building local expertise.
- Tailored solutions are needed for each African country, balancing socio-economic development with decarbonization, and mobilizing international investment to support renewable energy and infrastructure upgrades.
Make Europe Cool Again
13 days ago
- Heat-related deaths in Europe have risen dramatically, with tens of thousands dying annually, far exceeding road fatalities.
- Heat pumps offer efficient, two-way climate control (cooling and heating) and reduce fossil fuel imports, but adoption in Europe is low due to cost, regulatory barriers, and perceptions.
- Air conditioning is critical public-health infrastructure that reduces heat mortality, yet European AC penetration is low compared to the US and Japan, costing lives and economic productivity.
- Ground-source heat pumps are more efficient, quiet, and long-lasting than air-source units, using stable underground temperatures, but high drilling costs and logistical challenges limit adoption.
- Transition to heat pumps should be driven by cost reductions and market forces, not mandates, as seen in solar and EV adoption, and requires correcting energy price signals that currently favor gas.
- Innovations in compact, low-cost drilling technology (e.g., FlexDrill) can scale ground-source heat pumps, creating a new industry and helping Europe achieve energy independence and global cooling solutions.
China's Electric Trucks, Diesel's Peak, and What Western Planners Still Dont See
5 hours ago
- China's electric truck program targets 40% new-energy heavy-truck sales by 2030, focusing on high-use corridors and fleets that burn the most diesel.
- Slowing fossil fuel use in China reflects deliberate structural change, not economic weakness, as EVs, LNG trucks, and high-speed rail reduce road-fuel demand.
- Other countries cannot simply copy China's corridor-based infrastructure; they need integrated planning and industrial ecosystems for electrification.
- China's shift to electric and LNG trucks improves energy security by displacing oil-based diesel, impacting global prices and regions like rural Australia.
- Oil-demand forecasts and crude-import data tell different stories; structural demand plateau may precede visible drops in import volumes.

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#energy transition

Unearthing the Reality of "Zombie Energy Systems" in Africa's Energy Transition

Make Europe Cool Again

China's Electric Trucks, Diesel's Peak, and What Western Planners Still Dont See