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    Nick Butler

    Energy Commentator

    This blog is on the relationship between energy and power, plus the global trends and influences on the industry. It usually appears on Monday.

    Nick Butler is visiting professor and chair of the Kings Policy Institute at Kings College London. He spent 29 years with BP, including five years as Group Vice President for Policy and Strategy Development at BP from 2002 to 2006. He has also served as Senior Policy Adviser at No 10, Chairman of the Centre for European Reform and Treasurer of the Fabian Society.

    Nick Butler is an investor in, and an adviser to a number of companies and institutions in the energy business. The views expressed are solely his. This material is not intended to provide and should not be relied upon for investment advice or recommendations. Readers are urged to seek professional advice before making any investment.

    @nickb2211  on Twitter (link opens in a new browser window)

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    • Tuesday, 8 November, 2022
      Climate change
      European crisis risks climate action reputation

      The energy transition and the cause of energy security have merged into one

    • Monday, 6 December, 2021
      Electric power
      Solution to wasted energy lies in improved distribution

      The scope for efficiency gains is enormous, even without more technology or scientific breakthroughs

    • Wednesday, 11 November, 2020
      Energy sector
      Pandemic shock to energy use risks undermining efficiency gains

      Using only existing technology, consumption could be reduced by at least 20% without difficulty

    • Wednesday, 15 July, 2020
      Renewable energy
      How oil majors bought into green energy

      A tipping point has been reached as investment in renewables technology gathers pace

    • Monday, 23 March, 2020
      Energy sector
      Climate change is still with us

      The fundamentals of energy use have not changed, even if the focus of attention has

    • Monday, 16 March, 2020
      Coronavirus pandemic
      Expect the oil price to rebound — but with a low ceiling

      Coronavirus has caused economic damage but not changed the market fundamentals

    • Monday, 9 March, 2020
      Energy sector
      Is 2020 the year for regime change in Venezuela?

      Falling oil prices could spell doom for President Nicolás Maduro

    • Monday, 2 March, 2020
      Energy sector
      Look beyond European oil majors’ steps to net zero

      The climate change targets are good but celebration at this stage is misplaced

    • Monday, 24 February, 2020
      Energy sector
      We need a world institution for climate and energy

      Establishing a structure to direct the green transition is key to success

    • Monday, 17 February, 2020
      Energy sector
      New head of Sonatrach is an opportunity for Algeria

      The state oil and gas company needs radical reform to attract foreign investment

    • Monday, 10 February, 2020
      Energy sector
      The threats to energy security have changed

      The focus now is on low oil prices, China’s imports and the climate emergency

    • Monday, 3 February, 2020
      Energy sector
      It is time to unlock the potential of hydrogen

      Even with industrialisation, renewables cannot solve the climate change challenge

    • Monday, 27 January, 2020
      Energy sector
      The disruptive effects of Europe’s Green Deal

      The strategy will affect many established businesses and change the pattern of trade

    • Monday, 20 January, 2020
      Energy sector
      The loss of corporate influence on energy policy is dangerous

      Oil majors and utilities must regain trust to meet the challenge of climate change

    • Monday, 13 January, 2020
      Energy sector
      Britain is ripe for a radical shift in energy policy

      The objectives are not in question but a strategy for achieving them is needed

    • Monday, 6 January, 2020
      Energy sector
      Gas deal with Ukraine is a boon for Russia

      Details of the agreement show that Vladimir Putin understands the energy market

    • Monday, 30 December, 2019
      Energy sector
      The three key things to watch on energy in 2020

      The influence of politics around climate change is probably the most uncertain element

    • Monday, 23 December, 2019
      Energy sector
      George Mitchell, transformer of the energy market

      The late father of fracking is my industry personality of the decade

    • Monday, 16 December, 2019
      Energy sector
      The energy surprises of 2019

      The uncertainty that prevails in the industry has been underlined by events of the year

    • Monday, 9 December, 2019
      Energy sector
      Moscow is being forced to change its energy strategy

      Russia’s power in oil and gas is curtailed by the buyer’s market

    • Friday, 6 December, 2019
      News in Focus podcast15 min listen
      UK parties are missing the mark on climate change

      What are the promises on climate change in the UK general election?

    • Monday, 2 December, 2019
      Climate change
      Election rhetoric that damages the climate debate

      The core issue is missed when politicians focus on the wrong agenda

    • Monday, 25 November, 2019
      Energy sector
      US energy independence has its costs

      As the country exports more oil than it imports, global balances shift

    • Sunday, 17 November, 2019
      Energy sector
      Energy transition is only part of the change in electricity

      Production and distribution is being disrupted in what is becoming a buyer’s market

    • Monday, 11 November, 2019
      Oil & Gas industry
      Is digitisation the fourth stage of the hydrocarbon revolution?

      Why oil and gas 4.0 is really better described as oil and gas 1.4

    Previous page You are on page 1 Next page

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