In a bold stride towards a greener future, the European Union unveiled the EU Taxonomy, a pioneering framework with the ambitious goal of steering the financial sector towards sustainability. This innovative classification system seeks to define what truly constitutes an environmentally sustainable economic activity. Its mission? To combat greenwashing by promoting transparency ...
Cracking the code of electric steam cracking
Modern economies are enabled by the industrial production of essentials materials, a process that is often accompanied by substantial carbon dioxide emissions. In 2020, the industrial sector was responsible for 36% of global final energy consumption, with the majority of this energy derived from fossil fuels. Consequently, the industry is accountable for one-fourth of global en ...
Beyond the hype: unveiling the realities and resilience of the private equity industry
During the 2018 US midterm elections, the Private Equity (PE) industry and its principals invested $150 million in various races, a figure they aim to surpass in the upcoming US presidential elections. A week ago, Belgian PE pioneer Jurgen Ingels, the founder of Smartfin, had the opportunity to interview President Obama at the latest edition of Supernova, an event that celebrat ...
From Resources to Resilience: The European Union's Approach to Critical Raw Materials
In the transition towards a sustainable future, clean technologies have emerged as beacons of hope in the global fight against climate change. However, behind the scenes of this technological revolution, hidden heroes known as critical raw materials (CRMs) play a vital role. These materials hold significant economic importance for the European Union (EU) yet face a high risk of ...
One quarter down: 2024's election marathon continues to set the global stage
In our previous post, we emphasized that 2024 stands out as a historic election year, with countries representing nearly half of the world’s population expected to participate in the polls. Some key votes are closely monitored due to their significance to markets, businesses, and policies, against the backdrop of the most fragmented geo-economic landscape in decades. With the f ...
No transition without transmission: our five key takeaways from Elia’s national energy debate
On Tuesday evening, the consulting team from Econopolis made their presence felt at Elia's national energy debate. This notable event drew energy leaders from across Belgium. The highlight was the presentation of a memorandum by Elia, prepared for the impending Belgian and European elections. The core of the evening was a pivotal debate among political parties, centering on the ...
Biden and trump seemingly align on U.S. Healthcare policies! Do they?
No matter how vast their differences may be, both presidential candidates will share at least one common stance in the lead-up to the elections. Like almost every presidential candidate in the (recent) past, they will be outspoken in their criticism of the American healthcare system. This critique remains a consistent theme, whether they are campaigning for or occupying the Ova ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) wake effects optimization will spare us from building a wind farm the size of Flanders
Nowadays, when it comes to placing wind farms, whether onshore or offshore, an increasing number of factors must be considered. The potential energy output and associated costs are now just part of the equation. Additional critical questions include: What are the emissions impacts from manufacturing? What are the environmental impacts? And so on. As a result, commissioning wind ...
Heat pumps: employing sustainable energy for a low-carbon future - an overview and industry insight
In a world focused on decarbonization and electrification, electric vehicles (EVs) are likely a primary consideration for many. However, heat pumps deserve equal, if not more, attention. Recognized increasingly as a crucial component of sustainable energy systems, heat pumps are poised to become the most critical technology for decarbonizing heating. Heat pump basics At their ...
World Energy Outlook 2023: Key Takeaways
The Econopolis Strategy team was honored to attend the World Energy Outlook 2023 event in Brussels last Monday. The Belgian Minister of Energy, Tinne Van Der Straeten, and Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), were the keynote speakers. They shared their insights on historical and current energy developments. Below, we provide the key tak ...