PEi Connect provides a brief look at what got our attention during the week (20 – 27 May), and first up we begin with the lawsuit against Shell in the Netherlands. What an outcome! It seems that power has shifted into the hands of society, a society that is no longer satisfied with lip service or greenwashing. Shell intends to appeal the decision, but could this legal precedent be the tipping point that ultimately sees corporate policies bow to global zeitgeist rather than the bottom line?
Landmark court ruling against Shell
A Dutch court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell to drastically deepen planned greenhouse gas emission cuts by 2030, more specifically reduce emissions by 45% from 2019 levels. The lawsuit was filed by seven groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Netherlands and marks a first in which environmentalists have turned to the legal system to try to force change in an organisation’s climate strategy. This could be the beginning of a trend that gains momentum, as society demands businesses be more responsible and sustainable. Read the full story.
Gen Z and the electric decade
One of Europe’s biggest power conferences took place this week, Eurelectric’s Power Summit, and we listened in to get the latest from policymakers and industry captains regarding the digitalization, modernization and greening of European grids.
Eurelectric dedicated Tuesday’s final session to the priorities of younger consumers, above all “gen Z”. Clearly, the younger generation is proactively pushing for more digital and green projects, thereby driving disruptive change in the sector. Learn more about the Power Summit here.
Green hydrogen lights up Eiffel Tower
Not only did it look fabulous, but it was also carbon free. Get the full story about how and why this landmark turned green.
Spot the robot
Spot is a four-legged, highly mobile canine-like robot, made by Boston Dynamics. It weighs about 30kg, stands just over a metre tall and has five cameras. Why is Spot cool? This robot is designed for use in highly radioactive environments, keeping humans in the nuclear industry safer.
Spot might also have some unique advantages in fusion energy, as the need for remote, autonomous handling systems increases. Learn more about Spot.
Connect with us next week for another selection of interesting sector news. Until then, take care, stay safe and power on.
The PEi Ed team 🙂
