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

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  • 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

  • Monday, 11 November, 2019
    Energy sector
    Eastern Mediterranean gas seeks a buyer

    Potentially rich fields are unexploited, hindered by practical and political hurdles

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