Bitcoin-related power consumption has reached record highs this year. A study from the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance released on Monday estimates that the global bitcoin mining industry uses 7.46 GW, equivalent to around 63.32 TWh of energy per year. The study also notes that miners are paying around $0.03 to $0.05 per kWh this year.

The state plans rolling blackouts to deal with a heatwave that has pushed the power grid to the limit. California has vastly expanded the capacity of solar power. The drawbacks have been evident in the past week as temperatures soared daily above 100°F (38°C) and air-conditioner use leapt in the late afternoon and early evening, just as the sun set.

Impact investing is now all of a sudden having its moment. We must be very mindful though that this is done correctly to actually have impact as opposed to just moving capital around. With such a plethora of investing styles and funds on offer, not to mention the buzzwords, it is important that the impact market scales with integrity.

Demand for inflation-protected bonds has intensified in the US, as investors look to shield portfolios against the risk of a spike in inflation as economic activity rebounds from the coronavirus crisis. While few investors fear an immediate resurgence in inflation, what has become the “concern du jour” is what happens when a recovery takes hold.

Various investment houses are now offering mutual funds that specialise in clean energy or the energy transition. Investors should also think about the types of asset class they are picking, if they want to achieve change. Some believe bonds are a more effective tool at listed companies, as they are often issued to supply finance for more specific purposes.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya sold a 1 billion euros perpetual note on Tuesday, and designated it as a green bond. CoCo bonds pay more interest than other debt. In exchange investors bear losses, if the bank fails. Transparency on how the funding has supported environmentally friendly causes will be critical, if the bank is to avoid the greenwashing tag.

The German program is buckling under the weight of surging costs and needs an urgent fix. The green surcharge will cost consumers about €26.2 billion this year. At a cost of some €11 billion to the budget, the government will cut the green fee by 2 cents/kWh next year. In other words, power consumers’ burdens will be relieved by taxpayers.

The last few months have been sunny and windy and the wholesale prices have been low due to the pandemic. But the owners of solar- and wind power stations in Germany receive a fixed price and the difference comes from a surcharge paid by consumers. It will likely increase by 25% in 2021 and an average household will pay 350 euros per year.

EDF said it does not yet know how the project will be funded. Humphrey Cadoux Hudson said: “it is important to get the lowest cost of capital”. Backers of nuclear power insist Britain needs to replace existing nuclear plants, given that it is committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and the country cannot rely on wind and solar power all of the time.

Output from wind farms was up by 40% compared with the first quarter of 2019 as Britain experienced the wettest and windiest February on record. Making sure the grid isn’t overloaded by wind and solar is a challenge for National Grid Plc. The grid operator asked for emergency powers to switch off renewable generators if needed to limit supply.

Germany's negative electricity price rules caused €50 million in losses for offshore wind projects in February 2020. In particular, the "six-hour rule" that stops support payments, if wholesale day-ahead electricity prices go negative for more than six hours. The aim is to ensure there is no incentive to generate electricity when supply exceeds demand.

The electricity futures prices for the next quarter still do not show symptoms of being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. From March 9 to 11, the prices increased in most European markets. The outlook for the electricity futures for 2021: the UK registered a rise of 0.1%, other markets registered declines of between 0.2% and 3.4%.