The European Commission this week proposed a plan to make Europe more independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas.
The announcement was prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, coupled with surging energy prices and uncertainty about supply.
The plan, referred to as REPowerEU, aims to diversify gas supplies, speed up the roll-out of renewable gases and replace gas in heating and power generation – ultimately reducing EU demand for Russian gas by two thirds before the end of the year.
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans said: “It is time we tackle our vulnerabilities and rapidly become more independent in our energy choices. Let’s dash into renewable energy at lightning speed. Renewables are a cheap, clean, and potentially endless source of energy and instead of funding the fossil fuel industry elsewhere, they create jobs here. Putin’s war in Ukraine demonstrates the urgency of accelerating our clean energy transition.”
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REPowerEU emphasises two pillars in order to reduce reliance on Russian gas and drive resilience; these pillars include: “Diversifying gas supplies, via higher LNG and pipeline imports from non-Russian suppliers, and larger volumes of biomethane and renewable hydrogen production and imports; and secondly, reducing faster the use of fossil fuels in homes, buildings, industry, and power systems, by boosting energy efficiency, increasing renewables and electrification, and addressing infrastructure bottlenecks”.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We must become independent from Russian oil, coal and gas. We simply cannot rely on a supplier who explicitly threatens us. We need to act now to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices, diversify our gas supply for next winter and accelerate the clean energy transition.
“The quicker we switch to renewables and hydrogen, combined with more energy efficiency, the quicker we will be truly independent and master our energy system. I will be discussing the Commission’s ideas with European leaders at Versailles later this week, and then working to swiftly implement them with my team.”
Industry responds to the plan
Responding to the European Commission’s latest announcements on energy policy, European association for the promotion of cogeneration COGEN Europe is calling on the EU and its member states to focus on improving energy efficiency and supporting system integration, insisting that high efficiency cogeneration must be prioritised for all thermal energy generation.
“COGEN Europe welcomes the Commission’s Communication on affordable, secure and sustainable energy – REPowerEU – and we also support the Commission’s efforts to ensure a coordinated European response to the worrying developments in Ukraine and the ongoing energy price crisis,” said Hans Korteweg, Managing Director of COGEN Europe.
“Now, more than ever, we have to realise that Europe cannot afford to waste energy! The EU and its member states must therefore give priority to improving energy efficiency and fostering system integration, in order to ensure that Europe’s energy system will be resilient and robust enough to weather market and geopolitical shocks, and also to mitigate impacts on consumers.”
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Hydrogen Europe CEO, commented: “We welcome today’s communication of the European Commission which highlights how hydrogen can ensure clean energy independence. Hydrogenewables are the cornerstone of a resilient economy and energy self-reliance. It is ever more important to repower the EU by replacing, repurposing and reinvesting.”
Kristian Ruby, Eurelectric’s Secretary-General, also commented on the plan: “Reducing gas imports from Russia by two-thirds still this year is difficult, but doable. In that sense, the European Commission takes necessary action.
“Lowering Europe’s dependence on fossil imports will require a reliable electricity system drawing on the full range of technologies. It is encouraging that the European Commission actively seeks to harvest the clean-energy potential of electricity by accelerating heat pump installations and deployment of new renewable projects. Permitting delays remain the key barrier for new power capacity.”
Walburga Hemetsberger, Solar Power Europe CEO, said: “European solar deployment has surpassed expectations year after year, succeeding in some of the most difficult market circumstances. We call on the European Commission to recognise the true power of solar, and set the ambition needed to achieve our climate and security goals.”
However, Brussels-based nuclear trade association, FORATOM, expressed less enthusiasm at the plan, citing a lack of emphasis on nuclear power. “We are disappointed that very little is said about nuclear in the communication given that it consistently produces around one quarter of electricity in the EU,” states Yves Desbazeille, FORATOM Director General.
“Ignoring the EU’s main source of highly dispatchable, low-carbon and non-weather dependent energy raises the question about whether the proposed measures are realistic.
“The Commission itself has already admitted that nuclear will form the backbone of a carbon-free European power system, together with renewables. Having an energy mix composed of both nuclear and renewables is key to ensuring an affordable, secure and stable supply of energy in long-term.”
In order to tackle high energy prices and ensure a swift transition to a decarbonised economy, FORATOM recommends extending the operation of the existing nuclear fleet and supporting the construction of new nuclear power plants in all future policies.
