European leaders are identifying new strategies to mitigate their reliance on Russian gas imports in light of sanctions placed upon the country, exacerbating Europe’s energy crisis. This was done in response to the antagonistic Russian-Ukrainian tensions that have only risen over the past two weeks, as President Vladimir Putin continues to make waves on the global market.
The IEA (an independent energy group) has proposed a 10-part plan to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas by a third in one year without compromising progress on the European Green Deal (where the region has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050).
Why is Europe so dependent on Russian gas?
Since 2010 energy production in the EU has dramatically declined because its primary energy resources, including several North Sea gas deposits, are either running dry or have shut down production (i.e., the Groningen gas fields in the Netherlands).
Consequently, the EU has had to turn to natural gas as its primary energy resource due to increased efforts in reducing carbon emissions. Natural gas is critical to countries like Germany, which have rejected nuclear energy as a green energy source.
Despite reduced energy consumption from fossil fuels, only 37% of the EU’s gross energy consumption comes from renewable energy sources, while an alarming 40% of natural gas is imported from Russia. Russia also supplies 46% of the EU’s coal exports.
Previously, EU leaders did little to diversify their energy resources, and the IEA actively called on Russia to send more gas to Europe to help alleviate the energy crisis.
As hostilities intensify, Europe is now under threat as Russia uses its resources as a political weapon. The region must act quickly, or it could risk facing uncertainty in gas supplies this winter.
How Europe can reduce its dependency on Russia for gas
While other countries like the United States were quick to ban Russian gas imports, EU leaders have struggled to cut ties with Moscow, imposing severe security risks.
The IEA’s 10-part plan proposes a series of measures that can be implemented quickly to help the EU achieve energy independence from Russia at an accelerated rate. Here’s a summary of the key actions and how the new measures could impact European countries:
- No new contracts with Russia
- Replace Russian gas supplies with alternative supplies
- Introduce minimum gas storage obligations to enhance market resilience
- Faster deployment for new wind and solar projects
- Maximize generation from existing renewable energies
- Introduce short-term solutions to protect vulnerable consumers from higher electricity prices
- Speed up the replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps
- Improve energy efficiency in buildings and industries
- Encourage consumers to adjust thermostats
- Diversify and decarbonize sources of power systems
These measures consider the EU’s carbon neutrality ambitions to increase green energy from existing renewable energy resources.
The IEA also recognizes that a significant change in how the region consumes energy will inevitably increase energy bills. Therefore, the plan proposes a financial cushion to protect vulnerable consumers.
Though the IEA’s proposal is impressive, it falls short of a new plan that is set to slash Russian imports by 80%.
