Thursday

30th Mar 2023

Opinion

Europe gas crisis is a timely warning

We should be grateful to the Russians and Ukranians for the warning that central Asian gas supplies are insecure. We must heed the warning and start moving more urgently to renewable sources of energy, as this is the only way for the EU to have energy independence.

The Kiev - Moscow row about gas bills has been going on for years and is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • Energy efficient building is one of the ways forward (Photo: VELUX / ESTIF)

As passive consumers of Central Asian gas all we can do is understand the situation, learn from this crisis and start investing in alternative sources of energy.

We must not take for granted a regular supply of gas. Interruptions will become increasingly common, if only because the investments are not being made in new production and transport infrastructure.

The recent interruption in gas supplies show how centralised and weak the supply chain is; if there is a row with Ukraine the whole of south east Europe is affected. If there is a drop in pressure in the pipeline it can take up to 2 weeks to build up the pressure again.

Geopolitics

Observing the gas pipeline "geopolitics" is a fascinating occupation for the armchair strategist: Russia says security of supply will come from its new North and South Stream gas pipelines, while the Economist laments that the alternative Nabucco pipeline, which would have linked the EU direct to the Caspian basin, bypassing Russia, never got the political backing that could have resulted in its construction.

I say that these pipelines are irrelevant to energy security in the EU. Even with all these

pipelines operational we would still be reliant on distant and unaccountable regimes for our gas supply.

Political rows, unpaid bills or regional conflicts will continue to ensure that supply remains unreliable. Another factor is that most of the gas that Russia sells to the EU comes from the former Soviet republics. Russia only produces enough gas to supply itself, and the EU supply is dependent on Russia's good relations with the former Soviet states.

There is an alternative: energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.

Energy efficiency should be understood as meaning ways of cutting energy consumption in buildings. The German PassivHaus technology has proven that energy efficient buildings can maintain a 20 degrees temperature all year round - without the need for any traditional source of heat at all.

If all buildings used PassivHaus technologies (most of which are low tech) our need for gas imports would crash and the financial savings to be made could be measured in the trillions.

Local production

One of the most sustainable concepts of renewable energy is that it should be locally

produced. In other words every community should look at what mix of renewables it should invest in to get a regular supply of heat, electricity and gas.

For example, biogas can be made from sewage and organic waste that exists in huge quantities in every city, and is currently thrown away in most places. Sewage and garbage could become a part of the solution. Public heating systems are another way of delivering heat in a highly efficient way, and we should look at how Sweden does this.

These solutions are as relevant to Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet republics as they are to EU member states. These countries are increasingly vulnerable because of their over dependence on gas, and they need to invest in local and renewable sources of energy. They should become part of the diversification of energy supplies solution, rather than being seen as part of the problem.

The case for renewables has been proven in the EU and most government's are in favour. But it is very much a case of something "should" be done, not something that urgently "must" be done.

Central European EU member states are trying to block the EU's 20/20/20 commitments

as they want to protect their old and dirty energy sector. But this is a false economy; it

is in their own economic interest to diversify supplies and take the renewable road to

sustainability.

The author is an independent consultant based in Romania

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author's, not those of EUobserver.

The overlooked 'crimes against children' ICC arrest warrant

An unprecedented component of this announcement has received less attention: the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Putin's commissioner for children's rights. Lvova-Belova is accused of deporting and unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Column

What does China really want? Perhaps we could try asking

Perhaps even more surprising to the West was the fact that the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal was not brokered by the United States, or the European Union, but by the People's Republic of China. Since when was China mediating peace agreements?

Dear EU, the science is clear: burning wood for energy is bad

The EU and the bioenergy industry claim trees cut for energy will regrow, eventually removing extra CO2 from the atmosphere. But regrowth is not certain, and takes time, decades or longer. In the meantime, burning wood makes climate change worse.

Biden's 'democracy summit' poses questions for EU identity

From the perspective of international relations, the EU is a rare bird indeed. Theoretically speaking it cannot even exist. The charter of the United Nations, which underlies the current system of global governance, distinguishes between states and organisations of states.

EU's new critical raw materials act could be a recipe for conflict

Solar panels, wind-turbines, electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies require minerals including aluminium, cobalt and lithium — which are mined in some of the most conflict-riven nations on earth, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Kazakhstan.

Column

What does China really want? Perhaps we could try asking

Perhaps even more surprising to the West was the fact that the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal was not brokered by the United States, or the European Union, but by the People's Republic of China. Since when was China mediating peace agreements?

Biden's 'democracy summit' poses questions for EU identity

From the perspective of international relations, the EU is a rare bird indeed. Theoretically speaking it cannot even exist. The charter of the United Nations, which underlies the current system of global governance, distinguishes between states and organisations of states.

Latest News

  1. The overlooked 'crimes against children' ICC arrest warrant
  2. EU approves 2035 phaseout of polluting cars and vans
  3. New measures to shield the EU against money laundering
  4. What does China really want? Perhaps we could try asking
  5. Dear EU, the science is clear: burning wood for energy is bad
  6. Biden's 'democracy summit' poses questions for EU identity
  7. Finnish elections and Hungary's Nato vote in focus This WEEK
  8. EU's new critical raw materials act could be a recipe for conflict

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. InformaConnecting Expert Industry-Leaders, Top Suppliers, and Inquiring Buyers all in one space - visit Battery Show Europe.
  2. EFBWWEFBWW and FIEC do not agree to any exemptions to mandatory prior notifications in construction
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Azerbaijan Embassy9th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and 1st Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting
  2. EFBWWEU Social Dialogue review – publication of the European Commission package and joint statement of ETUFs
  3. Oxfam InternationalPan Africa Program Progress Report 2022 - Post Covid and Beyond
  4. WWFWWF Living Planet Report
  5. Europan Patent OfficeHydrogen patents for a clean energy future: A global trend analysis of innovation along hydrogen value chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us