The temperature in Europe has plummeted and the demand for natural gas has increased.wind power decline Up to 15% requires more natural gas.Due to limited supply, Europe sees a benchmark price for natural gas rise 500%. Enter Russian President Vladimir Putin, supply Save Europe from the brink of energy disaster. bargain? The controversial Beixi 2 pipeline was approved, the project will make Europe more dependent on Russia for future energy.
Of course, Europe did not arrive overnight. The current energy crisis on the African continent stems from the mismanagement of energy supply politics over the past decade.
In addition to France, Europe is also facing a movement to abandon nuclear power, even though it provided more than 25% of Europe’s electricity in 2019. Nuclear power plants are vital in Europe because they can provide stable electricity for decades.
However, after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan and large-scale anti-nuclear protests mainly in Germany, the Merkel government announced in May 2011 that all nuclear power plants would be shut down by 2022. Eight of Germany’s 17 operating reactors have been permanently shut down to follow Fukushima. Currently, Germany has only six nuclear power reactors left.
Although NGOs appreciate this initiative, 25 leading foreign countries and Germany Writers, journalists and intellectuals wrote a joint letter warning that the loss of nuclear energy would only increase Germany’s carbon emissions. Experts say that restoring nuclear power will help achieve the country’s climate goals.
Similarly, Mike Fulwood, senior researcher at Oxford Energy Institute debate, LNG imports, especially from the United States, may be part of addressing Europe’s climate goals.But so far, Europe is largely unwilling to cooperate with the United States beyond short-term contracts, restricting the expansion and expansion of LNG export terminals. drive U.S. LNG is exported to the Asian market.
Even the EU’s hyped renewable energy policy has contributed to the energy squeeze. The latest version of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) Trying to actually reduce the amount of renewable fuel available to European industry and consumers.This is mainly through Specify foreign-
Reducing nuclear energy is one of Merkel’s biggest mistakes. The lack of a commitment to LNG is a strategic negligence; the abolition of palm oil biofuels is a costly protectionist act.
When the clear result is to narrow the range of energy options in Europe and make bottlenecks and price surges more likely, Europeans should be angry with the implementation of these policies. Alone alternative sources are not the answer, but they are all part of an effective “all of the above” energy strategy. If Europe is to avoid similar crises in the future, it must restore them in the energy structure.
What is the result of these errors? The EU is now completely dependent on energy imports, especially Russia’s oil and natural gas. In 2019, more than 60% of the total energy available in the EU will come from imports. Petroleum products (crude oil, natural gas and solid fossil fuels) are the main imported energy products, of which crude oil accounts for the largest share.Russia is of course Largest natural gas supplier Joining the EU in 2019 and 2020, only Norway and Algeria provide any significant additional shares.
Sadly, dependence on Russia will only deepen because the percentage of energy imports has actually increased in the past decade. The lack of progress in policies such as RED’s ban on palm oil, increased imports of LNG, and the phasing out of nuclear power plants have made Europe more dependent on Russia, not less.
As Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council, said written, “There are many driving factors for the unfolding energy crisis in Europe, but the arrogance of the European Union’s green policy and Russia’s stubborn energy poker are the key. Turn energy into reality.”
Fortunately, nothing was lost. European leaders can still implement “all the above” energy strategies by removing ill-considered obstacles. Attempts to narrow the range of energy supply options—whether for protectionist or otherwise motivated climate action—have obviously failed. If EU leaders recognize reality and change their strategy, instead of continuing to work in this crisis and the inevitable future crisis that will follow and risking more suffering for European citizens, it will be theirs A big credit.
Gary Clyde Hufbauer is a non-resident senior researcher at the Peterson Institute for International Economics
