Millions of European families may experience blackouts or be unable to pay to stay warm this winter due to power shortages and sky-high natural gas costs. The European Union (EU) does, however, have specific options at its disposal to assist alleviate this crisis and avert future crises. The EU can and must diversify its fuel sources to ensure that affordable, clean energy is always available.
The scarcity of natural gas, which accounted for 22% of power output in the EU in 2019, is the most urgent source of the energy crisis. The EU obtains natural gas directly from Russia via the Nord Stream pipeline, but Russia has reduced supply, driving up costs and raising fears of shortages. Russia believes the lower supply is due to a seasonal shift in which more natural gas is diverted into storage caverns in preparation for increased domestic demand during the winter. The interruption in supplies, on the other hand, coincides with the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and Russia’s efforts to pressure the EU Commission into supporting the project’s ultimate approval.
Because Russia is plainly not a trusted partner, EU member states must take steps to diversify their natural gas sources. Despite the fact that liquefied natural gas (LNG) is more expensive than natural gas delivered by pipeline, member states should seek LNG from the United States and the Middle East to diversify their natural gas supplies. This will help avoid the need to rely on higher-carbon-emitting energy sources like coal and oil to keep the lights turned on.
For the past two decades, the EU has been attempting to make a big transition to renewable energy sources, but with limited success. Wind and solar power accounted for less than 20% of EU electricity in 2020, while hydropower accounted for only 13%. Though the percentages are increasing, there is just not enough renewable energy in the bloc at the moment, and when it is available, it is unreliable. Solar power goes out at night, and wind power goes out when the wind dies. Renewables have a significant role to play in the energy environment, but they must be adopted with a realistic understanding of the technology’ current capabilities. Renewable energy generation should be increased in the EU, but not as a substitute for stable, reliable clean energy sources.