A roadmap to cut imports of Russian gas by two thirds in a year – but they’ll need somewhere else’s gas, whether from fracking or not, plus some coal, instead. Gas storage is to be greatly increased. But how exactly they plan to ‘ramp up’ hydrogen production, and at what cost, remains to be seen. Climate obsessions will have to be shelved for a while.
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The European Commission has outlined a new energy roadmap designed to cut reliance on Russian gas by two thirds in just a year, reports BBC News.
The plan envisages ending reliance on all Russian fossil fuels “well before” 2030.
In the short term, gas should be sourced from the US and Africa while some countries may need to use more coal in the months ahead.
The EU also proposes a massive ramping up of renewables, biogas and hydrogen.
While carbon emissions may rise in the short term, the longer-term aim is a speedier transition to sustainable sources.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought a new focus on Europe’s reliance on the country for oil and gas.
The EU gets roughly 40% of its gas from Russia: According to figures from research group Transport & Environment, this dependence amounts to around $118m a day.
Full report here.
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
‘The European Commission has outlined a new energy roadmap designed to cut reliance on Russian gas by two thirds in just a year, reports BBC News.’
Russia might cut their reliance by three thirds. This month.
‘In the short term, gas should be sourced from the US and Africa.’
Rather presumptive. I see no reason why we should sell EU any.
‘The EU also proposes a massive ramping up of renewables, biogas and hydrogen.’
Like nothing has been done up to now.
They have learned nothing.
From the BBC report:
“But we also must look beyond the next couple of years. If Germany builds new LNG infrastructure, there is a risk that it kind of locks it in for the foreseeable future.” – Finnish Professor
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Building Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany didn’t lock anything in. Turned out to be a massive white elephant. Do climate obsessives really think Germany is just going to allow itself to go short of energy, to satisfy them?
more tap dancing to entertain the cheap seats. I wager they are all just waiting for the Ukraine thing to quiet down and then they’ll go back to importing largely from Russia again.
The could restart the nukes fairly quickly IMHO, but then the greenies would get their panties in a wad. Of course the rest of Europe will be watching the lights go out instead.
I am not sure how the EU can ramp up production of hydrogen. The ‘cheapest’ source is from natural gas so they can’t use that. The next possible way is from electrolysis, but that would require lots of electricity which those wind turbines in the North Sea aren’t capable of supplying.
Perhaps they intend using biofuels? Certainly there is a surplus of B.S. available.
‘The EU also proposes a massive ramping up of renewables, hydrogen and biogas’.
Jesus wept. The EU’s suicidal leap into unreliables got them into this mess in the first place. And, as everyone here knows, there is nothing ‘green’ about the mining, manufacture and maintenance of fossil fuel alternatives. And, not forgetting, reliance on more renewables equals more energy poverty for the majority of those who rely upon them. Hydrogen production is vastly more expensive than that of natural gas and entails a complete overhaul of existing supply infrastructure which would result in even more energy poverty for end users. And biogas production relies on devastating formerly fertile food crop acreage or deforestation. Think of the orangutans! Unfortunately, the EU is still away with the fairies on energy policy. However, looking on the bright side, I detect a shifting of sands the longer the war in Ukraine continues as fuel prices rocket. A complete reset of current policies (and not exactly what the WEF had in mind) might still be possible.
The big problem here is Biden. Still pathetically fixated on Global Warming, he can’t bring himself to stop slow walking permits for oil and gas. If he did, Europe could get gas (and coal) from anywhere.
EU’s energy problems are Biden’s fault? WTF?
Too many of the EUs elites have too much invested in wind power for them to easily give it up & move to something actually viable. Nothing to do with ideology, simply money.
Since the CO2 scare is a political tool to stop the working classes taking the reins of government. Coal used as efficiently as possible e.g. at source CHP/ District Heating and stripping out all gasses (esp CH4 H2) and chemicals we get from oil, is the only solution to make electricity and gas affordable and 24/7/365/25 reliable for domestic industrial and transport users. This will form a pragmatic platform to build up a parallel unsubsidised offshore wind and tidal turbine electricity generation system to see if it can give the same economy and reliability as clean burn low NOx coal – currently wind and tidal can’t achieve this. If nuclear fusion can be made to work and is as affordable as coal with no lethal long life waste products this will be the ultimate energy source.
How an orgy of green virtue-signalling lined Vladimir Putin’s pocket: Energy security was sacrificed on the altar of ‘decarbonisation’
By STEVE HILTON FORMER DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY FOR DAVID CAMERON FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 01:19, 7 March 2022
As recently as 2010, EU countries actually produced more gas than Russia exported.
But, by 2020, the positions had completely reversed, with Russia exporting nearly three times more gas than Europe produced. Why? Because, being in thrall to the green dogma that has captured the Establishment the world over, European countries cut back on fossil-fuel production.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10584485/How-orgy-green-virtue-signalling-lined-Vladimir-Putins-pocket.html
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OK to buy somewhere else’s coal, oil and gas, but not to produce your own.
Reblogged this on Climate Collections.
Things is if the greens and market spivs are allowed to keep poking sticks and stones to goad the bear, the bear will will get very angry and anything can happen. So I’m guessing DC’s adviser’s message is for us to get back to a position where if said bear crosses into our garden obviously disregarding our warning signs it will be TO. Put another way we must forget about the false Net Zero CO2 narrative and reindustrialises ASAP. That means more coal and lots of it, as no coal means; no electricity, no steel, no gas, no hydrogen, no chemicals, no transport and no way to make a stick big enough to dissuade the bear from crossing our RED line – remembering that once the high Tec missiles are all all used it will be the land sea air armed forces who will have to win the fight