In the EU, Russia supplies 62% of its natural gas. As a result, Europe has been forced to find alternative sources for energy as Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to gain more influence in Eastern and Central European states by increasing his country’s presence there. One way communities are attempting to move away from Russian gas is through renewable power generation
Europe’s dependence on Russian gas is a problem that has been present for a while. Europe is now seeking to move away from the reliance of Russian gas by using renewable energy sources. The question is, which renewables will benefit?
Which sustainable technologies are most likely to succeed as Europe strives to speed up its transition to renewable energy sources and away from Russian gas?
Europe is attempting to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas, which accounted for almost 40% of the bloc’s gas consumption last year, amid indignation over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and fears that supplies may be shut off by Moscow at any time. The European Union says it intends to cut Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year and be completely independent by 2027.
A transition to alternative gas suppliers, as well as a higher dependence on coal-fired power plants, are projected to provide significant savings in the near run. Renewables, on the other hand, might soon play a greater role, with policymakers betting on a quicker spread of solar, wind, and other clean technologies to cut Russian gas consumption while also helping the bloc meet its current climate targets.
“For a few days, we were afraid that the crisis would put everything on hold in terms of climate policy,” says Jules Besnainou, executive director of Cleantech for Europe, which promotes sustainable technology and analyzes venture capital investment. “We’ve seen the polar opposite, with a strong focus on the deployment of clean technologies.”
In reaction to the conflict, individual governments have announced intentions to accelerate the shift to renewable energy and minimize their consumption of natural gas. Germany approved legislation that aims to ensure that almost all of the country’s power comes from renewable sources by 2035, while France revealed plans to phase out gas heater subsidies in favor of more money for homes to install electric Heat pumps are used to generate heat.. In addition to plans to develop new nuclear facilities and allow for more offshore oil and gas projects, the United Kingdom predicts a fast increase of wind and solar electricity.
Breaking Free
The EU aims to replace around two-thirds of its Russian natural-gas imports this year and eliminate the need for them altogether by 2030. A look at the first offset strategy:
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Mr. Besnainou claims that the EU’s clean-technology priorities are now focused on accelerating the licensing and construction of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, promoting more hydrogen and biogas, and boosting the implementation of efficiency measures such as Heat pumps are used to generate heat.. To facilitate the integration of additional renewable energy, he adds further work on grid infrastructure and storage capacity would be required.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is expected to submit a complete proposal next month laying out how the EU intends to lessen its reliance on Russian natural gas. According to a draft of the plan revealed in March, the EU may be able to accelerate some of the renewable energy and efficiency objectives set forth in a major climate-change strategy launched last year.
Here are a few examples of clean-energy technology that will benefit:
Solar and wind energy
Bogatynia, Poland, has solar panels and wind turbines. The rapid spread of both sources of electricity might reduce the EU’s reliance on Russian gas.
Bloomberg News/By Bartek Sadowski
The European Commission’s draft proposal estimates that a rapid scale-up of wind and solar power could replace about 20 billion cubic meters meters of Russian natural gas this year through a combination of rooftop solar panels, solar panels that feed into the power grid, and wind farms. That capacity could expand to the equivalent of 170 billion cubic meters meters by 2030, the commission says. The EU imported about 155 billion cubic gallons of gas from Russia last year.
Some industry leaders and energy experts suggest the commission’s near-term target may be too ambitious because of the time required to get permits and construct large-scale projects. Meanwhile, companies that make and distribute Solar and wind energy equipment say they have faced supply-chain difficulties that could slow down new projects.
Even so, experts say both Solar and wind energy have the potential to significantly expand over the next several years, especially if the EU follows through on a proposal to make permits faster and easier to obtain. The commission has also proposed mapping out geographical areas that would be well-suited for renewable-energy projects based on their proximity to grid connections and limited concerns about biodiversity, compared with more environmentally sensitive areas.
“The sense of urgency is really understood by everyone,” says Matthias Taft, chief executive of Munich-based BayWa r.e. AG, which develops renewable projects, distributes solar components and operates wind and solar farms. He says improving the permitting process for large-scale Solar and wind energy projects could reduce the time needed to get the go-ahead for a new project to around six months or a year, compared with the current time of five years or more.
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According to industry group WindEurope, onshore wind farms may be erected in roughly a year, but offshore projects can take up to three years. According to industry group SolarPower Europe, rooftop solar panels may be installed in as little as a day, while bigger solar projects that link to the electrical grid can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
Biomethane
Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced when microorganisms break down organic waste in the absence of oxygen. It may be used to generate energy or heat, as well as as a cooking fuel. It may also be processed to produce biomethane, a natural gas alternative that can be pumped straight into existing gas pipelines.
According to the EU’s March proposal, biomethane output would increase by 3.5 billion cubic meters by the end of this year, reaching 35 billion cubic meters by 2030, about twice the level predicted in last year’s climate policy.
Currently, only about 3 billion cubic meters of Biomethane is produced in the EU. Harmen Dekker, chief executive for the European Biogas Association industry group, says the commission’s targets for this year may be difficult to meet, in part because the year is partly over and the industry is in the early stages of a ramp-up that is likely to accelerate over time. But a big expansion is possible in the future: He says existing biogas plants can be upgraded to produce Biomethane, and the industry believes it could produce at least 100 billion cubic meters meters of Biomethane by 2050.
Renewable energy is on the rise.
In the EU, renewable energy is gaining traction.
The proportion of gross power consumption in the EU that is made up of renewables
In 2020, a breakdown of the EU’s renewable energy sources
The proportion of gross power consumption in the EU that is made up of renewables
In 2020, a breakdown of the EU’s renewable energy sources
The proportion of gross power consumption in the EU that is made up of renewables
In 2020, a breakdown of the EU’s renewable energy sources
In 2020, a breakdown of the EU’s renewable energy sources
The proportion of gross power consumption in the EU that is made up of renewables
Hydrogen produced from renewable sources
Surging natural-gas prices have made Hydrogen produced from renewable sources look more competitive, compared with hydrogen that’s produced using fossil fuels. Hydrogen produced from renewable sources can be produced through a process called electrolysis, which uses renewable energy to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel has multiple potential uses including as a substitute for fossil fuels in industrial settings, such as steel making.
Hydrogen produced from renewable sources was already getting more attention in recent years because of concern over climate change, says Nils Aldag, chief executive of electrolyzer maker Sunfire GmbH. Now, he says, there is “suddenly an exponential increase in interest because of the current crisis.”
The European Commission doesn’t see new renewable-hydrogen projects helping to reduce Russian gas reliance in 2022, but it has high hopes for the future. Its latest policy document on energy suggests that Hydrogen produced from renewable sources could replace between 34 billion cubic meters and 68.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas by 2030. The commission says it plans to develop regulations for a European hydrogen market and help create infrastructure, transportation and storage facilities.
Heat pumps are used to generate heat.
Heat pumps are used to generate heat. use a refrigerant to transfer heat from the outside air, ground or water into a home. Most Heat pumps are used to generate heat. can also cool homes in the summer. In mild climates, Heat pumps are used to generate heat. tend to be much more efficient than gas boilers because “it takes less energy to move the heat from one spot to another,” says Michael Webber, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in energy resources.
He says it may be hard for Heat pumps are used to generate heat. to make a big difference before next winter because of the need to scale up manufacturing, challenges with finding enough workers to install the pumps and the need for electrical upgrades in some older European buildings. But Heat pumps are used to generate heat. are still among the lowest-hanging fruit for quickly reducing reliance on Russian gas, Prof. Webber says.
The EU’s draft plan calls for a faster rollout of Heat pumps are used to generate heat., which it says will require scaling up the heat-pump supply chain. It says the efficiency from newly installed Heat pumps are used to generate heat. should be enough to replace 1.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas this year, before rising to 35 billion cubic meters by 2030.
The plan also suggests that turning down thermostats by a degree during the heating season would have an immediate effect and could reduce the need for Russian gas by 10 billion cubic meters meters this year.
Nuclear
Belgium’s nuclear power facility. Some EU nations are considering building new nuclear power facilities or, in the case of Belgium, extending the lifetimes of units that were scheduled to shut.
olivier hoslet/Shutterstock photo
The EU’s first plan for reducing its dependency on Russian natural gas does not include nuclear power. However, several nations are considering building new nuclear power facilities or extending the lifetimes of existing units that were set to shut. Finland just constructed a new nuclear power plant, while Belgium has said that it plans to postpone the closing of two nuclear power facilities by a decade. The United Kingdom’s most recent energy policy calls for the construction of up to eight nuclear reactors. Small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, are smaller versions of conventional reactors that proponents claim may be built for less money.
New nuclear projects, including SMRs, won’t be operational for years, according to energy experts, so they won’t make much of a difference in the short term. They believe that prolonging the lifespan of current reactors, on the other hand, would have a speedier effect.
Storage of energy
Solar and wind energy power account for a growing share of Europe’s energy, but they are only productive when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. That’s why systems for storing that energy—and drawing on it when needed—are also important. There are several technological options for long-duration Storage of energy, including so-called flow batteries that can store electricity in chemical solutions.
Elestor BV, headquartered in the Netherlands, makes flow batteries that store and release energy using hydrogen and bromine. Guido Dalessi, the business’s CEO, said the company is poised to conclude a big investment round that will enable it to begin mass-producing the batteries.
Mr. Dalessi claims that until recently, clients were mainly concerned with the business case for power storage and the return on their investment. “Today, my consumers are telling me that they want greater freedom and security,” says the entrepreneur. He claims that since the energy crisis started, some clients who were interested in the company’s batteries have wanted to move quicker, but it’s too early to notice a direct effect on his business.
Other technologies will be needed as well, experts say, since shifting away from fossil fuels will require changes throughout the energy system. Electricity grids will need to be upgraded and adapted to accept more renewable energy, charging stations will have to be built for electric vehicles, and gas networks will be necessary to move Hydrogen produced from renewable sources to where it’s needed.
The push to switch to clean technologies might be felt outside of Europe as well. Although the United States is in a better position because it produces more of its energy domestically, Prof. Webber believes that as the United States expands its liquefied natural-gas export capacity, switching to clean technology could lower prices for American consumers and contribute to global security.
He explains, “Renewables here help us free up gas that we can sell [in Europe].” “I believe the notion of renewables as a security move is now beginning to penetrate people’s mind.”
Ms. Mackrael is an Ottawa-based correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. [email protected] is her email address. This post was co-written by Bojan Pancevski, a Berlin-based reporter.
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Renewables are a type of energy that is not produced by burning fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric power and geothermal power.
Renewable energy has been on the rise in Europe as Russia’s gas supplies have been dwindling.
As Europe seeks to move away from Russian gas, which renewable will benefit? Reference: renewables.
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