At a glance #2
Per the above graphic Europe imports most of its energy. The energy potential of each country differs. Germany is pushing so called renewable energies, which are, however, insufficient for covering its energy needs.1 As for fossile fuels, Germany has coal, lignite and hard coal. Although there is a slight increase in Germany’s coal consumption2, it is China that shows the greatest increase in use. Not least, because the world has China do everybody’s manufacturing.
It is curious that the production of natural gas in the European Union has actually decreased by 50% in the last 10+ years.
It’s the EU itself then, that increased its dependence on imports. For the most part the lacking energy was supplied by imports from Russia. Since the EU, by imposing sanctions on Russia, cuts itself off from that flow of energy, only expensive alternatives remain. While European states like Norway can help out to some degree, the big ally, the US offers to deliver. In addition gas is to be imported from the Golf States. Currently, however, that is not possible, at least not in required quantities. In the case of North American gas, transport costs would be quite significant – and that means higher energy consumption before it even arrives at the end user. Most of the North American liquid gas is extracted by fracking, one of the methods most damaging to the environment.3 EU policy leaves little other choice. The EU’s desire to “punish Russia” has the Biden-administration succeed where former president Trump ‘only’ demanded.4
Footnotes:
- https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/479/publikationen/hg_erneuerbareenergien_dt.pdf
- https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/technologie/energie-strom-deutschland-101.html
- https://learngerman.dw.com/de/us-fracking-gas-f%C3%BCr-europa-freiheit-oder-klima-selbstmord/a-61296262
- https://www.westernjournal.com/trumps-push-get-europe-import-us-gas-russias-paying-dividends-now/
Quelle: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-the-eus-energy-dependency/