Of the three winters of Russia’s gas war against Europe, the last two have been record warm, and the last has also been windy.
Europe is getting used to living without Russian gas. The European Union reached its goal of stockpiling enough gas for the heating season two and a half months ahead of schedule. Gas pumped underground reduces the risk of an energy crisis in Europe, despite the threat of stopping transit through Ukraine, which accounts for almost half of Russia’s gas exports to the EU. The pipeline passes through a station in Russia’s Kursk region that was recently occupied by Ukrainian troops. In addition, the transit contract expires at the end of the year, and Ukraine will not renew it.
Gas reserves
The EU’s underground gas storage facilities were 90% full last week.
Europe continued to reduce consumption despite a recovery in industrial demand that was held back by high gas prices over the past two years. A major role in savings was played by the rapid growth of green energy – wind and solar, as well as an increase in electricity production at French nuclear stations following the completion of large-scale repairs.
The weather also helps the Europeans. Of the three winters of Russia’s gas war against Europe, the last two have been record warm, and the last has also been windy. As a result, at the end of the last warming period, the filling of underground storage facilities became a record in their entire history – almost 60%. This is one and a half times more than the average for the past five years.
Goodbye Russian gas
The share of Russian gas in European imports in 2021 will be 45%. In 2022, it fell to 24%, and last year to 15%.
The EU is only compensating for part of the reduction in these supplies by increasing purchases of liquefied gas in the United States and pipeline gas in Norway, which has replaced Russia as the main source of gas for Europe.
Europe as a whole is reducing its purchases of fossil fuels, not just Russia.
Renewables and nuclear power play a role. But the main thing is that the EU has learned to save electricity, gas and hot water.
In 2022, gas demand will decrease by 13.3%, and last year did not recover, but decreased by another 7.4%, Eurostat said. Moreover, all three of these demand components showed a decrease: population, industry, and energy burned less gas.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.