Europe can wean itself off Russian gas

[jpak]

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2014/03/12/europe-can-wean-itself-off-russian-gas/

<snip>

As the Ukrainian crisis unfolds many politicians are wondering what can we do to reduce our energy dependency on Russia. The spontaneous response is to talk about alternative gas supplies, particularly given the promise of shale gas. The truth is that EU can do a lot more. But the EU needs a “yes, we can” attitude to that.

The political objective of a new European energy security strategy does not have to be a question of cutting off Russian gas supplies, but rather of achieving a level of flexibility that could allow the EU more choice of energy supply and greater resilience against conflicts in neighbouring countries. If the European Union had such a strategy and the resolve to implement it, it would have moved half way down the road to full energy security.

Europe does not have to wait 40 years in order to achieve Denmark’s energy independence. Thanks to Danish determination and the energy policies of countries like Spain, Germany and the UK, and, most recently, China serious entry into the low carbon business, renewable energy today is cheap. In fact in many cases it is cheaper than conventional energy.

According to the latest assessment of investment bank Lazards, solar generated electricity is becoming as cheap as new coal and gas power while offshore wind is even cheaper. Similar are the estimates of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Research that show a levelised cost of solar electricity (the total cost of building and operating a plant over its financial life) in Southern Europe down to €0.06-€0.08 per kWh. The levelised cost of electricity does not tell the whole picture of energy costs but it is a good indicator on where we are moving to. The cost of renewables is falling as fossil fuels become more expensive and concern over environmental and health damages grow. The Ukrainian crisis is likely to accentuate this trend.

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[uncommonlink]

1. Interesting article.

Thanks for the link.
I've always believed that alternative energies are the wave of the future and the sooner the world wholeheartedly embraces this, the better off humankind will be.

[1000words]

2. Not sure the EU is unified enough to make that happen.

[uncommonlink]

4. I have to agree with you,

there is too much discord among the EU members at this time, but, if they want to shake the dependence of Russian gas, and all that goes with that dependence, they're going to have to come together at some time, bite the bullet and take the necessary steps to wean themselves off that dependence.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Israel will soon have tapped a natural gas field with more than enough for Europe.

The Leviathan gas field is a large natural gas field located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel, 47 kilometres (29 mi) south-west of the Tamar gas field. The gas field is located roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) west of Haifa in waters 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) deep in the Levantine basin, a rich hydrocarbon area in one of the world's larger offshore gas finds of the past decade. The gas find has the potential to change Israel's foreign relations towards a closer collaboration with Cyprus and with Greece. Together with the nearby Tamar gas field, it has been seen as an opportunity to Israel to become a major energy power in the Middle East.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_gas_field

[dipsydoodle]

7. Leviathan is still in dispute with Lebanon.

.

[Jesus Malverde]

8. Too bad Lebannon cannot defend it's own borders much less project power to sea...

I'm sure the international community will treat the Lebanese fairly.

[dipsydoodle]

9. I would hope so

[Benton D Struckcheon]

5. Sun from the Sahara and the Middle East,

connected by under-the-Med cables. Offshore wind. The aforementioned Israeli gas.
It takes will and unity. If they could shoot themselves repeatedly in the foot with the euro, I don't see why they can't also get together to do something that would actually be useful.

[FarCenter]

6. Which is preferable? Being dependent on the Russians or the Arabs?

[jpak]

10. How about none-of-the-above?

Energy efficiency, smart transportation systems and renewable energy could make the EU energy independent enough to tell them all to fuck off.

Especially the Russians.

yup

[FarCenter]

12. For how many Euros and how many months?

Without knowing cost and time, it's just hot air.

[jpak]

14. Do you expect this to happen overnight? Without cost?

If so, you will be disappointed.

In the meantime, they Kowtow to Pootie Poot and pay him tribute - in Euros - for as long as they can tolerate.

yup

[Earth_First]

11. Shale gas? That's the solution?!

What a fantastically elementary solution.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Guess you didn't read the article, which is mostly about renewable energy and mentions

shale once. It's mostly about solar and wind and that sort of thing, it's actually a very interesting article.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Putin strikes me as the kind of gent

whose farts smell really, really bad.