The European Union (EU) could reduce its imports of Russian natural gas by more than one third within a year.
This could be achieved through a combination of measures that would be consistent with the European Green Deal and support energy security and affordability, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) analysis.
Europe’s reliance on imported Russian natural gas has again been thrown into the limelight by its invasion of Ukraine.
The IEA’s ’10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas’ includes a range of complementary actions that could be taken in the coming months, such as turning to other suppliers, drawing on other energy sources and accelerating efforts to provide the means to use clean and efficient alternatives to natural gas.
The proposed measures are fully consistent with the EU’s European Green Deal and its ‘Fit for 55’ package, paving the way for further emissions reductions in the years to come, the IEA claimed.
Net zero
Progress towards Europe’s net zero ambitions will bring down its use and imports of gas over time, but today’s crisis raises the specific question about imports from Russia and what more can be done in the immediate future to reduce them.
“Nobody is under any illusions anymore. Russia’s use of its natural gas resources as an economic and political weapon show Europe needs to act quickly to be ready to face considerable uncertainty over Russian gas supplies next winter,” said IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol.
“The IEA’s 10-Point Plan provides practical steps to cut Europe’s reliance on Russian gas imports by over a third within a year while supporting the shift to clean energy in a secure and affordable way. Europe needs to rapidly reduce the dominant role of Russia in its energy markets and ramp up the alternatives as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, said: “Reducing our dependence on Russian gas is a strategic imperative for the European Union. In recent years, we have already significantly diversified our supply, building LNG terminals and new inter-connectors. But Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a watershed moment. The Commission will propose a pathway for Europe to become independent from Russian gas as soon as possible. The IEA’s analysis outlines a number of concrete steps we can take towards that goal.”
The key actions recommended include not signing any new gas contracts with Russia; maximising gas supplies from other sources; accelerating the deployment of solar and wind; making the most of existing low emissions energy sources, such as nuclear and renewables; and ramping up energy efficiency measures in homes and businesses.
Taken together, these steps could reduce the EU’s imports of Russian gas by more than 50 bill cu m, or over one-third, within a year, the IEA estimated. This takes into account the need for additional refilling of European gas storage facilities in 2022.
The IEA analysis noted that other avenues are available to the EU if it wishes or needs to reduce reliance on Russian gas even more quickly – but with significant trade-offs. The major near-term option would involve switching away from gas consumption in Europe’s power sector.
Reducing reliance on Russian gas will not be simple for the EU. Strengthened international collaboration with alternative pipeline and LNG exporters – and with other major gas importers and consumers – will be critical.
