About: energy crisis

No green and digital transition without raw materials, EU warns
Europe's transition to a sustainable and digital society is only possible with a strategic approach to the raw materials needed to manufacture chips, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, the EU's internal market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Monday (25 April).
Why Spanish-Portuguese proposal to intervene in wholesale energy markets is problematic
Spain and Portugal want to push ahead with a benchmark price for energy, but this could lead to increased consumption of fossil gas, inflated gas prices and fewer incentives to invest in renewable energy, warns Lion Hirth and Christoph Maurer.
The allure of Middle East hydrogen
With European and Asian gas prices hitting historic highs, even expensive hydrogen begins to look more attractive, but production costs need to drop significantly and production must be scaled up if it is to become an alternative to fossil gas, writes Robin Mills.
Cost of gas storage refill will be evenly spread, EU assures
Austria, the Netherlands and Hungary have flagged concerns about EU plans to ensure the bloc’s gas storage is at least 80% full by 1 November, warning they would bear a disproportionate amount of the cost.
EU, US strike LNG deal as Europe seeks to ditch Russian gas
The United States will aim to supply 15 billion cubic metres (bcm) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to EU markets this year to help Europe break away from Russian fossil fuel supplies, the two sides announced on Friday (25 March).
EU leaders to debate ‘contagion effect’ of gas prices on electricity
At the insistence of Spain and other southern countries, EU leaders will instruct officials to look into the contagion effect of gas prices on electricity markets, according to draft summit conclusions seen by EURACTIV.
EU lawmakers call for ban on Russian fossil fuel imports
Around 100 lawmakers from across Europe have called for a ban on imports of Russian oil, gas and coal ahead of a meeting of EU leaders in Versailles, France, on Thursday and Friday (10-11 March).
Spain seeks EU funding for ‘green gas’ interconnector to rest of Europe
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called on the European Union to finance gas interconnections with the rest of Europe, saying new infrastructure should also include green gases such as hydrogen. EURACTIV's partner El Diario reports.
Commission doubles ambition for EU biomethane production from agricultural waste
The European Commission has doubled its objective for home-grown biomethane production to 35 billion cubic metres per year by 2030 as part of efforts to bolster the bloc against a looming energy crisis, according to a new communication.
Germany rules out prolonging its nuclear power plants
Berlin has ruled out an extension for the runtime of its nuclear fleet, in spite of concerns over the energy supply following threats to stop supplying gas to Germany and the calls for an embargo on Russian energy commodities.
Petrol prices soar as Ukraine conflict panics energy markets
Gas and oil prices have hit new highs this week, with crude oil prices surpassing $110 per barrel for the first time since 2014, as the war in Ukraine caused panic on energy markets.
Commission mulls new communication on impact of energy crisis on the agri sector
The European Commission is considering a new, separate communication on the impact of the energy crisis focused specifically on the agriculture sector alongside a broader communication on the energy crisis, according to sources.
LEAK: EU drafts plan to ditch Russian gas
Europe needs to build up its renewable energy capacity and diversify its gas supply to end its dependency on Russian gas, according to a leaked draft of the EU’s communication on energy prices seen by EURACTIV.
Tax windfall profits of energy firms to raise money for green investments, EU to tell countries
The European Commission will propose that EU countries tax profits made from recent gas price spikes and use it to invest in renewable energy and energy-saving renovations, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday (28 February).
Spain calls for ‘structural solutions’ as energy prices soar on back of Ukraine war
Europe needs to drastically reform its energy market to tackle the ongoing price crunch, Spain told the European Commission in a letter sent on Wednesday (23 February), just before the conflict in Ukraine caused energy prices to spike.
LEAK: Commission banks on biogas to protect EU farmers from energy crisis
Biogas production has been earmarked as a key way to help fortify the EU's struggling farm sector against burgeoning energy costs, according to a draft of the European Commission’s communication on energy prices due to be published next month.
Lead EU lawmaker proposes carbon market rules to respond to price spikes
The European Parliament's lead lawmaker on reforms to the EU carbon market on Wednesday proposed rules to make it easier for policymakers to intervene in the scheme if prices rise too fast.
New Polish gas plants will cost taxpayers billions, derail green transition: study
Poland’s plans to build five new gas power plants will cost more than investments into renewables and undermine efforts to reach net zero emissions, according to the think tank Carbon Tracker.
Lawmakers call for tough EU measures to tackle methane leaks from gas imports
The European Commission’s proposed regulation to slash methane emissions should be stricter on imported fossil fuels and tackle greenhouse gas emissions beyond Europe, according to the lawmakers who are drafting the Parliament’s stance on the proposal.
EU reviewing contingency plans for gas supply disruptions
The European Union is reviewing contingency plans for disruptions to gas supply, although countries' storage and infrastructure should buffer against major shocks, the EU's energy policy chief said on Wednesday (2 February).
EU, US pledge cooperation on energy security amid Russia threat
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden pledged on Friday (28 January) to cooperate on guaranteeing Europe’s and Ukraine’s energy security amid a standoff triggered by Russia amassing troops at Ukraine's border.
EU to allow joint gas buying, plots low-carbon gas shift
The European Commission on Wednesday (15 December) proposed rules allowing EU countries to jointly buy strategic reserves of gas, under plans that would also bolster gas storage and aim to add more low-carbon gases to the network.
EU to propose joint gas buying in response to high energy prices – document
The European Commission will propose a voluntary system for EU countries to jointly buy gas to form strategic reserves in response to soaring energy prices, according to a document shared with countries ahead of a summit this week.