Page 12 - EurOil Week 45 2021

EurOil POLICY EurOil

Brussels gives ground

on gas, nuclear

EUROPE THE European Commission (EC) has warned that an accelerated transition will jeop-
responded to the energy crisis unfolding in ardise economic prosperity.
Europe by urging member states to accelerate The current energy crisis has also exposed
the deployment of renewables and phase out gas the limitations of using renewable sources like
use. But that stance is not shared by all members, wind and solar. It is expected to take a num-
with Poland and other East European states call- ber of years for Europe to develop sufficient
ing for recognition of gas as a transition fuel in battery storage to ensure a sufficient energy
the energy transition. reserve to support these intermittent sources.
It now seems the EC is willing to give ground In the meantime, the only other option is
to these members. According to the Financial baseload gas or nuclear power to support the
Times, the Commission is preparing a draft grid when the sun is not shining and the wind
taxonomy text on what energy sources can be is not blowing.
considered sustainable, and natural gas will be According to media reports, Poland is leading
included. Citing sources, the newspaper said the charge for the recognition of gas as a bridge
the inclusion of gas was to “win support from fuel in the transition. The country long resisted
countries in East and South Europe which have EU calls to shift away from coal, which accounts
demanded that gas is not penalised.” for around 75-80% of Polish power generation.
What is more, nuclear power will also be But it finally did so in 2019, with the govern-
included in the taxonomy, to “open the door for ment announcing a new strategy that embraced
nuclear power to be awarded the highest green natural gas as a replacement source of baseload
label under the rules.” capacity. Since then it has sought to expand its
The EC is keen to see the goals of the Euro- gas import options and has plans for a series of
pean Green Deal realised, but it also recognises new gas-fired power plants.
that EU member states have different views on Leading the advocacy for nuclear power is
how these goals can be reached and what eco- France, in contrast to the stance of Europe’s other
nomic cost is justified. While the Commission largest economy, Germany, which took a deci-
has urged members to drop gas and double down sion to phase out the energy source following the
on renewables, some national governments have 2011 Fukushima disaster. ™

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 45 11•November•2021