Wire cage for Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Picture: Nord Stream AG.
File
Ending dependence on Russian fossil fuels
Ukraine battle: Monitoring the impacts on German power and local weather coverage
Ukraine battle: Monitoring the impacts on German power and local weather coverage
The battle in Ukraine forces Germany to radically rethink its power coverage, on condition that the nation is closely depending on Russian fossil fuels. In first reactions, Germany put the contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline challenge on maintain, introduced the creation of strategic coal and fuel reserves, dedicated to constructing terminals for the import of liquefied pure fuel (LNG), and agreed to assist the ousting of Russian banks from the SWIFT funds system. The federal government has additionally pledged to hurry up the shift to renewables in a bid to turn into extra unbiased from power imports. This text tracks key developments of Germany’s power and local weather response to the battle.
Learn the monitoring piece right here.
The sensible challenges of an embargo on Russian oil
The sensible challenges of an embargo on Russian oil
Russian oil provides could possibly be a part of a subsequent sanctions bundle to weaken Russian president Vladimir Putin’s regime for waging battle on Ukraine. Whereas commerce in lots of merchandise has already been curbed, decreasing the import of fossil fuels has been among the many most troublesome selections for the EU. European international locations are extremely depending on Russian coal, oil and fuel, albeit to completely different levels. Whereas repeatedly warning that reducing off Russian fuel provides might result in lasting financial injury for Europe, the German authorities has agreed with different European states to wean the bloc off Russian arduous coal and mentioned that turning into unbiased from Russian oil is harder however could possibly be achieved by the tip of the 12 months. This factsheet compiles info on the sensible challenges this is able to imply for the German oil infrastructure, refineries and safety of provide.
Learn the factsheet right here.
Q&A: How can renewables allow Germany’s power independence push?
Q&A: How can renewables allow Germany’s power independence push?
Russia’s assault on Ukraine has added a brand new dimension to Germany’s bold goals for ramping up the share of renewables in its power system. Marking a “historic turning level,” the quick elimination of fossil gasoline imports for Germany virtually in a single day shifted from being an ethical obligation and long-term environmental safety measure to a query of nationwide safety and short-term financial stability. Wind energy, photo voltaic PV, bioenergy, hydropower and different renewable energy sources since have turn into labelled “freedom energies” that may allow the nation to vastly scale back its power dependence and type the bedrock for decarbonising the financial system. This Q&A seems at plans for the transition to an influence system based mostly on 100% renewables and what may be carried out to hurry it up.
Q&A: How might Germany and the EU climate a fossil gasoline embargo on Russia?
Q&A: How might Germany and the EU climate a fossil gasoline embargo on Russia?
As president Vladimir Putin continues to wage battle in Ukraine and the U.S. is getting ready to ban all oil imports from Russia, calls are getting louder for Germany and Europe to observe Washington’s lead. European international locations are paying Russian power suppliers shut to at least one billion euros per day for coal, oil and fuel, thereby not directly financing Putin’s battle chest. However the scale of mainland Europe’s dependence on Russian oil differs markedly from that of North America, and any determination to chop power ties with Russia now will seemingly finish provides for years to return. This Q&A explores the situations underneath which Germany might make itself unbiased from Russian fossil fuels.
Learn the Q&A right here.
German govt’s local weather coverage has been by way of baptism of fireplace in first 100 days
German govt’s local weather coverage has been by way of baptism of fireplace in first 100 days
The brand new German three-party coalition underneath chancellor Olaf Scholz had began its time period on the finish of final 12 months with optimism to launch a vigorous local weather motion programme after two troublesome years in a pandemic. However the “visitors mild coalition” of Scholz’s SPD, the Greens and the pro-business FDP was not granted a straightforward begin, as its first 100 days in workplace noticed the primary outbreak of a significant worldwide battle in Europe since 1939. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has let Scholz’ authorities little onboarding time, as an alternative prompting it into one of many sharpest u-turns in power and safety coverage in a long time. However whereas the battle that has introduced nice distress to Ukraine additionally confounded German and European coverage plans, the federal government nonetheless enjoys credit score amongst voters that it will probably ship change. But, the damaging spiral of rising costs must be addressed if this assist is to be sustained, observers warn.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forces Germany to return clear on power transition technique
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forces Germany to return clear on power transition technique
The outbreak of battle in jap Europe is sending shockwaves by way of Germany’s political class and is reshaping the power transition debate, because the nation’s most necessary power buying and selling companion Russia more and more turns right into a legal responsibility to worldwide safety. Plans to allow the nation’s bold power transition partially with the assistance of Russian fuel could properly evaporate if the spiraling battle severs ties between the EU and Moscow. The suspension of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline challenge has given a primary style. Calls are growing for revisiting plans to exit nuclear and coal-fired energy manufacturing in mild of attainable provide shocks, but additionally the view that renewables are a strategic asset is discovering new supporters. Vitality researchers and economists say Germany’s authorities and business now face a second of reckoning that forces them to set out a transparent and decided path to local weather neutrality.
Learn the evaluation right here.
Photo voltaic and wind rollout would not rely upon Russian exports however e-cars do – German business
Photo voltaic and wind rollout would not rely upon Russian exports however e-cars do – German business
The rollout of photo voltaic panels and wind generators is unlikely to be hampered by provide issues brought on by the battle in Ukraine, however the manufacturing of electrical automobiles might take successful, German enterprise associations informed Clear Vitality Wire. The nation’s photo voltaic and wind industries mentioned they do not rely upon provide chains that contain Russia or Ukraine. However the automotive business warned that the battle is already disrupting manufacturing and will intrude with the transition to electrical mobility, as battery manufacturing will depend on Russian nickel.
Europe’s fuel disaster – boon or bane for local weather coverage ambitions?
Europe’s fuel disaster – boon or bane for local weather coverage ambitions?
Europe is experiencing new extremes in power value hikes, brought on by robust demand for pure fuel in the course of the financial restoration from the pandemic and exacerbated by geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West. Simply because the European Union and the brand new German authorities goal to give attention to reaching bold emission discount objectives by the tip of the last decade, coal is getting an unwelcome increase within the German power combine. Seeing households and companies confronted with inflated power payments, virtually all European governments have launched reduction schemes to assist shoppers afford the costly fossil fuels to warmth their properties. The factsheets on this file clarify what causes the rise in power costs, what Germany does to assist households, and the way the federal government is planning to make sure a safe power provide sooner or later whereas sticking to its local weather targets.
Discover the file with a number of factsheets right here.