Guest essay by Eric Worrall
The OECD has recommended that Europeans reduce heat and save energy, to reduce dependence on Russian gas, until EU governments build enough energy storage capacity to make renewables energy efficient. should be feasible.
10-point plan to reduce the European Union’s dependence on Russian natural gas
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9. Encourage consumers to temporarily regulate the temperature
- Many European citizens have responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in various ways, through donations or in some cases by directly assisting refugees from Ukraine. Regulating heating control systems in gas-heated buildings in Europe would be another avenue for temporary action, resulting in significant energy savings.
- The average temperature for heating buildings across the EU is currently above 22°C. Adjusting thermostats to heat buildings will result in an immediate annual energy savings of about 10 bcm per degree. reduction while reducing energy bills.
- Public awareness campaigns and other measures, such as consumer feedback or corporate goals, can encourage such changes to homes and commercial buildings. Office heating temperature regulations can also be an effective policy tool.
Collision: Reducing thermostats to heat buildings by just 1°C would reduce gas demand by about 10 bcm per year.
10. Accelerate efforts to diversify and eliminate sources of power system flexibility
- A key policy challenge for the EU in the coming years is to scale up alternative forms of flexibility to the power system, in particular seasonal flexibility but also demand mobility and high scrapes. point. For now, gas is the main source of such flexibility and so the link between gas and electricity security will deepen in the coming years, even if overall EU gas demand reduction.
- Therefore, governments need to step up efforts to develop and implement viable, sustainable and cost-effective ways to manage the flexible needs of EU power systems. A portfolio of options will be required, including enhanced grid, energy efficiency, increased electrification and demand-side responsiveness, adjustable low emissions and more large-scale and long-term energy storage technologies along with flexible short-term sources such as batteries. EU member states need to ensure that there are adequate market price signals in place to support the business case for these investments.
- Flexible measures to reduce industrial gas and electricity demand during peak hours especially important to relieve pressure on gas demand for power generation.
- Water-based low-carbon gases – including biomethane, low carbon hydrogen and synthetic methane – could be an important part of the solution, but further demonstration and implementation efforts are required.
Collision: Over time, a major push for innovation could loosen the tight links between Europe’s natural gas supplies and electricity security. Real-time electricity price signals can open up demand for more flexibility, thereby reducing the need for costly and gas-intensive peak supplies.
Interspersed with this horrid display of bad ideas is a recommendation, which I do not quote, that delay nuclear plant shutdowns. But in my opinion, this outbreak of isolated common sense has been marred by the failure of the OECD to promote newly built nuclear plants.
I think people are becoming clear that you need massive energy storage capacity to make renewables possible even on a per day basis, let alone meet the power generation challenge. reliable during the cold winter.
Solar panels are useless in winter, especially at high latitudes. You may just need winter solar where I live, 25° south, but the output of my friend’s home solar system drops dramatically in the winter, even at high latitudes. this.
Wind power is also less available in winter. Even in places where there is a lot of wind in the winter, the small amount of ice that accumulates on wind turbines affects performance. Active heating appears to be the most efficient de-icing technology available today, but the use of active heating forces turbine owners to switch power to de-icing systems, which puts consumers at risk. less costly. And high pressure system in winter causing cold, cloudless low wind conditions can be stationary and persist for days, or even weeks.
Given the seasonal nature of renewables, winter is and will remain a big deal for anyone trying to achieve Net Zero using renewables alone. I don’t think it’s remotely possible to build a battery large enough to guarantee sufficient power throughout the winter with current technology. Organizations like the OECD can be assertive about making sacrifices, but I bet their offices are quite comfortable in the winter.
As energy prices skyrocket and homes grapple with heating bills they can’t afford, get politicians to implement grand green energy plans at the expense of energy security. , I suspect consumers are nearing the limit of their patience.
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