Emergency gas plan. “Insulate houses, isolate Putin” – this is how EU citizens are already saving gas

Perhaps the best energy-saving advice for those who are dependent on Putin’s gas like no other in Europe came from Greece: “Or would German pensioners just take a longer vacation in Crete in winter?” Asked the tourism minister from Athens.

An invitation from Greece

Or even better: why don’t German pensioners immediately move to? They will find sun, beaches, Greek cuisine and they will not have to pay a fortune for heating their apartments and hot water on wet and gray German winter.

The background to this quite serious Athens proposal is this: Greece is much better prepared than Germany to introduce an EU gas emergency plan to voluntarily cut gas consumption by 15 percent. All Greek islands, with the exception of Euboea, are disconnected from the network; heating is provided there by fuel oil or electricity. And if it gets colder, a fireplace is also standard equipment in many apartments.

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A little blow from Spain for Germany

Greece, like Spain, initially opposed the austerity proposals. Spanish Energy Minister Teresa Ribera bluntly expressed the attitude of the southern EU Member States: “Unlike many other countries, Spaniards do not live beyond their means when it comes to energy.”

he could afford to give this nudge to the Germans. In recent years, he has invested a lot of money in infrastructure for large liquid gas tankers and other regions of the world. The largest regasification plant in Europe is located in Barcelona, ​​and a third of all such installations in the EU are located in Spain. In a crisis, Minister Ribera announced that she would voluntarily reduce gas consumption by 7 to 8 percent.

“Universal mobilization” in France

The neighboring one also has four import terminals. As of mid-June, France no longer receives natural gas with a pipeline, but has become the world’s largest importer of Russian liquefied natural gas. A month ago, the heads of the three largest French energy companies called on the inhabitants of the country to save. France announced the so-called the orange phase, which signals a tense situation in the energy supply.

French President Emmanuel Macron went one step further: On July 14, the French national holiday, he called the national energy saving plan a “universal mobilization”. The government in Paris plans to further diversify energy supplies, expand renewable energy sources more quickly and fill the storage facilities with gas. On the other hand, the French themselves are to turn on the dishwasher only once a day, instead of twice, and turn off the light in rooms that they do not use at the moment.

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Air conditioners in Italy are no longer working at full capacity

Before Russia started, Italy imported 48 percent of its gas from Russia, just as Germany is delaying its planned withdrawal from coal energy. They have seven more coal-fired power plants, some of which have been shut down or operated on a restricted basis.

It is a bit warmer in public buildings in Italy from May 1: they can no longer cool the temperature below 27 degrees, with a tolerance of two degrees Celsius. In winter, it will be possible to heat up the temperature to a maximum of 19 degrees. Violators face draconian fines ranging from € 500 to € 3,000.

Belgium rewards energy savings with a VAT reduction

rewards energy-efficient citizens. Since March, the rate has been reduced for construction products and services, such as demolition and renovation, as well as for solar collectors, heat pumps and other devices that use solar energy. Currently, VAT on them is only 6 percent instead of 21 percent, and the government’s slogan in Brussels is “Insulate houses, isolate”.

Imports from Russia account for just 6 percent of Belgian gas consumption, and the port of Zeebrugge has a huge liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. Nevertheless, Belgium has decided not to shut down its two nuclear reactor units Tihange 3 and Doel 4 in 2025, and intends to keep them online for another ten years.

The Netherlands and Austria are betting on coal again

It also deviates from the rules that just a few months ago, like in Germany, seemed unmovable: Dutch coal-fired power plants, which, due to the climate crisis, operated at one third of their nominal capacity, are now expected to operate at full capacity by 2024. In Austria, however, one mixed power plant is currently being converted into a coal-fired power plant, while other natural gas plants are likely to be converted to fuel oil.

And Southeast Europe? increases the use of LNG, Bulgaria explores oil and gas in the Black Sea, and in Romania the government has voted in parliament on a reform of the restrictive offshore gas law, which should make it a viable occupation.

A faux pas by a British energy company

It therefore seems that EU countries have noticed the seriousness of the situation. However, the same cannot be said for the UK SEZ energy supplier. The company sent its customers an email with practical tips on how they can save on heating costs: a few jumps, copious porridge, cuddling with an animal or family member, a hula-hoop competition with children, and eating ginger were on the list of “simple and cost-effective ways.” for keeping warm in winter “.

This sparked a wave of demolition across the country where, according to charities, up to six million households will likely have to choose between spending money on food and on heating and lighting their home this winter. The SEZ quickly apologized that the tip was “disgraceful”, as was cleaning the apartment that also warms those who indulge in it.

. Author: Oliver Pieper