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Energy crisis deepens in Europe

Norway, Europe’s No.1 electricity exporter with a hydroelectricity output of 137.9 TWh last year, is preparing a framework for limiting electricity exports…reports Asian Lite News

High temperatures and drought have deepened the energy crisis in Europe this summer, affecting electricity production at a time when the European economies are already facing unprecedentedly high oil and gas prices.

In France, Europe’s largest producer of nuclear power, several plants along the Rhone and Garonne were forced to reduce output because river temperatures were too high to cool the plants. This further reduced the power supply after the shutdown of a dozen of the country’s 56 nuclear plants for planned maintenance.

Nuclear power generation in France was 20.1 TWh in June, well below the 27.7 TWh recorded in the same month during 2021, according to the latest data released by French electricity transmission system operator RTE.

Hydro-power also received a tough blow. On average, France in July experienced a rainfall deficit of nearly 84 per cent. As river and lake stock dropped to their lowest levels in more than 20 years, only 4 TWh of hydroelectricity were produced in June, the lowest level ever recorded for the same period.

Meanwhile, Electricite de France (EDF) reported in August that in the Rhone Valley, the Alps and the Cote d’Azur region, which account for more than 70 per cent of the country’s hydropower capacity, hydroelectricity generation has fallen by 60 per cent since January this year.

The situation in Italy is no better. The north of Italy, host to the Po — the country’s longest river — as well as its main hydroelectric plants, is currently facing its worst drought in 70 years. The level of the Po went down by nearly 50 per cent compared to the average of previous years.

Enel energy company said that a plant near Piacenza, southeast of Milan, was shut down indefinitely in June, and most other hydroelectric plants are not operating at full capacity due to low levels on the Po that feeds them.

From January to May, hydroelectricity production fell by nearly 40 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to Utilitalia, Italy’s federation of water companies.

Norway, Europe’s No.1 electricity exporter with a hydroelectricity output of 137.9 TWh last year, is preparing a framework for limiting electricity exports.

Due to “half-empty” water reservoirs, hydroelectric power exports from Norway, which have been marketed as “the battery of Europe” and a major alternative to the absence of Russian gas, are falling short of this promise.

At the end of July, the level of filling in Norwegian water reservoirs was 67.9 per cent, significantly lower than the corresponding 77.7 per cent at the same time of year from 2002 to 2021. The lowest occupancy rate of 50.4 per cent was seen in south-western Norway earlier this month, according to the latest report from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE).

In an attempt to address the worsening situation of high prices affecting local consumers, Norwegian oil and energy minister Terje Aasland said that the government was prepared to take additional action should the situation deteriorate. This action might involve either storage requirements for water reservoirs or export restrictions, or both.

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EU winter gas plan to enter into force next week

An emergency mechanism to trigger a bloc-wide alert in the event of widespread gas shortages is also included to make the gas-savings targets mandatory, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

An emergency European Union (EU) gas conservation plan, prompted by fears of a cut-off of Russian gas supplies, will enter into force at the start of next week after the bloc’s member states completed a final procedural step, the Czech EU Presidency announced.

The plan provides for a voluntary 15 per cent reduction in EU member states’ gas consumption between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023, compared to the average consumption in the same period over the past five years, reports dpa news agency.

An emergency mechanism to trigger a bloc-wide alert in the event of widespread gas shortages is also included to make the gas-savings targets mandatory.

The aim of the consumption cuts is to ensure emergency transfers of gas to member states who face shortages if supplies fall to critical levels, in a move to reduce Russia’s leverage over the EU.

EU member states agreed the plan in July as Russia cut gas deliveries to the bloc, citing maintenance and technical issues linked to Western sanctions imposed on Moscow for invading Ukraine.

Picture shows Nord Stream pipeline equipments before the opening ceremony of the North Stream second gas link in Portovaya bay, near the town of Vyborg in northwestern Russia. (Xinhua_IANS)

The EU regards the decision as retaliation for the punitive measures and politically motivated.

Germany in particular is under pressure to save gas amid severely restricted Russian supplies.

Based on European Commission data, dpa has calculated that Germany needs to reduce its gas consumption by more than any other EU state in order to achieve the bloc’s agreed savings target of 15 per cent.

In order to reach the EU target, Germany must save 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas between the beginning of August and March next year, the equivalent to the average annual gas consumption of 5 million four-person households.

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