Subscribe
There is a very interesting fact concerning electricity production in the European Union that opens up some important reflections. Indeed, since 2004, electricity production in the EU has become increasingly green. This is because, to date, the share of renewable energies in the electricity production figures has more than doubled. A growing prospect also in the coming years, especially given the European policies that aim to achieve climate neutrality by the year 2050. A goal that is certainly interesting, but which cannot fail to come to terms with the expectations of member countries and with the prospects of an increasingly unstable international framework. This is why the goal of climate neutrality should increasingly be accompanied by the goal of energy independence within the borders of the European Union.
ELECTRICITY DATA IN EUROPE
In order to present a more complete picture, one must use the analyses provided by Eurostat on the basis of the annual data of each EU Member State. It should be noted that the energy available in the European Union in 2022 decreased compared to the previous year (we are talking about a – 4.5 per cent). Oil, in particular, saw an increase of 2.8 per cent compared to 2021, while gas decreased by 13.3 per cent. Of course, this phenomenon is closely linked to international contingencies. In particular, the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow’s troops. As far as renewable energy sources are concerned, we have adjusted to the figure given at the beginning of this article, with a constant increase constant.
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
The data are therefore quite clear: in the European Union, renewables account for the highest share in production. Immediately afterwards come fossil fuels (in various forms) and finally we find the energy produced by nuclear power plants. In 2022, the European Union as a whole produced 2,641 terawatt-hours of electricity (Eurostat data). This figure is composed of almost 40 per cent renewables, 38.6 per cent fossil fuels and over 20 per cent nuclear energy. Within fossil fuels, gas was the main element used to produce electricity (for 19.6 per cent), followed by coal (for 15.8 per cent). Of course, the percentages vary between Member States, as several countries (such as Italy) have no nuclear power plants. In 2022, nuclear power plants were in operation in thirteen EU Member States. Moreover, precisely because of international contingencies and the need to revise gas supply channels – excluding Moscow – for about eight of them, nuclear power covered more than a third of electricity production. This gave European chancelleries time to find alternatives after the invasion of Ukraine. Of course, differences in the energy mix between EU states also vary on the renewables front. Quotas vary from country to country, with highs touching 90 per cent of the energy produced, and lows of 15 per cent. Of course, this variation depends on many factors. First, one has to look at the geographical conditions of each country, to the presence and accessibility of other natural resources such as gas or coal deposits. Among the factors at play in determining the percentages of renewable energy use, however, are national policies (as with the choice on nuclear power) and the structure of the various economies.
ELECTRICITY PRICES
The concept of energy independence is all the more interesting and worth considering when looking at the evolution of energy prices linked to international contingencies in recent years. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the price of fossil fuels in Europe has soared. Above all, gas has become a much larger item of expenditure in the bills of EU citizens. The connection between the price of gas and the price of the electricity with which it is produced is obvious. With the reduction of imports, the price of gas has risen and despite the fact that less than 40 per cent of energy in the European Union comes from fossil fuels, this has contributed significantly to increasing costs for final users. Particularly in 2022 (the year in which the energy crisis made itself felt most strongly), the EU introduced a few special measures to try to mitigate the impact of costs on citizens’ daily lives, such as reduced taxation or subsidies for households and businesses. That is why the important thing now is to work on the reform of the electricity market within the borders of the European Union, so as to avoid new surges related to external events.
A ROAD TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Given the data presented and the increasingly complex international landscape in which the European Union is called upon to play a leading role, it is clear that the road to energy independence cannot but pass through supplier diversification and differentiation of energy sources. After 24 February 2022, with Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory, diversification of energy suppliers has become a crucial node in the policy of member states. The need to achieve a substitution of gas supply from Russia has placed Italy in a central position for energy supply to Europe. Our country’s geographical position in the centre of the Mediterranean, together with the presence of strategic infrastructures, puts us in a position to be a key player in this reorganisation of energy suppliers to Europe. Even the Mattei Plan (useful for the creation of energy partnerships at the national level), launched by the Italian government, is a fundamental tool in this process, very useful in building a bridge with African nations and making Italy a real hub needed to guarantee to the European Union its energy security and independence. Of course, even if this initiative of the EU’s southern front is absolutely necessary and in line with international contingencies, targeted intentions and policies are also needed at EU and Member State level to achieve energy independence. In particular, the diversification of energy supply sources, and the differentiation of energy sources, must take place with a focus on renewables and hydrogen, precisely to keep an eye on the 2050 perspective of climate neutrality. At the same time, however, the economic and growth expectations of states cannot be overridden, so the autonomy of members to decide their own energy mix, in line with the national industrial and growth plan, must also be guaranteed. Of course, this entails increasing investment in research and development to ensure continuous innovation in the energy field, including the path to safer, more stable and cleaner fusion nuclear power to make member states and the European Union increasingly energy sovereign and independent. This can also happen by going back to exploiting deposits within the EU perimeter, as well as with the creation of policies that steer members towards energy neutrality for greater security in this strategic sector. At the national level, we therefore need to create instruments that implement these directives, also with a view to increasingly supporting households and businesses that decide to invest in renewable energy. Finally, we need to work on the grid, so that it is increasingly efficient and integrated. This can be achieved through the strengthening of infrastructures and energy interconnections, as done, for example, by Italy, with the RePowerEu Chapter within the NRRP. The aim must be to increase investment in the strengthening of storage systems, the development of smart grids and the increase of energy communities, so as not to be found unprepared in the face of external agents or fluctuations in the international energy market, due to factors that cannot be foreseen or influenced directly.