The Role of the New European Energy Union

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

Date posted: 02/09/15

Dr. Conca reports that the European Commission has launched an initiative to create a European Energy Union to reform how Europe produces, transports and consumes energy. On February 4th, the European Commission began debate on the aims of this Energy Union which are - - diversifying of energy sources currently available to the Member States, - helping EU countries become less dependent on energy imports, and - making the EU the world number one in renewable energy and leading the fight against global warming. EU energy ministers met on Friday in Riga, Latvia, to discuss the creation of their Energy Union and its five goals - 1- ensuring security of supply 2- building a single internal energy market 3- raising energy efficiency 4- decarbonizing national economies, and 5- promoting research and innovation. But Dr. Conca warns the the second and fourth goals on this list may present serious problems. Building a single internal energy market sounds like it will include enforcement, and decarbonizing all economies, which might not sit well if you have a definition of decarbonizing that differs from that of Germany. Will England insist on more wind in Ireland, against their will. Will Germany push for greater dependence on Russian natural gas. Will Germany try to shut down French nuclear plants, even though they produce more carbon-free electricity than all other low-carbon sources in Europe combined. Some EU countries want to exploit domestic fossil fuels. Besides German expansion of the use of their dirty coal, the UK stresses the need to use all lower carbon sources at our disposal, which means using natural gas. Turns out that the UK has a fair amount of shale gas.