Moscow’s increased leverage over its neighbors became apparent at the tail end of the last winter, an unusually cold and long one that depleted Europe’s inventories of gas just as its economies were emerging from the pandemic-induced recession. **Over the summer, state-controlled Gazprom PJSC began capping flows to the continent, aggravating shortages caused by deferred maintenance at oil and gas fields in the North Sea and raising the stakes on a costly and long-delayed pipeline project championed by the Kremlin.**
At the same time, countries from Japan to China were boosting their imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in preparation for the coming winter. All of this left Europe struggling to replenish its dwindling stockpiles during the warm months, when gas is less expensive.
Still, Europe’s leaders betrayed no alarm... </tt?
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Still, Europe’s leaders betrayed no alarm… </tt?
Amazing isn’t it? Of course when things get really ugly there will be a good excuse to crank up the coal and lignite plants for some of them? It is not like they have torn them down you know? You can still see them on Google Earth*** along with the massive machines that strip mine the stuff. The power plants are very close to the mines so they can deliver the fuel on conveyer belts right to the furnace. Generally Lignite is too low grade to be worth shipping.
*** - Look between Geilenkirchen (where I lived for 13 years) and Cologne (Inden an old one that we drove by often), (Niederzier a newer monster sized one) and (just west of Juchen). Somewhat amusing they have a facade of trees along the highway so you can’t see them when you drive by. There are many others scattered around including in the former East Germany.
These guys must import hard coal as theirs is no longer economic to mine but they still have lots of lignite … you know the really dirty stuff.
Germany’s energy consumption rising, renewables share falling in 2021
Energy consumption in Germany has increased in 2021, as the economy recovered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the country weathered a cold winter. At the same time, a year of depressed wind power production let the share of renewables in the country’s power mix shrink, while coal power made a strong comeback. The developments bode ill for the new German government’s plans to reduce energy use and boost renewables to record shares by 2030 - the same year it plans to end the use of coal. Energy industry representatives say the government’s plans are still feasible, but will require resolute and swift action to succeed.