Europe's Shortage of Energy Shortage



Europe's rising energy costs are forcing factories to shut across the continent. The production of European industries saw the biggest drop in production in two years. Now, the market is in crisis mode. The governments across Europe have set aside nearly 500 billion euros to combat the rising cost of energy. Germany for example has privatized its utility company Uniper in an attempt to manage costs.



Europe's energy security crises



The security of energy in Europe is a significant issue that affects all continents. Despite the abundance of coal, natural gas, and Uranium resources, Europe is currently dependent on foreign sources of energy for its energy needs. European energy production is hampered by anti-nuclear policy and anti-fossilfuel policies.


There are a myriad of options to address Europe's security in energy problem. One is to create market conditions that promote energy production. This is a sustainable alternative than trying to impose extra taxation on the earnings of energy businesses. Europe is currently undergoing major reforms to the energy market. Although it's not the best choice for everyone, it's the most efficient and cost-effective way to reduce the cost of energy and enhance energy security.


The European Union will need to resolve the deep tensions among the member states over nuclear energy. The European Union could reduce its dependence on Russian sources of energy and also use nuclear power to meet its goals for climate change. A large portion of Central and Eastern Europe, however, do not agree with the German government's anti nuclear stance. The United States could also regain some market share lost by Rosatom because of its anti-nuclear position.



Problems arising from its dependence on Russian fossil fuels



Germany has recently stopped a controversial gas pipeline project which was scheduled to increase Russian gas delivery to Germany. This isn't changing the fact that Europe remains heavily dependent on Russian oil. It is good news that the European Union is making plans to be more self-sufficient in the field. Next week, the European Commission is expected to reveal its plans to be energy independent.


The EU must diversify its energy portfolio and get rid of Russian natural gas. Its energy policy is more flexible and global than the United States and other major powerhouses, which are usually mired in national parochialism. Its policies reflect global climate change, as well as the need to slowly transition from hydrocarbons towards renewable energy.


Although Russia and the EU share the costs of energy However, the European Union is still reliant on Russian energy to meet a lot of its needs. A large portion of the gas Russia produces is transported through Soviet-era pipelines through Eastern Europe. Moscow is attempting to construct new pipelines but will only supply a small fraction of Europe's energy demands.



Solutions to the Crisis



There are numerous possible solutions to Europe's power shortage. Governments have adopted various approaches to tackle the issue, which range from providing fuel subsidies to the reduction of consumption taxes, or transfer of higher wholesale prices to the industrial sector. However, it is unlikely that these solutions can be implemented without the involvement of businesses. Although it might appear politically useful, but it can be detrimental to the incentives that consumers enjoy to save energy.


The first step towards solving the energy shortage in Europe is identifying the source of the problem. The problem is that the EU hasn't yet tackled the root of the problem. European leaders blame Russia, which has been restricting gas pipelines. Europe has been hit with massive electricity prices as well as severe gas shortages as a consequence. A number of countries have increased their use of coal and oil to compensate for the cost.


Another option is to think about a more diverse natural gas supply. European nations heavily depend on natural gas imports from Russia. The price of natural gas has increased tenfold since 2000. Gas demand is elastic therefore any increase in the supply of gas doesn't mean a decrease in the demand for consumer goods.


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