Vice-Commissioner and Commissioner of Energy Gunther Oettinger addressed the current state of energy security and energy diversity and forecasted changes in the European Union’s energy mix in the future.
The German commissioner gave a speech and fielded questions from guests at the EU-Norway Energy Conference today. He spoke on the EU’s energy market both within the context of Europe’s economic relationship with Norway answered questions regarding Europe’s energy market in a global context.
Oettinger spoke on the growing role of natural gas within the European energy mix, specifically as it pertained to Norway’s role as one of its main suppliers of natural gas. Currently, natural gas accounts for 25 percent of Europe’s energy supply and 98 percent of Norway’s gas products are exported to the EU. Oettinger said he expects natural gas to have a larger role in Europe as energy security becomes an increasingly crucial problem.
“Some gas stakeholders have expressed concerns as they are squeezed by renewables and nuclear energy,” Oettinger said. “Our future gas imports are due to increase due to the continuous depletion of the EU’s indigenous energy resources.”
Oettinger also answered a question regarding the EU’s binding target to reach 27 percent renewable energy in its energy mix and to reduce greenhouse gases by 40 percent by 2030. He referenced the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015 as a key indicator of whether the EU will receive support from other nations in its goal to increase the use of cleaner and renewable energy.
Oettinger said that for now, Europe plans to go forward with its energy goals, even if it is unclear whether other nations will agree to a binding commitment to the same goals.
“If there is no binding commitment, should we go stand alone?” Oettinger asked rhetorically. “For the moment, it’s a definitive target. I think it’s really smart to have minus 40 (percent greenhouse gases) whatever happens outside of Europe. My hope is that Paris is a success. For the moment it’s a European approach with a clear objective for everybody.”
In November, Oettinger will step down from his role as energy commissioner and is expected to assume the role of commissioner for digital economy and society under Jean-Claude Juncker. Oettinger noted that he is willing to participate in energy talks in the future if nominated energy and climate commissioner Miguel Canete seeks his advice.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/oettinger-speaks-eu%E2%80%99s-changing-energy-market