In a report published on 30 June, the Jacques Delors Institute’s Energy Centre looks back at the transition to winter 2022/2023 in terms of security of gas supply in Europe and concludes that, in order to strengthen security of supply in the short term while respecting long-term climate objectives, a structural reduction in gas demand is the only viable option.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the report points out that the European Commission’s REPowerEU Plan, unveiled in May 2022, aims to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuels well before 2030. The EU’s strategy aims to diversify sources of gas supply and accelerate the energy transition.
According to the Institute’s analysis, while this strategy of diversifying gas suppliers, combined with a cyclical fall in demand, enabled the EU to get through the winter, “the situation remains precarious for the winter of 2022/2023”.
Mandatory gas demand reduction target
Although the targets for reducing gas consumption by 15% have been extended from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, the study recommends a sustained increase in gas savings at European level.
Pending finalisation - expected by the end of 2023 - of the Renewable Energy Directive (see EUROPE 13204/3), energy efficiency (see EUROPE 13139/11) and the energy performance of buildings (see EUROPE 13195/10), the Jacques Delors Institute recommends the adoption of a mandatory gas demand reduction target at national level, with a monitoring process that is made public and accessible, including discussions with the European Parliament on a mandatory gas consumption reduction trajectory for each Member State.
It also recommends strengthening solidarity and security of supply by encouraging the conclusion of bilateral agreements between Member States, assessing the appropriateness of extending the filling of gas storage facilities until 2027 (instead of 31 December 2025) by means of an impact study, and encouraging national governments to include within their updates a trajectory for reducing gas demand with quantified and gradual sobriety targets.
The study also proposes applying the Heat Pump Action Plan, due to be published at the end of 2023, to the efficient renovation of buildings, and adopting a ban on new gas boilers by 2025.
To see the study (in French): https://aeur.eu/f/7vg (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)