On Friday 12 April, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, welcomed the fact that the EU was leaving the winter period with a record level of stored gas, a diversified supply and a large share of renewable energy, two years after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Stocks were effectively filled to a record level of over 58% at 31 March (see EUROPE 13383/22).
“Despite many fears, we have emerged stronger than before, with greater energy security and solidarity and a cleaner energy mix”, said Ms Simson.
While these results are due to the diversification of energy supplies, the efforts of citizens and businesses to reduce the demand for gas and investments in renewable energies, as set out in the REPowerEU strategy, the Commissioner nevertheless called for no “complacency” in guaranteeing energy security and reducing energy costs.
In an editorial published by Table Media, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, explained that new challenges lie ahead, including an increased supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to ensure the EU’s energy security and competitiveness, but also the need to achieve carbon neutrality.
“We need to insist that the gas we consume, whether produced here or imported, emits almost no methane, and (...) we need to considerably develop renewable energies, renewable gases, energy efficiency, clean hydrogen and other clean energy technologies”, say the two authors. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)