While the war between Ukraine and Russia is still in full swing, numerous countries want to become independent of Russian raw materials. Nevertheless, they want to ease the population’s worries about cold winters and increased expenses. In Germany, the federal government is working diligently on solutions, while other countries are already a few steps ahead in this regard. Spain, for example, invested in independence at an early stage in order to secure its energy supply.
Terminals, storage facilities and pipelines take pressure off the Spanish to act
The kingdom in the south-west of Europe has what Germany is currently looking for without success in the midst of the debate about the fastest possible energy turnaround. Terminals for liquefied gas and associated storage facilities for safe storage. Since Spain can now boast as many as six such facilities, the state can call around 25 % of the capacities available in Europe in this area its own. In addition, Spain secures its supply with two natural gas pipelines coming from Algeria in North Africa.
Image: Barcelona, Hafen vom Flugzeug. LNG-Tanks von Enagas. Wamito, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Green hydrogen is to bring about the energy turnaround across Europe
In principle, it is unfavourable that there are hardly any pipelines leading to the north of Europe. With the construction of more pipelines, however, this should change in the foreseeable future. If this idea is successfully realised, natural gas could still be supplied for ten to fifteen years. After that, however, green hydrogen is to be pumped through the pipelines. Both the production and the transmission of hydrogen should then function using electricity from renewable sources.
The energy expert Angel Saz, from the think tank Esade in Madrid, ventured a prognosis that is not far from reality. According to him, fossil infrastructures are already very difficult to implement and will no longer be conceivable in the future. The EU Commission also advocated a switch from fossil fuels to hydrogen. Already in May of this year, the Commission presented its so-called “REPowerEU” plan to the public, which is to shape the way energy is handled.
Among other things, the reduction of energy consumption and the accelerated expansion of renewable energies are defined as goals. The development of new sources for the supply of gas also enjoys high priority in the written roadmap, in order to be able to deny Russia its previous importance as a supplier. If new pipelines are built, they should be exclusively for hydrogen.
The EU Commission wants to mobilise billions in financial resources
As part of the realisation of the “REPowerEU” plan, the European Commission wants to invest around 300 billion euros in a change in climate policy. This sum is to amount to 72 billion euros. These are to flow in as grants. In addition, 225 billion euros are to be made available in the form of loans. About 10 billion euros are to be raised for the creation of missing gas and liquefied gas connections, which is also to concern the expansion of pipelines to the European North.
The “Midcat” project is also intended to create independence from Russia
The revival of various projects is also under discussion, including a project called “Midcat”. This was cancelled in 2017. Originally, it was planned to build a natural gas pipeline from Barcelona across the Pyrenees to France.
At least, on the Spanish side, the pipeline was completed up to the border in Hostalric. However, construction work was stopped at the time due to unprofitable prospects. In view of the security of supply in Europe, this project could soon be in for a resuscitation. The German government also supported this plan.
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