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Solar cell requirements, more wind turbines and houses that are no longer leaky: New plan to make EU independent of Putin's energy | Abroad | DR A good DKK 1,560 billion must be invested by 2030 if the EU countries are to detach themselves from Russian energy. the green transition, among other things by demanding on new buildings, more and better insulation of old houses. But there must also be new ones of gas, oil and coal, which can replace all the energy that today comes from Russia. And the member states will have to spend billions of extra kroner on converting their energy sectors to a future without Russian energy. The war shows how fragile we are becoming so dependent on Russia when it comes to importing fossil fuels. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission It is the message from today that has presented its new plan for how to detach from Russian energy "well before 2030" and build a more green and robust energy sector. Russia is the largest of natural gas and oil, and the invasion of Ukraine has exposed how dependent the European countries are on Russian energy. Therefore, energy policy, not least the green transformation of Europe, has to that extent also become a matter of climate ambitions.- The war shows how fragile we are about to be so dependent on Russia when it comes to fossil fuels. That is why we need to reduce that dependency as soon as possible, says Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. path, and proposals based on previous climate plans and which extend further into the future. It is primarily gas that is the focus. Already in April, imports of Russian gas were down to 26 percent, so it goes in the right direction. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission 40 percent of the gas that member states imported last year came from Russia, and therefore it will have huge consequences if President Vladimir Putin completely shuts down. for the gas supply to Europe. So far, he has shut off gas to Poland and Bulgaria, as they have refused to pay for the gas in rubles. imported from Russia last year. And almost two-thirds of that saving can be achieved before the end of this year if countries act quickly.- Already in April, Russian gas was down to 26 percent, so it is going in the right direction, but we will have to screw up for the pace, says the President of the Commission. In the short term, this will be done, among other things, by importing more liquefied LNG gas from countries such as the USA, Qatar and Egypt, which can replace Russian gas. And it must be possible for countries to buy in jointly if they want, so that they do not start competing against each other. But it will also require them to invest in new LNG terminals, gas pipelines and oil pipelines that can transport the fossil fuels around the continent.I hope and believe that the new plan will make colleagues in this House realize that we need increased ambitions.Niels Fuglsang (S), MEPs In addition, member states must become better at saving energy - for example, by insulating houses and buildings better, utilizing the surplus heat from large data centers or by rolling out district heating to more homes. - This is the fastest and easiest way to do something about the current energy crisis, says Ursula von der Leyen. raise the binding target for how much energy is to be saved in 2030, from 9 to 13 percent. It is gratifying to have a higher level of ambition, says Niels Fuglsang (S), who is the European Parliament's main negotiator on the new energy efficiency directive. However, he would like the energy efficiency target to be raised to 19 percent. - The European Commission's own calculations have shown that if you increase energy efficiency by one percent, you reduce gas imports by 2.6 percent. But I hope and believe that the new plan will make colleagues in this House realize that we need increased ambition, he says. The European Commission has presented its plan for how EU countries can detach themselves from Russian energy . Among the proposals are: - To increase the EU target of lower energy consumption by 2030. The target has so far been a reduction of nine percent. According to the European Commission, this should be increased to 13 percent. - That consumers in the EU can voluntarily help reduce their own energy consumption.- To increase the target for renewable energy by 2030. Today, the target is 40 percent renewable energy by 2030. It must be increased that 45 percent of the energy in 2030 comes from, for example, solar cells and wind power. - That permission to build green energy must be given significantly faster. For ordinary housing, the requirement must apply from 2029.- That the countries can jointly buy gas, liquefied natural gas and hydrogen. It should help replace some of the purchases made in Russia today. Source: Ritzau In the long run, the goal is for at least 45 percent of energy consumption to come from energy sources rather than fossil fuels by the end of the decade. This is somewhat higher than the current target of at least 32 percent. This will require even more to be installed in the coming years and around the continent - including where Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium have just agreed to build 150 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2050.In addition, from 2025 wants to install on all new public and commercial buildings of more than 250 m2. And that requirement must also apply to new houses from 2029. At the same time, it must be made easier and faster to get an approval to build new or or get them connected to the electricity grid. Today, it can take between six and nine years to get a wind farm approved, for example, but it must take one year. - I know it is ambitious, but it is realistic. We can do it, says Ursula von der Leyen. However, it will not be cheap or easy. According to the plan, an additional DKK 1,560 billion must be invested by 2030, for example in more energy and in expanding with more gas pipes and power lines. Money that, among other things, must come from the coffers - both through loans and - and which, among other things, must help those who are most dependent on Russian energy to adjust. Conversely, Russia also earns around DKK 750 billion annually from exporting energy to the countries. This is what is sometimes used to finance that war in Ukraine, and therefore, according to it, it could put pressure on President Vladimir Putin if that cash flow dries out as soon as possible. - We must make massive investments in energy. Fortunately, we have already set the goal of becoming climate neutral, and now we are increasing our ambition to become independent of Russian energy as soon as possible, says Ursula von der Leyen. by energiTroels Ranis, industry director at DIHos Dansk Industri, is pleased with the plan. Not least because it can lead to more jobs and more for Denmark, which is a major supplier of climate solutions. According to Troels Ranis, industry director for DI Energi, it is especially important that something is done about the current infrastructure. today contributes to weakening our security of supply and slowing down the green transition. It is important that new power cables and gas pipes are laid, which can transport electricity, gas and hydrogen to the companies that need it, he says and adds that the plan will also make Denmark and the other countries less vulnerable. for the rising energy prices we have experienced recently.- It is a simple calculation that a kilowatt-hour saved means fewer to buy energy, says Troels Ranis. However, the environmental organization Greenpeace is not impressed. The plan will not lead to a complete decoupling of fossil fuels. And if one has to detach oneself from Russian energy, it will consequently also lead to an increase in the use of both nuclear power and coal.- has burned its fingers on its dependence on Russia's dirty fuels, but now the European Commission is just on the hunt for new fires , they can stick their hands in, says climate spokeswoman Silvia Pastorelli.