The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the world has never experienced “such a profound and complex energy crisis”. We may not have seen the worst yet, IEA director Fatih Birol said on Tuesday. Europe will struggle with oil and gas supplies in the coming months.
“Energy supply can have a serious impact on the global economy. This winter is going to be very, very difficult in Europe,” Birol warned at the Sydney Energy Forum on Tuesday. The background is higher oil and gas prices and dependence on Russia. Recently, concerns have grown after Russia closed the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which is important to Europe, for routine maintenance work. Some politicians, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens), fear Russia could cut off gas completely.
China controls solar energy
To reduce dependency, calls have been made repeatedly in recent months for an expansion of renewable energy sources. In this regard, the IEA director warned on Tuesday that China controls about 80 percent of the global solar supply chain. This share could increase further in the coming years.
Germany: “Dress a little warmer”
The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) is now in favor of lowering the heating in offices and workshops in winter. “Then you might have to dress a bit warmer,” said DIHK chairman Peter Adrian. Germany sets minimum temperatures in workspaces, which are between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius, depending on the difficulty of the work. In other areas, such as for breaks and canteens, it must be at least 21 degrees.
German cities are currently investigating various measures to save gas. For example, they do without lighting, hot water in public buildings, turn off fountains and regulate the temperature of air conditioning systems differently. In addition, contingency plans are drawn up if the federal government has to declare and ration the gas emergency level.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
