District heating, heat pumps, biogas and the massive expansion of wind and solar energy: the Danish government presented a plan on Tuesday to become independent of Russian gas after the invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen set an exit target for Russian gas in early March.as soon as possible“.
The plan, presented by the executive on Tuesday, specifically envisages that half of the 400,000 Danish households currently heating with gas will switch to a connection to district heating or electricity-driven heat pumps by 2028.
For the rest of the households and industry, the plan also envisages the development of biogas from renewable sources, “who ensures that we are free from Putin“Climate and Energy Minister Dan Jørgensen said at a press conference.
The Danish government has also strengthened its plan for the expansion of renewable energies and is now planning to quadruple the number of solar power plants and, above all, onshore wind power by 2030. The Scandinavian kingdom is already one of the great European champions of wind power, with around Half of its electricity is supplied – the rest is dominated by biomass and coal. “We want to expand renewable energies as intelligently as possible‘ assured Ms Frederiksen.
According to official statistics, gas supplies about 18% of the energy consumption in Denmark every year. A large part of it has long come from the country’s North Sea deposits, which, however, are rapidly declining. In 2019, according to the Danish Energy Agency, domestic production covered only 72% of the gas consumed in the country, with Russia being among the top import suppliers.
Russia supplies about 40-45% of the gas imported into the European Union. The 27 are working hard to phase out Russian gas, but that effort will take several years, analysts say.
The French economy minister is calling for an import ban on Russian oil
He is “needed more than ever“To stop European imports of Russian oil, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire reiterated after Ukraine’s announcement to launch a new Russian offensive in Donbass.”We’ve always said we want a coal embargo, it’s done, and a Russian oil embargo‘ he argued on Radio Europe 1.
“If you see what is happening in Donbass” – a region in eastern Ukraine that has been under attack from a new Russian attack since Monday, according to Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy – “More than ever it is necessary to stop oil imports from Russia‘ the mayor underscored. “I am sure that the reality of the situation in Ukraine will push the boundaries. If, like us, we stand by the freedom and protection of the Ukrainian people, we must finish our arguments and not finance the warby buying oil from Russia.
In 2021, Moscow supplied 30% of crude oil and 15% of petroleum products bought by the EU. A supply that certain European countries are particularly dependent on. Bruno the mayorHope” to convince them”in the coming weeks that we must stop importing oil from Russia‘ he emphasized on Tuesday.
“What is the first source of foreign exchange for Vladimir Putin’s power in several years? It’s not gas, it’s oil“, assured the minister. “The freeze on oil imports from Russia hurts the financing of the war in Ukraine“.
A possible halt to imports of black gold from Russia could last “Months‘ but several European sources warned on Friday.