Things are a-changin' - Gladstone hydrogen, renewable energy transition prompts strategy for change

The situation now is leading to a very substantial rethink of energy issues within many European countries. One of the problems, of course, is that there are no easy, short-term solutions. It is not surprising that energy payments have been exempted from the sanctions on Russia in relation to Swift, the international payments arrangement.

Germany has now announced its intention to allow the continuation of three nuclear power plants that were slated to close at the end of this year. Coal-fired plants are also being used to fill gaps and will continue to do so, notwithstanding the stated intention by Germany of being out of coal by 2030. Two LNG-receiving terminals are planned.

The UK has granted a number of drilling licences for the North Sea and has announced its intention to build a number of small nuclear plants. Macron has heralded the ‘renaissance of nuclear’ in France.

The thing is that singing Kumbaya is OK for teenagers at a school camp. But it is no way to conduct foreign policy when some of the players are dictators who simply refuse to sign up to the green dream and are well-placed to manipulate ener.gy markets. It’s time for the West to get real. Perhaps, just perhaps, the Europeans and the UK are waking up to this necessity.

https://www.spectator.com.au/2022/03/singing-kumbaya-on-energy/

Putin and Xi are not taking orders from Greta Thunberg.