The EU relies heavily on energy imports, importing over 50% of its total energy needs. The EU's energy demand is growing while its domestic production is decreasing. Currently, fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal make up around 80% of the EU's energy needs. This over-reliance on imported fossil fuels leaves the EU vulnerable geopolitically. To increase its energy security, the EU aims to reduce energy demand through greater efficiency, boost renewable energy production to 20% of needs by 2020, and diversify its supplier base away from Russia which currently supplies around 30% of the EU's oil and gas imports. Major pipeline projects are planned to connect the EU to new suppliers while reducing dependence on Russia.
5. Energy demand by sectors: 1. Transport 2. Households 3. Industry 4. Services 5. Agriculture
6. 5 member countries (Germany, France, GB, Italy, Spain) account for 64 % of the EU’s energy demand. The ton of oil equivalent (toe) is a unit of energy: the amount of energy released by burning one ton of crude oil.
10. EU on average has to import 56,6 % of its energy demand. Some countries are less dependent: Poland (uses most of its coal itself) Sweden (renewable energy, mostly water) France (nuclear power)
20. 143 nuclear power plants in EU Increasing public concern after Fukushima (March 2011) Italy: Voters rejected a referendum proposal to restart the country's nuclear energy program in June 2011. Germany: phasing-out nuclear power until 2022 – to be replaced by gas power plants
21. Diversifying supplier base: The EU has signed contracts with countries such as: Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia Russia still plays the central role
22. Planned “southern corridor” to limit dependence from Russia. Pipeline should bypass Ukraine and Belarus and connect EU directly with the countries of the Caspian Sea region.
23. Nabucco Pipeline: should transport gas from Turkmenistan and Azerbaidjan via Turkey to Austria. Delays - start of construction scheduled for 2013.
24.
25. Inaugurated on 8 November 2011 Nord Stream: offshore natural gas pipeline from Vyborg in Russia to Greifswald in Germany