BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. EU members will purchase excess electricity from Ukraine to compensate for some of reduced gas imports, Trend reports with reference to the REPowerEU Plan presented by the European Commission.
“The emergency synchronisation of the electricity grids of Ukraine and Moldova with Europe’s grid mid-March shows the commitment to ensure Ukraine’s and Moldova’s interconnection with the EU’s power grid. As soon as the necessary technical improvements are completed, it will allow Member States in the region to purchase excess electricity from Ukraine, thus compensating for some of the reduced gas imports,” reads the document.
With a full implementation of the REPowerEU plan, high prices, gas alternatives (sustainable biomethane, renewable hydrogen), further deployment of renewables, and structural demand measures such as energy efficiency, EU gas demand is expected to decrease at a faster rate than foreseen under Fit for 55.
The EU will provide its international partners with long-term perspectives for mutually beneficial cooperation by integrating hydrogen and renewable energy development and trade, as well as cooperation on methane emission reduction strategies in the gas diversification efforts, as described in the External Energy Engagement Strategy. Diversification options are also important for Member States currently dependent on Russia for nuclear fuel for their reactors serving either power generation or non-power uses.
This requires working within the EU and with international partners to secure alternative sources of uranium and boosting the conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication capacities available in Europe or in EU’s global partners. In addition to diversifying external suppliers, continuing domestic natural gas production for Member States where this is possible can contribute to strengthen security of supply.
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