Europe's electricity grid is becoming a major bottleneck in absorbing Europe's rapidly expanding renewable energy, the electricity lobby says. The grid is designed to handle capacity in excess of demand, creating a slack space in the system that allows for the growth of clean energy production. This has resulted in a slew of renewable energy projects waiting to be connected to the grid, with Spain and Italy each having more than 150 GW of wind and solar capacity waiting to be connected to the grid. The European Commission is drawing up plans to push for more grid investment, while companies are restructuring networks to send power in different directions.
The International Energy Agency's World Energy Employment Report shows that wages in the energy industry are still higher than in other industries, with mature industries such as oil, gas and nuclear power offering more competitive wages. This is due to a higher proportion of skilled labor, with nuclear, oil and gas jobs typically requiring a bachelor's degree. However, this wage gap creates challenges for workers switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy industries. The IEA's 2023 Energy Employment Survey showed that about 60% of companies raised wages last year to attract workers.
Eurelectric reports that 2022 will see a major shift in the EU energy sector as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine causing soaring gas prices. Energy bills for medium-sized households increased by 14.5%, and new retail contracts in European capital cities increased by 76%. The government spent 646 billion euros on households and businesses, but energy-intensive industries such as aluminum, zinc and silicon manufacturing were forced to halt production. European power companies have criticized a disconnect between oil and gas companies and regulatory priorities, pointing to the need for increased investment and infrastructure to triple electrification rates by 2050.
The EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), worth €723 billion, is part of the Next Generation EU package aimed at promoting a post-pandemic green economic transition. The plan covers renewable energy, energy efficiency, grid development and electric vehicles. Member states receive installments as milestones are reached, but negotiations on investments in gas and nuclear power, synthetic fuels and emergency subsidies for energy consumers remain a challenge. Greece and Romania have asked for revisions to their recovery and resilience plans, with Greece seeking more funding and Romania seeking leeway on the deadline.
A study by the University of Oxford and the Regulatory Assistance Program found that heat pumps are several times more efficient than oil, gas or electric heating. The study, published in the journal Joule, found that heat pumps operate two to three times more efficiently than combustion heating or resistive heating technologies. Heat pumps harness nature's energy and take advantage of temperature differences, with the coefficient of performance (COP) being the main indicator of efficiency. The study also found that even air source heat pumps are suitable for sub-freezing temperatures, making them twice as efficient as electric heating systems.
Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed that climate change policies should not "overwhelm" countries struggling with energy poverty. Speaking at the African Economic Cooperation Conference, he urged more action to help the estimated 800 million people around the world who do not have reliable access to electricity. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, has announced a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. However, he also believes that continued investment in hydrocarbons is necessary for energy stability. He stressed that attempts to provide financial support to affected countries have had limited success.