Energy supply without Russian natural gas

The war in Ukraine is shocking the Western world. Many discussions now revolve around the security of Germany's energy supply and its high dependence on gas, oil and coal. What does this mean for private energy supply in one's own home or rented flat?

Germany - like all of Europe - is highly dependent on imports for its energy supply. More than 70 percent of the energy required in Germany comes from abroad. With regard to energy efficiency and renewable energies, there is a particular need for action. This is now also an opportunity to become less dependent on imported fossil fuels.

The new study by the Wuppertal Institute has revealed: The heat supply of buildings in Germany could be completely converted to renewable energies by 2035. The alternatives for heating buildings are limited in the short term, but great in the medium term.

A working paper by the Berlin-based climate research institute MCC sheds light on the impact of a short-term loss of Russian energy. Depending on the price scenario, an average household could face additional costs of 800 to 2500 euros per year.

Recommendations for action by the Institute for Techno-economic Systems Analysis show to what extent and in what way the loss of Russian natural gas imports can be compensated.

A complete stop in the supply of Russian natural gas could not be fully compensated for within a few days. In the short term, savings could eliminate about one third of the natural gas supplied to Germany from Russia. In the medium term, an import stop would be manageable in a few months, but ambitious. The energy supply for the next winter can be secured. However, restrictions on demand would be necessary. More intensive use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is needed, as is state-regulated storage of natural gas. The implementation of energy-saving measures for buildings must be further accelerated, and the replacement of gas heating systems with heat pumps must be accelerated.

(Photo: © CapeCom, Pixabay)