The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published a 10-point plan for Europe to reduce reliance on Russian natural gas. It will reduce Russian gas imports by more than a third this year as well as additional temporary measures. The agency writes that the action plan will eliminate the need for Russian gas by 2030. Europe now imports 45% of its gas from Russia, accounting for about 40% of its consumption. The plan includes:
1) Complete ban on new contracts with Gazprom.
2) Substitution of gas sources, mainly through LNG.
3) Increasing the requirements for minimum gas reserves in underground storage facilities.
4) Accelerate the commissioning of new solar and wind power plants.
5) Increasing the share of traditional low-carbon sources – biofuels and nuclear power plants.
6) A package of subsidies will be provided for industries heavily dependent on electricity.
7) Accelerate the replacement of boilers with heat pumps.
8) Improving energy efficiency in industry and the housing sector.
9) Lower the temperature on thermostats: decreasing the average temperature of heated rooms one degree Celsius (from 22 to 21) means savings of 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
10) Improving the grid infrastructure for efficient capacity redistribution.