Alternatives to Russian gas in France
With the war on, the use of Russian gas raises both logistical and ethical questions. In 2020, Russia was the world’s second largest producer of natural gas after the United States, with 24.84 Ej (exajoule), but also the world’s largest exporter.
Russian gas use in France
Some countries are 100% dependent on Russian gas, such as Macedonia and Finland (94%). In France, where Russian gas accounts for 24% of gas consumption, a total cut-off of this source of supply would raise numerous logistical and ethical questions. This is why the search for alternatives has been an omnipresent topic since the beginning of the war.
Indeed, if all European countries consuming Russian gas were to find a solution to consume differently, demand could not be absorbed by the only European producers: Ukraine, Norway, the UK, the Netherlands and Romania, whose maximum production reaches 4.1 EJ in Norway.
Why find alternatives to Russian gas in France?
Against this backdrop, it’s easy to see why the question of alternatives arises even as the price of gas continues to rise. What’s more, although no French person has yet been deprived of gas, strictly speaking, the war is dragging on, with repercussions on many aspects of our daily lives. So the French government and energy giants are asking themselves:
- From a logistical point of view, consider that the Ukrainian company Naftogaz, enables Gazprom, the Russian gas giant to transit ⅓ of its gas to Europe. At the moment, a more than precarious balance allows the two companies to continue working together to preserve the economies of both countries, but under conditions that defy comprehension and that risk being compromised in the months to come. It should be noted that the revenues generated on both sides by this collaboration are used to finance the war. This is where the ethical question arises, and now more than ever, for Europe to break this dependence.
- From a political point of view, Moscow is obviously taking advantage of this situation: since June 2022, Russian gas deliveries have been falling throughout Europe. Many countries accuse Gazprom of driving up gas prices by reducing deliveries, using maintenance operations as an excuse.
What are the alternatives to Russian gas in France?
Back to France. Among the possible alternatives, nothing has been reinvented. France relies on its existing infrastructure. But not all of them are unanimously supported.
Energies already in use
The French government has announced the possible recommissioning of the Saint-Avold coal-fired power plant, which was closed in March 2022. While this solution remains an emergency solution for meeting energy demand next winter in the face of the crisis in Ukraine, it is nonetheless highly controversial in a context where the energy transition is more than urgent.
Alternatives under consideration
Although our European neighbors are not gas producers, some of them could become important links in the gas transport chain. This is the case for Spain, which receives large quantities of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) from the USA, as well as from several African countries. The only fly in the ointment is the fact that existing infrastructures are not strong enough to meet French demand for gas from one country to another. This would mean relaunching the construction of a major gas pipeline, the MidCat, currently unfinished for financial reasons.
Non-gas energies in France
In France, the target for renewable energies is to reach 40% by 2030. Today, only 20% of these resources are used. With this objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we could consider that a large part of Russia’s dependence could be overcome. However, “Paris wasn’t built in a day”: and a considerable boost would be needed to double this production in record time.
Did you know? Some countries are on the road to self-sufficiency in energy thanks to renewable energies. For the record, in April, it was California that succeeded in generating 100% of its electricity from renewables, and did so for … 15 minutes! This little feat was achieved thanks to solar, for the ⅔ supplied, and wind power. The above figures show that there’s still a long way to go.
Alternatives to Russian gas in France: an impact on energy prices?
Contrary to the popular belief that the war in Ukraine was the primary cause of the increase in gas prices, rates had already begun to rise during the Covid pandemic, when all industries started up again, in search of the sales not earned during those slow months.
However, yes, today, natural gas represents 23% of the energy consumed in Europe, of which 10% is Russian gas. All industries and major players are therefore likely to turn to alternatives, more or less at the same time, which may well result in an overall increase in energy prices.
Dametis helps you find alternatives to Russian gas for your business
Do you want to anticipate a total or partial transition? The Dametis team can help you maintain your productivity and implement efficient solutions without multiplying your costs exponentially.
