Thursday, October 14, 2021

Energy 156, More on Europe going back to coal and gas

Europe says they hate fossil fuels then beg for more fossil fuels even at high prices because they are scared of massive blackouts, their beloved wind solar are not producing enough power. Also a lesson for Biden "save the planet" agenda.

If people are serious about their planet agenda, they shd endure blackouts, no turning back begging for more fossil fuels esp at high prices. Double talk is easy.

UK experience: Until 1991, its coal power generation was 211 terawatt-hours (TWH). They started "decarbonizing" after that, coal generation down to 131.5 TWH in 2001, 108.4 TWH in 2011, and only 5.4 TWH in 2020. 

Fast forward to Sept. 2021 -- begging for coal to avoid blackouts.

As of 2020 power generation in TWH: Germany, RE 232.4, coal 134.8; UK, RE 127.8, coal 5.4; Netherlands, RE 32.0, coal 8.8.

For the 3 countries mentioned, coal is the past, RE is the present. And frequent blackout is the future. 

Enjoy these reports I encountered. Thanks again to Benny Peiser of The GWPF for his regular news clippings.
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Becalmed wind energy sector has UK turning to coal 
Lack of windy weather over the past two weeks has cut output from 11,000 turbines, which account for more than 20% of power generation
18 SEPTEMBER 2021 - 11:26 
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/europe/2021-09-18-becalmed-wind-energy-sector-has-uk-turning-to-coal/

Column: Looming European energy crisis: A lesson in averages that won’t soon be forgotten 
Terry Etam   September 21, 20216:25 AM 
https://boereport.com/2021/09/21/column-looming-european-energy-crisis-a-lesson-in-averages-that-wont-soon-be-forgotten/

The current poster child for the issue is Great Britain. The UK has 24 GW of wind power installed. The media loves to talk about total renewable GW installed as proof of progress, and the blindingly rapid pace of the energy transition.

However over the past few weeks wind dropped almost to zero, and output from that 24 GW of installed capacity fell to about 1 or 2 GW.

Ordinarily, that would be no problem – just fire up the gas fired power plants, or import power from elsewhere.

But what happens when that isn’t available?

Factbox: Europe grapples with surging power and gas prices
September 23, 2021  9:38 PM PST
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europe-tries-soften-blow-surging-power-gas-prices-2021-09-22/

Benchmark European gas prices have surged around 250% this year due to low stock levels, high demand in Asia, high carbon prices and outages.

Governments across Europe are coming under pressure to curb energy bills to help families and small businesses as economies slowly emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.

Fracking could have saved us from this energy crisis
The UK has vast gas reserves that we are refusing to exploit.
ROB LYONS   COLUMNIST   23rd September 2021

Care homes warn crippling energy bills could force closures
Care operators’ gas and electricity bills could double this winter as a result of the energy crisis
Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent    Fri 24 Sep 2021 06.00 BST

Global energy production, consumption, inventories and prices: Selected indicators
JOHN KEMP, REUTERS    24 Sep 2021 

https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jnpweykajpw/GLOBAL%20ENERGY%20PRICES.pdf

Europe's energy crisis: A switch back to coal is on the cards
UK among nations facing a ‘bleak winter’ with consumers at risk of being unable to heat their homes
Alice Haine    Sep 24, 2021
https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2021/09/24/europes-energy-crisis-a-switch-back-to-coal-is-on-the-cards/

Starved of Gas, European Electricity Producers Snap Up Coal
By Isis Almeida, Javier Blas, and Anna Shiryaevskaya.   September 25, 2021, 2:16 AM GMT+8
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-24/starved-of-gas-european-electricity-producers-snap-up-coal

Column: Worldwide energy shortage shows up in surging coal, gas and oil prices 
By John Kemp September 25, 2021 12:27 AM PST 
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/worldwide-energy-shortage-shows-up-surging-coal-gas-oil-prices-kemp-2021-09-24/

Gasflation
SUNDAY, SEP 26, 2021 - 02:00 PM
By Ryan Fitzmaurice, Senior Commodity Strategist, Elwin de Groot, Head of Macro Strategy and Hugo Erken, Head RR Economic Scenarios & Projections at Rabobank
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/gasflation

“Everything is energy and that's all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality […]” — Albert Einstein

“Jumpin’ Jack Flash, it’s a gas, gas, gas” — Rolling Stones

Looking at the big picture, the recent move in global natural gas prices is a long time in the making, and structurally higher natural gas prices are likely here to stay.

Power costs could force metal producers from Europe - Eurometaux
September 27, 2021  7:02 PM PST
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/power-costs-could-force-metal-producers-europe-eurometaux-2021-09-27/

"Rising electricity prices have already led to curtailments and could lead to further relocation of our sector outside Europe if not addressed," said the letter from Eurometaux addressed to Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.

Climate Policy Meets Cold Reality in Europe
The rush to renewables causes severe energy price spikes and shortages. Biden’s policies would do the same in the U.S.
By Allysia Finley  Sept. 27, 2021 12:40 pm ET
https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-policy-reality-europe-energy-costs-gas-coal-11632754849 

But renewables don’t provide reliable power around the clock, and wind power this summer has waned across Europe and in the U.K., forcing them to turn to gas and coal for backup power. Yet demand for these fossil fuels is also surging across Asia and South America, where drought has crimped hydropower.

Greenie energy leaves Europe in the cold — the freezing cold
By Monica Showalter   September 28, 2021
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/09/greenie_energy_leaves_europe_in_the_cold__the_freezing_cold.html

After going green and shutting down its coal, fossil fuel, fracking, and nuclear energy production, and feeling mighty virtuous for doing it, Europe is now going cold — freezing cold.  The region faces a bad winter ahead with energy shortages across the board.  Seems green energy can do everything to make a lefty European feel good except produce the actual energy.

Renewable energy output drops almost a third 
Financial Times, 29 September 2021
https://www.ft.com/content/59c5459e-d542-44a7-86f0-a35d183d99b0

Biden’s Energy Price Shock
His policies are already contributing to global oil supply shortages.
By The Editorial Board   Updated Sept. 30, 2021 2:37 pm ET
https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-bidens-energy-price-shock-oil-gas-opec-shortage-11632950693 

Europe asking Russia for more coal to survive winter energy crunch
Bloomberg, 30 September 2021
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-30/europe-asking-russia-for-more-coal-is-set-for-disappointment

The Looming Energy Crisis: People Are Going To Die This Winter
BILL BLAIN  SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
https://morningporridge.com/blog/blains-morning-porridge/the-looming-energy-crisis-people-are-going-to-die-this-winter/

Make no mistake, this winter is going to be shocking. Be aware. 

Five Things to Read: 

Guardian – China Energy Crisis: Factory activity declines as Energy Crisis hits home.
Torygraph – UK Gas Prices Hit New High
BBerg – Europe’s Energy Crisis is Coming for Rest of World Too
Guardian – What has caused UK energy crisis?
Forbes – What a modern energy crisis looks like, and why no country is safe.

EDITORIAL: Renewable power fuels Europe’s energy crisis
Las Vegas Review-Journal   October 3, 2021 - 9:00 pm
https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-renewable-power-fuels-europes-energy-crisis-2452619/

More News On The Progress Toward Eliminating Fossil Fuels
October 03, 2021/ Francis Menton
https://www.manhattancontrarian.com/blog/2021-10-3-more-news-on-the-road-to-eliminating-fossil-fuels 

Energy price crunch risks derailing UN climate talks, Iberdrola warns
By Kira Taylor | EURACTIV.com Oct 4, 2021
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/energy-price-crunch-risks-derailing-un-climate-talks-iberdrola-warns/ 

Europe Seeing Renaissance in Coal Power Generation, but There Is Limited Room for Switch From Gas
By:Yakov Grabar    Oct 4, 2021, 19:52 GMT+8
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/europe-seeing-renaissance-in-coal-power-generation-but-there-is-limited-room-for-switch-from-gas-784029 

Gas price surges to a record high in Europe on supply concerns
Chloe Taylor  TUE, OCT 5 20219:22 AM EDT
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/05/gas-price-surges-to-a-record-high-in-europe-on-supply-concerns-.html

November contracts at the Dutch TTF hub — a European benchmark for natural gas — were trading at around 118 euros per megawatt hour (MWH) just after midday in London.

The front-month contract has risen almost 400% since the start of the year.

Several British energy suppliers have collapsed amid the gas price crisis. September alone reportedly saw nine companies cease trading.

Britain faces bleak winter of soaring energy costs: Gas prices rise by 37% TODAY pushing more firms to brink of collapse, National Grid boss warns of electricity shortages and experts predict bills will soar to £1,700 a year

By MARTIN ROBINSON, CHIEF REPORTER and JAMES TAPSFIELD, POLITICAL EDITOR and JACK WRIGHT FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 07:35 BST, 6 October 2021 | UPDATED: 00:37 BST, 7 October 2021

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10063781/Britains-energy-crisis-deepens-gas-prices-soar-FIFTH-time-high.html 

Britain is facing a bleak winter of soaring energy costs, with gas prices rising by a staggering 37 % in one day

The price of gas reached 400p per therm - the first time it has reached that level - and is up 600% in 2021 

Families face paying £1,700 more for energy in April and an extra £1,800 for other essentials by Christmas 

National Grid's chief executive John Pettigrew said UK will face tighter electricity supplies this winter  

UK industry could face shutdowns as wholesale gas price hits record high
Steel, chemicals and fertiliser industries warn of difficult winter unless government takes emergency action
Rob Davies and Joanna Partridge    Wed 6 Oct 2021 19.00 BST
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/06/uk-industry-could-face-shutdowns-as-wholesale-gas-price-hits-record-high

EU Spooked by Energy Prices Running Wild
By John Ainger   October 7, 2021, 1:05 PM GMT+8
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-10-07/eu-spooked-by-energy-prices-running-wild 

Greater risk of blackouts this winter, Britons are warned
7 October 2021
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/10/07/greater-risk-blackouts-winter-national-grid-warns/ 

Matt Ridley: China is using the climate as a bargaining chip
The Spectator, 9 October 2021
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/china-is-using-the-climate-as-a-bargaining-chip
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See also:
Energy 153, High natgas and coal prices, September 10, 2021 
Energy 154, Europe rising energy prices, blackout threats, 31 reports, September 21, 2021
Energy 155, IEA flip-flop on oil and gas, Germany's high power prices and blackout, September 24, 2021.

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