Officials in Europe’s largest economy are begging the public to drastically cut their energy usage, or else face widespread blackouts in the coming months.
The nation’s 20 percent reduction target, which is the minimum necessary to avoid rolling blackouts, is not even close to being met. As a result, a lights-out scenario is almost certain at this point.
After initially scoffing at the idea of there being any problems whatsoever this winter, German officials are slowly coming around to the idea that things are going to get really ugly in the next few months due to Western sanctions against Russia.
The loss of all that energy has left Germany, which went “green” years ago, with no way to keep the lights or heat on once existing supplies run day. All those wind turbines and solar panels are not going to cut it.
In a recent statement, Klaus Müller, the head of Germany’s Federal Network Agency energy watchdog, begged the public to use less gas, while still insisting that the country is “very, very far away from a gas shortage.”
Müller has repeatedly urged the German public to use less gas to avoid a potential rationing situation. But if rationing is on the table as a possible necessity, then the problem must be substantial enough that there could, in fact, be blackouts and power cuts on the agenda once the colder months arrive.
According to reports, Germany had a relatively mild autumn, but things are changing in December, which is already on track to being the coldest that Germany has experienced in about 10 years.
With this will come increased demand for energy that results in Germany’s gas reserves dwindling down to nothing or next-to-nothing. Even if the country makes it through this year on what it has, there is no guarantee that it will be able to refill and have enough for the following year.
No comments:
Post a Comment