News

November 16, 2008

That Was The Week That Was … In Alternative Power And Alternative Fuel Commodities

By Sally White

Ahead of the forthcoming EU summit and talks with Russia there have been calls for a lower degree of dependence on Russian gas and a greater use of alternative energy sources -wind, sun and sea. The 27-nation bloc is seeking to prevent any further growth in its reliance on Russian gas, as pricing disputes between Russia and transit states have disrupted supplies in recent years and Russia's invasion of Georgia in August has stoked tensions with the west.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "We must shield EU citizens from the risk external suppliers cannot honour their commitments." The Commission laid out a long-term vision in which national gas and power networks would be replaced by a pan-European grid linking thousands of small, renewable energy sources, needing around €1.2 trillion worth of investment by 2030. The European power grid would also be powered from the north, by linked wind farms in the North Sea, and from...