EU establishes energy diversification task force

The European Commission has set up a task force to help member states diversify their energy supply and reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The commission specifically noted the need for the EU to secure more of its energy supply through hydrogen as well as voluntary common purchase of pipeline gas and LNG.

The task force has been set up to implement the commission's REPowerEU strategy, which proposes replacing around 25bn-50bn m³/yr of Russian gas with 20.6mn t/yr of renewable hydrogen by 2030, 10mn t/yr of that imports. The strategy also rolls out carbon contracts for difference to boost renewable hydrogen production in Europe.

The task force will deal with demand aggregation, co-ordination of capacity and international negotiation of energy supplies, and it relay back to EU member states and neighbouring countries. The commission launched a platform for common purchasing of gas, LNG and hydrogen in April.

EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson said the energy platform task force will ensure affordable and secure energy imports thanks to the collective political and economic weight of the bloc's 27 member states and 440mn inhabitants. The task force formally starts work on 1 June.

The commission said last week an extra €113bn of investment on developing renewables woild be required to help wean the EU off Russian energy imports by 2027, almost a quarter of which would be earmarked for key hydrogen infrastructure. In total, the commission estimates that the bloc would needs to invest an additional €210bn by 2027, with €10bn to ensure sufficient LNG and alternative pipeline gas imports and €1.5bn-2bn for security of alternative oil supplies.

By Dafydd ab Iago