With this lesson, we will explore the energy landscape of Europe, including policies and programs, energy sources and consumption and the challenge to create an infrastructure supporting a internal EU internal energy market.
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to...
The table below provides an overview of the requirements for Lesson 9. For details, please see individual assignments.
Please refer to the Calendar in Canvas for specific time frames and due dates.
REQUIREMENT |
SUBMITTING YOUR WORK |
---|---|
Read Lesson 9 content | Not submitted |
Content Activity 9: Complete quiz | Complete Quiz located in Quizzes folder under Modules Tab in Canvas. |
Feature Activity 9: Complete assigned readings and submit written answers to all questions. | Yes—submitted to Canvas dropbox under Modules Tab in Canvas (To access this dropbox, must have completed Course Orientation activities) |
Europe is the 2nd smallest continent after Australia. The mainland of Europe is a peninsula of the western part of the Eurasian supercontinent, with no clear geological boundary to the east. By convention, it is separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caucasus Mountains and in the south east by the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.
In the south, Europe is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea. In the west, Europe's borders are defined by the Atlantic Ocean and, to the north, by the Polar Sea.
The United Nations recognizes four subregions in Europe [2]: Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe and Western Europe.
Visit One-World [3]
Read view list of countries in Europe. Then take a little trip! Use interactive map [1] to explore. Notice cities, languages, currency, natural resources.
From NPR, read A Brief History of the European Union [4]
Visit Eurpoa and read
Since 2004, the number of EU member countries had grown from 15 to 27 through two waves of "enlargement," as the process is called. To address needed reforms for the larger group and current times, The Lisbon Treaty was signed by all EU Member States on 13 December 2007.
This important treaty "rethinks" some of the ground rules for EU countries working together. It "defines what the EU can and cannot do, and what means it can use. It alters the structure of the EU’s institutions and how they work. As a result, the EU is more democratic and its core values are better served."(Treaty of Lisbon, Taking Europe into the 21st Century [12]) The Treaty went into effect on 1 December 2009.
The Treaty opened the door for many new opportunities for the EU to work together, including areas related to the environment and energy.
"The Treaty of Lisbon states that one of the Union’s objectives is to work for the sustainable development of Europe based, in particular, on a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. Although the idea of sustainable development was included in the existing treaties, the Treaty of Lisbon reinforces and better defines this objective. Sustainable development is also affirmed as one of the fundamental objectives of the Union in its relations with the wider world.
The environment is one of the spheres of competence shared between the Union and the Member States. When the Union intervenes in this area, it must contribute to the pursuit of clear objectives: preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; protecting human health; promoting prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems.
Climate change is among the biggest environmental, social and economic challenges currently facing mankind. With the Treaty of Lisbon, combating climate change on an international level becomes a specific objective of EU environmental policy. The Treaty of Lisbon adds the support of international action for fighting climate change to the list of objectives defining environmental policy at EU level. In so doing, the Treaty clearly recognises that the EU has a leading role to play on the world stage in this area.
(Treaty of Lisbon, Questions and Answers [13], retrieved October 2011)
The Treaty also contains "a specific chapter on energy which defines the key competencies and the overall objectives of energy policy: the functioning of energy markets, security of supply, energy efficiency and savings, the development of new and renewable forms of energy and the interconnection of energy networks. For the first time there is a principle of solidarity, ensuring that if one country faces severe difficulties in the supply of energy, other Member States will help keep the country supplied." (Europa, Policies for a better life [14], retrieved October 2011)
To Read Now
Important EU policies and programs related to energy and the environment
- EU-ETS The EU Emissions Trading System operates by the allocation and trading of greenhouse gas emissions allowances throughout the EU - one allowance represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. From the European Commission Climate Change, read European Union Emissions Trading System [15]
- 20-20-20 From the European Commission Climate Change, read The EU Climate and Energy Package [16]
- The SET-Plan (Strategic Energy Technology Plan) From the European Commission, read Overview [17] and What is the SET-Plan [18]
Visit the European Commission's Market Observatory for Energy [20]
The International Energy Agency [22] (IEA) is an "autonomous organisation which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. Founded in response to the 1973/4 oil crisis, the IEA’s initial role was to help countries co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in oil supply through the release of emergency oil stocks to the markets. While this continues to be a key aspect of its work, the IEA has evolved and expanded. It is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative and unbiased research, statistics, analysis and recommendations."
Launched in June 2006, Energy Technology Perspectives is the IEA's leading biennial publication. The series is a response to a request from the G8 in 2005 for guidance on how to achieve a clean, clever and competitive energy future and how to achieve a 50% reduction in global CO2 emissions by 2050.
Energy Technology Perspectives uses scenarios to evaluate technology and emissions outcomes. The Baseline scenario illustrates what is likely to happen if no new action is taken through the energy system to address climate change and energy security concerns. The Blue scenarios explore what needs to be done to reduce CO2 emissions to one half of their 2005 levels by 2050. There are several different variations of the Blue scenario (described in Energy Technology Perspectives 2010, Chapter 2, "Overview of Scenarios," if you'd like additional information.)
In the International Energy Agency's Energy Technology Perspectives 2010, read sections of Chapter 8 OECD Europe, as described below. You will find the full publication in Canvas, under the Modules tab in "Related Materials." We will refer to this same publication in the next several lessons.
The EU’s goals for a competitive, sustainable and secure supply of energy for all member countries is best achieved when energy is available from a wide range of sources. And often, these energy sources are located far from the areas of highest demand, the major markets.
The requirements for infrastructure are addressed in the EU communication, Energy infrastructure priorities for 2020 and beyond -A Blueprint for an integrated European energy network [25] (Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, November 2010, COM(2010) 677 final).
Excerpt below sets the stage for understanding the map above. More details are provided in the assigned reading. Excerpt is from opening section of Energy infrastructure priorities for 2020 and beyond -A Blueprint for an integrated European energy network [25] (Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Socail Committee and the Committee of the Regions, November 2010, COM(2010) 677 final)
Europe's energy infrastructure is the central nervous system of our economy. EU energy policy goals, as well as the Europe 2020 economic aims, will not be achievable without a major shift in the way European infrastructure is developed. Rebuilding our energy system for a low-carbon future is not just a task for the energy industry. Technological improvements, greater efficiencies, resilience to a changing climate and new flexibility will be necessary.
This is not a task which a single Member State can achieve on its own. A European strategy, and funding, will be necessary.
The Energy Policy for Europe, agreed by the European Council in March 2007, establishes the Union’s core energy policy objectives of competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply. The internal energy market has to be completed in the coming years and by 2020 renewable sources have to contribute 20% to our final energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions have to fall by 20% and energy efficiency gains have to deliver 20% savings in energy consumption. The EU has to assure security of supply to its 500 million citizens at competitive prices against a background of increasing international competition for the world's resources. The relative importance of energy sources will change. For fossil fuels, notably gas and oil, the EU will become even more dependent on imports. For electricity, demand is set to increase significantly.
The Energy 2020 Communication, adopted on 10 November 2010, called for a step change in the way we plan, construct and operate our energy infrastructures and networks. Energy infrastructures are at the forefront of the flagship initiative "Resource efficient Europe".
Adequate, integrated and reliable energy networks are a crucial prerequisite not only for EU energy policy goals, but also for the EU's economic strategy. Developing our energy infrastructure will not only enable the EU to deliver a properly functioning internal energy market, it will also enhance security of supply, enable the integration of renewable energy sources, increase energy efficiency and enable consumers to benefit from new technologies and intelligent energy use.
The EU pays the price for its outdated and poorly interconnected energy infrastructure. In January 2009, solutions to the gas disruptions in Eastern Europe were hindered by a lack of reverse flow options and inadequate interconnection and storage infrastructures. Rapid development of offshore wind electricity generation in the North and Baltic Sea regions is hampered by insufficient grid connections both off- and onshore. Developing the huge renewables potential in Southern Europe and North Africa will be impossible without additional interconnections within the EU and with neighbouring countries. The risk and cost of disruptions and wastage will become much higher unless the EU invests as a matter of urgency in smart, effective and competitive energy networks, and exploits its potential for energy efficiency improvements.
[...]A new EU energy infrastructure policy is needed to coordinate and optimise network development on a continental scale. This will enable the EU to reap the full benefits of an integrated European grid, which goes well beyond the value of its single components. A European strategy for fully integrated energy infrastructures based on smart and low-carbon technologies will reduce the costs of making the low-carbon shift through economies of scale for individual Member States. A fully interconnected European market will also improve security of supply and help stabilise consumer prices by ensuring that electricity and gas goes to where it is needed. European networks including, as appropriate, with neighbouring countries, will also facilitate competition in the EU’s single energy market and build up solidarity among Member States. Above all, integrated European infrastructure will ensure that European citizens and buinesses have access to affordable energy sources. This in turn will positively contribute to Europe's 2020 policy objective of maintaining a strong, diversified and competitive industrial base in Europe.
Referring to the map above, "EU priority corridors for electricity, gas and oil," open and read the EU publication, Energising Europe [27].
Grading—You will be graded on how well your answers reflect an understanding of the issues and the content of this course, the level of detail and clarity of your response, and the quality of your research. Take time to do your research.
In this lesson you learned...
You have reached the end of Lesson 9! Double-check the list of requirements on the first page of this lesson to make sure you have completed all of the activities listed there.
Links
[1] http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/europe_map.htm
[2] http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm
[3] http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/europe.htm
[4] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128389419
[5] http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/index_en.htm
[6] http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/index_en.htm
[7] http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/decision-making/index_en.htm
[8] http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/decision-making/procedures/index_en.htm
[9] http://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/5099255413/
[10] http://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/
[11] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
[12] http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/take/index_en.htm
[13] http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/faq/index_en.htm
[14] https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies_en
[15] http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets/index_en.htm
[16] http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/package/index_en.htm
[17] http://setis.ec.europa.eu/about-setis/overview
[18] http://setis.ec.europa.eu/about-setis/what-is-the-set-plan
[19] http://www.eia.gov/analysis/requests/subsidy/
[20] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/observatory/index_en.htm
[21] http://www.aps.org/policy/reports/popa-reports/energy/units.cfm
[22] http://www.iea.org/
[23] http://www.flickr.com/photos/oecd/4024912499/
[24] http://www.flickr.com/photos/oecd/
[25] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SPLIT_COM:2010:0677%2801%29:FIN:EN:PDF
[26] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52010DC0677:EN:HTML:NOT
[27] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/publications/doc/2011_energising_en.pdf