And It’s Not Even Winter! Europe’s Energy Supply Debacle Already Here: Painful Prices, Shortages, Blackouts

Empty gas stocks, windless days, disrupted supply lines, CO2 certificates, soaring inflation, blackouts, bitter cold and other forebode a winter of discontent across Europe. 

Recently Bloomberg reported on how Europe was on the path to a severe energy crisis this winter, with risks of blackouts.

Germany’s N-TV also reports a dire picture, writing “Europe’s gas storage facilities are largely empty, and supplies are not flowing as they should.

Already surging energy prices are forcing the first companies to close factories in Europe, and German companies like BASF and copper producer Aurubis are complaining about extremely high prices for energy sources.

U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs is warning of “almost empty gas storage facilities” and that “Europe faces an acute energy crisis.” Utilities across Europe have already announced massive price hikes.

Another problem, according to N-TV:  Companies are struggling to get supplies of raw materials and semi-finished goods. “Inflation in Germany has already climbed to its highest level in almost 30 years.” Prices for raw plastic, for example have skyrocketed since late last year.

Tripled prices

The price of gas in Amsterdam has already more than tripled since the beginning of the year. The reason, according to N-TV, are interrupted supplies from Russia, and production from Europe’s North Sea gas fields “has also been curtailed”! Also “CO2 tax and oil price drive up fuel prices,” reports N-TV.

Phaseout of coal, nuclear worsening the problem

Adding to the European energy supply woes: “Europe has recently experienced an unusual wind lull”, which has forced Germany to ramp up its coal (lignite) fired power generation, which, according to N-TV, “is in the process of being phased out.” The price of burning coal is also more expensive, thanks to the now higher price of CO2 emission certificates.




11 responses to “And It’s Not Even Winter! Europe’s Energy Supply Debacle Already Here: Painful Prices, Shortages, Blackouts”

  1. pochas94

    Chalk it up to stupid rich people who shower boons on corrupt politicians hoping to protect their stupid investments.

  2. bonbon

    Meanwhile back at the ranch, er , The Times :
    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/peter-brookes-times-cartoon-september-29-2021-gzh7n6zsv
    BoJo is on the case!

    For once the Telegraph got it right – COP26 could be a High Noon indeed!

  3. Graeme No.3

    Strange coincidence: I’ve just started re-reading WHEN WILL THE LIGHTS GO OUT? by Derek Birkett in which he points out the inevitable consequences of relying on wind with gas backup rather than more reliable coal-fired and nuclear sources.
    Published in 2010.
    His predictions have proved far more accurate than anything from the IPCC.

  4. John F Hultquist

    Now is the time for individuals and agencies to be making lists of those that are going to need help as the cold sets in.
    Who, where, how to contact. Then what is the plan?

  5. And It’s Not Even Winter! Europe’s Energy Supply Debacle Already Here: Painful Prices, Shortages, Blackouts – Watts Up With That?

    […] Reposted from the NoTricksZone […]

  6. Gerald the Mole

    Graeme No 3.

    An excellent book. Great pity that our rulers did not read it and understand it.

    Perhaps if it had been written in ancient Greek it would have had more impact.

  7. Posa

    Russia has dumped billions and billions into Nordstream2 despite intense US sabotage of the project. The EU poodles hardly raised a word of protest.

    So now all that’s left is the paperwork and the gas gets turned on full blast. Simple as that.

  8. Und es ist noch nicht einmal Winter! Europas Energieversorgungs-Debakel ist schon da: schmerzhafte Preise, Verknappung, Stromausfall | EIKE - EuropĂ€isches Institut fĂŒr Klima & Energie
  9. Herb Petry

    is up to $320 equivalent oil price now

  10. Und es ist noch nicht einmal Winter! Europas Energieversorgungs-Debakel ist schon da: schmerzhafte Preise, Verknappung, Stromausfall • Cottbuser Freiheit
  11. Und es ist noch nicht einmal Winter! Europas Energieversorgungs-Debakel ist schon da: schmerzhafte Preise, Verknappung, Stromausfall • Cottbuser Freiheit

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