Full Measure After Hours: Europe’s Green Energy Pause

In the September 19, 2024 episode of "Full Measure After Hours", host Sharyl Attkisson delves into the unexpected slowdown of Europe's green energy transition. Contrary to her initial expectations of witnessing cutting-edge renewable initiatives ahead of the United States, Attkisson uncovers significant challenges undermining Europe’s green ambitions. This comprehensive summary captures the key discussions, expert insights, and critical conclusions drawn from the episode.

Europe’s Green Energy Ambitions Hit Turbulence

Sharyl Attkisson begins by recounting her recent trip to Europe aimed at exploring advanced green energy projects. Her focus was on initiatives like the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm in the United Kingdom—the largest of its kind globally. However, upon her arrival, she discovers that Europe's green energy surge is encountering severe setbacks. Energy rationing, soaring electric bills, and economic strains are forcing Europe to reconsider its renewable strategies. Notably, some countries are even reopening coal plants, signaling a retreat from previously held green commitments.

“Their dreams of green energy were met with reality, and the reality is that they've been pushing an agenda with goals that even advocates now acknowledge were built on the most fragile foundation, not well thought out, and it's all falling apart.” [02:30]

Germany’s Energy Crisis: Dependence and Disruption

Attkisson engages with John Constable, director of the Renewable Energy Foundation, to dissect Germany’s precarious energy situation, especially in the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict.

Pre-Ukraine War Energy Landscape: Germany had heavily relied on Russian energy imports, encompassing gas, oil, and coal. Russia was a stable supplier, maintaining consistent deliveries even during the Cold War era, which made dependency a natural choice for German industry.

“Germany was importing substantial amount of energy resources from Russia, not just gas, but also oil and coal. By the way, Russia was the major coal exporter to Germany.” [03:55]

Impact of the Ukraine War: The outbreak of war in Ukraine swiftly disrupted this dependency. Germany halted the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and scrapped the gas embargo due to economic impracticality, revealing the fragility of relying on Russian gas.

“It became clear that Russia itself is not a reliable source of gas, that Putin can themselves decide to stop gas supplies to Europe.” [05:08]

Consequences: The immediate fallout includes energy rationing and the potential closure of industries reliant on consistent gas supply. For instance, German glass production is vulnerable to gas shortages, leading to irreversible shutdowns.

“When gas stops flowing from Russia, even for a short period of time, German glass production will stop and their technological facilities will be damaged to the extent that they cannot be reopened again.” [05:52]

Reopening Coal and Nuclear Debates: Germany faces the dilemma of extending coal plant operations, which contradicts climate goals and poses health risks. Concurrently, the debate over nuclear energy intensifies, with the Green Party resisting a shift back to nuclear power—a stance that complicates finding viable alternatives.

“The Green Party... is still trying to push away the idea from using, from reusing nuclear plants because it's the core element of its agenda.” [06:54]

UK’s Renewable Energy Challenges

Transitioning to the United Kingdom, Constable critiques Europe’s broader renewable strategy. He highlights that despite substantial investments, the efficacy of wind and solar energy in Europe remains underwhelming due to geographical and climatic limitations.

“Wind in Germany is not very productive. It's in the lower 20% of its theoretical output. Solar is around about 9, 10%. I mean, it's really not a sunny place.” [20:39]

The high costs associated with renewable subsidies have not translated into a robust green industry. Instead, consumers bear the brunt through elevated energy prices, leading to decreased energy demand and industrial competitiveness.

“We've spent nearly US$800 billion subsidizing renewable energy. The costs have not fallen... we've suppressed our energy demand because it's so expensive.” [16:38]

Constable argues that Europe’s reliance on intermittent renewable sources without adequate storage or alternative energy strategies has exacerbated vulnerabilities, particularly in the face of geopolitical tensions.

“Renewables don't offer anything towards security supply. They're randomly intermittent. These are very chaotic forms of energy, so they're unreliable inherently.” [18:12]

Expert Insights: Critical Analysis of Green Policies

John Constable’s Analysis: Constable presents a harsh critique of Europe’s green energy experiment. He underscores the lack of progress in developing a self-sustaining green industry and points out the economic burdens imposed on both consumers and industries. He emphasizes that the high costs and unreliable energy sources undermine economic stability and energy security.

“The policy has to be rational and the European policy clearly isn't rational because costs were exorbitant. And they haven't ended up with a green industry.” [20:39]

He also suggests that Germany and other European nations could have mitigated some of these issues by investing in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure and enhancing internal energy market connectivity to reduce regional dependencies on Russian gas.

“Germany could have invested more in the LNG facilities... and internal connectivity of energy and gas market.” [13:35]

Stella Creasy’s Perspective: In contrast, Stella Creasy, a Labour Member of Parliament, offers a more optimistic view. She acknowledges the energy crisis but emphasizes the necessity of continuing green initiatives to reduce reliance on autocratic energy suppliers like Russia. Creasy advocates for community-level projects that simultaneously address carbon reduction and cost savings, highlighting the potential for green policies to benefit both the environment and consumers economically.

“We need to make it cheaper and easier to be green... we can really win the argument with people.” [23:05]

However, she admits the challenges posed by the current energy crisis and the geopolitical landscape, expressing concern over the UK's diminished role in international collaboration post-Brexit.

“Climate crisis is the critical thing here is we need people around the table working together.” [24:09]

Lessons for the United States

Constable reflects on the implications of Europe’s green energy struggles for the United States. He argues that the US is in a markedly different position, given its abundant energy resources and relative energy independence. However, he warns of the high costs and potential economic disruptions associated with breaking global energy interdependencies.

“We live in the global world and every time we mess with this, it will be associated with costs.” [13:20]

Constable urges the US to critically evaluate Europe’s experiences, suggesting a balanced approach that includes reliable energy sources like nuclear power alongside renewable initiatives to ensure energy security and economic stability.

“Perhaps a gas to nuclear strategy would be a much cleverer thing for us to do to decarbonize our economy.” [16:38]

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Europe and Beyond

The episode presents Europe's green energy transition as a cautionary tale of ambitious policies encountering practical and economic hurdles. While the intent to combat climate change is commendable, the lack of strategic diversification and overreliance on unreliable energy sources like Russian gas have exposed significant vulnerabilities. The contrasting perspectives of Constable and Creasy highlight the complex balance between environmental goals and economic realities.

Sharyl Attkisson emphasizes the urgency of revisiting and potentially recalibrating green energy strategies to ensure they are both sustainable and economically viable. The episode serves as a critical examination of Europe’s renewable energy practices, offering valuable lessons for policymakers and stakeholders worldwide.

For a deeper dive into Europe's energy challenges and the full range of expert interviews, tuning into the Full Measure After Hours episode released on September 19, 2024, is highly recommended.