2 April 2022 | New Scientist | 5The leader
“THE time to repair the roof is when
the sun is shining,” US president
John F. Kennedy once said. It is an adage
that Europe must now wrestle with.
With spring blossoming even as war
continues to darken the continent, it is
hard to spend too much time thinking
about next winter. Yet the geopolitical
uncertainty created by Russia’s invasion
of Ukraine means volatile energy prices
are guaranteed this year. UK energy bill
projections for October have yo-yoed
with oil and gas prices in recent weeks,
from a high of £3000 a year on average
to a still-very-high low of £2500.
Governments must act now. The
European Union already has – its recent
energy strategy mandates that gas stores
be replenished by winter and calls for a
diversification of gas supplies. This bolstersexisting plans for renewables, energy
efficiency and hydrogen. By contrast, the
UK’s long-trailed energy plan was delayed
again this week, as winter draws ever closer.
When new energy security strategies for
Europe arrive, it is essential that they align
with climate change goals. False solutions
abound, such as kick-starting a UK frackingindustry, even though that has already
been tried without success (see page 14).
Thankfully, the answers are already
clear. Wind and solar power should be
turbocharged, and ideological barriers such
as vetoes for onshore turbines in England
must be lifted. More electricity links arerequired between countries, like the
UK-Denmark one due to be finished
next year. Energy efficiency needs serious
government support, and electrification
of cars and heating must be accelerated.
And, yes, some mix of nuclear power,
more energy storage or carbon-capture
power stations will be required to support
renewables when the sun isn’t shining.
Individuals can’t solve the climate or
energy crises on their own, but as we detail
on page 20, there are things homeowners
can do to help. People on lower incomes
need support to cope with high energy
prices. But for those able to pay, there
has never been a better time to “repair”
that roof, with proper insulation and
solar panels. Winter is sooner than
you think. Let’s seize the opportunity
to make sure we weather it. ❚Europe must re-energise
The countdown to a painful winter has already begun
“ It is essential that new energy
security strategies for Europe
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