Latest news with #DanJørgensen
Euractiv
4 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
EU says it can't kick Russia out of flagship nuclear fusion project
Moscow cannot be expelled from Europe's top nuclear fusion project, EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen has confirmed in response to concerns raised by members of the European Parliament. The project, called the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), is intended to prove that the Holy Grail of clean energy can be achieved: an emissions-free source based on the same reactions that power the stars. ITER is an international collaboration based in the south of France, to which Europe contributes almost half of the costs, with the rest shared equally by China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States. Russia has faced international condemnation and growing isolation, as well as a raft of Western sanctions, since launching its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The EU has significantly reduced its energy dependency on Russia. In May, three members of the centre-right European People's Party asked what the European Commission was planning to do to end Russia's participation in ITER, noting the recent plan to end the bloc's dependency on Russia for nuclear power (as well as fossil fuels) was 'silent on fusion energy". Jørgensen replied today that the EU does not have the authority to force Russia out of the project. "The ITER Agreement does not provide for the possibility of terminating the participation or suspension of the rights of any ITER Member, including the participation in the ITER Council – the governing body," the EU's most senior energy official wrote. Acountry can leave only 'on its own accord," he said. Russia, like the other international partners in the project, contributes 9.1% to the construction of the experimental fusion reactor. Consortium members' contributions are mainly 'in-kind', in the form of components and systems technology, with only 10% in cash. 'This unique procurement sharing program has an important purpose, allowing all members to gain direct industrial experience in key fusion technologies,' ITER's website reads. Russia 'has fulfilled all its in-kind contributions', Jørgensen said in his statement. As a consequence, the dependency on Moscow was 'now reduced in this regard', he said, adding that 'bilateral contacts and engagement with Russia are minimised' and that the reactor's operations won't depend on Russian intellectual property rights. (rh, aw)
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU launches Hydrogen Mechanism to bolster energy security
The European Commission (EC) has initiated the Hydrogen Mechanism under the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform to enhance the competitiveness of Europe's industry. The mechanism is part of a broader strategy to ensure a more secure energy supply, diversification, and decarbonisation. The Hydrogen Mechanism is designed to facilitate the market development of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives, including ammonia, methanol, and electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF). The newly launched mechanism aims to empower market participants by matching and aggregating demand and supply. It will assist in identifying infrastructure development needs and provide easier access to information on financial solutions, thus supporting the EU's decarbonisation and energy independence objectives. European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said: 'With the Hydrogen Mechanism launched ..., we empower the European industry to seize competitive opportunities while advancing towards greater security of supply and decarbonisation. This is only the beginning of our work under the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform, which shows that Europe is not just adapting to the future, it is actively shaping it.' The stakeholders can register on the platform and subscribe to the EU Hydrogen Mechanism, with the first demand and supply matching session scheduled for September 2025. The Raw Materials Mechanism and the Gas Mechanism are set to be introduced in the forthcoming months. Hydrogen is increasingly recognised for its role in decarbonising industries where reducing carbon emissions is both urgent and challenging. The EU's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 and its goal to become independent from Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027 underscore the importance of hydrogen and its derivatives. The EU/2024/1789 Regulation mandates the EC to establish and manage a mechanism under the European Hydrogen Bank to support hydrogen market development until the end of 2029. "EU launches Hydrogen Mechanism to bolster energy security" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Int'l Business Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
EU's REPowerEU Plan Aims to Eliminate Russian Gas and Oil Imports by 2028
The European Union has outlined a comprehensive plan under its REPowerEU initiative to completely phase out imports of Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027, aiming to bolster energy security and market stability across the bloc. According to BFMTV, the European Commission presented the legislative proposal on Oct. 17, 2023. It introduces a phased ban on both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, starting with the suspension of all new import contracts signed after October 17, 2023, which will take effect in January 2024. From Jan. 1, 2026, the import of Russian gas under new contracts will be formally prohibited. Short-term existing contracts will expire by June 17, 2026, with exceptions granted only to landlocked countries receiving pipeline gas through long-term agreements, which may continue until the end of 2027. Furthermore, from January 1, 2028, all contracts for LNG terminal services involving Russian clients or entities controlled by Russian firms will be banned. Despite opposition from some member states, including Hungary and Slovakia, the European Commission intends to adopt the regulation via qualified majority voting, bypassing the need for unanimous approval, Mediapart reported. Each EU member state will be required to submit national plans detailing specific measures and milestones to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports. These plans are designed to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach across the EU. "Russia has repeatedly used its energy exports as a tool of coercion," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as quoted by Il Sole 24 Ore. "We are committed to ending our dependency and closing the chapter on Russian fossil fuels in Europe." Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy, added: "The less energy we import from Russia, the more secure and independent Europe becomes." To support the transition, companies holding contracts for Russian gas will be required to disclose them to the European Commission. Importers must also provide customs authorities with comprehensive documentation detailing the gas's route from origin to point of entry into the EU. The European Commission asserts that the EU gas market is sufficiently interconnected and equipped with the infrastructure needed to support this transition. It also notes the availability of alternative suppliers in the global market to maintain energy security and competitiveness, according to Il Sole 24 Ore. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Russian gas imports, which accounted for 45% of EU consumption in 2021, have dropped to 19% in 2024 and are projected to decline to 13% in 2025 due to the cessation of gas transit through Ukraine, reported SKAI. Nevertheless, EU member states still spent €23 billion on Russian fossil fuels in 2024, with gas alone comprising €15 billion of that total, BFMTV noted. The Commission, alongside the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), will monitor the implementation and impacts of the transition. Safeguards have been included in the proposal to mitigate gas market volatility and provide legal protections for businesses during the phase-out process. The legislative package will now proceed to negotiations with EU member states and the European Parliament. Approval will require backing from at least 15 out of 27 member countries, representing at least 65% of the EU's population, according to BFMTV.
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Europe will never return to Russian gas, European Commission insists
The European Commission has insisted there will be no return to Russian gas, as it published plans to phase out fossil fuel imports from its eastern neighbour by 2028. The EU energy commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, said a proposed ban on Russian gas imports would remain, irrespective of whether there was peace in Ukraine. EU officials recalled when Russia cut gas supplies in 2006, 2009, 2014, as well as the deliberate reduction of flows in 2021 before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which contributed to a huge rise in energy prices and surging inflation across the continent. Under the proposals, European companies would be banned from importing Russian gas or providing services at EU liquified natural gas terminals to Russian customers. Any contracts entered into from today would have to be wound up by 1 January 2026, but companies with pre-existing agreements have a final deadline of 1 January 2028. The proposal is facing a backlash from Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, but these countries are not thought to have enough support to block the plan from becoming EU law. Jørgensen told reporters that plans to phase out Russian fossil fuels were not a response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine: 'This is a ban that we introduce because Russia has weaponised energy against us, because Russia has blackmailed member states in the EU and therefore they are not a trading partner that can be trusted. That also means that, irrespectively of whether there is a peace or not – which we all hope there will be of course – this ban will still stand.' EU importers will be required to provide customs officers with detailed information about the source of gas to prevent any attempts to sell Russian imports under a new flag. About 13% of EU gas imports is expected to come from Russia in 2025, compared with 45% in 2021. While Europe has cut supplies of pipeline gas from Russia, in 2024 it bought record amounts of Russian LNG, raising questions about the EU's commitment to Ukraine and climate goals. The commission expressed confidence that European companies terminating long-term gas contracts would not be liable for damages. Jørgensen said the EU ban was beyond any individual company's control: 'It is not them who are breaking the contract, it is indeed force majeure.' The EU also wants to end imports of Russian oil by 2028, compared with 3% today and 27% in 2021. But the latest proposal does not remove an exemption from the EU's oil embargo granted to Hungary and Slovakia. When the EU agreed an oil import embargo in March 2023, the central European countries secured an opt-out that allowed them to continue to be supplied via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline. This carve-out, agreed under the EU's sanctions regime, cannot be touched by this legislation, which has a different legal basis. Hungary and Slovakia have sharply criticised the EU plans to phase out fossil fuels. Péter Szíjjártó, the Hungarian foreign minister, claimed Hungarian consumers could pay four times more for utilities, posting a video on social media on Monday in which he spoke against a dramatic action-movie style soundtrack. EU officials reject suggestions that prices would go up. In more muted criticism, Austria's energy ministry told the Financial Times that the EU should be open to resuming gas imports from Russia if there was a deal to end the war in Ukraine. However, Lena Schilling, an Austrian Green MEP and a former Fridays for the Future activist, called the stance shortsighted and morally irresponsible: 'Have we learned nothing from bombed hospitals, abducted children and a war of aggression in the heart of Europe?' she asked.
E&E News
13-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
European Commission to present new data center energy rules early 2026
BRUSSELS — The European Commission plans to tighten data center energy performance standards as part of a new 'energy efficiency package' due in early 2026. According to the International Energy Agency, global power use by data centers is set to more than double in just five years. In Europe, the surge in energy-hungry artificial intelligence is pushing power grids to their limits and redrawing the data center map. At the IEA's Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Brussels on Thursday, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said almost €100 billion ($116 billion) had been saved from energy bills as a result of the rollout of renewables, but that figure could rise dramatically if there is less power wastage. Advertisement 'Energy efficiency measures make it possible — without lowering standards or comfort, and at the same time saving money,' Jørgensen said while unveiling a 10-point energy efficiency plan.
