EU energy market must tackle climate change to secure supply, says Davey

An efficient policy framework for the European Union's internal energy market will drive both the decarbonisation of power generation and help break Russia's "choke-hold" over security of energy supply, said UK energy secretary Ed Davey.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, where an agreement on the 2030 energy targets is expected, Davey said that Europe’s energy policy is “inextricably linked” to UK policies which seek to decarbonise and maintain security of supply.

“Because our energy and climate future in inextricably linked with that of our neighbours, it will require us to achieve an ambitious and flexible European energy framework that will ensure that we can remain energy secure and go energy clean for the lowest possible cost,” he said.

Davey told delegates of Energy UK’s annual conference that in policy terms there is a “massive overlap” between the two energy goals of decarbonisation and security of supply but that these should be pursued at an EU level.

“The policies and investments we need for improving energy security are the same policies and investments Europe needs for tackling climate change,” Davey said.

“Getting the framework right in Europe has the potential to greatly enhance our energy security, boost that investment we need, maintain the competitiveness of our economy and reduce prices for our consumers,” he added.

In particular, greater cooperation on energy within the EU could help ease tensions surrounding gas supply from Russia.

“Being able to trade energy more easily and frequently within Europe will reduce the need for gas, from Russia or anywhere,” Davey said.

Recent political tensions between Russia, Europe’s largest supplier of gas, and key gas-transit state Ukraine have highlighted the supply vulnerability that Europe faces.

But Davey said that by bolstering efforts to secure a robust internal energy market for Europe will enable member states to maximise the benefits of importing and exporting variable renewable energy output, whilst strengthening security of supply.

“We will not be reliant on any one country or let them bully a member of the EU,” Davey said.

“Being able to trade energy more freely in Europe means we can maximise the use of home grown European energy, and reduce imports from outside the continent. This will loosen the choke-hold of energy dependency on Putin’s regime, reducing the need for gas imports from Russia,” he said.

But Davey warned that each EU member state should have the flexibility to meet the common framework goals in the way most apt for each state.

“To ensure growth we want each member state to pursue the energy mix that works for them,” he said.

Davey said the UK currently leads the EU in its progress pursuing new nuclear and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, and added that the UK is rated the most energy secure member state in the EU.

The UK’s specific approach to decarbonisation will remain a long-term one, he said.

Responding to a delegate question over the government’s support of more expensive renewable energy technologies Davey said that supporting high-cost renewable options such as offshore wind and tidal technologies is an important long term strategy.

“When you talk to developers in offshore wind they are predicting dramatic falls [in price],” he said, pointing to the precedent set by recent dramatic falls seen in solar deployment.

“It’s a complete nonsense to take any low carbon technology off the table now,” Davey said.

Davey added that “the whole point” in having a mix of low carbon energy technologies is the strength it brings.

“If we focused on one [technology] we’d be far more exposed in the future,” Davey said.