Sánchez: Fossil Fuel Dependence Costs EU €22 Billion, Urges Renewables; Jørgensen Warns Against Russian Energy
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez criticized Europe's fossil fuel dependence, citing a €22 billion cost from the oil crisis, and urged a shift to renewables. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned against Russian energy imports and highlighted disinformation campaigns targeting wind power. Ukraine aims for 6 GW of wind power by 2030 amidst reconstruction efforts.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Europe's reliance on fossil fuels makes it vulnerable to geopolitical instability, committing to accelerate the energy transition. Speaking at WindEurope’s Annual Event in Madrid, Sánchez advocated for Europe to achieve the world's cheapest electricity through renewables, noting the current oil crisis has cost the EU an extra €22 billion in energy imports.
Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen cautioned against reconsidering Russian energy bans, asserting Europe should never import Russian energy again. He also highlighted a WindEurope report, co-authored with CASM Technology, revealing foreign influence networks, some linked to Russia, spread disinformation about wind energy. Jørgensen emphasized the need to counter these false narratives to accelerate renewable energy expansion.
Carl Miller, founder of CASM Technology, advised wind energy companies to combat false claims on social media, warning that malicious actors are manipulating AI chatbots to repeat misinformation. WindEurope CEO Tinne Van der Straeten called for Europe to adopt Spain's renewable energy approach by accelerating permitting, upgrading grids, and making electrification affordable.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Energy, Artem Nekrasov, shared Ukraine's goal to rebuild its energy system, aiming for 6 gigawatts of wind power by 2030, after commissioning over 300 megawatts last year. Mechthild Wörsdörfer from the European Commission’s DG Energy noted that data center electricity demand in Europe could double or triple, stressing the importance of the European Grids Package and existing renewable energy laws.