RepowerEU: how to break free from addiction?

Lecture content:

1. Introduction
2. Main components of REPowerEU
3. The strategic goal of REPowerEU
4. Backgrounds for the emergence of the REPowerEU initiative
5. RePowerEU in action: from problems to results
6. Challenges and barriers on the path to RePowerEU
7. Short-term challenges and long-term prospects
8. Conclusion
9. Active links (NPAs, standards, resources)
10. Glossary
11. Self-test questions

1. Introduction

REPowerEU is a strategic plan of the European Commission, presented in May 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its aim is to free the European Union from dependence on Russian fossil fuels, accelerate the energy transition and strengthen the EU’s energy security.

The program has become not only an anti-crisis tool, but also part of the Green Deal and decarbonization policy, integrating existing initiatives in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy development and climate neutrality.

2. Main components of REPowerEU
3. Energy saving

• Reducing energy consumption by 13%.
• Amending the Energy Efficiency Directive.
• Voluntary commitments by EU countries to reduce gas use.

2. Diversifying energy supply

• Increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other fuels.
• Developing an international energy partnership to ensure stable and reliable supplies.

3. Accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources (RES)

• Significant increase share of RES in EU energy consumption.
• An amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive has been proposed.
• Increase in targets:

• Energy efficiency – up to 13%,
• RES – up to 45% by 2030.

Measures to reduce dependence on Russia

• Coal – complete cessation of imports from Russia from August 10, 2022.
• Oil – cessation of imports from the end of 2022.
• Gas – reduction of imports from Russia by three times by the end of 2022.

3. REPowerEU Strategic Objective
4. Transforming the EU energy system into a more secure, resilient and competitive system.
5. Parallel support for economic growth and the implementation of climate goals.
6. Background to the REPowerEU initiative
7. Reasons for adoption

The Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022) was a direct catalyst for the adoption of the initiative.

The main goal is to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian energy sources and accelerate the “green” transition.

2. The long-standing problem of dependence

Even before the war, there was a controversy in the EU regarding the economy’s excessive dependence on Russian gas. This was particularly evident in Germany, where Angela Merkel’s government viewed cheap Russian gas as the basis for the economy’s competitiveness. This policy was mirrored by other EU countries, which encouraged the construction of economies based on cheap imported gas.

3. Controversy of the policy

There were anti-corruption scandals and discussions:

• Was the use of gas as a transitional fuel really a step towards decarbonization?
• Was it the result of targeted Russian influence on European energy policy?

4. Additional factors of dependence

• “Green transformation” policy: gas was seen as an intermediate fuel on the way to complete decarbonization.
• The accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (Japan, 2011) triggered a mass movement in Germany to abandon nuclear energy.

The solution was to close nuclear power plants and switch to gas-fired generation.

• Many EU countries converted thermal power plants from oil to gas, which further increased dependence.

5. RePowerEU in action: from challenges to results

1. Energy saving and efficiency

• Problem: High energy consumption, dependence on gas imports and rising prices.
• Solution: Revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive, setting stricter targets, introducing voluntary commitments for EU countries.
• Result: Reduction of gas consumption by 18% in 2022-2024.

2. Diversification of supply sources

• Problem: The EU’s critical dependence on Russian gas (up to 40% in the import structure).
• Solution:

• creation of the AggregateEU program — joint LNG procurement;
• requirement to fill gas storage facilities up to 90% by the beginning of the heating season;
• development of new contracts with Qatar, the USA and other suppliers.

• Result:

• fulfillment of the target level of gas reserves;
• reduction of the share of Russian gas in the EU gas mix to 15%.

3. Accelerated development of renewable energy sources (RES)

• Problem: Use of gas as a “transition fuel” and insufficient generation from RES.
• Solution:

• Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive,
• Setting a new target: 45% of RES in the energy consumption structure by 2030,
• Allocation of about 300 billion euros for project development.

• Result: Accelerated construction of solar and wind farms, strengthening the role of RES in Europe’s energy mix.

6. Challenges and barriers to RePowerEU

Problem 1. Insufficient resources for energy efficiency
The resources allocated to energy saving and energy efficiency improvement are limited and do not allow for the rapid achievement of the RePowerEU objectives. An additional challenge is the conflict between the need to stimulate economic growth and reduce energy consumption.
Solution: Strengthening energy efficiency support programs, expanding financing through national plans and European funds, attracting private investment.
Result: Gradual reduction of energy consumption and reduction of dependence on imported resources.

Problem 2. Limited network infrastructure
The EU networks are not adapted to a significant increase in renewable generation (solar and wind). This creates risks for balancing the power system.
Solution: Modernization and expansion of networks, digitalization of management systems, development of “energy communities” and local networks.
Result: Increased system resilience and the possibility of integrating a greater share of RES.

Problem 3. Bureaucracy and permitting barriers
Obtaining permits for the construction of new RES facilities in the EU remains a very long and complicated process.
Solution: Simplification of permit issuance procedures, introduction of “fast-track” for renewable energy projects.
Result: Acceleration of implementation of new projects, increase in investments in RES.

Problem 4. Discussion on the future of nuclear energy
The closure of nuclear power plants in Germany and a number of other countries has increased dependence on gas-fired generation, which has made the EU vulnerable.
Solution: Review of nuclear energy policy, support for the development of small modular reactors.
Result: Possible “revival” of nuclear energy as a reliable source of baseload in the energy system.

Problem 5. Maintaining partial dependence on Russian gas
Despite a significant reduction, in 2024 – early 2025, an increase in the share of Russian gas in EU consumption was recorded.
Solution: Diversification of LNG imports from the USA, Qatar, Azerbaijan; development of alternative supply routes.
Result: Gradual displacement of Russian gas from the EU market, reduction of risks of political blackmail.

7. Short-term challenges and long-term prospects

Problem 1. Gas storage depletion and risks of next winter
The level of gas storage occupancy in the EU is lower than last year, and the situation in Ukraine is even more difficult. This creates risks for the stable heating season and jeopardizes the implementation of RePowerEU in the short term.
Solution: diversification of supplies (Azerbaijan, Turkey), strategic stockpiling, expansion of LNG infrastructure.
Result: reduced risk of gas shortage, increased resilience to external shocks.

Problem 2. Technological immaturity of alternative solutions
Small modular reactors (SMR), hydrogen and biogas projects are at the initial stage of development and are not yet capable of providing large-scale gas substitution.
Solution: support for R&D, pilot projects, gradual integration of these technologies into the energy system.
Result: laying the foundation for long-term diversification and decarbonization.

Problem 3. Insufficient contribution of biomethane to the balance
Existing barriers (technical, financial, regulatory) do not allow us to expect a significant contribution of biomethane (10–15%) to the replacementRussian gas supply by 2030.
Solution: market deregulation, incentive tariffs, integration of biomethane into the European gas infrastructure.
Result: gradual increase in production, but without a revolutionary effect in the short term.

Problem 4. Limited current energy efficiency measures
Despite successes, resources allocated to energy efficiency are insufficient to radically reduce dependence on gas.
Solution: strengthening energy saving programs, investments in the modernization of buildings and industry.
Result: stable reduction in gas demand and strengthening energy security.

Problem 5. The role of nuclear generation and US LNG
Without a nuclear renaissance and a more active US role in the LNG market, the EU will not be able to completely abandon Russian gas in the specified timeframe.
Solution: Re-evaluate the policy of closing nuclear power plants, support new investments in nuclear power, long-term LNG contracts with the US.
Result: A balanced energy system with baseload guaranteed by nuclear power and diversified sources of gas supply.

Conclusion

REPowerEU is not just a response to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. It is a strategic plan that changes the architecture of the European energy system. It makes it more secure, sustainable and competitive.

For Ukraine, this initiative is both a challenge and a great opportunity – the opportunity to integrate into the European energy space. As an EU candidate country, we must synchronize our energy policy with the goals of REPowerEU.

What does this mean for us in practice?

• Increase domestic gas production. This is a matter of energy independence and security.
• Develop renewable energy and bioenergy. This is our resource that allows us to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• Integrate into the European gas and electricity market. This is the path to uniform rules, transparent mechanisms and new business opportunities.
• Participate in joint procurement programs such as AggregateEU. This will allow Ukraine to become part of European energy mechanisms and increase its own resilience.

Active links (NPAs, standards, resources)

• REPowerEU Plan (COM/2022/230 final) – the official text of the European Commission’s plan: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2022%3A230%3AFIN&qid=1653033742483
• REPowerEU Roadmap: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategy/repowereu-roadmap_en

• Directive 2009/72/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0073
• Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0073
• Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R0715
• Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/714/oj/eng

• AggregateEU ​​– EU Energy Platform for joint gas purchasing– joint gas purchasing: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-security/eu-energy-platform/aggregateeu_en
• Renewable Energy Directive (RED III, 2023)– updated renewable energy directive with increased targets: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2413/oj/eng
• Energy Efficiency Directive (2023) – revised energy efficiency obligations: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-targets-directive-and-rules/energy-efficiency-directive_en