If the world was divided into net importers and exporters of fossil fuelsThree quarters of us we would live in the first. This is declared by a new analysis of the group of experts Embermerwhich underlines the Energy safety which provides investments in renewable energies.
Ministers and leaders of the energy sector meet in London on the occasion of the summit International Energy Agency (AIE) On the “future of energy security”. This summit, which is celebrated on April 24 and 25, is a worldwide effort to face multiple challenges.
“Fossil fuels are like renting a house, renewable energies are like having a property”Dave Jones, director of the Global “Insights” program by Ember, explains. “The difference is simple: with fossil fuels continue to pay, the prices are out of our control and the owner can stop the contract every time you want it. renewable Suppose an initial investment, but Provide stability And long -term independence, “he explains.
According to the most recent analysis of EMBER, Energies Wind and solar They could help multiple countries become “owners” at the energy level, based on the comparison between Dave Jones.
What are the most and less dependent countries of fossil fuels imports?
Around the 74% of the world population lives in countries that depend on imports of fossil fuels of other nations, according to eatean estimates, based on the iea data of 2022. This is slightly less than investigation of 2018, when it was reported that 80% of people lived in countries that were importers of net fossil fuels. The change is largely due to the fact that the United States became a clear exporter in 2019.
In total, Only 12 countries provide 80% of exports Net of fossil fuels, according to EMBER. Many countries depend on the imports of fossil fuels for the vast majority of their global energy needs, such as Japan (87%), Korea (81%), Turkey (69%) and Germany (67%). Spain and Italy also stand out as great importers in analysis.
At the other end of the spectrum, China has maintained its dependence relatively low imports, in 21% of their energy needs, using national coal and clean electricity, at the same time electrifying its economy.
Solar panels are amortized in one year
“Although clean energy infrastructures can request an initial investment, they issue the countries of volatility of fuel imports and recurring costs, unlike fossil fuels, which involve permanent economic bleeding that maintains you dependent on an external force”, adds Jones.
EMBER’s analysis concludes that the cost of importing A Solar panel withcushion“In just one year, compared to the import cost of the combustion of gas in an electrical plant. It matters a gigawatio of solar panels costs 100 million dollars (87 million euros), based on the average prices of 2024. This is equivalent to the import of sufficient gases to generate the same amount of electricity in a year.
But the import of fossil fuels is a recurring expense for countries. So the solar panels are quickly cushioned. In 30 years of useful life Solar panels, savings are equivalent to 30 years of gas import costs at 2024 prices.
The world transition to a clean energy is accelerated: last year, the 40% of electricity It was generated by sources with low carbon emissions, according to an analysis of the embers of the beginning of this month. THE solar energy and the wind They could already generate sufficient electricity to replace the global demand for petrol for motor vehicles, analysts add today, if the worldwide petrol vehicle park were all electrical.
How will renewable energies influence European energy security plans?
At this week, organized jointly by the British Secretary of State for energy security and the zero network, at the top, And milibandand the executive director of the IEA, Fatih Birol, the IEA will publish a new picture on Energy safety in which the main risks and opportunities will be identified, as well as a series of recommended measures.
IEA has already played an important role in the configuration of the policy of Deperbonization of the EU, in particular in the development of the European green pact and the EU repower plan.
Since the EU Commission launched the plan Repowereu In May 2022, Imports of Gnl e gas Of Gas pipeline from Russia They decreased from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024. Renewable energies replaced the gas and contributed to protecting European countries from external prices of prices.
“European leaders know that the gas does not guarantee energy security: we fell into that trap before 2022”, says Julian Popov, former Minister of the Bulgaria environment and senior member of the ‘Strategic perspectives of the archings‘. “The pain of Ukraine’s Russian invasion clarified that we will not fall back,” he said. The EU goal is to get full Russia energy independence in 2027.
