But after the Dutch and German governments approved the development of a new gas field about 20 kilometers off the coast of Schiermonnikoog, the mayor of the island decided. is concerned about his future.
“We are very concerned that the gas drilling will damage the area,” Mayor Ineke said. van Gent told CNN Business. “We also believe that there is no need to drill” [for] no new gas at all and that we need to invest much more in renewable energy.”
The gas field at Schiermonnikoog will only supply gas to Dutch and German households in 2024. Once powered up, it can be in operation for decades, with permits valid until 2042.
“In principle, we have to get rid of all fossil fuels, and very quickly,” says Han Dolman, director of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, who is against the project. “It’s not an instant fix for anything” [related to] the Russian gas crisis.”
ONE-Dyas, the Dutch company leading the development, said it has been in regular contact with local stakeholders since 2018 and has prepared a comprehensive environmental impact statement that has been reviewed by regulators. Domestically produced gas also has a lower emissions footprint than natural gas imported from other countries, it added.
The great gas fever
The situation in Europe is “dangerous” and the region must prepare for a “long, harsh winter,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.
Even if European countries manage to fill their gas supplies to 90% capacity, the region will likely still experience supply disruptions early next year if Russia decides to stop gas supplies from October, the IEA said.
The risk has prompted countries to find alternative fuel sources and conserve what they can.
It has also enabled politicians to support an expansion of the gas sector with a conviction unimaginable a year ago due to climate concerns. Since February, government officials have lifted production caps and approved new drilling sites, often in view of the need for pragmatism during a period of high stress.
“You just see this 180-degree spin around the world,” said Oswald Clint, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein who focuses on the energy sector.
A long-term vision
Some of these gas projects could increase energy supplies to Europe this winter if Russian President Vladimir Putin cuts flows from Russia.
Luca Benedetto, the chief financial officer, said in a statement that the decision was taken “in the context of the increasing need for European domestic energy security and a very encouraging price environment.”
Tara Connolly, a gas campaigner at Global Witness in Brussels, said one of her concerns is that the projects won’t be needed once completed.
“Right before Ukraine, there was a real sense that Europe had enough gas infrastructure even in the event of a significant disruption,” Connolly said. “Now it’s really a different picture.”
In addition, given the timeline, renewables could fill the gap instead of natural gas, which Connolly says has a lower carbon footprint than oil and coal, yet contributes to global warming.
The ecological risk
It is an opinion that the mayor of Schiermonnikoog shares. She is also concerned about protecting a sensitive UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“My main concern is: [the] sinking of the bottom, which means that we also have problems with life on the water,” says van Gent.
“It’s in a wildlife area, so it doubles in impact,” he said. “You have to be careful in these areas to do anything, let alone start new gas production platforms.”
Carsten Mühlenmeier, chairman of the German regulatory agency responsible for North Sea permits, said the “territorial sea is a sensitive area where undisturbed use should be favored over mining and private interests”, especially given the need to reduce the demand for fossil fuels. . Still, it gave its approval when the Netherlands signed and while the political wind turned in Berlin.
“The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has proved that ensuring energy supplies is a challenge, overriding certain security measures, especially environmental concerns,” Mühlenmeier told CNN Business.
“It is completely irrational for the government to approve – and heavily subsidize – a project like Jackdaw that does nothing to tackle the energy price crisis while contributing to climate change,” said climate activist Lauren MacDonald. “Our reliance on fossil fuels is at the root of both crises, but the government continues to try to plow through with new oil and gas projects.”
— Rosanne Roobeek and Anna Cooban reported.
