Power demand threat to Europe’s winter gas security

Greater-than-expected requirements to burn the fuel to keep the lights on could harm supply conservation efforts

European political and corporate leaders’ main ambition may simply be to get through this winter with enough gas to heat homes and having not crippled the continent’s energy-intensive industries through supply curtailments. But another basic need, avoiding blackouts, could throw a spanner in the works. Owing to ongoing concerns over a corrosion issue at several French nuclear power plants and persistent rumours that Norway may introduce curbs on its power exports to the UK and continental Europe due to depleted reservoirs, consultancy Energy Aspects has been adjusting higher its power sector gas demand forecasts for the remainder of this year and going into the peak Q1 demand period. Moreove