Europe is facing a major heat wave. Energy production can no longer keep pace with consumption. Supply problems are multiplying across Europe, which reopens the debate on the energy policy of the Old Continent.
Le Temps (Switzerland)
"It's not just the price of oil that goes up," says Jean-Claude Péclet, the price of megawatt per hour having reached 2 euros in the day on Tuesday, July 000, instead of 25 euros usually on the Stock Exchange European EEX. "The persistent heat wave increases the demand for electricity. In Europe, France, which has pushed 'all-electric' a lot, is more affected than Germany or Great Britain. 'We are in a crisis situation' said EDF boss Pierre Gadonneix [public electricity monopoly in France] last week, where current heat increases consumption by 73% compared to seasonal standards, which corresponds to the production of 3 power plants Poland announced yesterday that it will cut electricity exports from July 2,5 to 25 due to the heat wave, causing a massive blackout affecting large companies in the Czech Republic, which set an all-time record for consumption in the first semester 28. "
Die Presse (Austria)
For Margarete Freisinger, the heat wave is not solely responsible for the problems of energy supply. The EU is also involved. The journalist fears that the situation will worsen. "Since 2001, Austria, a former exporting country, has had to import increasing quantities of current, which is becoming more and more difficult and costly due to the European shortage and the congestion of the lines. Opening up to competition of the European electricity market in February 1999 was the main culprit, followed by a fall in prices to which suppliers responded by shutting down old power plants, deemed too expensive, and by refusing to build new ones, with the result of a reduction of almost 30% in the European reserves planned for hard times. "
El Periódico de Catalunya (Spain)
"Spain certainly did not expect France, an energy exporter, to ask it to import its electricity," said the Spanish daily newspaper. "The electricity supply is difficult in France because the country is mainly equipped with nuclear power plants. The heat wave forces to reduce their production due to the lack of water in the rivers. In full European energy debate, in which dependence excessive use of oil is constantly denounced, we see that the nuclear source also has its weaknesses. The Spanish government cannot respond favorably to the French because its priority is to avoid power cuts in certain provinces. (...) the fact that an exporting country now needs energy once again demonstrates the urgency of establishing a common energy policy. "
die tageszeitung (Germany)
For Bernward Janzing, the problems of energy supply show above all that the myth according to which nuclear energy is able to ensure energy autonomy is not viable. "Today, this myth does not stand up to the heat of summer. Nuclear reactors, supposed to be permanently operational, are forced to reduce their production. Thus the last argument of the pro-nuclear campaign vanishes. nuclear error was not so serious, we could laugh at it. Because on the sidelines of all the known problems generated by nuclear power appears a new disadvantage of this technology: nuclear energy relies on centralized structures. It is inevitably a source problems. "
From international courier:
http://europe.courrierinternational.com ... at=DOSSIER
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/societe/ ... S6031.html
and that it's difficult to pass on a text that benefits ecology ... 
