Europe is reluctantly turning to coal, as gas supplies from Russia drop

Germany, Italy, Austria and the Netherlands have all indicated that coal-fired plants could be used to compensate for a cut in Russian gas supplies.

European governments are scrambling to fill underground storage with natural gas supplies ahead of the winter.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has warned that the situation is going to be “really tight in winter” without precautionary measures to prevent a supply shortage.

Reduced flows of Russian gas and the specter of a full supply disruption have prompted some European governments to reconsider coal, one of the dirtiest and most polluting ways of producing energy.

It has stoked fears that the energy crisis could see Europe delay its transition away from fossil fuels, although policymakers insist the burning of coal is a necessary stopgap to help prevent a winter supply shortage.

Coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel in terms of emissions and therefore the most important target for replacement in the pivot to alternative energy sources.

Russia’s state-backed energy giant Gazprom has cut capacity via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that runs to Germany under the Baltic Sea, citing the delayed return of equipment serviced by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada.

It’s not clear when — or if — Nord Stream 1 gas flows will return to normal levels.

The Netherlands said it would activate an “early warning” phase of an energy crisis plan and remove a production cap at coal-fired plants to preserve gas.

Italy and Austria have also reported plans to consider burning more coal to offset a sharp drop in Russian gas supplies.