This is another consequence of the war in Ukraine. With gas deliveries from Russia falling, Germany is experiencing an unprecedented boom in radiator sales in the summer period. Sales have already increased by a third in the first half.
The phenomenon is explained by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as by the rise in gas prices. But it is also the fear of seeing the Russian gas tap closed for this winter that motivates the Germans. Especially since Moscow has already reduced its gas supply to Europe. Frightened by the idea of not being able to heat themselves adequately at the end of the year, households raid supermarkets that sell these auxiliary electric heaters.
An explosion in demand for electricity
But such behavior is not without risk. If these devices could allow significant savings on the gas bill, they could, on the contrary, cause the electricity bill to skyrocket. In fact, these heaters are not designed to permanently heat a house.
In addition, the massive use of this type of device, at the same time, could cause an explosion in the demand and production of electricity. Overconsumption that could lead to an interruption of electrical energy deliveries.
Estimated at 20%, dependence on Russian gas is much lower in France than among our German neighbors. “But that shouldn’t stop us from making efforts,” warns Phuc-Vinh Nguyen, a researcher on French and European energy policy at the Jacques Delors Institute.
Shocked France?
“There is a strong tension at the moment on the production of electricity in France”, he recalled on our antenna. “So, in winter, we will need to import this electricity, especially from Germany,” the expert continued. However, the country will first have to cover its own electricity needs, which could explode from the use of these radiators. Phuc-Vinh Nguyen therefore highlighted the “need to reduce our overall energy consumption” through energy sobriety.
In winter, European homes heat up to an average of 22 degrees. “Maybe we can think about reducing that temperature to 19 or 20 degrees,” suggested the researcher. “But we cannot ask the same effort from a person in a situation of energy poverty as from a person who has the means to insulate their home”, he stressed.
Among the ways mentioned by the expert, a campaign to mobilize state and local authorities to reduce their energy consumption, as well as consultations with industries for possible interruptions in production.
Source: BFM TV
