The List: Sapping Europe’s Energy

Spain
Hooked On: Foreign oil and Algerian gas. The country is the most energy dependent in Europe, importing 80 percent of its energy needsincluding 64 percent of its coal, and 99 percent of its oil and gas. And the government is politically committed to abandoning nuclear power, which currently provides about one-fifth of its electricity. In the era of high oil prices, Spain is paying a serious price for its energy dependence.
What theyre doing: Not enough. Madrid aims to have 12 percent of the countrys electricity supplied in the form of renewables by the end of the decade. The bulk of this burden will be met by a vast expansion in wind power, of which Spain is already the second largest producer in the world. Grade: D

Ukraine
Hooked On: Russian and Turkmen gas. Russia turned off Ukraines gas supplies at the beginning of the year, in a dispute over pricing, and supplies to its industries were severely hit. The tap was turned back on only when Ukraine agreed to double its payments.
What theyre doing: Despite the Chernobyl experience, Ukraine still gets more than half its energy from nuclear power. That percentage is set to increase as up to 11 more reactors come online over the next 25 years. For Kiev, apparently, Moscows whims are scarier than playing with nuclear power. Grade: C

Britain
Hooked On: North Sea oil and gas has made Britain a net exporter of both oil and gasuntil recently. Gasoline production is declining in Britain, which became a net gas importer in 2004. The same will be true for oil before the decade is out. By 2020, Britain will be relying on Russian and Algerian gas for half of its electricity supply.
What theyre doing: The governments goal is to supply 20 percent of Britains energy needs through renewables by 2020. But dont hold your breath, because all indicators show that it will fall short of the 10 percent target set for 2012. The solution is likely to be nuclear power. Prime Minister Tony Blair is desperate to win public approval for a new generation of nuclear plants to replace the old ones in need of decommissioning and has declared that nuclear power is back with a vengeance. Grade: B-

France
Hooked On: Nuclear power. Oil accounts for less than 40 percent of Frances total energy consumption, compared to over 70 percent in the 1970s. Frances strong rail system is largely responsible for that trend. Its modest imports of oil and gas come principally from Norway.
What theyre doing: France is a poster child for nuclear power. Spurred by the oil crises of the 1970s, France pioneered nuclear power on a large scale. Nuclear plants now produce almost 80 percent of the countrys electricity, which enables the French to be the worlds biggest net exporter of electricity. French President Jacques Chirac has announced plans for a new generation of nuclear plants and the country will be the home of the experimental ITER fusion power reactor, which is supposed to be less vulnerable to accidents and produce less waste. Grade: B

Sweden
Hooked On: Very little. The Swedes use nuclear and hydroelectric power for their electricity. Sweden does import oil for its transportation needs, but a growing number of its cars run on ethanol or biogas, and large Swedish gas stations are required by law to offer at least one pump with renewable fuel.
What theyre doing: The 1970s oil shock scared Sweden into weaning itself off oil, which at the time accounted for more than three-quarters of its energy needs. Sweden intends to be entirely free from oil within 15 years, while at the same time phasing out nuclear power. Houses will be heated using geo-thermal energy and cars will run on ethanol and other bio-fuels. In 2003, 26 percent of Swedens total energy use came from renewable sources compared to only 32 percent from oil. Grade: A