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here's Germany's energy mix

So Natural gas accounts for 15.3% of Germany's energy usage

and if you look at December 2021 the sources of NG by country was

Note that it was in December, now it is lower

But even if you assume Russia's share was the same - so 1/3rd of 15.3% i.e. 5.1% of Germany's energy source is from Russia

The Germany economy will have higher energy costs, but no, no one is going to freeze

I guess they call it "renewable" power because every few years they have to renew the windmills and solar farms (and bury the stuff that can't be recycled).

And on his question: if those strats are actually true, what is the problem? Why are prices spiking the way they are? This should be something that is easily absorbed into very minor changes in lifestyle.

If the challenges this is creating our legitimate I can only think of one real reason. That reason is that we simply want as much energy as we need, and when we don’t have enough, even by a small amount, I’ll hell breaks loose.

Choice between paying a ~$2000 bimonthly residential utility bill ( when a year ago the cost was~$500) or shivering or cutting back on other necessities.. Those are a few of the terrible choices millions of northern Europeans will face this winter. Will people literally freeze to death because of this outrage? Not likely, though some pensioners without loved ones to look after them might. But the massive impact of these cost increases are going to continue destroying businesses and the lives of the "little" people. Barring a miracle, that's inevitable at this point.

It's now getting crazy in the UK because of the insane energy prices - chainsaw sales are through the roof as are wood stove sales. Folks who've never done so before think they're going to simply hike into the woods, cut down trees and use the wood for heat this year - no seasoning required! Not a freaking clue.

I live in Sicily - bought a small woodstove for my upstairs bathroom in June. I paid $164 delivered via Amazon. It's excellent quality but basic and not exactly a "looker." A month later the price for the same stove jumped to $375. I checked the price today - no longer available. . .