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Offshore grid needed for sustainability, security

15 November 2008

Developing a offshore power grid that could connect the wind farms of the North Sea is now an energy security priority for the EU.

The European Commission's Energy Security Review has been published and suggests a variety of infrastructure developments to ensure Europe has energy to meet its needs and relies less on outside countries to provide it.

Launching the review, president Jose Manuel Barroso said that energy prices in the EU had on average 15 per cent - though the UK average is 30 per cent.

He added: "54 per cent of Europe's energy is imported at a cost of 700 (£598) for every EU citizen.

"We have to address this urgently, by taking measures to increase our energy efficiency and reduce our dependence on imports. We have to invest and diversify."

Both electricity and gas prices have risen in the UK this year, though gas rose substantially more as British Gas raised its tariff 35 per cent.

Energy efficiency remains one of the objectives of the EU's attempts to find secure and sustainable energy supplies.

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Author: Administrator User