Climate change and vulnerabilities of the European energy balance

Energy consumption induces climate change but at the same time modifications in climate impact the energy sector both in terms of supply capacity and shift in energy demand. Different regions will be affected in different ways and this paper aims at analysing the issue at the European level. Usually rising sea levels, extremes of weather and an increase in the frequency of droughts and floods are indicated to play havoc with the world's energy systems but they can be hardly estimated and this study will be limited to the effects of the increase in average temperature. Tipping points are also taken out of any quantitative assessment. Structure of the EU energy budget is presented, shifts in energy demand, vulnerabilities of supply and risks for energy infrastructure are discussed in order to eventually provide figures of possible further threats to the continental energy security. © 2015, International Centre for Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems SDEWES. All rights reserved.