Harnessing Israel's vast renewable energy resources will help reduce the EU's dependence on Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during her visit to Israel.
According to a statement from EuroAsia InterConnector, stressing the importance of Cyprus and Greece in securing energy supplies, she said this would be achieved through the EU co-funded EuroAsia Interconnector electricity interconnector and a gas-hydrogen pipeline in the eastern Mediterranean.
During an honorary doctorate ceremony at Ben Gurion University in Negev on Tuesday, the European Commission President said that "we are now exploring ways to strengthen our energy cooperation with Israel."
"We have two major projects in the pipeline: the longest and deepest undersea electricity cable in the world, linking Israel with Cyprus and Greece."
"We have two major projects in the pipeline: the longest and deepest undersea electricity cable in the world, connecting Israel with Cyprus and Greece. Over time, electricity through the cable will be supplied by renewable energy sources. This is where the investment should be focused."
As mentioned in the statement, in January, the European Union approved a €657 million grant for the construction of the 2,000 megawatt EuroAsia Interconnector submarine electricity interconnector cable that will connect the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, using funds from the Connecting Europe Facility.
The EuroAsia Interconnector is a Project of Common Interest and has been on the Union's list of CSR infrastructure since 2013.
The Commission President said that Israel has "an abundance of natural resources for renewable energy production.
And the second project is a gas and clean hydrogen pipeline in the Eastern Mediterranean, she said, adding that it is an investment in the energy security of both Europe and Israel. He said this infrastructure would also help decarbonise our energy mix.
"It is a great example of how democracies come together not only in times of conflict, but also to fight this huge enemy called climate change. This is the great crisis that is brewing," he said, according to the statement.
He noted that "we need to enlist all our knowledge, our expertise and our entrepreneurial spirit to bring innovative technologies to bear, to work to fight climate change. To make this world a better place and deliver to our children a planet where there will still be seasons, a spring, a summer, an autumn and a winter."
Source: CNA
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