The paper examines how the Russia–Ukraine war disrupted energy imports and electricity generation in Germany and the United Kingdom. Both countries responded to the loss of Russian oil and gas by diversifying their supply sources, with Germany turning to imports from the United States, Norway, and others, while the UK increased imports from the United States and boosted its natural gas exports to Belgium and the Netherlands. Both countries successfully replaced Russian energy supplies, but Germany’s increased coal dependence slowed its energy transition, while the UK maintained progress by focusing on renewables.
In Germany, the adjustment forced a short-term return to coal due to reduced natural gas imports and the pre-war decision to decommission nuclear plants. Renewable energy, particularly solar, saw limited growth, with significant impacts expected only in the medium to long term as energy infrastructure develops. The UK, in contrast, avoided reactivating coal plants and expanded wind energy generation, driven by favorable weather and new capacity installations. Wind power became the UK’s second-largest electricity source, highlighting its continued commitment to renewable energy during the crisis.
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