have demonstrated just how dangerous this import dependence can be for economic and social development, and all countries in Europe have been prompted to initiate large-scale research and development programmes aimed at reducing their dependence on imported energy. Growing public awareness of the limitations and drawbacks of each of the available energy sources has led to recognition of the fact that no single source will be able to meet even a major part of our energy demand in the future. The non-renewable sources such as oil, gas, coal and uranium, and the renewable or almost inexhaustible sources such as wind, hydro-power, biomass, direct solar energy conversion or nuclear fusion, are all limited in their use by geographical, environmental, economic or political factors. Compared with other parts of the world, Europe is in a particularly difficult position because most of its primary energy resources, such as oil, gas and geothermal energy are relatively small, while coal reserves are relatively large but difficult to mine, uranium is scarce, and even sunshine is not very abundant. Figure 1 Figure 2 Europe now imports between 50 and 60% of its energy needs. Figure 1 (1) shows the projected energy demand in the European Economic Community (EEC) and the estimated import needs. Figure 2 shows a more detailed projection of the expected energy mix (2,3). Bearing in mind that most of the uranium has also to be imported, this projection indicates an even larger EEC dependence on imported energy in the future. Europe's precarious energy situation can be illustrated by the fact that at present, the indigenous primary energy production per capita in the United States is more than 2,5 times that in Europe and this ratio will probably increase with time, in view of the much larger fossil fuel resources in the States. Unfortunately, it will also be more difficult for Europe to develop the use of renewable energy sources. For example, the average annual insolation in central Europe is about 1000 kWh/m2, compared with 2500 kWh/m2 in Arizona. Southern Europe has higher insolations, up to approximately 1700 kWh/m2 in Southern Spain, but in most parts it would be very expensive and, because of the need for very
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