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Natural Gas in 2050
In December 2011 the European Commission will publish its Energy Roadmap for 2050. The roadmap will contain a vision for an efficient, secure and sustainable energy mix in 2050. There will be no easy solutions to tackle the climate challenges we face. Natural gas can however make a key contribution to realise the objectives for a sustainable society. Natural gas is the cleanest, most efficient and versatile of all fossil fuels. The abundance of natural gas, its competitive cost of supply, its immediate availability and the flexibility to back up renewable energy position it as the best energy source to reach greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
Further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
CO2 emissions from gas are only half the CO2 formed by coal combustion. In the coming decades sizable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved by substituting carbon rich energy sources for natural gas. In addition, natural gas contains no sulphur and releases no fine particles on burning, unlike coal. On this way, it contributes to improving the air quality.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can further contribute in reducing CO2 emissions from natural gas. Due to the gas' low emissions, the need for CCS is divided by two when using gas rather than coal. It is therefore the cleanest and most cost efficient fossil fuel option in the market. CCS will be vital to sustain worldwide economic growth whilst mitigating the harmful effects of CO2 emissions. As the International Energy Agency concluded, without CCS, the cost of achieving a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 will increase by 70% (From 2005 levels, IEA CCS Roadmap 2009).
Green gas
It is not only natural gas that can contribute to the transition to a low-carbon energy supply. Climate-neutral 'green gas' from biological sources can form an integral part of this sustainable future.
Innovative partner for variable renewables
Existing gas infrastructure can be used to balance the variability of renewables with innovative concepts such as "power-to gas" and is therefore, an ideal partner for renewables. The power produced by renewables in times of low demand can be used to generate hydrogen and synthetic natural gas to be stored in gas storage facilities. During periods of high demand, synthetic natural gas can then be used by gas-fired plants to balance the grid. The usage of such facilities reduces investment needs for further enhancement in the electricity grid.
Efficient in use
More efficient energy consumption than at present is possible through applying new technologies. These can ensure that the energy in natural gas is optimally used. For instance, cogeneration or combined heat-and-power (CHP) has an efficiency recovery higher than 80%. Efficient gas technologies are not only a solution for the big industrial customers, but also for SMEs and household consumers.
Low carbon mobility solutions
Natural gas also provides significant opportunities in the transportation sector for further carbon emission reduction. Compressed natural gas (CNG & L-CNG) for the automobile sector and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the maritime sector present alternatives which contribute to the European climate objectives.
Efficient to transport
Gas infrastructure is the market facilitator and therefore the backbone of a sustainable, secure and competitive European gas market. Gas transport is safe and efficient and transporting energy in the form of gas is up to twenty times more economical than in the form of electricity. Gas can be easily stored and Europe's gas grid is well connected to worldwide supplies through import pipelines and LNG terminals.
Delivering sustainability
By 2050, natural gas offers the opportunity to be used in conjunction with CCS. In addition, green gas and new developing technologies will help to further decarbonise the society and to provide an affordable flexible part of a sustainable energy mix.
GIE
Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is an association representing the sole interest of the infrastructure industry in the natural gas business such as Transmission System Operators, Storage System Operators and LNG Terminal Operators. GIE has currently 70 members in 25 European countries.
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