Future of gas

Energy ‘sector coupling’ requires 75% more electricity, study says

Direct and indirect electrification of transport, buildings and industry could deliver a 60% reduction in carbon emissions across Europe by 2050 – but that will require a massive upsurge in clean power output, according to BloombergNEF, a research company.

EU announces ‘Clean Hydrogen Alliance’ for launch in the summer

Plans for an EU-wide hydrogen alliance were confirmed on Tuesday (10 March) when the European Commission unveiled its new industrial strategy.

Sustainable green hydrogen requires binding criteria

The absence of legally binding requirements for green hydrogen could lead to adverse effects, for example, rising CO2 emissions if partly fossil-based electricity is used in synthetic fuel production, write Corinna Klessmann, Jonas Schröder and Felix von Blücher.

Germany needs more LNG to complement renewables, IEA says

The International Energy Agency has praised Germany's push for wind and solar power but urged the country to increase LNG imports in order to reach its 65% renewable energy target for 2030. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Parliament backs EU list of energy projects, ignoring Greens

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday (12 February) against a motion to reject a proposed list of priority energy projects, ignoring the demands of Greens and leftists who warned against funding new gas infrastructure that risks being stranded as Europe moves to a zero-carbon economy.

MEPs urge reviewing EU list of energy projects in light of Green Deal

Members of the European Parliament have written to the European Commission, voicing concern that EU spending on LNG and other gas projects “may not be in line with the Union’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement”.

EU working on plans to expose climate impact of natural gas

The European Commission is preparing a strategy to curb methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, including fracked LNG imported from the US. But the timing is uncertain because officials are still busy collecting data on which to base...

‘There is overlap’ between EU’s green trillions, says EIB energy chief

The European Investment Bank decided to scrub its loan books of fossil fuels in 2019 but the lender's head of energy policy, Andrew McDowell, insists that there is more to the change of direction than ditching coal and gas.

Germany floats draft hydrogen strategy ahead of EU Presidency

Germany's draft hydrogen strategy envisages the use of CO2-free gas for the industry and transport sector, as well as millions for research. Under the draft plan, a large part of the country's hydrogen will be purchased from abroad. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Belgium hopes to lead world with new hydrogen project

Surplus wind power could soon light and heat Belgian homes thanks to a planned hydrogen plant on the North Sea coast, set to be the world’s first commercial-scale project of its type.

Energy TSOs: ‘We see 300-800 TWh of renewables feeding into electrolysers by 2050’

With Europe’s climate neutrality target soon becoming law, energy TSOs have launched joint scenarios to test gas and electricity networks against growing shares of renewables. Under current plans, they foresee 300-800 TWh of renewables feeding into electrolysers by 2050.

EU clarifies fossil fuel stance: ‘No lock-in into natural gas’

When European Union leaders signed off on a pledge to reach “climate neutrality” by 2050, they also eventually rang the death knell of the natural gas industry as we know it.

Billions to be wasted on ‘unnecessary’ gas projects, study says

Europe does not need new gas infrastructure to safeguard security of supply, according to a new study by industry consultants Artelys, which warns that there is a risk of €29 billion being wasted on 32 mostly “unnecessary” gas projects.

Austrian Green MEP: Gas is a better transition alternative to coal than nuclear

The new government in Vienna will aim for “an end to nuclear energy” in the EU, Thomas Waitz told EURACTIV Slovakia. The MEP-elect and Green Party negotiator also calls on the EU to acknowledge that Poland will need financial support in the transition away from coal.

Unilateral sanctions targeting Russia come at cost to transatlantic relationship

US sanctions designed to undermine Russian natural gas exports to Europe specifically target European-based companies at the risk of further weakening an already fragile US-European relationship, write Martin Jirušek and Robert Dillon.  

Renewable gases bring European jobs that cannot be outsourced

Deployment of renewable gases will bring the local job opportunities the new Commission is striving for in the European Green Deal, write Wouter Terlouw and Thibaud Lemercier.

EU’s climate credibility rests on tackling methane emissions from gas

EU methane legislation is not just a nice-to-have. Europe cannot meet its 2030 and 2050 targets, nor ensure the success of the Paris Agreement without it, writes Poppy Kelesi.

EU plans ‘big increase’ in green gas to meet climate goals

Production of biogas, biomethane and “green” hydrogen will have to skyrocket by at least 1,000% over the next three decades in order to reach the EU’s climate neutrality objective for 2050, an EU official has said.

US economist Rifkin: ‘Budgetary rules should not apply to green investments’

While visiting Paris, American economist Jeremy Rifkin talked to EURACTIV France about his hopes for the new European Commission's Green Deal, while calling for a climate narrative that inspires real change across society.

EU turns to methane emissions in fight against global warming

The European Commission is working on a first-ever methane strategy that could play a “very significant role” in enabling the EU increase its climate ambitions for 2030, EU officials have said.

EU strives to clarify ‘transition activities’ on path to zero-carbon goal

The European Commission has attempted to define “transition” and “enabling” economic activities on the way to net-zero emissions as part of efforts to reach compromise on a draft EU green finance taxonomy.

Putin attacks ‘strange’ European plans to reduce gas usage

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (20 November) rubbished European calls to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, saying that such ideas could lead to humans living in caves again.

US scientist: Methane leakage reports ‘have an inherent low bias’

To understand its full methane emission footprint and its impact on the climate, Europe needs to assess oil and gas imports from countries such as Algeria, Russia and Qatar, for which no data is available yet, says Stefan Schwietzke.

Offshore wind carry EU to meeting Paris goals, says IEA

Under a scenario in which the EU meets its Paris Agreement climate targets, gas will be a transition fuel and offshore wind will dominate by 2050, according to a World Energy Outlook forecast from the International Energy Agency.