Gas
In the green transition all industries must pull together
As Europe’s energy ministers gather in Linz this week, they have the chance to widen and deepen the European Union’s ambitions for the green transition, writes MEP Jeppe Kofod.
Mega infrastructure projects win over clean energy in Visegrad Four
In the Visegrad countries, decision makers prefer their historical favourites – coal and nuclear – to renewable sources and energy efficiency. As the Global Climate Action Summit resumes in San Francisco, it’s important to realise that corporate leadership can also shape the outlook for clean energy in Eastern Europe, writes Ada Ámon.
Competitive European gas markets are a reality
From national silos to an integrated market, Europe’s gas network has come a long way writes Alex Barnes.
With attacks on Nord Stream 2, Washington ignores collateral damage
Standard political arguments of dependence are ineffective in times of a well-developed and diversified EU natural gas market. In the mid- to long-term, Trump's approach will damage European-American relations, Matthias Dornfeldt writes.
Gas market liberalisation: Does Europe really want it?
Almost ten years after the implementation of the Third Energy Package, the risk of backtracking on liberalisation looks very real as policymakers seem increasingly frustrated at having “given away” power to the market, writes Luca Franza.
Building energy infrastructure is not a zero-sum game
Full electrification does not mean decarbonisation, writes Marco Alverà. Infrastructure which carries natural gas today will be needed in future to carry increasing amounts of biomethane, green hydrogen as well as to store energy more efficiently than power lines or batteries, he argues.
The EU must stop funding gas infrastructure projects with taxpayer money
It is time for the EU to stop investing public money in additional gas-infrastructure, says S&D vice-president Kathleen Van Brempt.
Does Russia really sell LNG to the US?
Two LNG cargo ships delivered Russian gas to the United States this year. But why does one of the world's leading exporters need to import the fuel? Danila Bochkarev looks into the details.
Energy efficiency – a game changer for Europe, a responsibility for industry
EU efforts to increase energy efficiency are now entering the sharp end of the legislative process, as trilateral talks ramp up. Nadezda Kokotovic explains what role industry should play in energy saving.
EU budget: Where’s the climate and environment?
Discussions on the EU's post-2020 accounts have begun. But it seems like climate, energy and the environment itself have already been forgotten in the talks, warns Damien Demailly.
The future of gas is not fossil but green
There is a vast potential for green gas in Europe, generated from sustainable resources such as biomass and organic waste, some of which can directly be injected into the grid or take the shape of hydrogen, writes Claude Turmes.
‘Projects of Common Interest’, or waste of public resources?
Many of the existing 'Projects of Common Interest' in the gas sector struggle to make economic sense and might end up as stranded assets. This waste of public resources must stop, writes Danila Bochkarev.
How Central Asian energy complements the Southern Gas Corridor
Practical access to Central Asian gas, which would arrive via the twin projects of the White Stream and the Trans-Caspian Pipeline, is finally coming at just the right time to complete the Southern Gas Corridor, writes Robert M. Cutler.
EU need not fear new Russian gas pipeline
Europe’s continuing need for Russian gas – for reasons of proximity and price – is a reality, but it need not leave the EU over a barrel, writes Noah Gordon.
Southern Gas Corridor is a living example of multilateral cooperation in the EU’s East
The multi-billion euro Southern Gas Corridor should not be seen as a mere energy security project; it is a robust interconnectivity initiative which will bring closer other partners in Central Asia seeking access to the EU market, writes the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the EU.
Europe’s murky Eastern energy deals
Millions of euros in public money are being invested in large infrastructure projects in the EU’s eastern neighbours in total disregard for Europe’s climate goals, and local communities, writes Manana Kochladze.
Climate change fight is great opportunity for Europe’s labourers
For decades, labourers were presented with a false choice: good jobs or a clean environment. They were told that efforts to cut pollution would kill jobs—that they had to choose between clean air and the economy. Now we know better, insists Kathleen Van Brempt.
Does EU gas policymaking take customers’ interest into account?
Ahead of a reform of the EU rules to cover offshore gas pipelines, in its latest attempt to regulate Russia’s planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Danila Bochkarev offered his comments.
Gas lobby keeps Europe hooked on fossil fuels
As the COP23 UN climate talks open in Bonn, the European Commission and EU member states are embarking on a massive spending spree to subsidise new gas infrastructure that will make it impossible to achieve the global warming targets agreed two years ago in Paris, writes Pascoe Sabido.Special ReportPromoted content
Making the energy transition possible through green hydrogen and power-to-gas
Tackling climate change is an ambitious project. The EU’s flagship Clean Energy Package sets ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve decarbonisation. Emissions should therefore drop rapidly and significantly across all sectors, writes Dr. Axel Wietfeld.
Smoke, mirrors and coal dust
Making coal power look like a worthy candidate for taxpayer support in a Europe moving to low carbon generation is no easy trick. A recent study tried to pull off this illusion and failed miserably, explains Dave Jones.
Is German climate leadership being sacrificed on the altar of coal?
The pre-election politicking currently going on in Germany should ring alarm bells among climate policy advocates, warns Julian Schwartzkopff. If Angela Merkel does not take personal ownership of securing a climate-compatible coal phase-out, she could jeopardise her legacy as “climate chancellor”, he writes.
Cutting consumption is key to cutting energy bills
Westminster’s latest attempt to manage energy bills looks increasingly like an attempt to manage headlines about energy bills. Much more must be done to cut consumption, writes Tom Burke.