Page 8 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication

8 Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation
FUTURE ROLE OF GAS

The future role of gas

By Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Borchardt (pictured), Director for the Internal Energy Market,
DG ENER, European Commission

Europe is undergoing a far emission reduction and renewable renewable sources would require
reaching energy transition production goals in the energy smarter and stronger electricity
in order to decarbonise all sector, some advocate an "all- grids, wide-spread introduction of
aspects of our daily lives electric world", where energy flexibility measures, and higher levels
and this in a relatively short period. is produced as renewable electricity, of (seasonal) storage and back-up
The overarching mission is to move stored as electricity and all end- generation capacity.
towards a zero-emission, carbon- applications are switched to
neutral Europe. The pathway is clear: electrical appliances. It is therefore necessary to investigate
decarbonising the economy by 2050 specifically whether, to which extent
in the order of 80-95% compared However, some recent studies and and how gas and gas infrastructure
to 1990, achieving along the way assessments (Frontier) have found can be compatible with the climate
reductions of at least 40% by 2030 that this transition to an "all-electric objectives and deliver cost-effective
and 60% by 2040. world" is neither technically feasible solutions to achieve the energy
nor economically acceptable because transition. This will also require
In light of the ambitious it would significantly increase the investigating optimal use of the
decarbonisation targets, it is evident energy costs for private and industrial infrastructure building on synergies
that the energy transition process consumers. Indeed, full electrification and interactions between the gas and
has to be stepped up. To reach the by using exclusively intermittent electricity sectors.

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