Having a strong gas network in place is key in ensuring a full transition to a low-carbon energy, according to gas industry association Eurogas.
“Low-carbon, efficient and renewable energy that EU citizens can enjoy without sacrifices can only be achieved if a strong gas network is in place”, said Eurogas secretary general Beate Raabe during the presentation by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) of the 2017 edition of its ten-year network development plan.
“The ten-year network development plan is a reminder that the well-performing gas network we already have in Europe today is an invaluable asset in achieving the EU’s climate and energy goals” Raabe stressed.
“Eurogas agrees with ENTSOG that the projects on which final investment decisions have been taken will make a significant contribution to completing that network and that additional projects are only needed in some specific areas”, she said, adding that “such projects should be supported by the market.”
Whilst the ENTSOG’s scenarios, in which the EU climate targets are met, result in either an increase or decrease of gas demand by 2030, the indigenous production decline leads to imports increasing or remaining stable, Eurogas said in a statement.
It added there are several benefits linked to reinforcing the gas grid. In particular, switching from coal and oil to gas in power generation, heating and transport “vastly reduces emissions” of carbon dioxide – up to 50% in power generation - and pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxides (SOx) and particles, and it increases energy efficiency.
“It does so with much less impact and at lower cost than electrification because the existing gas infrastructure, including pipelines, LNG terminals, storage facilities and power plants, require less investment” Eurogas said.
Moreover, “over time, the share of renewable gas, such as biomethane and synthetic gas from power-to-gas, can be increased.”
Diversification "essential to security of supply"
In terms of security of energy supply, “the current cold winter demonstrates that EU citizens who have access to the gas grid and have opted for gas heating enjoy warm homes” Eurogas underlined, pointing at the fact “Bulgaria is experiencing an electricity crisis” and “in Germany there was so little wind and sun in December that thermal power generation had to give its best.”
“The gas grid is flexible and can efficiently balance the large differences in energy demand between summer and winter, be it for heating or to ensure security of electricity supply if sufficient gas power plants are in place.”
Finally, “diverse sources and diverse supply routes are essential to optimise both price competition and security of gas supply” it stressed, adding that “the decline in EU indigenous production is being compensated by external supplies arriving as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and by pipeline.”
With more LNG terminals being commissioned in recent years and major pipelines being built, such as the Southern Corridor that will carry gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey and the EU the “continued importance attached to natural gas in the EU energy mix” is further confirmed, Eurogas argued.