Gas13 May 2018 18:01
PRESS RELEASE: .......Eurogas scenario study with PRIMES:
Gas can help overachieve EU’s climate targets at a lower cost
Brussels, May 2018. Gas – natural, decarbonised and renewable – can help to achieve more ambitious
emissions reductions by 2030 in heating, power and transport, and can therefore win time for new
options towards 2050.
The study was commissioned by Eurogas and undertaken by E3MLab on the basis of the PRIMES economic
model, widely used by the European Commission to guide the EU’s energy policies.
The study demonstrates that the versatile role of gas and the gas system enables a socially acceptable
pathway to 2050, supporting higher shares of renewable energy, while limiting the cost increase for
consumers.
“The Eurogas scenario study with PRIMES confirms the conclusions recently announced by multiple other
studies: that gas – natural, decarbonised and renewable – has strong potential to play an integral role in
reducing Europe’s GHG emissions and achieving clean energy for all Europeans,” Eurogas Secretary General
Beate Raabe points out.
Specifically, the innovative gas scenario showed that switching from coal and oil to natural gas would
exceed the EU's 2030 GHG reduction target by 5%. Moreover, this would provide time to develop new cost-
efficient options for 2050. Innovative gas solutions, such as the development of renewable and
decarbonised gas towards 2050, would enable a 7% higher share of renewable energy overall, compared
with the conventional wisdom scenario.
A higher share of renewables goes hand in hand with a 9% higher demand for gas to meet emissions
reduction targets, in the innovative gas scenario. Gas demand levels in the EU would still be important in
2050, justifying the completion of an integrated EU gas network. Gas demand could be up to 460bcm in
2050, 70% of which would be renewable gas.
The study also showed that strong electrification would meet system limitations and cause high overall
costs. The PRIMES model calculated that more use of gas saves up to €335bn in infrastructure investments
between 2015 and 2050. It points to a mix of decarbonisation options as the better approach.
“The study confirmed that gas is not just an energy transition fuel, but a key part of the future energy
system that should be based on partnership and fair competition with other energy sources,” Beate Raabe
concluded.
Visit www.gaswindandsun.eu to check the outcomes of the modelling and request a copy of the Eurogas scenario study with Primes. ..............................................................................................................
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