The Role of Natural Gas in Energy Transition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Angulo Rodríguez ◽  
Ariel Yépez-García

As of 2004 and continuously to this day, the annual growth rate of renewable sources has been greater than that of all fossil fuels combined. In the midst of this transition to cleaner energy, natural gas is the only fossil fuel that has increased its share in the global energy matrix. Technological changes in the LNG supply chain, as well as transformations in the global natural gas market, largely explain this growth. This publication provides evidence on the fundamental role that natural gas plays in the energy transition, given that: (i) its greenhouse gas emissions are substantially lower than those of oil and coal; (ii) it provides the firm power necessary to complement intermittent renewable energies; (iii) it is particularly safe compared to other fossil fuels. In line with these attributes, the International Energy Agency projects that the share of natural gas in the global energy matrix by 2040 will remain stable (around 24%), even in its Sustainable Development Scenario, which would allow to meet the goals established in the Paris Agreement.

Author(s):  
Sybille Roehrkasten

This chapter examines global energy trends, whether a global renewable energy transition is already taking place, and what steps are needed to further accelerate the global deployment of renewables. It first considers the expansion of renewable energy in light of global energy trends, noting that a global energy transition is not yet a reality but is urgently needed. It then looks at drivers and barriers for an accelerated expansion of renewable energy and proceeds by discussing how renewables are moving from the sidelines to the center stage of global energy governance. In particular, it describes the politics behind the creation of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an intergovernmental organization on renewable energy, as well as current challenges for global governance on renewable energy. The chapter shows that global renewable energy capacities have grown significantly but that global energy supply is still dominated by fossil fuels.


Subject Gas market outlook. Significance The price of spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) fell at end-February to the lowest level since July 2009. Long-term forecasts for global gas demand have been downgraded by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and by oil and gas companies, such as BP and ExxonMobil. US demand is rising, while production growth appears to have flattened. However, the impact on prices will be limited in 2016. Impacts Gas companies' revenues will be pressured, with pipeline suppliers in Europe discounting prices to compete with LNG imports. With uncertain prospects for gas in power generation, companies will focus on new opportunities in transport. Gas industry groups will seek carbon regulations that support gas rather than penalise fossil fuels to the advantage of renewables.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-182
Author(s):  
Dzhanneta Medzhidova ◽  
◽  

In 2021, the European Union (EU) is entering a new phase of energy transition, reducing the use of fossil fuels to achieve climate neutrality by the mid-century. For a qualitative assessment of the impact of the EU gas market’s green policy, transaction cost theory and the concept of asset specificity is referenced in this article. During the first stage of market development, the level of asset specificity was high, while a decline can be observed with market liberalization. However, at the current stage, a radical transformation of specificity in the context of energy transition can be seen. Assets that used to guarantee higher profitability (gas pipelines, gas processing plants, liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals) will soon be disqualified. In this article, the long-term prospects for the natural gas market in Europe, and what will happen to key assets if the climate agenda dominates the issue of energy security, are considered; qualitative assessment of the changes and of the future of the assets on the European gas market is undertaken.


Subject Carbon reduction strategies. Significance The International Energy Agency (IEA) in March published its latest status report on trends in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. The report found that demand increased by 2.1% in 2017 (more than in previous years) and that most of that increase was met with fossil fuels. Global energy-related emissions grew 1.4%, reversing recent trends. These developments reinforce concerns that the transition towards a low- or zero-carbon economy is not progressing as quickly as it needs to if climate change is to be limited. Impacts Renewed carbon capture momentum will require a significant increase in carbon prices to improve the viability of investments. Major electricity supply disruptions would help revive interest in nuclear power. The prospects for increased energy efficiency are largely dependent upon the future trajectory of energy prices.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Christian Downie

Abstract In policy domains characterised by complexity, international organizations (IOs) with overlapping mandates and governance functions regularly interact in ways that have important implications for global governance. Yet the dynamics of IO interactions remain understudied. This article breaks new ground by building on the theoretical insights of organizational ecology to examine IO competition, cooperation, and adaptation in the domain of energy. Drawing on original empirical data, I consider three related hypotheses: (1) competition between IOs in the same population is likely to centre on material resources; (2) IOs are more likely to cooperate when they have a shared governance goal; and (3) individual IOs can adapt by changing their goals and boundaries. In considering these hypotheses, this article highlights the limits of the organizational ecology approach and the need to broaden it to account for the possibility that IOs do cooperate, and that individual IOs, such as the International Energy Agency, have the capacity to adapt to changes in their environment.


Author(s):  
Alberto Tita

International cooperation on energy had momentum in 2012. So far fragmented in multiple initiatives and agencies, the global dialogue about energy can now undergo some rationalization. Such innovation takes move from Russia action, as one of the key energy exporters, in multilateral venues. Last summer Moscow either entered the WTO, either got the pro-tempore Presidency of the G8/G20. Moreover, Russia is at the OECD doorstep for joining it as a full-fledged member, with a view to entering the OECD affiliate, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). All these hubs of international cooperation are the core of global economic governance and hugely involved in energy regulation. For their strict interrelation, the role that Moscow can simultaneously play at the junction of such institutions will result essential to favour the centrality of the IEA. With beneficial effects over international energy regulation and, in the end, on global governance as well. … From Russia with … law?


AIMS Energy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1170-1191
Author(s):  
Peter Schwartzman ◽  
◽  
David Schwartzman ◽  

<abstract> <p>First, we recognize the valuable previous studies which model renewable energy growth with complete termination of fossil fuels along with assumptions of the remaining carbon budgets to reach IPCC warming targets. However, these studies use very complex combined economic/physical modeling and commonly lack transparency regarding the sensitivity to assumed inputs. Moreover, it is not clear that energy poverty with its big present impact in the global South has been eliminated in their scenarios. Further, their CO<sub>2</sub>-equivalent natural gas emission factors are underestimated, which will have significant impact on the computed greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, we address this question in a transparent modeling study: can the 1.5 ℃ warming target still be met with an aggressive phaseout of fossil fuels coupled with a 100% replacement by renewable energy? We compute the continuous generation of global wind/solar energy power along with the cumulative carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in a complete phaseout of fossil fuels over a 20 year period. We compare these computed emissions with the state-of-the-science estimates for the remaining carbon budget of carbon dioxide emissions consistent with the 1.5 ℃ warming target, concluding that it is still possible to meet this warming target if the creation of a global 100% renewable energy transition of sufficient capacity begins very soon which will likely be needed to power aggressive negative carbon emission technology. The latter is focused on direct air capture for crustal storage. More efficient renewable technologies in the near future will make this transition easier and promote the implementation of a global circular economy. Taking into account technological improvements in 2<sup>nd</sup> law (exergy) efficiencies reducing the necessary global energy demand, the renewable supply should likely be no more than 1.5 times the present level, with the capacity to eliminate global energy poverty, for climate mitigation and adaptation.</p> </abstract>


Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Maria Rosaria Guarini ◽  
Francesco Sica ◽  
Pierluigi Morano ◽  
Josè Antonio Vadalà

The International Energy Agency (2019) states 40% of CO2 emissions in cities are linked to the buildings stock, in particular to heating and cooling systems, material types and users’ performance. According to Green New Deal, the energy transition of buildings is becoming a priority. This is via investments with low environmental impacts through renewable energy sources. The paper describes an integrated economic-energy-environmental framework (IE3F), i.e., an economic evaluation protocol for new constructions and/or existing renewal projects aimed at supporting the choice phase between alternative technological solutions based on biocompatible materials. The IE3F borrows the logical-operative flow of the life cycle assessment multi-criteria approach. The value aspects translated into monetary terms that characterize the project life cycle are taken into account. The protocol was tested on an emergency project in Italy, namely in Messina City. The results obtained provide evidence of the versatile use of IE3F and its practical utility to guide economic convenience judgements on building investments and choice problems between alternatives in sustainable perspective. The research deepening will be about keeping track of multiple performance levels of the construction, not only the energy performance, and attempting to estimate the corresponding economic value in terms of increase/decrease of construction cost value.


Author(s):  
Michela Longo ◽  
Morris Brenna ◽  
Federica Foiadelli

The environmental pollution caused by fossil fuels is a hot issue around the world in recent years. The gases lead to poor air quality, in particular in large cities, and the global warming that can cause ecological calamity such as tropical cyclones, heatwaves, drought, and extreme tides. International Energy Agency clearly states that the current energy trend is not sustainable environmentally, economically, and socially. Therefore, it must devise solutions to achieve the future economic growth without adverse environmental effects. The increasing diffusion of electric vehicles is driving academic and institutional research towards exploring different possible ways of charging vehicles in a fast, reliable, and safe way. For this reason, wireless power transfer systems have recently been receiving a lot of attention in the academic literature. This chapter reviews the main analytic and computational tools that are typically used to perform analyses in the context of inductive power transfer systems (IPTSs).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document