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The DGA Roadshow 2021
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Gas for Climate releases Decarbonisation Pathway 2020-2050 report
Gas for Climate releases Decarbonisation Pathway 2020-2050 report cover image

The Gas for Climate consortium has published the Gas Decarbonisation Pathway 2020-2050 study analysing the transition towards the lowest cost climate neutral system in Europe by 2050. The study can be downloaded here.

This new study highlights that additional EU climate and energy policies are needed to position Europe on the road to net zero by 2050. Its central and aspirational Accelerated Decarbonisation Pathway examines which investments and innovations have to take place in order to achieve a 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target of minus 55%, and climate neutrality by 2050. The European Green Deal can facilitate these developments, which will accelerate emission reductions, create sustainable EU jobs, and create first mover advantages for EU industry by:

  1. Adapting the EU policy framework to make gas infrastructure future-proof in an integrated energy system and a key asset for the sustainable and cost-efficient decarbonisation of the European economy
  2. Stimulating the supply of biomethane and hydrogen by a binding mandate for 10% gas from renewable sources by 2030.
  3. Fostering cross-border trade and transport of hydrogen and biomethane and clarify market rules for green and blue hydrogen including for hydrogen transport.
  4. Incentivising demand for hydrogen and biomethane in EU industry and production of dispatchable electricity by strengthening and broadening the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) combined with targeted and time-bound Contracts for Difference.

The current study is a follow-up of a study published in 2019. The 2019 study analysed the 2050 net zero emissions EU energy system and concluded that using a smart combination of renewable electricity and renewable gas, transported, stored and distributed through gas infrastructure, can deliver climate neutrality at the lowest societal cost. A scenario with an optimal quantity of biomethane and hydrogen achieves about €217bn in cost savings each year by 2050 across the EU compared to a ‘minimal gas’ scenario.