Ignore the greenwashing: natural gas is not the solution
Ruhr-University Bochum
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| Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios |
In the wake of the offensive war waged by Russia, the German government faces the challenge of reducing energy reliance on Russia and continuing to ensure an affordable and secure energy supply that is in line with climate goals.
Efforts are currently being made to compensate for Russian natural gas, whose supply is curtailed and uncertain, by establishing new gas trade relations and new infrastructure.
Claudia Kemfert, who heads the study, explains: "Fossil natural gas is neither clean nor safe. By holding on to fossil natural gas for too long, Germany has found itself in an energy crisis. The country can now only emerge from this crisis by taking decisive action for consistent decarbonisation towards a full supply from renewable energies."
Natural gas use is not per se preferable to coal and oil
The researchers question widespread assumptions about natural gas from five perspectives. In the process, they focus on risks associated with further expansion of natural gas infrastructure and continued heavy use of natural gas.
While many still subscribe to the notion that natural gas is clean, extensive research shows that the climate impact of natural gas use is significantly underestimated and that the fossil fuel is by no means per se the better alternative to coal and oil use.
"CO2 is not the only
problem; there's also the highly effective greenhouse gas methane, which
escapes unburned into the atmosphere along the entire value chain through
fugitive emissions. So far, these emissions have not been sufficiently taken
into account and have so far been underestimated," points out Fabian
Präger.
The
narrative of bridge technology is misleading
Moreover, the researchers posit that an expansion of natural gas infrastructure can lead to path dependencies ("lock-in effects") and economic climate risks such as the premature loss of value of fossil assets ("stranded assets"). "Investments in fossil energy infrastructure cement dependence on fossil fuels and emissions for decades.
Huge economic costs and
fossil path dependencies are thus created, delaying the phase-out of fossil
energy and the development of a 100 per cent renewable energy system.
Infrastructure that is not compatible with climate goals is threatened with
early decommissioning with economic losses," stresses Franziska Hoffart.
Five
measures
The
researchers propose five measures to avoid these risks:
·
Management of methane emissions
throughout the natural gas value chain
·
Revising the assumptions of scenario
analyses based on new research findings on greenhouse gas emissions related to
natural gas
·
Replacing the bridge technology
narrative with clear and decisive decarbonisation criteria
·
Avoiding further natural gas
lock-ins and methane leaks
·
Serious and rigorous consideration
of climate-related risks in energy infrastructure planning
"We
hope to use these findings to add a critical perspective to the academic and
public discussion on the future of fossil natural gas and infrastructure,"
says Isabell Braunger. "The paper is not only aimed at the scientific
community, but, more importantly, at governments developing strategies to
mitigate greenhouse gases. After all, investments in natural gas infrastructure
may hold back the energy transition and entail enormous economic risks,"
points out Hanna Brauers.
Interdisciplinary
study reveals shortfalls of current discourse
One of the unique aspects of the study is the combination of different perspectives that create a holistic view of the subject matter. The researchers were able to achieve this perspective thanks of their diverse backgrounds in economics, industrial engineering, politics and ethics.
"This is how we show that the current discussion is incomplete and that a holistic and interdisciplinary research approach to the energy transition and social-ecological transformation processes provides deeper insights," conclude the authors. They conclude: "The climate and geopolitical energy crisis surrounding fossil fuels highlights the need for a timely and consistent natural gas exit, which must be organised and implemented by society as a whole."