12.12.2017
Using about 930 terawatt hours of renewable gases satisfies flexibility needs of a greenhouse-gas-neutral energy system by 2050. Green gases bring an economic cost advantage of € 19 billion.
The Enervis study "Renewable Gases - a System Update of the Energy Transition" outlines the way to a greenhouse-gas-neutral energy system by the year 2050. The study was commissioned by the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) and the Initiative Erdgasspeicher (INES). A Political Advisory Board has accompanied the study.
The study shows that a carbon-neutral energy system in Germany in 2050 should use about 930 terawatt hours of renewable gases. The use of renewable gases is essential for the decarburization of the industry and for transportation sector. In the heating sector, economic cost advantages arise using green gases. The temporal and spatial flexibility required in the future energy system can be satisfied by the existing gas storage facilities and gas pipeline networks. Gas storage can thus offset the production of renewable energies that deviates from final energy consumption.
"The generation of renewable gases via Power-to-Gas offers the opportunity to use gas storage and gas networks in a greenhouse-gas-neutral energy system. This enables the further use of renewable gases in the heating market and thus leads to economic advantages," summarized Sebastian Klein, one of the study authors from Enervis Energy Advisors GmbH.
"In an energy system based solely on the production of renewable energies, we need stability through flexibility. In conjunction with Power-to-Gas, gas storage can provide this flexibility in a renewable way. Thanks to gas storage facilities, the effects of dark doldrums lie in the past," says Sebastian Bleschke, Chief Executive Officer of INES.
"Anyone who believes in the energy transition cannot ignore the ambitious expansion of wind energy that has to start now. The task is affordable, the decarbonization across all sectors is possible," said Hermann Albers, President of the German Wind Energy Association.
Download Enervis study (in German)
Download Management Summary of Enervis study (in English)