Gas Best Bridging Fuel for Carbon, CEO Says
Gas is the ideal bridging fuel toward a lower-carbon future, the CEO of DNV GL's Oil and Gas division has said today at a conference.
Speaking at the International Gas Union (IGU) Forum in Høvik, Norway, Elisabeth Tørstad said that gas should play an important role in developing the world's energy mix in the coming decades.
"As the world struggles to meet the high energy demand while still developing scalable renewables and a low-carbon infrastructure, gas offers the greatest benefits for the foreseeable future," she told attendees at the conference. "When planning for the next 30 years, gas should play an important role."
In a statement released by the company today, DNV GL pointed to the fact that energy demand is set to increase, by more than 50% by 2050, and said that gas could help to create a safer, more sustainable energy supply. It would also help to achieve climate aims, as it is the cleanest as all fossil fuels in terms of greenhouse gases.
"The challenge is to ensure that gas can help solve the 'energy trilemma' by being available, affordable and clean," the statement read.
The company says that gas could be crucial not just in electricity generation but also potentially in transport.
However, the firm warns that more efficiency is needed in the market and says that some obstacles must be overcome to make gas's potentially major role in the energy mix a reality.
"There are more routes that must be investigated and developed and there are more obstacles that must be overcome, such as the high global use of coal," Ms. Tørstad said. "Collaboration, smart technology development and the right regulatory and political frameworks are required if we are to advance forcefully on the pathway towards a sustainable energy mix and a more solid platform for gas."
She challenged both the gas industry and the authorities to ensure investment in research and development to enable greater energy efficiency and to reduce emissions, as DNV already does.
"DNV GL invests 5% of its annual revenue in R&D, even during the current tough market conditions, and we are committed to contributing to the sustainable development of the industries we engage in."