Reuters: INTERVIEW-Shale gas can do more than green energy to combat climate change - BP

Shale gas offers a cheaper way to replace coal and cut greenhouse gas emissions than renewable power, BP's chief economist said on Tuesday, but dismissed claims that failure to develop it would drive industry out of Europe.

The comments from one of energy's most senior economists feed into heated debate ahead of a summit meeting of EU leaders in March about whether Europe faces a disadvantage to the United States because of high energy costs.

BP's L> Energy Outlook to 2035 has predicted unconventional gas, including shale, will account for 21 percent of all gas produced by 2035, up from 8 percent in 2012.

Almost none of that will be in Europe as "above ground factors", chiefly local politics, stand in the way, Christof Ruehl said in an interview.  MORE