Repositioning gas in the power generation mix
Martin WilkesRISC Advisory, 1138 Hay Street, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia. Email: Martin.wilkes@riscadvisory.com
The APPEA Journal 58(2) 647-650 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ17153
Accepted: 27 February 2018 Published: 28 May 2018
Abstract
Since the turn of the century, gas has been highlighted as the transition fuel to a lower emissions world, and, in 2011, the International Energy Agency published a special report entitled ‘Are we entering the golden age of gas’, which indicated that gas use could rise by over 50% to provide more than 25% of world energy demand by 2035.
Even though gas use has risen in tandem with the increase in renewable energy, over the past decade, coal has been the fastest growing fuel because developing countries choose cheap power to provide their growing energy needs. Gas has been, and continues to be, subject to a green, cheap squeeze; squeezed by cleaner renewables on the one hand, and cheaper coal on the other.
This paper will look at the impact that increasing amounts of renewable energy has on existing power generation and supply systems, and provide insights into the potential range of outcomes in emission levels, and the need to not only discuss renewable energy target, but to also understand the total energy mix, and the need to reposition gas from a transition fuel to the natural long-term companion of renewables.
Keywords: batteries, emissions reduction, excess capacity, natural gas, power generation, renewable energy, responsiveness, storage, VRES.
Martin Wilkes is the Managing Partner of RISC, an independent Oil and Gas Advisory company. He holds a Master of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) degree from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. He has worked in the Oil and Gas industry for over 25 years, holding a range of international positions with Shell and Woodside before RISC. He is a Chartered Chemical Engineer and a Chartered Environmentalist, a member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. |
References
IEA [International Energy Authority] (2006). ‘World Energy Outlook.’ Available at: https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/weo-2006.html [verified 16 March 2018].IEA [International Energy Authority] (2011). ‘Are we entering a golden age of gas?’ Special report. Available at: http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/media/weowebsite/2011/WEO2011_GoldenAgeofGasReport.pdf [verified 16 March 2018].
IEA [International Energy Authority] (2017). ‘World Energy Outlook.’ Available at https://www.iea.org/weo2017/ [verified 16 March 2018].
