The International Gas Union (IGU) welcomes analysis in the International Energy Agency’s latest World Energy Outlook demonstrating the vital economic and environmental role natural gas will play in a sustainable energy future.

In this year’s Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), the share of natural gas in global primary energy demand expands to about 25% by 2040. Gas will also retain a critical role in the Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS), retaining the 23% share in energy in two decades’ time that it held last year.

The World Energy Outlook 2020 (WEO) also states that “There is a robust long-term case for gases in the energy system. In the SDS, there are services that gases provide that it would be difficult to provide cost effectively using other sources: these include high temperature heat for industry, winter heat for buildings and seasonal flexibility for power systems.”

Furthermore, “gas infrastructure is a valuable asset that can be repurposed over time to deliver large volumes of biomethane or, with modifications, low-carbon hydrogen.”

IGU President, Professor Joe M. Kang, said the report again confirms the critical role gas will play in the global energy transition.

“Natural gas is a clean and versatile energy source that unlocks an opportunity for the planet to reliably meet the globally growing energy demand, reducing GHG emissions and urban pollution and allowing economies to grow,” Dr Kang said.

“Gas demand has fared better than oil and coal amid the continuing fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. The WEO recognizes that without structural changes in the way energy is produced and consumed and prudent policy choices, the emissions reductions seen this year will be short-lived. The gas industry has a critical role to play.

“Switching to gas from dirtier fuels, like coal, oil, or conventional biomass is possible now and can be achieved quickly, with immediate benefits of cleaner air, safer environment, cut emissions, and solid path to the integration of clean technologies for continued reductions in emissions.”

Further findings and projections relating to the natural gas market in the WEO include:

• Natural gas demand will decline by only 3% in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, proving more resilient than oil and coal, which will see annual falls in consumption of 8% and 7% respectively. Less gas use in commercial and public buildings has been offset by increased residential consumption, while the decline in industrial demand was mitigated by fuel switching.
• In STEPS, global gas demand will expand by 15% by 2030 from the 2019 level, and by 30% by 2040. This growth will be driven by gains in south and east Asia, supported by competitive prices, a push to improve air quality and manufacturing growth.
• Even in a Delayed Recovery Scenario, gas demand recovers to the pre-pandemic level in 2024, and climbs 24% by 2040.
• Significant investment in new gas infrastructure will also be key, with the IEA predicting that $70bn will be needed annually.
• While China and India will account for around 45% of the demand increase over the next decade, growth will also be robust in southeast Asia and the Middle East.
• In carbon-intensive economies, gas use can reduce emissions by replacing coal. In countries planning a pathway to net-zero emissions, the gas industry will need to demonstrate progress in methane abatement, via alternative gases such as biomethane and low-carbon hydrogen, and technologies like carbon capture, utilisation and storage.

Related Reading

International Gas Union Global Gas Report 2020

International Gas Union Gas Technology and Innovation Report

For further information, please contact

Matthew Doman, Interim Director, Public Affairs

+61 421 888 858 mdoman@igu.org

About the International Gas Union (IGU)

The International Gas Union (IGU) was founded in 1931 and is a worldwide nonprofit organisation aimed at promoting the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry. The Union has more than 150 members worldwide on all continents, representing approximately 95% of the world gas market. The members of the IGU are national associations and corporations within the gas industry worldwide. The IGU’s working organisation covers all aspects of the gas industry from exploration and production, storage, LNG, distribution and natural gas utilisation in all market segments. www.igu.org