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Call for Nominations: The Future of Gas (Energy Programme)

29 December 2021

EASAC is now inviting expert nominations for a new Working Group.

Background

Based on the recommendation by EASAC’s Energy Steering Panel, on 02 December 2021 EASAC Council decided that a new project on “The Future of Gas” should go ahead, led by the EASAC Energy Programme. This project will build on earlier EASAC work on the decarbonisation of transport and buildings, and on the EU strategy for hydrogen, and will unavoidably involve work on other fuels and on the integration of energy systems, as well as on the main sectors of energy demand.

Gas is currently used differently in different parts of Europe, and can play a transitional role in reducing GHG emissions from industry, power generation and heating.  In many Western and Northern European countries, gas has already replaced coal for power generation and for heating buildings, and plans are being finalised for phasing out the use of gas as part of the next step in reducing GHG emissions.  In contrast, in some Eastern European countries, coal is still used for power generation and for heating, and the use of gas in place of coal is therefore seen as an important next step in the energy transition for reducing GHG emissions.

Looking to the future, when a large part of the electricity supply all over Europe will come from renewable energy generators, gas (natural gas, biogas or hydrogen) may still have a role to play in generating electricity when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining.

The EASAC report will therefore have to address important geographical differences across the EU that will affect the future of gas as well as emerging integrated systems management issues, innovative technologies and socio-economic aspects. A technical working document on the future of gas is being drafted, with inputs from the EASAC energy steering panel, to focus discussions at a kick-off workshop for the new project.

Expertise Needed

The new Working Group members should collectively have a good awareness of geopolitical issues affecting the energy sector (eg Nordstream 2, Eastern Mediterranean, etc) and a geographical balance of knowledge (East and West, North and South of Europe) as well as scientific, market and policy related knowledge and skills in the following areas: 

  1. EU climate and energy policies/regulations relating to energy transition and net zero 2050 target
  2. Social and behavioural sciences and energy economics as well as natural sciences
  3. Life cycle analysis (for greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints)
  4. EU policies relating to energy sector integration, renewable energy and phasing out fossil fuels
  5. EU Third energy package for gas
  6. Natural gas resources in the EU
  7. Natural gas imports into the EU
  8. Natural gas costs, prices and markets (global and EU)
  9. Natural gas transmission and distribution networks and their management
  10. Gas storage
  11. Gas infrastructure design, costs, management and operational issues
  12. LNG supply, storage, infrastructure, and markets (global and EU)
  13. Biomethane and biogas production, distribution, and use
  14. Synthetic methane and other synthetic gases
  15. Shale gas production, imports, distribution, storage, and use
  16. Hydrogen production from natural gas (blue) and from electrolysis (green)
  17. Hydrogen imports, distribution, storage, and use
  18. Use of natural and other gases for power generation
  19. Uses of natural and other gases in industry (chemicals, fertilisers, grey hydrogen, etc)
  20. Uses of natural and other gases in buildings
  21. Uses of natural and other gases for transport
  22. Uses of natural gas as a feedstock for industry
  23. Technology readiness levels for carbon capture and storage (CCS)
  24. Production and markets of carbon dioxide
  25. Renewable electricity generation
  26. EU electricity markets
  27. Electricity grid flexibility management (with variable renewable electricity generation)
  28. Heat storage
  29. Fugitive methane emission control
  30. Energy poverty (household and industrial)

To express an interest in being nominated to this new EASAC project by the Royal Irish Academy, please submit a CV and a letter outlining your suitability to policy@ria.ie by midday on 12 January 2022.

About EASAC

EASAC is formed by the national science academies of the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and UK, to collaborate in giving advice to European policy makers. EASAC provides a means for the collective voice of European science to be heard. Through EASAC, the academies work together to provide independent, expert, evidence-based advice about the scientific aspects of European policies to those who make or influence policy within the European institutions. Drawing on the memberships and networks of the academies, EASAC accesses the best of European science in carrying out its work. Its views are vigorously independent of commercial or political bias, and it is open and transparent in its processes. EASAC aims to deliver advice that is comprehensible, relevant and timely.

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