Abstract
Decarbonising energy systems is a prevalent topic in the current literature on
climate change mitigation, but the additional climate burden caused by
methane emissions along the natural gas value chain is rarely discussed at the
system level. Considering a two-basket greenhouse gas neutrality objective
(both CO2 and methane), we model cost-optimal European energy transition
pathways towards 2050. Our analysis shows that adoption of best available
methane abatement technologies can entail an 80% reduction in methane
leakage, limiting the additional environmental burden to 8% of direct CO2
emissions (vs. 35% today). We show that, while renewable energy sources are
key drivers of climate neutrality, the role of natural gas strongly depends on
actions to abate both associated CO2 and methane emissions. Moreover, clean
hydrogen (produced mainly from renewables) can replace natural gas in a
substantial proportion of its end-uses, satisfying nearly a quarter of final
energy demand in a climate-neutral Europe.
climate change mitigation, but the additional climate burden caused by
methane emissions along the natural gas value chain is rarely discussed at the
system level. Considering a two-basket greenhouse gas neutrality objective
(both CO2 and methane), we model cost-optimal European energy transition
pathways towards 2050. Our analysis shows that adoption of best available
methane abatement technologies can entail an 80% reduction in methane
leakage, limiting the additional environmental burden to 8% of direct CO2
emissions (vs. 35% today). We show that, while renewable energy sources are
key drivers of climate neutrality, the role of natural gas strongly depends on
actions to abate both associated CO2 and methane emissions. Moreover, clean
hydrogen (produced mainly from renewables) can replace natural gas in a
substantial proportion of its end-uses, satisfying nearly a quarter of final
energy demand in a climate-neutral Europe.