Energy companies from around Europe have come together in an alliance that aims to promote the use of both natural gas and renewable energy in the region.
Founding partners Alpine Energie, Dong Energy, First Solar, GE and Shell say that the European Coalition for Renewable Energy and Gas has been created to raise awareness of the need for an integrated European energy policy and to help create the conditions for an energy market based on the complementary use of gas and renewables.
“Combining variable renewable energy and the flexibility of gas is key to Europe’s low-carbon energy future,” said Stephan Reimelt, CEO of GE Energy Germany. “Companies from different parts of the energy market are launching this new alliance because the evidence is clear that renewables and gas offer the most affordable, reliable, and sustainable pathway for an energy secure Europe.”
The coalition – which also calls itself ‘the Energy Partnership’ – has already won the support of European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger. The European Commission said in its 2050 Energy Roadmap document that natural gas would be crucial to the sustainability of Europe’s energy systems.
However there is concern in the renewable energy sector that increased reliance on natural gas, coupled with the emergence of a shale gas industry in the EU, could push renewable energy to the fringes of energy supply and lead to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions.
Likewise energy companies in Europe are concerned that too much reliance on renewable energy would have a negative effect on energy security.
“It’s time for a systems approach to Europe’s energy policy,” commented Jörg Gmeinbauer, Director of Alpine Energie. “We need integrated policies, market reforms, and investment in generation, transmission, and infrastructure if we are to achieve Europe’s energy goals.
“We have formed the Energy Partnership because together the partners can offer practical pathways to the future based on the synergy between renewables and gas.”
