Why The Green Transition Can’t Happen Without Natural Gas

Electricity producers have cast themselves as a solution, whereas the picture should be more complex: in the next two or three decades, over two billion people will join the circle of those who receive electricity. Most of them poor. Can we honestly demand that they only consume electricity from renewables, even if their countries do not have the financial resources, the industrial base, or the technical knowledge to provide it?

Adriatic LNG Terminal - offshore levante

Just as natural gas has competed with coal as the prime fuel for electricity in the last decades, renewables are putting pressure on the blue, clean-burning source of energy. The competition is fierce and will likely get worse. Yet, it is still too early to discount gas. This was the message at the 36th  International Gas Congress in Croatia, where I spoke on Joe Biden’s plan to stop drilling on federal lands.

The International Gas Union (IGU), with over 160 members from the U.S. to Qatar, is a non-profit that advocates for natural gas as an integral part of the global energy system. The Vice President and the future (2025) President of IGU Andrea Stegher, a Senior Vice President Commercial & Stakeholder Engagement in the Italian energy giant SNAM, is convinced that the gas industry is facing a historic challenge but also a great opportunity. Gas was long hailed as a “transition” fuel from hydrocarbons to renewables. Given what we know about the state of technology and energy poverty around the world, gas should be around for many decades.

About Stu Turley 3226 Articles
Stuart Turley is President and CEO of Sandstone Group, a top energy data, and finance consultancy working with companies all throughout the energy value chain. Sandstone helps both small and large-cap energy companies to develop customized applications and manage data workflows/integration throughout the entire business. With experience implementing enterprise networks, supercomputers, and cellular tower solutions, Sandstone has become a trusted source and advisor.   He is also the Executive Publisher of www.energynewsbeat.com, the best source for 24/7 energy news coverage, and is the Co-Host of the energy news video and Podcast Energy News Beat. Energy should be used to elevate humanity out of poverty. Let's use all forms of energy with the least impact on the environment while being sustainable without printing money. Stu is also a co-host on the 3 Podcasters Walk into A Bar podcast with David Blackmon, and Rey Trevino. Stuart is guided by over 30 years of business management experience, having successfully built and help sell multiple small and medium businesses while consulting for numerous Fortune 500 companies. He holds a B.A in Business Administration from Oklahoma State and an MBA from Oklahoma City University.