Is gas infrastructure ready for sector coupling?

The online debate “Is gas infrastructure ready for sector coupling?” will tackle regulatory and technical challenges related to the gas infrastructure, which are expected to arise with the increase in the use of renewable and decarbonised gases in Europe.

In the sector coupling vision, one of the most debated aspects is infrastructure: how to link electricity grids and existing gas pipelines, can the existing gas infrastructure be re-adapted to the flow of the new gases? If so, for which gases and at what cost? And what are the alternatives?

In particular, the debate will address the following topics:

• • Level playing field between gases – renewable, low-carbon, natural gas. Incentives for network operators, blending, regulation of different gases.
  • Gas regulation on the distribution level – injection, congestion management, flexibility
  • Smooth relationship between distribution and transmission networks.

Panellists:

• • • Ignacio Asenjo (DG ENER)
    • Anne Boorsma (ENTSOG)
    • Markus Krug (E-Control)
    • Doug Wood (EFET)

Moderator: Andris Piebalgs (FSR)

This is the second online debate organised as a part of the FSR sector coupling platform project realised in cooperation with the European Commission (DG Energy). The first online debate took place on September 11^th and was devoted to “A common terminology for gases”. For more information visit the FSR Sector Couling platform.

Register here

Preparatory materials:

• Sector Coupling 2.0: Power-to-Gas in the EU decarbonisation strategy
• Policy Brief Decarbonising the Gas Sector: is Renewable Gas a Serious Option?
• The Future of Gas Networks – Key Issues for Debate by Oxford Institute for Energy Studies