Gas Seen Playing Key Support Role in Transition to Low-Carbon Economy

摘要

US gas demand could flatline over the next two decades if re-newables grow more quickly than expected,ending the need for almost all new pipeline capacity,according to a new gas industry-sponsored study.But gas would still play a significant role in supplementing wind and solar energy. Gas exports would continue to grow but would be offset by declines in use by all other sectors under the”rapid renewables transition”scenario Black & Veatch(B&V)outlined in a report for the INGAA Foundation. While B&V called that scenario unlikely,it wanted to show the impact on gas markets if the most aggressive clean-energy scenarios being bandied about on Capitol Hill and in various statehouses came to fruition,report author Deepa Poduval told a Washington press briefing. "The role that gas is called upon to play is changing and needs to adapt to supplement and support the reliability of the electric grid,”she said(NGW Apr.29'19).The rapid renewables scenario assumes states with renewable portfolio standards get 50% of their power from alternative sources,part of”a combination of factors on the path to a lower-carbon economy that could all work against natural gas."