Page 32 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication

32 Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation

GAS & ELECTRICITY INTERCONNECTION

Sector coupling:
interconnecting electricity
and gas for a successful
energy transition

By Cyril Harry, Chair Gas-to-Power, Eurelectric

Four years after the adoption across the economy, with a power Sector coupling refers to the links
of the Paris Agreement, system largely based on renewables, between gas and power systems and
a positive momentum is greater interconnectivity and aims at strengthening the synergies
building to fight climate improved energy storage. Combined between their respective networks
change. In 2019 worldwide rallies for with electricity, gas is also considered and markets, from both a commodity
climate actions clearly demonstrated to have a role to play in the transition and infrastructure perspective. This
the growing awareness of our society: towards a carbon-neutral economy. concept includes both gas-to-power
it is time to act and to enter into a (supplying for gas-fired power plants)
new era. In its study on electrification and and power-to-gas streams (hydrogen
decarbonisation conducted in and synthetic methane production
Surfing on this wave, European energy 2018, Eurelectric showed that, by through water electrolysis fuelled by
companies have drastically redirected 2045, 80% of electricity will come renewable electricity).
their business strategy in the last from clean sources of generation.
two years and are now all the way In the transition towards a carbon Sector coupling can facilitate indirect
committed to implement the “zero- neutral economy, gas will play a electrification, via the conversion of
carbon” energy transition by 2050. complementary role, as a bridge fuel, electricity into electrolysed gases
to ensure the reliability of power (“power-to-gas”) for direct use as
Von der Leyen Commission is systems, especially in regions that hydrogen or for injection into gas
expected to release its “European don’t have access to hydro or nuclear. infrastructures. This contributes to
Green Deal”, aiming at accelerating lifting potential congestions on power
the decarbonisation of the European While electrification will drive the networks and enabling electricity
economy, putting climate and “zero-carbon” transition thanks storage.
environmental concerns at the heart to the development of renewable
of a renewed industrial policy. Kadri power generation, the gas industry However, it is important to keep in
Simson, Commissioner-designate for will have to gradually tackle its mind that the coupling between the
energy, is assigned the task to speed own decarbonisation to ensure a gas grid and the power networks
up the deployment of clean energy sustainable future. This is needed is already a reality on the “gas-to-
for decarbonising both the thermal power” side. In 2018, the EU28 gas-
power generation and energy usages, fired power plants produced more
which cannot be easily electrified. than 600 TWh, representing ~20 %
of the electricity generation mix in
Since early 2018, the concept of terms of volumes.
“sector coupling” has been feeding
numerous debates. Whereas Gas-fired generation currently
stakeholders do not fully share represents around 220 GW of
the same understanding of the installed capacity in the EU, with
concept, they acknowledge that additional firm power generation
decarbonisation of both power and gas capacities needed in the coming
sectors requires a holistic approach. years for adequacy reasons.

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