Page 33 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication
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Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation  33

                                          GAS & ELECTRICITY INTERCONNECTION

Eurelectric continues to emphasize        transport capacity (line pack) or
the key role of clean and firm power      storage (withdrawal and injection
generation and transition-enabling        capacity) are able to provide flexibility
solutions to reach a carbon-neutral       on a wide range of timeframes, from
power supply by 2050. In this             daily to seasonal and pluri-annual
context, it identified that highly-       flexibility. Europe’s gas infrastructure
efficient gas-fired power plants fulfil   comprises an annual energy delivery
security, balancing and flexibility       capacity of nearly 1 000 bcm (i.e.
functions that are not easily             10 000 TWh/y).
replicated by a renewables-based
power system. By 2045, gas-fired          Part of the flexibility of the gas
power plants will account for 15%         system relates to storages. For
of the installed capacity to secure       instance, the EU 28 gas storage
system reliability and the firmness for   capacity represents 100 bcm,
power adequacy.                           equalling 900 GW of instantaneous
                                          flow, which is around 150 % of the
The power sector will contribute          peak electricity demand on an
to both direct (up to 60%) and            energy-equivalent basis.
indirect electrification through the
development of renewable hydrogen         The decarbonisation objective
produced from electrolysis, but its       depends more on such coupling
integration into the energy system        initiatives and their smooth
also requires deployment of other         coordination than on an “energy
decarbonised gases (ex: biomethane,       carriers contest” to identify who will
other types of hydrogen) to reach the     win the lion’s share. The purpose is
collective “zero-carbon” goal by 2050.    to decarbonise, leveraging on the
This is part of the coupling initiatives  advantages and patterns of each
which will enable not only greening       decarbonised energy vector. l
of gas-fired power generation but
also greening of energy-usages which
cannot be easily electrified.

SECTOR COUPLING THROUGH
LEVERAGING ON THE GAS SYSTEM
FLEXIBILITY
Together with new sources of system
reliability and flexibility (demand-
side response, batteries, etc.), the
gas system can provide, from a
sector coupling view, an unmatched
flexibility capacity. Gas assets,
whether we refer to LNG terminals,

About the author                                                                     Contact Information

Cyril Harry, Head of Gas Asset Regulation & Analysis, ENGIE                          Ioana PETCU
                                                                                     Advisor, Press & Media Relations
Cyril is currently Head of Gas Asset Regulation & Analysis, within the               Eurelectric aisbl,
Global Energy Management Business Unit of ENGIE in charge of the                     Boulevard de l’Impératrice,
midstream business and market activities. He is responsible for the                  66, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
regulatory files related to gas supply & assets management at Central                Tel: +32 470 45 35 89
Western Europe level.                                                                Email: ipetcu@eurelectric.org

He is also combining his current role for ENGIE with his position
of Chairman “Gas to Power” within Eurelectric association, which
represents the interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level.

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