Going back to basics: gas molecules
Chaired by
Mihael Mihov, Assistant to Tsvetelina Penkova MEP
Speakers
Lucie Boost, Head of European Affairs, Air Products NV
Nicola Rega, Executive Director, Climate Change & Energy, Cefic
Philippe Cornille, General Secretary, EIGA
Daniele D’Angelo, Head of Upstream, Midstream and EU Energy Policy, Eni S.p.A.
Victor Bernabeu, Director, Eurogas
Antoine Hoxha, Director General, Fertilizers Europe
Frédéric Dykmans, Secretary General, GD4S
Tobias Bühnen, Policy Advisor, GIE
Lilia Brandusa, Head of EU Office, GRTgaz
Matus Muron, Manager, Market Intelligence, Hydrogen Europe
François-Régis Mouton, Managing Director, IOGP Europe
Valeria Palmisano, Senior Manager EU Institutional Relations, Snam S.p.A.
Martin Carbonez, Regulatory and Institutional Affairs Senior Manager, TotalEnergies
This briefing on gas molecules was a unique learning opportunity which gathered speakers from many of the EEF Associate Members with the objective of exploring the rich and vast spectrum of the gas sector.
During the first part, experts went back to the basics of natural gas, biogas, biomethane and hydrogen, explaining the technical characteristics and underlining the developments throughout time. They started with an analysis of the history and development of the gas sector in the EU, in order to better understand why the energy mix is the way we know it today.
They spoke about the chemical composition of natural gas and explained the state of play of the sector, considering data and also future projections. They underlined how gas transport via pipelines is now being complemented by an increasing share of imported LNG. They also presented an overview of the main legislative texts impacting the sector during the past 5 years.
Our panel also analysed the issue of methane emissions on the European and global level, their origin and what actions have been taken to tackle it.
The briefing then focused on the molecules that are currently gaining momentum and that are and will complement natural gas in the future, in line with the EU climate objectives: biogas, biomethane and hydrogen.
As for biogas and biomethane, the speaker presented their feedstock, production process and composition, as well as end uses. Attention was also paid to the differences between natural gas and biomethane and why the second is more sustainable and is a renewable gas.
Moving onto hydrogen, the panel of speakers was very rich. They presented the history and early discovery of hydrogen as well as the different production processes, and the respective shares of the market. They also focused on the importance of safety when it comes to industrial applications. These presentations were complemented by the end-users’ perspectives on hydrogen use as a feedstock. The chemical and fertilizer industries underlined how this gas is used in their production processes and for decarbonisation purposes as well.
During the second part, we had the opportunity to listen to speakers illustrating the state of play of the gas infrastructure in Europe: transmission pipelines, storage sites and LNG terminals. They also explained the important role that the gas infrastructure is and will continue to play during the energy transition. We concluded the briefing by listening to experts presenting some Italian and French infrastructure projects involving biomethane, hydrogen and CO2.