BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.8
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
Natural gas infrastructure may need to be partially or completely repurposed for a decarbonised world, Trend reports with reference to the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies (OIES).
“Energy delivery infrastructure will face major challenges. The operational security and reliability of electricity grids is being tested by both the introduction of intermittent renewable energy and the emergence of multiple new sources of supply. The question for natural gas infrastructure appears more existential, as it may need to be partially or completely repurposed for a decarbonised world. Furthermore, the integration of the power and gas grids could be one potential solution in ensuring the efficient provision of secure and economic energy to a wide range of consumers. Meanwhile, for the oil sector the risk of obsolescence across the entire transport infrastructure would appear to be very real, with the rise of electric vehicles, alternative fuels for ships, and hydrogen fuel cells challenging the need for oil and oil product pipelines, tankers, and distribution networks,” OIES said in its recent report.
Systems of energy conversion and supply are also facing important changes.
In the power sector, the increase in renewable energy is creating issues around balancing, decentralisation, and pricing, as the system adapts to rising shares of intermittent and zero marginal cost sources of electricity, according to the OIES.
“Meanwhile, hydrogen is emerging as a possible new source of converted energy, whether it be via methane reforming or electrolysis, which could provide an important link between the gas and electricity sectors (for example as a source of flexible storage to balance renewable intermittency) as well as a source of zero carbon energy (in the case of electrolysis) for many end-users.31 Finally, the refining industry will also have to deal with a major shift away from traditional fuels towards decarbonised products with much-reduced emissions of CO2 and particulates.”
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