ENTSOG GRIP SNC 2014-2023

It seems therefore very likely that the intermittency of renewable sources will create in future a requirement for alternative flexible electricity generation. From an opera- tional perspective, natural gas is best-placed to deliver this, also taking into account the environmental credentials of gas compared to coal. As natural gas is the fossil fuel having the least impact in terms of CO ² emission, gas power plants represent the most appropriate solution to fulfil the necessary RES back-up function without running the double risk of wasting the environmental gain provided by green energy sources and, at the same time, to disperse the substantial amount of resources deployed incentivising them via subsidies.

Increasingly intermittent nature of gas demand, driven especially by renewable generation paths and climatic conditions, is confirmed by various forward-looking research projects. Extracts from a Pöyry study 1) related to the major market of the Region, i.e. Germany, are included below.

mcm/d

mcm/d

Gas demand for power generation in Germany

Daily variation of total gas demand in Germany

160

600

120

450

80

300

40

150

0

0

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Jun

Jul Aug Sep

Oct

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Jun

Jul Aug Sep

Oct

2012

2030

2012

2030

Figure 4.4: Gas demand for power generation in Germany (Source: Pöyry Management Consulting: “How will intermittency change Europe’s gas markets?” (October 2012) )

Figure 4.5: Daily variation of total gas demand in Germany (Source: Pöyry Management Consulting: “How will intermittency change Europe’s gas markets?” (October 2012) )

The graphs show how the of power generation linked to gas demand between 2012 and 2030 is destined to substantially increase in the next 20 years. This, added to the demand expressed by other relevant sectors such as residential and industry, leads to forecast general growth expectations in the levels of overall daily demand. The following section illustrate in greater detail the link between electricity produc- tion and utilized sources for all the countries composing the South-North Corridor Region, with particular emphasis on RES roles and to the possible developments in natural gas uses.

1) “How will intermittency change Europe’s gas markets?” (October 2012)

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South-North Corridor GRIP 2014–2023