BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.6
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Natural gas is set to be responsible for the lowest share in global CO2 emissions by 2050 (27 percent) despite its highest contribution to the primary energy mix (31 percent), Trend reports citing Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Global Gas Outlook 2050, the key findings of which GECF shared with Trend, shows that natural gas continues to receive positive policy support in several countries as an alternative to polluting and carbon-intensive fuels and a flexible option complementing intermittent renewables.
Fossil fuels will continue to dominate the global energy mix and will amount to 71 percent in 2050, against 81 percent in 2018, according to the report.
“Oil will remain an important source of energy, but its share is expected to fall to 26 percent. Coal will drop sharply, providing only 18 percent. Natural gas will be the only hydrocarbon resource to increase its share, from 23 percent today to 27 percent in 2050,” said GECF.
The report shows that natural gas, the fastest growing fossil fuel, is projected to rise by 1.3 percent per annum from 3924 bcm in 2018 to 5966 bcm by 2050 driven by environmental concerns, air quality issues, coal-to-gas switching as well as economic and population growth.
“The power generation (1.7 percent per annum) and industrial (1.2 percent per annum) sectors will be the biggest contributors, accounting for about 66% of additional gas demand volumes to 2050. Gas production will rise by 1.3 percent per annum to 2050, with North America accounting for the largest share of this growth, followed by Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East.”
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