Although gas-fired power plants are more environmentally friendly than coal-fired power plants, they are not as environmentally friendly as renewable energy plants. That is why in Germany they are mainly used to provide heat and hot water and as a back-up for wind and solar energy.
More environmentally friendly than coal-fired power generation
In gas-fired power plants, natural gas is fired as fuel to heat water and generate steam. Gas-fired power plants produce at least 70% less CO2 per kilowatt hour than lignite-fired power plants, and about 25% less than hard coal-fired power plants (1).
In Germany mainly used for heat and hot water
In Germany, electricity generation from natural gas is of rather secondary importance. In 2021, almost 90 billion kilowatt hours of electricity were generated from natural gas. By comparison, in the same period about 230 billion kilowatt hours were fed into the grid from renewable energies (2). Natural gas is used in Germany primarily for the provision of heat and hot water. Since natural gas can be used very flexibly and has a lower environmental impact than coal-fired power plants. Gas-fired power plants in Germany primarily have a back-up function for electricity generation: they take over electricity generation when wind and solar energy are not available (3).
Germany's path to independence from Russian gas
In 2021, 55% of imported gas came from Russia(4). Since the war in Ukraine, however, the gas supply in Germany has changed significantly. In order to reduce dependence on Russia, there has been an increased search for alternative import sources and the intermediate storage of gas has been expanded. The import of liquefied natural gas and the construction of LNG terminals were also pushed forward. In 2022, contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas were concluded with countries such as Qatar and the USA.
These measures have led to a reduction in dependence on Russia as a gas supplier. Domestic natural gas production, mainly from Lower Saxony, currently covers only 5.2% of gas consumption.
For this reason, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium have become important gas suppliers for Germany (5). In 2022, 33 % of the gas imported by Germany came from Norway, while only 22 % came from Russia (6). Norway has thus replaced Russia as Germany's most important gas supplier.
European Perspectives: Italy and Spain in comparison
The situation is similar in Germany's neighbouring countries. In Italy, for example, gas also covers 42 % of Italian energy consumption, 95 % of which is imported (7). To reduce its dependence on Russian gas, Italy is also focusing on new import markets and the construction of LNG terminals (8). The country has intensified its gas imports from African countries such as Algeria, the Republic of Congo and Angola (9).
In contrast, Spain distanced itself from Russian gas early on. It obtains its gas supplies mainly from Algeria and the USA (10). Thus, Spain could play an important role in Europe as a transit country for gas deliveries from North Africa to Central Europe. The construction of a Pyrenees pipeline, which has been on hold for more than ten years, could play a key role in Europe's independence from Russian gas and increase security of supply.
At the beginning of 2022, Spain had about 40 % of the EU's so-called regasification capacities. In regasification plants, liquefied gas is converted back into its gaseous form (11).
So, it remains to be said: The increased focus on gas imports from Africa, the Middle East and the USA as well as the expansion of LNG terminals and regasification capacities contribute to the diversification of gas supply and increase supply security in Germany and Europe.
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