Federal authorities advocate for increased use of German natural gas. Is this step beneficial? - German authorities aim to boost domestic gas production.
In a bid to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, Germany's demand for oil and gas is expected to decrease significantly. This shift is set to make the business of fossil fuels less profitable, as stated by a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment.
The German government's strategy to secure energy security in the short to medium term involves boosting domestic gas production. However, this plan is conditionally consistent with climate neutrality, depending on the successful scale-up of hydrogen production and the conversion of gas-fired power plants to run on green hydrogen.
Despite the discovery of new gas reserves, such as the A5-N05 gas field, the focus is not on specific locations of new potential gas reserves on German soil. Instead, the government is prioritising diversifying gas import sources and expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.
The planned gas power plants are seen as a necessary backup for renewable energy and to enable the coal phase-out while maintaining energy security. However, these plants must be "hydrogen-ready" to ensure eventual decarbonization and alignment with climate targets.
Germany is among the top ten global gas importers, importing 95% of its consumption. The country's gas reserves, primarily located in Lower Saxony, are expected to last for another eight years, with more wells being closed than newly drilled.
The discovery of the Wollin East field, which straddles the German and Polish territorial waters, has raised concerns about the exploitation of oil and gas reserves. The federal government has expressed caution regarding Wollin East, to the delight of climate and environmental advocates.
The boom in green technologies in China is making it the market leader, while Germany's power supply has been predominantly operated with wind and solar power since 2023. The inflow of green jobs is a confirmation of the path to a green future, but the country is still dependent on fossil energy sources.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's agriculture minister has called for the German oil reserves not to be exploited, highlighting the ongoing debate about the balance between energy security and climate neutrality. The extraction of oil and gas is not emission-free, even if it is extracted domestically.
In conclusion, Germany's energy transition is a complex process that involves balancing climate neutrality, energy security, and the economic realities of the fossil fuel industry. The government's plans for gas production seem contradictory, but they are conditionally consistent with the goal of becoming climate-neutral, depending on successful hydrogen scale-up and conversion of gas plants.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning Germany's energy transition, considering both climate neutrality and other factors. Meanwhile, the ongoing focus on sports in Germany serves as a reminder of the vast range of issues that require attention from policymakers.
