Reducing industrial fossil gas demand in Europe - What are the next steps?

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the global energy market disruption has caused a sharp increase in EU energy prices. This is seen in European countries that were particularly reliant on Russian gas supply for residential heating and industrial production.In the run-up to winter, the European Commission is working on its newly released REPowerEU strategy. While Member States plan for a shortfall in gas during the colder months, the industrial sector is already reviewing which supplies will be available throughout the coming winter.Industrial processes requiring fossil gas, especially for heating and cooling, could experience increasing supply issues as provision of gas to the power sector or private households is prioritised. According to new data gathered by the energy and climate consultancy “Climact”, there is potential for reducing fossil gas consumption in many industrial processes, such as low and medium heat provision.The study shows that European industry has the possibility to cut its natural gas demand by 25% with short-term opportunities of electrifying certain gas processes and long-term measures. Climact estimates that the overall gas demand can be reduced by electrifying many of the current processes. The research sees potential for sectors such as food and drink, glass manufacturing and chemicals to evolve by electrifying the majority of their processes and a move beyond fossil gas.Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how some industry sectors can move from fossil gas to electrification. How long would it take, and at what cost? How can such a change be incentivised? What would the cost benefits be? And how would the demand for the power needed to supply this large scale electrification be met?A EURACTIV event organised with the support of the European Climate Foundation, who cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained or expressed therein.