The Energy Transition – GeolSoc Energy Geoscience Series (Part 1)

Last year, the Petroleum Geoscience journal introduced the ‘Energy Geoscience’ Series.  It aims to create a channel for the anticipated growth in non-petroleum related subject matter.  In the introduction, Ringrose 2019 captures the moment. The highlights for us included:

• 2020 (± 5 years) could be viewed as a turning point for society
• The impact of our activities necessitates more responsible practices
• Fossil fuels will gradually make way for electricity as the main energy carrier
• Hybrid systems, such as gas-based power generation complementing fluctuating renewable energy sources, may secure our future power supply
• Low carbon or net zero fossil-fuel based energy will also be in focus

The commentary builds upon Ringrose 2017, which also acknowledges the role gas has to play in both reaching and achieving a low-carbon energy mix.  Three main groups of low-carbon energy are identified; renewable energy, natural gas (by virtue of displacing higher CO2 emission fossil fuels) and carbon capture and storage – all of which need to be used together to achieve the necessary reduction in GHG emissions, since no single technology can solve the problem.