Can natural gas resources be used without impacting our ability to meet climate change targets? In a world where these resources are abundant, but their unabated combustion is constrained by climate targets, what is the best thing to do with natural gas?

Several uses of gas may be compliant with future climate change targets, including

1. Electricity generation with climate capture and storage (CCS);
2. Hydrogen production with CCS; and,
3. Constraining unabated gas use in electricity generation, industrial and domestic end uses within the limits set by emissions targets.

However, understanding the best uses is complex, subject to assumptions and often contested. A better understanding of the evidence may help to clarify the extent to which the various options may play a future role.

The Sustainable Gas Institute has conducted a systematic review of the available evidence surrounding the best uses of natural gas to bring clarity to the debate. This white paper presents the findings of that review, exploring the concept of best use, the consensus of the evidence on where natural gas fits in 1.5°C energy scenarios and what key options influence the low carbon use of natural gas.

Please cite the paper as: Speirs J., Dubey L., Balcombe P., Tariq N., Brandon N. and Hawkes A. The best uses of natural gas within Paris climate targets; Sustainable Gas Institute, Imperial College London. October 2021 [Source: www.imperial.ac.uk/sustainable-gas-institute/white-paper-6-the-best-uses-of-gas-within-paris-climate-targets]

White Paper 6: The best uses of gas within Paris Climate targets

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