Berlin Apparently there are different estimates in the federal government as to how large Germany’s gas requirements will be in the coming years.
Both Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) emphasized that gas will play an additional role in a transitional phase. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), on the other hand, told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”: “It is a myth that we will need more gas in the future, we have a constant need for a transitional period.”
The question of future gas demand is relevant because it affects pipeline projects such as Nord Stream 2, but also helps determine Germany’s position in the EU debate on an eco-label for gas and nuclear energy.
Scholz referred to the coalition agreement of the traffic light government, which expressly provides for new investments in gas-fired power plants, which can then later also be operated with hydrogen. There is a determination “that we need gas, that it will also play an additional role in the transition phase,” emphasized the Chancellor. The government also agrees on this.
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“It is difficult to predict what volume of gas will ultimately be needed,” said Climate Minister Habeck. He also emphasized the need to build an infrastructure that could process gaseous substances – first natural gas, later hydrogen. If you do without coal, you need more gas. If you then expand the renewable energies, you need less gas.
“It’s difficult to predict how the whole thing will be quantified,” added the still incumbent Green co-boss.
More: Energy experts agree: liquid gas from the USA cannot replace supplies from Russia in an emergency