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Eurogas

Eurogas represents companies in the European gas wholesale, retail and distribution sectors.[1] Its overarching objective is to strengthen the role of gases in a sustainable, competitive and increasingly decarbonised EU energy market.[2]

Membership of board/executive committee: Shell is a member of the governing board.

  • 2022 assessment outcome: Aligned
  • 2021 assessment outcome: Aligned

Summary

Shell benefits from its membership of Eurogas, in particular from its policy advocacy supporting the role of renewable and low-carbon gases in the transition to climate neutrality.

We have found Eurogas to be aligned with our climate and energy transition-related policy positions.

We will encourage Eurogas to:

  • Support reducing methane emissions throughout the natural gas supply chain through direct regulations such as performance standards based on robust monitoring, reporting and verification frameworks.

We will remain a member of Eurogas. We will continue to engage the association on climate and energy transition topics. We will continue to track alignment between Eurogas’s climate and energy transition-related positions and our own.

Further information

Click on the sections below to read more.

Paris Agreement and net-zero emissions

  • Eurogas has stated support for the objectives of the Paris Agreement.[3] [4] [5]
  • Eurogas has stated support for the EU target to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.[6]
  • Eurogas has stated that it is committed to a 55% emissions reduction by 2030 and the aim to achieve a fully carbon-neutral gas system soon after 2045.[7] [8] [9]

Carbon pricing

  • Eurogas has stated support for carbon pricing.[10] [11]
  • In its 2022 position paper on carbon pricing, Eurogas stated that “strengthened carbon pricing will be primary to advancing zero and low carbon technologies across all sectors.” It also stated that it “supports the extension of carbon pricing through a well-designed market-based system to current non-ETS sectors of buildings and transportation”.[12]

Energy efficiency

  • Eurogas states that “improving energy efficiency” is one of its focus areas.[13]
  • Eurogas signed a 2022 joint letter with industry associations about the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which called for the directive to “acknowledge the importance of renewable and decarbonised gases and fuels” and to “promote their use within efficient technologies in all sectors, including residential heating, as a necessary complement to increasing electrification”.[14]
  • Eurogas signed a 2022 joint letter with Gas Infrastructure Europe on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, that welcomed “the European Union’s effort to boost the energy performance of buildings” and recommended the EU enable “the combination of different heating technologies, including modern gas solutions, to improve energy system efficiency”.[15]

Decarbonised hydrogen

  • Eurogas has stated support for decarbonised hydrogen and clean hydrogen production pathways; it has noted the role of hydrogen in helping to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors.[16] [17]
  • Eurogas signed a 2022 joint letter with industry associations about the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, which called for the Directive to acknowledge the importance of renewable and decarbonised gases and fuels, including hydrogen.[18]
  • In the 2022 Eurogas intervention during the 36th Madrid Forum, Eurogas stated: “Developing a liquid market for hydrogen requires to urgently define what can be considered as renewable and low carbon hydrogen & how to calculate/certify their GHG credentials.”[19]

Natural ecosystems

No position

Carbon capture and storage

  • In its 2022 paper, on a European Strategy for CCUS, Eurogas stated support for CCUS and the need for a more integrated and coherent CCUS policy framework in Europe.[20] It noted the role of CCUS in the European Commission’s decarbonisation scenarios, and set out a number of recommendations for the development of a European CCUS Strategy.[21]
  • In 2022, Eurogas noted the “crucial role” for CCUS in the transition of energy-intensive industry.[22]

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and benchmarks, sustainable finance taxonomies

  • In 2020, Eurogas was a signatory to joint industry letters about the EU Taxonomy; these letters stated support for “efforts to mobilise the financial sector in accelerating the move towards a prosperous and sustainable Europe in 2050” and set out a number of recommendations.[23] [24]

Coal

No position

Electrification with renewable or low-carbon power

No position

Gases and methane

  • Eurogas has stated: “A decarbonisation pathway relying solely on electrification based on variable renewable power generation cannot deliver a successful transition”.[25] Eurogas has stated that gas consumption “will have to decarbonise through growing shares of renewable, decarbonised, and low-carbon gases and use of carbon capture storage and utilisation.”[26]
  • Eurogas has stated support for binding 2030 targets to “reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of gas consumed by at least 20%” and to have “at least 11% of renewable gas in the gas mix.”[27]
  • In its November 2021 feedback to the European Commission about the EU Renewable Energy Directive, Eurogas stated the directive should “introduce a binding 2030 EU target for renewable gases.”[28]
  • Eurogas signed a 2022 joint letter with industry associations about the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, that called for the directive to acknowledge the importance of renewable and decarbonised gases and fuels that REPowerEU has set targets for.[29]
  • In a 2022 joint press release, Eurogas and several other industry associations stated that they “welcomed the European Commission’s proposed target to scale up biomethane production to 35bcm by 2030 and boost the production of renewable hydrogen in Europe”.[30]
  • Eurogas has stated support for reducing methane emissions in the natural gas supply chain, and has called for a “supportive regulatory framework” to address methane emissions across Europe.[31] [32] [33]
  • Eurogas signed up to a 2022 joint paper, “Proposal for a Regulation on the Methane emissions reduction in the energy sector”, that states “we understand the need for such a Regulation and support the deployment of an appropriate and cost-effective action plan”.[34] The paper sets out recommendations including “a transparent and robust MRV system aligned with the ambitious OGMP 2.0 reporting standard”.[35]
  • Eurogas has stated support for the Global Methane Pledge.[36]
  • Eurogas has stated that it “supports the prioritisation of recovery and re-injection of gas with respect to venting and flaring”.[37]
  • Eurogas signed up to a 2022 joint paper, “Proposal for a Regulation on the Methane emissions reduction in the energy sector”, that included a section on venting and flaring.[38]
  • Eurogas has not stated a position on ending routine flaring by 2030 or sooner.

Road transport: Passenger cars and vans

No position

Road transport: Heavy-duty vehicles

  • In feedback in 2021 to the European Commission consultation on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation proposal, Eurogas stated that “the development of LNG infrastructure for heavy duty vehicles should be addressed by the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation.”[39]

Heavy industry decarbonisation

No position

Aviation

No position

Shipping

  • In its November 2021 response to the EU consultation on CO2 emissions from shipping, Eurogas stated that it “welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to reduce the GHG footprint of ships and its decision to ensure a level playing field between decarbonisation technologies by taking into account the lifecycle emissions of fuels”.[40]
  • In its 2022 factsheet, “Gas: Cutting emissions and pollution in maritime factsheet”, Eurogas stated that “the EU should increase focus on promoting LNG, bioLNG and eLNG to reduce emissions from maritime transport.”[41]
Return to list of associations

[1] https://www.eurogas.org/

[2] https://www.eurogas.org/purpose-and-values/

[3] https://www.eurogas.org/eurogas-position-on-2030-climate-target-plan/

[4] https://www.eurogas.org/eurogas-position-paper-on-carbon-pricing/

[5] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12766-Gas-networks-revision-of-EU-rules-on-market-access/F1966400_en

[6] https://www.eurogas.org/eurogas-position-on-2030-climate-target-plan/

[7] https://www.eurogas.org/our-priorities/

[8] https://www.eurogas.org/fit-for-55-package-requires-renewed-stakeholder-dialogue/

[9] https://www.eurogas.org/press-release-eurogas-sets-ambition-to-develop-a-carbon-neutral-gas-sector-before-2050-2/

[10] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/210612-DEF-Eurogas-position-paper-carbon-pricing-1.pdf

[11] https://www.eurogas.org/press-release-eurogas-sets-ambition-to-develop-a-carbon-neutral-gas-sector-before-2050-2/

[12] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/210612-DEF-Eurogas-position-paper-carbon-pricing-1.pdf

[13] https://www.eurogas.org/purpose-and-values/

[14] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/20220621_Joint-Statement-on-Enegy-Savings-from-Efficient-Future-Proof-Technologies-1.pdf

[15] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FF55-EPBD-Eurogas-and-GIE-views-on-the-Energy-Performance-of-Buildings-Directive-EPBD.pdf

[16] https://www.eurogas.org/clean-hydrogen-letter-supported-by-33-of-europes-biggest-industry-associations-and-companies/

[17] https://twitter.com/Eurogas_Eu/status/1536734426352480257

[18] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/20220621_Joint-Statement-on-Enegy-Savings-from-Efficient-Future-Proof-Technologies-1.pdf

[19] https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/8901eff0-0c6f-47c0-98a7-6f049061add3/library/23a9dab3-f78c-409b-99f1-0da1120754e2/details

[20] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/220503-DEF-EU-CCUS-strategy-Eurogas-position-paper.pdf

[21] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/220503-DEF-EU-CCUS-strategy-Eurogas-position-paper.pdf

[22] https://twitter.com/Eurogas_Eu/status/1580540295435153410

[23] https://www.eurogas.org/joint-call-eu-taxonomy-delivering-for-the-economy-and-environment-brussels-14-december-2020/

[24] https://www.cogeneurope.eu/images/Taxonomy_joint_statement.pdf

[25] https://www.eurogas.org/hydrogen-and-decarbonised-gas-market-package/

[26] https://www.eurogas.org/hydrogen-and-decarbonised-gas-market-package/

[27] https://www.eurogas.org/our-priorities/

[28] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12553-EU-renewable-energy-rules-review/F2752049_en

[29] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/20220621_Joint-Statement-on-Enegy-Savings-from-Efficient-Future-Proof-Technologies-1.pdf

[30] https://www.eurogas.org/press-release-12-associations-welcome-progress-towards-clear-eu-targets-to-accelerate-renewable-gases-deployment/

[31] https://www.eurogas.org/press-release-eurogas-sets-ambition-to-develop-a-carbon-neutral-gas-sector-before-2050-2/

[32] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Paper_on_Methane_Regulation_Final-1.pdf

[33] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Joint-Statement-DSOs-on-methane-emissions.pdf

[34] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Paper_on_Methane_Regulation_Final-1.pdf

[35] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Paper_on_Methane_Regulation_Final-1.pdf

[36] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FINAL-Joint-declaration_CH4-emissions_for-publication.pdf

[37] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Paper_on_Methane_Regulation_Final-1.pdf

[38] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Paper_on_Methane_Regulation_Final-1.pdf

[39] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12251-Low-emission-vehicles-improving-the-EUs-refuelling-recharging-infrastructure/F2752612_en

[40] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12312-CO2-emissions-from-shipping-encouraging-the-use-of-low-carbon-fuels/F2751065_en

[41] https://www.eurogas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/21-FTI-464_Factsheet-Eurogas_v8_WEB.pdf