Clean Fuels Consulting, LLC
CFC
Clean Fuels Consulting (CFC) is dedicated to facilitating the commercialization of clean fuels and technologies.
ID: 222018113242-46
Lobbying Activity
Response to Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
2 Jul 2020
The European policy makers (EU-level and national governments) should not discontinue their support for fossil natural gas as part of its pathway/roadmap to a 2050 all-renewable energy society. Studies of technology commercialization, coupled with strong empirical evidence rightly suggest that any technology requiring an associated infrastructure takes at least 25-35 years or longer to penetrate 25% market share. While the goals of a renewable energy future are admirable and ultimately realistic, the transition to achieve that goal must include balance and diversity of the energy pathway. The electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell advocates, amongst others representing different energy sectors, can continue to trash natural gas. But the renewables don’t yet have adequate production capacity or — in the case of hydrogen —a distribution network to mirror the 2.5 million kilometer natural gas delivery network that has taken over 100 years to create. Governments can invest as much money as they want in a scientific or engineering challenge but one thing is clear: there is no replacing time… the time it takes to bring technology to market.
Unfortunately, there is a growing move amongst European policy makers and, in particular, renewable energy advocates, to criticize and trash fossil fuels, pushing them down in order to make the panacea fuels appear to stand taller, rather than doing so on their own merits (including cost and economics). Natural gas will have its nadir (low point) sometime after 2050 but in the meantime it is important to maintain balance, diversity, and flexibility of the energy production and distribution networks. To be successful in achieving the ultimate renewable energy goal, policy makers must continue to invest in (and regulate) the existing, viable and reliable fuels and technologies to be as clean as possible.
The Roadmap must be inclusive of all the cleaner, non-petroleum fuels. Taking natural gas out of the mix of fuel alternatives is a major blunder, particularly when the EU is supporting research on how to use the natural gas pipeline network to help transport hydrogen (which may or may not be a good idea).
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