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| Is a fracking revolution the way to cut UK carbon emissions? | Is a fracking revolution the way to cut UK carbon emissions? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| This week, Labour shadow energy minister and environmentalist Bryony Worthington dismayed green groups by backing fracking as a way to reduce carbon emissions. | |
| Following a speech on the Energy Bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday, Baroness Worthington told the Today Programme: “There are legitimate concerns, absolutely correct, that we need to do this safely, but we shouldn’t take an in-principle objection to the technology and nor should we do that for any other of the low carbon technologies. Because [climate change] is the big challenge we face.” She said that the “common enemy” is very cheap coal which entails much higher carbon emissions. | |
| Her former Friends of the Earth colleague, now the organisation’s CEO, Craig Bennett who was also a guest on Today said: “No one thinks it’s low carbon. It’s equivalent to saying if you’re addicted to cigarettes, shall we move from high tar, to medium tar. We actually have to kick the habit. We have to end the addiction. The problem with shale gas is that it binds us into yet more fossil fuel infrastructure for decades to come.” | Her former Friends of the Earth colleague, now the organisation’s CEO, Craig Bennett who was also a guest on Today said: “No one thinks it’s low carbon. It’s equivalent to saying if you’re addicted to cigarettes, shall we move from high tar, to medium tar. We actually have to kick the habit. We have to end the addiction. The problem with shale gas is that it binds us into yet more fossil fuel infrastructure for decades to come.” |
| Worthington’s enthusiasm for a well-managed, home-grown shale gas industry – as opposed to other sources of gas – is due to the extra emissions generated by the process of compressing and transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Middle East. The MacKay report, published by the UK government in 2013, found that from its extraction to its use shale gas generated 200 to 253g CO2 equivalent for every unit of energy. LNG (which accounts for roughly a quarter of UK gas supply today) emissions range from 233 - 270g. | Worthington’s enthusiasm for a well-managed, home-grown shale gas industry – as opposed to other sources of gas – is due to the extra emissions generated by the process of compressing and transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Middle East. The MacKay report, published by the UK government in 2013, found that from its extraction to its use shale gas generated 200 to 253g CO2 equivalent for every unit of energy. LNG (which accounts for roughly a quarter of UK gas supply today) emissions range from 233 - 270g. |
| @KarlMathiesen @guardianeco @bryworthington getting into a carbon debate deflects from the more tangible immediate risks of geology | @KarlMathiesen @guardianeco @bryworthington getting into a carbon debate deflects from the more tangible immediate risks of geology |
| These estimates include what are known as fugitive emissions – methane that escapes during the extraction process. Although some uncertainty surrounds the industry’s ability to control these leaks in practice. | These estimates include what are known as fugitive emissions – methane that escapes during the extraction process. Although some uncertainty surrounds the industry’s ability to control these leaks in practice. |
| “[We] still don’t know how big or if this will be an issue,” said Worthington, because the government had stymied Labour’s efforts to monitor emissions. | “[We] still don’t know how big or if this will be an issue,” said Worthington, because the government had stymied Labour’s efforts to monitor emissions. |
| Environmental groups also argue that other impacts, such as seismic tremors and contaminated water sources, will be impossible to guard against in a full-scale dash for shale gas. | Environmental groups also argue that other impacts, such as seismic tremors and contaminated water sources, will be impossible to guard against in a full-scale dash for shale gas. |
| But energy experts told the Guardian that the dismissal of fracking on this basis would be a mistake and a properly regulated industry could deliver cost and carbon savings. | But energy experts told the Guardian that the dismissal of fracking on this basis would be a mistake and a properly regulated industry could deliver cost and carbon savings. |
| “I think her stance is perfectly sensible,” said Bob Ward, policy and communications director for the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics and oftentimes fierce critic of the fossil fuel industry. | “I think her stance is perfectly sensible,” said Bob Ward, policy and communications director for the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics and oftentimes fierce critic of the fossil fuel industry. |
| “As long as you manage the local environmental risks – which are serious – then there’s no objection. And indeed as Bryony said if you are looking at it from a climate change point of view it produces far more emissions if you have to go through the process of compressing gas and then transporting it all the way from Qatar.” | “As long as you manage the local environmental risks – which are serious – then there’s no objection. And indeed as Bryony said if you are looking at it from a climate change point of view it produces far more emissions if you have to go through the process of compressing gas and then transporting it all the way from Qatar.” |
| Jim Watson, director of the UK Energy Research Centre, was more cautious about the potential carbon savings of using shale instead of LNG. | Jim Watson, director of the UK Energy Research Centre, was more cautious about the potential carbon savings of using shale instead of LNG. |
| “Those differences are at the margin,” he said. “I think the debate is about what role gas plays rather than starting to talk about particular sources of gas. We shouldn’t worry about that too much unless there’s really strong evidence that that carbon footprint is really high.” | “Those differences are at the margin,” he said. “I think the debate is about what role gas plays rather than starting to talk about particular sources of gas. We shouldn’t worry about that too much unless there’s really strong evidence that that carbon footprint is really high.” |
| However he agreed that there was no reason to rule out a well-regulated fracking industry “a priori”, especially as conventional gas production in Britain’s North Sea fields is expected to decline rapidly in coming years. | However he agreed that there was no reason to rule out a well-regulated fracking industry “a priori”, especially as conventional gas production in Britain’s North Sea fields is expected to decline rapidly in coming years. |
| Worthington said the necessity to switch off coal power stations as soon as possible meant that building new gas power stations, which generate roughly half the emissions of coal plants, represented the best available option for a quick transition of the electricity sector. Gas would also be important for home heating and transport for decades to come, she said. | Worthington said the necessity to switch off coal power stations as soon as possible meant that building new gas power stations, which generate roughly half the emissions of coal plants, represented the best available option for a quick transition of the electricity sector. Gas would also be important for home heating and transport for decades to come, she said. |
| @KarlMathiesen @bryworthington @guardianeco It's the wrong area of focus. Priority has got to be developing renewables. | @KarlMathiesen @bryworthington @guardianeco It's the wrong area of focus. Priority has got to be developing renewables. |
| Ward said Britain’s best decarbonisation pathway was to phase out coal power “as soon as possible” and replace the power stations with new gas plants. | Ward said Britain’s best decarbonisation pathway was to phase out coal power “as soon as possible” and replace the power stations with new gas plants. |
| “The sooner we do that the better,” he said, because gas generators built now can deliver 15 years return on investment before 2030. This date is important as the government has powers under the Energy Act to set a decarbonisation target for the power sector. By that time any fossil fuel power station may have to be fitted with a carbon capture and storage system, which remains an uncertain technological prospect. | “The sooner we do that the better,” he said, because gas generators built now can deliver 15 years return on investment before 2030. This date is important as the government has powers under the Energy Act to set a decarbonisation target for the power sector. By that time any fossil fuel power station may have to be fitted with a carbon capture and storage system, which remains an uncertain technological prospect. |
| “Without shale gas, the price for consumers is likely to be almost entirely dependent on imports, which could be a lot more expensive than today,” he said. Although he said claims from the industry that shale gas would make the price of energy lower than today were unlikely to be correct. | “Without shale gas, the price for consumers is likely to be almost entirely dependent on imports, which could be a lot more expensive than today,” he said. Although he said claims from the industry that shale gas would make the price of energy lower than today were unlikely to be correct. |
| Estimates of just when the shale industry might be contributing meaningful amounts of gas to the economy range between five and 15 years, depending on whether you ask the industry or environmentalists. In its most shale friendly scenario, the National Grid predicts that by 2025 shale could be supplying 15-20% of the UK’s gas. | Estimates of just when the shale industry might be contributing meaningful amounts of gas to the economy range between five and 15 years, depending on whether you ask the industry or environmentalists. In its most shale friendly scenario, the National Grid predicts that by 2025 shale could be supplying 15-20% of the UK’s gas. |
| One thing is clear, using shale instead of LNG will be no extra help for meeting the UK’s own carbon targets. That is because these targets regulate emissions generated within the country. Under the international climate regime, carbon generated at a compression facility in Qatar is that country’s own business. The bulk of the extra emissions from LNG are generated by the tankers that bring it to the UK – these and all other shipping emissions remain the responsibility of no one in particular. | One thing is clear, using shale instead of LNG will be no extra help for meeting the UK’s own carbon targets. That is because these targets regulate emissions generated within the country. Under the international climate regime, carbon generated at a compression facility in Qatar is that country’s own business. The bulk of the extra emissions from LNG are generated by the tankers that bring it to the UK – these and all other shipping emissions remain the responsibility of no one in particular. |
| @KarlMathiesen basically comes down to UK carbon budgets then global supplies & price impacts. | @KarlMathiesen basically comes down to UK carbon budgets then global supplies & price impacts. |
| Carbon Brief editor Leo Hickman pointed out that those who use the MacKay report as justification for fracking forget that it concludes that shale gas’s contribution to the climate fight depends on it keeping British coal in the ground. The report concluded that without a global emissions deal the coal displaced by shale gas in the UK will simply be burnt elsewhere. This has happened in the US, which remains one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal despite the crunching decline of its domestic coal power industry. UN negotiations continue to provide weak assurance that such a deal will be achieved in Paris in December. | Carbon Brief editor Leo Hickman pointed out that those who use the MacKay report as justification for fracking forget that it concludes that shale gas’s contribution to the climate fight depends on it keeping British coal in the ground. The report concluded that without a global emissions deal the coal displaced by shale gas in the UK will simply be burnt elsewhere. This has happened in the US, which remains one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal despite the crunching decline of its domestic coal power industry. UN negotiations continue to provide weak assurance that such a deal will be achieved in Paris in December. |
| Worthington’s position is commensurate with Labour’s current, cautious support for the industry. However two of Labour’s leadership candidates, including frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn, have said they would follow Scotland and Wales and ban fracking. The winner of that contest will be announced on Saturday. | Worthington’s position is commensurate with Labour’s current, cautious support for the industry. However two of Labour’s leadership candidates, including frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn, have said they would follow Scotland and Wales and ban fracking. The winner of that contest will be announced on Saturday. |
| Worthington’s characterisation of gas as “low carbon” echoes similar comments by Conservative energy secretary Amber Rudd in July. Ward and Watson said this was misguided as gas remained a significant producer of greenhouse gases. | Worthington’s characterisation of gas as “low carbon” echoes similar comments by Conservative energy secretary Amber Rudd in July. Ward and Watson said this was misguided as gas remained a significant producer of greenhouse gases. |
| “[It] did raise my eyebrows slightly. I don’t think I’d normally class it as that,” said Watson. | “[It] did raise my eyebrows slightly. I don’t think I’d normally class it as that,” said Watson. |
| “I think that was a mistake,” said Ward. “It’s not low carbon. It’s a high carbon source of energy.” | “I think that was a mistake,” said Ward. “It’s not low carbon. It’s a high carbon source of energy.” |
| Worthington told the Guardian that it was not a slip of the tongue. “I think terms like renewables are outdated. [I] prefer high, low and zero carbon. Gas is low carbon especially when used for heating.” | Worthington told the Guardian that it was not a slip of the tongue. “I think terms like renewables are outdated. [I] prefer high, low and zero carbon. Gas is low carbon especially when used for heating.” |
| Watson said the argument expounded by environmental groups and renewable advocates that the country should bypass gas and skip straight to a dramatically expanded renewable energy sector ignored the technological gaps in transport and home heating and the need for some flexible power generation to balance out the fluctuations of renewable sources. | Watson said the argument expounded by environmental groups and renewable advocates that the country should bypass gas and skip straight to a dramatically expanded renewable energy sector ignored the technological gaps in transport and home heating and the need for some flexible power generation to balance out the fluctuations of renewable sources. |
| “I think we probably do both at the same time,” said Watson. “Gas is going to be around for some time to come, our analysis shows at least a few decades yet.” | “I think we probably do both at the same time,” said Watson. “Gas is going to be around for some time to come, our analysis shows at least a few decades yet.” |
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