According to CEDIGAZ’s Annual Report on Global Biomethane, the global biomethane or renewable natural gas (RNG) industry grew by 23% in 2022, with production increasing from 6 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2021 to 7.4 bcm in 2022. The market is expected to expand significantly over the coming decade and beyond, and it has the potential to surpass 100 bcm by 2030 if appropriate policies and regulations are implemented.
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Quarterly report – Q1 2023 – International natural gas prices
In the first quarter of 2023, European and Asian spot prices continued the downward trend observed since the summer of 2022, despite the fall in Russian pipeline gas deliveries. European gas prices have reached their lowest level since the summer of 2021 but remain two to three times higher than the historical average. These relatively calm market conditions are due to several factors: a milder than normal winter which has reduced gas consumption for space heating, continued strong LNG imports into Europe and lower gas consumption in all sectors. These developments have kept European storages at record levels, which is a bearish factor on forward prices.
Evolution of international gas prices in the first quarter of 2023
In the first quarter of this year, the EU TTF price was 42% lower than in the previous quarter, at $16.8/MBtu (€54/MWh), returning to a level similar to that in the third quarter of 2021. The TTF bottomed out at $12.6/MBtu (€40/MWh) on the 20 March, its lowest level since the summer of 2021. European market fundamentals are bearish. It is estimated that in the first quarter of this year, EU gas consumption was 17% below the seasonal average. Against this background, continued strong imports of LNG and Norwegian gas have allowed to both replace Russian pipeline gas and ensure a very high level of gas storages.
Energy security and sustainability mean a restructuring of global gas supply and a reconfiguration of international gas flows
CEDIGAZ, the International Gas Association, has just released its « Medium and Long Term Gas and LNG Outlook 2023 », which provides projections on natural gas and low-carbon gases markets to 2050.
CEDIGAZ Reference Scenario assumes a strong acceleration of the energy transition towards a low-carbon economy, incorporating specific government targets and CO2 emissions reduction commitments, corresponding to a global warming of 2.1 °C by 2100. The evolution of the world energy mix is driven by strong energy efficiency improvements, a fast expansion of clean electrification and low-carbon technologies. CEDIGAZ 2.1 °C Scenario highlights that natural gas and low-carbon gases will play an important role in a context of the decarbonization of the world energy system. Natural gas will be gradually supplanted by low-carbon gases in OECD markets, whereas in non-OECD markets, especially in Asia, both natural gas and low-carbon gases will grow significantly in the long term. Additional investments in new international gas and LNG projects are required to meet future global demand. Achieving carbon neutrality, energy security and sustainability will mean profound changes in global gas dynamics and a rebalancing of global gas flows towards Asia. Decarbonization efforts imply the reduction of all GHG, including methane emissions, along the whole international supply chains. The expansion of low-carbon gases, especially hydrogen, requires a supportive and appropriate political and regulatory framework as well as an adaptation of natural gas infrastructure to a future low-carbon economy.