Commission studies impact of shale gas on markets, environment and climate
A JRC report on market impacts of unconventional fossil fuels, in particular shale gas, was released today together with two other Commission reports covering environmental and climate change aspects. The study, performed for the Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, shows that following extraction of unconventional gas in the US, greater supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have become available at global level, indirectly influencing EU gas prices. The study suggests that under a best case scenario, taking into account environmental considerations, future shale gas production in Europe could help the EU maintain its dependency on energy imports at around 50 % of its total energy needs. But the report also reveals the sometimes considerable uncertainty about recoverable volumes, technological developments, public acceptance and access to land and markets.
