In Germany, there is an extensive network of natural gas pipeline pipes that extends over a length of 600,000 kilometers. But what happens to these pipes when natural gas is no longer used?
This question poses a significant economic and technical problem for both gas users and gas network operators. A recent study by Scientists for Future (S4F) sheds light on this problem using extensive data and facts.
The use of natural gas as a fossil fuel no longer has a future perspective and must be discontinued by the targeted goal of climate neutrality in 2045. For network operators, this means that their investments in the natural gas network will only be economically viable for this limited period. In addition to this, natural gas consumption will drop to zero by 2045 as heat and electricity will increasingly be generated from renewable sources such as heat pumps, solar energy and green power.
Peter Klafka, member of S4F and lead author of the study, explains, "Due to the energy refurbishment of buildings and the conversion of industrial processes to electric solutions, the demand for natural gas will continuously decrease. In addition, there will be an increasing use of heat pumps to heat buildings, not least due to the foreseeable legal ban on new gas heating systems."
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