Eurogas : Molecules – The Eurogas Newsletter (November 2020)

Welcome back to the penultimate issue of Molecules - The Eurogas Newsletter - of this year.

It has been an exceptional year - in the challenges it has presented, the opportunities it has created, and the creativity it has forced us to find. We have changed our approach to work, and indeed our lives. In next month's issue we will look back on the year as a whole and look forwards towards 2021. For now, let us focus on the many projects underway here at Eurogas - because there are many!

Towards the end of November, following months of close cooperation, Eurogas along with the European Public Service Union and European Trade Union, published a Joint Statement on the Social Dialogue on Gas. The statement recognises the vital role the gas sector will play in achieving European climate objectives - as well as the opportunities that new gas technologies offer for the European workforce to have quality, stable and non-seasonal jobs. Europe leads in these fields today. Therefore we should ensure we make the most of this opportunity for all Europeans.

New jobs in the gas sector - particularly through the development of innovative new technologies - is a key area of focus for Eurogas. It is why we have launched our Gas Tech Campaign, and an exciting series of short talks, called Gas Tech Talks. Each of these short episodes discusses a new type of clean gas technology, where it is being developed, and what it can do for Europe. The conversations are fun and informative, giving each of us the chance to brush up on the tools available to decarbonise. We share our second in the series with you below - where a lively Christophe Bellet from GRDF discusses biomethane. Enjoy it!

Also in this issue we welcome guest contributor Adam Hawkes from the Sustainale Gas Institute at Imperial College London, who worked with Eurogas Policy Advisor Nicolas Jensen to present two events on methane, supported also by Eurogas member Wintershall DEA. Methane is a widely discussed, contentious and topical subject at this time, and we were proud to partner with the experts at Imperial to discuss the importance of tackling methane emisisons, and how to do this.

Of course one exciting event that took place in November were the elections in the United States of America. Earlier in the year Eurogas welcomed their first American associate member, and like much of the world, we followed the dramatic election very closely, even hosting a webinar just two days after the election! This high-profile event brought speakers together from American LNG firms and the European Commission to discuss the potential effects of the election outcomes on global and European energy. It was made all the more interesting, given the result of the election was unknown at the time. You can read more about the event and watch the hour-long webinar here.

In November we welcomed Laura Bosetti permanently into the team, in the role of Policy Advisor for Retail. Laura will run the Retail Committee for Eurogas, liaising closely with members on mechanisms to support customer engagement in the market from the supplier's perspective, as well as working on topics such as Energy Efficiency, and the Renovation Wave.

It continues to be busy, and here at Eurogas we continue to work hard, to represent our members, their progress, and the developments that we believe are best for the future of energy and of Europe.

Stay well,

James