In May 2023, Andy Gheorghiu travelled along the US Gulf coast and visited LNG export sites (operating, under construction and planned) which have been co-financed by German banks or enabled through longterm contracts with German companies. He wanted to learn first-hand about the impacts on local communities and the environment. Lots of what he has experienced and heard reminded him of issues one would have expected in the Global South. Part 1 of these series looked at LNG export sites and impacted communities in Texas. This one covers Louisiana.
All posts tagged: LNG
Global South issues in the Global North? A fossil toxic tour through Texas and Louisiana – Part 1
In May 2023 Andy Gheorghiu travelled along the US Gulf coast and visited LNG export sites (operating, under construction and planned) which have been co-financed by German banks or enabled through longterm contracts with German companies. He experienced first-hand the impacts on local communities and the environment – and was surprised by what he found. Lots of what he has experienced and heard reminded him of issues one would have expected in the Global South. Here’s his look back. Read part 2 covering Louisiana.
Is Germany’s sudden embrace of LNG inviting a climate catastrophe? | The Global Energy Transition Podcast – S 2 EP 3
In response to Russia’s invasion and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022, many European nations, particularly Germany, have banned Russian fossil fuels imports. For Germany this has meant not only finding new sources of liquified natural gas (LNG), but also spurred the government to establish several new LNG terminals. However, LNG, which is mainly cooled and compressed methane, represents a major source of climate-harming emissions. Germany, which had no LNG ports prior to Russia’s invasion, has now embarked on a very controversial port and terminal-construction binge, citing the need to maintain energy security. As demand for LNG rises, many of the world’s largest energy firms are raking in record profits – and exporters like the United States have been reaping the benefits.
To help us understand the changing LNG situation and to breakdown LNG’s climate impacts, lead blogger and our host, Michael Buchsbaum interviews the tireless environmental researcher and campaigner, as well as fellow Energy Transition writer, Andy Gheorghiu.
Show notes
More about our guest, Andy Gheorghiu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-gheorghiu-2aa816b8/
Recent blogs for the ET:
- https://energytransition.org/2022/04/lng-terminals-for-germany-part-i-brief-history-and-state-of-play/
- https://energytransition.org/2022/04/lng-terminals-for-germany-part-ii-climate-impacts-possible-suppliers-and-priorities-in-an-energy-and-climate-crisis/
Recent mentions in other media: https://www.dw.com/en/lng-for-germany-uae-delivers-first-shipment/a-64292879
More about the Global Gas and Oil Network, Beyond Gas Network, and the Break Free From Plastic Movement:
- https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/
- Global Oil & Gas Network: https://ggon.org/
- https://beyondgasnetwork.org/
About plastic and the role of methane: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/winter-is-coming/
Publication in Nature about LNG and methane over 3%: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35419-7
Information about Germany’s LNG Fast Tracking law:
- https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/liquefied-gas-does-lng-have-place-germanys-energy-future
- https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/EN/Pressemitteilungen/2023/03/20230303-bmwk-legt-bericht-zu-planungen-und-kapazitaeten-der-schwimmenden-und-festen-lng-terminals-vor.html
Information about US LNG exports:
- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-poised-become-net-exporter-crude-oil-2023-2022-12-19/
- https://www.dw.com/en/to-cut-off-russian-gas-eu-burns-billions-on-lng/a-63863444
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/22/gas-industry-ukraine-war-biden-policy
- https://www.montelnews.com/news/1502701/europes-may-lng-imports-fourth-highest-on-record-at-155bcm
- https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56400
- https://www.investigate-europe.eu/en/2023/lng-fever-mega-contracts-shale-gas-imports-us/
- https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-huge-excess-lng-liquefied-natural-gas-import-capacity-expert-warn/
Current state of controversy around a potential LNG port in Rügen:
- https://www.duh.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung/lng-terminal-auf-ruegen-breites-buendnis-gibt-buergerinnen-und-buergern-eine-stimme-und-fordert-antwort/
- https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/nordmagazin/ruegen-ist-das-lng-terminal-noch-aufzuhalten/ndr/Y3JpZDovL25kci5kZS85ZmM0ZTBiYy1jODkxLTQ0NDQtODA2OS1kMmVhMTAwZGI2ZTY
Europe’s Energy Crisis Has a Silver Lining: More renewables than ever
Defying the grimmest projections, Europe made it through the temperate winter of 2023 with remarkably little collateral damage – and even a few big wins. The energy crisis may have displaced Europe’s climate aspirations by a fraction, but thanks to a record rollout of renewables and conservation measures, the continent’s emissions footprint inched downward and positioned Europe to remain within reach of its goal to slash emissions by 55 percent in seven years’ time. And it’s on track to comfortably outpace its pledge to generate 45% of its total energy from clean sources by 2030.
Despite Fossil Fuel Price Rise, Germany’s Emissions Miss Target
Although overall energy consumption fell, Germany’s emissions declined only slightly: because coal-fired power plants stepped in for Russian gas. A leading German energy think tank argues that Germany has to undertake structural reforms to get on track. Nevertheless, Germany’s emissions are lower than ever before – evidence that Germany can hit targets by replacing fossil fuels with renewables. The catch is that once replaced, fossil fuels must be eliminated from energy production altogether. Experts think that Germany can still phase out all coal-fired generation by 2030.
RePowerEU must only be a short-term solution to avert the worse
A diplomatic solution is the only plausible solution to the on-going Russia’s war in Ukraine and it remains elusive. Meanwhile, the energy crisis which is a fallout of the war persists as fiercely as it compromises climate change solutions. From Berlin to Brussels, politicians are struggling with a related imminent crisis, which is how to reduce the growing millions of Europe’s “energy poor” the European Parliament has been told will increase in tandem with escalating energy prices. In this first of a two-part series, Michael Davies-Venn critically analyses the European Commissions’ solution for the energy crisis and offers short and long term policy solutions that are consistent with the EU’s climate goals and global leadership on climate change.
Insane methane: The disastrous explosion of American Freedom molecules
As Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine metastasizes into a global humanitarian crisis, fossil fuel interests are wasting no time in trying to wrench as much glorious shareholder value as possible out of the growing calamity. Lead blogger and podcaster, Michael Buchsbaum argues there’s little coincidence that the United States, the world’s largest oil and fossil gas producer, is using fears of global energy insecurity to gain more market’s for their liquid natural gas (LNG) sector.
LNG: The liquid path to climate chaos
Europe wonders how quickly and safely it can end its dependency on Russian gas. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is being promoted as a solution. The new report “LNG: The liquid path to climate chaos” raises a number of reasons to be sceptical about LNG as a choice for Europe. Eilidh Robb and Frida Kieninger have the details.
Bulgaria Can Circumvent Russian Gas Freeze
Many Central and Eastern European countries rely on Russia for more of their fossil fuel than Germany does. This is one reason why Russian president Vladimir Putin targeted Bulgaria and Poland when he announced that these two EU and NATO countries would no longer receive natural gas deliveries. Paul Hockenos spoke with Bulgarian energy expert Radostina Primova.
LNG terminals for Germany Part II: Climate impacts, possible suppliers and priorities in an energy and climate crisis
On April 4, 2022, the IPCC published he third part of the Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Referring to the findings and key results, UN General Secretary António Guterres said that “investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is moral and economic madness” while also outlining that “such investments will soon become stranded assets”. In this blog post, Andy Gheorghiu explains why new LNG terminals in Germany are not an exception – even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.