Dr Christoph Riechmann, Director in Frontier Economics' Energy practice, will speak on 5 June at the European Commission’s ‘Madrid Forum’ on regulatory barriers in linking the gas and electricity sectors, as well as to renewable and low-carbon gases more generally, in the EU.

Recent literature (including work by Frontier – see for example here and here) has pointed to the important role that gas infrastructure and low-carbon gases could play in helping to reduce the costs of meeting the EU’s (and individual Member States’) greenhouse gas emissions targets. This will require deployment and integration of renewable and low-carbon gas sources, such as biomethane and so-called ‘sector coupling’ technologies such as power-to-gas where gas is produced from wind and solar power.

Realising this will likely require changes to legislation and regulatory practice. Frontier has been leading a study for the Commission looking into possible regulatory barriers and gaps for renewable and low-carbon gases and possible solutions to address them. Christoph’s presentation to the Madrid Forum is based on the draft findings of our study, which is currently being finalised.

Each year, the Commission invites key stakeholders in the European gas sector (including regulators, governments, and gas industry representatives) to its Madrid Forum to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the creation of an internal gas market in the EU. Frontier’s invitation to the Madrid Forum follows its invitation to the Christoph spoke on the topic of interlinking gas and electricity infrastructure development.

Frontier regularly advises clients on EU energy policy in the gas and electricity sectors.

For more information, please contact media@frontier-economics.com or call +44 (0) 20 7031 7000