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Articles by Andreas Walstad
Battery storage financing hurdles could prolong gas use in SE Asia
Analysis Asia PacificGasasean Rooftop solar panels. Photo by PublicDomainPictures - Pixabay. Much of Southeast Asia’s energy transition is constrained, but surprisingly it’s no longer due mainly to a shortage of capital as much as to the market and policy design of clean energy projects, a new Ember report finds. This is true particularly for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and transmission development.
Why gas is still central to China’s economic plans
Analysis Asia PacificGasChina The Beijing skyline. Photo by Anthony Chong - Pixabay China’s latest five-year plan, the country’s guiding economic development and planning strategy, seeks to expand domestic gas production and increase storage and shipping capacity. It includes expansion of LNG terminals, vessels, and pipeline infrastructure as well as a surge in investments in overseas exploration.
EU plots route towards greener data centres
Analysis EuropeEnergy transitionData Centres Servers in a data centre. Photo by cookieone - Pixabay. The rise in the number of planned data centres across the EU is driving concerns of an increase in electricity and gas demand at a time when energy prices are volatile and supply is already tight. There are also worries that the roll-out of data centres will add to grid constraints and make it harder to reach climate targets in the longer term. To this end, the European Commission on Sept.
Osaka Gas’ 5% stake in Browse project raises financial questions
Osaka Gas, which has stakes in several Australian gas projects, is investing again in the country’s energy sector to increase its LNG portfolio options. The move is raising financial questions linked to unresolved approvals, environmental questions and the outlook for the LNG market. On September 18, the company said in a disclosure that it had agreed to buy a 5% stake in Woodside Energy’s proposed 11.4 mtpa Browse LNG project off Western Australia from BP.
The World’s Largest Wine Cellar Is a 124-Mile-Long Treasure Trove
By Andreas Walstad · September 28, 2026 Andreas Walstad is a freelance journalist who shares his time between London and Brussels. In addition to writing about food and drink, he also covers energy policy issues for a number of specialist publications. It is a warm June day in Moldova when I arrive at Mileștii Mici, home to the largest cellar complex in the world.
Ample supply of LNG available to Europe under Methane Regulation – new analysis
Analysis EuropeClimateEurope Gas pipe valve (photo: ds_30 - Pixabay) European countries will likely have access to ample supplies of gas that can comply with the EU Methane Regulation in the coming years, reducing the risk of full implementation of the programme, according to a new analysis. The EU Methane Regulation (EUMR) seeks to ensure that gas imported into Europe comes from producers with low levels of methane emissions at their production sites.
Norway’s Arctic ambitions face reality check
Analysis EuropeClimateEurope Ship in Norwegian Arctic waters. Author: CapDeXai66 - Pixabay Norway is stepping up gas exploration in its Arctic waters to account for reduced supply to Europe from Russia and the Middle East. The plan could come at a hefty financial and environmental cost – and many of the fields may come online over a decade from now, when the market and political realities are likely to be very different.
EU sanctions: Exemption allows EU firms to ship Russian LNG eastwards
Industrial Harbor Scene at Europoort Rotterdam (Photo: Pexels/Igor Passchier) The EU’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia included a one-year exemption for the purchase and transfer of Russian LNG to third countries, which looks set to benefit both European shipping companies, notably Greek firm Dynagas, as well as traders and other intermediaries. The exemption applies to long-term supply contracts concluded before February 24th, 2022.
As reserves deplete, U.S. natural gas costs could rise to meet LNG demand
Analysis US & CanadaGasLNG Upper Fairfield Township gas well, Pennsylvania, USA (Photo: Wiki Commons/Ruhrfisch) U.S. natural gas prices could double in the next decade due to rising LNG exports and the data centre building spree, according to a new report. As the AI boom continues apace, energy-hungry data centres will use more gas at a time when a growing portion of domestic natural gas supply is siphoned off to overseas buyers via LNG export terminals.
Renewables surpass coal in global power sector
AnalysisEnergy transitionCoal Solar power plant in Serpa, Portugal. (Photo: Wikipedia/ Ceinturion) Renewable energy is set to overtake coal in worldwide electricity generation for the first time in 2026, a milestone in the energy transition. After pulling even with coal in 2025, renewables will grow by another 8 percent this year, allowing clean power to surpass coal, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Brussels sets out path for EU ETS reform: Now the big battle begins
Rybnik power station at Lake Rybnickie (Poland). White smoke comes up a chimney close to the characteristic red and white checkered cooling towers. The EU ETS – which puts a price per tonne of the CO2 polluters emit – has been credited for reducing emissions in the power sector, for example by incentivising fuel switching from coal to natural gas.
Impacts of the EU inverter ban
Photo: Lauri Veerde, CC-BY-SA 4.0 The European Commission (EC) is restricting European Union funding to solar projects using Chinese-made inverters, due to the perceived risks of cyberattacks and blackouts. But are European suppliers ready to scale up production and challenge China’s monopoly? Andreas Walstad reports. The EC has explicitly identified solar inverters from Chinese suppliers as a high-risk dependency due …
Lithium and heat extraction for the lionhearted
Vulcan Energy's Lionheart project, which aims to extract climate-neutral lithium and at the same time supply geothermal energy in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley and Frankfurt region, has reached key milestones...
Hungary’s new PM faces tough choices amid energy policy rethink
Péter Magyar and his Tisza party won a landslide victory in elections in Hungary on 12th April, putting an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power. A close ally of Vladimir Putin, Orbán’s energy policy was effectively to secure almost all gas and oil from Russia while subsidising household energy bills in order to keep prices low.
Will EU ETS2 deliver a rapid switch from gas in heating?
The EU ETS2, which comes into effect in 2028, could make it more costly for European households to use gas for heating. But some fear the system will not incentivise a switch to electric heat pumps but instead penalise low-income households in the form of higher utility bills.
Bulgaria replaces Russian gas with LNG via Greece - Gas Outlook
With Russian gas being phased out, Bulgaria is becoming dependent on Greek LNG terminals to source LNG from suppliers such as the U.S. and Qatar. Bulgartransgaz, the national grid operator, is a 20% shareholder in the 5.5 bcm/year Alexandroupolis Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), through its stake in Gastrade, and imports via the 7 bcm/year Revithousa LNG terminal are also an option.
Romania bets on both renewables and gas - Gas Outlook
Romania completed its second renewables auction in August and ~1.5 GW of solar PV and ~1.3 GW of onshore wind projects secured winning bids. The average exercise price for onshore wind bids was close to 74 euros/MWh and just over 40 euros/MWh for solar PV. A total of 4.2 GW of wind and solar capacity has now won subsidy contracts under a Contracts for Difference (CfDs) scheme in the first two auctions.
Moldova grapples with energy transition as shortages loom - Gas Outlook
Energy security remains a serious concern in Moldova which imports all of its gas and over 70% of its electricity. Russia’s Gazprom completely stopped supplying gas to the country at the turn of the year, when the transit agreement with Ukraine expired. However, a reduction in Russian gas supply to the country’s Right Bank started already in October 2022 and completely stopped later that year.
EU’s Russian Gas Phase-Out Puts TurkStream Pipeline at a Crossroads
(P&GJ) — TurkStream is currently the only major functional pipeline supplying Russian pipeline gas to Europe as other infrastructure has been either damaged or repurposed and transit via Ukraine stopped at the beginning of the year. The 31 Bcm/a pipeline’s starting point is the Russkaya compressor station near the town of Anapa on the Russian coast from where it stretches over 578-mile (930-km) across the Black Sea before it reaches the receiving terminal near Kiyikoy on the Turkish coast.
Investors commit to Polish offshore wind, but restrictions linger - Gas Outlook
Equinor and Polenergia recently announced that they have decided to invest over US$ 7 billion to get two offshore wind farms in the Polish Baltic Sea up-and-running by 2028. The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms will have a combined capacity of over 1.4 GW and will complement ORLEN’s and Northland Power’s 1.2 GW Baltic Power wind farm which is expected to become operational next year.
‘Problem brewing’: Shipping firms risk big fines and expulsion as EU emissions trading deadline looms
Shipping companies risk hefty fines and possible expulsion if they miss a looming September deadline to surrender carbon allowances under the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The pressure comes on top of an earlier requirement: the 31 March deadline to submit verified emissions reports, which many appear to have missed.
Poland’s Gdańsk LNG on track, but peak demand approaches - Gas Outlook
Poland’s TSO GAZ-SYSTEM announced in early April that it has selected a contractor for the quay and offshore gas pipeline for the 6 bcm/year Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) which is being built in the South Korean HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan in the northern port of Gdańsk. Construction of the quay in the Gulf of Gdańsk will begin in the second half of 2025 and the planned launch date of the FSRU is the first quarter of 2028, GAZ-SYSTEM said.
Surging costs cloud outlook for Belgian Princess Elisabeth wind island - Gas Outlook
The budget for the Princess Elisabeth Zone project – which will link up with a planned artificial energy island in the North Sea – has roughly doubled from 3.6 billion euros, mainly due to a combination of inflation, rising material costs and a scarcity of HVDC grid infrastructure, according to Belgian TSO Elia. Due to the rising costs, Elia recently announced that it would postpone signing the HVDC contract with an undisclosed supplier.
Germany Begins Pipeline Conversions to Fulfill Lofty Hydrogen Ambitions
(P&GJ) – Germany has launched ambitious plans for a 5,617-mi (9,040-km) hydrogen pipeline network that could be completed in 2032 at a cost of $20 billion if everything goes to plan. Once completed, the network will have the potential to transport 278 TWh of low and zero-carbon hydrogen, which could help decarbonize Germany’s industrial sector in particular. About 60% of the hydrogen network will be repurposed gas pipelines, according to plans, while the remainder will be new hydrogen pipelines.
Ukraine Seeks U.S. LNG Via European Routes to Rebuild Gas Reserves Before Winter
Ukraine Seeks U.S. LNG Via European Routes to Rebuild Gas Reserves Before Winter (P&GJ) – Polish energy company ORLEN and Ukraine’s Naftogaz announced on March 18 that the former company had purchased an LNG cargo from an undisclosed location in the U.S., which will be delivered to the Świnoujście LNG terminal in Poland. After regasification, the gas will be transported to the Polish-Ukrainian border.
High hopes for CCS in Denmark, but countdown to 2030 has begun - Gas Outlook
Denmark targets 70% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions by 2030, compared with 1990 levels, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is expected to play a key role in order to reach this target. According to the country’s energy ministry, the country is on track to achieve 55.5% of CO2 reductions by 2025 and 68% by 2030 – a shortfall of around 1.5 million tonnes from the 70% target.
EU, NATO Step Up Fight Against Sabotage of Gas Infrastructure
September 2024, Vol. 251, No. 9 Features By Andreas Walstad, European Correspondent (P&GJ) — Safeguarding European energy and gas infrastructure against sabotage and cyberattacks will be one of the top priorities for NATO and the EU institutions over the coming years as the Nord Stream attacks have altered the energy security landscape for good.
Dutch offshore wind auctions show progress towards ambitious targets - Gas Outlook
Analysis EuropeNetherlands The Dutch government in June announced the winners of two offshore wind projects in the North Sea that will have a combined capacity of 4 GW. The wind farms are expected to be put into operation in 2029 and will contribute to the country’s goal of reaching 21 GW of installed capacity by 2032, up from less than 5 GW currently. Over 4% of the Dutch North Sea will be needed for these wind farms, according to the government.
Belgium’s gas dependence resilient as green transition faces hurdles - Gas Outlook
Belgium is a densely populated country with a small coastline and landmass and with a relatively large industrial base which is hard to decarbonise on the country’s path to a green transition. These are some of the factors that pose challenges to Belgium’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels, and to reach the net zero target by 2050, as stipulated in EU law. “Belgium has some challenges to overcome in making the energy transition.
La UE se lanza a la extracción de materias primas
De pv magazine 06/24 La Ley de Materias Primas Críticas (CRMA) de la UE entró en vigor a principios de mayo de 2024. En un intento de diversificar el suministro de materias primas estratégicas, la CRMA establece puntos de referencia para las capacidades nacionales de producción de estos materiales.
EU set to dig into raw materials supply
From pv magazine 06/24 The EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) entered into force at the beginning of May 2024. In a bid to diversify the supply of strategic raw materials, the CRMA sets benchmarks for domestic production capacities of these materials.
EU Ramps Up Support for CO2 Pipelines, Decarbonization Efforts
May 2024, Vol. 251, No. 5 Features By Andreas Walstad, P&GJ European Correspondent (P&GJ) – In January, the EC confirmed that it will allocate almost $522 million (Euro 480 million) to four CO2 transport and storage projects in France, the Netherlands, Poland and Norway. The projects were eligible for funding under the EU’s $6.3 billion (Euro 5.8 billion) Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) fund for energy because they have been earmarked as Projects of Common Interest (PCIs).
Nigeria's Shiroro solar-hydro project will aid energy transition: experts - Gas Outlook
Analysis AfricaRenewablesClimate The Nigerian government has signed a joint venture agreement to establish the Shiroro Generating Company, Nigeria’s pioneering 20 MW on-grid solar-hydro hybrid project. The agreement was signed between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and North South Power (NSP) Company Ltd. Shiroro Generating Company is a joint venture project between the NSIA and NSP, investing in a pioneering 20 MW solar-hydro hybrid project in Shiroro, Niger State.
Gas Outlook | Andreas Walstad Archives - Gas Outlook
Andreas has written extensively about energy issues for almost two decades. Dividing his time between London and Brussels, he has a special focus on energy policy and regulation. Andreas regularly speaks and moderates discussion panels at conferences. All eyes on Dutch offshore wind as country targets 21 GW The Netherlands wants to achieve 21 GW offshore of wind capacity by the end of 2031, a target deemed ambitious yet achievable.
Europe Studies Mega-Projects for Piping CO2 Offshore
November 2023, Vol. 250, No. 11 Features By Andreas Walstad, P&GJ European Correspondent (P&GJ) — Belgian TSO Fluxys and Norway’s state oil and gas company Equinor are working on plans for a 620-mile (1,000-km) pipeline that could export CO2 from industrial clusters in Zeebrugge, Belgium to storage sites offshore Norway. An extension to industrial sites in the port of Dunkirk, France is also under consideration.
Weekend Read: Race to the top
From pv magazine 06/23 One of the most eye-catching aspects of the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan (GDIP), presented in February, is the European Commission’s Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) for state aid rules. Under the proposal, member states can, for a limited period, provide projects with a fixed percentage of investment cost, in principle, without breaching competition laws. The “grace period” for boosting national subsidies applies to aid granted before 2026.
Europe sees strong appetite for coal amid higher gas prices [Gas in Transition]
Summary Coal-fired power generation has held up strongly in Europe owing to high gas prices and concerns of over energy security. But this trend is not expected to last in the long term as natural gas prices stabilise and EU nations scramble to meet climate targets.
Weekend read: Is EU doing enough?
From pv magazine 12/2022. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the main energy policy focus among European governments has been on security of supply and consumer costs. This does not mean the green agenda and energy transition have been forgotten. In fact, many will say volatile fossil fuel prices and Moscow’s weaponizing of gas exports will accelerate the transition to clean energy, including solar and hydrogen.
Energy prices trigger EU inflation, poor worst hit
Higher energy prices, including for natural gas, are pushing up electricity prices and the cost of living for households across the EU, prompting governments to cut taxes and provide financial support to the tune of several billion euros.
Gas-on-gas pricing sees continued rise in LNG markets [Gas in Transition]
Summary Gas-on-gas competition in LNG markets is on the increase while the share of contracts linked to other fuels is declining, the International Gas Union said in its most recent report on wholesale gas markets. [Gas in Transition, Volume 2, Issue 10] by: Andreas Walstad The IGU’s Wholesale Gas Price Survey 2022 Edition, presented in London in early October, found that Gas-on-Gas (GOG) competition in LNG markets rose by 18 percentage points in the period 2005 to 2021.
Ample LNG and full storage offers Europe short-term relief [Gas in Transition]
TTF prices have fallen from historical highs and EU storage levels are over 90% full. Yet Europe is not out of the woods for this coming winter and should already be preparing for the 2023/24 heating season. [Gas in Transition, Volume 2, Issue 10] TTF gas prices have traded down sharply since August amid rising storage levels and ample LNG arrivals. Gas storage levels across the 27 EU nations are above 90% full on average and rising.
South East Europe, Balkans Get Ready for US LNG Shipments
August 2022, Vol. 249, No. 8 Features By Andreas Walstad, P&GJ European Correspondent (P&GJ) — The 105 Bcf/year (3 Bcm/year) Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB) pipeline is expected, after long delays, to become operational this autumn, allowing Bulgaria to access more LNG via Greece. The timing could not have been better; Gazprom recently cut off all supplies to Bulgaria following Sofia’s refusal to pay for Russian gas in rubles.
The weekend read: How does the EU taxonomy set criteria for technologies to be labeled green and provide investors with a classification system?
From pv magazine 07/2022 Outlining its Taxonomy Regulation, the European Commision (EC) states that “by clearly defining what is green, the EU Taxonomy seeks to incentivize and encourage companies to launch new projects, or upgrade existing ones, to meet these criteria.” It adds that the goal is to prevent greenwashing and help investors identify economic activities in line with environmental and climate objectives.
Higher carbon costs expected as EU revamps ETS [Gas in Transition]
The EU institutions are currently negotiating far reaching reforms to the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) which look set to make carbon allowances more expensive for polluters including in the gas sector. [Gas in Transition, Volume 2, Issue 7] The Council of the EU, representing the EU member states, and the European parliament, recently adopted their respective proposals for EU emissions trading system (ETS) reforms which means negotiations on a final dossier have now begun.
EU nations pursue price caps amid surging energy costs [Gas In Transition]
Summary A number of EU nations are introducing gas and power price caps in a move to address the impact of price spikes on consumers. The measures are temporary, but will they have a lasting impact on liberalised wholesale markets? [Gas in Transition, Volume 2, Issue 6] by: Andreas Walstad After speaking out against energy price caps for several years, the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted the European Commission to think differently, at least for the time being.
Germany, Netherlands Up Ambition for North Sea Hydrogen Hubs
May 2022, Vol. 249, No. 5 Features By Andreas Walstad, P&GJ European Correspondent There is no shortage of ideas when it comes to exploiting the strong winds offshore Germany and the Netherlands to produce green hydrogen. Shell, Equinor, Neptune Energy and RWE are among the energy firms that plan to produce millions of tons of the clean fuel by connecting large electrolyzer plants to offshore wind farms. Let’s be clear. All of these ambitious projects are at early stages of development.
Germany Ups Ambition on Hydrogen to Meet Climate Targets
February 2022, Vol. 249, No. 2 Features By Andreas Walstad, European correspondent Germany targets net zero emissions greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by 2045 and hydrogen will undoubtedly play a role in achieving that target. Hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, road transport and aviation are likely sectors for demand growth, but a key question is where supply will come from. Raffinerie Heide, an oil refinery in Schleswig-Holstein, is under consideration for use of hydrogen as feedstock.
Germany Ups Ambition on Hydrogen to Meet Climate Targets
February 2022, Vol. 249, No. 1 Features By Andreas Walstad, European correspondent Germany targets net zero emissions greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by 2045 and hydrogen will undoubtedly play a role in achieving that target. Hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, road transport and aviation are likely sectors for demand growth, but a key question is where supply will come from. Raffinerie Heide, an oil refinery in Schleswig-Holstein, is under consideration for use of hydrogen as feedstock.
EU legislation supports growing momentum for CCS [Gas in Transition]
SIGN IN advertise with us > SUBSCRIBE Natural Gas News EU legislation supports growing momentum for CCS [Gas in Transition] Jan 26, 2022 9:10:am Summary After a number of setbacks in the past, CCS is gaining momentum in Europe, buoyed by an increasingly supportive EU regulatory framework and long-term climate targets.
Gas set for inclusion in EU Taxonomy, but conditions apply [Gas in Transition]
SIGN IN advertise with us > SUBSCRIBE Natural Gas News Gas set for inclusion in EU Taxonomy, but conditions apply [Gas in Transition] Jan 20, 2022 8:45:am Summary The likely inclusion of natural gas power plants in the EU’s Taxonomy Regulation has sparked controversy, but new investments will be subject to a number of conditions including hydrogen co-firing from 2026.
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