Humanising energy is imperative: Expert

Natural gas in various forms has an important role to play as a transition bridge to the climate neutral energy future. Humanising energy is imperative to close the implementation gaps, said an expert during an event organised by Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) recently.

Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO of World Energy Council, stressed, during the 54th edition of its signature GECF Gas Lecture Series entitled ‘Humanising Energy’ that renewables need other energy friends and mobile and flexible storage options to get to the scale. 

Wilkinson noted in the world of energy we have developed the habit of talking more about prices, technologies, and investments than people, energy uses and value generation that is why it is imperative humanising energy together.  

She said, “Our 100-year heritage in managing energy for peace and prosperity is unique and the foundations are convening and cultivating the practical know-how and best practices needed in today’s era of energy transitions and transformations for people and climate.” 

Highlighting, today more than ever the World Energy Council is committed to the challenge of being of impartial and impactful. 

The World Energy Council is the world’s principal independent and impartial network of energy leaders and practitioners promoting an affordable, stable, and environmentally sensitive energy system for the greatest benefit of all. 

Wilkinson said, “We all operate in an era of energy for people and planet, we share the opportunity for managing global energy transitions. The Council’s enduring mission is now articulated in terms of promoting and securing the benefits of sustainable energy, clean, affordable, reliable, and equitable energy for all. The world will require more energy to deliver better lives, a healthy planet and leave no one behind.” 

She pointed, “Better energy solutions are not green, blue or any other colour and net zero and carbon positive solutions must meet the needs of many not only the wealthy few. That is why we see need for capital markets to rethink and rebalance in the ESG reporting framework which is impacting investment flows into energy.” The hard work in translating net zero goals and carbon positive vision to reality has only just begun, she said. 

“We have a responsibility to highlight the new and improved models of human and sustainable development, clean and just, circular, and regenerative which will need more clean and flexible form of energy in multiple useful forms of heat, power and liquid fuels,” she added. 

Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Yury Sentyurin, said the topic ‘Humanising Energy’ comes at a pivotal moment to devote urgent needs to focus in bringing energy to all parts of the globe.

“As an international organization of 18-member countries we advocate for the sovereign right of our nations to utilise the resources nature has bestowed upon them. GECF believes in the rights of countries particularly developing economies to have access to abundant, affordable, and clean source of energy,” he added. 

Energy transition is happening but its pace will depend on a number of questions and different issues and we must not discount conventional energy resources which are going to stay with us for a while yet. 

He highlighted fossil fuels are still necessary and the relevant rise in demand speaks for these. According to the GECF Gas Outlook 2050 fossil fuels are projected and expected to remain dominant accounting for 71 percent in 2050. While natural gas will become the leading source of energy in the world’s primary energy mix growing from the current 23 percent to 28 percent by 2050.  He said, “We fully embrace the idea of energy transition as our latest forecast shows that natural gas together with renewables will make up 60 percent of the world’s electricity supply by 2050. Without a fair energy transition the world risks leaving many communities behind.”