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Shale gas will not guarantee Europe's energy security
Technology and regulation could result in environmentally friendly shale gas extraction, but resources in Europe are uncertain
In a statement that says that there are ‘no scientific or technical grounds to ban shale gas exploration or extraction using hydraulic fracturing’, the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) also warns that fracking for gas will not provide a miraculous solution for energy security or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
EASAC says that, providing there is effective regulation, technology can ensure that local shale gas resources are utilised in a way to protect the environment, water resources and local communities. But it also says that considerable uncertainty remains over the scale of shale gas resources and their economic viability in different EU Member States. Consequently, fracking is not necessarily a silver bullet for European energy security, says EASAC.
The Council looked at population levels, fugitive emissions and public concerns on fracking for the study. It found that best practices, such as the replacement of potentially harmful additives and full disclosure to authorities of all additives used, have reduced the environmental footprint of shale gas fracturing and improved the transparency of the process.
It also finds that Europe's regulatory systems and experience of conventional gas extraction already provide an appropriate framework for minimising the impact on health, safety and the environment.
Trade association Shale Gas Europe said the ‘balanced and evidence-based analysis’ acknowledged the point on uncertainty over resources, and that the study shows that shale gas development brings with it environmental benefits such as greenhouse gas reduction.
Marcus Pepperell, a spokesperson for Shale Gas Europe, said: ‘No one single energy source will ever fulfil Europe’s energy needs. We need diversity from both domestic and foreign markets to safeguard an affordable energy supply. With over 13tn cubic metres of estimated resources in Europe, shale gas could make an important contribution but we need much more exploration before we will we be able to define how much can be commercially extracted.’
