Pathways to Net-Zero: Decarbonising the Gas Networks in Great Britain

Natural gas plays a central role in the UK energy system today, but it is also a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The UK committed in 2008 to reduce GHG emissions by at least 80%, compared to 1990 levels, by 2050. In June 2019, a more ambitious target was adopted into law and the UK became the first major economy to commit to “net-zero” emissions by 2050. In this context, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) commissioned Navigant to explore the role that the gas sector can play in the decarbonisation of the Great Britain (GB) energy system. In this report, we demonstrate that low carbon and renewable gases can make a fundamental contribution to the decarbonisation pathway between now and 2050.