When is enough, enough?

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, European states have proposed 195 bcm/y of additional LNG import capacity to reduce reliance on Russian gas. While 9.1 bcm/y is already online and 33 bcm/y is under construction, the briefing warns that global market tightness will keep prices high until 2026. Furthermore, 15- to 20-year supply contracts signed in 2022 may undermine the EU's goal to reduce gas demand by 35% by 2030. The document also notes a lack of concrete evidence for converting this new infrastructure to hydrogen, despite claims by German project promoters.

• European states have proposed 195 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/y) of additional LNG import capacity to be online between 2022 and 2026 to ensure security of supply and reduce Russian gas imports.
• As of November 2022, 9.1 bcm/y of new capacity is operational at terminals in Croatia, Greece, and the Netherlands, with another 33 bcm/y under construction in Spain, Finland, and Germany.
• The estimated cost for new projects across Europe is at least €7 billion, excluding a reported increase in costs for Germany's purchase and maintenance of five FSRUs, which rose from an estimate of €2.94 billion to approximately €6.56 billion.
• Long-term LNG contracts signed in 2022, many with 15- to 20-year durations, may conflict with the European Climate Law's target to reduce gas demand by 35% compared to 2019 levels by 2030.
• Short-term security of supply remains a challenge because global LNG supply is expected to remain tight until 2026, leaving Europe reliant on volatile and expensive spot markets.
• There is a lack of firm evidence outside of Germany regarding plans to convert new LNG infrastructure for hydrogen imports, and a Fraunhofer Institute study suggests such conversions could increase original capital expenditure by 20-50%.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2022). When is enough, enough? https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-EU-LNG-Briefing-2022_23.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. When is enough, enough? 2022. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-EU-LNG-Briefing-2022_23.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=When is enough, enough? |date=December 2022 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-EU-LNG-Briefing-2022_23.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2022when, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{When is enough, enough?}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-EU-LNG-Briefing-2022_23.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }