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Relying on Unconventional Gas Development Projects for the Energy Transition: A Review of Recent Energy History and the Contested Role of Unconventional Gas in France

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The Palgrave Handbook of Zero Carbon Energy Systems and Energy Transitions

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Energy Transitions ((PSET))

Abstract

The shale gas revolution occurring in the United States at the beginning of the twenty-first century has fueled worldwide interest in unconventional natural gas. The existence of gas trapped in tight pore spaces has been known for decades, but only the recent possibility of implementing advanced production methods and favorable market conditions have made its exploitation economically feasible. The extraction of unconventional gas is already a reality in many countries, but in others, such as France, where the existence of shale gas and coal seam gas has been proven, there are no plans to employ this energy resource in the short term. In such geographical contexts, it has become pressing to understand what role unconventional gas could play in the energy transition. The chapter draws on peer-reviewed articles and statistics to reflect on the contribution of gas in meeting European energy demand. The current French position does not seem to view gas exploitation in a favorable light, let alone unconventional gas. Such a position is questionable, given that France must import all of the gas it uses and, to decrease its dependence on nuclear, it would need to use more gas to generate electricity.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For the sake of completeness, the power density (Pd) is calculated by taking the quotient between the quantity of energy (E) produced by an energy converter (thermal, hydroelectric, wind power plant, photovoltaic panel, etc.) and the areas (S) necessary for the operation of the energy system: Pd(W/m2) = E(Wh)/S (m2).

Abbreviations

CCGT:

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine

COP21:

21st Conference of the Parties

CSG:

Coal Seam Gas

DEHP:

Department of Environment and Heritage Protection

EIA:

Energy Information Administration

EUOGA:

European Unconventional Oil and Gas Assessment

FDE:

Française de l’Energie (company)

GT:

Gas turbine

PPE:

Programmation Pluriannuelle de l’Energie (Multi-annual Energy Plan)

SRADDET:

Schémas régionaux d’aménagement, de développement durable et d’égalité des territoires (Regional Planning, Sustainable Development and Territorial Equality Plans)

ST:

Steam turbine

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Akowledgement

This study was supported by Université de Lorraine (REGALOR project).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Lorraine, LOTERR, Nancy, France

    Michel Deshaies

  2. Department of History, Humanities and Society, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Giorgia Bressan

Authors
  1. Michel Deshaies
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  2. Giorgia Bressan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michel Deshaies .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lecturer in Energy and Environmental Law, School of Law, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK

    Geoffrey Wood

  2. School of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK

    Vincent Onyango

  3. Schl of Architecture and Built Env, University of Wolverhampton, WOLVERHAMPTON, UK

    Komali Yenneti

  4. Markets and Policy Associate, European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET), Toronto, Canada

    Maria Anastasia Liakopoulou

Section Editor information

  1. School of Law, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Geoff Wood

  2. University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom

    Vincent Onyango

  3. Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Komali Yenneti

  4. School of Architecture and Built Environment, Univerity of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

    Komali Yenneti

  5. Markets and Policy Associate, European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET), Toronto, Canada

    Mariana Liakopoulou

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Deshaies, M., Bressan, G. (2022). Relying on Unconventional Gas Development Projects for the Energy Transition: A Review of Recent Energy History and the Contested Role of Unconventional Gas in France. In: Wood, G., Onyango, V., Yenneti, K., Liakopoulou, M.A. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Zero Carbon Energy Systems and Energy Transitions. Palgrave Studies in Energy Transitions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74380-2_36-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74380-2_36-1

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