Current Debates Program

Current Debates
Audience

*For the latest Current Debates Program and where they are located at the EXCO Convention Center, please download the WGC2022 Event App.

16:45  -  18:00

CD1: HAS THE MOMENTUM FROM THE GLASGOW SUMMIT FADED IN THE FACE OF HIGH ENERGY PRICES AND CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY SECURITY?

High energy prices, rising inflation, concerns of a new COVID wave and volatility in energy markets has created a collision between climate change and the unprecedented commitment to net zero targets and a new focus on energy security. While proponents of clean energy hope the surge in global energy prices will speed the transition to renewable energy,  the oil and gas industry argues that a lack of adequate investment in oil and gas will lead to cycles of price spikes like we have seen in Europe and Asia during the transition period and where shortfalls have impacted their economies.

16:45  -  18:00

CD2: NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY IN GLOBAL LNG MARKETS

While robust LNG market growth is still expected in the medium-to-long term, any acceleration in the decarbonization of economies could create significant hurdles for the wider LNG industry. The increased focus on methane emissions from suppliers and shippers, the shifting financial support from development banks and governments away from fossil to “green” infrastructure investments, and the impact net-zero emissions (NZE) will have in reshaping energy demand, will add to the existing challenges of expanding markets, reducing costs and managing risk. This session will examine the key uncertainties surrounding global LNG markets.

16:45  -  18:00

CD3: GAS AND RENEWABLES – PARTNERS IN THE LOW CARBON ENERGY TRANSITION

Planning and operating the grid has become more complex as new technologies create more dynamic systems and smarter, cleaner technologies offer new ways to generate electricity. These developments have brought the need for reliability and resilience into a new light. This session will examine the components of a low-carbon grid, provide an understanding of the various approaches to commercially integrating green gases (or Renewable Gases) and hydrogen including the use of using existing natural gas facilities and infrastructure.

16:45  -  18:00

CD4: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES – CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES IN GAS MARKETS

New technologies and methods for utilizing gas in a manner that maximizes its decarbonization potential are being developed to insure the use of natural gas and its infrastructure well into the future. However, the development of other technologies may challenge gas’ continuing role in the energy transition. This session will look at the technologies being counted on to meet decarbonization goals, their cost, energy intensity, risk, ability to be deployed at scale and impact on gas markets.

15:00  -  16:15

CD5: THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL LANDSCAPE OF SUPPLY SECURITY

Functioning international markets providing reliable and affordable energy are vital prerequisites to the energy security of any country. Supply interruptions harm a nation’s economic output, its political stability and the well-being of its citizens. However, the challenges for energy security are evolving and now include cyber threats, interruptions in supply chains, extreme weather events due to climate change and the rapidly growing share of variable renewable technologies which require base metals and manufacturing of new energy components concentrated in the hands of a few countries. This session will examine how changing regional energy policies are suggesting a fundamental and possibly permanent shift in perceptions of what energy security means.

15:00  -  16:15

CD6: MAKING NATURAL GAS PART OF A LOW-CARBON FUTURE: THE FUTURE OF RENEWABLE GASES AND LOW CARBON GASES

As the world moves to achieve its climate goals, a mix of low and zero-carbon gaseous fuels, such as biogas, biomethane, (blue and green) hydrogen, and synthetic methane could play a vital role in future energy markets and accelerate energy access in developing economies. This session will focus on the current status of producing and using biogas and renewable natural gas including the roles they play in the energy plans of different countries and regions of the world.

15:00  -  16:15

CD7: FROM PLEDGES TO PROGRESS: ACHIEVING STRONG, RAPID AND SUSTAINED REDUCTIONS IN GAS INDUSTRY METHANE EMISSIONS

At COP26 more than 100 nations from around the world pledged to curb global emissions of methane 30 percent by 2030. The initial focus will be on the fossil fuel industry and for natural gas to continue play a major role in the global energy mix for decades to come, the industry must join the effort to end flaring and methane leakage throughout the entire gas value chain. This session will discuss the next crucial steps in implementing the GMP and survey the widely available and well-established practices used to detect, measure, capture, and utilize methane.

15:00  -  16:15

CD8: EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL OF CCUS IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION

One of the critical strategies toward achieving a zero or low-carbon economy and deep decarbonization is encouraging investment in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies. It is the only group of technologies that contribute to reducing emissions in key sectors directly and removing CO2 to balance emissions that cannot be avoided. CCUS can be retrofitted to existing power and industrial plants and is virtually the only technology solution for deep emissions reductions from heavy industries. However, CCUS projects lack sufficient policy support to obtain conventional financing.  This session will examine the major CCUS technologies and the current conditions for investment, and review the current developments that could accelerate CCUS adoption.

15:00  -  16:15

CD9: HYDROGEN’S POTENTIAL IN THE GLOBAL ENERGY MIX

The hydrogen industry has seen a dramatic acceleration of activity with the initialization of new projects, pilot studies and commercial partnerships amid growing interest in deploying hydrogen for heavy transport, stationary storage, industrial fuels, power, and more. In the EU, government policy has taken center stage thanks to the EU Hydrogen Strategy, which was released in July 2020 calling for the installation of 6 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen electrolyzers by the end of 2024, and at least 40 gigawatts by 2030. Countries such as the Republic of Korea and Japan are also betting heavily on hydrogen as an alternative fuel. But even with strong government support, hydrogen must still overcome two key challenges that are linked: affordability and scale. This session will explore the different hydrogen technologies, the policies and projects around the world that are under development to scale clean hydrogen production quickly and efficiently,  and the ability to build on existing infrastructure, such as the millions of miles of existing natural gas pipelines.

15:00  -  16:15

CD10: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE GROWTH OF LNG

LNG will command an increasing share of the global fuel mix given its lower-carbon footprint and its ability to flexibly supply increasingly diverse markets, customers, and applications - ranging from power generation to marine and land transportation. Yet the next five years LNG producers, traders, and buyers will have to navigate a rapidly evolving market and the LNG industry as a whole must evolve to a new level of operations and capital efficiency. This means the whole LNG supply chain, from the well heads, gas treatment, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification, must be designed and configured with low emissions and high efficiency. This session will look at liquefaction, transportation and regasification technologies that will increase efficiencies, improve economies of scale, reduce emissions and those that will enhance access to new markets such as small scale and micro scale LNG.

13:45  -  15:00

CD11: HIGHS AND LOWS IN GLOBAL LNG TRADING

Today, demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) has never been higher and global natural gas prices are near record levels as markets clamor for new projects and new supplies.  New business models have emerged that reflect increased supply, new technologies that will help access smaller markets and commercial arrangements that help offset new commercial risks not seen with larger, more traditional buyers. All of this is occurring against a backdrop of Net-Zero Emission goals that could threaten long-term demand. This session will focus on the new realities of the LNG market and its continuing transition from local, bilateral trading flows within regions to an increasingly global market.

13:45  -  15:00

CD12: IMPACTS OF CARBON NEUTRALITY TARGETS ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH

Reaching net-zero emissions will require significant investment in current and new clean technologies. Some economic sectors will benefit while others may decline. Opponents say layers of new regulations will hurt businesses, raise energy prices, cost jobs and burden economies. For many developing countries, the pressure to green their economies is beyond their financial means and they will require considerable financial aid to not only meet these goals but to dramatically increase support for mitigation, adaptation and resilience to climate change impacts. Proponents of the net-zero targets argue that emissions reductions and economic growth are not incompatible and in fact the development of new technologies will create new industries and jobs. This session will examine the uncertainty surrounding the economic impacts created by a transition to a net-zero emissions economy and the substantial challenges to completely decarbonizing our electricity, transportation and industrial sectors (in Asia or in Developing Countries).

© WGC2022 National Organizing Committee

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