This report investigates the effects of an increased exploitation of shale gas reserves around the globe and the extent to which it can serve as a low-cost GHG mitigation option. We compare a scenario of global shale gas exploitation with a scenario in which shale gas use is very limited. Both scenarios are modelled with the global techno-economic POLES model and rely on a high regional disaggrega-tion. The effects of shale gas production on the energy market and, consequently, on GHG emissions are analysed in a baseline case without additional climate policy and for mitigation targets compati-ble with the 2°C target. We find that shale gas should not be considered a cheap option to reduce global GHG emissions due to three reasons: the effects of global shale gas availability (a) are small in the short-term, (b) lead to higher baseline GHG emissions for most countries in the long-term due to lower energy prices and (c) result in higher costs of compliance with climate targets.
![Cover Climate Change 03/2015 The impact of shale gas on the costs of climate policy](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/600w850h/public/medien/378/bilder/cover_cc_03_2015.png?itok=p3UuuRye)
Series
Climate Change | 03/2015
Number of pages
49
Year of publication
Author(s)
Jan Kersting, Vicky Duscha, Joachim Schleich, Kimon Keramidas
Language
English
Project No. (FKZ)
3713 41 103
Additional information
PDF is accessible
File size
1589 KB
Price
0,00 €
Print version
not available
rated as helpful
213