Clean molecules for gas in the Fit for 55

Anna Creti

Chapter 10 in European Gas Markets in Transition, 2026, pp 170-188 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter analyzes the evolving role of gaseous fuels in the EU's Fit for 55 and REPowerEU legislative frameworks. While natural gas has been viewed as a transition fuel, recent geopolitical events and climate ambitions have accelerated its planned phase-out, while efforts to increase production of renewable and low-carbon gases, such as biomethane and green hydrogen, have intensified. The chapter examines key policy instruments, including the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, the Hydrogen and Gas Market Decarbonisation Package, and methane emission regulations, which aim to reshape gas infrastructure, support the integration of clean gas, and ensure energy security. It highlights challenges in scaling up infrastructure, certification schemes, and governance while stressing investment and technology deployment uncertainties. Despite ongoing dependency on fossil gas, the European approach emphasizes sector coupling, consumer empowerment, and innovation. The chapter concludes that sustainable gas deployment, though constrained by economic and technical bottlenecks, is essential for bridging the gap to a climate-neutral energy system.

Keywords: EU Fit for 55; REPowerEU; Renewable and low-carbon gases; Hydrogen and Gas Market Decarbonisation Package; Methane emissions regulation; Biomethane and green hydrogen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035382958
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035382965.00020 (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 403 Forbidden

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:25196_11

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().