IET: "Shale gas has some potential to increase energy security"
27/05/2016 Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Simon Harrison, Chair of the IET Energy Policy Panel, said: "The decision to allow fracking near the village of Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire will undoubtedly see fresh debate on shale gas extraction, or 'fracking'."A joint report from the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering revealed no technical reasons not to frack in the UK - but does identify some critical issues to address. Principal of these is the need for coordination and policing of appropriate regulation to ensure that the environmental and social impacts of fracking in the UK are understood and kept to a minimum.
"We will not know for several years how much shale gas there is under the UK and whether it is suitable for exploitation. It is also worth noting that shale gas obtained by fracking is more expensive than conventional gas - and in the UK its final price will be determined by the European gas market. This means that energy prices for the consumer are unlikely to fall significantly as a result of UK fracked gas.
"Shale gas has some potential to increase energy security, but will only bring climate change benefits if it is used instead of coal. If it is used to displace imported gas there will be no climate change benefits at all."
For more information, please contact:
The Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET)
Michael Faraday House
Six Hills Way
Stevenage
SG1 2AY
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1438 767336
Email: RBeahan@theiet.org
Web: www.theiet.org
Print this articleShare article:
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.