ACER webinar: Decarbonisation of the EU’s natural gas market
What is it about?
ACER will hold a webinar to present the main findings of its 2026 Monitoring Report on the decarbonisation of the EU’s natural gas market.
As the EU moves towards a decarbonised energy system, the role of gas is evolving. The clean energy transition aims to reduce fossil gas dependence while supporting security of supply, affordability and industrial competitiveness. Decarbonising the natural gas market remains a key opportunity to support the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality target, as the gas sector accounts for around 20% of EU greenhouse gas emissions.
The event offers an opportunity for stakeholders, policymakers, regulators and industry participants to gain insights into ACER’s latest monitoring findings and to better understand the key challenges, trade-offs and policy dilemmas linked to gas decarbonisation.
ACER report
The report explores how the EU can balance gas decarbonisation with the three pillars of EU energy policy - sustainability, security of supply and industrial competitiveness and affordability.
It is structured around four key dilemmas:
- Can renewable gases, such as biomethane or low-carbon hydrogen, help reduce gas import dependency while keeping energy prices affordable?
- Will the rising cost of natural gas contribute to persistently high electricity prices during the energy transition?
- Can the EU decarbonise its gas sector without further affecting industrial competitiveness?
- How can methane emissions be tackled, given the potential for low-cost abatement but rising implementation risks?
Event objective
During the webinar, ACER will:
- present the main findings of its report;
- explain the two main strategies for gas decarbonisation: displacing natural gas and reducing its carbon footprint;
- discuss the continued role of gas in electricity price formation and industrial energy use;
- examine the potential and limits of biomethane, hydrogen, carbon capture and methane emissions abatement;
- outline ACER’s policy considerations for EU and national policymakers, national regulators and market participants; and
- address stakeholders’ questions.
Register now to take part in the discussion on how Europe can decarbonise its gas market while maintaining security of supply, affordability and competitiveness.
Agenda will follow.