Black & Veatch urges gas investment to accelerate Asian energy transition

Integrated solutions including gas-fired power generation are needed to support grid reliability as Asia expands variable renewable energy generation and accelerate the continent's energy transition, Black & Veatch said in a book published on July 19.

The Kansas-based engineering firm also said the production and supply of LNG as a power source would also support the development of alternative sustainable fuels such as hydrogen.

“To accommodate increased variable renewable generation, deploying integrated solutions, including gas-fired generation, will be critical to stabilise regional grids and enhance their resilience,” said Black & Veatch's managing director for Asia Pacific, Narsingh Chaudhary.

While both wind and solar power can help reduce emissions by cutting fossil fuel use, "a mix of generation solutions is the best course of action," Chaudhary said.

In the book, Black & Veatch's energy experts assess opportunities to monetise gas fields from early-stage commercial modelling of bankable projects through to the schedule and modularity advantages of building floating LNG infrastructure. Holistic project planning can help to co-locate and integrate LNG receiving terminals with gas-fired power plants, as well as other offtakers of cold energy, including data centres through to refrigeration facilities. It also provides a pathway to adapting gas-fired facilities to run on green hydrogen in the future.