Wolfgang attends the ‘Farewell reception of Gertjan Lankhorst’, CEO of Gasterra and former President of Eurogas. Read more He reciprocates on Gertjan’s courtesy of speaking at Wolfgang’s farewell reception in Prague in March 2016 and delivers a speech with references to mr. Bommel, a well-known character in Dutch literature with language peculiarities which Gertjan and Wolfgang keep using with great fun whenever they meet.

Wolfgang attends the ‘Third IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Gas and Coal Market Outlooks’ in Paris, on 14 December 2016.

The Third Symposium on Gas and Coal Markets Outlook was jointly organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Read more the International Energy Forum (IEF) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in response to the call from G20 Leaders at the Cannes November 2011 Summit between producers and consumers on short-, medium- and long-term outlooks and forecasts for oil, gas and coal. A major aspect in the deliberations was the impact of the UN Paris Agreement 2015 (COP21).

Wolfgang delivers the keynote speech at the ‘4^th Frankfurt Gas Forum’ on 07 December 2016: "The impact of the ‘LNG revolution‘ on European security of supply“.

Wolfgang recalls that > 200 bcm/a of liquefaction capacity is entering the market in 2017 and the years beyond. He points to the IEA WEO 2016, which qualifies this development as a second gas revolution: after the shale gas revolution now the ‘LNG revolution’. Read more

Wolfgang speaks at the ‘20^th Handelsblatt Jahrestagung – Energiewirtschaft Österreich 2016’ in Vienna, on 06 December 2016: "Zwischen Zukunftsthemen und Versorgungssicherheit: Welchen Platz nimmt der Energieträger Erdgas weiterhin ein? ’Observations from a global perspective‘“.

Wolfgang points out that the second gas revolution, after the shale now the ‘LNG revolution’, is in the process of forging a global gas market, which also redefines the issue of security of supply. Read more He advocates the deployment of gas as a means to materially and immediately reduce CO2 emissions and achieve clean air improvements.

The Gas Value Chain Company and the ‘ewi Energy Research & Scenarios gGmbH’ consummate a landmark co-operation agreement in Cologne/Mülheim, on 02 December 2016.

GVC strengthens its quantitative and analytical firepower by consummating a Cooperation Agreement with the renowned ewi ER&S availing some 35 highly skilled energy experts for maximum client benefit.

Wolfgang renders a lecture to students of the Energy Delta Institute under the ‘Fellowship on Energy Program’ in Berlin, on 25 November 2016: "Energy transition in Europe and beyond”.

I.a., Wolfgang recaps the content and mechanisms of the COP21 Treaty and discusses the German Climate Protection Plan. Read more Particularly, he dismisses the concept of ‘sector-coupling’ insofar as it aims at the use of renewable electricity also in the transport and heat sector. Such ‘all-electric’ approach is a fallacy since it would create more electricity demand whilst renewable power is short and would also cause exorbitant costs due to the much lower energy density of electricity. He argues that, rather, the use of natural gas should be expanded which would increasingly become ‘green’. The gas distribution grid, carrying i.a. hydrogene, synthetic gas and biogas should become an integrated part of a holistic energy system.

Wolfgang speaks at the ‘22^nd Euroforum-Jahrestagung’ in Berlin, on 23 November 2016: "Investing in the European Gas Market – Key issues, economic drivers, conditions & challenges”.

In the context of decarbonization, Wolfgang makes a distinction between infrastructure investments into Europe vs. investments within Europe. For infrastructure investments Read more into Europe, one needs to be aware that Europe avails of >200 bcm/a LNG regasification capacity which has been ~75% idle. With the impending “LNG revolution”, fierce competition for market share can be expected and amortization of certain additional import capacity could be at risk. Within-Europe infrastructure, on the other hand, has good chances to become part of a holistic energy system by carrying increasingly ‘greener’ gas, i.e. hydrogene, synthetic gas and biogas. The current considerations of ‘all electric’ are a fallacy, in that the much lower energy density of electricity would create enormous costs in additional generation as well as transport capacity.