European Energy Studies: Volume 5 Shale Gas in Europe

Large-scale extraction of shale gas in North America over the last years has led to a growing attention on the potential opportunities and risks of unconventional gas extraction, including in Europe, where available sources are known to exist. The US experience shows that industry-wide extraction of shale gas may positively change the game, leading notably to increased security of supply. But the US experience also demonstrates that intensive extraction of shale gas entails environmental risks, in particular due to the intensive use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Shale Gas in Europe assesses the specificities of large-scale shale gas extraction in Europe from a multidisciplinary viewpoint, that is from the point of view of engineers, economists, policymakers, lawyers and sociologists. Each topic is discussed in the light of the US experience, with a particular focus on highlighting how Europe is different. Shale Gas in Europe evaluates the potential of shale gas in the EU, including potential risks. The institutional framework in place in the EU is explained as it defines the legal and regulatory conditions under which industry-wide shale gas extraction will develop. Taking this background into consideration, the authors of Shale Gas in Europe seek to anticipate the challenges ahead of shale gas extraction on the continent. Shale Gas in Europe finally gives an account of individual stories in some EU countries, ranging from the French ban on shale gas to a wide governmental support in Poland.