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Shale gas revolution could paralyse the energy transition

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The shale gas revolution has provided a cheap and relatively clean alternative for coal, but it also threatens the future market for renewables. Recent projections indicate that without tightening climate policy, shale gas will indefinitely delay the transition to net zero.

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Fig. 1: Patenting in renewables, storage and grid, relative to fossil.
Fig. 2: Shares of electricity sources for the United States.

References

  1. Jaimes, R. & Gerlagh, R. Energy Econ. https://doi.org/k7jn (2020).

  2. Acemoglu, D., Aghion, P., Barrage, L. & Hémous, D. Climate Change, Directed Innovation, and Energy Transition: The Long-Run Consequences of the Shale Gas Revolution Working Paper 31657 (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2023).

  3. Cervantes, M. et al. Driving Low-Carbon Innovations for Climate Neutrality OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers No. 143 (OECD, 2023); https://doi.org/k7jq

  4. Popp, D. et al. in The Role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth (eds Chatterji, A. et al.) 175–248 (Univ. Chicago Press, 2022).

  5. Lemoine, D. Rev. Econ. Stat. https://doi.org/gnmdqn (2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Reyer Gerlagh & Sjak Smulders

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  1. Reyer Gerlagh
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  2. Sjak Smulders
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Correspondence to Sjak Smulders.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Gerlagh, R., Smulders, S. Shale gas revolution could paralyse the energy transition. Nat. Clim. Chang. 14, 13–14 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01892-1

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