Germany’s economy is the biggest and most dynamic in Europe and its gas demand makes it Gazprom’s largest customer in terms of natural gas imports. The country’s gas consumption is projected to increase even further in the coming years due, in large part, to its energy policies and the rising costs of carbon certificates. Although renewable energy is the main focus of German policy makers, the technical limitations of wind and solar power production have created significant room for natural gas. Intermittency remains the major impediment to large-scale implementation of solar PVs and wind turbines. Until large volumes of electricity can be stored for extended periods of time for a reasonable price, another source is required to balance the grid on cloudy and windless days. Natural gas could be that fuel as it emits as much as 55 percent less carbon dioxide than coal and has a high-energetic value […]