ABSTRACT

The transatlantic energy partnership faces new and broader challenges to secure affordable and sustainable energy for their own economies while remaining relevant in a world of rapidly growing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Shale gas and renewable is two promising, complementary and partly competing options to help meet these challenges. The US Government and industry focus on fossil fuel that developed the US shale gas technologies and resources complements the higher priority given to renewable energies in the EU and some European countries. This is a division of labour based on resources, know-how, industry structure and the politically feasible. Diversity of technology pathways and policies instead of a single transatlantic pathway' has proven to be an unexpected win-win outcome. However, the wide spread use and rapid, global growth of shale gas and renewable is not a foregone conclusion. Developing shale gas production worldwide will require country specific adaptation as well as public acceptance and buy-in from local communities.