Natural gas can be an “ideal partner” to renewables to meet the world’s long-term energy needs, as long as its price remains competitive and the fossil fuel can continue on a “cleaner” trajectory, according to a panel at this year’s World Gas Conference.

Executives at the event in Washington were keen to stress how gas and renewables are already operating in tandem to deliver large-scale energy supplies – but admitted the sector has yet to make its case as a long-term element of the global mix.