Tracing the downfall of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, widely considered as one of the most contentious energy infrastructure projects ever built, has garnered substantial scholarly and media attention over the course of its seven‐year existence. This narrative review examines key publications in different scholarly fields. It also tracks the evolution of the project, with the aim of explaining its ultimate demise. This overview relies on a comprehensive range of scholarly research, analyses, and news reports. First, concerns that dominated the debate on Nord Stream 2 are identified in the literature. This is followed by a detailed examination of the pivotal events—including the Polish regulator's decision, the delayed Danish permit, the revised European Union regulation, and the US sanctions—that contributed to the timing of the construction of the pipeline. Ultimately, Moscow's actions in February 2022 dealt a fatal blow to the project, which was further aggravated by sabotage 7 months later. Taken together, these developments ensured that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was never utilized, and it currently remains partially damaged and unused at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Scholars have extensively utilized this project as a lens to explore broader trends, highlighting its significance as a prism for understanding complex (energy) politics. This article is categorized under: Energy and Power Systems > Energy Infrastructure Policy and Economics > Security Policy and Economics > Governance and Regulation Policy and Economics > Energy Transitions