Table of Contents
What is a renewable resource?
A type of energy known as renewable energy comes from natural resources that are able to regenerate themselves more quickly than they are used up. These clean, renewable energy sources are plentiful and all around us. Less pollution is produced by renewable energy sources.
So what about Natural Gas?
A form of fossil fuel called natural gas was produced naturally over millions of years. When living things like plants and animals decompose and are buried beneath sedimentary rock strata, natural gas is created. Natural gas is produced throughout time as a result of the heat and pressure that the earth’s crust applies to the buried organic materials. Throughout time, the heat and pressure of the earth’s crust act on biological matter to create natural gas and other fossil fuels. The gas then migrates through the porous rock layers until it becomes trapped by impermeable rock formations, such as shale or sandstone. These underground pockets of gas are known as natural gas reservoirs. To extract natural gas the process of fracking is used. Once at the surface, the gas is processed to remove impurities and transported via pipelines or other means to power plants or other users.
Natural gas is a hydrocarbon that emits the lowest amount of carbon. It is odorless, colourless, or toxic free, and is used for many things, such as heating and cooking. It is also used to generate electricity in power stations that serve homes and businesses. More than energy production, natural gas is a main component in many industrial processes, including the manufacturing of clothing, glass, paints, and plastics. Shell utilizes natural gas to create cleaner-burning fuels and other products at our gas-to-liquids plants. Cooling natural gas to -162ºC / -260ºF transforms it into a liquid form that can be easily transported to different parts of the world where energy is in high demand. Click here for more information.
Liquefied natural gas content should remain high. To achieve this, we are constructing the world’s largest floating liquefied natural gas production facility, Prelude FLNG. This facility will allow us to access gas fields located offshore in Australia, which would otherwise be too expensive or challenging to develop. Natural gas is changed into a liquid form and export it to other countries.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Natural gas has several advantages. It is a plentiful resource, and according to the IEA, there are enough recoverable resources to last for approximately 230 years if the consumption remains at present levels. Natural gas is a valuable alternative as it can adapt to the varying energy demands, unlike renewable sources like solar and wind, which are only functional under specific weather conditions. Moreover, it produces fewer pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions than coal. Liquefied natural gas, which is readily available, has in the past assisted Japan in making up for the lost electrical supply following the Fukushima accident. When comparing costs of various factors, natural gas may be the more economic option in the long run. A rising variety of other uses for natural gas are also emerging, such as the use of liquefied natural gas in transportation as a less-emissions option to diesel and heavy fuel oil.
Even though it burns more cleanly than coal and oil among fossil fuels, natural gas nevertheless releases damaging pollutants when it is used. Despite this, natural gas is valued as a resource because of its adaptability to shifting energy demands and versatility. It can be used in transportation as a less-emissions alternative to diesel and heavy fuel oil and has a wide range of industrial applications. In addition, compared to other energy sources, natural gas is more economically feasible in the long run.
In Conclusion
As a result, it’s critical to comprehend both the benefits and drawbacks of natural gas as the argument over whether it qualifies as a sustainable energy source rages on. Natural gas has many industrial and commercial uses and produces lower quantities of carbon. Yet, when it is utilized, contaminants are still released. In light of this, natural gas can be viewed as a significant resource for supplying energy needs and assisting industrial processes, but it must be handled properly to reduce its environmental impact. It is important to use a natural resource such as gas responsibly, and to educate those around you whether it be friends and family or colleagues to understand this and apply the needed precautions to do so themselves in order to use gas in a sustainable way.